The Great Paper Napkin Watch

[unkadug]

Somehow TDO will be blamed for that too!!!!

Most all of the Walmarting of the Disney brand can be blamed on TDO. And, YES, it is TDO's fault.

 

[jlevis]

Themed napkins make every child light up. Children love Disney for little things like this. They are like that. They derive childish delight from the small things that adults overlook.

That is why it is so much fun to do Disney with kids. It is not for the kids, it is for the parents, who get to see the world through the inquisitive, playful eyes of youth.

But hey, how do you market that? We all know WDW is about the little magic, and not about the latest blockbuster tie-in. But you can't express that. Neither the guetss nor management understand how to communicate that. So we end up with all the fun little magic removed, and the $500 million dollar blockbuster tie-in installed. Meanwhile, both the parents and the kids would've actually preferred the simple, small delight of discovering Mickeys on their napkins.

My grandchildren, 4, 7 and 8 just left after a week. We had meals at Via Napoli, Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace and Flame Tree BBQ. I can state quite emphaticaly that not one of them paid the slightest attention to the napkins. In fact it wasn't until Flame Tree our last meal together that I noticed the generic logo.

 

[ParentsOf4]

My grandchildren, 4, 7 and 8 just left after a week. We had meals at Via Napoli, Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace and Flame Tree BBQ. I can state quite emphaticaly that not one of them paid the slightest attention to the napkins. In fact it wasn't until Flame Tree our last meal together that I noticed the generic logo.

Respectfully, WDW is not just about your grandchildren. It’s about everyone, including other people’s children and grandchildren. I can assure you that my children at that age thought the location-specific napkins were the greatest thing ever (as children often think about everything at that age), better than a Mickey Ice Cream bar, better than the Dumbo attraction. It was a big deal to them each time we visited a new location and received a different napkin.

Some people think napkins are important, others don’t. Both opinions are equally valid. Some people love Dumbo. My kids thought it was a “dumb” midway ride that wasn’t worth the wait. Some people love the Mickey ice cream bars. I think they’re grossly overpriced and taste exactly the same as ice cream bars I purchase at my local grocery store for one-fourth the price. WDW is not about napkins, or Dumbo, or Mickey ice cream bars. WDW is the sum total of all of these experiences and the joy they bring to everyone, even if some people derive more joy than others from certain experiences.

When WDW changes something to try to improve it, there naturally will be some who prefer the old ways. However, in the case of napkins, the reduced evening Extra Magic Hours, or so many other recent "changes", WDW is not making these changes in an attempt to improve the overall WDW experience. They are simply looking for ways to save a buck, to cut corners, to cheapen the WDW experience as a whole.

To quote Walt Disney when he was planning DL:

The park means a lot to me. It's something that will never be finished, something I can keep developing, keep 'plussing' and adding to. It's alive. It will be a live, breathing thing that will need changes. When you wrap up a picture and turn it over to Technicolor, you're through. Snow White is a dead issue with me. I just finished up a live-action picture, wrapped it up a few weeks ago. It's gone. I can't touch it. There are things in it I don't like, but I can't do anything about it. I want something live, something that would grow. The park is that. Not only can I add things, but even the trees will keep growing. The thing will get more beautiful year after year. And it will get better as I find out what the public likes. I can't do that with a picture; it's finished and unchangeable before I find out whether the public likes it or not.

Walt Disney wanted DL to be a place that was continuously improving. I cannot fathom how eliminating location-specific napkins somehow improves WDW.

I respect that you and your family doesn’t care about napkins. In return, I ask that you equally respect that others do care.

 

[John]

Respectfully, WDW is not just about your grandchildren. It’s about everyone, including other people’s children and grandchildren. I can assure you that my children at that age thought the location-specific napkins were the greatest thing ever (as child often think about everything at that age), better than a Mickey Ice Cream bar, better than the Dumbo attraction. It was a big deal to them each time we visited a new location and received a different napkin.

Some people think napkins are important, others don’t. Both opinions are equally valid. Some people love Dumbo. My kids thought it was a “dumb” midway ride that wasn’t worth the wait. Some people love the Mickey ice cream bars. I think they’re grossly overpriced and taste exactly the same as ice cream bars I purchase at my local grocery store for one-fourth the price. WDW is not about napkins, or Dumbo, or Mickey ice cream bars. WDW is the sum total of all of these experiences and the joy they bring to everyone, even if some people derive more joy than others from certain experiences.

