feeling nervous here...

[Phonedave]

I really think you would, because all the stuff that made you attracted to it still exists in different things. It's the general atmosphere, not tainted by negative feedback, that made you like it as much as you did. That still exist for first timers. Yes, there is a lot more planning involved then necessary years ago, but, that like everything else is the norm on a first trip now.

Not really - the stuff that attracted me in the first place. Or to be more accurate, the stuff that made me say "this place is insanely expensive, but it is worth it" is now for the most part gone. WDW used to be immaculate. You never saw garbage, everything was maintained, CMs were beyond awesome, No cracked concrete or peeling paint (unless the theme called for it). While it was also very expensive, it also did not feel like WDW was insanely overpriced for what it was. There were also loads of small things - Sword in the Stone with Merlin, Characters at random, CMs giving a kid a trading pin because they told a cute story, Paintbrushes on Tom Sawyers Island on a regular basis. So much of that is gone now

I think part of it is WDW is a victim of it's own success. Crowds, lines, unruly guests, 180 day dining reservations. I don't know if WDW could fix those things - they are an unfortunate side effect of their success. Maybe the little things had to go too, when the attendance became what it now is. It really used to be a special experience.

 

[Incomudro]

I'll give you something special:
Two years ago, at Hollywood Studios for Star Wars weekend, my wife and I and my sons went up to a service post to try to inquire if we could still get passes to wait for autographs.
We were told it was too late (we expected that really) and began to walk away.
We were approached by a woman (a higher ranking cast member) who said that she noticed that were unsuccessful in getting what we had asked for. (She couldn't hear what we were inquiring about, but she must have seen some disappointment in the faces of my sons.) She then went on to ask my sons if they would like to be in the Star Wars parade.
Now that was awesome!
One of my twin sons declined, but my other son happily participated.
An experience of a lifetime.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Not really - the stuff that attracted me in the first place. Or to be more accurate, the stuff that made me say "this place is insanely expensive, but it is worth it" is now for the most part gone. WDW used to be immaculate. You never saw garbage, everything was maintained, CMs were beyond awesome, No cracked concrete or peeling paint (unless the theme called for it). While it was also very expensive, it also did not feel like WDW was insanely overpriced for what it was. There were also loads of small things - Sword in the Stone with Merlin, Characters at random, CMs giving a kid a trading pin because they told a cute story, Paintbrushes on Tom Sawyers Island on a regular basis. So much of that is gone now

I think part of it is WDW is a victim of it's own success. Crowds, lines, unruly guests, 180 day dining reservations. I don't know if WDW could fix those things - they are an unfortunate side effect of their success. Maybe the little things had to go too, when the attendance became what it now is. It really used to be a special experience.

I understand, but, I also equate our observations with the number of times we have seen the place. I remember so vividly going to Disneyland during it's 50th anniversary. All I had heard about for years was how much better Disneyland was then WDW. Since it was the 50th the accolades were literally streaming on how they had made DL close to perfect for the celebration. So I went. The first place I went was to ride the train around the park to get my acclimation. There was a large chunk of the staircase to the train broken off. It wasn't a new break, it was obvious it had been that way for a while. Yes, they put yellow tape around it, but, no one was attempting to do anything about it, and there were things that could have been done as a temporary fix. OK, so I wander off to Small World. As I approach the entrance I can see a part of the external wall has a gigantic hole in it. Not a cut one, a broken out one, like it was hit by a piece of machinery. The broken piece just laying there. Later, that same day, I'm standing in a queue, don't remember which one, the dividers were steal pipes in the switchback queue. At one point when I got the end of the row my hand touched the pipe and it was so rusty that the rust actually came off in my hand.

At other times in WDW in the mid 90's the smell of garbage was like standing in a landfill at the end of Main Street USA. That was 20 years ago. I encountered rancid ketchup, major areas of paint missing and trash cans overflowing. My point is we see what we want to see and blank out everything else. That and the fact that all those problems were a moment in time. Because we saw something that day doesn't mean it is still there the next day. Things could be better, but, they are not all that bad when we realize the the only reason we didn't see it before was because we weren't looking for it. In our early visits we were almost in a coma due to so much to see and the details existed but we didn't focus on them. We saw what we wanted to see. Understand that what I have expressed are real things, but, the reason why we think they are worse is totally my opinion based on how my normal reactions occur.

