People who used to love Disney

[davewasbaloo]

People who use to love Disney but now feel they have lost their way

I have put this on Facebook for those that are on there:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8804342394

Growing up I was obessed by Disney, the attention to detail, the innovation, the no expense spared approach, the artistry, the magic, the entertainment and the educational ability.

always thinking about and visting the parks, I must have spent 300+ days in the orginal Disneyland, 8 weeks in WDW and 49 vacations at DLP. I am currently saving for a mega trip to HKDL and TDL. But now I am rethinking life.

Disney has had it's ups and downs, but lately it seems down, down, down. Toons and thrills seem to be the only thing the parks can do anymore - look at additions to all the resorts over the last 10 years and the plans for DCA over the coming years. Rubberheads replace themed entertainment. The menus of WDW are dumbed down thanks to the dining plan. And the maintenance of DLP and the MK are really poor.

Occassionally elements like the new lights in the floral Mickey brings hope. But for now it's one step forwards, three steps back. And I am tired of it. But so many fan sites treat me like I am alone.

The hotels and restaurants do not offer the quality experience of their competitors, and the family friendly standards the park started has diminished. And if it's not pirates, princess, pins or plush - the shops don't sell it.

Maybe I am getting old, but I sure miss the good old days. Anyone else?

If you feel the same way, it would be wonderful of you to sign up and be counted.

 

[pumpkin5156]

I feel this way sometimes. But then I justify it as, "Oh I was a kid when I thought that way." I think we see no imperfections as children

I still love the parks, but I agree that service and food have gone down, and prices have gone up.

It's all about the bottom line now, and I think Disney didn't used to be that way.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I could probably write about this for hours if I could type, but unfortunately I can not.
The world around us, day to day experiences, likes and dislikes all affect our perception of what we feel. Emotional make up, depression, anxiety, and time all affect our day to day being.
Corporations have to have a profit margin, 100 of thousands of people depend upon Disney for income and like basic day to day living there is a food chain ($$$$) from top to bottom.

It would be nice if someone could wave a wand and make things magical, special, but only you can do that. For that last 30 years I have worked in places like Iraq, Afganistan, Africa and Central America where I do not think most people who live in first world countries can even fathom what misery goes on day to day. But if you have not experienced something different I would think it would be hard to know something different other than existance and to us survival.

Disney really has no competition for what it provides and as long as people have the money to pay for what they think they need, not much will change. WDW is the largest attend attraction(s) in the world, why is that. As long as the majority are mostly satified with the results, Disney will move along.

Only you can make the MAGIC happen.

By the way, what is FACEBOOK.

Jack

 

[Hound 109]

"By the way, what is FACEBOOK"

 

[JadeDarkstar]

face book is another site like myspace ive never been to it but might start it.
I do agree food could be better but i rember when i was a kid every time i went to disneyland (with my dad) i felt like the happyest girl in the world. I was spending time with him even tho he was so sick(cancer 7 years) and he loved seeing me smile and happy

Yes I'm sure its changed but i dont notice it, I try to think Im going this offtin for my son, for my sanity and to just have fun and spend time with those i love.

 

[shoppingmom]

We never went to DL as kids, had relatives who went often and it didn't bother me not to go. Once I was married we took our son on a trip but only had one day there but thought wow! We have been back twice in the last 4 years and plan another trip this fall. WE LOVE DL! We don't compare it to our first trip 9 years ago, each time is a new trip, new things, new fun! We saw the first trip through our son's eye the next trip through our daughter's eyes and the last trip through my brother's (and his families) eyes. This next trip will just be the 4 of us again and we are so looking forward to it. I think you can only get into a trip to Disneyland or anywhere what you put into it.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

It's true that we view things so much differently when were kids. I went almost yearly as a child, and it was just all so magical. Rides like Peter Pan and IASW were REAL in my eyes. I'll never forget the first time I went as an older teenager, after not going for a few years, and noticed the ceiling marks on IASW. I noticed the lights and speakers. Of course at that point I knew it wasn't "real". But it just wasn't the same after that. LOL

Now there are things that I miss and hated that they took out. Like the country Bears and other favorite attractions. The guests in the parks seem to be more rude these days too. Just a sign of the times I guess.

But I still love the parks. It's a whole new experience watching the magic through my son's eyes. And it's also still an escape from reality and the every day grind.

 

[SILLYANDI]

I've had my Disney ups and downs (the DCL House Party Hoting was VERY disappointing)...BUT, I would suggest you try a Disney Cruise. It really has been the best Disney experience we've ever had. Maybe it will bring oyu back (not that I'm trying to save you from the dark side or anything!)

