OK, lets talk cutbacks and lowered quality at DLR-

[Californian Elitist]

Nothing in life is perfect, and that includes the theme parks. There is plenty of magic at the parks to forget the outside world, and I always have a wonderful time. Attitude has a lot to do with. I guess I go just enough to keep the magic alive, and not too much to water it down.

You missed the point again, I'm afraid.

Forget the "magic" mumbo-jumbo for a second. All of us have fun at the parks, I would assume. All of us enjoy and love the parks. We wouldn't be members of a forum dedicated to discussion of the parks if we didn't. In saying all of this, the parks aren't perfect and it's okay to call out the things in the park that fall short. Focusing and talking about nothing but the positives would bar the forum from having diverse thread topics.

This isn't about the "outside world."

 

[BAChicagoGal]

I have my favorite places to eat when I visit the parks. About 50% of the time, I arrive after eating a proper breakfast outside the parks. I know for some, the food is part of the magic at Disneyland. That's true to some extent. I love the Plaza Inn Fried chicken, but the portion is way too large, as is the delicious pot roast. Disneyland allows me a child's portion, if I want, and that is definitely appreciated. I even ordered a child's breakfast plate at Flo's on one of the rare days that I had breakfast in the park. It was yummy. However, one good thing about Disneyland is that you don't have to eat in the parks. There are restaurants in Downtown Disney, and all long Harbor Blvd. I find it's better to do a bit of ahead planning, than wait till I am famished. Then the food I eat sometimes, is the nearest, rather than something that I really would have enjoyed. Complaining has never been my thing, but my dad would have told me to speak up and out to the "proper people" about a lousy meal. He was a waiter, and he got blamed for lots of bad meals in his day.

 

[TP2000]

Do they actually read the emails? I have some thoughts.

Of course not. No big company does.

But a compalint email goes onto a spreadsheet that adds to the tally of complaints they got, as part of a pie graph or bar chart to add to the "food quality" complaints for that week or month.

No one of any consequence is ever going to read your complaint email to Disneyland, it will simply be shuffled around by $12 an hour customer service agents and cubicle workers. But it will end up on a report. And when the bar graph starts growing enough, the execs will know they may have cut too much.

But to say nothing except for chatting about in a fan forum does absolutely nothing except generate some conversation with us here.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Of course not. No big company does.

But a compalint email goes onto a spreadsheet that adds to the tally of complaints they got, as part of a pie graph or bar chart to add to the "food quality" complaints for that week or month.

No one of any consequence is ever going to read your complaint email to Disneyland, it will simply be shuffled around by $12 an hour customer service agents and cubicle workers. But it will end up on a report. And when the bar graph starts growing enough, the execs will know they may have cut too much.

But to say nothing except for chatting about in a fan forum does absolutely nothing except generate some conversation with us here.

It's best to email or call execs directly. Say Michael.Colglazier@disney.com, for example.

 

[Phroobar]

I wish the Star Tours gift shop sold Star Tours items. They use to have exclusive Star Tours droid figures and ships. No more. Just Disney Store crap that isn't even made by Hasbro.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Let's be honest. The inventory in the shops at DLR is mostly terrible. Unless you're a 5 year old or a Disney character fan they haven't carried any interesting merchandise in decades.

 

[flynnibus]

I've seen some cool haunted mansion stuff... And some cool artwork... But neither cool enough to want to pay what they are asking

 

[Curious Constance]

The cool stuff exists, but it's few and far between. It doesn't really bother me much, I wouldn't be spending much money on it either way, and I get why there are so many kids toys, etc. I think the last year or two has seen an improvement in things available at the DLR shops.

I'm sure it's hard to find the right variables to appeal to a wide enough audience, so they go for the easy, money making kids stuff. If I wasn't a huge Disney fan, I wouldn't really want anything sold at Disneyland. I'd get some things for my kids, but probably pass on anything for myself. My husband doesn't care about Disney other than enjoying his vacation time with us there, and he could careless about purchasing anything at Disneyland.

 

[TP2000]

Let's be honest. The inventory in the shops at DLR is mostly terrible. Unless you're a 5 year old or a Disney character fan they haven't carried any interesting merchandise in decades.

