Walt Disney World is not what it used to be..

[gjerseygirl]

The only complaint I have about WDW is that it's too big to see everything in one week. I remember going for the day...it was just MK. Then they added Epcot and so maybe it would take two days. Of all the times I've been there, I still have not had a chance to visit the water parks.....someday. I'm not crazy about MGM myself,that's why we also go to Universal....but I would never go to Universal and not WDW. Oh yeah...and the prices. Jeez....It's costing my family of 5 $6,500. Can't do that every year!!

 

[webmomom]

Yes I will agree with you that Disney is not like it use to be, IT IS BETTER.
It use to have one park only and now 4 to choose from. Most of the parks when they opened did not have all of the rides they have now. Go to other amusement areas see how clean they are, they are not, how polite the employees are, they are not, choice of food, not either, quality of the food, bad. Even having change. I have never been told that the bill I was giving to pay for an item was to large and they did not have change. I know that seems like a small item, but when you are at a park and can't get change to buy even a water it is a problem. We just had that happen yesterday to my daughter. So the rest of the day all of us had to watch what we were spending so everyone could get a drink. They only had one water fountain in the beginning of the park, so we could not even get a drink along the way. Disney has fountains all over the parks for people who don't want to buy something to drink.

I know it will cost alot of money to expand the monorail system, but something will need to be done someday. The State of Florida says that no one over the age of 65 can drive a bus and I know that they are having a hard time finding drivers under that age.

Yes I am a BIG Disney fan, but Disney has made me that way.

 

[Cinderella37]

As for WDW closing and changing attractions, that was the whole point of building theme parks, in Walt's eyes. He said that once a movie is finished, that's it. You can't change it (which is why he hated sequels, saying that a sequel means the story wasn't told well enough in the first place if another chapter is necessary).

But a huge deciding factor in building Disneyland (in addition to his desire for a park where children and adults could both enjoy themselves in a safe, clean, magical environment) was the fact that it "would never be finished."

Disneyland, and eventually all of the other parks the world over, would be an ever-changing place where new ideas and concepts could come to fruition. While there are currently many things Walt would surely be upset about, change is not one of them. He was a pioneer and loved the next biggest, greatest thing. That's why he was such a visionary.

 

[brunette8706]

Very Well Said! I agree wholeheartedly! Walt was certainly a visionary! His vision and Michael Eisners are totally different!

Thanks for your comments!
Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

Why is it costing your family of 5 $6,500? That sounds high to me...I personally like to cut corner on certain things...We're staying at the Hyatt Grand Cypress a 5 star hotel for $99.00 a nite!! Can't go wrong with that! It's a gorgeous place...Plus we got an anual pass for $400 p.p. We went in May and we're going in August, Nov, and New Years Eve...When we went in May we stayed at one of those rental properties (not a timeshare, I'll give you the link in a minute) and it cost $475 for a 3 BEDROOM villa along with your OWN PRIVATE pool! If you go with another couple that would only cost each couple $228.00! We also bought alot of food at Walmart and had dinners at the villa and breakfast. We saved alot of money that way! Also if you get an annual pass they give you discounts on their resorts and 10 percent off lunches at EPCOT and other various places at WDW.

Have you ever been to WDW during New Years Eve???

Thanks for your comments!
Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

Thanks for your comments! Frankly I can't wait till August 19th!! We're staying a great place and I plan to do a lot of recreation activities also....Like horseback riding and motor boating (have you ever done any of these?)

Thanks for your comments!
Brunette

 

[Funkyzeit mit Bruno]

I don't know how it used to be, but I think it's great now. There is nothing else like it.

 

[JungleJim]

Originally posted by BethA


Of course none of that stops us from returning several times a year!!

That is exactly why Disney doesn't care. Money is the company's number one goal. If people still come regarless of the decline in the old "Disney perfection", there is no way Disney is going to worry about it. They will be able to ride a very long time on their old reputation.
________________________________


The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction is gone?!!!!

What the heck was Disney thinking on this one? We have pictures of us standing by that ride back in '74. I haven't been the MK in 10 years. My wife and I are taking our son for the first time and I was just talking about the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride and how he's going to enjoy it......I guess he'll never get the chance.

It's been shut down for that many years and they haven't done anything with the space? Now that makes sense.