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I agree with fairycat about the new additions over the years too. I love the changes to the POTC. I was really worried about it at first, but I think they did a great job, and it doesn't take away from the classic. We also love the Holiday version of the HM. We also have favorites over at DCA. So while I do miss the old days about certain things, there are a lot of new things that have become favorites!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi Dave - its been a while since our discussions over on the DLP forum. Don't remember seeing you post over here before.

I think with your background and experiences with Disney resorts you have a different view than I do. I have not been nearly as often as you. In fact, I would not want to go that often. To me Disney resorts are best experienced at longer intervals. The analogy I always use is Christmas holidays. I love the holidays - but only once a year. Having Christmas happen four times a year would lessen the appeal. We do a Disney resort roughly about once a year. That is about right for me. It keeps it feeling special. I cannot imagine being an AP holder who goes to a resort every month or (like some at DLR especially) every week.

Anyway, back to your question, like many others I felt DLR went downhill in the 1990's and it has been cool to see its revival over the last few years. The 50th celebration at DLR got lots of things moving in good directions. So with regard to DLR, no I do not see things the way you do. I see DLR as being as magical as ever.

I am not qualified to speak about WDW or DLRP having only been to each once. I will say though that DLRP was incredibly beautiful with so much attention to detail, but it was jarring to see so many weeds and untrimmed hedges especially in Fantasyland there. I would have to guess the upkeep required there is more than at DL because they have more detail.

And my snapshot of WDW in 2006 led me to think that WDW is behind DLR in upkeep. There were many things there that looked run down. But even so, they had lots of magic going there there as well. They would do well to look to DLR for the lead as DLR is doing so many things right now.

 

[davewasbaloo]

I'm glad DL is doing well still, that is so good to hear (though I am worried about the reliance on toons in the upcoming DCA development plans). I am looking forward to our upcoming trips.

And Hydroguy, we don't go very often any more. 2006 was DLP and WDW, 2007 was DLP, 2008 is DL and maybe DLP.

I am just worried that there is a trend towards either toons or thrills when they bring new attractions on board. What was the last e-ticket addition at DLR that the whole family could experience without toons? Soarin' comes close, but my 2 yo cannot ride it. America Sings probably was the last one.

At WDW - Kilemenjaro Safari was the last one, but before that? Great Movie Ride probably. Or maybe Lights Motors Action

At DLP - Moteurs Action and Cinemagique. Before that no other e-ticket has been added without a thrill or toon element.

But my biggest issues are the dumbing down of merchandise and dining (look at the Riverbelle Terrace menu changes as well as Fort Wilderness on TSI), the biggest issues are at WDW - dining plan, upcharge parties more Saturdays than not etc. Then at DLP the maze is in a state and the refurb budget has been cut this year.

I am so glad DL is still keeping the standards high!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hmmmm. I am not sure I agree or disagree with you about the types of rides, but I will take the opposing position here for sake of discussion and see where it goes.

First, I am not sure your question is fair. In times past, Disney had little competition. And public acceptance for e-tickets like POTC, HM, IASW and Submarine Voyage were high. Today few would consider IASW an e-ticket, and what used to be the sub voyage would not be an e-ticket today either in its original form. Remarkably, POTC and HM have stood the test of time and remain popular e-tickets. How "family friendly" they are is debatable. HM is not really suitable for very young kids, and POTC is marginal. IMO almost all Disney rides are family friendly, but not necessarily suitable for the very young. The very young may be more oriented towards today's A, B and C tickets.

As years have gone by Disney has added more thrillers. Like Indy, BTMRR, Space Mtn and maybe Star Tours. The bar is higher. And I like it that at DLR anyways they have so many thriller rides.

There has not been a new e-ticket at DL since Indy in the mid-90's. FNSV is not really an e-ticket, and not really new. If and when DL adds a new e-ticket I suspect it will fall into the thriller category. So your point about new non-thriller non-toon e-tickets is somewhat of a mute point at DL since they have not added any for so many years. My lesser knowledge of MK at WDW says the same thing. They have not added any e-tickets for a long time. In both cases your argument wins by default since e-tickets are not going in.

Now, look at the other parks. DCA you mentioned and it has only four e-tickets. I would say GRR meets your requirement for a family friendly non-toon e-ticket. You mentioned Soarin and it does as well. Screamin and ToT do not.

At WDW you have only three e-tickets at Epcot: Test Track, MS, and Soarin. MS is not family friendly in your sense but TT is I think. Soarin is as well.

At DHS you have two, neither of which are family friendly in your sense: ToT and RnR.

At AK you have KS and Kali, both family friendly and non-toon, and EE and Dinosaur which are not.

I am not sure I see a trend here that supports your position, but I would be interested in what you think.

