Dissapointed..

[JeffC]

This is the 'competition' that Disney fears most.
It's not Universal Studios that they worry about.

It's having people develop a feeling of
"been there, done that, don't really want to go back, let's go somewhere else this year- like to the beach, or the mountains or Europe".

All businesses go through a cycle of being new, running along fine, and then maturing. And, if not careful, then declining.
Disney must never take its guests for granted in any respect.

IMHO

That's pretty good...And probably the way I'm feeling.
I first visited WDW during Christmas break of '74. Had a great time with the family (Mom, Dad, Sisters, Brothers, etc) and knew I wanted to go back - some day.
Once married and with kids, we decided to go 25 years later (March 1999)and spent 10 magical, wonderful, unbelievable, undescribable days my family has ever experienced. After this trip I had such a love for WDW that it was hard to describe. The wife and I spent a few long weekends going down to WDW and spent most or our nights at PI. We then took the family back in March 2003 expecting another wonderful time and had one of the worst experiences. The CM were rude, the parks closed early and alot of the little things (street players, magicians, etc) were missing.
After this experience, we decided to try Universal and a few years later spent a week at US. It was nice, but just didn't feel like Disney. Infact the last night, we decided to go back to Disney and spent a nice night at Pleasure Island.
Our last trip as a family was March '07 and we spent 3 days at US and 7 at WDW.
It was nice, but not as magical. Why? WDW continued to change and "keep up with the times", and by doing this, dissappointed me. This was also when they started messing with PI, for example.
SIDE NOTE - US's City Walk, thank God, has seen Disney's mistake and has expanded, and by doing so, now has my business.
Don't get me wrong, I still have a love for WDW and all that Walt started and wanted, but that first unbelievable feeling just isn't there anymore.
And now that they've ruined my favorite place (PI), I don't see us going back again.
You think about it, it's like losing a good friend, but I didn't change - Disney did.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Don't get me wrong, I still have a love for WDW and all that Walt started and wanted, but that first unbelievable feeling just isn't there anymore.
And now that they've ruined my favorite place (PI), I don't see us going back again.
You think about it, it's like losing a good friend, but I didn't change - Disney did.

CityWalk is fun. Pleasure Island was special, but now that is gone, and Disney made a huge mistake and basically said to fans, scew you, we don't value you.

But, I will say this. For the most part, Disney still has magic, but it isn't found in the rides. It's in the demenor of the staff. Training the staff to be freindly doesn't cost much. You get that through good training and treating them with respect, and dang if they don't do it, at least in the theme parks...(former ESPN Zone Waiter here....that, is not a fun gig).

 

[sublimesting]

That's pretty good...And probably the way I'm feeling.
I first visited WDW during Christmas break of '74. Had a great time with the family (Mom, Dad, Sisters, Brothers, etc) and knew I wanted to go back - some day.
Once married and with kids, we decided to go 25 years later (March 1999)and spent 10 magical, wonderful, unbelievable, undescribable days my family has ever experienced. After this trip I had such a love for WDW that it was hard to describe. The wife and I spent a few long weekends going down to WDW and spent most or our nights at PI. We then took the family back in March 2003 expecting another wonderful time and had one of the worst experiences. The CM were rude, the parks closed early and alot of the little things (street players, magicians, etc) were missing.
After this experience, we decided to try Universal and a few years later spent a week at US. It was nice, but just didn't feel like Disney. Infact the last night, we decided to go back to Disney and spent a nice night at Pleasure Island.
Our last trip as a family was March '07 and we spent 3 days at US and 7 at WDW.
It was nice, but not as magical. Why? WDW continued to change and "keep up with the times", and by doing this, dissappointed me. This was also when they started messing with PI, for example.
SIDE NOTE - US's City Walk, thank God, has seen Disney's mistake and has expanded, and by doing so, now has my business.
Don't get me wrong, I still have a love for WDW and all that Walt started and wanted, but that first unbelievable feeling just isn't there anymore.
And now that they've ruined my favorite place (PI), I don't see us going back again.
You think about it, it's like losing a good friend, but I didn't change - Disney did.

By your post it doesn't really sound like you're a Disney fan but a PI fan. To me the magic is in the parks, and the characters and the movies and being able to act 5 again and have it be socially acceptable. True PI has changed by eliminating clubs but I can club it up at home. Just being in the Disney environment is good enough for me, even being at a resort and relaxing.