General Park Presentation

[ZakM]

Hello!

Long time English lurker here so apologise if this has already been brought up or already posted!

As I said I’m from the UK and our expectations when it comes to theme parks are pretty low in terms of attractions and especially themeing.

This is my third consecutive year visiting Walt Disney World, however this year the parks are looking abit tired? I don’t know if this is just me or if I’m being to harsh in detail and il explain;

Splash Mountain

I have a HUGE soft spot for this ride and know it recently had a refurb. However I’ve rode It around 5 time during my vacation and a lot of the animatronics are either broke, not moving and last night 09/18/2018 where the Fox is pulling the bear out the tree the Foxes hand was physically on the floor. I did alert a cast member however they didn’t seem bothered. Also the fishing line of the bird in the first scene is caught up in a bush and pulling it? I don’t know if this is normal or? Also the last scene where the turtles bob up and down and water is gushing these were too broke also the last and final drop the projector was off. Disappoints and it’s such a sad sight to see from the first years I visited.

Also Belles Tales the entrance sign I’m sure had moving parts however this is now stationary?
Test Track
A lot of the inside themeing isn’t working such as the laser cut outs the whole truck scene wasn’t working a few days back either. And the ride scoring/making is pointless as non of the screens were working.

I was under the illusion if any that the parks were quick to fix things like this unless I was under false hope?

This is all I can think of at the moment, once again I apologise if this has already been brought up, I am from England so bear with me ahah!

 

[LUVofDIS]

Much of this has been covered and noticed by many, you are not alone. There is no reason not to mention it again, though some will complain. It is sad to see some much construction and to still see the things that are happening to Splash, especially as you pointed out, was just refurb last year. As a matter of fact, it was being worked on while we were there last September. Lets hope things begin to get better in the near future.

 

[Darth Figment]

Its ok , the Yeti hasnt worked since like day 2 of the ride opening .

 

[dieboy]

Disney has forgotten that flooding the parks with construction, really leaves allot to be desired with guest experience. What is most noticeable to me, are all the worn areas OP mentioned, sitting right along side, of full time construction.

There is a fine balance of construction and not intruding on guests visits. Disney has well crossed that line at HS. In my opinion, Disney HS PRE Toy Story Land, mid construction of two 'lands'. Was the biggest sole straight up rip off for guests. Disney was selling park passes to a park with maybe 3 Eticket rides and a handful of shows for full price. If ANYTHING during those few years, HS should have gone down on hours, and had half price tickets.

But over all yes. Unless it is coming off a fresh remodel, allot of areas are looking rather 'meh'. I can point out a dozen things on the last trip to MK. Everything from lots of chipped and faded paint. Trash was starting to get out of control, lots of cans puking the contents out. Bathrooms are getting more miserable yearly (queue my story of kids peeing on the wall in a bathroom and their dad essentially not caring, but that really isn't WDWs fault).

 

[geekza]

I was under the illusion if any that the parks were quick to fix things like this unless I was under false hope?

This definitely used to be the case. Until the latter years of Eisner's tenure as CEO, park upkeep was top notch. This isn't the case any longer. Now, it's all about charging more and delivering less. As long as there are enough people who don't notice or don't care, that doesn't seem likely to change any time soon. It's sad and awful.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Disney has forgotten that flooding the parks with construction, really leaves allot to be desired with guest experience. What is most noticeable to me, are all the worn areas OP mentioned, sitting right along side, of full time construction.

There is a fine balance of construction and not intruding on guests visits. Disney has well crossed that line at HS. In my opinion, Disney HS PRE Toy Story Land, mid construction of two 'lands'. Was the biggest sole straight up rip off for guests. Disney was selling park passes to a park with maybe 3 Eticket rides and a handful of shows for full price. If ANYTHING during those few years, HS should have gone down on hours, and had half price tickets.

But over all yes. Unless it is coming off a fresh remodel, allot of areas are looking rather 'meh'. I can point out a dozen things on the last trip to MK. Everything from lots of chipped and faded paint. Trash was starting to get out of control, lots of cans puking the contents out. Bathrooms are getting more miserable yearly (queue my story of kids peeing on the wall in a bathroom and their dad essentially not caring, but that really isn't WDWs fault).

