Have you noticed the lack on maintenance ?

[NickMaio]

As with many things, there are probably several answers.
1. It would seem that whoever is in charge of each park (Park President or VP?) just isn't very interested in routine upkeep and maintenance. I worked for a company once and the owner used to walk the property daily looking for the smallest of details in order to keep everything clean, orderly, and working properly. He took pride in how things looked and worked. Does park management do this? Over-flowing trash cans and scattered trash and clean restrooms to me, is a bare minimum of expectations.

2. Regarding attraction maintenance, see #1. The Park President should fight for necessary maintenance budgets. Park cleanliness and ride up-time (or downtime) should also be a part of the Park President's evaluation ...... if management cared enough that is.

3. I have no idea of this, but it would appear on the surface that profitability and stock price are the only bonus drivers for Management at all levels. Operational metrics (such as cleanliness) are not apparently valued as much as they may have been 30 years ago.

4. The public in general is less and less interested in doing their part. It is incomprehensible to me to see someone throw trash on the ground. But it happens more and more every day. In much the same way that we don't take as much personal pride in our appearances anymore (business casual keeps getting more and more casual), society at large seems to be less interested in respecting their surroundings and other's property. It's just a dumbing down all around us.

Bottom line, as I've said many times (and others as well), if the parks continue to be packed and profitable, Disney Management will continue spending less and less to keep them looking and working great as that maintenance budget ends up in Management bonuses. Is society so far gone that Management and Leadership everywhere is more concerned with personal compensation than they are in having pride in your product, especially if it costs a little more?

..... it would seem so, sadly.

 

[NelleBelle]

This is somewhat insulting. Those who visit Walt Disney World multiple times per years and have done so for years and number in the tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands care as much about "our" parks as an DLR Local. Perhaps more, a lot more because we pay a lot more. And yes we do point things out to management and I have seen them act on those complaints. As it is we also love to visit Orlando, a place one can still can go around without facing the constant threat of a society in decline. I have to be honest I am not really planning to visit LA again until someone does something about the crime problem. Hopefully when Newsome gets punted someone will get elected that will do something about the decline.

Not sure how this was insulting? As someone who has visited WDW many times over the years, I've witnessed the sad decline of the parks. In fact, visiting DLR the last several years, my DH has stated he will not go back to WDW any time soon, sadly, as it is not worth the money for the product they are putting out compared to what DLR has. And good for you, pointing things out to management, but what, pray tell, have they fixed? This is not a rhetorical questions, I'm genuinely asking what they've fixed with your letter's of complaint?

 

[OG Runner]

As I said, these trends have been in place for years before Covid.

I really disagree that there were issues prior to Covid. I stayed at CBR for the 2020 Marathon, and visited all of the Parks and
did not see any issues.

 

[marni1971]

I really disagree that there were issues prior to Covid. I stayed at CBR for the 2020 Marathon, and visited all of the Parks and
did not see any issues.

There’s been “issues“ for a few decades. Much more prevalent in the last one.

 

[OG Runner]

There’s been “issues“ for a few decades. Much more prevalent in the last one.

Glad you have been coming back for decades to keep an eye on things. Like I said I was in the parks in January of 2020,
and there are really no problems, unless you are using a magnifying glass and looking for cosmetic items. Otherwise you
are just looking to start an argument with no basis. We had a similar discussion about Universal last year. The person making
that argument had photos of the items he referenced. In this case, based on my own observations, you are just wrong.

 

[marni1971]

Glad you have been coming back for decades to keep an eye on things. Like I said I was in the parks in January of 2020,
and there are really no problems, unless you are using a magnifying glass and looking for cosmetic items. Otherwise you
are just looking to start an argument with no basis. We had a similar discussion about Universal last year. The person making
that argument had photos of the items he referenced. In this case, based on my own observations, you are just wrong.

Ok.

 

[Naplesgolfer]

Glad you have been coming back for decades to keep an eye on things. Like I said I was in the parks in January of 2020,
and there are really no problems, unless you are using a magnifying glass and looking for cosmetic items. Otherwise you
are just looking to start an argument with no basis. We had a similar discussion about Universal last year. The person making
that argument had photos of the items he referenced. In this case, based on my own observations, you are just wrong.

IMHO the majority of the people on this thread and forum would disagree with you. For the last 10 years I have been in WDW 25 nights a year in DVC resorts . I have been going at least yearly since 1995. The drop in maintenance in all areas of the property is large and the prices charged just keep rising. I do 4-5 other trips year in top end brand hotels so I know what good maintenance should look like.

