The Magic has gone for us

[CaptainMichael]

WDW1974 is all like "all eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus.."

:lookaroun

all in fun wdw1974:wave:

 

[WDW1974]

WDW1974, thank you for contributing to the site and getting people's minds to think just enough outside the box that we can begin to question the place we all hold so dear. Though I must say, jumping into threads and calling forum members 'so-called fans' because you think we're doing something wrong is slightly over the top. We're ALL here for a reason. If we all didn't consider ourselves true fans would we be here?

We get it. We get your schtick. Promise. :wave:

Schtick?!?! You're only entitled to that if you pay for my Premium Service (which does include a plush and LE pin!)

I didn't say that everyone here didn't believe themselves to be 'Disney fans' ... it's just what people are fans of differ from person to person.

But thanks for the kind words ... I do appreciate the feedback!:xmas:

 

[WDW1974]

We get it. We get your schtick. We understand you believe you're the ultimate maverick preservator and defender of quality in WDI. Can you calm it down a bit, bud? Honestly? Please? I'm just sayin

Another one with the schtick. Must have been a problem with the supplier.

I am also reasonably certain that preservator isn't a word (if I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected in seconds!) And I wouldn't do much defending about quality at WDI ... at least not based on what they've done at WDW of late ... but if you'd like to talk about WDI, I am game.

 

[WDW1974]

WDW1974 is all like "all eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus.."

:lookaroun

all in fun wdw1974:wave:

You calling this place a circus??!??!

Do you know how many fans are going to have their feelings hurt?

 

[One Lil Spark]

Schtick?!?! You're only entitled to that if you pay for my Premium Service (which does include a plush and LE pin!)

I didn't say that everyone here didn't believe themselves to be 'Disney fans' ... it's just what people are fans of differ from person to person.

But thanks for the kind words ... I do appreciate the feedback!:xmas:

With the great insight you could bring to the masses here, it's really a shame you feel it necessary to be (for lack of a better term) abrasive with your posting style. This is a discussion forum, but you are making it slightly difficult for discussion when you are so quick to shoot people down. I don't need to tell you that this becomes a vicious cycle with other posters directing immediate negativity towards you as well.

As for your original post, my opinion is that it's too unrealistic to think about 'What Walt Would Do' in this day and age. Walt would have aged, had different priorities, found different passions, and been fueled by different desires the longer he lived. I personally think that the company would have ended up money driven even with a living Walt still at the helm - possibly leading to the same type of problems we are 'experiencing' as of late.

 

[jakeman]

Another one with the schtick. Must have been a problem with the supplier.

I am also reasonably certain that preservator isn't a word (if I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected in seconds!) And I wouldn't do much defending about quality at WDI ... at least not based on what they've done at WDW of late ... but if you'd like to talk about WDI, I am game.

Why must you barge into threads throwing the weight of your Mickeyer-than-thou attitude?

Why must every thread you enter involve you constantly reminding people that you may know more than us?

I'll admit your ego is immensely entertaining, but it is growing tired very fast.

You constantly belittle and insult people and paint those that have anything positive to say with a very wide and demeaning brush.

Your version of passion and caring seems the equivalent of a someone that thinks a slap is a hug that stings.

 

[WDW1974]

With the great insight you could bring to the masses here, it's really a shame you feel it necessary to be (for lack of a better term) abrasive with your posting style. This is a discussion forum, but you are making it slightly difficult for discussion when you are so quick to shoot people down. I don't need to tell you that this becomes a vicious cycle with other posters directing immediate negativity towards you as well.

I wouldn't term myself 'abrasive' naturally ... honest would be one word, blunt would be another, passionate would be another, hell opinionated would definitely be another. But abrasive always sounds like it's someone being nasty or combative just for the sake of being and I am not.

I'd rather everyone love me here. I don't care if people dislike me, though.
ultimately, I'm just another voice on a fan discussion board ... now, in the real world ... well, my voice is taken quite seriously (usually!)

The problem is no matter how I soften the message, most people in a place like this aren't going to like it. I guarantee that people like myself take far more abuse then people who say Disney can do no wrong.

I don't think my views/opinions are the only ones. But it does drive me bonkers when I know the facts and people are shouting me down because they don't like them or they don't fit into their World or world views.

I don't know how many people bitched that I was lying when I said Disney parks used to be open later. They said EPCOT never had regular 11 and midnight closes. As soon as I published the facts, they crawled back under their rocks.

But some things can't be proven ... at least without outing people at Disney and I won't do that.

So then it becomes a giant ing contest.

I've been thru this so many times on other fan sites. One great example was when I broke the news that the wand/monstrosity at EPCOT was coming down. You wouldn't believe the venom hurled in my direction. One local Disney dweeb with power actually got one of the 'allegedly' major SoFla newspapers to write an editorial (I am not making this up) decrying this change as ruining the magic for generations of children.

I guess what I am saying is it really doesn't matter how I put things because people either like me and/or respect me very quickly or they don't and once they're on one side of the fence they ain't moving!

