The Spirited Back Nine ...

[PhotoDave219]

Harsh.. I'll surely bury my face in my pillow and cry myself to sleep tonight. Rather than completely void out my opinion, care to counter with why you think Epcot needs less love and money put into it than DAK?

I simply don't have the time nor the inclination to argue with you. One does not negotiate with the fanatics that are Epcot Fanboiz.

 

[BrerJon]

I think thats more of a leadership issue. I see LOTS of custodial CMs just socializing with one another on stage rather than cleaning.

I don't mean to make custodial's life any harder as it's not the greatest job in WDW, but I suspect they're not trained to go around scrubbing dirt off and looking for things to make the park sparkle. If that was made as much a priority as any code-V, that might help reduce the maintenance burden a little.

 

[marni1971]

Also don't forget that DAK is 16 years newer than Epcot.

Epcot is getting old and, unlike the classic looking Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, it's increasingly looking like what it is: a late 1970s version of a "futuristic" theme park.

It has gone beyond that now.

A few key attractions in a sea of good to mediocrity in a park that doesn't know what it is anymore.

 

[GoofGoof]

Thanks for your input, and yours as well @GoofGoof . In a way, I completely agree with you. DAK is really under built and under utilized. Maybe it's because Epcot was my favorite park and I still want it to be my favorite park - but I'm still under the mind set that having a Michael Jackson "attraction" gone and putting something new in it's place is more dire than putting something where nothing was before. Parts of Futureworld should really big at the top of the list.

The word on the street is the imagination refurb may have been shelved again for the 3rd theater for Soarin. I'm cautiously optimistic that once they add the 3rd theater for Soarin the park will have more ride capacity and it may allow them to take down rides like Imagination and UOE for major refurbs. I just hope they don't take the pavilions down and never reopen them.

 

[Nemo14]

I don't mean to make custodial's life any harder as it's not the greatest job in WDW, but I suspect they're not trained to go around looking for dirt and things to make the park sparkle. If that was made as much a priority as any code V, that might help reduce the maintenance burden a little.

I don't think we're talking about "sparkling" as much as just keeping things clean. The last time we rode Buzz Lightyear we literally had to wade through trash in the inside queue. It was disgusting to say the least.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I don't mean to make custodial's life any harder as it's not the greatest job in WDW, but I suspect they're not trained to go around scrubbing dirt off and looking for things to make the park sparkle. If that was made as much a priority as any code-V, that might help reduce the maintenance burden a little.

Well no, its just that theyre paid minimum wage and have little incentive to actually do their job.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I don't think we're talking about "sparkling" as much as just keeping things clean. The last time we rode Buzz Lightyear we literally had to wade through trash in the inside queue. It was disgusting to say the least.

That queue is always nasty. I dont get why guets cannot use a trash can

 

[lazyboy97o]

No way, you will see new Star Wars stuff next year before the Episode 7 comes out in December. Won't be new rides, but there will probably be a lot more merchandise, M&G's, and lots of "quick and easy" things to promote the movie.

Dance party?

This is not unprecedented.

Star Tours 2 was first rumoured to be happening just after Episode I hit the screens in 1999. The ride finally opened 11 years later, 6 years after the last film in the second trilogy.

Star Tours 2 was being discussed in 1987 during the opening hoopla for Star Tours. There were plenty of comments from people with Disney about how the system would allow them to change it up every few years.

 

[PhotoDave219]

It has gone beyond that now.

A few key attractions in a sea of good to mediocrity in a park that doesn't know what it is anymore.

The sad thing is that it is nowhere near as bad as the clusterduck that is DAK/DHS.

No one is arguing that Epcot doesn't need help; rather DHS/DAK have been so neglected that they're on life support.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The sad thing is that it is nowhere near as bad as the clusterduck that is DAK/DHS.

No one is arguing that Epcot doesn't need help; rather DHS/DAK have been so neglected that they're on life support.

Disney's Hollywood Studios never had a very profound thesis. Disney's Animal Kingdom is still rather focused. Focus on meaning and message is more important than rides.

 

[GoofGoof]

Well no, its just that theyre paid minimum wage and have little incentive to actually do their job.

Maybe this is too philosophical of a discussion, but weren't those jobs always minimum wage or close to it? Maybe it's because minimum wage isn't enough to live on today. In the 80s or 90s when WDW was exceptionally clean did the people working there have any real incentive to do their job well?

 

[misterID]

I am not denying the WDW has changed and for the worst and I agree about the $$. My family has decided to avoid WDW until things change.

However, people have changed. They are less oriented on the group as a whole, are more focused on pleasing themselves and to heck with anyone else, and expect everything immediately. While people may have always felt like acting this way, it seems like people voice it and act on it more today than in the past.

