Kurmedgeons

[Walter]

Something that I've been noticing about myself is that, since Disney has changed so much lateyl, the legacy has been dying in my eyes. I hate to sound so negative, and don't want to offend anybody, but now, when I go to WDW, I just start to get sad. Maybe it's just because I see my childhood memories being washed away for cheap thrills. Maybe it's because I can see a vision dying. I don't know. I know that this is a board for WDW fans, and trust me, I am one, but I'm worried that I may be starting to lose it. Am I out of my mind, or does anybody else at least kind of see this?

Again, this is not meant to offend or start anger or a flame war, and I know that parks need to evolve or they will not survive, but does that mean that the original vision has to be compromised? I know that it's always been a business, and the almighty dollar is always important, but it seems to me, now, that creativity is taking a back seat to money. Am I crazy?

 

[mkt]

It's spelled Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon: (noun) a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas

 

[kachow]

I need examples to really be able to respond. I don't understand what you mean by "original vision," and therefore can't really respond about it being washed away.

 

[unkadug]

Am I crazy?

If you have to ask....:lookaroun

 

[natalia1681]

I can see where you are coming from. I miss many things about the Disney I visited as a kid. But looking back on that now, I have to wonder if it's with rose-colored glasses. I always have a great deal of sadness when an old attraction is removed. But I am also left with a great deal of excitement to see what new is coming. While it might not always be my cup of tea, that's part of the Disney magic, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

:wave:

 

[Ivan72]

I can see where you are coming from. I miss many things about the Disney I visited as a kid. But looking back on that now, I have to wonder if it's with rose-colored glasses. :wave:

I think you have a point there. As Benjamin Franklin says in The American Adventure, "the Golden Age never was the current age". We do look back with nostalgia warming up the memories. But I know we have lost some classics, which I miss. But overall, I still love the place (WDW) and look forward to what comes next.

 

[Walter]

It's spelled Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon: (noun) a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas

Thanks. I was unsure of it.

 

[Walter]

I need examples to really be able to respond. I don't understand what you mean by "original vision," and therefore can't really respond about it being washed away.

What I mean by "original vision," is that, originally, the parks were meant not only to entertain, but to inspire, as was the whole of the Disney franchise. I don't quite see that anymore.

 

[Scar Junior]

I disagree with you but respect your opinion and see where you're coming from. The only things in Disney World that I don't like:

- the general state of DS
- the general state of Tomorrowland
- lack of adult/night entertainment. I'd love to see an expansion of Downtown Disney (even though a parking ramp might be needed to accomodate this) or else an additional venue...

 

[trr313]

I too wonder about how it really was at the time I was a child. I often think that maybe I link Disney with great childhood memories and that makes me want to visit all the time. It's still magical to me but I do miss some of the old attractions.

 

[celticdog]

The reason so many keep going back is to recapture the magic of their first trip. But that is sooo hard to do. I know I keep trying to capture that magic, but it's just not the same. That's not Disney's fault. It's my own perception of the previous trips. Disney is going to change. Walt said so himself. I have discovered that I must approach each trip as if it were my first and keep a completely open mind. The best way is not to relive the past, but try new things, go to different restuarants, try different resorts. You have to keep it fresh to capture the magic.

 

[Tigger1988]

If the parks never changed then you would get bored with it, it would lose its magic in that sense. Part of the excitement is going and seeing something completely new (which even going on a yearly basis as I do, there is usually some sort of new attraction to go see)

 

[Pongo]

Okay. Bear with me for this soapbox speech.

This is a matter of acceptance. People can complain and moan all they want about how great it used to be and how the current ways of life will lead us to the gutter, but that's not going to do anything. The only thing anyone can do is just accept that this is the way things are and that they aren't going to change. People can cling onto their old memories, but it's a proven fact (really!) that everyone is different. What one persons holds nostagically sacred, another person may utterly hate. What you see as a great and inspirational past maybe be seen by someone else as a total snooze-fest.

Disney is still inspiring people. It still inspires me. It still inspires PLENTY of people. If it was no longer inspiring, it wouldn't be the number one tourist destination of the world.

If you believe that creativity is taking a backseat to the dollar, you need to take a good, hard look at Expedition Everest. 100 million dollars was spent on what could have been built for FAR less. Leave it to Disney to go the extra mile and make things real. Clearly these aren't just "cheap" thrills as you call them. One of the most CONTROVERSIAL thrills cost Disney OVER 100 million dollars. Disney wouldn't just throw money like that around if creativity was taking a backseat.

You say you love Disney, but isn't the reason we love Disney is because it still inspires us? If it wasn't inspirational anymore, then I sure as heck wouldn't love it as much as I do now.

I don't think Disney is losing anything, but that's just my opinion. WDW is just changing along with society. Again, it's all a matter of acceptance.

You accept and live with things as they are, still inspirational, but in a different way. Or you refuse to accept it and, in your words, be a "curmudgeon". The choice is yours.

[/soapbox]

 

[autumndawn1006]

It's spelled Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon: (noun) a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas

Think Waldorf and Statler

 

[maggiegrace1]

Okay. Bear with me for this soapbox speech.

