Dear Disney, please fix...

[Disvillain63]

Please tell off-duty Entertainment Cast Members to stop whooping and hollering at their friends performing in parades. It's unprofessional, it ruins the magic, and it's obnoxious.

They also deter on-duty CMs from interacting with guests, because the on-duty CMs are socializing with the off-duty CMs.

 

[marni1971]

The finale of SSE

The Innoventions fountains misters

Energys side lighting package

Seas lighting package

Space Mountains complete lighting package (and the actual ride itself whilst you're at it. Ask Phil what still needs to be done)

 

[xdan0920]

I'll add to the call for unique Merch and properly themed shops.

The shops should add to feel of the land they are placed in. They shouldn't be excuses to sell Princess Dolls or plushes that are available literally everywhere on property.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I haven't been on GMR in a while, but on recent rides on POTC and Maelstrom, the audio seems to have actually been worked on. POTC sounded pretty good and Maelstrom sounded great. I know exactly what you're referring to, though - it was hard to hear what most of the pirates were saying and some sections were almost silent.

It's something WDW seems to struggle with which is frustrating because it should be one of the easier things to maintain. It annoys me when a ride's audio or dialog is too quiet to hear. For instance, Tower of Terror's audio seems to have been out of whack for years. I want everyone on this forum to go ride Transformers, and pay attention to how incredible the audio quality is. Now compare that to Tower of Terror in it's current state (which it has been in for years) - busted speakers, audio crackling, audio not loud enough to mask people's talking, missing or barely audible sound effects, etc. I'm sure some people will throw out the excuse that "Disney has it quieter on purpose so it's not as intense for kids" - no. The rides at Disneyland sound great and the thrill rides are just as loud as Universal's. Disneyland's Tower of Terror, while inferior, sounds incredible. And many rides at Disney DO sound great and are appropriately loud, like Test Track 2.0 and Dinosaur. So that isn't it.

Or there's Splash Mountain where they can't seem to get a right balance between the vocals and instrument tracks, Space Mountain's almost non-existent added music feature or the return tunnel sound effect that doesn't play until you've almost exited the tunnel, Journey Into Imagination where the volume of Figment's voice is different in every scene, the often-mentioned busted speakers for the Fountain of Nations, etc.

So that's one of my biggest "please fix"'s - have a team that regularly analyzes and adjusts park and attraction audio.

I agree . One of the most frustrating things is that when the audio works as intended, it's world class. They just need to maintain in better perhaps with a team that constantly manages audio quality. The original rides like Tower of Terror sounded great. They just need proper maintenance and mixing. I think over time, Audio levels are compromised and the original audio techs would be disappointed to hear how it sounds now.

Philhar Magic has some of the best audio in the parks. I think that entire show was done by audio experts because it's loud and on point both sonically and visually.

Fantasmic, for me anyway, always has great audio. Loud and well balanced.

HM loading is very dependent on cast members who care enough to open and close the doors when they should. They need to look at loading this ride in a completely new way and it could be very easily fixed.

 

[CheshireCat12]

I also vote for more benches in the parks. I would also like to see the Yeti as everyone says it should be (not sure I've ever seen the Yeti in full mode). Also, it would be nice if WDW could keep up with the demand for Frozen merchandise (everything from Christmas ornaments to toys and t-shirts)- this stuff shouldn't be so hard to obtain!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Please fix...

• The various little effects that are broken throughout Spaceship Earth, like the printing press, rocking boat, fog machines, and the entire descent (I know, I'm supposed to keep this list realistic)

As of a week ago, the printing press and rocking boats were working. No burning Rome smell though.

And it definitely needs a worthy ending. A flash video that's tone or message in no way whatsoever matches the ride whilst riding past black curtains covering up former physical SETS just doesn't cut it.

 

[Chef Mickey]

The audio mix in the American Adventure needs to be corrected: it's often impossible to hear dialogue over the soundtrack.

This is unfortunate to hear. Perhaps it depends on the day? (even more frustrating) All my experiences of American Adventure have been spot on. I sit in the second or third row, always.

As one of the best shows on property, I think this attraction deserves its own quality control group constantly ensuring audio is correct for every seat in the theater. Perhaps my experience is due to my seating location or some other variability. I assume most of it is computer controlled, but I'm assuming someone behind the scenes could screw it up.

The most important aspect to the American Adventure is hearing every word without struggling.

 

[skimbob]

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THiS THiS^ Now all they would have to do is put in more bat poles and create a proper line to the actual load dock. Almost every time I am in there it's a nightmare and a clog feast just to get to the ride, and sometimes folks get in front of other folks and people get mad, but they legitimately didn't mean to cut, it's just they are funneling people into an enclosed space.

Yes this is a mess. DL has a better set up to cut down on this problem by having more bat poles that narrow down the line.

 

[skimbob]

Dear Disney: Could you please bring back a better variety of merchandise to the Parks (attraction specific) and Resorts?

Yes please also do not do the same merchandise for WDW and DL. The guests on each coast buy different things.

 

[skimbob]

I would like to see more posts like this one. It is being more constructive than destructive.

