Thaks for the quick responses found something on another thread from Another Voice that seemed to cover a lot of what I was curious about (text of that post below). It is so sad to see this as one more ploy for cash and saving money. Those new to Disney don't really know the difference and still find magic where they can, but for us ole timers it smacks of becoming too mall-like or as Another Voice suggests,
Walmart-like. I miss the extra special touches of magic. "The devil is truly in the detail." And I have always been an admirer of the little things. This trip we took a couple of friends who were Disney neophytes and were hoping they could experience what we have taken for granted for years. The only constant in the universe, is indeed change.
"Okay the direct answer.
The positive sign Im waiting for and havent even seen hinted at yet is for Disney to treat WDW like a business again.
That means decisions are made on whats best for WDWs continued growth, whats best for WDWs customer base, and whats best for WDWs employees. In other words, to do whats right to make WDW a stable and profitable operation.
That isnt happening now. On the creative side, WDW is treated as just another distribution channel through which corporate franchises can be pushed. The parks arent viewed as businesses or shows in their own right, but only in how they can serve to extend the brand created elsewhere.
The Mexico pavilion is not made better by putting in a cartoon duck. Normal adults do not need the have dinner with princesses five times in a week. People live full and diverse lives and I think thats what they want to experience on vacation as well. The Haunted Mansion is a popular ride despite not having a plush tie-in; Stitchs Great Escape is unbearable even with it shop.
Its time for Disney to rediscover that theme parks are a creative outlet, that its possible to make new, fresh, interesting, exciting, awe-inspiring, and world renowned attractions without waiting for a movie first. Disney needs to let its imagination try for something again try for something that get people talking like Pirates did in 67. People want new and original, not a commercial.
Second, on the business side, the financial demands that Corporate has placed on the park are forcing decisions to be made that are harmful to the long term growth and success of the company. WDW has become Disneys ATM machine, the fountain that spews out cash to fund corporate mistakes like ABC, GO.com and now this iPenguin insanity.
Everyone has seen the prices soar while the quality plummet at WDW. Fine Dining is nothing but a brand now even the owners of this site are calling some the restaurants offering swill and garbage. The quality of the merchandise is beyond discount and the variety
really folks how many stores now have exactly the same t-shirts. And its not just the purists who think theres something unDisney by selling princess dresses in Fronteirland.
Disney needs to set WDWs operations back to normal. Let the resort operate at a realistic margin, let the park invest in the correct level of capital to keep the place appealing to guests, and to provide enough new so that a repeat visit is worthwhile.
There is nothing written in stone saying that WDW will always be successful and will always be popular. If theres one thing that Disney should have learned from that festering money pit in
Disneylands parking lot is that people will reject Disneys offering and wont even give it a second chance.
So thats what Im waiting for. Im waiting for WDW to become Disney again, not the local Orlando outlet for WalMouse.
P.S. As for what's keeping me interested now (besides blind hope) - try as hard as they can, Eisner and Iger haven't been able to destroy all that was built before them. They're trying real hard, but there is still some quality left from Disney if you know where to look for it."
