Right On Kathy and Kevin!!!

[maiyasmom]

I just listened to this week's DISboards show and I can't tell you all how much I AGREED with Kathy and Kevin regarding the topic of the effects the Disney fan sites have on the "magic" of Disney. I must say that my family and I are privileged to go to Disney at least once a year and are DVC members. Each time I step foot on property it sometimes brings me to tears because I am so grateful to just be there. Planning for a Disney vacation can be stressful but most of all it is fun! Please people the next time you're at Disney World, take a minute and remember to enjoy your vacation, notice all the amazing things around you and most of all be grateful for the opportunity to be there. There are so many that would love to be in your place! Thank you Kathy and Kevin for your comments this week I was practically yelling at my iPod because I feel so strongly about this. You said everything that I was thinking. Thanks again!

 

[G66]

I agree completely with the sentiment of slowing down to smell the roses and the false sense of entitlement that some have come to expect. I think that has more to do with the individual than a climate created by the plethora of Disney information at our fingertips.

The initial thread dealt with Disney information devaluing the experience. I would say unequivocally no. Just because you are informed does not mean you have to run around like an entitled idiot demanding guest experiences. One of the reasons I love WDW is that I have the knowledge base of information gained from the web, podcasts and the UG. Armed with this information the vacation is a much more relaxing endeavor. Even with the explosion of information available, the vast majority of WDW guests still show up at the gates without a plan. No plan leads to stress and disappointment.

IMHO, even the "planners" at times fail to grasp the size and scope of WDW. You just can't see and do everything in one, two, three or more trips. I have been six times in the last five years and have still not seen Fantasmic. It's not for not trying. I have had the dinner package twice and still not seen it. Sometimes you need to know when everyone is done and head back to the resort. My attitude is "I'll get it next time", which in this case is mid August. Wish me luck .

One last note as to smelling the roses: One of the most enjoyable things we ever did was something Pete mentioned in a podcast. We hit the park at rope drop, got in a few quick headliners and then strolled back to the MS Bakery for a leisurely breakfast at the outside tables. Soaking in the atmosphere as we ate our breakfast treats was priceless. The entire family absolutely loved it. It does not have to always be go, go, go.

 

[Cherinva]

I totally agree also. I don't get to WDW as much as I would like to, but when I do go......I feel so many things....and I too, often have a tear in my eye(s)...especially when I get to see the Opening Show at MK. I went down this year in May, just after Mothers Day..it was a quick 2 day trip, but I had the most fun...my DBF and I took our time and just enjoyed....not to mention that it was to celebrate his birthday....he was greeted by every cast member with Happy Birthday Steve..we got front row seating on several rides and most were walk ons....no waiting. It was a wonderful experience...one that I'm sure I won't have again...but one that I will never forget. Having the internet and the DIS website keeps me informed...and excited for the next trip (which will be in December with my girls)

 

[disneyholic family]

This is why I am never able to explain to some people why I love it so much...
The people who only see the rides and nothing else..

 

[maiyasmom]

The information we have access to through the Internet is priceless and one that I am very grateful for. Reading trip reports, tips, etc. Get me through in between trips. I in no way expect for my experiences at Disney to be the same as someone else's and wouldn't expect it either which is why I can't understand posts about how vacations are ruined because their expectations weren't met.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I largely agree with what Kathy and Kevin said, with a caveat.

There are many, many people who cannot just pop in to WDW, who do not have Annual Passes, or DVC properties, or are able to go every six months/year/other year, etc.

These people are once in a lifetime visitors. For them, it absolutely makes sense to be there at rope drop, to plan their day, minute by minute, to 180-day ADR, etc. At many times of the year, that's the only way to get everything done. Now, many they don't need to see everything, but for people who want to share everything that WDW has to offer with their family, it's worth a try. My SO is complaining that I didn't "let" him go on Dumbo The Flying Elephant when we were down there in March, and we're going back in ten weeks.

 

[FireDancer]

I largely agree with what Kathy and Kevin said, with a caveat.

There are many, many people who cannot just pop in to WDW, who do not have Annual Passes, or DVC properties, or are able to go every six months/year/other year, etc.

