Negativity on the boards

[BugsDaddy]

I want to thank Pete during the Richmond DIS meet podcast for adding in his opinion on the negativity that seems to be infesting the boards lately. I echo his sentiment and wish that people would choose to be more constructive.

I think it is a turn off for any new posters on the boards when they are looking for information regarding their Disney trip only to be bombarded by negative thread after negative thread and probably making them second guess their choice and causing unneeded anxiety.

I don't believe in censorship and think that constructive criticism isn't necessarily a bad thing but there does seem to be a certain group of posters that have some sort of agenda in their constant criticism of anything Disney related.

I think Disney is still a great family vacation spot and a good value for all of the entertainment it provides. We should all try to be more informative and less destructive.

 

[Alfalfa]

I don't believe in censorship and think that constructive criticism isn't necessarily a bad thing but there does seem to be a certain group of posters that have some sort of agenda in their constant criticism of anything Disney related....

Interesting perspective indeed.

 

[GAN]

I view a fairly good amount of threads -but honestly, I'm not sure which threads you would be referring to because the bulk of what I read is positive. Sure there was a bathroom thread, and there always seems to be the is DVC a Value thread, and the I went to Disney and had a terrible time thread. Some of the criticism that I see is well deserved, and from people who have been visiting WDW since its onset -to some extent aimed at Disney employees that read this board. I must be either lucky or just have a good eye to stay away from threads that just have no interest to me or are potentially negative. Just my point of view -of course, my wife calls me Captain Oblivious!

 

[kbelle8995]

When you introduce new systems, there will always be people who don't care for the system. I have to be honest and say that I've been less than pleased with Disney lately. I've stated before that it's hard right now for me to suggest a Disney vacation to anyone due to my ambigious feelings. So I took a break from Disney and went to the competition.

I would never think of silencing anyone due to their opinion. It is their opinion. There are some things that Disney has done that I loved. But there is just more that I don't like right now. You have a different opinion there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Planogirl]

Did you listen to the whole podcast? I get the impression that the feeling is that people should have their say.

Also, if you don't believe in censorship then how do you suggest doing away with the perceived negativity whether it comes from many or just a few?

 

[Tonyz]

Yeah when I started posting here about a year ago I was a little taken aback by the negativity. It seemed like every other thread was about how awful FP+ was, how bad Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was, how bad the cast members have gotten...it was a little off-putting!

 

[BugsDaddy]

Did you listen to the whole podcast? I get the impression that the feeling is that people should have their say.

Also, if you don't believe in censorship then how do you suggest doing away with the perceived negativity whether it comes from many or just a few?

I think that Pete made his feelings very clear near the opening of the show as far as how he feels about the negativity. As far as I am concerned, these are his boards and he funds the operation of these boards through his company. These boards are not a platform for unbridled free speech. I think he generously allows more leeway on these boards than many I have seen in the past. He is also not a Disney apologist but can recognize when enough is enough.

I agree that everyone should have their say. There is a difference though between expressing an opinion and harping constantly on a subject to the point where the negativity bleeds into even unrelated topics.

As far as how to do away with the negativity, perhaps people should monitor themselves. Sometimes it seems to be a foreign concept in today's world that maybe people do not need the threat of censorship or punishment to show a little common sense and self-discipline when "voicing opinions".

Just my two cents.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Pete was also very clear at the end of the podcast, in his wrap up, that he was NOT dismissing people's complaints, and that people have a right to voice their complaints. He focused on saying that the main point was not to get so lost in the complaints that one forgets why they love Disney in the first place. That, imo, is an important message to be sure.

He was not in any way advocating censorship or silencing anyone's opinions, as this thread implies, though.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Pete was also very clear at the end of the podcast, in his wrap up, that he was NOT dismissing people's complaints, and that people have a right to voice their complaints. He focused on saying that the main point was not to get so lost in the complaints that one forgets why they love Disney in the first place. That, imo, is an important message to be sure.

He was not in any way advocating censorship or silencing anyone's opinions, as this thread implies, though.

I didn't imply advocating censorship at all. In fact, I advocated the exact opposite. Like in my original post where I said, "I don't believe in censorship and don't think constructive criticism is necessarily a bad thing..."

