MK Main Gates getting new look! (Photo)

[unkadug]

Again...the difference in numbers make all the difference in the world. Change 100,000 ahead of time or change 1,000,000 ahead of time. You know, every once in a while, we must use common sense concerning blatant wastefulness for the minor entertainment of a few that apparently are not able to concentrate on anything except what might be wrong.

The problem with light bulbs is that they cannot read themselves and know how long they are supposed to last. They last until the filament burns out. There is no timer on them. It is totally irresponsible to throw away working equipment in an effort to second guess it's lifespan. Also when the numbers increase it becomes less and less possible to stay ahead of it and also becomes fiscally irresponsible as well. For all we know they may still have that plan...but you know how plans go sometimes. Anyway, I'm done wasting time worrying about something as insignificant as a burnt out light bulb unless it remains unfixed over an extended period of time.

point, set and match

 

[Goofyernmost]

Grand Floridian for example?

MK bulb team being axed?

Two YEARS to replace a neon strip outside Innoventions?

I will have to concede things like the Grand Floridian. I don't know why those haven't been replaced. Maybe the construction in the area has something to do with it, don't know! It wasn't included in my discussion due to the fact I have never been to the GF, so it has absolutely no impact on my impression. I wouldn't know if they were all out.

MK bulb team being axed? Don't even know what that means!

Innoventions? Never noticed it...possible I guess and also no excuse that comes to mind.

The one glaring thing that I spotted a year or so ago was the unbelievably, unforgivable fabric sign that is hung over the entrance of Imagination. Not only cheap looking by any standards, but it was dirty and faded to the point of almost being unreadable. I returned a few months later and it was still there in all its ratty glory. I even went to a CM and said, that even though I knew that they weren't responsible, if they got the chance could they please relay to someone, exactly how low class that made the Pavilion look and how disappointed I was that Disney would let that happen! Just the idea that it was a temporary banner instead of a real sign made me feel that Disney didn't really think much of Imagination, or have any, or have plans for it to continue much longer.

So, you see, I am capable of spotting shoddiness as well as the next guy, but I guess I prioritize differently.

 

[marni1971]

Sadly the Imagination banner is from 1999. No wonder its old and tatty. I doubt fabric is meant to last so long.

The Floridian - if you were there you probably wouldn't see it so badly. It's from the Seven Seas, usually after a day at the parks, it looks its worse. Indeed, the new tactic is to just switch most of the popcorn lights off.

The MK bulb team were, if I recall, a 3 man 3rd shift team who's sole job was to check and replace the parks lighting each night. The team no longer operates.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Which they do... which is why it still comes up! You question it, but its legit.

So you say...do you have a chart where you spot one of thousands of lights out and mark it on the grid so that the next time you go, if you see a light bulb out you know, for sure, it was exactly the same one. If so, you have way to much time on your hands.

Grand Floridian excluded in this...I have no idea why, and neither does anyone else have a reason for not having the lights working. That is the Flag Ship Resort...it would not make any sense that it was being done because they were cheap. It would almost be like being an Ice Cream vender that wouldn't buy a freezer because it cost to much. Cheap doesn't explain it! I am curious now though.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Sadly the Imagination banner is from 1999. No wonder its old and tatty. I doubt fabric is meant to last so long.

The Floridian - if you were there you probably wouldn't see it so badly. It's from the Seven Seas, usually after a day at the parks, it looks its worse. Indeed, the new tactic is to just switch most of the popcorn lights off.

The MK bulb team were, if I recall, a 3 man 3rd shift team who's sole job was to check and replace the parks lighting each night. The team no longer operates.

Thanks for your explanation on the bulb team.

 

[HMF]

Sadly the Imagination banner is from 1999. No wonder its old and tatty. I doubt fabric is meant to last so long.

Which banner is that, I thought all the banners were replaced in 02 when JIYI left.

 

[flynnibus]

So you say...do you have a chart where you spot one of thousands of lights out and mark it on the grid so that the next time you go, if you see a light bulb out you know, for sure, it was exactly the same one.

Does it really take that much intelligence to recognize areas around landmarks over the length of a trip? Or to look at a picture?

You can keep denying it, or you could come out from behind the blinders and look yourself for a change.

Talk about ing into the wind...

 

[Goofyernmost]

Does it really take that much intelligence to recognize areas around landmarks over the length of a trip? Or to look at a picture?

You can keep denying it, or you could come out from behind the blinders and look yourself for a change.

Talk about ing into the wind...

That could be stated in both directions, don't you think?

 

[flynnibus]

That could be stated in both directions, don't you think?

I'm not the one who keeps denying something that has been continuously documented for years now... wake up.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'm not the one who keeps denying something that has been continuously documented for years now... wake up.

My but aren't you a sweetheart. I'm afraid that your directive will go unfulfilled. My opinions are based on what I see and how I formulate what I see. Just like yours, my opinions will not change because you have demanded that they do. But have a nice day anyway.

 

[articos]

Put simply, the culture has changed, and the cast members who had knowledge of proper upkeep of the parks per the original SOP - including the lighting - are either no longer there or have given up. The guys who changed those bulbs knew which ones went out quicker or stayed longer, and they could stay ahead of the curve. That knowledge isn't passed on anymore, nor does the management care. This is partially due to time...the original managers who came up the ranks and opened the park under the original regime have now retired or gone elsewhere, and the people replacing them come from other parks and organizations that don't care about the details and aren't trained in the Disney way. Unfortunately, the training programs with the equivalent of the knowledge that was imparted during the 70s/80s aren't in place any longer. The other factor is the almighty dollar. Management is now always looking to trim here and there, and there's just a point where when you keep trimming, it isn't possible to balance show quality any longer. Much of the mid-level management in the theme park industry goes from Disney to Universal to Sea World to Delaware North (and a few others) and back again. They end up bringing the bad habits of one to the other, and occasionally the good from one to the others. But in general, lowest common denominator wins.

