If the WDWMagic Forums existed in the 80s, what would folks be saying?

[Matt_Black]

Let's say the internet as we know it today existed back in the era of leg warmers, MTV, and Reaganomics. What would the posters have to say about the parks?

 

[draybook]

"I sure hope they don't build a set of parks down the road that start to outshine what Mr. Disney has set in motion here!!"




Lol, I kid, I kid.



From everything I've heard about Disney's yesteryears, the forums would have been filled with nothing but warm fuzzies and ear to ear grinning. I just wish I could have experienced it firsthand.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Same thing they are saying now. Access to instant information has change our culture as we know it. I assure you the parks had issues way back when, there just was no way to preserve and nit pick. Don't believe the myth, the parks are being run exactly the same way back then, that they are now.


Jimmy Thick- Quick, get me a Youtube from 1974...

 

[The Empress Lilly]

We'd be paying thousands of dollars for those management training seminars WDW staff gave back then, because once they were considered the pinnacle of the service oriented industries.

 

[Hakunamatata]

They raised the price of a churro to $1? Are you kidding me? I will have three.

 

[Goofyernmost]

You don't have to go back that far. I started on the boards in the early 2000's, just after my divorce and it was all sugar and sweetness. No one had been there enough yet to notice (real or imagined) changes in the place. Mostly because there weren't that many. WDW was growing so fast it was hard to keep up with. There were no closed pavilions due to lack of sponsorship or any other reason other then repairs.

People were lost in the magic, they were intentionally lost in the magic because it made them feel good. It gave them something to look forward to as they occupied their work a day world and wanted so badly to be a kid again, to relax and enjoy things just for how they looked to us. Or how different they seemed to our work and pay bills drudgery that was life in general. Now the thing that they still see as their escape has been taken over by a group of people that feel that if they enjoy the place and overlook things then they are a bunch of country bumpkins that they must ridicule for being foolish enough to believe in Pixie Dust. For being blinded by it to the extent that they can no longer see what is real, as defined by the cool kids who apparently were born knowing everything that there is to know. No one wants to be thought of as naive and stupid for enjoying something that is obviously (to some) so flawed.

So who caused this? A combination of things really. One is that there have been a number of people in charge that really do not understand what makes a theme park, a theme park. Ones who constantly compare themselves to Walt Disney, even though they don't have a 10th of the ability that he had in his pinky finger. They only know numbers. They are not the builders and shakers, they are the afraid to take a chance group. Add to that a group of people that are on the outside, but, are sure that they know just what is needed to save the place and that is by making everyone feel like fools for enjoying what is there and unconcerned about what isn't. Basically a powerless group that are flexing their non-existent muscle in the hopes of being noticed. In other words we all have a share in the fault, if there really is any.

I have been cynical about a lot of things going on at Disney Parks, but, I always try and sprinkle in a little reality with my . I think that, in spite of few flaws I see, it is still a place were people can go and can still have a wonderful time actually creating memories with there families. I try not to lose sight of the fact that I have gone over 40 times and some (most) have never made it over 3 or 4 times (or even more than once). I wouldn't trade my early memories going there with my children years ago and the way I felt about it for any amount of money in the world. I long to not have to go alone, to have someone to share the experience with, but, I continue to go alone because I can go there and relive those memories and they still feel good. And that is what the early boards were like. I wonderful place where we could share, without shame, the joy that we felt when we went there, before others had to come in and tell us how stupidly blinded by pixie dust we are.

 

[John]

Same thing they are saying now. Access to instant information has change our culture as we know it. I assure you the parks had issues way back when, there just was no way to preserve and nit pick. Don't believe the myth, the parks are being run exactly the same way back then, that they are now.


Jimmy Thick- Quick, get me a Youtube from 1974...

Never mind......just never mind

 

[John]

Same thing they are saying now. Access to instant information has change our culture as we know it. I assure you the parks had issues way back when, there just was no way to preserve and nit pick. Don't believe the myth, the parks are being run exactly the same way back then, that they are now.


