WDW slipping on maintenance?

[tim123]

Been reading lots of threads here on dis about how WDW put all their eggs into MagicBands etc and that many here think at the cost of cutting the once incredible maintenance they have historically had. Do you agree? I still think the whole property is well maintained and beautiful but many say the bathrooms and cleanliness has gone downhill. On a side note on Tuesday I will be staying at the Miracosta INSIDE DisneySea in Tokyo. Been researching DisneyTokyo resort and from what I read every single thing is maintained to the extreme max like WDW once was. Also the CMs are supposed to be out of this world super dedicated and beyond the call of duty. Ill let ya know with a trip report when I get back to the USA. I'm so excited!

 

[kapoof]

I am anxious to hear about trip to japan . Yes I do believe disney is slipping a bit in the cleanness department. But it is a hard job to clean up after all those people. I do think across the board they still do a good job. I recall going with my grandparents...this was when it was just the mk, Epcot was being built. My grandfather came out of a bathroom and said to a cm " that's the cleanest bathroom I have ever been in!' The cm replied " I actually am off to fire the worker for it not being up to standard!" That was a different time though...

 

[Heluvsme]

Tokyo Disney!!! Wow!!

What a dream trip!
Have a great time!!

 

[tim123]

Tokyo Disney!!! Wow!!

What a dream trip!
Have a great time!!

thank you
im so excited..last minute thing cause I'm here in bali and rerouted my trip back home tru japan for only $25…..miracosta is $650 per night and the parks $62 per day…Im goin for it! Ill write a trip report when I get home..seems like these boards are geared mostly to WDW at home…but after studying tokyodisneyland and disneysea I think Im in for a real treat!

 

[amg35]

Been reading lots of threads here on dis about how WDW put all their eggs into MagicBands etc and that many here think at the cost of cutting the once incredible maintenance they have historically had. Do you agree? I still think the whole property is well maintained and beautiful but many say the bathrooms and cleanliness has gone downhill. On a side note on Tuesday I will be staying at the Miracosta INSIDE DisneySea in Tokyo. Been researching DisneyTokyo resort and from what I read every single thing is maintained to the extreme max like WDW once was. Also the CMs are supposed to be out of this world super dedicated and beyond the call of duty. Ill let ya know with a trip report when I get back to the USA. I'm so excited!

I think it probably has more to do with the guests of today. People today are less, shall we say, inclined to clean up after themselves? Think someone else should do it for them. Leaving trash wherever is convenient for them.

Public bathrooms everywhere are pretty gross, people are kind of sloppy.

It's probably hard to keep up with the masses who don't really care to clean up after themselves.

And the more crowds, the more mess.

 

[minnie mum]

Have you had a chance to look at the Tokyo Disneyland subforum? Here's a link: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=178

TDL and TDS will completely blow your mind. It is in a totally different league than the American parks.

But I don't think that the immaculate nature is confined to the parks- you will see that everywhere in Japan.

I'm not sure that I would say that maintenance is noticably slipping at WDW (it's been a few years, so I can't comment on DL). As for less than pristine bathrooms- that's not maintenance, that's custodial. And I'm happy to lay the lion's share of the blame squarely on the slobs who use them and leave a mess behind them, expecting someone else to clean up after them. Much as I dislike MDE right now, I don't think you can draw a connection here.

 

[MET270]

I think it probably has more to do with the guests of today. People today are less, shall we say, inclined to clean up after themselves? Think someone else should do it for them. Leaving trash wherever is convenient for them. Public bathrooms everywhere are pretty gross, people are kind of sloppy. It's probably hard to keep up with the masses who don't really care to clean up after themselves. And the more crowds, the more mess.

I agree. It amazes me the things I see people do and say everyday. The sense of entitlement is crazy with some people.

 

[Chuck S]

But I don't think that the immaculate nature is confined to the parks- you will see that everywhere in Japan.

I agree, it is much more a part of their culture than with Americans. And remember that Tokyo Disney is wholly owned and operated by an outside company (Oriental Land Company) and is licensed by Disney.

 

[Karbase8]

I think it probably has more to do with the guests of today. People today are less, shall we say, inclined to clean up after themselves? Think someone else should do it for them. Leaving trash wherever is convenient for them.

Public bathrooms everywhere are pretty gross, people are kind of sloppy.

It's probably hard to keep up with the masses who don't really care to clean up after themselves.

And the more crowds, the more mess.

I completely agree with people being less inclined to clean up after themselves. I was at a sporting event in a luxury suite and this couple walked out and left all their trash to pick up. It enrages me I see this alot even within my own friends. That being said, I do see the parks being less clean and they were always done to a tee not a think out of place.

 

[disnut8]

I think it probably has more to do with the guests of today. People today are less, shall we say, inclined to clean up after themselves? Think someone else should do it for them. Leaving trash wherever is convenient for them.

Public bathrooms everywhere are pretty gross, people are kind of sloppy.

It's probably hard to keep up with the masses who don't really care to clean up after themselves.

And the more crowds, the more mess.

100% agree. There are many people today who just think "someone else will clean it up". That irks me.

