Torn about DVC

[Dopey0039]

My family and I are going to WDW in Oct. My wife and I have been there for our Engagement, Honeymoon and 1st Anniversary. We then took a family trip (inlaws) in 2009.

During that trip I noticed that pretty much all of the parks looked like they were the recipients of kid type graffiti (Bill 08, I love So and So 06, etc) There were pen, scratched and cut into various struchers in the parks.

On a Monorail ride to MK there were several CM on the ride that were openly whining about their job and that they were going to work. I felt annoyed that I was there to escape and now I had to listen to them B**ch about work in 20 min.

I told my wife that it would be a long time before I went back. Now were are going and I cant help to think that nothing had changed. We talked about buying DVC but not sure about finding there problems for 20 years.

Has anyone besides me noticed a decline in magic?????

 

[luckyman_apd]

I think it's all perception. There are plenty who have noticed a decline in the magic. Our first trip since I was a teenager was fantastic as it was our first time taking our daughter (3 at the time). We went again last year and in February, and it was a shorter trip. We felt rushed the whole time, I was miserable for half of it, and I was feeling blah about it, (although not in the same way as you) but then we were invited to join friends who are DVC owners for free for a week over the summer. It brought the magic back for us.

If DVC is something you are considering, I would suggest not for you. You're initial attitude seems skeptical, and it's a big $ and time commitment to visiting WDW. If you are skeptical of the magic now, that will only decline as you shell out $ for the buy in purchase, and then more $ in dues.

 

[disneynutz]

The more you go, the more you see and as a DVC member you will be going every couple of year at a minimum.

Disney like other companies today are overly focused on profits and have decided to make cuts that have caused some of the Disney Magic to disappear.

Bill

 

[JimMIA]

On a Monorail ride to MK there were several CM on the ride that were openly whining about their job and that they were going to work. I felt annoyed that I was there to escape and now I had to listen to them B**ch about work in 20 min.

We experienced this once too (in dozens of trips) from three off-duty CM's heading to the park to play. I wrote it off to the CM's being a bunch of spoiled 20 year-olds.

The stuff they were whining about was so trivial, I really think they just wanted everyone to know they were CM's. I didn't hear any legitimate grievances, so I took as attention-seeking.

Some young folks are VERY needy.

 

[1slowdaddy]

Until 2 years ago, we had always stayed off-site. WDW was okay, but I was not sold. It was crowded, and the lines were long. The last 2 times that we have visited, we have stayed on site at the Beach Club. It has made all the difference. I am now sold and am quickly becoming an addict. You did not mention if you stayed on or off site. My son and I used the "extra magic hours" each morning to get our fill of the major rides. We rode Expedition Everest 6 times in the first hour once. My wife would then join us and we could spend the rest of the day at a leisurely pace and enjoy the details. IMO, the "magic" is in the details. We are planning 3 visits this year (garden festival, food and wine, Christmas decorations) and I (the cynic) can't wait. If you have not stayed on site, then I would definitely recommend it. I would also recommend staying at a resort with easy access to your favorite park. Ours is Epcot and Beach club and Boardwalk cannot be beaten for it.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Until 2 years ago, we had always stayed off-site. WDW was okay, but I was not sold. It was crowded, and the lines were long. The last 2 times that we have visited, we have stayed on site at the Beach Club. It has made all the difference. I am now sold and am quickly becoming an addict. You did not mention if you stayed on or off site. My son and I used the "extra magic hours" each morning to get our fill of the major rides. We rode Expedition Everest 6 times in the first hour once. My wife would then join us and we could spend the rest of the day at a leisurely pace and enjoy the details. IMO, the "magic" is in the details. We are planning 3 visits this year (garden festival, food and wine, Christmas decorations) and I (the cynic) can't wait. If you have not stayed on site, then I would definitely recommend it. I would also recommend staying at a resort with easy access to your favorite park. Ours is Epcot and Beach club and Boardwalk cannot be beaten for it.

I agree. Most of my "magic" is in the Magic hours. I haven't stayed offsite since I was a kid with my parents. I hated it. I'll NEVER forget waiting in line to get on the stupid Monorail after the MK closed to get back to Epcot where our car was parked as we had visited Epcot first in the day, and came over to MK on the Monorail. It was awful. My parents were cheap and never stayed on site back then. Now of course they do in their "retirement".

I'm a night owl by nature and my favorite is the nighttime magic hours at the MK. Nothing like doing space mountain 5 times in a row after midnight. My personal favorite was watching the wife and kid pass out at 9 in the room and me heading to Hollywood studio's for magic hours. I almost threw up I was so dizzy from the Rockin Roller coaster after just 3 times. I believe single rider lines were the best improvement they have made in recent times.

 

[bakerworld]

My family and I are going to WDW in Oct. My wife and I have been there for our Engagement, Honeymoon and 1st Anniversary. We then took a family trip (inlaws) in 2009.

