Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[Bairstow]

• Trash everywhere, in line queues, in walkways, overflowing from cans. Bad enough my friends and I commented on it. On out way out, a survey taker stopped and asked us specifically about how clean the parks were, and if/where we saw trash. Sounds like TDO cut some custodial shifts, trying to see if anyone notices.

So Disney is researching where the tipping point is for park cleanliness by intentionally allowing clutter? What a disturbing theory.

 

[Kman101]

I'll be there May 6th for the day so I'll definitely keep an eye out for a survey taker.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

So COPPA is back in the news.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/4/27/5659004/cortana-kids-windows-phone-privacy
Cortana can't talk to kids under age 13
Under 13? Cortana won't talk to you. Not yet anyway.

Cortana, the voice-activated personal assistant on Windows Phone — named for Master Chief's AI companion in the Halo series — will not speak to anyone under the age of 13 who attempts to use her services, according to a report by CNET.

That's because Cortana is designed to collect data on its users to assist it in finding answers to their questions. That data is sent to Microsoft services, which means Cortana falls under the purview of the United States' Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998.

COPPA restricts the information that children can share online, or that can be collected from them, without a parent's permission. Cortana, reports CNET, does not feature the necessary parental controls, though she is in a beta stage, currently available only to developers. CNET points out the issue was raised in a Microsoft forum by one developer looking to help a daughter use Cortana.

Cortana recognizes how old her user is only if she is told a specific age; it doesn't recognize or grade voice patterns for someone's age.

Jen Taylor, the voice of the original Cortana in Halo, supplies some voice work when the phone is questioned about Halo. For all other queries, a synthesized voiced based on Taylor's will be used.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

You know, we're almost at the one year anniversary of #IgerWatch.

 

[stlphil]

Random observations from a post-Spring Break Saturday in MK:

• Trash everywhere, in line queues, in walkways, overflowing from cans. Bad enough my friends and I commented on it. On out way out, a survey taker stopped and asked us specifically about how clean the parks were, and if/where we saw trash. Sounds like TDO cut some custodial shifts, trying to see if anyone notices. Gotta pay for MM+ somehow!

I don't really mind an "occasional" piece of trash, particularly in queues. Even in the good old days custodial couldn't be everywhere, although they did an amazing job. But overflowing trash cans? No excuse for that, EVER, in a Disney park.

If you are right about the survey and they are trying to see what they can get away with in the cleanliness department, TDO should be forced to remove the name "Disney" from their operations. TO anyone?

 

[Magenta Panther]

You know, we're almost at the one year anniversary of #IgerWatch.

And when that cement-head finally leaves, I'm gonna party like it's 2005 (when Eisner left).

 

[Captain Neo]

And when that cement-head finally leaves, I'm gonna like it's 2005 (when Eisner left).

Be careful what you wish for

 

[PhotoDave219]

Be careful what you wish for

You saying he might get Brian Henson as a CEO?

 

[CrescentLake]

the trash is something my parents noted on their trip earlier in the month too. Casual guests are noticing..

My parents and I both noticed the trash, and I highlighted it in my trip report. I thought Epcot, AK were great, DHS, passable, but the MK was filthy. Absolutely filthy.

 

[twebber55]

honest question and a bit off topic
Do large scale projects from other resorts not allow WDW to grow? For example, did the fact that the DCA makeover cost 1 billion dollars hold WDW back from getting upgrades and new attractions?

 

[darthspielberg]

And when that cement-head finally leaves, I'm gonna like it's 2005 (when Eisner left).

If you are thinking that you are going to get someone better when Iger steps out, you are deluded.
It'll be more of the same. Iger has made some of the companies biggest investments, so whoever replaces him will be Iger 2.0 to protect those investments.

 

[jt04]

honest question and a bit off topic
Do large scale projects from other resorts not allow WDW to grow? For example, did the fact that the DCA makeover cost 1 billion dollars hold WDW back from getting upgrades and new attractions?

Don't think so.

