Hi, I was wondering if anyone has seen a change in Diney between last year and this year. Sadly, this was not one of my more magical trips. I found a few of the cast members to be unpleasent, the rooms to be dusty and a number of places where gum and garbage were found. I was also surprised to see that garbage was being collected from the trash cans in plain view of guests. I remember a time when you didn't see any of this becuase it was all done backstage. I was also disappointed at how many cuts were made as far as menu options and show times. Now please don't get me wrong I love WDW but was sad to see that the parks and hotels seem to be getting run down. I was just wondering what is going on with the parks and if this was a one time thing or the direction the park is headed.
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Disappointed in Disney World
- Thread starter CinderellaFan
- Start date
WDW Vacationer
Active Member
Well,sorry about the experience. I don't pay attention to trash being collected,small stuff like that does not bother me. I am on VACATION there to have FUN! I'd just say,at least I'm not emptying the trash!:lol:
SirGoofy
Member
Sorry to hear that, but from my experience there have always been some unpleasent CMs.
I'm farily certain it was always done like this. There's no other way to get the garbage out.
Dining is on a downslide no doubt, but other than Fantasmic, I can't think of any showtimes that have been cut.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
OP - Put on your flame suit. I dared insult some of the Mighty Mouse as of late, and I'm still recovering in intensive care from the 3rd degree burns.
Funny how when Disney used to excel at park cleanliness and other little details, we all would rant and rave about how it's the little things like that which set Disney apart. But now that they've slipped, some of us are suddenly changing our tune and saying things like, "I don't pay attention to those things...I'm on VACATION!" :hammer:
CinderellaFan, I totally agree with you and I suspect you'll see lots of posts on this thread saying the same thing. Sadly, I guarantee you are also going to see lots of posts like the one from WDW Vacationer, which make it all out to seem like it's YOU making a big deal over "nothing". You're also going to see lots of posts that make every excuse in the book for the unacceptable behavior of Disney CMs, which has also declined considerably.
I'll tell you something that I have noticed in the past year or so... I've noticed more and more members of WDWMagic.com facing up to the reality that Disney is just not what it used to be. Sadly, Universal (Disney's biggest rival in Orlando) is rapidly becoming more and more like the Disney that made us all fans in the first place.
You spoke the truth...something a lot of people here have trouble facing up to. But I see that shifting more and more as of late. It's getting much more difficult for the pixie-dust snorters to deny that Disney has slipped tremendously.
Future Guy
Active Member
Sorry to hear you had a less-than-ideal trip. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that these are the months when the crowds are their heaviest and the heat is unbearable? In any workplace, when you're insanely busy some of the little things are going to slip. That's one reason why we usually go off-season.
I agree about the dining; some of the restaurants really need to have that guy from Hell's Kitchen come and whip them into shape (cough-TheCoralReef-cough)
Hope your next trip goes better!
I agree about the dining; some of the restaurants really need to have that guy from Hell's Kitchen come and whip them into shape (cough-TheCoralReef-cough)
Hope your next trip goes better!
Well it didn't take long at all for that prediction to start coming true. See below:
WDW Vacationer
Active Member
hpyhnt 1000
Well-Known Member
Ever since I can remember (and this goes back to about 2003 as far as Diney is concerned), garbage has always been, at some point or another, collected from the garbage bins in view of guests during the day. Does anyone know if/when it wasn't SOP to do this? Personally, I'd rather see them emptying them than letting them fill up and overflow, but thats just me. :shrug:
The dining options and what not - definitely some problems there. It seems like you pay more for less quantity and quality. Hope that beigns to change in the near future.
And basic upkeep/maint. has been a subject for some time now on these boards. I agree though, there are some areas that have been neglected when they shouldn't be.
Sorry it was a disappointing trip...
The dining options and what not - definitely some problems there. It seems like you pay more for less quantity and quality. Hope that beigns to change in the near future.
And basic upkeep/maint. has been a subject for some time now on these boards. I agree though, there are some areas that have been neglected when they shouldn't be.
Sorry it was a disappointing trip...
Skip
Well-Known Member
Over in the Universal thread you have no problem bashing them on things like this... just saying.
I'm sorry you didn't have a more enjoyable trip.
reptar77
Well-Known Member
I do agree with you........
Over the years Disney has not been the same standards as of old. I do think they are doing a good job with the improvements now. The room refurbs and the deluxe resorts are nice and you cannot go anywhere now without seeing a construction/improvement screen.
