Where do you think Disney Dropped the Ball

[Kimberle]

Yup, MGM. We do a 1/2 day at most per weeks visit. It doesn't necessarily need "thrill" rides, but more movie type entertainment that aren't shows. They have a long "way" to even equal US & IOA.

 

[disneyworldgirl]

I think Disney has dropped the ball in several ways:

1. Replacing "Mr. Toad" with "Winnie the Pooh"-- If they wanted a Winnie the Pooh ride, they should have found another place for it and kept Mr. Toad where it was.

2. Getting rid of the Florida-based animation dept.-- After all, what's "Disney's Magic of Animation" without the animators?

3. The constant remaking of classic Disney movies (this also includes all of the lame sequels they keep churning out)-- Certainly someone can come up with some original ideas!

 

[pezpam]

And I also read that if you want a hair dryer, just ask the front desk. !

I am very sure that's true, but I can't bring myself to leave the hairdryer at home and *hope* that there are enough left for me. My luck just does NOT run that way.

 

[disneyaggie]

I am very sure that's true, but I can't bring myself to leave the hairdryer at home and *hope* that there are enough left for me. My luck just does NOT run that way.

We must have been separated at birth!

I, too never take that chance and pack everything I need, including my travel blow dryer! Actually my travel dryer came in handy when I was at a hotel room (not Disney) once and the dryer exploded! It spewed sparks and hissed at me.

 

[pumpkinfish]

Just my feelings:

1. I once didn't like Dinoland. Last year DH and I really took the time to walk around it and enjoy the elements they have in place. Have you ever looked inside the car parked on the right side? Very detail-oriented. I also love the fact it represents a piece of America. These Dino-midways used to be very popular in the 50s and 60s. I agree the rides are "cheap", but they are aimed more towards "families" and "younger ages". Something the entire family could enjoy. I am not an imagineer so I can't think of anything better...I also like the fact it is designed to be in a parking lot. The first time I saw this I rolled my eyes and thought it was VERY cheap looking. I have since changed my mind.

2. MGM...poor MGM. I feel this is the park that has the most potential for improvement. Maybe that's why I am REALLY looking forward to the stunt show! I can't wait to see some ACTION in that park. I'm sorry, but I personally think RNR is overdone-the launch is the best part, and I do still enjoy TOT everytime. Other than that...not much else is worth getting exciting about. The hat is there as a Disney icon" that the other parks already have in place. Though "a huge golf ball" doesn't scream disney, we all know that's what it represents for Epcot. Having the theater as the center icon just wasn't original and doesn't scream disney. What MGM needs is more pixie dust and MAGIC!

I always hold Disney to a higher standard because that is what they are known for. We have Busch Gardens Williamsburg right down the road, and the two just don't compare. Believe me, I think our BGW is absolutely beautiful, but not even in the same bracket as disney. Just today, DH and I were there for the first day of the season, and all we kept saying to one another was "this isn't disney". Disney set their level at a high point, and I feel they should maintain that, and always try to increase it. If they don't, they need to find somebody who can!

Phew! Great thread by the way!

 

[experiment626mom]

The beds in value and moderate resorts. Pooh sized people like myself and DH do not fit in a double bed and dd and ds are at the age where they don't want (shouldn't be) sleeping with each other or dh and I. I really feel that other options such as they have at deluxe resorts could be implemented everywhere for a much more comfortable family vacation.

 

[pezpam]

Just my feelings:

1. I once didn't like Dinoland. Last year DH and I really took the time to walk around it and enjoy the elements they have in place. Have you ever looked inside the car parked on the right side? Very detail-oriented. I also love the fact it represents a piece of America. These Dino-midways used to be very popular in the 50s and 60s. I agree the rides are "cheap", but they are aimed more towards "families" and "younger ages". Something the entire family could enjoy. I am not an imagineer so I can't think of anything better...I also like the fact it is designed to be in a parking lot. The first time I saw this I rolled my eyes and thought it was VERY cheap looking. I have since changed my mind.

I understand why folks don't much like this area, but me? I'll always be grateful to whoever put in the Primeval Whirl. My until-then skittish daughter (age 6 at the time, allowed to be skittish, lol) decided that she could try it last year because it didn't look too scary with the setting. By the time we left, she was begging to go back on Dinosaur. Since then, she's done all of the rides at our Six Flags (except the looping coaster) and has decided to try a looping coaster next time we get to WDW or another big park.

For a thrill-ride-loving single mom, this is fabulous! Whoever put that ride in there, 'tacky' area or no, I could take them home, feed them a home-cooked meal, and hug them for a week!

 

[CherCrazy]

I agree about MGM, they need to add a few more exciting attractions. I think the Indiana Jones show needs to go, as wellas Sounds Dangerous. Two huge wastes of space. If not for ToT, RnR, and millionaire, I think we would skip this park.

I still like Indiana Jones...but I agree about Sounds Dangerous. They shortened the show tremendously from the first time we saw it. I guess they're trying to get us in and out too quickly.

I miss World of Motion...why couldn't they just add rides instead of taking away??? I think Epcot needs more rides and maybe another country or two.

Stitch is pretty lame...but what could they do with the space?

Best redo for us is Buzz Lightyear. We have a blast trying to get the evil empiror Zurg!!!

