50 MAGICal Enhancements for the 50th ...

[Kman101]

Lifestylers provide positive reviews with little effort. Others insult them at every opportunity.

Who would you rather have at your house?

EDIT: It's hard to disagree with the concept of a loyality program but this email non-fiasco seems like the time Coreless (is that how you spell it) didn't get invited to MNSSHP.

I do get that. It's free publicity for them. They do nothing and everyone covers the latest cupcake offering.

I know it's "nothing" to some, but I like the Passholder entrance at the parks. This week I didn't see a single line to get in while other areas were backed up. I forget that Universal offers early entry to some passholders (why have I not taken advantage of that? LOL). I'd like to see Disney offer this as well, but I know it could potentially take away from guests staying on property. I think each should have their own unique offerings. Disney could step it up a little bit with their loyalty but they're not at that place with how they run things right now. I mean, why can't Passholders access the Imagination lounge and get a free drink and charge their phone in the A/C too like they offer the DVC. Things like that. It's all little stuff but it adds up.

The cruise line rewards their repeat guests. I know they can track how many times my band was scanned and how often I enter the parks.

 

[nor'easter]

sorry, but that simply isn't true.

Sorry, but it is.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Sorry, but it is.

It's OK to be wrong.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Lifestylers provide positive reviews with little effort. Others insult them at every opportunity.

Who would you rather have at your house?

EDIT: It's hard to disagree with the concept of a loyalty program but this email non-fiasco seems like the time Coreless (is that how you spell it?) didn't get invited to MNSSHP.

Personally, I'd rather have an honest opinion rather than one influenced by corporate giveaways. That's why I don't lend much credence to many "lifestyler" opinions, as they are often looking for their next freebie and don't want to risk their ride on-board the Disney gravy train.

In all my years of going to WDW, I've never once seen an overflowing trashcan. On the other hand, I do clearly remember not seeing any trash strew about at the resorts, except in the past 15 or so years. I don't necessarily chalk that up to Disney being lazy, but to an overall decline in our culture and manners in general. I have seen burned out light bulbs, woodwork/paint in pretty poor shape, etc. That is on Disney, plain and simple.

I'm needing to plan a trip to DLP this September, as I have two Delta One tickets that I need to use or lose (won them last September during an employee event with my current employer, lucky me!). I also need to plan a trip to Tokyo in 2018, as the flight benefits I have with my former employer run out in January 2019. Never ventured outside of the US, except for the Bahamas, so any tips that anyone who has been to these parks before may have, for either trip (flights, hotels, dining, tickets, etc.), would be very welcome, indeed!!!

 

[jakeman]

Personally, I'd rather have an honest opinion rather than one influenced by corporate giveaways. That's why I don't lend much credence to many "lifestyler" opinions, as they are often looking for their next freebie and don't want to risk their ride on-board the Disney gravy train.

Of course as consumers, that's what we want, but Disney's desires in this category obviously differs from ours.

As for the validity of opinion, that's a subjective judgement. I agree with you, but there are many opinions that aren't glowing around here that have just as little credence.

 

[monothingie]

Sorry, but it is.

Just for point of reference. Back in the 70's and 80's and even 90's you didn't have 100 people go to a message forum, or twitter or Facebook to share pictures of an overflowing garbage can, or stained ceiling tile, or chipped paint. I'm not saying problems don't exist today, but these same problems existed before, just you didn't have 100 people with iPhones detailing every fault.

 

[Rodan75]

El Rio del Tiempo is an old fav of mine! Three rides for the price of one. Or four, including the fowl cartoon they play nowadays (which feels like a separate ride, one that strips the other ride of its payoff).

It's never had long lines. Nor felt popular. But it does have enormous capacity. Which may partly explain its low popularity, through an inverse TSMM/Soarin' effect: undercapacity rides beget a buzz, they are stampeded at park opening, their fastpassed are mobbed, they are the top feature in how to WDW guides, crows are always agitated and rushed. Which creates demand, a sense there's something not to be missed here.

Like its sister rides of If You had Wings and Small World the Mexico boat ride combines low key charm with tremendous capacity. Which could create a sense of skippable experience to the more hype sensitive modern crowds - who tend(ed) to scoff a bit at the other two too.



As for you never having ridden most of FW, what a pity! Today's offerings (many soon to be largely gone) are not classic FW by any standard, but by and large still quite enjoyable regardless:

The dinorama is five minutes of awesomeness in between 45 minutes of dull.
Space is a unique thrill in an otherwise skippable pavilion. Although one could argue this means they thus spend their budget with their priorities right. *gives side-eye to New Fantasyland*
TT is a bit lacklustre but still worth a ride. The old version was dreadfully ugly, the new version pretty and more fitting but has slightly lost an edge in the process.
And you haven't been to EPCOT if you've never seen Figment, even the travesty show.

I loved El Rio el Tiempo...but I don't mind GFT...although it would be better if you could take your Margarita on the Tour.