 

[marni1971]

IMHO the majority of the people on this thread and forum would disagree with you. For the last 10 years I have been in WDW 25 nights a year in DVC resorts . I have been going at least yearly since 1995. The drop in maintenance in all areas of the property is large and the prices charged just keep rising. I do 4-5 other trips year in top end brand hotels so I know what good maintenance should look like.

Apparently I’m wrong and he’s right. Sometimes It’s just not worth the effort.

 

[monothingie]

Glad you have been coming back for decades to keep an eye on things. Like I said I was in the parks in January of 2020,
and there are really no problems, unless you are using a magnifying glass and looking for cosmetic items. Otherwise you
are just looking to start an argument with no basis. We had a similar discussion about Universal last year. The person making
that argument had photos of the items he referenced. In this case, based on my own observations, you are just wrong.

You're a pretty lousy observer or otherwise have extremely low standards.

It's been documented on this forum, by not only insiders but also CM that there has been numerous cutbacks to guest facing areas over the past 15 years. You're just wrong, feelings and observations aside.

 

[Dranth]

Glad you have been coming back for decades to keep an eye on things. Like I said I was in the parks in January of 2020,
and there are really no problems, unless you are using a magnifying glass and looking for cosmetic items. Otherwise you
are just looking to start an argument with no basis. We had a similar discussion about Universal last year. The person making
that argument had photos of the items he referenced. In this case, based on my own observations, you are just wrong.

I've been going nearly every year for a couple of decades now, most recently this last October, and it has most certainly declined over time. The whole place isn't ready to fall apart or anything (except maybe the track in SM) but small things like keeping the bathrooms clean have become noticeable worse as time goes on. Minor maintenance like carpet replacement and paint touch ups seem to take place less frequently as well. Nothing earth shattering but it is noticeable.

It is still better than just about anywhere else I have been with the exception of some of the other Disney parks but it has dropped over time and I would hate to see it continue to head in that direction.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Glad you have been coming back for decades to keep an eye on things. Like I said I was in the parks in January of 2020,
and there are really no problems, unless you are using a magnifying glass and looking for cosmetic items. Otherwise you
are just looking to start an argument with no basis. We had a similar discussion about Universal last year. The person making
that argument had photos of the items he referenced. In this case, based on my own observations, you are just wrong.

Based on the observations of hundreds of people, you are just wrong.

 

[RollerCoaster]

Pretty much. The vast majority of guests are probably part of the problem. So long as profits are made, any Wall Street company would not want to spend much more than they have to.

This has absolutely nothing to do with being a company whose stock is publicly traded. Just because your shares trade on Wall Street does not equate to having to cut maintenance!

 

[marni1971]

This has absolutely nothing to do with being a company whose stock is publicly traded. Just because your shares trade on Wall Street does not equate to having to cut maintenance!

I know that. You know that. But answering to shareholders, not the paying guest, is priority.

 

[NickMaio]

Based on the observations of hundreds of people, you are just wrong.

I'd say thousands of people......

 

[Mr Mindcrime]

This has absolutely nothing to do with being a company whose stock is publicly traded. Just because your shares trade on Wall Street does not equate to having to cut maintenance!

..... overheard from a conference room in Burbank.... "Bob, so what you're telling me is, we can raise prices to embarrassing levels, charge for parking and other once unheard of items, plus cut maintenance budgets, cut shows, cut parades, and cut fireworks ....... and then put that money in our bonus pool....and people will still come to the parks in record numbers?" "Yep"

 

[spock8113]

It is very evident and usually maintenance is the first thing to be cut everywhere: highways, buildings, hospitals, schools, National Parks etc. It's only a matter of time before it catches up to you or in some cases, guests. Cutting back on maintenance is always pennywise and dollar foolish.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It has indeed been like for quite a while. Way way pre Covid and pre layoffs.

I feel like I read this exact same thread somewhere in 2001?

 

[OG Runner]

Based on the observations of hundreds of people, you are just wrong.

Like I said before, show us what you are talking about. I would be very interested in seeing what you are talking about, that
is to a point that it is taking away from the enjoyment of your vacation. So far all I have heard are broad statements that maintenance
is poor and it has been for decades. I have gone to WDW four times in the last 6 years and I have not seen it. I am asking you to show
me what you are talking about.

 

[OG Runner]

I'd say thousands of people......

Again prove it.

 

[marni1971]

Again prove it.

Thousands of people would say there’s no point since you’re obviously not very observant.