Jimmy Thick- Quick, get me a Youtube from 1974...

This is an absolute falsehood. Yea, I changed my mind. I just couldn't sit there and read this over and over and not call you out. You are delusional. Forget about snorting pixie dust...you mainline it. I have knowledge that Disney now subcontracts out much of their maintenance. Was that how the parks were ran? My mother was basically forced to retire....was that how they valued their Cm's? Yea, I know what the parks were back then and how they were ran. Food quality? Thick you come on here and pontificate like you are such an authority. Yet you spew nonfactual comments like this. I was amused by you before, but that has quickly turned to annoyed.


Jimmy Thick.......wouldn't know the truth if it punched him in the nose.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Discussion forums did exist back in the 1980s, just not with all the pretty pictures.

The boards were dominated by academics and young (mostly CS or engineering) professionals. Everything was in ASCII. And no ads! It was something you did late at night in college or during lunch break at work.

Let me give you a timeline, with a very rough idea of what I recall being discussed back then. (It's been a few decades. Some of it's pretty foggy; I hope I get the details right.)

1. 1980 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens: I remember the discussion centering around Disney needing to open something to keep people coming until EPCOT opened. Lots of positive feedback from those who got to ride it early on. By the time I got to it, I recall liking it more than Space Mountain.
2. 1982 - EPCOT opens: A huge year. A ton of discussion back then. Lots of excitement. Lots my age (at that time) liked it but others mentioned they had younger siblings who thought it was boring, too educational. I remember being wicked jealous of those heading down to WDW for Christmas 1982. (Nobody went during October or Thanksgiving back then.) I finally made it to EPCOT in May 1983. Our 3-day hoppers were $35. Since I tended to go with my brother and friends back then, I suspect we twentysomethings looked at it a bit differently than most. I recall liking Body Wars the most.
3. 1983 - Horizons opens: Lots were really excited about it, lots of positive discussion, but I don't even recall the first time I rode it, that's how little of an impression it made on me.
4. 1983 - Journey Into Imagination opens: I remember this being really popular back then. I recall thinking it was silly the first time I road it.
5. 1984 - Morocco Pavilion opens: Drawing a complete blank on this one.
6. 1986 - Living Seas opens: I was more excited about this than most. (I had visions of Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea.) Must admit I was a bit disappointed when I finally experienced it.
7. 1986 - Captain EO opens: Sorry but by 1986, Michael Jackson's best years were already behind him. Even then, we were poking fun of this one. Everyone thought this was worse than all of his Thriller videos.
8. 1986 - Disney-MGM Studios construction begins: Very exiting news, the start of construction. All sorts of speculation as to what it was going to contain. (The rumor mill wasn't as good back then.)
9. 1988 - Mickey's Toontown Fair (opened as Mickey's Birthdayland): I recall some complaining it was for kids. As a result, I don't think I went into it for years.
10. 1988 - Norway Pavilion opens: Mostly adult discussion about the blond blue-eyed CMs.
11. 1988 - Illuminations: Lots of positive opinions posted, although some complained that they weren't warned that some viewing spots were better than others.
12. 1988 - Caribbean Beach Resort opens: Finally a Disney hotel that students (with some help from Mom & Dad ) could afford.
13. 1988 - Grand Floridian opens: At the time, everyone thought it was the best WDW hotel ever. Not sure if we thought that because that's where the rich parents stayed.
14. 1989 - Disney-MGM Studios opens: It opened with very few attractions, a lot fewer than today. A 3-day ticket was up to about $80 by then and I remember some strong words from those feeling they had been ripped off by Disney.
15. 1989 - Typhoon Lagoon opens: A huge hit (at least online) from Day 1. I remember getting really exited about trying it after reading some opinions and definitely not being disappointed when I finally made it.
16. 1989 - Pleasure Island opens: Lots of discussion among us twentysomethings, a pretty good place to hook up. Lucky it was before I met my DW.
17. 1989 - Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular opens: Very cool, very positive feedback. Disney probably could have saved themselves a ton of grief if Disney-MGM Studios opened with this ready.
18. 1989 - Star Tours opens: Opened at the end of the year. Everyone was super excited about it and it did not disappoint. A megahit among those online but, given the makeup of those posting back then, not surprising. A great way to end the decade.