Shutting down a ride? That's fine if you need the space for something else. But shutting it down just to save money........that's not what Disney WAS about back in the days of Walt.

Eisner needs to be shown the door....YESTERDAY!!

 

[JungleJim]

Originally posted by GADISNEYGIRL
Just checked the price for a one day admission to Six Flags Over Georgia, which is just an hour north of us. $42.99~I'd gladly pay the extra $15 to drive the 5 hours to WDW instead of going to SF. Talk about dirty and unkempt...and their employees are NOTHING like CMs...some of their thrill rides are good (the Mind Bender is one of my all time favorite rides), but there is no story, no themeing. The Looney Toons characters don't really add anything to the park, they're rather random. Attractions come and go at Six Flags parks all the time. There is plenty of maintenance and rehab work that could and should be done there. And have you ever heard how many accidents and fatalities are reported from SF parks?? Many more than Disney! And guess what else? Their food prices are worse than WDW, for food of far less quality!

Does that mean I would never again go to a SF park? Not necessarily. But when I'm there, I can't help comparing it to WDW. Even if WDW is "not what it used to be", it is still the cleanest, nicest, most family friendly "amusement park" (if it can even be called that anymore!) in the US, probably in the world. So in that sense, Walt's dream is still a reality!

And by the way, I am also a (one!) stockholder, so I also see the financial reports, as well, and as many other posters have stated, there is so much more to consider financially than *just* the operation of the individual parks themselves.

Hope you enjoy your upcoming trip a bit more, since you'll know what to expect.

I don't think Disney competes with other amuzement parks. I live close to Cedar Point (one of the largest amuzement park in the world...15 roller coasters). I go to Cedar Point for different reasons than I go to Disney. (BTW, Disney tried to purchase Cedar Point a few decades ago...).

 

[brunette8706]

I agree Michael Eisner must go!!

You're also correct that Walt Disney would never stand for the type of cost cutting being displayed now. His idea/dream was to provide wholesome and enjoyable family entertainment for people of all ages. He was a fanatic on detail and a man of fancy I wonder how he would react to seeing paint peeling off the roof tops of his building....

Thanks for your comments...I totally agree with everything you said!!

Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

Here's a Message from Roy E. Disney..Walt's nephew....READ ON
*************************

A Message from Roy E. Disney...
Can you "contract" to greatness?

The great genius Albert Einstein spent much of his late career searching for what he called the "Theory of Everything..." and now it seems Michael Eisner - a genius of another sort entirely - is hot on the trail of a discovery of his own... the "Theory of Nothing."

You might also call it "The Amazing Disappearing Disney Company."

Animation is closed, or nearly so... and the one remaining building dedicated to the art is half-empty.

So far this year, the film business has not been exactly a gold mine.

At the parks, the construction of new rides and/or attractions has stopped, and many older rides are closed and slowly rusting. Everything is thirsting for a coat of paint.

Imagineering - once the eighth wonder of the world - is almost a ghost town.

The plans for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary Celebration are shrinking steadily.

ABC seems to have sighed and resigned itself to being permanently in fourth place. They now boast that they can make a few bucks out of that.

Even mighty ESPN is paying the price for its arrogance, taking extremely reduced rates for its services into the future.

Pixar has announced it doesn't want Disney as a partner anymore, and will doubtless soon be followed by Miramax... all the result of arrogance at the top.

But the Board of Directors just gave itself a raise... a raise!!!

Think about it.

 

[brunette8706]

Here's a great link!

http://www.savedisney.com/

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by MELSMICE
Can you use the Universal AP for admittance to Wet N' Wild?

That's a great question and one that I don't know. I know there's a combo pass that includes Wet N' Wild and Sea World too for some reason but I'm not sure what the AP includes. Interesting.

 

[26555]

Your US annual pass allows you to buy a W&W pass for $20 off. (80-20=60). W&W has a weekday only pass they are selling for $43 right now. Lasts a year and only excludes Memorial day monday.