My theory is that there is only a finite amount of creative talent on board and it has to be prioritized. That is a bigger factor than cost IMO. Although they seem to be outsourcing more so that could change things in the future. Potter proved that big projects can lead to big profits.

 

[asianway]

honest question and a bit off topic
Do large scale projects from other resorts not allow WDW to grow? For example, did the fact that the DCA makeover cost 1 billion dollars hold WDW back from getting upgrades and new attractions?

Depends on the overall cost and expected ROI is for any capital project. If there isn't a compelling case for a WDW to hit the desired ROI it won't happen no matter what's happening elsewhere

 

[flynnibus]

honest question and a bit off topic
Do large scale projects from other resorts not allow WDW to grow? For example, did the fact that the DCA makeover cost 1 billion dollars hold WDW back from getting upgrades and new attractions?

In some sense.. yes. There is only so much capital investment the company is willing to make at the same time.. but for that to be an issue there needs to be actual contention for the dollars... meaning.. someone needs to be looking to spend it.

 

[Crazydisneyfanluke]

• This last one is not WDW's fault (well, maybe tangentially), but there's nothing sadder than seeing young children clearly beaten down by the 90-degree sun sitting on a curb looking crest-fallen. Honestly, I think it's akin to child abuse. I don't care if you dropped $100 per ticket, take them back to the hotel and let them enjoy some a/c, or at least the pool!

Maybe if there were some trees.....

 

[Crafty]

Maybe if there were some trees.....

Or benches.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Or benches.

only if they are themed

 

[WDWDad13]

My parents and I both noticed the trash, and I highlighted it in my trip report. I thought Epcot, AK were great, DHS, passable, but the MK was filthy. Absolutely filthy.

ya know... while I'm sure they could do a better job cleaning, I hate to say it... but society is also at a different place now and more and more people just don't care about things...like dropping trash anywhere... and when parents do it then their kids do it and so on.

I have witnessed while standing next to a trashcan on main street getting ready for the parade a guy comes by and throws away some trash (food from caseys on a tray) and 1 or 2 of the items dropped to the ground rather than make it in the can....right in front of him with others standing and sitting there waiting for the parade... so what does he do... of course he walks away because the parade will be starting soon and hey, someone else will pick it up right? Some of us couldn't believe it and ended up picking it up ourselves with some napkins one family had around us.

I actually always enjoy seeing CM's not in the custodian job walking around with one of those arms to pick things up with helping pick up trash. Now if we as society could do a better job at keeping things clean it would help too

 

[the.dreamfinder]

In some sense.. yes. There is only so much capital investment the company is willing to make at the same time.. but for that to be an issue there needs to be actual contention for the dollars... meaning.. someone needs to be looking to spend it.

See Epcot Center and Tokyo Disneyland being simultaneously designed and built in the late seventies/early eighties by tiny Walt Disney Productions.

 

[CrescentLake]

ya know... while I'm sure they could do a better job cleaning, I hate to say it... but society is also at a different place now and more and more people just don't care about things...like dropping trash anywhere... and when parents do it then their kids do it and so on.

I have witnessed while standing next to a trashcan on main street getting ready for the parade a guy comes by and throws away some trash (food from caseys on a tray) and 1 or 2 of the items dropped to the ground rather than make it in the can....right in front of him with others standing and sitting there waiting for the parade... so what does he do... of course he walks away because the parade will be starting soon and hey, someone else will pick it up right? Some of us couldn't believe it and ended up picking it up ourselves with some napkins one family had around us.

I actually always enjoy seeing CM's not in the custodian job walking around with one of those arms to pick things up with helping pick up trash. Now if we as society could do a better job at keeping things clean it would help too

Oh I agree with you...or rather, I think it's a little of both. There is absolutely an entitlement/not caring culture where people feel like they can litter and throw their trash everywhere, but clearly maintenance has been cut.

Bottom line, its unacceptable. The MK was so filthy it was embarrassing. The Monsters Inc Laugh Floor alone was covered with trash, gum, you name it.