Originally Posted By BrianStarr Hello everyone on the east coast! I am on the west coast where Disneyland is, but I was born and rasied in Florida. I visited WDW like almost every weekend (literally). I took a trip back a year ago and loved reliving my memories from years ago. My question is, why do so many people in the WDW section on these boards put WDW down so much? Most of the time the threads are based on a negative look of the parks and so on. I didn't think the place looked THAT bad when I was there recently. The DL boards seem to have more positive comments. Could someone clear up why WDW is so "bad"?
Originally Posted By danyoung >I didn't think the place looked THAT bad when I was there recently.< It's not. I was just there a month ago, and had a great time - even in the Magic Kingdom! I can understand some folks who recall the glory days of the 70's and 80's and wish Disney parks worked the same way. But I truly believe that a lot of these same folks see the past through rose colored glasses, and remember the past a little too fondly.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I have to agree with you there. There was many a time in the early 90's when the place literally stunk.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I think it has to do more with homogenization of the parks. I think it has caused the attention to detail slip and a lot of the little things that make the place special seem to disappear. I count myself among those who remember Disney fondly from them 70's and 80's. I could do a term paper on the little changes over the years that has striped WDW of its specialness. Here in Orlando both Universal and Sea World do theme parks as well as Disney and sometimes even better. Disney used to be the standard barer but no longer hold that place. Having said that...I was at the MK this week and thought the park looked great and was fairly clean. The attractions we rode were well maintained with most of them fully working. Actually my biggest complaint had more to do with the guests and cast members than the park itslef. The park wasn't too busy but the number of people in rented electric wheelchairs and dads pushing oversized strollers was really amazing. It made the streets hard to navigate at times. When we boarded the monorail at the end of the day, a father tried to roll a double wide stroller onto the monorail car that had a wheelchair and about a dozen people in the door. There was no way that thing was going to fit but he was determined. He held the monorail up until he decided that it wasnt going to work and pulled his family off. Even though there were 2 CM's on the platform, neither gave any guidance to the guest. Which leads me to the Cast Members. While overall friendly, we asked several CM's about the fireworks and Castle lighting and out of the 6 people we asked no one could give us a correct answer and only one had a Telecast to consult, but even then couldnt give us the information we needed. We saw CM's standing around talking to each other rather than greeting guests, saw one texting on his cellphone and one who boarded guests into an attraction without saying a word. At EPCOT there were 2 CM's parking a busy lot but only one tram running, even though we were towards the back of the lot. Really poor guest service when your charging so much to park your car. I believe that training has suffered over the years and while you still meet friendly and helpful CM's, there seems to be many more who dont embrace or care about the Disney show. Today when a CM is overly friendly and helpful they tend to stand out while years ago it was the norm. Just some observations from my afternoon at the parks.
Originally Posted By leobloom It doesn't help that the majority of new attractions that have opened in the past 10 years have been disappointing. Add to that the fact that WDW adds new attractions very sparingly, and you have a recipe for stagnant parks with 'classic,' time-tested attractions and newer, forgettable dreck. But WDW has the courage to continue building hotels and DVC resorts. So very exciting. I enjoy going once or twice a year to WDW for a day at a time, but Disney hasn't given me a reason to be a more frequent guest.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 DL only has to be a fun place to go for a few hours if you are local, or a few days if you are an out of town guest. It is a rare few who stay longer without visiting other So Cal attractions to fill that time. WDW has to be a vacation spot where you are transported away from reality for 5 -14 days. The hotels, transportation, theme parks, water parks, shopping, and dining all need to be part of this happy alternate reality. Otherwise, TDO is failing to a degree. The pressure on the Anaheim resort can't touch this. Many, many guests in California stay off site, eat off site, shop off site, etc, and can blame the effects of 'reality' on the outside world. Even if TDO didn't suck lately, my money would be on Anaheim.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think it has become a sign of "sophistication" to dump on WDW. I don't understand it myself. I far prefer the WDW of today to the WDW of 1991... my first visit. The addition of Animal Kingdom was a huge plus for WDW. The Studios needs help but is still more of a "full day" park than it was in 91. The Magic Kingdom hasn't had many major new attractions since 91 but then neither has Disneyland Park... just Indy and the rehabbed subs. Personally I wouldn't trade the TTA and Carousel of Progress for either one of them. People talk about Epcot going downhill but I just don't see it. Horizons was my favorite attraction in 91 and I hated to see it go. But Test Track is more popular than World of Motion ever was and today's Imagination isn't that much better or worse than the original. The original's opening scene with Dreamfinder and Figment was great, but the attraction went rapidly downhill from there. I hated to see Wonders of Life close, but the only thing I REALLY miss is Cranium Command. Body Wars was cool in its day but flight simulators have become rather ho-hum. Even if you feel the MK, Studios and Epcot have just tread water; the addition of the AK is still a huge plus for me. Disneyland is at most a 4-5 day destination. I still find 9-10 day visits to WDW very enjoyable.
