Originally Posted By bayrr326 Well, after all these years I finally got to experience WDW during the holiday season. I actually experienced DL during the holidays a few years ago. I hate to say it but MK can't even hold a candle to DL when it comes to Christmas. The biggest thing that bugs me is that you have to go to a party to really experience Christmas at MK. I was there Thursday night and it was sold out. I will say this they really need to reduce the cap on attendence because 22,000 is just too many people. I have been twice to the Halloween party(once on a sold out night) and it never felt as crowded as it did the other night. Here are some of the negatives and positives of the event. Positives 1. Disney actually did a very good job of clearing the park. I do think they should go back to closing the park at 6pm but still have Wishes at 6. Most guests did leave after Wishes but many ran to get in one more ride. However the cast members were everywhere at 7pm(shop and ride entrances, doing a sweep of the park) making sure everyone had wristbands and I didn't see anyone without one that night. 2. Just like the Halloween party the cast members really get into the spirit of the party. I know some of them have been working all day but they seem to really kick the magic up a notch during the parties. 3. Even though the night was sold out I never had to wait in line for the cookies, hot chocolate, etc. They had multiple lines at all the locations we went to and you could take as much as you wanted to questions asked. And those cookies were really good. 4. Finally seeing the Christmas parade and Holiday Wishes was great. Negatives 1. I think Disney has really pushed it too far with the attendance cap on the party. 22000 is just too many people. There are really starting to push it to the point where it is just not enjoyable. Where you are spending a good hour of your time just to get a good spot for the fireworks and the parade. Even the 2nd showing of the parade all the good spots were taken a half hour before the parade started. 2. With all this money they are making off these parties do you think they could invest in some better parade lighting. The lighting for the parade is horrible. While it may work for the Halloween parade because it is supposed to be spooky. Dim lighting for a Christmas parade is unacceptable esp. when you see the amazing parade route lighting DL has. I can't believe it would be that expensive or time consuming to put in some extra lighting esp. in Liberty Square and Frontierland esp. since they now have 3 parties a year. 3. I am sorry but Holiday Wishes was just not that great and can't even hold a candle to Hallowishes. There was just way too many of the same fireworks that are in Wishes whereas Hallowishes has alot more original fireworks. That and they didn't seem to use as many perimeter fireworks and to me the finale was just sorta blah. I will say that "The Spirit of Holiday Childhood Fantasies" was the best part of the show. That had the most unique fireworks of any part esp. the shooting of the rockets over the castle to make it look like a Christmas tree. I just really don't feel that MVMCP was worth the money. It probably is on a night that is not that crowded and I wish I could have gone on one but I had to go when my friends could go. I just think it is ridiculous that they ran the parties all the way up till the 22nd this year. It is just plain greed. I realize the last 6 parties sold out but I wonder how much of that was tourists coming here and finding out the only way they can experience Christmas at Mk is if they pay extra for it. I am sorry but MK can't hold a candle to DL when it comes to Christmas. HMH, IASWC, Believe in Holiday Magic w/White Christmas finale and the Christmas parade. I just find it funny that the park that gets the most play every year on that 2 hour infomercial Christmas day is the least Christmassy of all. However, Epcot is where the holidays truly shine at WDW. From the holiday storytellers, to the awesome Christmas tree, the amazing decorations and displays, the Lights of Winter, the Candlelight Processional which I was really impressed by even though I am not religious and the Illuminations holiday tag. What can I say about the Peace on Earth finale that hasn't already been said. It is one of the most jaw dropping fireworks finales of any show I have ever seen. All I can say is if you can look away during those last 30 seconds look to you left or right and see the look on peoples faces. That is true Disney magic. I was also really blown away by the Osbourne Lights. This was my first time seeing them. I don't know if I would have kept going back again and again if it wasn't for the dancing lights part. The cool thing is they did a good job with the TSO songs but that was nothing compared with the job they did with Feliz Navidad. I hope next year the add some more songs and I can't wait to see what they will do with those. I thought the decorations were great at DAK and the Jingle Jungle Parade was a nice overlay of the standard parade. Overall, I like WDW during the holidays. I was there 7 nights in the last month. However, they really need to do something about MK. I hope they consider adding HMH, IASWC or bringing back Country Bear Christmas and just maybe they will cut the parties back to the middle of Dec. like they used to but I doubt it. I think the MK mgrs. really need to go to DL during the holidays and see how the holidays can be done right. If it wasn't for Epcot the holidays would be very disappointing at WDW.That's just my opinion.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I agree with pretty much all that you said, bayrr326, duckling. For the past two years we've experienced Christmas at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. ORWEN: We've also been to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party a couple of times and will never go back because--if you're willing to wait--you can see all the same entertainment for free as a regular day guest would. ORDDU: Of course they certainly don't offer that same entertainment for as many days as they used to. It used to be you could see the Christmas parade and Christmas stage shows as much as a week before Christmas. This year those entertainment offerings weren't available to Day guests until Dec. 23rd. ORGOCH: Gotta' make sure that almighty dollar stretches out more than ever by makin' folks spend more fer that dang Christmas party. ORDDU: What these special events end up doing is allowing for Disney to charge twice as many admissions for each day that have private parties. ORWEN: But they end up cheating both sets of guests because the regular day guests don't really get a full day at the park, while the party goers feel too crowded when management agrees to over-sell on the tickets. ORDDU: We're really not looking forward to the Pirates and Princesses parties which will end up cheating everyone involved all the more.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I feel so vindicated, but you all know what my views are in this case, and most even know what my persona is all about so you can go on with your lives..
