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

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by 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!

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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

Hi Brunette. I didn't read the entire thread, but rather the post I quoted above, and I just have to say, I agree 100% with you.

I'm going to buy a T-Shirt and hat from SaveDisney.com and proudly wear them in the parks.

It takes true love to be able to point out flaws and stop degradation before it gets too severe to reverse.

JMHO

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I love WDW and have visited 9 times in the past 4 years. I wasn't there in the heydays of the 70's when everything was pristine. I have been to many other parks over the years and have to say that WDW is still in a class by itself. There is no way to compare it to amusement parks like Paramounts, Six Flags, etc. because it is not an amusement park. It is a resort destination with THEME parks as the main draw. If you are looking for a great deal, it might not be your kind of place. We always feel like we got a great VALUE. There is no where else that we can go with our girls and get the same quality of experience, so we keep returning.

We do love US and stay at the resorts when we go. It is an awesome resort, but it is not WDW.

I have to ask,what is the big deal about making a priority seating for dinner at WS after exiting Spaceship Earth? The Global Neighborhood is all I have ever known in that space and they are working on replacing it with something else. Isn't there an area right in front of the fountains that you can make a PS? Or go to guest relations? Better yet call before you get there, that way you are far more likely to get the restaurant/time of your choice.

A few hints for you, pick up the Unofficial Guide, it would have informed you of the changes that have taken place. You can't expect it to stay the same. Keep an eye on the Dis, up to the minute facts here. And with your AP you could have gotten a discount rate and used that $99 to stay in a WDW resort and would have been immersed in the magic 24/7. Speaking on merchandise, with an AP you get a 10% discount at World of Disney in DTD.

Enjoy your next trip!!

 

[brunette8706]

after exiting Spaceship Earth? The Global Neighborhood is all I have ever known in that space and they are working on replacing it with something else. Isn't there an area right in front of the fountains that you can make a PS? Or go to guest relations? Better yet call before you get there, that way you are far more likely to get the restaurant/time of your choice.
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Hi! Mom! The problem is, is that it's all boarded up with plywood...It's been like that for years according to some disney veterans here on this board! My question is why??? It's not the lack of convenience, it's the fact that Disney is allowing their trademark of EPCOT to be defaced by cheap painted plywood...
It really looks terrible....Of course that's my opinion...but hey I'm going back to Disney a few more times this year...

Thanks for your comments!!!

Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

I love your name! I didn't know they sold t-shirts, hell I might buy a few myself.....

It's good to know that there are other people that feel the same why I do!

Have a great time in Disney...Our trip is 3 weeks and 4 days away, we can't wait to go!!

Talk with ya later!

Brunette:

 

[SnackyStacky]

Thanks brunette.

Here's a link to the savedisney.com store:

http://www.pcxhost.com/launch/psg/savedisney/

They sell everything at cost, so they're not making a dime off of any of it.

 

[gjerseygirl]

Originally posted by 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...
Brunette

Well.....yes, I know I can cut corners by staying offsite....eating offsite...etc. etc. But I really like to do it the "Disney" way when I go and when you do it the "Disney" way...its mucho buckarinos.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

The Global Neighborhood has not been gone for years. I know it was there a year ago. The painted plywood partitions are what is used to cover areas under rehab property-wide. It is covering the entrance to the new Stitch Encounter, 20,000 Leagues area, construction area around Expedition Everest, etc. It might not look good but what else could they use?

 

[Peter Pirate]

No offense but the message from Roy is way off base.

Animation is currently in trouble but we don't know what tomorrow will bring, do we? Action films are having an off year following a record year...Seems pretty std. in that industry. ESPN just got Monday Night Football from ABC so this will be an added boost to an already strong performer. ABC's fall lineup is being hailed as the best on tv (for what thats worth). Construction of new rides has NOT stopped at the parks (where'd that come from?). E:E at AK, Stitch at MK, The Auto Stunt Show at The Studio and Saorin' at Epcot are all zooming towards opening. It appears Pixar WILL sign again with Disney which will make Eisner look rather brilliant, don't you think?

