Originally posted by RU42
Merlin, first off let me make this clear, this is not meant to be an attack. My question is, do you like anything about DLR?
From what I can remember of your posts (in threads past) you are always on the attack in regards to DLR. Even your last post, comparing the parks, all your 'good points' for DLR contain comments/complaints. Look at it, not a single nice thing to say. Do you really despise the DLR that much?
I agree that WDW is superior in many ways. They have 1 huge advantage of DLR and that is sheer land size. Nothing DL can to can overcome that big advantage. And rightly so, WDW has taken advantage of building an excellent park there. DLR, for the broader appeal has to rely on Los Angeles/Orange Counties for the 'expanded' experience. (parks, golf, ocean, super-malls, shows, etc.)
And Disney Corp has been neglectful to DLR and blown it many times over with decisions. I am not disagreeing with some of the points you bring out. However, I still like DLR and go there as often as I can. There are many things I do like about it, I lament the bad, but can still see the good.
I was just wondering do you really dislike DLR as much as your posts seem to indicate or do you find anything good about DLR?
RU
Thanks for your question. And no, I didn't interpret it as an attack. It's a legitimate question, intelligently and respectfully written, and it deserves a response that is in kind.
For the record, no I do not dislike DLR, though I can understand how some of my posts may give that impression. I've become increasingly disappointed with DLR (and really, with most of the Disney Co in general) in recent years. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic that things will improve. Where I think I differ from many of the members of these boards is that I pretty much call it like it is. For example, when I say that I think things will improve, I sincerely believe that, but it's not a basis for stating things are "awesome" at present. Many board members will claim it's awesome, but when asked to support that opinion, they'll often respond with rhetoric. When pressed, they almost invariably will talk about how it is "getting better". To me, that evades the topic at hand. "It's getting better" does not support the claim that it's awesome right now. When that doesn't work, they usually then resort to comparing it to how other parks were in their infancy. They'll make claims such as, "Look at how many attractions MGM had when it first opened." Again, this says nothing for how the resort is now, but rather how the members believe it will be at some point down the road. That's admirable, but it's missing the point, which is "What do you think of DLR CURRENTLY?". And trust me, if you keep sending the message to Disney that it's fine as is, where's the incentive for Disney to improve it? They also make EXCUSES for DLR's lack of greatness. Even your own post does this. You reference how Disney has been "neglectful" of DLR and how WDW's tremendous size gives it so much of an advantage. These are certainly valid arguments, but listen to what you're saying. You're not SUPPORTING a statement that DLR is as great, you're giving REASONS why it's not. Many members do this exact same thing and I don't think they realize they're not supporting their case very well. As a last resort, they'll take the sentimental approach and say things like, "I love it because it's the original" or "Walt personally worked on it". In my opinion, if that's the best you can do, you're insulting Walt. A Rembrandt painting isn't great because we know Rembrandt painted it, or because it is historically significant. Great art should speak for itself and I consider most of WDW to be just that. Walt wanted Disneyland to be a great experience that would speak for itself and I think it still does to some degree, but I believe it has dramatically lost it's lustre. If the company was focusing on keeping Walt's dream alive by innovating Disneyland and keeping it fresh and exciting, then it would easily have the potential to be the greatest. But the fact alone that Walt once worked on it does not, by itself, MAKE it the greatest. Plus, there's very little of Walt's personal touch that even still exists at Disneyland. Aside from the original park, though, I just don't see much about DLR that is unique (Grand Californian Hotel being perhaps the one exception). Believe me when I tell you that I have sincerely TRIED to like Downtown Disney and to give it many chances. But aside from the World of Disney store, there is just absolutely nothing at DTD worth seeing in my opinion. This is disappointing because there is so much they could have done with that space.
As to the primary focus of my disappointment with DLR....Disney's California Adventure. For what it's worth, I was tremendously excited about this park before it opened. When I first heard the concept, I thought that was the coolest idea...a park about California. It is such a diverse state in so many ways (almost it's own country), that I thought Disney would have a ton of ideas to work with. But as planning progressed and we started getting more information about what the park was going to be, my enthusiasm began to fade. It seemed abundantly clear to me that this park was not going to be a true "tribute to the Golden State" as Disney was claiming, but rather an uncreative collection of carnival rides and rehashes of other Disney attractions, most of which having little, if anything, to do with California. It's not a horrible park, as myself and others have jokingly claimed. And I must admit that upon my first visit, I found it to be better than I had expected (in that it's a very pretty park). But when I read the comments of so-called Disney "fans" referring to it as "awesome", well I think that is just insane. It is by no means a great Disney park. And it's my personal opinion that anyone who claims it is really isn't a true Disney fan. If you like DCA and you enjoy going there, that's one thing. But when people start even trying to put it in the same league with other Disney parks, then it seems to me that those individuals just don't truly understand what a Disney park is really about. DCA is an "Eisner" park. It is a "Pressler" park, but it is NOT a Disney park. To me, this is reinforced by the fact that Soarin' is it's signature attraction. It absolutely amazes me that Disney fans rant and rave so much about this ride. It tells me that, as Disney fans, we've really lowered our standards.
Well there you have it. Sorry for the incredibly lengthy response, but it was difficult to answer this one in a succinct manner. To summarize, I suppose it may be accurate to say that my frustration or "dislike" is not directed so much at DLR itself, but rather to the so-called Disney "fans" who so enthusiastically defend it and accept it's mediocrity simply because it has the Disney name on it. In my opinion, TRUE Disney fans would instead be doing something that is akin to what Roy Disney is presently doing....standing up and saying, "This is unacceptable. Give us quality and give us value for our hard-earned money."