These people are once in a lifetime visitors. For them, it absolutely makes sense to be there at rope drop, to plan their day, minute by minute, to 180-day ADR, etc. At many times of the year, that's the only way to get everything done. Now, many they don't need to see everything, but for people who want to share everything that WDW has to offer with their family, it's worth a try. My SO is complaining that I didn't "let" him go on Dumbo The Flying Elephant when we were down there in March, and we're going back in ten weeks.

I think in those situations it still applies. Not so much that they shouldn't plan everything out to get the most in or be in the parks from rope drop until the kiss goodnight, but that while they are doing something they are really enjoying it and not thinking about the next thing. If you are in line for a ride just soak it all in and enjoy the atmosphere. Once you are done with the ride you can rush to the next thing, but so often people concentrate so much on what they are doing next that the barely notice what they are doing now.

As for the sense of entitlement, that is a whole different mater and some time on the boards will make it clear that it exists.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I largely agree with what Kathy and Kevin said, with a caveat.

There are many, many people who cannot just pop in to WDW, who do not have Annual Passes, or DVC properties, or are able to go every six months/year/other year, etc.

These people are once in a lifetime visitors. For them, it absolutely makes sense to be there at rope drop, to plan their day, minute by minute, to 180-day ADR, etc. At many times of the year, that's the only way to get everything done. Now, many they don't need to see everything, but for people who want to share everything that WDW has to offer with their family, it's worth a try. My SO is complaining that I didn't "let" him go on Dumbo The Flying Elephant when we were down there in March, and we're going back in ten weeks.

Hi Amy,

I dont think there is anything wrong with that level of planning...if thats what works for you.

I think the point Kathy and I were making is that some folks seem to feel entitled to every single piece of Magic in WDW.

If a guest gets a bit of unexpected pixie dust on their vacation and comes back and shares that "little Susie go to do XYZ while in the Magic Kingdom", then there will be folks whose "vacations are RUINED if little Sarah doesnt get to do exactly the same thing. This is the only thing that little Sarah wanted to do and now she's in psychotherapy because she didnt get to do XYZ and Disney should invite them back from for free so that little Sarah can see get back to her normal life after this devastating loss."

While this is an exaggeration...it happens.

We also get asked quite frequently about how to make an occasion (birthday, anniversary, graduation, promotion, diagnosis etc) special. I think Kathy and I were suggesting that being in the Magic Kingdom IS special.

Hope that helps clear things up.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yes, I definitely agree with that. We went down for our BIG birthdays (my 30th, SO's 60th), and loved just being there. I could ride on the monorail loop pretty much forever.

 

[simonkodousek]

I totally agreed with Kathy and Kevin's comments made on the show. Just going over to the dining and restaurants board gives me a headache because of the level of "if I don't go here, my vacation is RUINED" threads. I go in to the parks with the mindset of, "If I don't get to do this, that, or the other, it doesn't really matter because I'm still on vacation in WDW, but if I do get the opportunity, that would be great."

 

[jcb]

While I have never had an "entitlement" attitude (I hope), I will admit I enjoy WDW much more because of the disboards (either that or it is my mid-life crisis). I approached the parks like Pete described, commando style, but the boards helped me see another side to visiting WDW. DW enjoys going to WDW much more now than she used to.

As to the effect of internet boards, I'll just say that I'm pretty familiar with "entitled" people (in my day job, we call them "frequent filers"). At most, the boards provide them with another reason to be disappointed to learn that the world doesn't revolve around them. If internet boards were not available, however, these kind of folks would find some other way to have a "ruined vacation" no matter where they traveled.

 

[disneym2m]

I agree. Just to be at whatever Disney park is magical enough for me and if something magically does happen it was a nice surprise. I have been to WDW 3 times and DL once and have never experienced a "magical" moment. But I hear my friends who have only gone once have like 3 "magical" experiences during that trip. I am so happy that my friends get that experience and not upset that I haven't.

I used to plan my WDW trip down to the minute just because I wanted to experience everything, but soon realized that the unexpected things were awesome. When I visited DL, I took the time to look at everything. The Main Street windows, the Mickey shaped confetti on the ground, and I even enjoyed my first Mickey shaped cone. I knew that this was probably my only trip to DL and I was going to absorb and take it all in. And I will have to admit it was one of my best Disney trips. I didn't have a minute by minute schedule and took one thing at a time. I am so looking forward to my December trip, and try to enjoy it all in the same type of manner, since it will be a while until I visit again.