 

[Jenn1116]

Interesting debate you have going on. I use to visit DL just about every other year as a child, the last visit when I was in my early teens. )^ for the 50th was my first return since then, and it was much more magical than I remember it being. Part of that could be because I was sharing the experience with my DD2, and going with a child is such a new thrill! We/re going again this weekend. It's only been a year and a half and I am very excited (but worried about crowds). I agree that going too often definitely takes away some of the magic so my plan is to keep the visits at the very least 1 year apart to keep the magic alive for her as long as possible.

 

[nunzia]

I can see both sides. Food options have gotten more generic, but I'm sure there are labor/supply issues there, but yes, it's sad. Rides have been more geared to rollercoaster type, which I don't like and won't ride, but there are still many fun ones coming online that everyone will love. I don't know if you think Astroblasters is an E but I found it wonderful. Toy Story Mania sounds great and the possible mermaid sounds E like but family friendly.
After a general malaise in the 90's I also see a turnaround for better upkeep, thank heavens, but then again, I miss the low crowds.
I guess we can be sappy and say it is just as Walt wanted, never done, and not everyone will love all things or changes (personally, glad to see Country Bears go, but why did they take out Peoplemovers and then Rocket Rods lasted a whole year..bring back the Peoplemover!) It does bother me that food has become more standard, but that is pretty much the way all over, so I guess we can still hunt for unique favorites or find new ones.
No matter, still, no one does it better than Disney, and it looks like they are gearing up for many more decades of raising the bar.

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, I will jump in here too. As is the case with many of you, I used to go to Disneyland at least once a year - sometimes more - through childhood, starting at about age 5 or 6, always with older adult friends of the family, so they wanted to make me happy but I still had to do what they said! I remember the OLD Tomorrowland - so 'naive' it its vision of the future, almost, but I miss it! I remember the admission price to the park was only like $15 or something! I couldn't imagine a place that was any more fun than Disneyland. It was the ultimate to me - an escape, a playground, an alternate reality.

Then, as a teenager and young adult, my girlfriends and boyfriends and I would again go about twice a year, in big, disorganized, bickering groups of Melrose Place-like romantic entanglements and such. I think, because of who I was going with and what drama was going on, I let myself lose interest in some of the magic and paid less attention to detail. It suddenly was just a place to go to enjoy being with all my companions, but I wasn't connecting to it as I had as a child. But nothing could beat the special dose of 'magic' that was pervasive in Disneyland during the holidays and Disney was always in my heart. And I became very active in the merchandise-buying fanaticism that had swept the park. A costly endeavor, but a strangely satisfying one despite its underlying emptiness.

Up until about 1994, my friends and I still made our annual sojourn to Disneyland, and I felt myself really connecting to the joy it brought me once again. BUT, somewhere along the way, when I got involved with a boyfriend who had no interest in Disneyland, I stopped going. I used to live for the twice-yearly trips. But I actually did not set foot in the park for FIVE YEARS, and, honestly, after a while, I forgot how I felt to be there and it didn't matter to me to not go.

In 2000 and 2001, I returned to the park. It was a different scene then from what it had been in the mid-nineties. Now there was this California Adventure to contend with - and I live in California, so we residents didn't feel like we needed to have a park saluting the California 'adventure' IN California. What was Disney becoming, I thought. Is it losing touch with what the people want? Not to mention the outrageous prices for admission and everything else. Staying in the Grand Californian was quite a shock to my wallet.

Due to financial problems, I again stayed away from the park for six years, and resigned myself to the fact that I would probably not be able to go back. Then, miraculously, one of my clients asked me if I could use some free Disneyland tickets. It was like cloudy sky suddenly turned blue. My friends and I went back last October, as 40-year-old adults, for the Halloween decorations, and I was again bitten by the bug! We were getting in pictures with characters and doing silly things just like we had when we were young. Right away, we booked a trip for December and went for Christmas. Then, after we got back from that, I booked a trip for this coming December! I couldn't see how I had been able to stay away for so long when it brought me such joy to be there (and yes, I know it is superficial joy, but joy nonetheless)! The precise reason I stayed away was because of money, which only fed into sadmess and misery, but setting foot in the park instantly cheered me up! It made me wonder if Disney spikes their air with 'happiness juice,' guaranteed to pep up even the most downtrodden souls!

My friend said that no matter how many times she goes to DL, it always feels like the first time. I guess it taps into that initial feeling of wonder and magic that we all felt when we went there as kids. And even though the prices are steadily increasing and it can really set you back just to book a room, somehow, at the end of the trip, you feel it was all worth it. It doens't feel like you got gypped. Other places charge a lot and it makes me angry. I can always forgive Disneyland, though, even though their prices keep climbing and it is getting harder to afford it. Thank goodness I don't have kids, although I have a feeling it would be a whole different kind of magical experience to go with a child and watch as they are entranced by the sights, sounds, smells, souvenirs, big furry characters, and other perks of the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[HydroGuy]

The debate about cost of Disney tickets pops up every so often and, frankly, I do not get it. If you compare Disney tickets to other types of entertainment Disney looks like a bargain to me. I realize the cost may be a stretch for some people and such people need to make their own entertainment decisions.