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I just really don't feel that MVMCP was worth the money.<< I wonder how many of those of you who feel that way actually took the time to tell WDW's Guest Relations or fill out one of their comments cards and share your sentiments. (Who am I kidding? some Disney spies planted here will let them know about your feelings and blacklist you, just like they have me)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I did indeed leave my comments at City Hall. bayrr326 - I totally agree with you. DL and DLP kick the MK's butt in the Christmas department. Thank god Epcot and the Osborne Lights make up for it. And people question wy I dis the MK so much???!!!!
Originally Posted By pbjshakelover Does anyone know where to send a letter of complaint to Guest Relations re: the MVMCP? I want to send a letter or is there an e-mail? Anybody? Thanks
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Guest complaint letters can be addressed to: Walt Disney World Co. c/o Guest Relations P.O. Box 10,000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000. Tell them also that TDLFAN had an issue with day guests who were able to stay late and enjoy some of the MVMCP activities *without* a wristband required of those who paid extra to attend the party. I was witnessed to one such guest who was denied entry into the Emporium at 10pm or so because he had no wristband. When I inqured why day-time guests were still in the park for a hard ticket event, the female CM just shrugged here shoulders and walked away. This is one more reason why they should clear the park before admitting party goers.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I absolutely would NOT ever go to Guest Relations with a complaint. This isn't 1986. GR is designed to get you in and out as quickly and quietly as possible without ever dealing with your problem. My advice would always be to contact the execs in charge via phone and/or email. The MK leaders are as follows: Phil Holmes, MK VP; Valerie Bunting, GM of Ops for MK; Liz Clark, GM MK Food and Beverage; Dan Cockerell, GM MK Merchandise; Mark Todd, Director of Engineering Services for MK area; I would post emails and phone numbers, but for some reason, I think that would disappear. But those are the folks responsible for your daily MK experience. And you should complain (or compliment) them.
Originally Posted By pbjshakelover Thank you both, I appreciate your help. TDLFAN, I will address the day guest situation and Spirit of 74, I will take your suggestion and contact the execs directly instead of GR as I was also told by others that GR does not usually respond. Thanks again! I'll let you know what happens!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I can tell youexactly what will happen.. You will soon receive a letter from Guests Relations telling you that..they "appreciate the time you took to write about your experiences at WDW"... They "take much pride in the resort's offerings and are concerned about your comments..jada jada". Then your "comments will be passed along to the appropriate managers for evaluation..jada jada", they they will thank you and wisk for to "see you at WDW real soon in the future". Same old scripted letter they send to all guests to write in. However.. if you really tell them off and threatent to take your money elsewhere and stay off property like at... Universal (yes, do write that down even if you don't mean it).. maybe, just maybe someone from guests relations may give you a call at home to find out further or even apologize for your inconveniences. DO keep us posted.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I do think Disney should be told in no uncertain terms what many of us feel about MVMCP. If Scott Powers or Beth Kassab of the O-Sentinel had more (what's the word I'm looking for?) you know what, they might have written a story about how Disney now only allows you to see the Christmas Parade for ONE WEEK unless you pay $45.99 for one of these 'special, private parties' ... oh, and did I mention the one week you can see the parade is when WDW's resorts are at their absolute highest rates of the year? I have heard that a major Central Florida affiliate was thinking of doing a piece on 'How Disney Stole Christmas' and may well do it next year (You listening Phil? Al? Meg? Good. Thought so!) They would never even ever attempt this in Anaheim or Tokyo or Paris because they know they can't get away with it. But in 'simple' backwater O-Town they can actually make people feel like Disney is making their dreams come true by extorting the extra $$$. They are devious.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Funny - on another board, I have been made to feel like an evil killjoy for expressing my opinions on the matter. It seems the rubes out there are lapping it up. How sad!
