I remember the one year where it hit me that all the attractions I have been searching for were gone.
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Was Disney lying about perfection and standards?
- Thread starter THEMEPARKPIONEER
- Start date
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
I still say theres an issue when a person holding a job does not care about how they handle that job, how they perform and having a lack of self pride in what they do. I agree Disney should come through with better pay and how they treat all. But they have the option of not working for the Mouse if conditions are bad. As long as they hold onto that job they should have a standard of how they as an individual performs. I'm not shirking Disneys part in this, but if you dont have self pride in what you do and how you do it, you need to move on.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
My one story is anecdotal, but I feel it bears mentioning.
My first trip to WDW as an adult was in, I think, 2000. (I had gone as a kid previously)
I was young, had just had my first child, had recently bought a house, and money was pretty tight. My (now-ex) wife was insistent that we should go to WDW, so we made it work. Lots of saving, lots of cost cutting, Pop Century, breakfast in the room, no TS restaurants, etc.
I arrived at WDW really worrying about money, and how much it was costing, and believing that it was pretty much a waste of money. My thoughts changed after about 2 days. The level of attention to detail was outstanding. The landscaping was perfect, the parks were so clean, the CMs were wonderful. My whole impression was that it was expensive, but it was worth the expense because of the level of effort that was put into the whole WDW experience.
Now, I can well afford a trip to WDW, it's really not a problem. However when I do go, the whole thing just seems like a shabby money grab. The only thing that keeps me coming back is nostalgia for how it used to be, and the times I spent there with my kids when they were small.
My first trip to WDW as an adult was in, I think, 2000. (I had gone as a kid previously)
I was young, had just had my first child, had recently bought a house, and money was pretty tight. My (now-ex) wife was insistent that we should go to WDW, so we made it work. Lots of saving, lots of cost cutting, Pop Century, breakfast in the room, no TS restaurants, etc.
I arrived at WDW really worrying about money, and how much it was costing, and believing that it was pretty much a waste of money. My thoughts changed after about 2 days. The level of attention to detail was outstanding. The landscaping was perfect, the parks were so clean, the CMs were wonderful. My whole impression was that it was expensive, but it was worth the expense because of the level of effort that was put into the whole WDW experience.
Now, I can well afford a trip to WDW, it's really not a problem. However when I do go, the whole thing just seems like a shabby money grab. The only thing that keeps me coming back is nostalgia for how it used to be, and the times I spent there with my kids when they were small.
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
I've been going since around 1976 and have to say from about 1980 onwards I noticed things. I remember early 80's some animatronics on IASW not working and the ride continuing, along with some light bulbs here and there not working in the MK. In the 80's I remember a trip on HM where an AA was static for the day. l also I remember problems with the original Journey ride at Epcot a few times with effects not working and the attraction remaining open. Perhaps those were one offs but they definitely happened so I suppose it's a myth that everything was perfect back then.
I'm sure standards and maintenance have dropped, however just like back then I wouldn't let a none working AA or spent light bulb ruin my trip. Every year I go fearing that the parks are going to look like war zones after reading how terrible they are on here and every year they're nowhere near as bad as some describe. I suppose it depends on what you're looking for and how intently you look? However taking 3 Disney 'virgins' on our last trip in late 2019, they were blown away by the cleanliness and the fun and enjoyment they got from the place.
I'm sure standards and maintenance have dropped, however just like back then I wouldn't let a none working AA or spent light bulb ruin my trip. Every year I go fearing that the parks are going to look like war zones after reading how terrible they are on here and every year they're nowhere near as bad as some describe. I suppose it depends on what you're looking for and how intently you look? However taking 3 Disney 'virgins' on our last trip in late 2019, they were blown away by the cleanliness and the fun and enjoyment they got from the place.
SteveAZee
Premium Member
My first trip to WDW was 1973 (young teen) and was amazed by the place, especially comparing it to our local amusement park, which was my only point of reference. I found "The Disney Version" at the local library back home and read about Walt and Disneyland and the pursuit of keeping things clean and in good repair. I guess that 'set the bar' for me... not sure I've ever heard Disney actually promise perfection, but certainly there's always been a commitment to a certain standard, which (I think) has ebbed and flowed over the years.
tl77
Well-Known Member
In the 70's and 80's it was pretty flawless, but it also wasn't as popular, and it wasn't as crowded, so the focus then was "making a great impression" on the relatively few Disney fans who would travel to central Florida to see WDW. In the 70's and 80's people thought it was strange that my family would go back year after year to WDW, that wasn't something most people did for a summer vacation in those days.
For the first 20 years there were a lot less attractions and less stuff for them to maintain compared to today... In 1989 MGM, Typhoon Lagoon, and Pleasure Island opened along with a lot of other resorts, and The Little Mermaid came out at the end of the year. Roger Rabbit was the year before in 1988, and as those hit films in the early 90's rolled out (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King) there was a noticeable difference in the size of the crowds, also Universal Orlando opened around 1990 which began drawing more and more people to central Florida.