Originally Posted By The Duck <<<I think it has become a sign of "sophistication" to dump on WDW. I don't understand it myself.>>> You can't imagine how much I agree with this post! To read the griping on this board one can't help but wonder why this is called "LaughingPlace.com". Far too many are complaining about the most trivial, nit-picking details that only they would notice. Posts like, "I was walking down Main St. and I counted 3 burned out light bulbs! Walt would hang his head in shame!". Oh please! Sure, there's going to be some problems here and there in a major tourist destination but please try to get past the negativity. Millions of people are still visiting WDW and still having a good time in spite of an occasional glitch. I'm visiting this January and I fully intend to enjoy myself even if I see a burned light bulb or a scrap of paper on the ground.
Originally Posted By irishfan I spent 11 days at the World in September and had an absolute blast. I didn't post anything here about it because it doesn't seem to be the done thing anymore. Sad isn't it!
Originally Posted By Mr X I had a great time visiting a few years ago. I wrote that I thought the place looked nice, was fun, and the CM's I met were very friendly and talkative. My comments were ripped to shreds.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt Amen BrianStar! Too bad you asked this question while the really unpleasant posters are away!
Originally Posted By danyoung >We saw CM's standing around talking to each other rather than greeting guests, saw one texting on his cellphone and one who boarded guests into an attraction without saying a word.< And I'm betting that this same level of cast member activity was present ever since the park opened. But we were all so amazed and happy to be there that we didn't notice. It's only after we've all become familiar with the World that we have the brainpower left over to notice things like cast member neglect, light bulbs out, a bit of paint scraped off, etc. It all seems like such a big deal, when in fact it's no different than it's ever been.
Originally Posted By GOB I love WDW. Disneyland has better maintenance and continually offers new and exciting things for their Guests, but I just don't get the same excitement. At WDW, I'm in Disney's own self-contained Pixie Dust utopia. They shove synergy, homogenization, and "magic" down my throat, but I still love it. The place isn't what it used to be. Lightbulbs aren't changed before they go out. Cutting things that make the place special continue. The parks are being run by people trying to use theme park management as a springboard for their own careers. But where else can you enjoy a leisurely walk around World Showcase at dusk? Where else can you experience Tower of Terror as it was meant to be (arguably the best theme park attraction created)? Where else can you ride Expedition Everest or Kilimanjaro Safaris? WDW is unique and still fun. I have recently been complaining a lot about WDW, and I will continue to do so until the problems are fixed. But in short, WDW remains my favorite place in the world.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey This is a GREAT, refreshing thread! I'm sure certain missing posters will soon be alerted and swoop in to tell you why you're wrong (because they are authorities on EVERYTHING and your opinion is wrong if it doesn't match theirs) and that you're a Pollyanna wearing rose-colored glasses. But remember, they criticize WDW because they LOVE it.
Originally Posted By danyoung > I'm sure certain missing posters will soon be alerted and swoop in to tell you why you're wrong (because they are authorities on EVERYTHING and your opinion is wrong if it doesn't match theirs) and that you're a Pollyanna wearing rose-colored glasses.< I love the Spirit too!
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 My family and I love DW, and it does make me sad when there are negitive commets about the parks. Maybe some people just like to be critical.
Originally Posted By ophellia well I am finding these posts heartening...I have never been to WDW and as a DL AP for 10 years I must sat that so much negativity about WDW has made me push back my 1rst WDW visit wondering if it's worth my $$$...I did DTD last week at WDW and I want to go to The Parks when the Christmas decorations are up in December...these posts are cheering me up...though I'm not at all sure I will an AP for WDW due to the Horrid heat here...I am 65 miles away and I would go often if we like it all, but only in coller weather...thanks for the insight everyone, great thread...
Originally Posted By MousDad How rude, nobody has answered the OP's question: - Efficiency trumps show. - Synergy trumps creativity. - Discounting trumps value. - Peripherals trump core products. - Customer manipulation trumps customer satisfaction. - Disney dividends trump the Disney difference. - Characters trump cohesiveness. - Brand trumps 'Bringing It.' - Marketing trumps...well, everything. Disneyland has all of the above in better balance. WDW doesn't because it can get away with it. And that's what's wrong.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Oops, MousDad! Wrong thread! This was the Pollyanna thread.... GOB, you managed to sum up my feelings pretty well. Excellent way to break it down as to how you can be a complainer, and still love WDW at the same time.
