who cruised at the inception of DCL....

[wcw57]

from what I've read, it had waaay less characters and many "mishaps" (soapy pools, etc.)....there have been myriad changes, comings and goings, improvements, expansions, policy changes, etc etc etc....

My question: each time there has been a major policy change (smoking, alcohol, et al) it is the end of the world for some of the DISers.... BUT, aren't the hullabaloos just more of the same, really? I mean, doesn't DCL carry on full speed ahead? Sometimes there are rough seas but, eventually, things smooth out, no? That's the end of the nautical references, I promise.

I guess what I'm looking for is some perspective here..............

 

[Quellman]

There were growing pains at the beginning re: mishaps. It originally was pay for sodas before they moved to the current model. I also remember getting yard sticks on lanyards. I wish those came back.... I don't recall there being less characters. I guess there probably could have been less character meet and greets. They still had deck and dance parties.

You also have the problem of communications in 1998. Everyone had dial-up internet, social media and blogs were not grouped together, so news and updates were hard to come by. Yet yesterday, Touring Plans live tweeted photos from the updated Dream. I saw other updates via face book and reddit. People even pull construction permits from the Orange County website to see what Disney is building next!

Before, any changes DCL made, people accepted it and moved on. Now people have a voice in their own bubble and can attempt to swell ground movement in opposition or support of changes.

Disney has to change and adapt their product. If they don't they become stale with more reliance on the Disney name and branding. Staying fresh It is likely more difficult since they only have 4 ships compared to legacy cruise lines where the companies have a new ship every few years. They do not change the stage shows often, the menus are largely the same year after year. So updating the spaces on the ships is a good start. The water coaster and dunk slide grab the thrill. The reimagined spaces are engaging.

You can also talk about value and cost and blah blah. But simply stated that differs for everyone.

 

[truck1]

I wouldn't say less characters. Maybe different groupings other then the fab 5.

I agree that DCL has to change or be left behind. But I also think that sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Using the autograph items as an example, when it started it was word of mouth. So the zoo only had a handful of requests to handle. Now just about every one knows and its over whelming.

This is just me but today not many people are willing to be responsible. Look around. How many times have you seen someone that has no regard for anyone else around them? So DCL has to do something for them. And the rest of us get to pay the price.