Until the late 90s, maintenance schedules at Disney essentially completely refurbished the parks/resorts on a schedule every 3 years. This was a uniquely Disney thing, and it was expensive. At a certain point, someone made a choice that it wasn't worth the cost any longer, and things should be fixed as needed, instead of preventatively. Specifically regarding lighting, eventually the majority of the property will change over to LED in fixtures that allow for it. Specialty lighting will likely be changed as parts fail. The work has started, but it will take some time. For Grand Floridian, they'll likely just do a complete replacement of the tivoli lights, maybe when they next do a roof refurb. Items like this are generally thought of as projects that can be combined with a larger scope project, unless someone gets a bug to get it fixed or someone in the executive suite says something.

 

[flynnibus]

My but aren't you a sweetheart. I'm afraid that your directive will go unfulfilled. My opinions are based on what I see and how I formulate what I see. Just like yours, my opinions will not change because you have demanded that they do. But have a nice day anyway.

Congrats, you've reached the point of

 

[marni1971]

Which banner is that, I thought all the banners were replaced in 02 when JIYI left.

You're absolutely right. My bad. It's a decade old.

 

[unkadug]

So you say...do you have a chart where you spot one of thousands of lights out and mark it on the grid so that the next time you go, if you see a light bulb out you know, for sure, it was exactly the same one. If so, you have way to much time on your hands.

Grand Floridian excluded in this...I have no idea why, and neither does anyone else have a reason for not having the lights working. That is the Flag Ship Resort...it would not make any sense that it was being done because they were cheap. It would almost be like being an Ice Cream vender that wouldn't buy a freezer because it cost to much. Cheap doesn't explain it! I am curious now though.

We are talking about bulbs out on the Magic Kingdom's main entrance sign. It is quite obvious and has been documented by the same person over a 9 day period.

Why do you keep ignoring this fact?

Do you think that the SAME bulb keeps going out day after day ?

 

[HMF]

You're absolutely right. My bad. It's a decade old.

Actually it is possible that the Imageworks banner is 99 vintage. It just goes to show you how little faith WDI had in both JIYI and JIIwF, in both they put banners outside rather than permanent marquees, It's almost as if they knew or planned the attractions were not going to have a long lifespan when they designed them.

 

[Goofyernmost]

We are talking about bulbs out on the Magic Kingdom's main entrance sign. It is quite obvious and has been documented by the same person over a 9 day period.

Why do you keep ignoring this fact?

Do you think that the SAME bulb keeps going out day after day ?

The only reason that I ignore it is because my opinions are based ONLY on my experience. I do not now and never have based my thoughts on something someone else says until I have seen it for myself. If these boards are nothing else they are huge breeding grounds for exaggeration. I refuse to condemn something that has multiple possible reasons for it's existence, none of which are completely explained by assumption and sky is falling posturing. Many times I have pointed out problems that I have seen and/or experienced. All of my opinions are based on that premise and at the same time things like "documented by the same person over a 9 day period" leaves me less convinced then before because it makes me wonder...why. Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone go to a place like WDW and just make notes of everything that they see wrong?

I understand that others see things in different ways than I do, but I, pretty much in any of my post, unless I otherwise specify, am expressing my opinion and why I feel the way I do. No one has to agree with it, just as I do not have to agree with the opinions of others. Let's just let it go at that please!

With that said, I have spent all the valuable time of my life fretting over light bulbs and their darkness or brightness that I am willing to spare. It may be a decline in maintenance or it may be some other reason unknown to us. Either way I've grown tired of the conversation. Carry on, if you must!

 

[pumpkin7]

My word, are they that desperate that they had to axe a 3 person unit to make sure the parks look pretty?

Really??

 

[unkadug]

My word, are they that desperate that they had to axe a 3 person unit to make sure the parks look pretty?

Really??

Middle management decisions are based upon short time goals that save their division money and directly affect their yearly bonus.

Such decisions are hard, if not impossible, to reverse since that would mean their division would have to increase their yearly budget, which would directly influence the yearly bonus of the reigning management.

 

[pumpkin7]

Middle management decisions are based upon short time goals that save their division money and directly affect their yearly bonus.

Such decisions are hard, if not impossible, to reverse since that would mean their division would have to increase their yearly budget, which would directly influence the yearly bonus of the reigning management.

Fair enough, but on the grand scale of things, you're looking at a wage for 3 people. And fuel for a car or two. In the grand scale of things, it's not much to keep up appearences.

But sure, let them have their bonus!

 

[unkadug]

The only reason that I ignore it is because my opinions are based ONLY on my experience. I do not now and never have based my thoughts on something someone else says until I have seen it for myself. If these boards are nothing else they are huge breeding grounds for exaggeration. I refuse to condemn something that has multiple possible reasons for it's existence, none of which are completely explained by assumption and sky is falling posturing. Many times I have pointed out problems that I have seen and/or experienced. All of my opinions are based on that premise and at the same time things like "documented by the same person over a 9 day period" leaves me less convinced then before because it makes me wonder...why. Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone go to a place like WDW and just make notes of everything that they see wrong?

I understand that others see things in different ways than I do, but I, pretty much in any of my post, unless I otherwise specify, am expressing my opinion and why I feel the way I do. No one has to agree with it, just as I do not have to agree with the opinions of others. Let's just let it go at that please!

With that said, I have spent all the valuable time of my life fretting over light bulbs and their darkness or brightness that I am willing to spare. It may be a decline in maintenance or it may be some other reason unknown to us. Either way I've grown tired of the conversation. Carry on, if you must!

I think Flynnibus said it best:

Congrats, you've reached the point of