When I compare DLR to other entertainment that I and others enjoy, here is what I see:

Disneyland Resort
o DLR one day ticket: $66 adult, $56 child
o DLR three ticket: $169 adult, $139 child ($56/$46 per day)
o During high season DLR is open 8AM-Midnight, allowing you to enjoy DLR for up to 16 hours per day
o Using the one day rate and assuming you spend 12 hours at the resort, cost is $5.50 per hour for adults and $4.67 per hour for children

Copper Mountain Snow Skiing
Skiing at our favorite ski resort in Colorado (which has average ticket prices)
o Lift tickets one day: $86 adult, $45 child
o no significant discount on multi-day tickets
o Mountain open 8:30AM-4PM on weekends and 9AM-4PM weekdays - 7 to 7.5 hours per day
o Assuming you spend 7 hours skiing, cost is $12.29 per hour for adults and $6.42 per hour for children

Denver Broncos
Took my family to see a Denver Broncos game this year
o Tickets cost $150 per person - and we sat way at the top of the stadium
o Football game lasted 3 hours
o Cost is $50 per hour for adults and children for nosebleed seats

Colorado Rockies
Went to see a baseball game in September
o Tickets were $48 per person for decent seats (could have had tickets for $28 for nosebleed seats)
o Game lasted three hours
o Cost is $16 per hour for the better seats and could have been $9.33 per hour for the nosebleed seats

Movie
o Adult cost $8, child cost $6
o Movie lasts two hours
o Cost is $4 per hour for adults and $3 per hour for children

When you compare all of this, Disney looks like a bargain to me for what you get.

 

[jory29]

Disneyland is an absolute priceless experience, and they are not charging too much money at all. Even though I am saddened at the last 2 or 3 sudden price increases, as it means more money for a family trip for us on top of the flights, hotels, meals, etc., I think almost any price is worth it. We have been able to go 2 times in the last 2 years, but will likely not get back for another 2 years now.

We live in Alberta, where one day in the last week was -48 degrees celcius with the wind chill factor (That is -54.4 in F.) Bundling up to take the kids to school and back, and going to work back and forth wasn't much fun. My car broke down one day, and within 5 minutes, the inside of the car was frosted up on the inside when it was no longer running. All I could do as we walked back home in the cold, was think, "Boy, do I wish we were in Disneyland!"

Every day I look on this board, to keep with the Disneyland spirit, and every day I take a look at the HoJo webcam just to see the ambience.

We were there in November this past year, and daily, I miss the smell of the air, (I love the humidity), I miss the bright blue skies on the warm days, I miss the California sun, and most of all, I miss Disneyland and California Adventure Park, too.

Those of you who live close enough to go often, you are so very, very lucky, and so many of you do know and appreciate that, which is cool to see.

Disneyland is, without a doubt, the happiest place in the world. I still love Disneyland.

 

[doombuggy]

I could probably write about this for hours if I could type, but unfortunately I can not.
The world around us, day to day experiences, likes and dislikes all affect our perception of what we feel. Emotional make up, depression, anxiety, and time all affect our day to day being.
Corporations have to have a profit margin, 100 of thousands of people depend upon Disney for income and like basic day to day living there is a food chain ($$$$) from top to bottom.

It would be nice if someone could wave a wand and make things magical, special, but only you can do that. For that last 30 years I have worked in places like Iraq, Afganistan, Africa and Central America where I do not think most people who live in first world countries can even fathom what misery goes on day to day. But if you have not experienced something different I would think it would be hard to know something different other than existance and to us survival.

Disney really has no competition for what it provides and as long as people have the money to pay for what they think they need, not much will change. WDW is the largest attend attraction(s) in the world, why is that. As long as the majority are mostly satified with the results, Disney will move along.

Only you can make the MAGIC happen.

Jack

Loved your post

To the OP, maybe you need a break...I started annual trips to WDW in 1974, shortly after my grandparents moved to Tampa. Thru 1983, every time I went to visit Mom & Pop, we went to WDW. I loved it! We also went to Cypress Gardens, Silver Spring, Weekee Wachi and Circus World, but WDW was always my favorite. I didn't go back until 1994 (Presidents week, which i don't recomend); I was mid-20s then. I went twice in 1997 (again President's week b/c that was Dad's times share week, and later in September) - but by then I had started to work for the company. Sometimes when I am surrounded by "this" I feel I need a break from it too.

Here's wishing you all the best - cheers!