Run down and dirty

[MUFFYCAT]

Everyone has different tastes. I know Disney isn't for everyone. From our 1st visit in 2000, we were amazed how clean and well kept the parks were.

I don't like Universal. It feels more like a Six Flags park to me and have no desire to go back.

It's good we all like different theme parks. Think how crowded it would be if everyone went to the same park.

 

[Timmy Boy]

^Six Flags parks have no theme, the employees all wear the same thing, regardless of the ride, and have a lot of really amazing coasters. Universals parks have themes and stories, the Team Members wear a different wardrobe for every attraction, keeping up with the theme, and the parks have things for everyone in the family, including as many coasters as Disney does. Let's count:

DISNEY
Space Mountain (I'm counting it even though it's closed)
Barnstormer
Big Thunder Mountain
Primevil Whirl
Everest
Rock N Roller Coaster

UNIVERSAL
Hulk
Dragons
Woody Woodpecker
Flying Unicorn
Mummy
Rockit

Here's pics of Universal's theming. Still look like a Six Flags to you?

And there's a lot more. Point is, people are SO SCARED to venture away from the motherland that they will never see the amazing stories and themes that are told at Universal. Ok so it's not Disney's Islands of Adventure, but that park is the number 1 park in Orlando for terms of themed environment. Actually DAK may be first, but if you go to IOA, it is incredibly themed. It doesn't have to be Disney! Both are theme parks, that are themed, have rides, and are clean. And don't say that "well Disney could do it better". Really? Everything they could do, Disney could do it better?

 

[pepe of ohio]

We were at WDW last week and visited all four parks at least once and in no way was it "run down and dirty", just the opposite. I was curious to see if the recent layoffs would result in a reduction of service, CM attitude, or cleanliness and we found absolutely no evidence of that. We enjoyed the same first class service and loved the flowers, decorations and excellent upkeep of the parks.
As I get older ( and I hope wiser) I've found that there are always some people who are prepared to be unhappy and aren't satisfied until they find something to criticize about things that other people enjoy. I feel sorry for those people. They're missing a lot in life.

We've logged 42 trips so far and WDW is by far the most brilliantly run and operated area we've been. The shear magnitude of the place, with so many CM's catering to a zillion guests on a day to day basis is mind boggling. Guests check in and out have got to have an impact and Disney keeps up very well in all areas. The allotment to detail is amazing, a flower bed one day and be completely transformed over night. It's the small things that blow you away: spacing of trash cans, details from say adventureland to Frontierland is lighting, trash bins sidewalks etc. is first class.

There are people who will never get Disney but they are the kind looking for a whole park full of coasters and no attention to detail. Disney has attractions, they tell a story, some involve the guests and others let your mind play with the issues. The Haunted Mansion is one attraction, my favorite, and I enjoy dark rides, is the best I've ever seen. No matter how many times we're been on this attraction it never gets old, nothing gets old to us and 42 trips is alot of visits. We've seen the chipped paint, torn wallpaper etc but figure the amount of guests we day combing the property, I give WDW 10 thumbs up in all aspects of making the stay as magical as possible.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

^Six Flags parks have no theme, the employees all wear the same thing, regardless of the ride, and have a lot of really amazing coasters. Universals parks have themes and stories, the Team Members wear a different wardrobe for every attraction, keeping up with the theme, and the parks have things for everyone in the family, including as many coasters as Disney does. Let's count:

DISNEY
Space Mountain (I'm counting it even though it's closed)
Barnstormer
Big Thunder Mountain
Primevil Whirl
Everest
Rock N Roller Coaster

UNIVERSAL
Hulk
Dragons
Woody Woodpecker
Flying Unicorn
Mummy
Rockit

Here's pics of Universal's theming. Still look like a Six Flags to you?