But I also understand that some people want to have the same "magical" experiences as their friends. Maybe things are happening in those people's lives and they just want a little pixie dust....something to feel special. But I also understand that Disney doesn't owe anybody anything but does their best to make everyone feel special. Too bad some people see this as a greedy opportunity.

Okay enough said, now to all: go and have a great time at a Disney park and just enjoy the moment.

 

[cj9200]

I agree in part with Kevin and Kathy's comments and somewhat disagree. As an example, I took my daughter and some friends to WDW for her 16th birthday. At check in, the CM and the one next to her were both engaged in a conversation with me about the birthday and the roller coaster of taking that many teens to Disney alone. I didn't ask for anything but thought they might send a card or something. Didn't happen. Did it ruin the experience, absolutely not. It would have been a nice touch but no therapy will be needed. Those that take the, "If I don't get this the trip is ruined attitude," are misguided and I hope are in the minority.

When I ask people on the boards for ideas on something special to do, it is in the Disney credo of plussing that trip. Just being at Disney is special in itself but like the kiss goodnight, on most of our trips I want to do something extra to make the vacation more memorable. The birthday trip we did an Illumination Cruise that I think the kids will remember for a while. On another trip my daughter and I went diving in the Living Seas. While I am sure the Podcast crew is tired of hearing the question because they are asked it all the time, others have given me great suggestions of things I never would have thought to do.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

cj9200, I agree that it's fun to do different stuff, but it doesn't have to cost anything extra. My partner and I had a great time when a bird landed on the balcony outside our room in March. We got lots of pictures, video, etc, even asked the bird if he was as cold as we were, LOL.

 

[PeterPan09]

Hi Amy,

I dont think there is anything wrong with that level of planning...if thats what works for you.

I think the point Kathy and I were making is that some folks seem to feel entitled to every single piece of Magic in WDW.

If a guest gets a bit of unexpected pixie dust on their vacation and comes back and shares that "little Susie go to do XYZ while in the Magic Kingdom", then there will be folks whose "vacations are RUINED if little Sarah doesnt get to do exactly the same thing. This is the only thing that little Sarah wanted to do and now she's in psychotherapy because she didnt get to do XYZ and Disney should invite them back from for free so that little Sarah can see get back to her normal life after this devastating loss."

While this is an exaggeration...it happens.

We also get asked quite frequently about how to make an occasion (birthday, anniversary, graduation, promotion, diagnosis etc) special. I think Kathy and I were suggesting that being in the Magic Kingdom IS special.

Hope that helps clear things up.

Sadly, it's not that much of an exaggeration. I've only been working there a short time and I have already seen (and heard) guests demand certain things that they KNOW other people got because they read it on the internet. Planning is one thing-looking for ways to "get over" on the Disney company is something else altogether. Is that really why you go on vacation? To engineer ways to get stuff for free?

Even in my short tenure, I've found that the guests who have the best time (and are most likely to see a little pixie dust spread their way) are the ones who are not looking for or demanding anything extra and are simply enjoying the magic of being at the parks.

Thank you SO much for putting that out there on the podcast-even though I'm fairly sure that the folks who listen aren't the ones who really need to hear it.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

I believe that there are two different issues that are dovetailing into a sad state in our society.

Information exchange on any topic is instantaneous. With the cost of accessing it so generally affordable, this overwhelming amount of information doesn't even need to be objectively true. Whatever the mob is saying at the given snapshot is accepted as the norm. And everyone wants to be normal.

Additionally, the willingness and ability to bear above-standard prices on goods and services is more and more equated with a sense of entitlement. You deserve more because because you pay more.

As a site dedicated to all things Disney, posters here see it in these worlds. But, as someone who lives near and works in one of the busiest and most crowded cities in the world, I am sad to report that it is no different anywhere else.