When WDW changes something to try to improve it, there naturally will be some who prefer the old ways. However, in the case of napkins, the reduced evening Extra Magic Hours, or so many other recent "changes", WDW is not making these changes in an attempt to improve the overall WDW experience. They are simply looking for ways to save a buck, to cut corners, to cheapen the WDW experience as a whole.

To quote Walt Disney when he was planning DL:

Walt Disney wanted DL to be a place that was continuously improving. I cannot fathom how eliminating location-specific napkins somehow improves WDW.




I respect that you and your family doesn’t care about napkins. In return, I ask that you equally respect that others do care.

Respectfully, WDW is not just about your grandchildren. It’s about everyone, including other people’s children and grandchildren. I can assure you that my children at that age thought the location-specific napkins were the greatest thing ever (as child often think about everything at that age), better than a Mickey Ice Cream bar, better than the Dumbo attraction. It was a big deal to them each time we visited a new location and received a different napkin.

Some people think napkins are important, others don’t. Both opinions are equally valid. Some people love Dumbo. My kids thought it was a “dumb” midway ride that wasn’t worth the wait. Some people love the Mickey ice cream bars. I think they’re grossly overpriced and taste exactly the same as ice cream bars I purchase at my local grocery store for one-fourth the price. WDW is not about napkins, or Dumbo, or Mickey ice cream bars. WDW is the sum total of all of these experiences and the joy they bring to everyone, even if some people derive more joy than others from certain experiences.

When WDW changes something to try to improve it, there naturally will be some who prefer the old ways. However, in the case of napkins, the reduced evening Extra Magic Hours, or so many other recent "changes", WDW is not making these changes in an attempt to improve the overall WDW experience. They are simply looking for ways to save a buck, to cut corners, to cheapen the WDW experience as a whole.

To quote Walt Disney when he was planning DL:

Walt Disney wanted DL to be a place that was continuously improving. I cannot fathom how eliminating location-specific napkins somehow improves WDW.

I respect that you and your family doesn’t care about napkins. In return, I ask that you equally respect that others do care.

Can it be said any better then this?....As far as I am concerned the Great napkin debate of 2012 can be closed with this post.

 

[jlevis]

Respectfully, WDW is not just about your grandchildren. It’s about everyone, including other people’s children and grandchildren. I can assure you that my children at that age thought the location-specific napkins were the greatest thing ever (as children often think about everything at that age), better than a Mickey Ice Cream bar, better than the Dumbo attraction. It was a big deal to them each time we visited a new location and received a different napkin.

Some people think napkins are important, others don’t. Both opinions are equally valid. Some people love Dumbo. My kids thought it was a “dumb” midway ride that wasn’t worth the wait. Some people love the Mickey ice cream bars. I think they’re grossly overpriced and taste exactly the same as ice cream bars I purchase at my local grocery store for one-fourth the price. WDW is not about napkins, or Dumbo, or Mickey ice cream bars. WDW is the sum total of all of these experiences and the joy they bring to everyone, even if some people derive more joy than others from certain experiences.

When WDW changes something to try to improve it, there naturally will be some who prefer the old ways. However, in the case of napkins, the reduced evening Extra Magic Hours, or so many other recent "changes", WDW is not making these changes in an attempt to improve the overall WDW experience. They are simply looking for ways to save a buck, to cut corners, to cheapen the WDW experience as a whole.

To quote Walt Disney when he was planning DL:

Walt Disney wanted DL to be a place that was continuously improving. I cannot fathom how eliminating location-specific napkins somehow improves WDW.

I respect that you and your family doesn’t care about napkins. In return, I ask that you equally respect that others do care.

Thank you for respecting my opinion but I'm not sure where you get that I don't respect others opinions on the subject. You'll note that my response was to Empress Lilly's statement: "Themed napkins make every child light up...Meanwhile, both the parents and the kids would've actually preferred the simple, small delight of discovering Mickeys on their napkins.". Which, of course is not true. She made an assumption about my grandchildren which is incorrect. My reply to her was about that statement. The rest you bring up is a topic for another thread.

