Is the golden age of WDW over?

[Nion4]

I was really excited when MGM came into the fold, but I think I sort of lost respect for the leadership when AK came into town -- it just looked like competition was fueling development, not a desire to entertain people. (no offense, but AK is sooo humorless) (also see the raceway -- why is that there? Used once and ....)

Still, things can change.

I for one would like to see WDW as more of a cohesive unit. Its a bit chaotic in that the parks aren't integrated into the hotels, and into each other. Epcot and MK have this, but the two other parks do not. Perhaps pull a disneyland and create a central parking area, and then a transportation system that connects everything.

I know I've personally pushed monorails hard, and maybe that will happen. There's just nothing entertaining about a bus, even monorails are 'loosing their steam'. A maglev train that would 'whoosh' you to MK and Epcot from a larger parking structure for example would be nice and maybe a stop half way to service MGM AK and the waterparks/downtown disney.

I can dream can't I?

(I for one like the hotels at WDW thanks to eisner (except Swan and Dolphin, feel out of place, although Eisner had little to no control over that).)

 

[wannab@dis]

Well, I'm not too sure what the 'Golden Age' of Disney was because I'm still rather young ^^;

I've been to WDW four times now, and I still get excited when you start seeing the billboards for the different attractions on the way to the resorts. Maybe I still have a bit of naive innocence left but every single one of my trips have been enjoyable. The staff was always friendly and I always thought that the rides were imanginative. Now mind you, I have been to plenty of theme parks, and most of them are carbon copies of one another, but I always thought Disney was pretty original. I really don't go in expecting anything other then a good time. Again, it may be my youth because I have never experienced a Disney of yester year.

But I still find it magical, no matter how cheesy that sounds.

Just my two cent ^^

Nice post and you are not naive by any means. What you have is a positive and optimistic outlook, so therefore, you don't dwell on small problems or how something doesn't work for you. You probably understand that many people find some attractions entertaining and fun even though you're not that interested in it.

Please don't succomb to the pessimistic views that so many people have. Your outlook is refreshing and it's great to read your view. I wish everyone would read the part I highlighted above, because then, the "golden age" wouldn't apply for the cynical ones that live in yesterday.

 

[General Grizz]

Yesterday...

Let's see...

Yesterday's animation, when animators had creative control and made classic films whose characters are equally popular today...
Yesterday's attraction budgets, when storytelling was always #1, and whatever came out of the WDI labs were completely unpredictable...
Yesterday's WDI, when fear did not mold the stories and budget cuts of attractions...

It's important to enjoy vacations and what is offered, but there are certain realities that must be accepted in order to truly understand what is occurring in various departments of the Company. It is easy to cast these issues off, as well as those who write about them, but they should be fairly considered.

Is this REALLY about the past?

Look at Disneyland. Big Golden Age occurring over there, I'd venture to say. If you visited the park 7 to 8 years ago, and then visited it today, you'd instantly note big changes for the better. And yet, it has nothing to do with "sticking in the past." It's all about new birth. Creative control (lead by President Matt Ouimet) and a focus back to entertainment. Many of the problems that plagued Disneyland in the late '90s exist in Walt Disney World, like it or not.

This doesn't ruin my vacation, and I hope it doesn't affect yours. But so long as guests do not take note of these issues as they did with Disneyland in a different atmosphere, many of the problems (which root at the downsizing of WDI's power, in my opinion), won't be fixed for years.

Good things are still produced, and they should be celebrated. These are essentially the lucky products that made it -- usually boosted by characters or thrill factors. Technology has always been at the heart of Disney progress, but so should true innovation in the simplest forms and smaller-scale. The special effects created for Alien Encounter in 1995 and for The Living Seas in 1986 are good examples. As well as the quality in a ride like 1992's Splash Mountain, whose budget would likely not make it today.

Many will take what I say and label it all as cynical writing stuck in the past. But ultimately, it's all about the hope for a better future. After all, I never saw this as an issue in 1996.

 

[wannab@dis]

Yesterday...

Let's see...

Yesterday's animation, when animators had creative control and made classic films whose characters are equally popular today...
Yesterday's attraction budgets, when storytelling was always #1, and whatever came out of the WDI labs were completely unpredictable...
Yesterday's WDI, when fear did not mold the stories and budget cuts of attractions...