What Pete said exactly was that he expects there to be a balance which I totally agree with. I don't think anyone agrees 100% with everything Disney does and everyone is entitled to voice their opinions (as I also said in this thread previously) but when someone only posts about the negative aspects of Disney, it makes some of us wonder why they are here.

 

[Angel Ariel]

What Pete said exactly was that he expects there to be a balance which I totally agree with. I don't think anyone agrees 100% with everything Disney does and everyone is entitled to voice their opinions (as I also said in this thread previously) but when someone only posts about the negative aspects of Disney, it makes some of us wonder why they are here.

I'm well aware of what Pete said. I was there, in person, when he recorded it.

I can't speak to "someone only post[ing] about the negative aspects of Disney". I don't visit every forum on this site, or read every thread in the ones I do visit, so I never assume that I'm reading every post that any poster makes.

 

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

I ran into the negativity myself and it almost sent me away from Dis boards. What I have come to realize is that there is enough on these boards to cover all tastes and opinions. The posts that are negative for negativity's sake are easy to spot so I avoid those. Most posts seem to have a balance which makes sense and is how everything works. Not everyone can like the same things all the time. However I have seen people get attacked for their options, not a differing point of view but attacked, I think it's safe to say that nobody associated with DIS boards supports that. Whenever you have a community this big you will have a few bad apples. I have found way more fantastic and helpful people then bullies.

 

[Planogirl]

Wow, if you think that these boards are negative then you are missing a lot. There are some places out there that would make your hair curl.

Not that I'm advocating being like those places but I think that hearing both sides is extremely helpful. And I do think that we usually hear both sides here which is a primary reason why I've been here for so long.

 

[WillAustin]

I don't think anyone agrees 100% with everything Disney does and everyone is entitled to voice their opinions (as I also said in this thread previously) but when someone only posts about the negative aspects of Disney, it makes some of us wonder why they are here.

A lot of people who complain are doing it because they love Disney and have come to expect better things. I post both positive and negative elements from my actual experiences in the parks.

 

[CookiesNcream]

I just don't get the people who will come on these boards and complain. Personally, I don't want to hear what might have ruined someone else's vacation. And if they are going to complain, then at least they could post something nice to balance it out otherwise everyone will get the wrong idea. I mean goodness gracious - the time I get to spend at WDW is just so PRECIOUS to me that I don't want to hear someone whining about how they couldn't get a fastpass for a ride or they had to make reservations at their favorite restaurant six months in advance or that they didn't get to do as much anymore because the parks are so crowded. Sometimes I feel like Pete did in the podcast when he said he was worried he was going to go to prison for beating the hell out of someone for using a selfie stick in the parks. So annoying!

 

[disneysteve]

A lot of people who complain are doing it because they love Disney and have come to expect better things. I post both positive and negative elements from my actual experiences in the parks.

Well said. I've been going to WDW since 1978. I've lived through virtually every change that has happened over the years, both good and bad. WDW is an extremely different place today than it was 37 years ago. Some things are way better in ways that nobody could have imagined back then. Other things are not as good. The hard part is to move forward without hanging onto a past that isn't ever coming back and to learn to adapt and embrace what we have today. I'll admit I sometimes struggle to accomplish that. FP+ is a perfect example. I've experienced it. I didn't like it at all. But it's here now. The old system is gone. So we need to figure out how to make it work for us. The only alternative is to stop going, and we don't consider that to be an option.

All of that said, I do agree that some people seem to only come here to complain. I find that annoying. On the flipside, some people only come here to praise Disney and debate anyone who posts something critical. That's equally annoying. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Disney isn't perfect. They make mistakes. Stuff happens. Things go wrong. It's good to hear about those things, especially if it helps others avoid similar problems. But all negative all the time can get very tiresome. There needs to be balance. If you really don't like anything Disney does, perhaps this isn't the place for you. Remember, it's a Disney fan site. If everything you are going to post is negative, you aren't really much of a fan.

And yes, I was present for the Richmond podcast recording and I was one of the folks who stepped up to the mic to talk about my "one day in Disney" plan.

