These things I know

[The cat]

1. Walt Disney brought pleasure to millions during his lifetime through his cartoons, his films and by creating Disneyland.
2. Since his early death he has continued to bring pleasure as his ideas have been expanded and developed, properly honouring his memory and ensuring his vision is kept alive.
3. Sadly he was a hypocrite, insisting male CMs be clean shaven when he himself sported a fine moustache. He had other faults but overall he was a force for good in the world.
4. Contrary to the myth he was no dreamer. he understood how to turn a dollar and that he needed to work to make it happen; work smart or work hard. He did both. The current 'philosophy' peddled in WDW is that 'dreaming' and 'wishing' are all one needs to have a happy life. Not so. We shouldn't be teaching our children that 'wishing' is good enough. Work smart and/or work hard. This and the desire to succeed (which Walt and Roy had in abundance), is vital.
5. My family have spent an aggregate of 30 weeks visiting WDW since the early 1990's. We have seen the gentle rides of 'Horizons' and 'World in Motion' give way to 'Mission Space' where sick bags are available as part of the possible 'experience' ( a different sort of the 'World in Motion' I guess) and where 'Test Track' shakes the guests around so much it isn't advisable to take small children on to it. Something irreplaceable has been lost with the passing of gentler entertainment which parents and younger children could enjoy together. There are other examples but as a visitor to this site you know what they are so I won't give further examples.
6. Recent additions are over rated.Everest is fine but putting the hype aside, is it really any better than (for example), BTMR? More impressive to look at certainly. I visited both (twice) on the same day this past week; thrill wise I don't think Everest beats the older runaway train.
6. In terms of chronological age we are a mature family now (our four children are adults in the legal, not the Disney, definition of the word), and have just returned from another enjoyable trip. I guess we could keep returning but best to go out while the experience and memories are still good.
So, enough; time to move on.

 

[raven]

Don't ruin the magic for the rest of us. I realize everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But if you don't like it, don't go.

 

[WDWBro]

If you had an enjoyable trip, why must you stop? If you still believe in the magic, and not just the money (every business needs to make money) you could still have enjoyable trips. I don't see how EE not being much more thrilling that Big Thunder will stop you from going back.

 

[magicstar01]

is disney didnt make a buck from us, they wouldnt be able to make new rides and keep the parks open, yes its a buisness but their is a mgical side to it to! it just depends of your an optimist or a pesimist, you have to look past some of the flaws to see the trees lol:king:

 

[RonAnnArbor]

See -- I don't know -- I think every poster is entitled to their opinions - but I am in my mid-40's and have been going to WDW since the week after it opened in Orlando. I love the current variety - but it is true, not everyone can go on every ride -- but that was true even in Disney's day -- you can count plenty of parents who didn't go on the Donkey rides through the "Grand Canyon" and wouldn't be caught dead spinning around on the space rockets. It is true that rides these days are different, and there, Disney is keeping up with all of the other parks in America that need to cater to teen risk-taking tastes -- but many of these rides are wonderful. Space Mountain in Disneyland Paris is among the finest roller coasters in the world --Tower of Terror is not only a fun dark-ride, it adds the bunjy cord drops at the end which people of all ages love the feeling of -- and Soarin' is one of the finest rides/movies ever designed for all ages. Test track was not designed for toddlers, but most children 7 and up can ride it with their parents with no problem. Mission:Space is aimed at the teen market. But these are all ADDITIONS to Epcot -- the changes that have been made tend to preserve most of the older attractions (except for those which become woefully dated, as did many in the original Disneyland and eventually Magic Kingdom park) -- they don't distract from what is there -- they add to the experience. In fact, Epcot now has so many attractions you can no longer do all of them in one day (and that is by design -- where do you think those park hopper tickets and multiple-day passes come from?). I'm glad you had a good time, and I can understand that you liked the old ways better -- those are, for better or worse gone.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