 

[asianway]

My grandchildren, 4, 7 and 8 just left after a week. We had meals at Via Napoli, Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace and Flame Tree BBQ. I can state quite emphaticaly that not one of them paid the slightest attention to the napkins. In fact it wasn't until Flame Tree our last meal together that I noticed the generic logo.

Considering the other three restaurants would not use the napkins in questions, sounds like you noticed right away

 

[alissafalco]

ok, this is actually really funny..am I the only one that has an advertisement on the bottom of this page for printed napkins??? LMAO!! I'm not kidding!

 

[unkadug]

ok, this is actually really funny..am I the only one that has an advertisement on the bottom of this page for printed napkins??? LMAO!! I'm not kidding!

I think ads are generated by cookies on your computer. So if you have been searching for napkins then you might get a napkin ad.

Personally my ad is for Sarasota, Fl.

 

[alissafalco]

I think ads are generated by cookies on your computer. So if you have been searching for napkins then you might get a napkin ad.

Personally my ad is for Sarasota, Fl.

I can assure you I have not been searching for napkins! LOL...I will be when I go to Disney next month

 

[jlevis]

Considering the other three restaurants would not use the napkins in questions, sounds like you noticed right away

Huh?

 

[GoofGoof]

I have the Sarasota add at the top too and something for NuWave cooking at the bottom. Printed napkins would be very fitting for this thread.

 

[unkadug]

I just cleared my cookies and now I have an ad for WDW and one for Napkins !!!!

Some company called efavormart.

 

[alissafalco]

I just cleared my cookies and now I have an ad for WDW and one for Napkins !!!!

Some company called efavormart.

see... LOL..yes, efavormart

 

[GoofGoof]

This probably is the most times the word napkin appears on a single web page. Makes sense they would try to advertise here. Any chance they could print some Disney parks napkins for us so we can bring them on our next trips.

 

[alissafalco]

This probably is the most times the word napkin appears on a single web page. Makes sense they would try to advertise here. Any chance they could print some Disney parks napkins for us so we can bring them on our next trips.

I'm sure they could! LOL

 

[luv]

I have a Sarasota ad at the top, too. No napkin ad...but napkin would make sense considering the thread topic.

At WCC, I got drink-sized napkins with the "Disney Parks" logo, which is the worst of all possible napkins except the blank, brown ones.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Thank you for respecting my opinion but I'm not sure where you get that I don't respect others opinions on the subject. You'll note that my response was to Empress Lilly's statement: "Themed napkins make every child light up...Meanwhile, both the parents and the kids would've actually preferred the simple, small delight of discovering Mickeys on their napkins.". Which, of course is not true. She made an assumption about my grandchildren which is incorrect. My reply to her was about that statement. The rest you bring up is a topic for another thread.

I believe you posted the following earlier on this thread:

We're at WDW now. We've eaten at Via Napoli, Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace, Flame Tree BBQ and I've had a Dole Whip. The only time I noticed a napkin was at Flame Tree and it was printed with the Disney Parks logo. None of the other 13 people in our party, including Children, made any comment although my wife cried out in horror, threw her meal into the trash and stormed off saying she would never return to Disney.

If your wife really did throw her meal into the trash and storm off, promising never to return to WDW, then I apologize for misinterpreting this post, which I interpreted as being sarcastic. Sarcasm is defined as:

1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms.

I was raised to believe sarcasm is disrespectful. If your earlier post was intended to be sarcastic, then it insulted people who appreciated Disney's customized napkins, including my children who really liked them. If your earlier post was not intended to be sarcastic, then I am sorry for having misinterpreted your post.

 

[Lucky]

You'll note that my response was to Empress Lilly's statement: "Themed napkins make every child light up...Meanwhile, both the parents and the kids would've actually preferred the simple, small delight of discovering Mickeys on their napkins.". Which, of course is not true. She made an assumption about my grandchildren which is incorrect. My reply to her was about that statement.

The Empress is no lady.

 

[Britt]

Awww crap. Now Im going to be checking out napkins all over the dang parks.

I didn't notice either way on our last trip, so I really don't care, but NOOOOOW you made me care and I'll be looking. LOL

 

[Hakunamatata]

I heard recently that Victoria and Alberts were using plain napkins too.......