If you make a mess in your bathroom, you clean it up. If you drop something on the floor (like TP and I won't mention other things), you clean it up. But there are some at Disney World who just say "oh well, someone else will do it". Same way with dropping something on a park grounds. "Oh well, someone else will lean over or use one of those grabby things and pick it up for me because I don't care!"

Yes, I realize we are on vacation and should be away from things in our normal lives. But when does just general cleanliness become something we don't want every day?

 

[butterfly71076]

Been reading lots of threads here on dis about how WDW put all their eggs into MagicBands etc and that many here think at the cost of cutting the once incredible maintenance they have historically had. Do you agree? I still think the whole property is well maintained and beautiful but many say the bathrooms and cleanliness has gone downhill. On a side note on Tuesday I will be staying at the Miracosta INSIDE DisneySea in Tokyo. Been researching DisneyTokyo resort and from what I read every single thing is maintained to the extreme max like WDW once was. Also the CMs are supposed to be out of this world super dedicated and beyond the call of duty. Ill let ya know with a trip report when I get back to the USA. I'm so excited!

So jealous!!! Hope you have a fabulous trip!! I am looking forward to reading about it and seeing the pics!!

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

I don't think it's accurate to lay the blame for bathroom cleanliness on "modern day" guests. I really can't imagine that people were that different years ago. I know that I personally have noticed a BIG difference in cleanliness from let's say 2006, 2007, 2009 to our most recent trip in Sept 2013. I don't believe guest behaviors have changed that drastically since then. It's simply that CMs aren't cleaning the bathrooms as often or as well., IMO

It's not just bathrooms, either. On our last trip we noticed peeling paint and lots of wall scuff marks inside attractions queues where we never have before. My husband pointed out the lack of shrub trimming in certain areas (along with decaying foliage in flower beds) in EPCOT. Again...we have never noticed that before. Little things? Maybe. But it's disappointing.

Oh, and OP...have fun!!!!!

 

[Chuck S]

It isn't fully Disney's fault, nor fully the fault of guests. Both share the responsibility for park cleanliness. My Mom related a story to me during one visit. Mom had a habit in public restrooms of once she used the paper towel, she would then give the sink/counter a quick wipe. One teenage girl looked at her, gave a sigh and said in a condescending tone said, "They have people to do that!"

 

[surferdave]

Anybody whose memory goes back to the 70s and 80s should know better than blaming any shift on guests getting more likely to litter than in the past. In those days the side of every highway was a mess but WDW was immaculate.

 

[amg35]

Anybody whose memory goes back to the 70s and 80s should know better than blaming any shift on guests getting more likely to litter than in the past. In those days the side of every highway was a mess but WDW was immaculate.

I remember, although as a kid, that people were just not as messy then, anywhere. I'm not just talking WDW.

Just the amount of people who don't even pick up their dog waste in my city neighborhood anymore, it's so much worse now.

The zoo we go to was much dirtier last year than I remember too, so I'm not just trying to give WDW a break.

And maybe people who worked in the parks years ago had a different work ethic? Sometimes from what I read it seems like cast members working there today aren't too happy to be there, so maybe they don't take as much pride in their work, or feel slighted by the company.

And then maybe just money cuts, who knows.

And to be honest, I didn't notice any problems in 2011, so my above arguments can be completely off base!

 

[Chuck S]

I remember, although as a kid, that people were just not as messy then, anywhere. I'm not just talking WDW.

I have to say, I've noticed, and not just at WDW, but other hotels and rest areas I stop at while traveling, more guest abuse of the facilities...and I'm not talking about accidents like spilled nail polish...but holes that have kicked in walls, broken lamps, broken/bent faucets, toilets in rest areas and restaurants purposefully clogged with paper towels...so as I said, it is both a combination of factors, including both maintenance AND guests. And some of those rooms weren't "cheap", like Motel 6 or Super 8 (of course, nothing is actually cheap these days) but these were upper mid-priced, like Quality Inn and Hampton Inn rooms.

 

[k5thbeatle]

I think it probably has more to do with the guests of today. People today are less, shall we say, inclined to clean up after themselves? Think someone else should do it for them. Leaving trash wherever is convenient for them...

...It's probably hard to keep up with the masses who don't really care to clean up after themselves.

And the more crowds, the more mess.

I have to agree that this is definitely a big factor on this subject of cleanliness.

 

[redrosesix]

I don't think it's accurate to lay the blame for bathroom cleanliness on "modern day" guests. I really can't imagine that people were that different years ago. I know that I personally have noticed a BIG difference in cleanliness from let's say 2006, 2007, 2009 to our most recent trip in Sept 2013. I don't believe guest behaviors have changed that drastically since then. It's simply that CMs aren't cleaning the bathrooms as often or as well., IMO

It's not just bathrooms, either. On our last trip we noticed peeling paint and lots of wall scuff marks inside attractions queues where we never have before. My husband pointed out the lack of shrub trimming in certain areas (along with decaying foliage in flower beds) in EPCOT. Again...we have never noticed that before. Little things? Maybe. But it's disappointing.

Oh, and OP...have fun!!!!!

I was going to say this... not so much maintenance issues, but landscaping everywhere seemed like it had slipped a bit. Including in the parks.