Kevin Yee- Airing of Grievances

[lebeau]

Great article, Kevin. I remember reading the original 4 years ago! It's so sad that these problems have gone unaddressed.

You haven't mentioned the declines in bus service. These are hard to quantify since you're dealing in averages. But based on anecdotal experience, there seem to be fewer and fewer buses running.

I am also glad to see you mention the air conditioning. This was infuriating! How much money can Disney possibly be saving by making every crowded attraction physically uncomforatble? We were there in Nov and people were visibly sweating indoors.

You are absolutely right about Disney's short-sightedness. We didn't complain. We had a good time. But little things like longer waits for crowded buses, waiting rooms that were too warm and maintenance that wasn't being done added up to a less satisfying experience.

I know we'll be back. But I'll think twice before shelling out to stay on property again. And I wonn't be in any hurry. Friends and family decribe me as being obsessed with Disney World. But these cuts have me wondering if it is worth the price any more. So I can only imagine what casual tourists must be thinking.

Disney management needs to realize that for every guest that complains, there are dozens or even hundreds that aren't going to take time out of their busy schedule to do so. But they will quietly decide not to come back. And they won't be so quiet when talking to friends.

Turning down the air conditioning in Florida? It boggles the mind!

 

[George]

... and will someone take down that creepy portrait of Phil Holmes!?!?!?!?!?

I may write a letter to management just on this issue. I think I'll pretend like I don't know who PH is. You know, my family and I were trying to figure out who the creepy guy was in the gift shop painting. Also, we never figured out where the entrance to the Belle ride was.

 

[Alektronic]

Just for some added context. How were the maintaince departments organized back in the 70's through early 90's?

Well, at MK, they have changed throughout the years also. First, there was a LOT more people there to do the work. Second, there was a lot more SKILLED people doing the work, now they are diluting the workforce with cheaper and unskilled labor.

At MK, there was a attractions maintenance dept for each land like Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland and they split up Fantasyland and Main Street. Then they merged them into just East and West and that didn't work too well, then they separated them again into West, Central, and East and now they are trying just North and South. Now that is just Attractions Maintenance.

They are different maintenance depts that take care of the whole park like Carpenters, Painters, and Support shop(they take care of merchandise and kitchens). They had a separate lighting crew, but I'm not sure now. And a seperate dept for Parade Maintenance.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Universal, despite all the wonderful things happening now, is not at all immune from this poisonous thinking. Trust me when I say Creative Studios is a mess! If it weren't for J.K. and Warner Brothers Potter phase one would have ended up quite mediocre and Potter Phase two would possibly be worse. The only reason Phase two will be freakin AMAZING is solely because of J.K. and WB in spite of UC.

Couldn't a similar argument be made for Carsland/DCA redo and to a degree Shanghai because JL and Bob Iger needed to make these projects work? I seriously doubt that folks like Bob Weis and Tom Morris, among others, would still be working at flower street if it weren't for that DEMAND for quality.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Coming soon...

I am honestly under the opinion that the TDO hacks know the hammer is about to fall and they are on a "Scorched Earth" campaign. They seem intent on doing as much damage as possible before they get kicked to the curb. I believe that it is in Disney's best interst to make the changes sooner rather than later.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Turning down the air conditioning in Florida? It boggles the mind!

 

[Lee]

I wonder...is the reason for the appalling stinginess of TDO due to the fact that it's still thinking of selling the parks? That's how it often goes when a company is priming one of its properties for sale...it cuts and cuts to make the item more attractive and affordable for a buyer...could this be what's going on?

After they toyed with that idea over the last couple years, they seem to have backed off of that plan. If the right offer were to come out of the blue, I'm sure they would listen, but they aren't currently shopping the parks.

That is good news. But who will be the replacement(s)? Is there still hope for that "big, Spirited change" that's been bandied about here?

I'll leave the "who" for later and someone with more detailed knowledge of the situation.

The change will be kinda big (considering what it will mean for the management structure of P&R), and possibly spirited....but it isn't what that phrase is talking about.