So, definitely not all sunshine and roses but I don't ever remember anyone complaining about quality or stagnation. WDW was still the place families of modest means went to have a first class vacation.

Prices, on the other hand, took off that decade under Eisner. I'm pretty sure I remember some choice words about prices even then ...

I was making a heck of a lot more by the end of the decade than I was at the start so I didn't mind.

 

[stevehousse]

It would be the same, I don't think there would be as many negative comments as there are now, but it wouldn't be that much different from today! You have to remember that no matter what day and age or year it is/was, people like to complain more than compliment!

 

[Jimmy Thick]

This is an absolute falsehood. Yea, I changed my mind. I just couldn't sit there and read this over and over and not call you out. You are delusional. Forget about snorting pixie dust...you mainline it. I have knowledge that Disney now subcontracts out much of their maintenance. Was that how the parks were ran? My mother was basically forced to retire....was that how they valued their Cm's? Yea, I know what the parks were back then and how they were ran. Food quality? Thick you come on here and pontificate like you are such an authority. Yet you spew nonfactual comments like this. I was amused by you before, but that has quickly turned to annoyed.


Jimmy Thick.......wouldn't know the truth if it punched him in the nose.

How about digging up some video or photos from May 20, 1983 of every attraction and parks on WDW property so we can analyze the condition each one was in, mmk?

Jimmy Thick- Come and ride the train, and ride it, come and ride the train, its a Choo Choo...

 

[Jimmy Thick]

It would be the same, I don't think there would be as many negative comments as there are now, but it wouldn't be that much different from today! You have to remember that no matter what day and age or year it is/was, people like to complain more than compliment!

People are going to complain just to complain.

Jimmy Thick- No matter what.

 

[EOD K9]

I heard this weird rumor from one of my bus driver friends that in a few years we will have to make some sort of reservation to go on rides. Do you believe that?

 

[John]

How about digging up some video or photos from May 20, 1983 of every attraction and parks on WDW property so we can analyze the condition each one was in, mmk?

Jimmy Thick- Come and ride the train, and ride it, come and ride the train, its a Choo Choo...

That's not what you said, you didn't say the parks look the same as they did back then ( although I disagree with that also) but you said they were "ran" the same. Factually wrong. We all know you come here to push buttons, I allowed you to push mine. No problem, Here's to you and your health.....cheers

 

[jlsHouston]

Discussion forums did exist back in the 1980s, just not with all the pretty pictures.

The boards were dominated by academics and young (mostly CS or engineering) professionals. Everything was in ASCII. And no ads! It was something you did late at night in college or during lunch break at work.

Let me give you a timeline, with a very rough idea of what I recall being discussed back then. (It's been a few decades. Some of it's pretty foggy; I hope I get the details right.)
1980 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens: I remember the discussion centering around Disney needing to open something to keep people coming until EPCOT opened. Lots of positive feedback from those who got to ride it early on. By the time I got to it, I recall liking it more than Space Mountain.