I'm 100% on board with the dinning complaints. They have stream lined menus for the dinning plans and have killed them ( I know this topic has been beat to death). I think we are stuck with what we have and just have to live with it.
I think we are all disappointed because we know how good it used to be. For first timers I bet they think it's wonderful.
Over the years Disney has not been the same standards as of old. I do think they are doing a good job with the improvements now. The room refurbs and the deluxe resorts are nice and you cannot go anywhere now without seeing a construction/improvement screen.
I'm 100% on board with the dinning complaints. They have stream lined menus for the dinning plans and have killed them ( I know this topic has been beat to death). I think we are stuck with what we have and just have to live with it.
I think we are all disappointed because we know how good it used to be. For first timers I bet they think it's wonderful.
WDW Vacationer
Active Member
I did not bash them about trash.
AshaNeOmah
Well-Known Member
I was in WDW in March and I did not see a substantial decline in quality as opposed to April 2008, June 2007, May 2006, Dec/Jan 2005/06, ect, dating back to August 1986.
Actually, that's not fair. The first trip I can remember is 1989, not 86.
I do know for a fact that some things have always been dusty and dirty. It's part of having a theme park. I have not seen an increase in dust or dirt.
Cast members are always delightful when I attend and park, attraction, hotel or restaurant. And yes, I am going to make an excuse for the few who aren't...
When you constantly give 100% everyday, all day, non stop at you job then please come and complain about CMs. Until then, it is a fact that most CMs are human and can have lapses in judgment.
Don't judge changes over a 12 month span. Give it 4-5 years and see if the changes stay.
Example: the shopping variety has decreased so dramatically in WDW that I hardly buy anything after a 7-9 day trip. I can remember when there were collectibles and items that you would be proud to own and display. Not much of that anymore.
I hope you have a more enjoyable experience next time!
Actually, that's not fair. The first trip I can remember is 1989, not 86.
I do know for a fact that some things have always been dusty and dirty. It's part of having a theme park. I have not seen an increase in dust or dirt.
Cast members are always delightful when I attend and park, attraction, hotel or restaurant. And yes, I am going to make an excuse for the few who aren't...
When you constantly give 100% everyday, all day, non stop at you job then please come and complain about CMs. Until then, it is a fact that most CMs are human and can have lapses in judgment.
Don't judge changes over a 12 month span. Give it 4-5 years and see if the changes stay.
Example: the shopping variety has decreased so dramatically in WDW that I hardly buy anything after a 7-9 day trip. I can remember when there were collectibles and items that you would be proud to own and display. Not much of that anymore.
I hope you have a more enjoyable experience next time!
Skip didn't say you bashed Universal on trash specifically. Read Skip's post again. The point was that you have no trouble bashing Universal on the little things, but if it happens at Disney then there is always some excuse for it. If anything, Disney is the one that should be held to the higher standard, shouldn't they? After all, they are the ones who have built their brand on the very things that they are slipping on now. Universal doesn't tout themselves in the same way Disney has for so many decades and yet they are the ones who are doing a better job of living up to Disney's promises lately.
Thanks for the replies. Please keep them coming. It's nice to hear both sides. Please let me clear up one thing though the garbage is just something that I noticed after a number of other disappointments. It is not my main complaint just something that stood out. I would have to say that I have gone to Disney once a year in the summer for about 2 weeks for the past 16 years. The heat and the crowds have not bothered me nor did they this time. I think that one of the biggest problems I had was the attitude from SOME not all of the cast members, the dirt and dust, and the dining options. I was also disappointed in the lack of buses running and the way the bus drivers don't seem to share stories like they used to. I guess after going to the parks so many times I have come to expect top notch service and for some reason it wasn't there this year. However, I will definitely not let it stop me from going to the parks and enjoying my vacation. In fact I am currently looking into the disney time share.
Disney must love people who have this viewpoint! Where's the incentive or need to improve on quality and innovation? Those are just unnecessary expenses as long as people will keep coming no matter what.
The garbage issue was just not your strongest point in your post, which is why that's the one everyone is choosing to jump all over. They're trying to make it sound like that was your biggest complaint, when clearly it wasn't. Trust me, I got it (as I'm sure anyone else reading your post with an open mind got it). :wave:
SirGoofy
Member
I chose to touch on it because it isn't something that's discussed here ad naseum, as most of the other points are.