A Spirited Perfect Ten

[bhg469]

Yes agree WDW needs something exciting at EACH park every day to take the load off MK.

Stop talking all that mumbo jumbo! What we need is a second peter pan, buzz track, a third dumbo and another tomorrow land speedway. That will definitely fix things.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'm saying reduce daily park capacity to a level that would ensure no overcrowding and compromising of guest experience.

That is exactly why the statement "Disney is a business" keeps coming up. It's OK to imagine Disney as more then a business, and I understand that feeling, but, when we start to lose grasp of reality to the degree that this implies then it calls to be asked, how much income would you be comfortable depriving a Disney Park of? How would you explain to the Board of Directors that this will be a long term way to maintain the status quo of the organization that relies on income for survival? How much would you cut it back? A quarter, half or more? Other than you like trees, what would you use for a reason to make that sacrifice?

 

[WDW1974]

Good weird? Bad weird? Weird weird?

More like potentially good weird mixed with a healthy dose of strange weird.

I'm sure that helped.

But anyone close to the Pandoran delegation is free to drop a note my way and we can share info!

 

[WDW1974]

You were served every entrée they currently offer. Pork is gone. I agree it is an example of another down grade from the past. I have friends visiting in a few weeks with Ohana reservations. I have not been there in a year or so and have warned them to lower their expectations.

I knew that place was in trouble years ago when the first dumbing down happened. That was when the appetizers were cut and Americanized more for the simple palates that WDW attracts (and if you think I'm an adventuresome eater, then I'd invite you to listen to what my SO 'Angie M' has to say on the topic).

That's also when the great, and light, fresh pineapple with caramel dipping sauce (so many worlds better than the fanbois favorite: Dole Whip!) was replaced by a very heavy, fattening bread pudding type of dessert that in no way was Polynesian unless you wrote a food blog and wanted freebies from Disney!

 

[ford91exploder]

The biggest thing that I've run into during my 11 years around the Walt Disney World resort… I never knew when I was going to The kingdom. I was rarely planning anything out in my life at all. I didn't know when I will get an afternoon off 180 days in advance… so the general idea of scheduling a fast pass let alone scheduling a meal at Disney becomes ridiculous either way unless you jump through the hoops they are forcing you to jump through

I just don't like being forced to plan spontaneous activities…

Exactly, I might be able to squeeze in a few hours at WDW during a long layover at MCO but more and more I just skip it because it's no longer possible to DO anything at short notice.

 

[Darth Sidious]

Don't quote Walt.

There are only a handful (actually maybe about a dozen) Walt quotes that the company uses and abuses.

The above wouldn't be one of them. Contact Jennifer.J.Fickley@disney.com (AKA as Dr. Blondie of the DPB team) and I'm sure she can provide you with a list of Disney approved Walt quotes. Otherwise, you'll be getting a cease and desist in the not too distant future.

"It all started with a mouse" - Walt Disney™

"It all started with a mouse, that we feel opened the door to various franchise opportunities for Disney to leverage amongst all our distribution channels" - Robert A Iger

The Walt Disney character, quotes, images and brand are registered trademark of Disney® used pursuant to license.

 

[ford91exploder]

I knew that place was in trouble years ago when the first dumbing down happened. That was when the appetizers were cut and Americanized more for the simple palates that WDW attracts (and if you think I'm an adventuresome eater, then I'd invite you to listen to what my SO 'Angie M' has to say on the topic).

That's also when the great, and light, fresh pineapple with caramel dipping sauce (so many worlds better than the fanbois favorite: Dole Whip!) was replaced by a very heavy, fattening bread pudding type of dessert that in no way was Polynesian unless you wrote a food blog and wanted freebies from Disney!

You mean the 'Plate O Sugar' they replaced the pineapple with, I usually skipped the sauce and just ate the pineapple. fair warning I DO like the Dole Whip

 

[ford91exploder]

Restaurant point for all those people saying how they are speeding you out and not giving you time to enjoy that sometimes comes down to the guest.

I have establishments that we nicely after extended times at tables or eating us out of house and home where we place the check to send the message.

Now this is a rarity but in the establishments that I have had to do this I have lines to the door and 2 hour waits for a table but it is common practice in this industry as a tech to speed the group along or get them to stop eating.

I have never been rushed at any Disney restaurant as I am very concious of the meal time I have picked and that others need my table and they need the turn. I feel 2 hours at one of the fine dining establishments is fair and the character dining buffet setting or low level sit down is an hour.

That would be the schedule for most reservation spots.