 

[mickeymousefan]

I was there last December and I dont recall seeing overflowing trash cans or buildings in need of refurbishment. Maybe it depends on how busy the parks are. During peak times it would be impossible to keep up with ALL the trash cans considering the amount of trash being generated.
As for garbage on the ground..... whose fault is that? Certainly the CM's arent the ones throwing garbage on the ground. There are people out there with bad manners who are just plain slobs, or who dont care what their kids do!! While I teach my kids respect for the environment, some other people dont.
Every time I go to Six Flags Great Adventure, which is almost weekly, I cant help but compare it to Disney. Disney is SOOOOOO much nicer, cleaner, and family oriented. The landscaping at WDW is better, the food is cheaper (paid $12.00 at six flags for a cheeseburger, fries and soda!!), and the overall theme is better. At six flags, some of the employees dont even speak English!!
I love Disney World. I think it is a beautiful, magical place and so much more than it used to be.

 

[deelam]

Brunnette,

That message from Roy Disney sums it all up. Thanks for posting it.
Does anyone have any idea of the bonuses paid to the board over the past 5 years.
We should have state of the art new rides and an expanded monorail. Look at WL not being in the monorail loop. It is right there. Corporate Disney can play with the numbers all they want but I'm not happy with the facts that I see. MGM should have improved over the past 10 years. So should the magic Kingdom.
I'll never make excuses for Disney, I don't care about the excuses. If things aren't changed I can only say that we will spend more time at Uinversal then Disney. My kids like it better anyway. These kids will grow up and maybe want to vacation at Universal, not Disney with their families. My point is that these improvements are for the long hall, not short term.

On Universal, so many people I met at Disney in lines were commenting how they are skipping Disney next trip and just doing Universal. Same with friends who have been there.
I'm all for the dIsney "magic" but I'm for reality too. Universal has made some state of the art improvements. I noticed this last trip that the Universal employees were plentiful and top quality. So I don't think you will be disappointed, but only if you stay onsite.
Disney can't be beat on their waterparks and restaurants. City walk is fun though, with great places to eat. I would skip wet & wild and hit Typhoon lagoon anyday.

Deneen

 

[FatCow]

I can only say one thing.

US$58 for entry, IS NOT EXPENSIVE considering what you're getting.

Do I wish the price is cheaper? of course! However, that will be impossible. Too many people are asking the impossible here. They want lower park fees, lower food and drink prices, more friendly and knowledgeable CMs, better park upkeep. etc etc etc.
Think about the economic realities.

I can't remember who posted this... but crying because one of the ride is no longer there? Come on... is it really that Disney the ultimate destination and goal in life?

I go to Disney because it's all I can afford. At the same time, I realize that there are many other destinations around the world (and one day, beyond) and save my tears for something like world hunger.

[/getting off my soapbox]

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by deelam
Does anyone have any idea of the bonuses paid to the board over the past 5 years.

Don't know but................if myself or my DH was in such a high profile demanding job I would expect to be compensated myself. I'm not saying that millions of $'s in bonuses or salary should be standard, however, look at other corporations. They also pay their board members and executives large salaries and bonuses. That's the way it is. The guy on the top gets paid the most. Again, if I was in that position I would expect to be paid the big bucks also. JMO!

 

[brunette8706]

Oh you're quiet welcome!!

If you go to the SaveDisney.com web site that I posted earlier you will not believe all the information you get about REAL Money FIGURES and REAL PROBLEMS with DISNEY and that idiot Michael Eisner....He is the epitomy of GREED.

Take care...

brunette

 

[brunette8706]

Don't know but................if myself or my DH was in such a high profile demanding job I would expect to be compensated myself. I'm not saying that millions of $'s in bonuses or salary should be standard, however, look at other corporations. They also pay their board members and executives large salaries and bonuses. That's the way it is. The guy on the top gets paid the most. Again, if I was in that position I would expect to be paid the big bucks also. JMO!

*****************************

Good point, but, the company has been losing money, losing it's image, and has turned it's focus from pure family entertainment to the bottomline profit. Is my opinion, that the company is not being run properly thus the top executives have done nothing to warrant such exhuberant bonuses for their substandard work.

I find it interesting that so many here defend the image of Disney, yet it would appear that those running the company are the real ones tarnishing that image. For my part, in pointing out a few things that I find sad and irritating, am being criticized for pointing this out. It's not the auro or stigma of Disney that I am taking difference to, is the Michael Eisner like approach to running what was once (an largely still is) an American icon into the ground.

brunette