• 1982 - EPCOT opens: A huge year. A ton of discussion back then. Lots of excitement. Lots my age (at that time) liked it but others mentioned they had younger siblings who thought it was boring, too educational. I remember being wicked jealous of those heading down to WDW for Christmas 1982. (Nobody went during October or Thanksgiving back then.) I finally made it to EPCOT in May 1983. Our 3-day hoppers were $35. Since I tended to go with my brother and friends back then, I suspect we twentysomethings looked at it a bit differently than most. I recall liking Body Wars the most.
• 1983 - Horizons opens: Lots were really excited about it, lots of positive discussion, but I don't even recall the first time I road it, that's how little of an impression it made on me.
• 1983 - Journey Into Imagination opens: I remember this being really popular back then. I recall thinking it was silly the first time I road it.
• 1984 - Morocco Pavilion opens: Drawing a complete blank on this one.
• 1986 - Living Seas opens: I was more excited about this than most. Must admit I was a bit disappointed when I finally experienced it.
• 1986 - Captain EO opens: Sorry but by 1986, Michael Jackson's best years were already behind him. Even then, we were poking fun of this one. Everyone thought this was worse than all of his Thriller videos.
• 1986 - Disney-MGM Studios construction begins: Very exiting news, the start of construction. All sorts of speculation as to what it was going to contain. (The rumor mill wasn't as good back then.)
• 1988 - Mickey's Toontown Fair (opened as Mickey's Birthdayland): I recall some complaining it was for kids. As a result, I don't think I went into it for years.
• 1988 - Norway Pavilion opens: Mostly adult discussion about the blond blue-eyed CMs.
• 1988 - Illuminations: Lots of positive opinions posted, although some complained that they weren't warned that some viewing spots were better than others.
• 1988 - Caribbean Beach Resort opens: Finally a Disney hotel that students (with some help from Mom & Dad ) could afford.
• 1988 - Grand Floridian opens: At the time, everyone thought it was the best WDW hotel ever. Not sure if we thought that because that's where the rich Mom's and Dad's stayed.
• 1989 - Disney-MGM Studios opens: It had very few attractions, a lot fewer than today. A 3-day ticket was up to about $80 by then and I remember some strong words from those feeling they had been ripped off by Disney.
• 1989 - Typhoon Lagoon opens: A huge hit (at least online) from Day 1. I remember getting really exited about trying it after reading some opinions and definitely not being disappointed when I finally made it.
• 1989 - Pleasure Island opens: Lots of discussion among us twentysomethings, a pretty good place to hook up. Lucky it was before I met my DW.
• 1989 - Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular opens: Very cool, very positive feedback. Disney probably could have saved themselves a ton of grief if Disney-MGM Studios opened with this ready.
• 1989 - Star Tours opens: Opened at the end of the year. Everyone was super excited about it and it did not disappoint. A megahit among those online but, given the makeup of those posting back then, not surprising. A great way to end the decade.

So, definitely not all sunshine and roses but I don't ever remember anyone complaining about quality or stagnation. WDW was still the place families of modest means went to have a first class vacation.

Prices, on the other hand, took off that decade under Eisner. I'm pretty sure I remember some choice words about prices even then ...

I was making a heck of a lot more by the end of the decade than I was at the start so I didn't mind.

Boards in the 80's ? Gosh...I'm thinking that was the first time I was ever on a computer in like 89, I think it was a 286 and there was no windows it was MS Dos...You typed everything at the c prompt...
Then right when the 386's were coming out with windows I remember hearing about the WorldWideWeb!..
Which all my friends that worked at HP they knew all about WWW....I couldn't even comprehend what they were talking about!

 

[EOD K9]

Commodore Vic 20.

 

[danlb_2000]

Boards in the 80's ? Gosh...I'm thinking that was the first time I was ever on a computer in like 89, I think it was a 286 and there was no windows it was MS Dos...You typed everything at the c prompt...
Then right when the 386's were coming out with windows I remember hearing about the WorldWideWeb!..
Which all my friends that worked at HP they new all about WWW....I couldn't even comprehend what they were talking about!

I remember calling dial up BBS's from my Atari 800 in the early 80's.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I heard this weird rumor from one of my bus driver friends that in a few years we will have to make some sort of reservation to go on rides. Do you believe that?

Sure and just like the Wright Brothers... it'll never fly!

 

[jlsHouston]

I remember calling dial up BBS's from my Atari 800 in the early 80's.

OMG I was trying to remember the name of that thing, the precurser to "Nintendo"!!!!

 

[copcarguyp71]

Commodore 64