When the check shows up 40-45 minutes after seating it's pretty obvious they are shooting for a 1 hour turn.

 

[ford91exploder]

How would you start? Because Burbank controls the capex. You'd have to be chairman level to effect that level of change. George K is just a manager

Georgie K is a figurehead who is being paid well to take the fall if something goes pear shaped at WDW

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm saying reduce daily park capacity to a level that would ensure no overcrowding and compromising of guest experience.

Yes a price increase would be a fair trade for a less crowded park, Say cut the max limit by 25% and boost the price by the same amount.

 

[ford91exploder]

Astroturf is really bad in the heat. But I haven't seen any conclusive scientific evidence linking it to cancer. It doesn't appear to be a cause-effect relationship based on the research today.

It will be interesting to see how many people mid-day August are going to sit on the turf to watch a show, forget a towel, and get quite a warm welcoming by the ground.

Just waiting for the invasion of the 'slip-n-fall' scammers after which the AstroTurf will be replaced by green concrete. The AstroTurf in front of the stage at UNI is slicker than black ice when it's wet.

 

[WDW1974]

I for one don't believe that adding a night time show at HS would alleviate any of the grid lock in the hub during the fireworks. We all know that a fireworks show at AK should not be done due to scaring the animals, and I don't care what they come up with for a night time show, it will never compete with Wishes or Illuminations. Without a complete change in the hub, the gridlock would have continued.

First, the Studios Mess Park had an incredible pyro show during the 1990s called Sorcery in the Sky. I'm sure @marni1971 has video, so don't buy one from any of the who res who sell them for profit. It was amazingly popular. It was great. It was scrapped in 1999 after a year of Fantasmic mixed with the debut of RoE at EPCOT.

The scaring the animals at DAK bit is a fallacy ... an Internet/CM/urban/Fanboi myth that just keeps being repeated. But DAK will have a nightly spectacular in Rivers of Light, even if half of its original budget went toward ... toward ... I dunno ... buying back stock?

Now, you may feel that nothing will ever compare with Wishes (I am sooo tired of that one with those moppets singing like fingernails on a chalkboard ... I am the guy yelling 'won't someone put a pillow over their faces and hold it until they stop!??!') or Illuminations. Your opinion.

I know that Disney used to continually update entertainment offerings, including night spectaculars. I know from what I've seen them do in Anaheim and Paris that they can absolutely do far better than these two very tired productions.

Oh, and when I first went there back in the 70's, it looked very similar then because not everything had grown in yet. You might want to wait until it is complete, and grown in before completely bashing it. Oh wait, I'm sorry, you've already made up your mind, and there is obviously no changing it.

Dear Leader will have to ask his Mommy and Daddy to see pics from the 1970s trips. I certainly recall the MK being very green. And properly planted trees in a climate like O-Town's will mature very quickly.

I first visited HKDL just a little before its 3rd anniversary and it was amazingly lush and Adventurerland looked the part? Why? Great landscaping. MK used to have that too.

Of course, that was in an era where fake grass would have never been considered and neither would have shrubs and wood chips counted as landscaping either.

If you ever go to EPCOT during Flower and Garden you get a little idea how all of WDW once looked. BTW, I have heard that in recent years, the amount of the annual landscaping budget that goes to that event is staggering considering the size and scope of the WDW Resort.

 

[WDW1974]

I had a long response to this in mind, but I think '74 said it better than I would have.

I'm sure that didn't surprise DD.

 

[ford91exploder]

Fantastic post.
Should be required reading.

It should be a sticky on this thread!

 

[WDW1974]

This!

Nearly every recent change at the Magic Kingdom has been done with the goal of cramming ever more people into the park. Second ferry dock, new bus loop, Hub changes, Main Street bypass, tree and bench removals; even the wider paths and stroller parking areas of Newish Fantasyland.

All of it has lessened the overall experience of being in the park. Details, landscaping, quiet spots and quaint features have all been lost in the name of operations and efficiency.

I mentioned this in another thread some time ago and I think it bears repeating: given its current transportation and infrastructure status, the Magic Kingdom is at full theoretical capacity (really, it reached that point about 5 million guests ago). Cramming 18 million people into that place when it was originally designed for about 10-12 million is ridiculous. And the guest experience, along with the park itself, is suffering.

Absolutely. All of what you cite has lessened the experience and lessened it greatly. And MK congestion is a HUGE (and growing) problem.