 

[rob0519]

Before going any further, I want to set a few parameters that I hope people observe.

1) This thread's purpose is not to complain about how we miss long-lost attractions or cult favorites. The thread is intended to be a standing list of things WDW can realistically fix in its parks. We don't care how much you miss Mr. Toad or Alien Encounter.

2) Please remain mature and refrain from online fanboy arguments. This thread is not about Universal Studios or Tokyo DisneySea.

3) Please state things seriously so that the thread is taken seriously at WDW. Trust me, there are people whose job is to monitor message boards.

That said, let's get started.

Since all online Disney message boards tend to repeat the same complaints, I hope this thread can consolidate legitimate issues that Disney needs to address. A couple years ago, we did this about Splash Mountain; the thread spurred @KevinYee to write an article that caught Disney's attention, and the attraction has enjoyed a thorough refurb and decent maintenance since then.

Again, I'm hoping this thread stays realistic and doesn't devolve into a b*tchfest.

I vote for more places to sit in MK and a more diverse selection of merchandise specific to each park and resort as unlikely as those possibilities are.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Dear Disney, please fix the ceilings in show scenes, dark rides ect. Want to know what I mean?

Thats just one example as its hard to find these pics online.
But, as you can see, when you look up at the ceiling which you can't help doing, or even just peripheral vision, the effect is ruined because its not fully themed, Same thing with say Soarin, where you can easily see the end of the screen as it does not curl around the vehicle as much as it should.

 

[tirian]

I would like to see more posts like this one. It is being more constructive than destructive.

That's the hope!

 

[Chef Mickey]

Dear Disney, please fix the ceilings in show scenes, dark rides ect. Want to know what I mean?

Thats just one example as its hard to find these pics online.
But, as you can see, when you look up at the ceiling which you can't help doing, or even just peripheral vision, the effect is ruined because its not fully themed, Same thing with say Soarin, where you can easily see the end of the screen as it does not curl around the vehicle as much as it should.

I hear you, but I think Great Movie Ride in particular is an outlier. You're supposed to get a "movie" set feel and the unfinished ceiling and background curtain kind of show you a behind the scenes look to a movie set.

That said, I do agree rides like Small World and Soarin' should be addressed. Sometimes you can see up to the rafters on Small World. There are panels missing and work lights on occasionally.

 

[TheDrMeowMix]

Same thing with say Soarin, where you can easily see the end of the screen as it does not curl around the vehicle as much as it should.

I have a feeling that they might(?) be fixing that with the proposed changes coming to the attraction in the coming years....
Anywho.
Dear Disney,
please fix "The Journey of The Little Mermaid". It's impossible to miss the lights coming up from above and being able to see what creates the effects really ruins the ride experience and makes it appear rushed.

 

[TheDrMeowMix]

• The planets on the Astro Orbiter. They're supposed to spin.

I think they're fixing them right now, actually.

 

[wendysue]

Dear Disney: Could you please bring back a better variety of merchandise to the Parks (attraction specific) and Resorts?

Yes, and NOT from China...(will not touch it)

 

[Chef Mickey]

In reading this thread, I think Disney needs to tighten things up and get back to consistency.

I truly believe my experiences are not as bad because I tend to visit the parks during the off season when maintenance is probably more kept up due to the lower crowds. Some of the things I've read in this thread, I have not personally experienced. I'm sure it's all true, however.

It seems there is a lack of attention to details from the cast members and management responsible for quality control. In writing letters to guest services, I have been assured on multiple occasions that rides are quality controlled by ride "managers" who are supposed to find and report "issues" with attractions on a daily basis. I think 2 things are not happening in some cases:

1) The Cast Member responsible for this function either does not know or does not care to report something not up to par. This is perhaps limited to less obvious things like sound mixing or small details that frankly, some cast members might not even be familiar with or notice.

2) They report the issues and they go unfixed or pushed out to a "later" time once a bigger list is compiled.

Bottom line for Disney, please fix this by taking a completely new approach:

1) More ongoing maintenance and less waiting until the wheels fall off and doing an extensive remodel. It's kind of like cleaning your house. Keep it up during the weeks and it makes your Spring cleaning easier.

2) Incentivize cast members for finding issues and make them "own" the follow through on addressing them. Build processes to establish accountability for all parties and consequences for not following through. "We'll add it to the list" or a cast member "ignoring" things due to lack of motivation or confidence it will be addressed should not be acceptable.

3) These initiatives must roll downhill from corporate or they will fall through. Initiatives must have management backing for them to be seen through. A really good ride manager might be able to push some things, but these things need funding and management support to change.

 

[DinoInstitute]

I hear you, but I think Great Movie Ride in particular is an outlier. You're supposed to get a "movie" set feel and the unfinished ceiling and background curtain kind of show you a behind the scenes look to a movie set.

Yes, true, however I have always gotten the feeling that you are not in the movie set rather on a journey into the movies themselves. Other than that, I agree with what you said

 

[tirian]

Yes, I'm asking that the things stay maintained.

I think they're fixing them right now, actually.