 

[kbelle8995]

Well said. I've been going to WDW since 1978. I've lived through virtually every change that has happened over the years, both good and bad. WDW is an extremely different place today than it was 37 years ago. Some things are way better in ways that nobody could have imagined back then. Other things are not as good. The hard part is to move forward without hanging onto a past that isn't ever coming back and to learn to adapt and embrace what we have today. I'll admit I sometimes struggle to accomplish that. FP+ is a perfect example. I've experienced it. I didn't like it at all. But it's here now. The old system is gone. So we need to figure out how to make it work for us. The only alternative is to stop going, and we don't consider that to be an option.

All of that said, I do agree that some people seem to only come here to complain. I find that annoying. On the flipside, some people only come here to praise Disney and debate anyone who posts something critical. That's equally annoying. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Disney isn't perfect. They make mistakes. Stuff happens. Things go wrong. It's good to hear about those things, especially if it helps others avoid similar problems. But all negative all the time can get very tiresome. There needs to be balance. If you really don't like anything Disney does, perhaps this isn't the place for you. Remember, it's a Disney fan site. If everything you are going to post is negative, you aren't really much of a fan.

And yes, I was present for the Richmond podcast recording and I was one of the folks who stepped up to the mic to talk about my "one day in Disney" plan.

I loved your post. But I think that there is a third option for FP+. The alternative is also you can choose not to use it. I really enjoyed that show. Now I have to listen for you. It was interesting hearing what their great one day is.

Mine is mostly at Epcot with a relaxing dinner at Yachtsman.

 

[rlduvall]

Sorry - misread a post. My bad.

 

[disneysteve]

I think that there is a third option for FP+. The alternative is also you can choose not to use it. I really enjoyed that show. Now I have to listen for you.

That's true. We could not use FP at all, but that would seriously cut into getting on rides and attractions and we'd spend a whole lot more time standing in lines. That doesn't sound like a fun vacation either.

As for the show, I was the one who spoke about DW and I doing a one-day trip as a side trip from Longboat Key. Though I realized I kind of rambled and didn't totally stay on the topic of that actual visit. Basically, I said we'd do Magic Kingdom and spend time just soaking in our surroundings, not worrying about which rides we did or didn't get to do.

 

[kbelle8995]

That's true. We could not use FP at all, but that would seriously cut into getting on rides and attractions and we'd spend a whole lot more time standing in lines. That doesn't sound like a fun vacation either.

As for the show, I was the one who spoke about DW and I doing a one-day trip as a side trip from Longboat Key. Though I realized I kind of rambled and didn't totally stay on the topic of that actual visit. Basically, I said we'd do Magic Kingdom and spend time just soaking in our surroundings, not worrying about which rides we did or didn't get to do.

Depends on when you visit. I tried FP+ and then on the next trip did without, FP+ didn't make as much of a difference as I thought it would. I think the time of year also impacts how much you able to get done. I have a tendency to be there in late September. Sorry this is so off-topic. I think it comes down to what you are willing to do and not do.

Maybe the fact that I live in Florida also pinpoints how I feel about things. I still live far enough away that a vacation in Orlando is still a vacation

 

[elaine amj]

I just don't get the people who will come on these boards and complain. Personally, I don't want to hear what might have ruined someone else's vacation. And if they are going to complain, then at least they could post something nice to balance it out otherwise everyone will get the wrong idea. I mean goodness gracious - the time I get to spend at WDW is just so PRECIOUS to me that I don't want to hear someone whining about how they couldn't get a fastpass for a ride or they had to make reservations at their favorite restaurant six months in advance or that they didn't get to do as much anymore because the parks are so crowded. Sometimes I feel like Pete did in the podcast when he said he was worried he was going to go to prison for beating the hell out of someone for using a selfie stick in the parks. So annoying!

While I don't read all the whiny posts, I like to read some of them as it gives me many things to consider during my vacation to make sure we DON'T have that type of experience. It's like reading tripadvisor reviews - you do have to be able to read between the lines. Most of what ppl complain about I can already tell won't bother me. The things that will - I take note of it and see if I can fix it.

I do have to say - some of it is just pure amusement for me as the DIS will get completely up in arms over some minor change.