This is a matter of acceptance. People can complain and moan all they want about how great it used to be and how the current ways of life will lead us to the gutter, but that's not going to do anything. The only thing anyone can do is just accept that this is the way things are and that they aren't going to change. People can cling onto their old memories, but it's a proven fact (really!) that everyone is different. What one persons holds nostagically sacred, another person may utterly hate. What you see as a great and inspirational past maybe be seen by someone else as a total snooze-fest.

Disney is still inspiring people. It still inspires me. It still inspires PLENTY of people. If it was no longer inspiring, it wouldn't be the number one tourist destination of the world.

If you believe that creativity is taking a backseat to the dollar, you need to take a good, hard look at Expedition Everest. 100 million dollars was spent on what could have been built for FAR less. Leave it to Disney to go the extra mile and make things real. Clearly these aren't just "cheap" thrills as you call them. One of the most CONTROVERSIAL thrills cost Disney OVER 100 million dollars. Disney wouldn't just throw money like that around if creativity was taking a backseat.

You say you love Disney, but isn't the reason we love Disney is because it still inspires us? If it wasn't inspirational anymore, then I sure as heck wouldn't love it as much as I do now.

I don't think Disney is losing anything, but that's just my opinion. WDW is just changing along with society. Again, it's all a matter of acceptance.

You accept and live with things as they are, still inspirational, but in a different way. Or you refuse to accept it and, in your words, be a "curmudgeon". The choice is yours.

[/soapbox]

Isn't that the truth Luke.......:king:
That was a very good and truthful response..
I think the exact same thing..

Very nice..:sohappy:

 

[CHAPPS]

If you believe that creativity is taking a backseat to the dollar, you need to take a good, hard look at Expedition Everest. 100 million dollars was spent on what could have been built for FAR less. Leave it to Disney to go the extra mile and make things real. Clearly these aren't just "cheap" thrills as you call them. One of the most CONTROVERSIAL thrills cost Disney OVER 100 million dollars. Disney wouldn't just throw money like that around if creativity was taking a backseat.

I suspect we mean it in different ways, but I agree with your statement that EE could have been built for far less. I think when you ride EE, it doesn't seem like a $100 million attraction. It seems like they way overspent. To that point, I personally think EE is an example that CONFIRMS "creativity is taking a backseat to the dollar".

 

[CHAPPS]

Something that I've been noticing about myself is that, since Disney has changed so much lateyl, the legacy has been dying in my eyes. I hate to sound so negative, and don't want to offend anybody, but now, when I go to WDW, I just start to get sad. Maybe it's just because I see my childhood memories being washed away for cheap thrills. Maybe it's because I can see a vision dying. I don't know. I know that this is a board for WDW fans, and trust me, I am one, but I'm worried that I may be starting to lose it. Am I out of my mind, or does anybody else at least kind of see this?

Again, this is not meant to offend or start anger or a flame war, and I know that parks need to evolve or they will not survive, but does that mean that the original vision has to be compromised? I know that it's always been a business, and the almighty dollar is always important, but it seems to me, now, that creativity is taking a back seat to money. Am I crazy?

I believe you have a very good point. Personally, the concept of getting rid of old attractions to make way for new ones is not a bad one at all. But when the overall spirit of the place seems to be diminishing to a degree, that's sad.

 

[wdwishes2005]

Something that I've been noticing about myself is that, since Disney has changed so much lateyl, the legacy has been dying in my eyes. I hate to sound so negative, and don't want to offend anybody, but now, when I go to WDW, I just start to get sad. Maybe it's just because I see my childhood memories being washed away for cheap thrills. Maybe it's because I can see a vision dying. I don't know. I know that this is a board for WDW fans, and trust me, I am one, but I'm worried that I may be starting to lose it. Am I out of my mind, or does anybody else at least kind of see this?

Again, this is not meant to offend or start anger or a flame war, and I know that parks need to evolve or they will not survive, but does that mean that the original vision has to be compromised? I know that it's always been a business, and the almighty dollar is always important, but it seems to me, now, that creativity is taking a back seat to money. Am I crazy?

Please explain. The only things I know have been replaced within the last ten years have been TT, TK, and FR.

 

[jmvd20]

You're not alone. My family went to WDW last summer for the first time in about five years. I had an amazing time, but it didn't seem as magical as our previous trips did. What's happened to Future World is probably the most discouraging to me.

I think that things have started to improve recently, though. I'll wait to see what happens over these next few years before I decide to go back.

In my opinion future world is a disgrace of its former self. There is no continuity or theme to it like there was back in the 80's. Rides focused on the past, present, and future of many areas. Now it's just a hodge podge of thrill rides. While Soarin, Test Track, and M:S are good additions I just don't feel any connection between these attractions.

I sure hope WDI has a master plan for what they are trying to accomplish with FW. It seems to me it's headed toward small thrill land.

 

[TimeTrip]

I suspect we mean it in different ways, but I agree with your statement that EE could have been built for far less. I think when you ride EE, it doesn't seem like a $100 million attraction. It seems like they way overspent. To that point, I personally think EE is an example that CONFIRMS "creativity is taking a backseat to the dollar".

Maybe i'm tired.. but creativity taking a backseat to the dollar means that the dollar is in charge, and would put a limit on creativity. IMO that would mean that an attraction could have used more money to promote creativity. I think EE is the opposite, where they had tons of money to throw around, but didn't use it right....