And there's a lot more. Point is, people are SO SCARED to venture away from the motherland that they will never see the amazing stories and themes that are told at Universal. Ok so it's not Disney's Islands of Adventure, but that park is the number 1 park in Orlando for terms of themed environment. Actually DAK may be first, but if you go to IOA, it is incredibly themed. It doesn't have to be Disney! Both are theme parks, that are themed, have rides, and are clean. And don't say that "well Disney could do it better". Really? Everything they could do, Disney could do it better?

I never said Disney does it better. It's just the park that I prefer. Same as Disney isn't for everyone, neither is Universal. I'm not scared to venture off, I tried it a few times and didn't like it.
It's no deal, being that I visit Orlando 1-2 times a year I don't think Universal is missing me much. Neither would Disney if I didn't go there.

 

[Fast Pass]

I worked at SeaWorld and can I just say that some people complain about anything. Is Disney cleaner than Universal or SeaWorld- I don't know; it depends on the day, time of the season, who showed up for work or not, or what kind of pigs are going through a park on a particular day.
I have had people complain about paying for the tolls, having to wait on themselves at a counter service and upset because the photographer isn't where he/she is suppose to be.
I say to each his own. I am a Disney fanatic but I can see other people loving Universal more- I say more power to them! Thats what makes Orlando so great- there is something for everyone.

 

[scousemouse09]

Disney is so clean they take the mick out of it in Shrek, when Shrek and Donkey walk into the equivalent of Main Street in the film... That is the thing my family picks up on every time we go. Last time we went, we came home and went straight to a themepark in the UK with the extended family - we were disgusted by the difference!! The attention to detail is astounding. We ended up coming home early from a park due to torrential rain (which lasted all night), and ordered pizza to our room. When the pizza was delivered, we noticed the path outside was awash with mud and the flowers had taken a right battering. At 4am, someone was outside cleaning up the paths and sorting out the flower beds.

However, different strokes for different folks...

 

[Beka]

...but when we are at Disney World our family is at our best and the happiest!

I agree! I think that's why I love Disney so much. Those were my favorite trips with my parents. The rides are fun and all, but we *always* were happy when there (minus the time Mom got pooped on by a bird, but I think that was at Universal...)

The nice thing about that mom not liking WDW is now the lines are that much shorter!

 

[Absimilliard]

Unfortunately for me (in a way...), visiting both Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland spoiled Walt Disney World. You go to Tokyo Disneyland, which is the most popular theme park in the world (its PACKED every day of the year, walkways and plazas are twice as big as in FL, more attractions, more shows, bigger parades, etc.) and it still look like they just had the grand opening last night. The difference is that they still run it there like they used to in FL. Every attraction has a rehab every year and they're put back into perfect condition. They also do brilliant moves to make it more family friendly. Their Splash Mountain has a 36 inches height restriction, due to the addition of lap bars to the boats.

Disneyland is smaller than the Magic Kingdom, yet has more attractions, which are bigger and more impressive in many cases. Their Pirates is litterally twice as long as the one in Florida! They have shows in the park and during summer nights, the park come alive, since they kept the tradition of bringing music acts to allow the guests to just... have a great time.

WDW would need to stop waiting until an attraction is in horrible shape before rehabbing (Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion and soon Everest!), add an e-ticket to the Magic Kingdom, expand DHS and DAK before I stop considering WDW a 1 day stop while I go elsewhere in FL.

 

[Snow Shoe]

Back in 2000, we took a friend of our daughter's to WDW with us. We paid for everything from the plane and park tickets to all of her meals. She made it very clear daily, that she was having a rotten time. She constantly was comparing Disney to Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, (we close by) and how "they had more thrill rides", and was a better place to have fun at. Our daughter just let it go in one ear and out the other. Not everybody gets, or loves Disney, and I respect their opinions.

 

[pta-mom]

We first started going to Disney in April 2005....that was supposed to be our ONCE IN A LIFETIME trip....we've been back every year since, making it trip number four this September! We LOVE Disney! I was amazed & pleasantly surprised by how clean it was there given the number of people who go through the different parks each day. Garbage is quickly picked up & put away & the park appears to be very well kept up.