It's ok to lament the losses and bonehead decisions that have been made (and there are plenty) but we should really stick to reality.

Just because Roy says something doesn't make it so. After all he's just out for a bigger payday for himself, IMO.

 

[cobbler]

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

Originally posted by cobbler
executive compensation:
just salary and annual bonus only, there is more
eisner: 1,000,000 - annual bonus: stock units $6,250,000

iger: 1,394,231 - annual bonus: cash = 4 mil / stock = 1 mil

murphy: 841,827 - annual bonus: cash = 1 mil / stock = 450,000

staggs: 841,827 - annual bonus: cash 1 mil / stock = 450,000

braverman: 685,291 - annual bonus: cash 700,000

and of course there are more board members and not counting stock options granted and other stuff.

This was just the year 2003 only

 

[brunette8706]

Of course Roy is looking for a paycheck aren't we all?? What does that have to do with the fact that Michael Eisner is a greedy little man?

You are also missing my point. It doesn't take alot of expertise to notice that things are being neglected which indeed they are! I'm not speaking of the financial viability of the Disney Corporation, I'm making reference solely to the state of condition of the theme parks.

There is nothing wrong with looking at the bottom line, especially if you are a share holder, but, looking too much at that one figure, kind of neglects to consider what it was that made Disney World what it is today.

brunette

 

[siac]

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by Peter Pirate
...but we should really stick to reality.

Just because Roy says something doesn't make it so. After all he's just out for a bigger payday for himself, IMO.

The reality that Eisner will bring some odd percentage of growth? The same promise he's made for the past umpteen years while creativity as well as the bottom line remain stagnant?

That reality?

Or the one where traditional, hand-drawn animation - the art-form that BUILT the Walt Disney Company - has been completely cast to the side?

Or the one where Disneyland's maintenance had been cut so far back that somebody died on Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain had to be closed for almost 2 years in order to make it safe?

You see - reality really is a matter of perception and which side you're looking at. The truth is that it's probably somewhere in the middle - somewhere between the bright rosey future you see, and the dismal future that I see.

But all of that is neither here nor there. The original poster was making a comment that Walt Disney World is not what it used to be. Whether or not you care to agree is completely up to you, but that's her opinion - and her reality. One that I happen to agree with.

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by Peter Pirate
No offense but the message from Roy is way off base.

Animation is currently in trouble but we don't know what tomorrow will bring, do we? Action films are having an off year following a record year...Seems pretty std. in that industry. ESPN just got Monday Night Football from ABC so this will be an added boost to an already strong performer. ABC's fall lineup is being hailed as the best on tv (for what thats worth). Construction of new rides has NOT stopped at the parks (where'd that come from?). E:E at AK, Stitch at MK, The Auto Stunt Show at The Studio and Saorin' at Epcot are all zooming towards opening. It appears Pixar WILL sign again with Disney which will make Eisner look rather brilliant, don't you think?

It's ok to lament the losses and bonehead decisions that have been made (and there are plenty) but we should really stick to reality.

Just because Roy says something doesn't make it so. After all he's just out for a bigger payday for himself, IMO.

I'm with you! I would rather look at where WDW and it's sister companies are heading, rather than mistakes that have been made in the past.

We can only change the future - why worry about the past!

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by SnackyStacky
Or the one where traditional, hand-drawn animation - the art-form that BUILT the Walt Disney Company - has been completely cast to the side?

Hand-drawn animation is great - a true art form - but would it be cost efficient to hire 10 animators when the job could probably be done with 2 artists & a computer?

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by MELSMICE
Hand-drawn animation is great - a true art form - but would it be cost efficient to hire 10 animators when the job could probably be done with 2 artists & a computer?

Everyone keeps talking about forgetting about the past and looking toward the future.

Well, if we were to look at the past, and learn from our mistakes, we could see that buying ABC and go.com were not good decisions. They could be sold, and siphon the money that is being used to keep those two divisions afloat to pay animators.