It's really a fine balance...the complainers gripe when there's no new construction and no new attractions, and the complainers gripe when there's too much construction..it's really a no win situation for Disney. As far as maintenance goes, when we were there in November, the biggest issue I found was in IASW, where a third if the mural lights were out, the bridge over the boats at the end was in dire need of a paint job, and the Irish AA's were all out of commission. WDW always led by example...I live near Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ...talk about maintenance issues? Peeling paint on rides and buildings is EVERYWHERE...disintegrating sidewalks are EVERYWHERE and weeds as big as late summer corn stalks growing in some portions of the parking lots...Sad to say, but maybe Disney is seeing that companies like SF are still making money with the lack of that magic touch, so maybe WDW is beginning to follow SF instead of the other way around??? God, I hope not!!

Now as far as the kids relieving themselves on the restroom walls in full view of the parents, they can check for weapons and contraband at the park gates, but NOT stupidity, tact, respect and common sense...

 

[marni1971]

I won’t comment on guest behavioural issues but I’ve a large list of show quality issues from the last month (and some good things too)

Special mention goes to Space Mountain where more things weren’t working than were. Simple things. For three weeks. And who knows for how much longer.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

Seems like a lot of these threads are happening more and more lately for repeating reasons, if ones not worse than before.

Classic Ride maintenance and performance shouldn't be on the back burner, but it seems like this is the way things are nowadays.

 

[erasure fan1]

.the complainers gripe when there's no new construction and no new attractions, and the complainers gripe when there's too much construction..it's really a no win situation for Disney.

It's only no win because Disney made it that way. If they had been doing the things that needed to be done from the start, you wouldn't be completely behind the 8 ball and scrambling. So they really have no choice but to go all in with the construction.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

It's only no win because Disney made it that way. If they had been doing the things that needed to be done from the start, you wouldn't be completely behind the 8 ball and scrambling. So they really have no choice but to go all in with the construction.

That's fine but don't complain when there's a ton of construction going on because they are AT LEAST making positive headway....it could be much worse...they could be doing nothing and raising prices, up charges and we'd have nothing to show for it.

 

[Joesixtoe]

Last weekend I was in the fast pass lane for navi river and I noticed a fan to cool people off was covered in dust to the point that I barely felt any air coming out. Now at first I told my wife that I think it's apart of the theming, but then I realized no, no one just has ever cleaned it. How could someone have not cleaned that fan? Every night workers come through and clean, why hasn't that fan been cleaned? Anyway I go a lot and so it's not fair to Disney because I will notice more stuff, so I try not to pick, except for future world, that needs and update..

 

[erasure fan1]

That's fine but don't complain when there's a ton of construction going on because they are AT LEAST making positive headway....it could be much worse...they could be doing nothing and raising prices, up charges and we'd have nothing to show for it.

I've never complained about too much construction. I do think they take WAY to long to finish things though. My only real complaint is that they are doing construction and they keep under building everything.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I won’t comment on guest behavioural issues but I’ve a large list of show quality issues from the last month (and some good things too)

Special mention goes to Space Mountain where more things weren’t working than were. Simple things. For three weeks. And who knows for how much longer.

Do you know when the 2 people in the “control center” behind the glass on the lift were removed?

When I rode 3 weeks ago, almost no sound effects worked, no projection, no stars...it was practically just the physical experience of riding the coaster.

 

[marni1971]

Do you know when the 2 people in the “control center” behind the glass on the lift were removed?

When I rode 3 weeks ago, almost no sound effects worked, no projection, no stars...it was practically just the physical experience of riding the coaster.