 

[Rodan75]

Lifestylers provide positive reviews with little effort. Others insult them at every opportunity.

Who would you rather have at your house?

EDIT: It's hard to disagree with the concept of a loyalty program but this email non-fiasco seems like the time Coreless (is that how you spell it?) didn't get invited to MNSSHP.

It is always style vs. substance with the spirit. I don't defend his style, but he does have a point. Why wouldn't they start with the oldest / closest APs to schedule the previews with? All of that info should be available at the touch of a finger with the MDE infrastructure. Of course maybe they did, and he is simply too far away to qualify. South Florida isn't Central Florida.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Just for point of reference. Back in the 70's and 80's and even 90's you didn't have 100 people go to a message forum, or twitter or Facebook to share pictures of an overflowing garbage can, or stained ceiling tile, or chipped paint. I'm not saying problems don't exist today, but these same problems existed before, just you didn't have 100 people with iPhones detailing every fault.

Exactly.

 

[Rodan75]

Nostalgia is a dirty liar that insists things were better than they seemed.

Sorry, but having been going to WDW since 1978 as an adult, I can state that it was never as good as people remember. Especially those that went as kids in the 70's when everything was new and shiny to them. Was it kept clean? Yes. Is it kept clean now? Yes.

We were there just last week and the week before and saw not one single bathroom that wasn't clean, and not one overflowing trashcan. Was there some litter on the ground? Well, yes, and if it wasn't wet, we would pick it up, even when a CM was walking over to do it. People seem to think that a CM magically appeared in a few seconds if someone made a mess on the ground back then, and sorry, but that simply isn't true.

Too True. There are definitely dark times, I didn't visit much in the early 2000's but started up again in 2008. And I can say that I was supremely disappointed in service and cleanliness...but I also noticed it got better every year afterwards. But I also remember some pretty crappy service and upkeep around 88-90 and being amazed at how good everything seemed from 93-95. There are waves...and I would argue that the parks are generally well kept over the long term.

 

[csmat99]

Very, very well put. And without charts and graphs. You are impressive, my friend!

I can go on and on and on about the things I loved about WDW in the 70s and 80s. Simply put, it was a better run, higher caliber product with truly world class Guest Service in the middle of no where (that was O-Town until the 90s building binge). Yes, the prices back then were high compared to the rest, but not compared to what people earned versus today.

WDW is trending upward in some areas (although what do you say to visitors to EPCOT and DHS now?), but overall it still has issues. I won't criticize the good as FINALLY there is some. And I won't get lathered up that Bob Iger really cares when he did nothing for the place from 2005 until very recently.

I still miss the original Top of the World brunches, running around EPCOT until after midnight on Spring Break, the quiet WDW Village at LBV, the steaks at Tangaroa Terrace, TREES everywhere, swimming in the lake at River Country while fireworks burst high over the Contemporary and Space Mountain, live music everywhere, the Diamond Horseshoe, the hours long studio tour at Disney-MGM, shops with cool stuff that wasn't all Disney, shops that you couldn't bring a double-wide stroller into, the original WDW Italian salad dressing (which is about 96% back at The Boathouse now), TREES everywhere, Jack Wagner on the radio and all over the resort, Mr. Toad and the submarines, walking up to EPCOT restaurants and getting a table, the amazing original music of EPCOT Center, no gates on attractions or monorails, TREES everywhere, real menus at restaurants (something back at signature locales now), Swan Boats peacefully gliding around the Hub waterways, TREES everywhere, quick serve at the Soundstage Restaurant, bad pizza at Lancer's Inn, Mickey with a Musket at FW, fountains with water (not plants and garbage) in Adventureland, no FPs, sleeping on the beach at the Poly or Contemporary, great buffets at the Terrace restaurant at Contemporary, the Empress Lilly (no, not the poster!), TREES everywhere, characters on waterskis, frozen grape juice bars, thin attractive CMs who understood English (yeah, I guess saying that means I'm as racist as some of the folks on the political forum ), the Festival of the Masters, TREES everywhere, the hope of monorail expansion and WS expansion, always something new to see or do ... yeah, I could go on and on and on ... Did I mention TREES everywhere?

Please don't get me started about the trees. I'm about this close to going over to WL and planting poison oak around all those god awful generic cabins that ruined the best resort in my opinion and killed it's charm and feeling you were in different place than swamps of Florida.

 

[Kman101]

Just for point of reference. Back in the 70's and 80's and even 90's you didn't have 100 people go to a message forum, or twitter or Facebook to share pictures of an overflowing garbage can, or stained ceiling tile, or chipped paint. I'm not saying problems don't exist today, but these same problems existed before, just you didn't have 100 people with iPhones detailing every fault.

Thank you. This.

 

[jakeman]

It is always style vs. substance with the spirit. I don't defend his style, but he does have a point. Why wouldn't they start with the oldest / closest APs to schedule the previews with? All of that info should be available at the touch of a finger with the MDE infrastructure. Of course maybe they did, and he is simply too far away to qualify. South Florida isn't Central Florida.