Animation... I would love to see animation make a come back, but until PEOPLE change their viewing habits, it may not happen. To often, the "failures" are blamed on the animation/story/etc, but the public just didn't spend their money on the film or a rival release took the lion's share. It's not always the animator's (or management's) fault, but yet, the company must make a financial decision. I see so many posts on here complaining about the straight to DVD movies. Most people "here" say they don't like them, but the company makes a lot of money from the sales compared to the costs. Until the public quits buying the release to DVD and drop the dollars in the theater releases, there's no reason for a change. Don't take me wrong, I'm all for a new Lion King or Beauty and the Beast.

WDI... WDI still puts out wonderful attractions. I only know of one recent attraction that has overall bad reviews here and it was due in large part to a public requested change. Otherwise, the last few years have brought about some wonderful new attractions. To often we hear the gripes about 'clones', but those doing the griping seems to forget that the MK in Florida was built with clones. I say bring on the clones. It's better for the company financially to "imagineer" one attraction and build it multiple times. It's also better for the guests since they would see MORE attractions coming out of WDI to the park of their choice.

 

[-SIR-]

I gotta say that if there is one thing I have figured out about Disney and the imagineers after spending most of my life being obcessed with what they do, its that everything they do is based on taking extaordinary chances with their imaginations. I agree that wdw is hitting a slow period with imaginative attractions with real story lines, however I do think things will perk back up, or perhaps already are... Everest sounds like it will be great.... and if its well recieved you can bet more chance will be taken and more attractions will get the green light. WDW parks are still the worlds #1 parks after all.

 

[General Grizz]

...also remember that WDI is being downsized right now... that slow layoffs (roughly half a dozen/week thru the summer) have been occuring since May... and that its power has been diminishing for years...

..."clones" are ways to reduce brain-cost, which goes hand in hand with the downsizing. If WDI had as much power as it did in 1992-1995, I'll assure you that things would be much better, much more unpredictable, and tremendously better for the long term. We'd also have improved Audio-Animatronics, show quality, greater attention to detail, and maybe even some songs.

Everest will be great, because of the creative freedoms it was granted, but also keep in mind this project was approved by *Al Weiss*. There is another force out there who you might look at for the whole cut-back issue -- oh, Cinderellabration or SGE... but I hate naming names...

 

[wannab@dis]

...also remember that WDI is being downsized right now... that slow layoffs (roughly half a dozen/week thru the summer) have been occuring since May... and that its power has been diminishing for years...

..."clones" are ways to reduce brain-cost, which goes hand in hand with the downsizing. If WDI had as much power as it did in 1992-1995, I'll assure you that things would be much better, much more unpredictable, and tremendously better for the long term. We'd also have improved Audio-Animatronics, show quality, greater attention to detail, and maybe even some songs.

Everest will be great, because of the creative freedoms it was granted, but also keep in mind this project was approved by *Al Weiss*. There is another force out there who you might look at for the whole cut-back issue -- oh, Cinderellabration or SGE... but I hate naming names...

So what you are saying is that the MK of 1971 was reduced brain-cost?

Cloned attractions are an extremely smart business move. The percentage of guests that routinely visit multiple Disney parks is probably VERY small. The utilization of cloned attractions will actually improve the future of the parks and keep the finances available for coming up with newer and better attractions. I hope they increase the cloning so they can reduce up front costs and spend the savings on "creative freedoms."

 

[DisneyWales]

Golden Age

My First trip was back in 2003, and for me it was, and still is the best time ever. I Personally feel that for a lot of people their first trip will always be the "Golden age" as it was all new and fresh, as time goes on you start to see rides change, effects may not work as well, or seeing as you know where the next thrill is coming from the magic seems less magical.

What I'm trying to say is i believe that most people will say that their "golden age" would have been when they first went.

But in all honesty there is no where in the world where i can eat and shop around the world, take a trip to space, travel through a Jungle, go back in time, meet 999 Grim Grinning Ghosts, glide over California, travel under the seas, meet pirates, Rock on a rollercoaster, enter the Twilight zone, and im hardly touching the surface of the many magical things that happen on a daily bases each day at WDW. So as far as i care no the Golden Age is not over, it continues and always will while people belive in the stories that WDW weaves for you each day.