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl You have to be really persistant with your concerns. We had a few unfortunate things happen to us last January. After numerous emails, calls etc, someone from guest relations called my home. I was very unhappy about a situation and let her know in no uncertain terms that I would really think twice before I spent my hard earned money at their resorts. This resulted in 3 free nights and a cash reward. It was a long process (almost 3 months!) but I was determined to get some satisfaction.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder We mailed a letter to Disney telling them how we felt about the extortion for the Christmas party. That was over three weeks ago and we've heard nothing. However, we also took a behind the scenes tour of the steam trains and had a very good guide named Ed Medina. We wrote to compliment him and heard back very quickly. If Disney were any more transparent they wouldn't exist.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder And I don't want to create another thread for this, but we also told them we thought several attractions were lacking, compared to their Disneyland forefathers, Small World in particular. The MK Small World should be embarrassed that it even exists, especially when one compares the outside facade at DL with the "just another attraction" feel at MK. And oh yeah, let's make a lame attempt at duplicating the facade inside the queue. Since they had a blank canvas to work with in Florida, that one, among others, really puzzled us. Haven't heard about those comments, either.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Funny - on another board, I have been made to feel like an evil killjoy for expressing my opinions on the matter. It seems the rubes out there are lapping it up. How sad!>> Yep. But, and I'll likely get flamed for this OPINION, most Disney fans on sites like this don't like the real world to intrude on their magical place. And a whole lot more rubes make up the general guest population at WDW on any given day than at DL or DLP or TDL ... just a nature of the place and it's wide-reaching, global grasp. How many of them know that the Christmas Parade and shows used to begin on Thanksgiving weekend for EVERYONE for free? How many know they still do at DL? How many realize you can only see the parade 'for free' from 12/23 until 1/1? This is an incredibly guest unfriendly money grab.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You have to be really persistant with your concerns. We had a few unfortunate things happen to us last January. After numerous emails, calls etc, someone from guest relations called my home. I was very unhappy about a situation and let her know in no uncertain terms that I would really think twice before I spent my hard earned money at their resorts. This resulted in 3 free nights and a cash reward. It was a long process (almost 3 months!) but I was determined to get some satisfaction.>> I'm curious as to what your issues were ... also if you take them to an exec they will be dealt with almost immediately. Disney doesn't want guests to deal with the people who make the decisions, which is exactly why you should deal with them. Guest Relations once stood for something at WDW, but all it really exists for is to comp a few tickets, meals and plush to shut people up and send them on their way. They have no process to fix things that are really wrong. But you keep emailing and phoning the exec team -- and DO NOT accept a transfer to GR -- and you'll get somewhere. You just have to be persistent and annoying. Sad, but also true.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<And I don't want to create another thread for this, but we also told them we thought several attractions were lacking, compared to their Disneyland forefathers, Small World in particular. The MK Small World should be embarrassed that it even exists, especially when one compares the outside facade at DL with the "just another attraction" feel at MK. >> That's a waste of your time. And it's really beyond their purview. If you wanted to complain about how terribly maintained the Mansion in Orlando is when compared to its sister in Anaheim that would be one thing. Or if you wanted to point out that after spending millions to redo Small World in 2003, that it is being neglected, that would be fine too. But when you say 'DL's is better' you just come off like a whiney fanboy and they dismiss you quickly.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl okay Spirit. here were my major issues.. The reservation desk had my room reservation, but not my tickets (which were paid for in full!) The CM and her manager were both insisting that I pay for the new tickets (over $900 dollars) and they would look into the matter later!!) Luckily for me, I had brought all of my confirmations with me. Suprisingly enough I still had to ask for a higher authority to setttle this matter. It took me over 2 hours to check in...Next, we had TERRIBLE housekeeping problems. We were traveling with young ones...one of which had an "accident" on the first night. I stripped the bed myself, but did not receive new bedding for 3 days and never got a clean mattress pad! This was after I called housekeeping every day...I guess because I complained about the bedding, the housekeepers decided not to clean our room, only make beds. They hung up the same dirty towels!!! I marched down to the front desk with those and demanded new ones...I persisted and finally got someone in Guest realtions to call me. I was so angry that it took so long for someone to address the problems and I let them know about it (in a professional, calm manner) I let them know that this was unacceptable and that it would quite a while before I considered returning to one of their resorts!
Originally Posted By bayrr326 Fenway Girl that really sucks and is just unacceptable. It did not used to be this way. That is my beef with WDW. I would be very angry if I was staying at one of the resorts and was treated like that. It is this chipping away at things that bugs me. It used to be that the Christmas stuff started Thanksgiving weekend and you did not have to pay extra for it. Then they started having parties on a few nights. Then it became the only way you could exp. xmas at Mk was during the parties but they stopped mid-december and the attendance was capped at an acceptable level so you were getting your moneys worth. This year the pushed the parties all the way to the 22nd, increased the cap on attendance, got rid of the free photo(50% off an already overpriced 5x7 is not an acceptable substitute). I don't have a problem with Disney making money but WDW just keeps cutting to see how far they can get away with it before people start complaining.