I would think the simplest answer is that they want a positive review and that same infrastructure that can tell you who's been around the longest can also tell you who is the most positive.

Disney doesn't want an honest evaluation, they want positive PR. There are probably thousands more likely to give that type of feedback than folks here.

Is that right? I don't care because it's an entertainment company. I'll worry about it when it's something I'm forced to buy.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Just for point of reference. Back in the 70's and 80's and even 90's you didn't have 100 people go to a message forum, or twitter or Facebook to share pictures of an overflowing garbage can, or stained ceiling tile, or chipped paint. I'm not saying problems don't exist today, but these same problems existed before, just you didn't have 100 people with iPhones detailing every fault.

Well, what about AK? Look how awful it looks!

From day one you had chipped plaster, exposed beams, lack of fresh paint anywhere, weathered billboards and signs, electrical wiring that couldn't possibly have passed code without some sort of bribery happening. When is that place going to get a nice, clean refresh?!

 

[Rodan75]

I would think the simplest answer is that they want a positive review and that same infrastructure that can tell you who's been around the longest can also tell you who is the most positive.

Disney doesn't want an honest evaluation, they want positive PR. There are probably thousands more likely to give that type of feedback than folks here.

Is that right? I don't care because it's an entertainment company. I'll worry about it when it's something I'm forced to buy.

I don't disagree. But I think that is two different groups of folks the lifestylers (who have blogs and social media presence and always gush over the Parks) and the AP folks coming in to essentially load test the attractions and test 'show' elements. Spirit wouldn't be in the former, but could be in the latter. Although I would imagine, given some his spin on things, Spirit would not be invited. (either way, I don't think it is something worthy about complaining about personally.)

 

[truecoat]

The term fanbois is nothing more than a playground taunt that lowers the level of discourse by pigeonholing people you disagree with.

If conversation can't be maintained without stereotyping disguised as convoluted name calling then perhaps the conversation is best not had (words that I myself could do better at following at times).

This. Thank you for explaining it better than I did. I don't know why it bothers him so much if someone from Podunk Iowa wants to be first in line at the opening of a parking garage. To each their own in life.

So you thank them for calling out the playground taunt and add one of your own.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

General cleanliness has dropped considerably even in the past 6 years, let alone what it used to be in the 90s and before. From 2010 until well into the second half of 2016 there had been a steady and clear decline in the speed with which bathrooms, trash and dirty surfaces were addressed.

The silver lining is that the last 6 months or so have improved noticeably. Not nearly to the standard it was in the 90s and before (the mid to late 90 was the slow beginning of this decline and you could see the signs even back then), but considerably better than it has in quite a while. This is probably due them gearing up for the 50th, not unlike how Disneyland was cleaned up for its 50th (though i doubt WDW will reach that high standard). But also probably due to TDO management being reprimanded last year by Chapek for their poor job (assuming they learned anything from this). It remains to be seen whether they will expand and maintain this higher standard once the 50th is over.

 

[monothingie]

Well, what about AK? Look how awful it looks!

From day one you had chipped plaster, exposed beams, lack of fresh paint anywhere, weathered billboards and signs, electrical wiring that couldn't possibly have passed code without some sort of bribery happening. When is that place going to get a nice, clean refresh?!

Absolutely, Look at EPCOT Center. That was what people in 1975 thought 1995 would look like.

 

[jakeman]

I don't disagree. But I think that is two different groups of folks the lifestylers (who have blogs and social media presence and always gush over the Parks) and the AP folks coming in to essentially load test the attractions and test 'show' elements. Spirit wouldn't be in the former, but could be in the latter. Although I would imagine, given some his spin on things, Spirit would not be invited. (either way, I don't think it is something worthy about complaining about personally.)

That's the summation of my take on it as well.

So you thank them for calling out the playground taunt and add one of your own.

That's actually a place (although not a town) in Iowa:

Podunk Center

 

[monothingie]

General cleanliness has dropped considerably even in the past 6 years, let alone what it used to be in the 90s and before. From 2010 until well into the second half of 2016 there had been a steady and clear decline in the speed with which bathrooms, trash and dirty surfaces were addressed.

The silver lining is that the last 6 months or so have improved noticeably. Not nearly to the standard it was in the 90s and before (the mid to late 90 was the slow beginning of this decline and you could see the signs even back then), but considerably better than it has in quite a while. This is probably due them gearing up for the 50th, not unlike how Disneyland was cleaned up for its 50th (though i doubt WDW will reach that high standard). But also probably due to TDO management being reprimanded last year by Chapek for their poor job (assuming they learned anything from this). It remains to be seen whether they will expand and maintain this higher standard once the 50th is over.

While I don't necessarily disagree. Your argument is purely anecdotal. I'm not making excuses or by any means sticking up for TDO, but given the expansion that has taken place from the 70's through today and the amount of and type of people who travel through WDW, I don't know if an army of cleaning and maintenance staff could ever bring things up to the way in which we perceive they were.