 

[Phonedave]

I understand, but, I also equate our observations with the number of times we have seen the place. I remember so vividly going to Disneyland during it's 50th anniversary. All I had heard about for years was how much better Disneyland was then WDW. Since it was the 50th the accolades were literally streaming on how they had made DL close to perfect for the celebration. So I went. The first place I went was to ride the train around the park to get my acclimation. There was a large chunk of the staircase to the train broken off. It wasn't a new break, it was obvious it had been that way for a while. Yes, they put yellow tape around it, but, no one was attempting to do anything about it, and there were things that could have been done as a temporary fix. OK, so I wander off to Small World. As I approach the entrance I can see a part of the external wall has a gigantic hole in it. Not a cut one, a broken out one, like it was hit by a piece of machinery. The broken piece just laying there. Later, that same day, I'm standing in a queue, don't remember which one, the dividers were steal pipes in the switchback queue. At one point when I got the end of the row my hand touched the pipe and it was so rusty that the rust actually came off in my hand.

At other times in WDW in the mid 90's the smell of garbage was like standing in a landfill at the end of Main Street USA. That was 20 years ago. I encountered rancid ketchup, major areas of paint missing and trash cans overflowing. My point is we see what we want to see and blank out everything else. That and the fact that all those problems were a moment in time. Because we saw something that day doesn't mean it is still there the next day. Things could be better, but, they are not all that bad when we realize the the only reason we didn't see it before was because we weren't looking for it. In our early visits we were almost in a coma due to so much to see and the details existed but we didn't focus on them. We saw what we wanted to see. Understand that what I have expressed are real things, but, the reason why we think they are worse is totally my opinion based on how my normal reactions occur.

I can see that, and I don't deny that it may be part of the effect. But I really do see a difference. Sure, some things have been better (that garbage issue is one of them) but many things HAVE become worse. 20 years ago you did see the things you describe, but not to the extent that you see them today. WDW just looks, well, worn. Worn out and worn down, It needs an overall refreshing. Not a single spiffy new ride or two, or a new land. It needs to be refurbished. I suspect part of the issue is, when the parks actually had a slow season, you could do things like refurbushments. Once again, with no slow season anymore, WDW has become a victim of it's own success.

-dave

 

[Timsierramist]

I think everyone has pretty much covered it. Just want to add I think it is nearly impossible to have a bad vacation at Disney World unless you and/or your travel agent are just so incredibly incompetent that you haven't bothered to so much plan anything or read Disney FAQ's/WDW Magic forums, etc. The most important thing to do is to not have unrealistic expectations about what a visit to Disney World will be like. Those that do, tend to not have the best time. What I mean is, some folks come to the parks and think they own it. That they have paid their $100 ticket, and are entitled to the best experience and nobody else is. Long story short, if you don't end up a story here on WDWMAGIC, I think you are in good shape!

See: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/what-was-the-best-wdw-guest-meltdown-youve-observed.904239/

Also, bit off topic, but one thing I will say about WDW and DL is that the culture in the south is definitely "better". That ol' Southern Hospitality is alive and well. Having trekked through all the parks, for example, whenever a guest cuts me off here in Anaheim, I tend to get dirty looks and a nose in air attitude, where as I can't tell you how many times guests have stopped and apologized for such transgression at WDW, heh. Just something I noticed.

 

[Incomudro]

I think everyone has pretty much covered it. Just want to add I think it is nearly impossible to have a bad vacation at Disney World unless you and/or your travel agent are just so incredibly incompetent that you haven't bothered to so much plan anything or read Disney FAQ's/WDW Magic forums, etc. The most important thing to do is to not have unrealistic expectations about what a visit to Disney World will be like. Those that do, tend to not have the best time. What I mean is, some folks come to the parks and think they own it. That they have paid their $100 ticket, and are entitled to the best experience and nobody else is. Long story short, if you don't end up a story here on WDWMAGIC, I think you are in good shape!

See: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/what-was-the-best-wdw-guest-meltdown-youve-observed.904239/

Also, bit off topic, but one thing I will say about WDW and DL is that the culture in the south is definitely "better". That ol' Southern Hospitality is alive and well. Having trekked through all the parks, for example, whenever a guest cuts me off here in Anaheim, I tend to get dirty looks and a nose in air attitude, where as I can't tell you how many times guests have stopped and apologized for such transgression at WDW, heh. Just something I noticed.

Agreed.
The only person I have ever met who didn't have a good experience was a friend of mine from work who pretty much hates everything.
He's kind of funny that way, because he's got a kind of Louis Black personality.
I knew WDW wouldn't be for him, (He went to take his little girl) and knew he wouldn't come away positive.
Heck, he went IN negative - convinced he would hate it.
You can hate anything if you only concentrate on the negatives.

 

[Nastory4]

I found that it is better to skip most of the super negative threads. Most of them seem to be written by people who go so often they have run out of pixie dust and Disney just isnt as special of a place for them any more. I consider it similar to my experiences with roller coasters. I live near a large amusement park. After going several times a year for many years on end I can get off the biggest baddest coasters with my normal resting heart rate.

Agreed. Just take in the Magic

 

[Timsierramist]

Ah, this was the actual post I was looking for. Want to have a good time??? Don't be this person!!!

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/unmagical-day-at-the-magic-kingdom.881147/