Do you not remember the 80s?

I think it's a combination of both.

There has definitely been a reduction in park maintenance budgets. Less people working on upkeep leads to more issues. However, I also think maybe part of the issue is less pride in work too. This isn't just a WDW CM issue it's a problem in society.

The other issue is cleanliness is contagious. If a person walks into a sparkling clean bathroom they are much less likely to make a mess. If it's already dirty then they don't feel bad adding to the problem. Same goes for a quick service restaurant. If the place is spotless most people will feel bad making a mess o leaving a mess on a table.

A common topic on these boards and especially these threads is the decline in quality of the average WDW guest. The Walmart crowd, the honey boo-boo crowd whatever we are calling them these days. If the quality of the average guest is really declining then that has to add to the problem too. It can't be just lack of maintenance.

I can visit many locations and resorts that have excellent maintenance, and it has little to do with a deteriorating society, but more of the people in charge who make sure things like this are taken care of. Believe it or not, it also has to do with the job and employers also, where the people you hire are treated well and live on a good income, will not only care more about the job, but feel they're a part of the team, and that really, really matters to them. Atmosphere matters. That's why you see more and more of comporate America pampering and respecting their employees... it actually works and translates back to the job. If it's a crap job with low pay and that's the way you're treated, that's what you're going to get.

It's less an issue with society and more with the conditions of the average worker (whose wages have not changed in decades, btw) and how they're treated. With how much people have been priced out of WDW vacations it's getting harder for me to buy that the WDW guest problem is based on class or income. The wealthy guests have always been pretty nasty, literally and figuratively. Trust me, a chunk of my life spent in Orlando tourisim dealing with the upperclass, even more with WDW, has removed any notions they're any better than the "Wal-Mart crowd."

 

[WildcatDen]

Yes, it would look wonderful on our expansion pad know as Speedway

Which, by the way, had regular unleaded for $2.69 a gallon Thursday. Wrong Speedway?

 

[lazyboy97o]

How can there be so much real urban revitalization where long neglected neighborhoods are being cleaned up if society as a whole is becoming more filthy?

 

[misterID]

Maybe this is too philosophical of a discussion, but weren't those jobs always minimum wage or close to it? Maybe it's because minimum wage isn't enough to live on today. In the 80s or 90s when WDW was exceptionally clean did the people working there have any real incentive to do their job well?

You could live on those wages back then, more specifically at Disney. And the wages haven't kept up with inflation or cost of living... while their bosses keeps on rising. A lot of people have to have multiple MW jobs to keep up now.

Which, by the way, had regular unleaded for $2.69 a gallon Thursday. Wrong Speedway?

If you have a Speedway card it's even better, mine was $2.58

 

[michmousefan]

One thing I can say about great movie ride is that there will be Quene enhancements coming. For the 20th time in this thread, great movie ride is not going anywhere.


(Can you people actually read?)

Any insight as to when they might make some additions/deletions to the finale reel? Certainly that must be one of the easier things to fix in GMR. Really surprised they haven't gone for that low-hanging fruit. A few quick shots of Tangled, Ralph and Frozen in there... I guess images of Avengers would be verboten, but what about a Guardians shot?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Any insight as to when they might make some additions/deletions to the finale reel? Certainly that must be one of the easier things to fix in GMR. Really surprised they haven't gone for that low-hanging fruit. A few quick shots of Tangled, Ralph and Frozen in there... I guess images of Avengers would be verboten, but what about a Guardians shot?

Not that I've heard. I would assume if/when there is a rehab, the film should be updated in some fashion.

Clarification: The most I've heard is that its staying and not going anywhere. I have not heard that there actually is a rehab scheduled.

 

[flynnibus]

I think thats more of a leadership issue. I see LOTS of custodial CMs just socializing with one another on stage rather than cleaning.

Concur on the leadership... I think they have plenty of staff, they just don't go and work through the places at the level they used to.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Concur on the leadership... I think they have plenty of staff, they just don't go and work through the places at the level they used to.

Spot on analysis.

 

[flynnibus]

I think it's a combination of both.

There has definitely been a reduction in park maintenance budgets. Less people working on upkeep leads to more issues. However, I also think maybe part of the issue is less pride in work too. This isn't just a WDW CM issue it's a problem in society.

You can blame the guests all you want.. but it's still Disney's job to clean up after them and maybe even try shaping that guest behavior. But we can all go 'woe is me... can't help it' and accept it to. That's the way to ensure we hit bottom.

If the quality of the average guest is really declining then that has to add to the problem too. It can't be just lack of maintenance.

If you have more trash to clean up - then you need more people to clean it up. Adjust - not mope.