As for your original post, my opinion is that it's too unrealistic to think about 'What Walt Would Do' in this day and age. Walt would have aged, had different priorities, found different passions, and been fueled by different desires the longer he lived. I personally think that the company would have ended up money driven even with a living Walt still at the helm - possibly leading to the same type of problems we are 'experiencing' as of late.

I don't really care what Walt woudl have done as I've said (although I know how blunt that sounds) because we don't know. But we do know the basic tenets of what he stood for and how he ran his business ... and those things ... things like quality and show ... those things should be strived for today and they aren't ... especially at WDW.

But one thing to remember was Walt was a businessman as well as a showman ... people like to rewrite history that he had his head in the clouds and didn't care about making money while bro Roy was the man who had to bring him off those clouds. It's simply not true. Walt loved making money because it meant he could try even grander things. The difference was he'd never cut his basic beliefs to meet profit margins of executives, institutional investors, analysts and Wall Street.

I also don't buy that Walt's type of style couldn't work today ... it can. Just look at John Lasseter and Pixar for a great example. Never scrimp on quality, yet always make truckloads of money.

it's not easy ... it does require vision, but you better believe it can be done.

 

[EpcotServo]

:lookaroun

You know what, I'ma gonna' go ahead and post this...s'cuse me....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUSDS9pkA2Y

Yep.


That's all I got. Hope nobody argues about it.
:shrug:

 

[happymom52003]

Why must you barge into threads throwing the weight of your Mickeyer-than-thou attitude?

:lol: Love it!

 

[Computer Magic]

WOW! Scary! Seriously, did you read my mind?

Great minds, I tell you...

Well you both are PMLers...not that any Conspiracy ever happens in there :lookaroun

You know you are one of my favorites around these parts (except for WDW1974 using the offensive term geeks/fanboys/bloggers), he makes a good point....

 

[WDW1974]

Why must you barge into threads throwing the weight of your Mickeyer-than-thou attitude?

Barge? Do I need your (or someone else's) permission to be in any thread?

Maybe you're barging in here.

Why must every thread you enter involve you constantly reminding people that you may know more than us?

Well, I wasn't aware I was doing that. But I do know a lot and am proud of my knowledge. If I know something I'm going to share it .. after all, it is holiday season and it's supposed to be better to give then receive although I'd like a brand new red Mercedes ... E Class please.

I'll admit your ego is immensely entertaining, but it is growing tired very fast.

If you like my ego, you should hear me sing in the shower ... great stuff!

You constantly belittle and insult people and paint those that have anything positive to say with a very wide and demeaning brush.

No. I don't. I get insulted far more and when I get it, it is quite intended. Not someone who can't tell the difference between me telling them their idea is moronic and me telling them they have no worth as a life form. People seem to be unable to get past that.

Your version of passion and caring seems the equivalent of a someone that thinks a slap is a hug that stings.

Don't worry. If you aren't young and attractive I won't slap you so you'll never know ...

 

[WDW1974]

You know you are one of my favorites around these parts (except for WDW1974 using the offensive term geeks/fanboys/bloggers), he makes a good point....

What's offensive about that?

I'm a Disney geek. I would say everyone here is.

It's not a derogatory term unless you choose it to be.

 

[Computer Magic]

As for your original post, my opinion is that it's too unrealistic to think about 'What Walt Would Do' in this day and age. Walt would have aged, had different priorities, found different passions, and been fueled by different desires the longer he lived. I personally think that the company would have ended up money driven even with a living Walt still at the helm - possibly leading to the same type of problems we are 'experiencing' as of late.

That is a great post. He would have become bored and looked for new places for his attention. He probably would have lost WDW to greedy bankers. I think this attention to detail and being perfect would have left WDW strapped. There is a balance to be had. I think WDW is tilting too far to the lack of quality. Yes, that is my opinion.

 

[NadieMasK2]

The problem is no matter how I soften the message, most people in a place like this aren't going to like it.

Maybe they will not like the message but they may actually hear the message. In using the - yes, abrasive - terminology that you have, you are more likely to draw fire and take the focus off of the topic and onto you personally. A politely stated opinion would go a long way in creating an open discussion environment.

 

[EpcotServo]

I DO have to throw that in that GEEK is not a derogatory remark unless you want it to be (NERD is the derogatory phrase for this in question)

Loving Video Games, Movies, TV, Anime, Disney, and all things sci-fi I proudly call myself an Otaku and a Geek.

 

[Computer Magic]

What's offensive about that?

I'm a Disney geek. I would say everyone here is.

It's not a derogatory term unless you choose it to be.

How many people want to be called geeks or fanboys...raise their hands....hmmm one? :shrug:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

How many people want to be called geeks or fanboys...raise their hands....hmmm one? :shrug:

Depends if you are lacking in self confidence :shrug:

Back to the point:

How long can Disney (or any other operator) call an attraction new? One year, two years more????