 

[CherCrazy]

Here's another one....

I hated it when they put the liquid soap dispensers on the shower walls in the moderates. SOOOO CHEAP!! And gross too! What were they thinking??

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I think Disney dropped the ball with the Stitch ride. There was so much build-up for that attraction for so little substance. DD5 who is a big Stitch fan looked at me after the ride and said "Is that all there is?" Kinda sums it up. Tomorrowland really needed for Stitch to be a homerun instead of a whiff.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I know this has been mentioned before, but could WDW get a better way of transporting ppl to/from attractions , parks, hotels etc? I was kindof surprised on my first visit last year that some of the places wasn't on the monorail and one would have to make 3 different stops before getting to it.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

The beds in value and moderate resorts. Pooh sized people like myself and DH do not fit in a double bed and dd and ds are at the age where they don't want (shouldn't be) sleeping with each other or dh and I. I really feel that other options such as they have at deluxe resorts could be implemented everywhere for a much more comfortable family vacation.

Pooh sized...I like that!
I agree, and I've stated that as a problem on several threads....I'm actually surprised more people don't complain about it, considering how many opposite-sex teens visit every day. What's wrong with more bunk-style rooms for families? If you take out a double and put in a bunk, you'll have plenty of room for at least a queen-sized bed, even in value rooms. And to have the same beds in both value and moderates...what's the incentive to upgrade to a moderate? I would love to do Disney on a budget, but not at the expense of a full vacation's sleep!

 

[Jen D]

Totally agree on restaurant at American Pavillion! How depressing, weak fast food.

And MGM- we always visit a few times a visit because we all love TOT and RnR... but it is a weird and unwieldy park.... too many shows, it always feels like you just missed a show and the next one is too far away... And I keep riding the Great Movie Ride again and again thinking maybe this time it won't be so lame...

Dinoland is just sad. Like they gave up or something.

 

[sodaseller]

I understand why folks don't much like this area, but me? I'll always be grateful to whoever put in the Primeval Whirl. My until-then skittish daughter (age 6 at the time, allowed to be skittish, lol) decided that she could try it last year because it didn't look too scary with the setting. By the time we left, she was begging to go back on Dinosaur. Since then, she's done all of the rides at our Six Flags (except the looping coaster) and has decided to try a looping coaster next time we get to WDW or another big park.

For a thrill-ride-loving single mom, this is fabulous! Whoever put that ride in there, 'tacky' area or no, I could take them home, feed them a home-cooked meal, and hug them for a week!

Almost the same experience. PW was my DD8's first coaster. She is not a big coaster person, but it led to her trying and liking Space Mountain and BTMRR. It remains special for that reason

 

[88Keys]

The closing of the Wonders of Life Pavilion --- to not take advantage of Body Wars and Cranium Command is absurd. Rumour has it (and I stress the word rumour) is that the pavilion is not long for this world. Even now it seems like it is rarely open.

 

[the kabuki]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned The Living Seas in Epcot. That has steadily gone downhill every year. Used to love going there and seeing all the different varieties of sea life. Now all I see is the same big brown fishes . They've got something good with Turtle Talk with Crush. Now if they could just expand on that. I mean, they have Nemo, Little Mermaid,two hugely popular movies to work with in there.

Journey to Imagination- It's just sad after the rehab.

Backlot Tour- Used to be such a neat thing to see the workings of a studio, the different movies sets, & props. Now, even the kids are bored with this one.

Indiana Jones-loved this one 12 years ago, starting to lose it's magic. Time for an update.

 

[MinnieM3]

Stitch.... yuck

Beds...Helllo....queen size like most hotels!!

MGM.... if not TOT and RnR we'd skip it every trip

Monorail..... please connect up some more stuff

 

[RyMickey]

1. Test Track - Hate it immensely. We skip it nearly every time we go. It never seems to be working right and it's so boring. Who cares about going through heat and cold?!?!?!? They got rid of World of Motion for this?!?!?!

2. Kali River Rapids - Gotta agree with everyone who said this. We ride it every trip, but it is a little disappointing.

3. The "seasonal" openings of Timekeeper and Caroussel of Progress. I love these two underrated attractions, and I hate that they just close them, leaving the space unoccupied for months on end.

RyMickey

 

[bengalbelle]

You know, I agree with that. I have thought, sometimes, at the end of the day at MGM that we forgot to do something that we had intended to do, but then I can't think what it was. After checking everything out, I realize that is it just a feeling of something undone at that park, I guess.

I also agree with the Imagineer thing. There was something magic about touring the park and thinking that the Imagineers were just in the next building creating something wonderful. You were right in the middle of how Walt began it all.

I don't know what MGM needs....maybe it does need more kid-type rides (based on movies to maintain the theme.) I know that people will say it's not that type of park, but we know that kids are coming, so let's make them happy.

I have a preschooler and we feel this way about MGM. If you have a little one who doesn't care for shows there isn't much for them to do there.

 

[bytheblood]

1. Stitch!
2. Replacing Eisner with Iger. That is like replacing a thief with a lying cheat. ?????
3. The Jungle Snooze. super cheesy

...........and I agree, I do think that more could be done with MGM - Disney Studios...it is not very kid friendly.