MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Actually it is well known that Disney heads read these forums, or at least Disney has hired employees to do the reading for them and report to the higher ups what is being discussed. Pretty much every disney insider on these forums have made it crystal clear that discussion on these and other forums very much reach the ears of the Disney heads. Whether they do anything about what people complain about is another story entirely, but they certainly hire people with the specific intention of read forums.I think my main issue with people who have an issue with the parks, is that while they MEAN to be talking to the head parts, they have to realize, we're NOT the heads. And the likelihood of them reading your replies on a WDW forum is pretty slim. So it's frustrating when you're all excited about you're upcoming trip and you have someone insinuating you're ignorant, that you're "drinking the kool aid/rose colored glasses/fanboi" and the list goes on and on.
And you're just sitting there wondering...if you really are disliking their negligence of the parks, and you think the only thing they're doing this for is for the money, then put your money where your mouth is and stop going. They'll see a drop in numbers, drop in revenue and maybe the lack of profit will make em think, you know? Instead, you (general you, not speaking with anyone in particular) continue to drop your thousands and just vent your frustrations to Joe Blow or Susie whos asking which stroller to use at the park or some other question/discussion.
No one insinuated you're ignorant either. It's the people who go out of their way to approach and attack us, calling us liars/evil/stupid/etc that are being branded as ignorant and drinking Disney Cool Aid. Those who haven't done this it should be made clear are not being attacked. But there are masses of people like that who derail constructive criticism threads who do these things (CountryBearFan, td129, jt01, Jimmy Thick, Rivers Rowe, etc). They insult us, so we simply insult back. It's simple.
I let my AP expire as of Feburary 2012 and won't be going again for at least some time when there's some sort of improvement. I'm still here because I like staying in the community (when there are people that respect one another and don't make topics or posts that scream "Different opinion? You're evil! it come at me bro!" Lee has rumored that there may be a major change in the management structure at WDW within the next few months. And it will be interesting to see what happens under George Kalogridis' tenure as president of WDW (people seem cautiously optimistic about this change).
Two things that will contribute to my current stance about WDW are (1) the Splash Mountain refurb. I will be monitoring the results of this apparently extensive refurbishment and see how well they do on getting this classic back in the shape it needs and deserves to be in. And (2), D23 in the second half of this year. If all goes well, Hollywood Studios is said to be tipped for some massive restructuring/expansion. A version of Cars Land is rumored, as well as a Monsters Inc coaster. And a couple of people have even rumored (though it's shaky at the moment) that there may be a Ratatouille ride. If anything happens, it will probably be announced then. One or two people have even said that there are plans to start construction in May, BEFORE there's an official announcement. We shall see.
From what has been stated (officially I might add), WDW has already witnessed a decline in attendance. Disneyland and Universal are both up in attendance. So there's a plausible chance that things will be getting better regardless. This year should be an interesting one to see unfold, whether things change or not. I don't want people thinking I have no optimism for the future when I in fact very much do still have immense positive feelings about WDW.