That being said, the last two trips I did notice something that I found disturbing. There seems to be a rather large collection of chewed gum being spit out in different places but specifically in the tunnels of Splash Mountain and along the rails of Big Thunder Mountain. This is so disgusting. Why do people feel the need to do this?

I think Disney does a wonderful job of looking after the pathways & common areas for their guests but it would be very hard to clean up everyday, areas like I mentioned above when careless (read: care less) people decide to spit out gum....for the fun of it?

In any case, I would not describe Disney as dirty & rundown to anyone!!

 

[pavil]

That things just were not as "tight" as they used to be. We just got back April 24th and noticed in multiple parks that even though it was slow season, things just weren't that crisp and clean for the high standard Disney has set.

It wasn't dirty and filthy, but it wasn't "Disney standard" either. We noticed CM moving from different Zones in costume with duffel bags, which is supposedly Taboo. The main walkways and queue lines were noticeably more littered than on previous trips as were the bathrooms, even with a lot less people in the parks. I know it we went before prime season and they were still touching up things for the Late Spring/Summer, but it was pretty obvious that Disney's standards had slipped somewhat.

You can still be a fan but point out these shortcomings out.

I hope our trip was just an aberration due to the new timeframe we traveled, but it was something we noticed and cause for concern.

The high bar that Disney has set was not maintained on parts of our past trip, which had light crowds.

 

[LovesTimone]

I understand that every one has a choice and a opinion,But with that said.

I was raised in central Florida about 45 mins from the parks all of them. I have been going to all the parks since 1971 or when they where built. WDW is the best of them all, WDW service is world class, the parks are the cleanest there are. Period no exception to the rule.
Last year we met some friends at US and it was horrible, to the point that we left and went to DTD to just to get some of the magic. I actually Emailed them on what a terrible time we had. The email I got back actually said well not everyone can be the Mouse. And if you compare everyone to WDW you have set the bar to high.

I guess I'm a Disney Kid at Heart

 

[SPOERLX3]

That things just were not as "tight" as they used to be. We just got back April 24th and noticed in multiple parks that even though it was slow season, things just weren't that crisp and clean for the high standard Disney has set.

It wasn't dirty and filthy, but it wasn't "Disney standard" either. We noticed CM moving from different Zones in costume with duffel bags, which is supposedly Taboo. The main walkways and queue lines were noticeably more littered than on previous trips as were the bathrooms, even with a lot less people in the parks. I know it we went before prime season and they were still touching up things for the Late Spring/Summer, but it was pretty obvious that Disney's standards had slipped somewhat.

You can still be a fan but point out these shortcomings out.

I hope our trip was just an aberration due to the new timeframe we traveled, but it was something we noticed and cause for concern.

The high bar that Disney has set was not maintained on parts of our past trip, which had light crowds.

I wonder if this could have something to do with all the employee's that Disney has laid off recently?

WDW IS STILL THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH! IMO

 

[wehavesix]

Back in 2000, we took a friend of our daughter's to WDW with us. We paid for everything from the plane and park tickets to all of her meals. She made it very clear daily, that she was having a rotten time. She constantly was comparing Disney to Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, (we close by) and how "they had more thrill rides", and was a better place to have fun at. Our daughter just let it go in one ear and out the other. Not everybody gets, or loves Disney, and I respect their opinions.

Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I would have had to explain to the friend that she was being rude by accepting your hospitality yet constantly complaining. I realize this was a child but even children need to use good manners. I'm glad her complaining didn't bother your daughter and she had a good time even with Miss Whiny in tow. Bless you for giving such a generous gift even though the recipient wasn't very gracious to you.

