And I can honestly say you are one of the best/most important members of this forum. I'd be hard pressed to find another poster who helps out as much as you do and can't thank you enough for being this boards main "boots on the ground" poster. Some of us who can't be in the parks as often as we'd like live vicariously through you! I think perhaps one of the reasons this you've noticed a bit of a riff this past year is simply because of the sheer number of "add-ons/cuts" that has taken place recently. I think it has unfortunately divided the Disney community. I'd wager to guess the overwhelming majority of posters on this board are here because we love Disney. To us it is the most magical place on earth. So I take what a lot of posters say, both positive and negative, with the idea that they love Disney and want it to be absolute best it can be.
Look we want you to express your opinions! You, being there, can really formulate a good idea on if something is worth it or not. Be it anything from one of these add-ons to a ride to the best means to exit a park. You can't eliminate the discussion aspect of this board. Heck its titled is "The Dis Disney Discussion Forum". One only have to look at Pete Werner to see that debating Disney is something the owner himself does all the time. But again a big Thank You from this forum member to you for all of the hard work you put into helping people out with their Disney plans. You probably have no idea just how many people you have helped over the years. For everyone who has thanked you throughout your time on the forums you need to times it by 100 because there are probably members and non members who have made their vacations better just because they have read one of your posts.
thank you for your kind words, and my post wasn't for people to say how much I have helped, I love helping out and do not need people thanking me for it, I appreciate it but I do it from the bottom of my heart, and that's something I have always taught my kids, help out because you want to not because you need a thank you or validation.
I think the point I'm coming from is that some posters just intuitively go extreme, where every add on is a bad thing and what would Walt say and it's all about money, and calling people that are interested in the service crazy and feeding the beast and elite. And I understand that discussion on a discussion board inevitable, but if you are not being proactive about it, then why post at all?
Sure we can be upset about something Disney does, but each time I have been upset about something that affects my time at the park I email them, I go to Guest Relations, I talk to managers and coordinators on site. Some might say that it doesn't do any good but I disagree, I have seen Disney change things and improve things and cut out things. And no I'm not sending an email a week, I only email them when they do something I feel can be improved or has a direct impact on me and my family.
The cabanas? have no negative impacts for me
This express service? has no negative impacts for me and I did tell every manager I encountered that day about what I thought was great and about what I didn't like
The cut of SWW had a negative impact for me and I know they could have done it this year, I sent an email, I got a call back and I expressed my opinions. Did it change anything? no. But I didn't just complain on these boards I contacted the company
I also send a lot of positive emails, about CM and services I like
I guess I'm just saying, discussion is fine as long as you don't belittle your fellow posters and as long as you are doing something about it, not just complaining
I've seen a lot of very strong, negative opinions by some, they are frequent and I ask myself, why come at all if you feel that way?
In the end, your trip is the attitude you bring with you, if you come predisposed in hating everything, from the moment you see the $35 preferred parking to seeking out where the ugly looking cabanas are, I can guarantee you will not have a good trip.