 

[speck76]

Back to the future. Oops, that's Universal. :lookaroun

OK then, how about Back to the past? :sohappy:

Walt's idea was for a family park. He built Disneyland with rides and attractions for mom, dad and their 5-12 (or so )year old children. He threw in a few rides for teens and young adults, but on the whole most of the rides and attractions were designed for the whole family to enjoy together.

Today we seem to be moving toward designing for the teen and young adult market, hense Islands of Adventure added to Universal. Maybe we need to slow down on the teen and young adult market and add more to the "young family" and grandparent/young grandchild market.

I said slow down not stop for the teen/young adult market. I like Test Track. I loved Motion and Horizons. I like Space Mountain. I love the Wedway. :sohappy:

Almost every teen or young adult will return to WDW with children and/or grandchildren. Let's have a lot for those families to do together when they return. :wave:

The people with the most money are having the fewest number of children.....the market is aging.....the park has responded to this.

Also, it isnow affordable for many to travel the world....this was not the case in 1955, when only the elite could fly. A trip to the Islands is no more expensive than a trip to WDW...a trip to Europe is a comparable cost too.

 

[Magic Maker]

Well right now we are hurting staffing wise, as is every business in this market because Orlando's unemployment rate is like 3% I think.
But I saw two things at Epcot that broke my heart. Now I am not a manager, but I still will do EVERYTHING within my power the ensure that I do my best to ensure that Disney is still the Most Magical Place on Earth!

 

[Chris_TX]

But I saw two things at Epcot that broke my heart.

What are you referring to?

 

[UncleScrooge]

I don’t know if things were better back in the mid 80’s. I remember the glory days of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace><st1laceName>Epcot</st1laceName> <st1laceType>Center</st1laceType></st1lace> when future world actually had a unified theme and all of WDW was connected by monorail. But of course at that time the company was in financial peril. Now future world is a hodge-podge of the latest thrill rides (which are admittedly well done and enjoyable) with little attempt to stay true the original vision and education is avoided like the plague. Yet, since the 80’s WDW has grown and has made great creative masterpieces, e.g. Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rock’n Rollercoaster, and all of the Animal Kingdom whose rides and theme are top notch (with the exception of dino rama). Things have changed; in some areas there is improvement, in others decline, but that is the nature of things. Sometimes things need to get worse before they get better, and few things will stay just the way we would like them to. However, overall, I say that Disney is just as enjoyable as it was in the eighties.

I think King Solomon said it best: Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Ecclesiastes 7:10

 

[Northgurl24]

I just went to Six Flags in NJ and I totally felt that it was not worth any of the money. It sounds weird, but EVERYTIME I am in Disney it feels magical. That could just be me. Yes I am upset that there arent the same quality in the rides as there was in the past, but going to Six Flags made me realize even more just how magical Disney really is. I think as most people have stated, that WDW is just in one of its lower points in the stages. I think in maybe 5 years, most of us will be saying how great the park has improved and that its back in another golden age. So to say its over, I dont think so, but to say it needs IMPROVEMENT...........DEFINATELY!!!!!

 

[DisneyFanLS]

Golden Age OVER??? NEVER!!!!!!!!!

Listen, my wife and I go to WDW EVERY year!!! We were engaged there (right in front of Cinderella's Castle) in 1999...we honeymooned there in 2000, and have been EVERY year since!!! Why we were even there when the events of Sept. 11 took place (we were in Epcot when we were evacuated)...Having said that...

For me, the magic will NEVER die out of Walt Disney World!! Every time that rope drops at the front gates of the Magic Kingdom, and we stroll down Main Street USA, my wife tells me that I get this look on my face like I'm eight years old again!!! And you know what??? I FEEL eight years old again!!! There is nothing...and I mean...NOTHING like the feeling of walking down Main Street USA!!! I guess not everyone will understand what I'm talking about, but I'm SURE there are others out there who feel the way that I do??!!

We have enjoyed WDW for MANY years and have made MANY precious memories there, and hopefully we will for years to come....in a nutshell...the Magic will NEVER die at Walt Disney World!!! :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[CTXRover]

I think there is one big thing that changed how we, the fans, look at Disney of today and that of yesterday. That being the introduction of the internet and Disney fan message boards.