 

[PebblesMK]

Figured I would put in my two cents right quick. Disney isn't about the level of maintainence kept at the park, it's not about the nostalgia or the thrill factor of rides. What gets me every single time that I go, is the pure wonderment that comes across a child's face when they get to the park and see the castle. They know that there will be magic...and I think the CMs are amazing and go above and beyond and add to that magic. I could easily go and spend an entire day watching the kids....and the people like me who are awestruck every time. I really can't imagine another place that evokes such a sense of emotion from so many people on a daily basis....even the ones who have been there hundreds of times.

 

[ChevyNat]

My Son wants to see Criss Angel really bad, so this year we opted for Las Vegas.. I was a little sad not doing my beloved Disney, but wanted to give him something that he wanted for such a long time.
Well we finally came up with going to Las vegas, see the show and then off to Disney for 9 more days ha! ha! everyone is happy, my son was torn between Disney and Criss Angel... and now he gets to do both... not to mentioned that my daughter is excited, she chose Disney from the beginning ha!

 

[SPOERLX3]

Figured I would put in my two cents right quick. Disney isn't about the level of maintainence kept at the park, it's not about the nostalgia or the thrill factor of rides. What gets me every single time that I go, is the pure wonderment that comes across a child's face when they get to the park and see the castle. They know that there will be magic...and I think the CMs are amazing and go above and beyond and add to that magic. I could easily go and spend an entire day watching the kids....and the people like me who are awestruck every time. I really can't imagine another place that evokes such a sense of emotion from so many people on a daily basis....even the ones who have been there hundreds of times.

AMEN PebblesMK AMEN!
I am taking 2 of my grandkids this trip (11 & 12 yrs old) and family budget restraints don't allow there families to travel. They have never even been out of the state of Texas SO................I am sooooo excited to share this magical experience with each of them. Planning the trip has been a wonderful experience and I can't wait to see their faces when they walk into each park. It is going to be a memory that I will be able to charish for the rest of my life!

 

[marivaid]

Back in 2000, we took a friend of our daughter's to WDW with us. We paid for everything from the plane and park tickets to all of her meals. She made it very clear daily, that she was having a rotten time. She constantly was comparing Disney to Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, (we close by) and how "they had more thrill rides", and was a better place to have fun at. Our daughter just let it go in one ear and out the other. Not everybody gets, or loves Disney, and I respect their opinions.

It's one thing to be disappointed, but when you're being treated at least keep your opinions to yourself. You & your daughter were very patient. My mom would have put her sorry ... on a bus back to Texas faster than she could say "Rock'n'Roller Coaster with Aerosmith"


We're always amazed at how clean Disney is. I don't ever recall seeing trash on the ground in Magic Kingdom. We like to watch Illuminations from Cantina de San Angel in World Showcase and the staff starts cleaning the second the lights come back on!
But we haven't been to WDW since January and with all the lay offs, maybe they just don't have enough staff to do the dirty work anymore.

 

[dawn1620]

It's a huge park with about a million people schleping through it on a daily basis. We were there last year and yes there was the occasional piece of garbage on the ground - but I fault the moron who threw it there and not the people trying to keep the grounds clean.

It's Disney! I did not really "get it" until I walked down main street and saw the castle and I was gone - the Disney magic got another one and DH & I are both counting the days until we go back. Heck, we want to go worse than our seven year old.

I think the grounds were beautiful and we had a wonderful time.

Everyone has their opinions and are entitled to them. All you can do is feel bad for the ones who don't "get it" and did not fall under the Disney spell.

 

[pavil]

Last year we met some friends at US and it was horrible, to the point that we left and went to DTD to just to get some of the magic. I actually Emailed them on what a terrible time we had. The email I got back actually said well not everyone can be the Mouse. And if you compare everyone to WDW you have set the bar to high.

But I am comparing Disney to it's past own high standards, this last trip they noticeably lowered their own bar. I'm comparing Disney from 2003- 2007 to the our current trip.

Hopefully it's just due to the economic conditions and things will self correct once that improves.