 

[baymenxpac]

this is just so freakin' sad. what's worse: this thread is only 10 pages. still 42 or so short of the great coffee caper of 2012.

look around. nets, mold, burned off parts of an attraction. you tell me if you see anything that constitutes the premium prices we're charged.

as the ESPN MNF guys would say: COME ON, MAN!

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Parks are so bad quality wise, yet they are filled every time I go down there.

/smirk.

99% of people don't have a problem with them, the 1% that do provide better comedy than a Dean Martin roast.


Jimmy Thick- Just look at this dais...

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Parks are so bad quality wise, yet they are filled every time I go down there.

/smirk.

99% of people don't have a problem with them, the 1% that do provide better comedy than a Dean Martin roast.


Jimmy Thick- Just look at this dais...

Walmart is also quite busy. Americans are very discerning.

 

[Lee]

Parks are so bad quality wise, yet they are filled every time I go down there.

So, just to be clear...since by your estimation attendance is good (which it really isn't), it's ok for an attraction to be allowed to be in the condition Maelstrom is?

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Walmart is also quite busy. Americans are very discerning.

Um, terrible analogy. Think about it and try again.


Jimmy Thick- Lol, what?

 

[lebeau]

Walmart is also quite busy. Americans are very discerning.

It's true. Every time I go to Wal-Mart you can barely walk down the scooter-filled aisles. Which, come to think of it, reminds me of WDW these days. But at least at Wal-Mart, they keep it at a comfortable room temperature.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

So, just to be clear...since by your estimation attendance is good (which it really isn't), it's ok for an attraction to be allowed to be in the condition Maelstrom is?

Attendance was busy, oh just yesterday...

Maybe you should go to the parks more and see for yourself.

Whats wrong with Maelstrom? I rode it several times and while I didn't go out of my way to nit-pick the attraction from point A to point B, it seemed fine to me. Everyone on the same boat as me enjoyed it.

Sorry for not seeing things people with too much time on their hands try to see, I was busy enjoying myself.


Jimmy Thick- Complain to complain.

 

[baymenxpac]

So, just to be clear...since by your estimation attendance is good (which it really isn't), it's ok for an attraction to be allowed to be in the condition Maelstrom is?

don't worry, lee. it's probably the same rationale that thinks it's in good taste this week to have an avatar of a character pointing a gun at the screen.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Um, terrible analogy. Think about it and try again.


Jimmy Thick- Lol, what?

Ok, your observation is strictly anecdotal. Maybe your rose colored glasses are causing some sort of doubling effect.

 

[whylightbulb]

Um, terrible analogy. Think about it and try again.


Jimmy Thick- Lol, what?

Why is that a terrible analogy? Wal Mart is not known for quality but more for cheap products produced from cheap labor. You smugly pointed out that WDW is always busy and that must mean people that point out the low quality of the past 15 years must be crazy. Your logic is extremely fallacious since it's obvious that just because lots of people frequent an establishment doesn't mean that establishment is top quality. Lots of people watch junky reality shows; does that mean they are good quality TV?

 

[Lee]

Attendance was busy, oh just yesterday...

Maybe you should go to the parks more and see for yourself.

I'm there plenty.
And I'm sure it was busy yesterday. Shocking if it wasn't.
Doesn't change the fact that attendance and guest spend is down significantly.

Whats wrong with Maelstrom? I rode it several times and while I didn't go out of my way to nit-pick the attraction from point A to point B, it seemed fine to me. Everyone on the same boat as me enjoyed it.

Sorry for not seeing things people with too much time on their hands try to see, I was busy enjoying myself.

Ahhh...the old "If I Didn't See It, It Isn't There" attitude. Nice.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Hey Lee, did you see my post earlier about my "Scorched Earth" theory?

Thoughts?

 

[wm49rs]

Not to get in the mix here, or defend the fact that the bear was in that condition to begin with (because that is unacceptable), but we rode Maelstrom this morning, and everything was copacetic.