Communicore
Well-Known Member
I also love the resort launches.
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Friendship Boat
- Thread starter Slipknot
- Start date
Tom
Beta Return
Definitely a refurbished boat, but it's good to see them doing this. I certainly hope they did the work in Central, and didn't outsource it. If anyone has been on the Backstage Magic tour in recent history, they would have seen it in there.
I've never been a fan of the Friendship boats. Being in an enclosed steel box, on the water, in the Florida sun, is never comfortable. You only feel the "A/C" if you're directly under one of the units in the roof. Otherwise, it's a sweatbox. And SOOOO SLOOOW.,
I've never been a fan of the Friendship boats. Being in an enclosed steel box, on the water, in the Florida sun, is never comfortable. You only feel the "A/C" if you're directly under one of the units in the roof. Otherwise, it's a sweatbox. And SOOOO SLOOOW.,
danlb_2000
Premium Member
I am surprised to hear that. This is the kind I thing that I would have thought would make more sense to outsource.
mikeymouse
Well-Known Member
There are a few photos out there (google) of central shops building them.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Well, there used to be a big sign outside of Central Shops that said "We're the Can-Do People!" I think it's still there. Hokey, but it reflected the spirit of WDW in its early days. That attitude permeated the organizational culture in WDW's early years right up into the 1990's. Why outsource something (was that was a word in 1982?) if you could do it yourself (and probably better)?
But of course, in 2015, it would be surprising for them to do this type of work themselves. I know I'm pleasantly surprised to hear this work is still possibly done in-house.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
danlb_2000
Premium Member
Outsourcing has become somewhat of a bad word, but there are times when something is so far outside your core competency that it makes more sense to outsource it. Even if you are able to do something, if doing it yourself doesn't really add any value it may be better to have someone else do it. For example, would it make sense for Disney to build there own buses?
peter11435
Well-Known Member
Central shops can still do almost anything and still builds some amazing stuff for WDW as well as other disney resorts around the world. Unfortunately the needs of the resort far outweigh what shops can accomplish so outsourcing is often necessary. Not to mention for many things others can produce the same product far quicker and cheaper.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
In this case, I actually think you're right. There really is no reason for Disney to build boats or buses. They are an entertainment company, and there are clearly manufacturers who are more skilled at this. It's certainly not part of their core business. Though they certainly do have the knowledge and experience, (if they choose to use it -- which the didn't do in Disneylands monorail redesign a few years back).
But I guess my point was that in the old days, Disney wanted to do as much work as they could themselves, because they didn't want to cede control to others, and felt they could do as good a job or better. Costs were probably higher doing it that way, but that wasn't the main concern.
Much of the outsourcing issues at WDW today are because they quality control simply is not there. Shoddy contractor work in room renovations or hotel cleaners who clearly are not in the "Disney look" and certainly not the "Disney" attitude. Or Call center workers who have never set foot in a Disney park and don't really know what they're talking about. The outsourced valet/bell services seem ok, but more than likely because they work directly for tips, which obviously motivates.
RandySavage
Well-Known Member
Fully agree with you. While the small Seven Seas Lagoon launches are a pleasure to take, I've always found the Friendships to be a nightmare and prefer the lengthy walk from DHS to Beach Club versus taking them. They seem so unnecessarily loud, brain-rattling, sluggish and smelly.
Just took the similar Universal resort launch for the first time, and Uni Launch versus FriendShips is one area where Uni indisputably crushes WDW.
dstrawn9889
Well-Known Member
it that like great-grandpappys axe? the one that has had three new handles and two new heads?
DManRightHere
Well-Known Member
The boats are awesome. I have to ride them every trip. Sit outside, it's a nice breeze, and they're not that slow! You'll beat them by like 2 minutes, beats walking!
worldfanatic
Well-Known Member
I agree. They're not that slow. Plus the journey is relaxing.
The complainers are probably Park Commandos.
WDWHMHUNTER
New Member
I would love to see pictures of them all wrapped up lol my father wants that as his retirement job he would love a picture
I actually like the slowness. When I'm jogging along that path that connects Disney's Hollywood Adventure Style Park to the Boardwalk area resorts, I feel as though I'm fleet of foot and capable of super human heroics. Of course, if I enter the waterway and swim out to the boat to save all the aquatically transported guests from some danger that I am imagining, everyone gets all uptight and yelly and lectures me about "rules" and other rubbish.
polynesiangirl
Well-Known Member
I could not help but feel a little twinge of sadness when we were at Aulani last year. You guys, it was SO well-maintained. It was like Disney time-traveling. I saw CMs walking around with little touch-up pens filling in spots on the walls in the hallways in the morning at like 6am. The pools were immaculate. There was no trash to be seen anywhere; everything was pristine.
I know Aulani is much newer than much of WDW, and that WDW gets WAY more traffic and abuse from the general public than a place like Aulani does, but man. It really drove home the fact that they CAN keep stuff looking nice...when they actually want to or care (or in the case of a place like Aulani, when they are in a very competitive market where they probably can't afford to slack off.)
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread. It just bummed me out that people now get excited about WDW doing routine upkeep on something, when that used to be SUCH a huge part of their claim to fame as a vacation destination. That is pretty sad, Disney. Pretty sad.
I wish the FriendShips had routine upkeep. They haven't been painted in years. Even with the current hull refurb going on, that is literally the ONLY thing happening to these boats. Just a new hull, no new paint or anything, they look absolutely terrible.
Tom
Beta Return
ur silly