But that would involve looking at the past and learning from it. And not just casting it aside.

Furthermore - sounds to me like you're speaking strictly about the bottom line. EXACTLY the problem that I'm addressing, and that I believe that the OP was addressing as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to admit that I'm a relative newcomer to WDW. 1999 was my first trip. However, I've been back several times and just bought DVC last fall. Obviously I disagree with the lack of upkeep argument. But, I have yet to see all the disrepair that some others have seen. Yes, the parks have closed earlier in the past. Do you really believe that if Disney thought it would be cost effective to keep them open, they would close? I think not. Say, and this is only for the sake of argument, you need to have 20,000 people in the park to make it turn a profit. But, if after 7:00 there are only about 10,000 there, should they stay open? Nope. This isn't my personal amusement park. I stay there because I love everything about it. Could there be improvements? Of course. Nothing is perfect. I mean, this isn't a Disney movie...it's real life. Paint peels, trash gets dropped. Sorry if someone isn't right there to take care of it.

We seem to want the best resorts money can buy, but for a reasonable price...the best rides kept perfectly painted...the most friendly and polite CMs, the best food....a truly magical experience, every time we go. The magic they provide goes just so far...the rest is up to me. We'll be going to Universal in the future. We did SeaWorld last year. But, WDW is still our destination..the others are just filler. Sorry guys...but of course the exec's are going to make money. And in some cases a lot of money. But it's a business!!!! They are supposed to make money. If you feel that you aren't getting your money's worth, then stop going. If enough people stop going to WDW and let the powers that be know why they have stopped...then and only then will things become closer to perfect. I will still take an overflowing trash can at WDW over an empty one at SixFlags anyday!!! I'll be on the look-out in 3 weeks for the signs of disrepair, the trash overflowing and the paint peeling. Didn't notice it in December tho.

 

[brunette8706]

It's rather obvious you have missed my point and Stacky's point. Once again for the umpteenth time there is no excuse for buildings and rides that are in dire need of paint! The building next to Mexico in EPCOT is an actual EYESORE and I'm not exagerating either! There is no execuse to have the Global Dining area after you get off the ride from SpaceShip Earth BOARDED UP with Plywood! There is no excuse to have the Captain Nemo ride sitting there and rusting for nearly 10 years!! Look at the SAVEDISNEY.com link and see for your self that disney land is declining rapidly! This is a company that used to take pride in the smallest details years ago...well no more. I believe these parks have been mismanaged for years....
Brunette

 

[jaygatz]

I think Brunette has something of a point when it is said that Disney has fallen in recent years. IMHO the Disney appeal is magic, and Magic is created by having everything just so. On our last trip in June, not one vendor at a street cart wiped our water off. While this may seemingly be petty, it is indicative of the general decline in customer service from an organization built upon magical customer service. What is Disney without Customer Service? It is no more than any other big corporation and we become consumers...not Guests. Let me end by saying that I love Disney--I plan on buying in to the DVC; however, I am pained by the vanishing Magic that was apparent in June. Maybe everyone was just too hot to be extra special nice?

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
We seem to want the best resorts money can buy, but for a reasonable price...the best rides kept perfectly painted...the most friendly and polite CMs, the best food....a truly magical experience, every time we go.

Sorry guys...but of course the exec's are going to make money. And in some cases a lot of money. But it's a business!!!! They are supposed to make money.

I agree - everyone wants the best, yet there the same people that don't want to pay the price for the best. The best costs money, like it or not.

I also that any exec in a business is going to make money - why would anyone take a job & stay with it if it wasn't going to earn them money. Yes, their job is to find ways to entertain the public, but they are also there to earn money & support their families - just like anyone else.

 

[brunette8706]

Agreed! Disney is supposed to be held to a higher standard.....

Does anyone know how I can get a "count down" counter on my post??? I notice alot of people have these....We're going in August and I would like to get one of these. Is it something you download??

thanks all!

brunette