I thought they were still there. Just with broken lighting (Alpha just had some of the computer lights flashing on the wall)

Multiple broken queue display lighting
Multiple broken launch ‘countdown’ displays
Both control rooms lighting broken
Omegas lift scene wall is still completely broken
All star projectors static (as if the motors have burnt out) - absolutely nothing moved in the whole building
All image projectors static, giving a pathetic huge static white egg shape projection on the ceiling
Most audio fx indeed off
Music as bad as ever

 

[Chef Mickey]

I thought they were still there. Just with broken lighting (Alpha just had some of the computer lights flashing on the wall)

Multiple broken queue display lighting
Multiple broken launch ‘countdown’ displays
Both control rooms lighting broken
Omegas lift scene wall is still completely broken
All star projectors static (as if the motors have burnt out) - absolutely nothing moved in the whole building
All image projectors static, giving a pathetic huge static white egg shape projection on the ceiling
Most audio fx indeed off
Music as bad as ever

~ 3 weeks ago, they appeared to be gone unless the lighting was SO BAD I couldn't see them?

What is the honest excuse for having audio sound effcts like the "worm hole" whirling sound not working? Why is it difficult to have speakers playing music/effects? Is it a sensor problem that doesn't allow the sound to trigger when the car passes? Is it a speaker problem? It is just they feel like turning them off? Audio seems like one of the easiest/least maintenance items possible.

Speakers work basically forever. The only thing I can think of are maybe track sensors that trigger the audio not working, but they could AT LEAST play the sound effects in a loop and hope someone can hear them, even if they are off timing.

 

[geekza]

~ 3 weeks ago, they appeared to be gone unless the lighting was SO BAD I couldn't see them?

What is the honest excuse for having audio sound effcts like the "worm hole" whirling sound not working? Why is it difficult to have speakers playing music/effects? Is it a sensor problem that doesn't allow the sound to trigger when the car passes? Is it a speaker problem? It is just they feel like turning them off? Audio seems like one of the easiest/least maintenance items possible.

Speakers work basically forever. The only thing I can think of are maybe track sensors that trigger the audio not working, but they could AT LEAST play the sound effects in a loop and hope someone can hear them, even if they are off timing.

Speakers do wear out after a while, as do amps. They just don't seem concerned about fixing them when people are still willing to wait in line to ride it. I can't tell you how many times I've read posts on this board from people who say things to the effect that those of us griping about maintenance and the decline of the guest experience should just stop going because they still had a good time and never knew anything was wrong. As long as people are okay with the bare minimum, that's what they'll get from today's Disney.

 

[dieboy]

Now as far as the kids relieving themselves on the restroom walls in full view of the parents, they can check for weapons and contraband at the park gates, but NOT stupidity, tact, respect and common sense...

I only mentioned it because that sure cannot be good for the grout on the tiles, leading to more worn looking areas .

 

[Chef Mickey]

Speakers do wear out after a while, as do amps. They just don't seem concerned about fixing them when people are still willing to wait in line to ride it. I can't tell you how many times I've read posts on this board from people who say things to the effect that those of us griping about maintenance and the decline of the guest experience should just stop going because they still had a good time and never knew anything was wrong. As long as people are okay with the bare minimum, that's what they'll get from today's Disney.

I suppose anything will eventually go out, but I just felt like if it's simply a broken speaker, that is an insane reason for the sound not to work for months and years. Just replace the speaker!

If it were complicated like track sensors and/or other ride elements, I could understand it taking time. The whirling sound hasn't worked in what seems like 2 years.

 

[geekza]

I suppose anything will eventually go out, but I just felt like if it's simply a broken speaker, that is an insane reason for the sound not to work for months and years. Just replace the speaker!

You're preaching to the choir. It is insane.

 

[dieboy]

As many have mentioned. There are basically two reasons things would even start to change the upkeep. Infact, it will most likely slip until one of them happens.
1. Attendance actually starts to dwindle, noticeably. And not due to general economic state.
2. Major travel and news outlets pick up on it, and start to report on it heavily.
3. wildcard?

I don't see attendance slipping at any point in the near future. Point. SWL, 50th anniversary, and all the ride openings that will happen in the next two or three years. Those combined, will probably keep attendance figures at pretty sick levels, for at least the next fifteen years. They could actually let the parks look like regional amusement parks, and they would hardly loose one guest through this time.