1. Walt Disney brought pleasure to millions during his lifetime through his cartoons, his films and by creating Disneyland.
2. Since his early death he has continued to bring pleasure as his ideas have been expanded and developed, properly honouring his memory and ensuring his vision is kept alive.
3. Sadly he was a hypocrite, insisting male CMs be clean shaven when he himself sported a fine moustache. He had other faults but overall he was a force for good in the world. True, but who among us aren't hypocrites when it comes down to it? Isn't this post hypocritical? We just need to realize it and find our balance, as Walt I believe did.
4. Contrary to the myth he was no dreamer. Ahh, but I disagree....producing a feature "cartoon", making another "amusement park", building castles and mountains when you're broke, buying swampland in desolate central Florida...I say that is dream, and vision, and going against "smart" business sense.he understood how to turn a dollar and that he needed to work to make it happen; work smart or work hard. He did both. The current 'philosophy' peddled in WDW is that 'dreaming' and 'wishing' are all one needs to have a happy life. Not so. We shouldn't be teaching our children that 'wishing' is good enough. Work smart and/or work hard. I don't know that I take it as wishing and dreaming is all you need, and it was the Beatles that said Love is all you need. I do believe that hard work and toiling and paying dues are important, but having a dream is what makes it all worthwhile. Financially it is stupid to buy a lottery ticket...is it wrong to drop a few quid or bucks on that wish?....I don't think so. This and the desire to succeed (which Walt and Roy had in abundance), is vital.
5. My family have spent an aggregate of 30 weeks visiting WDW since the early 1990's. We have seen the gentle rides of 'Horizons' and 'World in Motion' give way to 'Mission Space' where sick bags are available as part of the possible 'experience' ( a different sort of the 'World in Motion' I guess) and where 'Test Track' shakes the guests around so much it isn't advisable to take small children on to it. Something irreplaceable has been lost with the passing of gentler entertainment which parents and younger children could enjoy together. There are other examples but as a visitor to this site you know what they are so I won't give further examples.
6. Recent additions are over rated.Everest is fine but putting the hype aside, is it really any better than (for example), BTMR? More impressive to look at certainly. I visited both (twice) on the same day this past week; thrill wise I don't think Everest beats the older runaway train.
6. In terms of chronological age we are a mature family now (our four children are adults in the legal, not the Disney, definition of the word), and have just returned from another enjoyable trip. I guess we could keep returning but best to go out while the experience and memories are still good.
So, enough; time to move on.

Interesting point, I've responded to a few in the quote. Generally, you have managed to push about every button that usually causes interesting reactions here...hopefully you expect that.

Your fifth and two sixth points strike me as pretty hypocritical as well...
While I've enjoyed WDW from the time it was two hotels and the MK, I absolutely loved the original EPCOT. They're gone and I look for the enjoyment of future iterations. I also know that people spoke of the original EPCOT the same way as they did AK before Everest...as boring, not for the family, a waste. Attendance wasn't great. Like MS, TT and Soarin' or not, that along with Christmas activities, Food and Wine and Flower and Garden have brought people to Epcot...so what is business success?

I miss times when kids could just wander out, play for the day and be home around dark without fear. People trusted politicians, companies provided job security, and on and on. Well, I'm not going to wait for those days to return, nor do I expect them too. I'm moving on and making the best of the present and future....and Disney is too!

 

[pintraderpayee]

All you have to do is ask

Disney does say wish and dream, but ask any cast member, especially the college students who live and work on-site for 1 semester, and they will tell you really quickly that it is a very hard job. They are willing to live up to the strict standards set by Disney because on a resume nothing impresses more than the fact that you have gone through their program successfully. My husband and I (both hight school teachers) have taken 20-30 high school students to Disney World for the past five years (trip #6 coming up during Easter Break despite Katrina and Rita). We have always pointed out the incredible amount of work and attention to detail that Disney puts forth. This has made the magic even more magical for them. To date, two former students have become CMs with more on the way, including our own 12 year old (Disney veteran since age 7) who intends to work with the reptiles at Animal Kingdom during and after college. But, hey, if you are tired of going, stop.Sheila aka pintraderpayee6 weeks 6 days until the yellow limo rolls out (school bus) for the 930 mile trip from north Louisiana to Orlando (27 teens this time!)