You universal fans are so sensitive...
Everyone who has responded is a confirmed fan of Disney. We all LOVE it. That's why we are here to begin with. We love it so much that we care about WDW's direction and its future. We see the bad decisions, neglect, and general apathy that has become the norm at the resort and we WANT to do something about it.
We see the competition, Universal, doing most everything right and want our "team" to step up and compete; but, that isn't happening and that is why it hurts.
I'm not picking on you seascape; but, your responses to the Universal "situation" are EXACTLY what the management in Orlando are preying on. Loyalty. Blind, dedicated, untarnished, can't do anything wrong loyalty. For this audience that can't see past their love of Walt Disney World, the executives in Orlando have rewarded all of us with a resort that has fallen into malaise.
While the "loyal" fan sees the wonders of new Fantasyland being open as they wake up early 180 days in advance to attempt to make a reservation for their favorite restaurant, then 60 days gets up in the middle of the night to to plan exactly what they want to do on a specific day and hope they can get the reservations for an attraction they want that won't conflict with their dinner reservations, then arrive on that "magical day" to spend all day watching their clock to make sure their months of planning and time they've invested doesn't go to waste. The loyal fan does all of this with a smile because it is "their" resort.
The practical fan looks at the above and says - I'm happy new Fantasyland is open but why did it take so long to build, let alone take so long before something of it's magnitude was even started and is the magnitude of what has actually been opened worthy of the first major investment in the world's busiest theme park. A practical fan looks at what is required to plan and reserve our vacation using the new tools in place and have to wonder - is it worth it?
The bottom line is that the entire situation at WDW is caused by all of us you provide the place our patronage. Instead of making exciting new attractions to get guests to visit, they are investing heavily in making sure that when you commit your dollars to Disney - you are in fact, committed. Your day is planned. They've got the reservations to prove it. No need to make a shiny new ride, add a new themed area, no need to expand. Just lock you into not leaving the resort.
My Disney World was one that there was always something new opening each visit and more importantly, there was always something new on the horizon for the visit after that. This is what Universal Orlando is doing right now. They have a queue of new rides and attractions lined up year after year.
Yes, WDW has attractions in the pipeline; but, how many of them are opening on your next visit?
An attraction in the hand is better than two in the pipeline.
Even the big things on the horizon are years away. The blind fan sees this "hamburger tomorrow" and waits patiently.
I choose to look at it as another example of apathy. Pandora is coming when? How about Rivers of Light?
If you want a perfect example of how little TDO cares, look at what is going on at the Magic Kingdom. The crown jewel of all amusement parks is currently got a butchers knife being cut right through the very heart of it - the hub. While yes, the remodeled hub is going to hopefully be a nice improvement and a necessary evil to corral all those captive FP+ cattle - the real question is why this project is going to take until 2015 to complete? They are filling in some moats, leveling some land, pouring some concrete and planting some trees and yet the hub looks like a freeway under construction. Ask yourself, when were the moats drained and how much progress has been made? Remind yourself, that Disneyland itself was built in less time. This project is going to take until 2015 because TDO has decided to take that long.
I've decided that I'm going to give WDW some tough love. TDO isn't going to get as many visits from me as they use to or as many as I could. I won't stop going; but, I am going to stop providing them my unbridled loyalty. I'll take small trips here and there and you bet I'll stop in to check on the competition up I-4 just to be reminded how "my team" use to swing for the fences.
What changed my mind is I visited Disneyland Resort and am reminded of what is possible in Orlando. They will get my Disney dollars.
Seascape, I would encourage you to do the same. It would be an eye opener. I can't stand the Cars movies but am blown away by the quality of the Land. The same could be with you and Potter. You don't have to be a fan to appreciate quality. You may see this quality and be reminded all over again why you love WDW in the first place.