Have you been into Humphrey's, the gift shop across from Soarin'? It has all sorts of non-Disney merchandise themed to camping and the outdoors and Americana.

There are a few shops in themed lands that offer non-Disney stuff. My issue with most of Disney's crap they sell is that nearly everything has a tag on it that says "Made In China". Can you imagine what Walt would have thought about the Chinese Communist Party making souvenirs for his park?!? He'd blow a gasket, for sure. I've stopped buying all that Chinese made junk, at Disneyland and at Target.

When war erupts in the South China Sea, and take it from a charming yet wisened old man that war with Communist China is in our future, I will be fascinated to see what happens to all the cheap t-shirts and plastic junk for sale in theme parks and big box stores across this country.

 

[TP2000]

It's best to email or call execs directly. Say Michael.Colglazier@disney.com, for example.

Well, there you go kids. Have at 'em!

 

[Deleted member 107043]

My issue with most of Disney's crap they sell is that nearly everything has a tag on it that says "Made In China". Can you imagine what Walt would have thought about the Chinese Communist Party making souvenirs for his park?!?

My issue isn't where it's produced, but rather the selection. I've noted here before that the resort doesn't even sell a basic tee with the Disneyland emblem without a bunch of character bling all over it. Obviously the shops do well but unfortunately there's nothing that appeals to me.

Anyway, thanks for the tip on Humphrey's. I'm so bored with Disney park shopping that I don't think I've been in there since right after DCA opened. I'll check it out whenever I make it back to Anaheim.

 

[Mike S]

My issue isn't where it's produced, but rather the selection. I've noted here before that the resort doesn't even sell a basic tee with the Disneyland emblem without a bunch of character bling all over it. Obviously the shops do well but unfortunately there's nothing that appeals to me.

Anyway, thanks for the tip on Humphrey's. I'm so bored with Disney park shopping that I don't think I've been in there since right after DCA opened. I'll check it out whenever I make it back to Anaheim.

I actually got one of those last year. A nice blue one in the Emporium. Have they stopped selling it?

 

[BAChicagoGal]

I do very little shopping when I am vacationing at Disneyland and WDW. My souvenir buying has been very limited lately. Nothing is cheap. Why does it seem like all t-shirts cost $25 in the parks. My husband doesn't travel with me, but he loves Jack Skellington, and he has lots of Jack shirts. Where did we buy them? In the Disney Store in the Dells, for 1/2 the price.

Besides with the airlines asking me to pay $25 to check a bag, I have no room in my suitcase for souvenirs.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I actually got one of those last year. A nice blue one in the Emporium. Have they stopped selling it?

Really? I look every time I visit and can never find it. I was there last June and even asked clerks at The Emporium and on Buena Vista Street and was told they don't sell them. It's been years since I've seen a tee like that sold at the parks.

What size do you wear?

 

[Stevek]

Making our first trip to since Oct to DLR on Wednesday. Will be interesting to see if I notice some of these same issues though I'm sure crowding is a given. The paint issues are very reminiscent of the pre 50th condition of the park where literally every painted handrail and various other buildings had chipped or faded painting. The food, other than prices, probably won't be as noticeable since we really have just a handful of places that are must eats for us. Now if those places have gone downhill, I'll be bummed.

 

[Stevek]

Really? I look every time I visit and can never find it. I was there last June and even asked clerks at The Emporium and on Buena Vista Street and was told they don't sell them. It's been years since I've seen a tee like that sold at the parks.

What size do you wear?

I've seen sweatshirts with the classic Disneyland logo but I think Mickey is right in the middle of the name. I'll look when I'm there Wed.

 

[Mike S]

Really? I look every time I visit and can never find it. I was there last June and even asked clerks at The Emporium and on Buena Vista Street and was told they don't sell them. It's been years since I've seen a tee like that sold at the parks.

What size do you wear?

This is what it looks like. The chipping is the design.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

This is what it looks like. The chipping is the design.

Ah, ok. I want one with this:

 

[Phroobar]

There is a cool shirt with the old A-E tickets on them and says Disneyland.

 

[Stevek]

Ah, ok. I want one with this:

This is probably the closest you'll get.