You want the best seats to a sporting event, or concert, or play? "Back in the day", you might earn that reward by camping out hours in advance to purchase tickets that were available to all at the same price. No more. The best seats are now openly reserved for only those willing to pay above-published prices. What used to be classified as illegal scalping is now sugar-coated with innocuous titles such as "seat licenses" and "VIP seating". Is it a business? Yeah. Does it degrade our sense of community, and isolate us more into "us" and "them"? Yeah.

People complaining that their vacation is ruined due to their child being unable to wake Tinkerbell or not getting enough ketchup bottles at WCC are merely reflective of this societal trend.

It is extremely sad. The best way to fight it is to reject it in our daily lives by enjoying the simpler pleasures of being surrounded by family and friends that we love, especially in a special theme park business created to magnify that simple joy. Maybe your demonstration of experiencing the magic will open someone else's eyes.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

MainStFireman, I think you nailed it. We have that problem with Broadway, too. If you want a good seat, and you don't know anyone in the business, it's $350 a pop. I often offer to help people get house seats just because I don't want them paying that kind of money to see a bad show.

 

[scjo68]

I agree that the internet contributes by providing instant information to the masses- specifically targeting the population that wants that information. This applies to not just WDW, but many areas. But WDW is a great example.

I think folks with an entitlement attitude have always been around. They just weren't provided with so much info about what they should be entitled to before the internet. So pre-internet, when guests experienced "magic' touches such as waking Tink or receiving a towel animal, they went home and told their friends about it, and even then, only a few, if any, of their friends were going to WDW. So very few guests actually knew anything about these special touches even being done at all. That left them a surprise.

Now, when a guest gets a special experience at WDW, they come home and immediately post about the pixie dust they got, and what they did to get it. Now, within hours, thousands of people-specifically future WDW guests- know about the experience. Some readers plan to aim for the same pixie dust, strategizing compulsively ("I want to get/do________. What time do I get there?/where do I stand?/what do I wear?" )

If not receiving this perk "ruins" your vacation, then you either posses the dreaded "entitlement" attitude, or you are just missing the forest for the trees.

I totally agree with the podcast team that if you are in WDW at all, that is already pretty special. An important thing to remember is as great as planning is (and I truly LOVE WDW trip planning!) there are some things that can't and shouldn't be planned. Leave room for the special surprises that are all around.

 

[Joshua_me]

Hmm...

While I think the sense of entitlement in the parks was certainly exacerbated by the Internet, I don't think in any way it was created by it.

I have a great many memories from the pre-Internet days of fellow park guests complaining loudly over the smallest things. I can remember someone at Columbia Harbor House screeching at a CM because the ketchup was too sweet...

I'm not sure what the cause of this is, aside from basic selfishness and perhaps people having a false imagining of everything in the MK being absolutely perfect.

We've all seen people arguing at the parks and parents asking their children at the tops of their lungs if they know how much this vacation is costing them. And while I'm not claiming it's been all smooth sailing between my family members and loved ones, it's always amazed me just how miserable some folks can be in a place that so closely mimics paradise.

Are things getting worse or are we just getting older ? Perhaps a bit of both, it's hard to separate reality from personal perception at times.

Many people have asked me over the years why I never tried to work for Disney, saying I'd make the perfect Jungle Cruise skipper and such, and my answer has always been that Disney is my "magic place" and I don't really want to see "behind the curtain" for fear of ruining the illusion.

But, maybe the real answer to that question is that I just couldn't deal with having to wait on so many upset and angry people on a daily basis. People who should be counting their blessings for being able to attend this happiest of places with their families and instead are as miserable as can be. That would be the real shattering of the experience for me.

 

[safetymom]

I was a single parent bringing 3 children to Disney. I considered myself very lucky when I got to visit Disney. We were thrilled just to be there. We didn't do table service restaurants because the budget didn't allow it.

We didn't have annual passes and we were lucky to go as many times as we did. But in our minds this was our once in a lifetime trip. We left knowing it may be a long time before we visited again.

We didn't take other vacations, go out to dinner, movies and the kids and I saved every cent we could so we could manage to go back to WDW.

One of the most memorable trips for my family was when I had enough to get us to WDW but not a lot of extra money for fancy meals. We went to the grocery store and got the makings for sandwiches. The kids loved it.