But you do a number of things to solve that:

1.) You cap attendance in the MK (no, those left outside won't like it, but most everyone else will!);
2.) You add (not the MM+ shell game, not the New Fantasyland simply replacing removed capacity) more capacity at the MK with actual park expansion and more attractions in these new areas;
3.) You add compelling product at your three other parks, so that folks don't decide that a WDW trip for them will be four days in the parks featuring 2.5 at MK, 1 at EPCOT and half at one of the other two. Strong product will keep even the pixie dusters from riding PoTC 18 times in one visit;
4.) You stagger operating hours, so sometimes MK closes BEFORE EPCOT and BEFORE TPFKaTD-MGMS. You have this rush to the MK because Disney will leave it open some nights until 1 a.m. with every other park closing by 9. Can't have that.

 

[WDW1974]

All of this HUB concrete wasteland banter is seriously starting to bring me down. I've been a faithful observer of these forums for about a decade now, and I've only just recently starting posting. After paying attention to the conversations over the last few weeks, it seems like the Doom and Gloomers are either growing in number or simply louder than ever. Personally, I come onto these forums for news and rumors and talk of what rides and attractions may bring joy to myself and my family in the future. Never in the ten years that I've been a member of this website have I seen such negativity and pessimism towards something that, at it's core, is meant to bring people happiness and joy. I understand that this a forum, and people should and could say whatever they want, but when is enough enough? We ALL get it. TONS of you have made yourselves loud and clear; you are upset with what WDW has become, and you want everyone to share in your opinion of what the parks SHOULD be. I wish WDW was different, but that doesn't mean I still don't love being there and the wonderful memories it has given me with my family. I sometimes feel like I'm an uneducated fool for even thinking that I enjoy WDW in 2015, and that's unfortunate. For the people that have clearly shown (and in some cases flat out said) that they HATE WDW now, why do you come to a WDW fan website and spew negativity? It just seems like anyone on here who likes ANYTHING that happens in WDW is immediately critisized for liking something 2015 WDW does. I just hope that people can stop making others' opinions about a new ride, show, or idea seem lesser because they may not be the same as their own. Apologies if this is off topic or preachy, but it's something I needed to say. Remember, 95% of us are here as a community because of our shared passion...

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Don't like site? Leave.

Don't like the thread? Leave.

Want to discuss why WDW is better than ever (even when it is far from it?) Start your own thread or join one of the hundreds and hundreds here for that.

I swear I'll never understand the pathology of people wasting lifetimes reading and posting in a place they don't find enjoyment or stimulation in.

Buh-bye.

 

[ford91exploder]

So the Disney Vacation Club is for...

I thought the other common complaint was that DVC is taking over the world! *gasp*

Can't have it both ways. They don't care about repeat customers, or they do?



No need for you to answer. We know the answer is they don't care about anyone.
All they care about is money money money.

Actually in the beginning they DID care about repeat customers (I have 800 DVC points purchased when WDW was managed much differently). Up to the late 90's you even got park admission with each DVC stay.

Now it's all about the huge cash infusion the sale of points creates, BLT point sales brought int 875 Million Dollars for a hotel which cost less than 200 million.

Now DVC wants you to 'TRADE' your points into RCI or Cruises I've gotten at least 5 'trade your points' mailings THIS YEAR.

So like so many other things at WDW a unique and wonderful product has morphed into nothing more than a cynical cash grab.

 

[WDW1974]

Another potential problem is dumbing down the dumbing down. Each time they replace a downgrade with a downgrade eventually there is nothing special about it at all.

One question for you @WDW1974 .... how long do you give it before we hear reports about staph potentially being an issue?

Some may laugh at this question. I am serious. The conditions in pro stadiums are no where near as perfect as the turf in the new hub yet it is a serious problem.

Good, yet sad, question. ... I know I am not sitting my amazing behind down on that stuff and exposing my legs (usually in jorts since it is FL and all) to who knows what? I can break out in hives if I brush up against a tree branch ... so I'm staying upright in the Hub (no matter how many fanbois make me offers!)

 

[ford91exploder]

OK the verdict is still out on that BUT the slippery surface and the heat retention still stand as valid concerns.

Life causes cancer....

 

[ford91exploder]

Good, yet sad, question. ... I know I am not sitting my amazing behind down on that stuff and exposing my legs (usually in jorts since it is FL and all) to who knows what? I can break out in hives if I brush up against a tree branch ... so I'm staying upright in the Hub (no matter how many fanbois make me offers!)

I'm usually mistaken for a management CM because I always wear long khakis and a collared shirt. But no badge so that bit is always confusing - why is being decently dressed cause for people thinking one is a CM...???