To me it seems like ever since 1989 the priorities of the Parks have slowly shifted from the "perfectionism" of the early years to basically "crowd control". They spend money now on later hours all year, and things like plus Fast Pass systems (and until recently the Magical Express) which they didn't need before 1989, they would close at dusk during the winter months in the early years, and they didn't have fireworks every night of the year like they do now... I remember when all you needed to "park hop" between Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center was a hand stamp, but WDW wasn't the huge draw it is now either, and there's way more boats, buses, and monorails to maintain today as well
There's certainly a much bigger demand from the public now to see all the Parks in central Florida that just wasn't there early on, but the biggest difference I've noticed is the loss of corporate sponsors to the individual rides. The sponsors at WDW must have paid for the ride maintenance, and there hasn't been any real update to things like The Carousel of Progress since GE stopped sponsoring it, and Space Mountain seemed cleaner and better maintained during the years that RCA and FedEx were sponsors... to me that's the most noticeable area of decline from "quality control" to "crowd control"
For the first 20 years there were a lot less attractions and less stuff for them to maintain compared to today... In 1989 MGM, Typhoon Lagoon, and Pleasure Island opened along with a lot of other resorts, and The Little Mermaid came out at the end of the year. Roger Rabbit was the year before in 1988, and as those hit films in the early 90's rolled out (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King) there was a noticeable difference in the size of the crowds, also Universal Orlando opened around 1990 which began drawing more and more people to central Florida.
To me it seems like ever since 1989 the priorities of the Parks have slowly shifted from the "perfectionism" of the early years to basically "crowd control". They spend money now on later hours all year, and things like plus Fast Pass systems (and until recently the Magical Express) which they didn't need before 1989, they would close at dusk during the winter months in the early years, and they didn't have fireworks every night of the year like they do now... I remember when all you needed to "park hop" between Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center was a hand stamp, but WDW wasn't the huge draw it is now either, and there's way more boats, buses, and monorails to maintain today as well
There's certainly a much bigger demand from the public now to see all the Parks in central Florida that just wasn't there early on, but the biggest difference I've noticed is the loss of corporate sponsors to the individual rides. The sponsors at WDW must have paid for the ride maintenance, and there hasn't been any real update to things like The Carousel of Progress since GE stopped sponsoring it, and Space Mountain seemed cleaner and better maintained during the years that RCA and FedEx were sponsors... to me that's the most noticeable area of decline from "quality control" to "crowd control"
Major Havoc
New Member
There is a big piece of the equation being left out here. The guests today. As someone who is old enough to remember Disney as a kid in the late 60s and beyond, it was MUCH cleaner than today. But so we’re the guests. Then, people dressed nicely, threw trash in containers and cleaned up after themselves. My last few visits to a park, I watched people toss garbage into the bushes, drop it on the ground, leave food, cups and waste on tables and benches, try and take drinks on rides, drop paper wrappers as they walked, etc, etc. There was little of that “back in the days.”
People just seem less concerned with anything but themselves, and walking 10 feet to a trash can as an inconvenience to them. So you get more crap on the grounds, and annoyances to those who care. And IMO, it is only getting worse each year.
Major Havoc
New Member
I’m not so sure I agree. I was a regular at the California park in the 70s and 80s, and I recall a lot of days were the crowds were as crazy or worse than today. Although they did have a guest limit in those days and people got turned away if the park got too crowded, I wonder if they still do that?
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
They have to. There's caps on how many are allowed in a park for evacuation purposes.
Major Havoc
New Member
That of course makes a lot of sense.
Model3 McQueen
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
My local Frys is a great example of this. I've seen inconsiderate, lazy people leave carts in the middle of the parking lot quite literally next to a cart stall. Otherwise they mostly leave them in an empty space, which is also a ick move. I always park as uphill as possible so as to avoid the "cart demon" from striking.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
As others have posted it is not just the parks that have changed people have changed and not for the better. Society in general has become less civil, far more self-centered it's all about me I am entitled simply because my parents have told me all my life I am special even though you are no better than anyone else. I've seen a big change in people visiting WDW over the years
When social bonds break down, all the people have is themselves and their ideologies.
DisneyGentlemanV2.0
Well-Known Member
I think you are misremembering the 60s. In the 60s, it was very commonplace to dump trash everywhere. I can recall people tossing paper "disposable" out of car windows as they drove. Nobody really cared about cleaning-up in the "disposable society". There was a classic scene in Mad Men when Don and his wife had a picnic. After it ended, he lifted up the blanket and left all the trash behind. That's just how it was back then.
It was only with the rise of the environmental movement that everyone began picking up after themselves. In general we are much neater today than we were in the 60s.
It's simply a fact that not everyone is onboard, and that makes the parks look bad.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
There is just as much trash along our highways if not more than in the 60's. Our population has grown by millions and the percentage of slob has also increased which makes up for the environmentally aware people. As far as WDW they used to keep the parks clean, the shear volume of people now makes it difficult to do.
Major Havoc
New Member
I think not, as I was talking about inside Disneyland, not other places. But I disagree anyway. For the last 20+ years I had the pleasure of living in the neighborhood where I grew up, off Fwy 13 near Thornhill. The amount of trash on 13, and dumped on city streets has gone up considerably. I’m not suggesting that the problem did not exist back then, but not as bad or as much IMO. And I agree with other posts here: people have,in general, become self-centered all about me jerks. And it shows in many ways, trash being one of them.
Oh, and don’t get me started on our trash collectors who often have trash fly into the street when collecting. Don’t see them stopping to pick up their litter either.
Try visiting the Japan Disney theme parks. It is like day and night in terms of cleanliness comparing to WDW parks and it is crowded there to.
Major Havoc
New Member
I have been to Japan Disneyland and I agree, considerably better maintained and cleaner. I believe that can be chalked up to mostly a cultural difference. And I suspect better manageemnt too.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
In my opinion I think this was true at one time. As time went on I think TWDC became more and more focused on its share price. This became the highest priority and everything else became a lower priority.
Today TWDC will do anything to try to protect its share price. At this moment we must also include the pandemic as a factor, but to be very clear, the thousands of layoffs made in the name of the pandemic was made to lower costs to protect the share price.
Its also true that long before the pandemic, the aim for perfection was replaced by the aim to reduce costs to protect the share price. This is especially noticed in the theme parks; very expensive to run and keep running, never mind, to perfection.
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