10-15 yrs ago there would have been no way for widespread reports or photos of chipped paint or imperfect landscaping. It wasn't even until I found websites dedicated to Disney theme parks back in 2000 that showed stuff like this that I even began to notice it despite the fact it was probably always present (at least that is what some of the websites I first came across were pointing out).

Same goes for the "surprise" of new attractions. Today, most fans know everything there is about a new ride before it opens, which is actually really a shame in a way. Remember back to TOT opening in 1994. Did anybody here really know anything about what the ride would be like, how it worked, what if anything was "cut" from the budget or even cared, etc? Probably not and thus it most likely seemed that more unbelievable. Contrast that to Mission Space, probably the first major new attraction to be built under the eyes of the internet, where most of us knew what to expect in a way. In some cases the internet is a new attraction's worst enemy in that it leads to far-off speculations that can lead to disappointment if it doesn't do what was rumored. There was none of that before the internet.

So basically, in a sense, the internet has destroyed the ability of Disney's fans to take things for granted and just appreciate the, as corny as it sounds, "magic" of everything. Even though I love and appreciate getting all the most up-to-date facts and pictures from every single construction update, I do have to wonder if I wouldn't appreciate my visits to the parks that much more if I wasn't able to "see" and talk about it on a daily basis (even though I've tried and always find myself back on these boards....kind of an addiction I suppose )

Disney isn't completely off the hook. There are certainly things here and there that could use improvement, but I would much rather have the WDW of today vs the WDW of 1985. Of course, I think AK is one of the best theme parks out there and Mission:Space is probably my favorite thrill-oriented attraction right now, both of which are, imo, perfect examples that WDI of recent is still as creative as ever.

 

[Tigger1988]

I just went to Six Flags in NJ and I totally felt that it was not worth any of the money. It sounds weird, but EVERYTIME I am in Disney it feels magical. That could just be me. Yes I am upset that there arent the same quality in the rides as there was in the past, but going to Six Flags made me realize even more just how magical Disney really is. I think as most people have stated, that WDW is just in one of its lower points in the stages. I think in maybe 5 years, most of us will be saying how great the park has improved and that its back in another golden age. So to say its over, I dont think so, but to say it needs IMPROVEMENT...........DEFINATELY!!!!!

Six Flags Great Adventure is by far the WORST park I have ever been to. I can't bring myself to go there.

 

[PirateJ]

I think it is quite possible that people feel that Disney is no longer in its prime because they haven't put out a quality movie since the Lion King....Ok Nemo was good, but since the mid-90's Disney films have basically gone down hill not giving them characters with longevity to incorporate into their parks.

 

[Connor002]

For me, the magic will NEVER die out of Walt Disney World!! Every time that rope drops at the front gates of the Magic Kingdom, and we stroll down Main Street USA, my wife tells me that I get this look on my face like I'm eight years old again!!! And you know what??? I FEEL eight years old again!!! There is nothing...and I mean...NOTHING like the feeling of walking down Main Street USA!!! I guess not everyone will understand what I'm talking about, but I'm SURE there are others out there who feel the way that I do??!!

i think that most of the people on these boards know what you mean.

the "golden age" is what you make of it. i guess i think it all goes around, there are times when things are all good and well, and then there are times when things aren't so good...

 

[General Grizz]

So what you are saying is that the MK of 1971 was reduced brain-cost?

Cloned attractions are an extremely smart business move. The percentage of guests that routinely visit multiple Disney parks is probably VERY small. The utilization of cloned attractions will actually improve the future of the parks and keep the finances available for coming up with newer and better attractions. I hope they increase the cloning so they can reduce up front costs and spend the savings on "creative freedoms."

WannaB@Dis: This problem isn't cloning... Splash Mountain was "cloned" (though improved and rethemed -- yes, that was done ) in 1992...

...The problem lies in the continual limitation of the freedom of WDI. Theoretically, your idea works. But do you honestly think that when the "clones" were announced, the primary reason was to increase the budget of future WDI powers?

Simply put, WDI power and original concepts should not be downsized and downplayed as trade-offs, even though both original attractions and successful ones from other parks should be able to exist.

"Imagination works the best when it's set free."

 

[Magic Maker]

What are you referring to?

The first thing I will not mention in order to Preserve the Magical Guest Experience, the second was the rectangular trees by Spaceship Earth were in a terrible state, branches that had been growing for weeks just poking out everywhere.