I think out of all the complaints I sometimes have the most glaring is the loss of the little details around the parks that makes Disney stand out. I'm a details freak and I always marveled at Disney and the little details.
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Has Disney lost their knack for the details?
- Thread starter POLY LOVER
- Start date
copcarguyp71
Well-Known Member
I would tend to agree...more and more it is glam on the surface but the facade gets thinner by the year and gets easier to see through especially for some long timers with multiple visits under their belts over a long number of years.
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
I'm not so sure really, for instance doesn't the Little Mermaid ride feature 20,000 League symbols hidden in the rock work?
Bacon
Well-Known Member
There is
Our last visit I was highly impressed by the details. Like all the AstroTurf was cut the same length in the hub, all the Churros were similar in quality, and balloon helium was top shelf.
jensenrick
Well-Known Member
Is there something specific you could give as an example, of details that have gone away?
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
If we're talking about theming, absolutely not. Just check out the new areas of Africa at DAK. Disney is still unmatched in theming and immersion with the exception of WWoHP
First one? Fountains.
The first two will.Details = time & money.
That saying Avatar, Star Wars and Toy Story Land better have a TON of them.
zengoth
Well-Known Member
As someone who's spent a lot of time photographing WDW, I would definitely say Disney has not lost its touch for details. Newer areas really shine against some of the legacy buildings (yes, Tangled bathrooms turned out a LOT better than they could have when they replaced the Skyway station). At DAK Harambe Marketplace and the new Lion King theatre area are amazing in their detail. With EPCOT and (former) Studios getting facelifts, I'm looking forward to what the Imagineers can do. Haven't braved the crowds at Disney Springs yet, but I've been hearing good things about its execution.
Maybe we have to break this down into two categories, one being the theming and the other the small upkeep details are around the parks. Let's say things like painted concrete walk areas that use to be sharp and kept now allowed to fade. Chipped paint on ride areas etc. ride components left in disrepair, example little mermaid.
chrisbarry
Active Member
No. They haven't lost the details. There are too many new details and special touches to point out. The new queues for Haunted Mansion, Pooh, Peter Pan have all been improvements over the original for example. They added details to existing ride classics that had nothing to do with making money. It was about improvements. The Mermaid queue. The entire Seven Dwarfs attraction, queue and surrounding landscaping. The Tangled rest area. There are fantastic details inside and out of Be Our Guest. I think the new hub area looks fantastic. Say what you want about the Frozen invasion of Norway but I think the queue, the ride itself and the entire meet and greet area look wonderful and are chock full of details. Everywhere you look in Animal Kingdom there are beautiful, amazing details old and new. It's all still there.
copcarguyp71
Well-Known Member
Second (in addition to @marni1971 's fountains observation) reduced air conditioning. Third is empty unused spaces, restaurants, pavilions, etc. Fourth is non operational or broken parts of attractions not repaired or just removed in lieu of repair (looking squarely at UOE as I say this) just to add a few.
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JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Theming ... I think Disney is still finding ways to mix in those hidden things or slyly incorporate references to extinct attractions into newer things. Theres so much around, youre bound to miss details... I think of how many things I see in every trip that I missed before. Disney is still the king in putting in those details that wow the guests... if they would only look for them.
Upkeep... Theres no question that these things have continually gotten away from maintennance. But I wonder how much is also happening because guests arent as respectful of Disney property and they are causing/ adding more disrepair to areas than ever before. If you have throngs of people abusing areas how could you ever keep up??? As far as disappearing fountains, reduced a/c, abandoned buildings.... there I say shame on you Disney, theres no excuse.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
Considering the stories I've heard of what some people DO in the fountains, I don't blame Disney for keeping them turned off one bit!
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Seems to me that they just added a bunch of them at the hub, but, everyone just concentrated on the damn trees.
I also think that they haven't lost the knack but the incentive. The public today is not anywhere near as interested in the details that we were interested in back in the 80's and 90's. Why? Because they no longer take their noses out of their smart phones, they are obsessed with Fast Pass fever and only want to get in and ride and get out. Details just slow things up. So, Disney saves money on those things since no one is paying attention anyway.
UpAllNight
Well-Known Member
The theming in queues, restaurants, shops, general fascades is still absolutely top notch. The big details, ie investing in rides, is where they're going horribly wrong.
englanddg
One Little Spark...
I'd assume you aimed that comment squarely at Joe Rhode?
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
No, I'm referring to stories people have posted here about seeing guests change babies, relieve themselves, and do heavens knows what else.