UN-magical world of Disney

[boomhauer]

Just got back from a great 8 night stay at All Star Movies. Trip was excellent, and MOST everything looked great, but I did notice, Disney seems to be slipping a bit on the little details, such as appearance. Stuff like lightbulbs being out on signs, and trash being left around.

1.The Disney-MGM Studios had 3 letters out on the sign.
2.One of the "O"'s on the Planet Hollywood sign was out.
3.One of the "I"'s on the Westside sign was out.
4.The clock outside the Main Street station was broken.
5.Inside Splash Mountain, I counted 5 different scenes where characters were broken.
6.At All Star Movies, the same pizza box sat on a trash can for the last 3 nights.
7.The rest of ASMovies was beautiful, but the stairways are in DESPERATE need of attention. They are absolutely filthy.
8.On the TTA, the outside of Space Mountain is filthy as well.

Now, don't get me wrong, the rest of the World looked very good, but when you remember seeing how perfect everything was 5 or 6 years ago and before, this current state does detract a bit from the magic.

 

[pampam]

I hope you mentioned this to the manager at ASMo.

 

[boomhauer]

I hope you mentioned this to the manager at ASMo.

No, I didn't. I mean, it sounds so petty and unimportant. I just remember staying at that resort back in 99, and good lord - Was it ever clean! And it was the next 2 years when I stayed there.

I was staying in the Toy Story building, on the Woody section. The room was perfectly clean and maintained, but that stairway looked worse than a Motel 6.

 

[2x_dis_dad]

Everytime we stay at ASMo we see them cleaning and pressure washing everywhere. Seems strange that they would let a pizza box sit around for days.

 

[boomhauer]

Everytime we stay at ASMo we see them cleaning and pressure washing everywhere. Seems strange that they would let a pizza box sit around for days.

I agree. I almost felt inclined to throw it away myself, but I wanted to see just how long it sat there for. I noticed it on Friday morning, and it was still sitting there Sunday morning when I left.

Just take a look at the stairways, at least in the Toy Story section. Dirt, grime and cobwebs everywhere. And hey, that stuff IS gonna happen, but it shows that they really aren't paying close attention to it.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I am back just about a week myself and I definatly did notice the signs. Rode Splash Mountain twice and didn't notice anything.

But what I did notice was how dirty the ground was at Magic Kingdom. Now keep in mind it was extremly hot so the would melt very quickly and they would be on the ground but no one would clean them up.

I mean we spent 3 different days at MK and every time I was quite surprised because usually it is so clean.


One of our servers at dinner one evening did say that they are very short staffed and really are in need of new employees.

 

[AJKMOM]

As much as some of us say "Wouldn't it be great to work for Disney", and "What job would YOU like at WDW?', the truth is unless you are a really bigwig, you don't get paid much at WDW. They have a lot of minimum wage earners who are trying to get by, and more and more, people aren't doing it just to say they work at Disney.

It would be a tough job day after day- cleaning rooms or resorts; cleaning the parks that you know people paid a lot of money to enter. I would imagine except for the college intern program it would be difficult to keep the place fully staffed. Just my thoughts.

 

[dwmlaf]

The signs may have not been fixed yet because they may be on order. Remember they had a few hurricanes through WDW last year.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Splash Mountain is in poor condition and does need to be renovated, but they just don't want to close it down. I really think they oughtta make a 3rd shift renovation position for that ride so they can work on it after hours.

 

[missypie]

Just a reminder that it only takes a few people to make a place look trashy. When we were staying at the CR, the folks in the room next to us swam every evening, then took the pool towels up to their room and left them in a pile outside their door. Of course, they weren't picked up until housekeeping came the next day. It made the hall way look trashy, but it certainly wasn't the resort's fault!

 

[snowbunny]

I would imagine except for the college intern program it would be difficult to keep the place fully staffed. Just my thoughts.

I take a more cynical view, that WDW is less fully staffed than in the past to save money and increase shareholder profits. Even the most enthusiastic cleaner cannot do the work of two people.

 

[Paisleyjane]

Spent a week at WDW, mostly in MK in both AUG and July, I thought things were cleaner there than they had been in a long time, in fact, there was so much "magical" going on I thought the Magic was truly back. There were a lot of "suits" in the park, visiting with guests and picking up trash.

 

[boomhauer]

Splash Mountain is in poor condition and does need to be renovated, but they just don't want to close it down. I really think they oughtta make a 3rd shift renovation position for that ride so they can work on it after hours.

I agree. It's one of my favs, but is in DIRE need of some cleaning. There's spitballs and gum on the walls. The Brer Rabbit charcater across from where Brer Bear is caught in the rabbit trap has been broken for months. Several Brer Rabbits are very dirty. The audio is not synchronized well anymore.

 

[boomhauer]

The signs may have not been fixed yet because they may be on order. Remember they had a few hurricanes through WDW last year.

Nothing to do with it. These are just blown bulbs that have yet been left unchanged. Very UnDisney like.

 

[boomhauer]

I take a more cynical view, that WDW is less fully staffed than in the past to save money and increase shareholder profits. Even the most enthusiastic cleaner cannot do the work of two people.

Sadly, you are correct.

Even so, how many people does it take to carry a hose over to the stairway and spray it down once a night?

 

[AJKMOM]

Even so, how many people does it take to carry a hose over to the stairway and spray it down once a night?




It only takes one, if there is one hired for that job! If they are cutting back to save money, that could be no one's job, or someone's job once a week or month. We'll never know.

 

[Danthesand]

Maintenance isn't in decline at both Disneyworld and Disneyland?

Some recent photos taken at the latter:

Notice what's mssing from the below sign?

It's called "Dale"

 

[pearlieq]

Maintenance standards sure aren't what they were--a quick spin on Buzz Lightyear would confirm that for anyone...

 

[Drizzo67]

I so agree about the Buzz Lightyear Ride. Looks a hundred years old. Very beat up, if you ask me. Needs a paint job and a cleaning. When we where there in February the parks seemed okay to me. Our hotel was just finishing a refurb (POFQ) and was doing some last minute painting so we did not notice any problems with the resort. Most rides just need to be cleaned.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, I suppose there are areas that need addressing in WDW. We did see paint chipping on those bus que railings. And we did see some bulbs that could use replacing. But, when we were there in June, Space Mt. was being repainted, at least the top of it was. When we were staying at Pop last month, there was a lot of painting going on. When we stayed at Music several years ago, I did notice that the stairways were a bit grimey, but at Pop they were spotless. I saw soda spilled down about 3 steps one day and it was gone that night. I think there can be improvements in many areas. But for the most part it is hit or miss. Granted, WDW is not the same WDW as when I first visited in '99. But, I still think they do a pretty good job....much better than other 'amusement park' type places. Maybe if people would be more watchful about where they drop their trash or where they let their children climb, there wouldn't be as big a need for clean-up and repainting and such. I just watch as people drop their trash and keep walking, or just leave their garbage sitting on the sidewalk after a parade. No need for that in my opinion...just common courtesy.