During that trip I noticed that pretty much all of the parks looked like they were the recipients of kid type graffiti (Bill 08, I love So and So 06, etc) There were pen, scratched and cut into various struchers in the parks.

On a Monorail ride to MK there were several CM on the ride that were openly whining about their job and that they were going to work. I felt annoyed that I was there to escape and now I had to listen to them B**ch about work in 20 min.

I told my wife that it would be a long time before I went back. Now were are going and I cant help to think that nothing had changed. We talked about buying DVC but not sure about finding there problems for 20 years.

Has anyone besides me noticed a decline in magic?????

if kabizing CMs (who were probably college interns thinking their internship at Disney wouldn't be work but one big long vacation they got paid for - as my DD thought) took away the magic then these boards will seal the deal on the magic-less-ness of Disney. People love to vent - after all if you don't have anything to complain about think of the boredom.

if just walking thru those entrance gates doesn't make you smile just because of where you are then don't do it - wait until it means something positive.

 

[Granny]

Has anyone besides me noticed a decline in magic?????

I guess I'll offer a dissenting opinion. The past two trips (both in 2011) we found the CM's to be noticeably upbeat and genuinely caring about providing quality service. Frankly, this was an improvement over what we had seen the past couple of years before that.

Listening to young people gripe about going to work wouldn't make me much concerned about the "magic". If they are at their posts in attractions and still griping where the public can hear them...now that would be pretty bad. But we've never heard anything remotely like that.

So I'd have to say that we do not see a decline in the magic. I also would have to say that most CM's react very well when the guests bring a little magic of their own with friendly comments and expressions of appreciation. Now THAT, I would say, has definitely declined over the years.

 

[dbs1228]

I was at Epcot 2 years ago and sitting on a bench waiting for my friends. I was people watching for about 30 minutes or so and could not stop smiling watching a CM who was working at a Kim Possible station. He greeted every guest with such enthusiasm, big smile and great information. This CM was confined to a wheel chair but managed to get around with ease and had the best "guest relations" I have seen in a long time. I made sure I approached him to let him know I had been watching and "what a great job he was doing - I was quite impressed". Anywhooo those are the type of CM's that make the trip just a little more special.

 

[serenita05]

I agree. Most of my "magic" is in the Magic hours. I haven't stayed offsite since I was a kid with my parents. I hated it. I'll NEVER forget waiting in line to get on the stupid Monorail after the MK closed to get back to Epcot where our car was parked as we had visited Epcot first in the day, and came over to MK on the Monorail. It was awful. My parents were cheap and never stayed on site back then. Now of course they do in their "retirement".

I'm a night owl by nature and my favorite is the nighttime magic hours at the MK. Nothing like doing space mountain 5 times in a row after midnight. My personal favorite was watching the wife and kid pass out at 9 in the room and me heading to Hollywood studio's for magic hours. I almost threw up I was so dizzy from the Rockin Roller coaster after just 3 times. I believe single rider lines were the best improvement they have made in recent times.

the magic is always there and will never change

 

[thebigman65]

I guess I'll offer a dissenting opinion. The past two trips (both in 2011) we found the CM's to be noticeably upbeat and genuinely caring about providing quality service. Frankly, this was an improvement over what we had seen the past couple of years before that.

Listening to young people gripe about going to work wouldn't make me much concerned about the "magic". If they are at their posts in attractions and still griping where the public can hear them...now that would be pretty bad. But we've never heard anything remotely like that.

So I'd have to say that we do not see a decline in the magic. I also would have to say that most CM's react very well when the guests bring a little magic of their own with friendly comments and expressions of appreciation. Now THAT, I would say, has definitely declined over the years.

 

[psac]

It sounds like the real original post/question shoud have been:

"My wife wants to buy DVC and I want to talk her out of it. Can you give me some ammo?"

I agree with what was said -- don't buy DVC unless you really LOVE your trips to WDW. If only one of you enjoy the trips (and it sounds like not you), you certainly wouldn't enjoy going back there on a very regular basis.

Regarding one other specific item you mentioned, the graphiti, it's not something I've ever really noticed before, but in general I had a coworker who went for the first time over the holidays, and his first comment when he got back (well second after how PACKED it was, ha) was that he was amazed at how CLEAN everything was. Maybe it's our New York perspective, but considering the amount of people that pass through every day, it really seems like they do a pretty impressive job.

 

[chalee94]

Regarding one other specific item you mentioned, the graphiti, it's not something I've ever really noticed before, but in general I had a coworker who went for the first time over the holidays, and his first comment when he got back (well second after how PACKED it was, ha) was that he was amazed at how CLEAN everything was. Maybe it's our New York perspective, but considering the amount of people that pass through every day, it really seems like they do a pretty impressive job.

yeah, compared to six flags and cedar point, disney has a ton less of that sort of thing... but it's tough to police...