Typical NY Times slant!

[tjkraz]

BTW, the writer's problem with his resort was they booked him into Saratoga Springs, while it was still under construction, and didn't feel it that important to mention it. The writer also paid for an upgraded room and was not put into the room his reservation guarenteed!

I'm paraphrasing here because I don't have the article in front of me, but the author didn't say he paid for an upgrade he said that he wanted a room with the sleeping arrangements that were "guaranteed" to him. Unfortunately he doesn't elaborate, so the reader is left to wonder what exactly what was guaranteed and who made the guarantee.

When he complained to the front desk to complain, they only gave him $100. Luckily, when he returned home, he called upper management and they refunded the entire cost of his resort stay.

Again, going from memory, the author indicated that the room situation was resolved. The $100 credit was offered due to "other issues" that arose during the stay. Again, no specifics. He further goes on to claim that "travel industry experts" claim he should have been due a refund for the entire night's stay. However, the reader (at least THIS reader) is left to wonder about the validity of that particular claim since we don't know what the problems were or the identities of these experts.

The most legitimate complaint I see about the resort concerns the ongoing construction. But even that topic is mentioned as almost a footnote. No comments on how it detracted from his trip. Was it merely an eyesore or did he awaken to the sound of groaning trucks each morning?

We also don't know where to place blame for this particular issue. The construction has been ongoing since the resort opened well over a year ago. If his trip was booked through WDTC/CRO, then I absolutely agree they should have said something. But if he booked through AAA or another TA, I don't see what Disney could have done to address that particular concern.

I'm not blind to some of the criticisms within the article, but it was a poorly written piece IMO that is not representative of the experiences of tens-of-thousands of guests staying at Disney resorts on a DAILY basis.

Citing informational sources that were over a year old didn't help either. Rather that quoting a 2004 article in the Orlando Sentinel about maintenance issues, why didn't the author provide his own commentary on the topic? 15 months is an awful lot of time to address peeling paint and dirty bathrooms.

Yes, the author presented both positive and negative viewpoints. For that I give him credit. But it sure seems like the (very limited) quotes and scenarios presented were carefully chosen to suit the author's chosen motivation for writing the piece.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

yes, i understand the reference...and yes, they are.

O.K...so NY Times is way out in left field, but Fox News is truly "Fair and Balanced"? Gotcha.
Have you ever read the NY Times or are you just satisfied with having the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly spoon feed you? Unless you think people like Nicholas Kristoff, Bill Safire, John Tierney and David Brooks (all NY Times editorial writers) are some kind of raging liberals, you might want to pick up an edition and make up your own mind. Can't say the same for the Washington Times or Fox News...no, wait...Fox does have comedian Alan Combs there for balance...wow. Guess you must be right.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

I don't need an article in the NY Times or on Fox News to tell me that service at WDW has declined. I can go by my own perceptions over the last ten years.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I don't need an article in the NY Times or on Fox News to tell me that service at WDW has declined. I can go by my own perceptions over the last ten years.

Hey!!! Someone actually using their own brain as a estimator of quality!! What a concept! Thanks, Goofy4WDW1964!!

 

[k5thbeatle]

I don't need an article in the NY Times or on Fox News to tell me that service at WDW has declined. I can go by my own perceptions over the last ten years.

I'll second that!

 

[bicker]

Guess that blows the common idea here on the DIS that you must complain at the resort and that complaining once you get home is meaningless.

Right: You are only better-off complaining at the resort if you're not a newspaper reporter.

 

[TheDogbots]

wow this is brutal.... lol

just a clarification for the record right wing religious conservative does not = republican they just tend to vote with them. Republican = fiscal conservative.... so not every tom dick and harry in the republican party is a bible thumper from Texas. anyway... ding ding round two


I agree, anyone can see that the parks are declining by just visiting them. and we all know the reasons....

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

[Quote removed by Moderator]

So... instead of simply explaining as to why a so-called left wing liberal newspaper would allow 4 right wing conservatives to contribute to it's most liberal of all sections, the OP-ED page, you choose to make a feeble attempt at a putdown.

 

[DancingBear]

Republican = fiscal conservative....

Somebody needs to break that to the President and the party controlling both houses of Congress.

 

[alohaguy]

Someone explain to me how an article about Disney service has a political agenda of any form?!? Whether you subscribe to the NYT or think it is biased has just about nothing to do with the article being discussed. How does relating a poor service experience at WDW further any liberal or conservative agenda???? Makes no sense to me. Like it or not, the NYTimes has been a revered standard of journalism long before Disney existed. I think the article was balanced ... and more to the point, I think WDW needs to step-up its service and realize that the public sees their flaws.

 

[Mickmse2002]

I love to see how an issue as simple as WDW customer service can become politicized. Perhaps it should become an issue of national debate for the 2008 elections. I can picture it now......"Mr/Mrs. Candidate, if elected as President what will you do to ensure clean toilets at the American Adventure pavilion in Epcot?"

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I love to see how an issue as simple as WDW customer service can become politicized.

Honestly, the title of the thread Typical NY Times slant! and complaints about the liberal media picking on poor Walt Disney World made this thread less about the actual article and more about how the liberal media is picking on Disney, a member of...the...liberal...media...oops.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Honestly, the title of the thread Typical NY Times slant! and complaints about the liberal media picking on poor Walt Disney World made this thread less about the actual article and more about how the liberal media is picking on Disney, a member of...the...liberal...media...oops.

 

[HUFF590]

Latey All Ive read is kids kidnapped sons and daughters missing war war war, rep and dem globle warming hurricanes terroist etc. After all this I sure love getting away for week at WDW good or bad its still the best in the world.

 

[sotoalf]

Regarding today's article in the travel section-

"What kind of Mickey Mouse operation is this?...there seems to be a growing view that the mouse no longer delivers at the same magical level..."
You know that the NY Times could never be positive about something as American as Disneyworld. Of course they emphasize the negative.

It's not a newspaper's job to be "positive about something." Their business is to report the news: educate and inform. Besides his article says nothing we haven't discussed on these boards several hundred times a month.