Surely now, if Blomberg is right and we are fast approaching deflation, a cash rich business like Disney should be seizing the opportunity to use the reduced labour and material costs to aggressively attack new projects. So when the economy starts to rebound in a year or so it has new enticements to get people back, after all wont every other tourist destination use the old discount package, and you would hope that Disney would want to stand out.

 

[George]

Surely now, if Blomberg is right and we are fast approaching deflation, a cash rich business like Disney should be seizing the opportunity to use the reduced labour and material costs to aggressively attack new projects. So when the economy starts to rebound in a year or so it has new enticements to get people back, after all wont every other tourist destination use the old discount package, and you would hope that Disney would want to stand out.

That's a good point. I was thinking about this the other day. My wife and I both have jobs that seem stable and with all the good deals we've found the last month or two we've been stimulating the heck out of the economy. It sure seems that Disney could do the same, assuming the bottom hasn't fallen out of the bottom line which I don't think it has.


Quality is an interesting thing. I always think about "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" when the word gets bandied about. :lol:

Regardless of my opinions about the state of the resort, my HOPE is that with all the competition Disney will never fall to far. My FEAR is that based on the way things are organized now with HUGE multi-day ticket discounts and tons of DVCers that a huge dropoff in quality wouldn't be reflected in the bottom line until it was too late.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

If you look at the ticket structure for the UK 09

5 day - £215
7 Day - £215
14 day £ 229
21 day £249

Despite the £70 increase since this summer, it does limit what you can save if you are getting tired of Disney and want to take your custom else where. Next year, If we go, we will take the Orlando Flex TicketPlus and visit all the other attractions and dependent on cost that may mean we further reduce the length of time we stay on property, especially as next year I will not be using my DVC points as they are not good value if you are not staying in a DVC resort.

On food, those who keep stating oh its theme parks you should expect to pay more, I can have an ala carte meal at Gordon Ramsays Claridges restaurant for less than I paid at Cali, Artits or Jikos. All great meals, and all a major part of my trip, but helllooooooo.....................

In fact a three course set lunch at Clarridges is less than what I paid for two courses at SciFi Dine in.

But hey its Disney, dontcha just love em

 

[dixiegirl]

We too have had good and bad experiences at Disney vacations, and also when we have vacationed other places. Working in the hospitality industry, I can tell you that even with the best laid plans, training, and equipment that a meltdown of epic proportions is only a moment away at any time. When it's busy........the chances of multiple meltdowns increases dramatically.

Not that you should worry about that. As a consumer, you should get the experience, product, and attitude that you paid for. When you don't get it, it can be extrememly frustrating.

You can lower the likelihood of problems by visiting at a lower attendance time of year, watching park schedules like a hawk, and planning planning planning, but even with all of that a bad experience is only Cast Member away. I wish that Disney was exempt from these problems, but unfortunately they employ people just like everyone else.

What to do? Complain with a smile, and firmly but fairly demand a fix whenever possible.

I have never had Disney miss-handle a complaint. They have certainly been responsive whenever I have brought something to their attention. When I have sent food back I have received a replacement meal. When I have had a dirty room they have cleaned it immediately and appologized. I have always treated every Cast Member with respect, tipped hansomely, and thanked people for helping. And they have always bent over backwards to make it right.

And my Amazing experiences have always outweighed my poor ones.

Poor Bus Service (probably due to sick calls).....? Travel during less busy times because we all know the system can be overwhelmed. If you go during busy times at the parks, you will get on fewer attractions, so get there at open and hit the ones you like. Know the park hours well in advance and plan. Go the Christmas Party on an "off" day so that the experience is more magical. I think that you have to do a ton of work to have a great time at Disney during any busy season, but in the end the results always have justified the means.

Last Christmas Season I was at Disney with my family. We planned our days (using the Unofficial Guide Calendar, and some common sense that comes from experience). We got to the parks early, planned off days in between, used fast pass extensively, and had a wonderful experience. In the evenings we sat in the hot tub listening to people who had a terrible experience and experienced very few attractions. It was always difficult to believe that they had gone to the same parks that we had.

We did experience some miss-fires and some poor service experiences, but whenever I spoke to a manager or cast member, Disney always responded. Would I go again during the Christmas Season? Sure. Would I do it every year? No way, because it's a lot of work and planning and time. It's really exausting to experience Disney during the holidays. Satisfying yes, but lots of work.

One time we were at the studios to close on the 4th of July. Jillions of people left the park after Fantasmic. They had one tram running, and there was a cast member sleeping in a seperate tram on the parking lot. It would have taken an hour to wait for the single tram. Did Disney plan on having one tram working at close on one of the busiest nights of the year? I doubt it. Were we tired and irritated? Sure. Did it ruin our vacation? No way.

But we won't go back on the 4th again without parking really close to the park!

So vote with your dollars and stay away. I think though that Disney would like to hear about your experience.

Enough rambling. Thanks to the OP for posting.

(As I brush through the arguements) Great post , (to me anyway, exactly how I feel)....Hay Have a Magical Day......

and guys little something to bring a smile!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Wt9a9NhU4