Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1 Just returned from a fantastic trip to Walt Disney World. Took the new "Wild Africa Trek" in Disney's Animal Kingdom. A three hour experience that was unbelievable. <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/wild-africa-trek/" target="_blank">http://disneyworld.disney.go.c...ca-trek/</a> One of the greatest experiences I have had at Walt Disney World. Not sure I would enjoy it as much on a hot humid day, however when the weather is in the 70's and humidity is low it is a MUST DO! Worth every penny in my opinion!
Originally Posted By danyoung I've read about this, and seen evidence of it while on Kilimanjaro Safari, and it looks pretty cool!
Originally Posted By ChiMike I think it looks like an eyesore from the safari, absolutely takes one out of the original spirit of the attraction. Being in a remote, protected reserve. Not another on-stage area for expensive VIP tours. Maybe Disney can start offering VIP tours of ToT and allow bungee jumps from the top of ToT.
Originally Posted By danyoung Wow - talk about yer different perceptions of the same thing. To me the additions were so well themed that they just looked like other elements of the tour - not the same tour I was on, but still perfectly fitting within the theme of the attraction.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I have to admit that is quitea wide range...now I have to admit up front, I totally forgot about the VIP tours the last time we were there in June. On the other hand - had the best driver I've ever had and was so into the ride did not notice anything out of place. Now, again I was not looking but it must not be that 'in your face' or else one of the 9 of us would have noticed... Will pay more attention next time there ( or hell, maybe take the tour)
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Althought I have no problem per say with "special" offerings. I do take offense to a growing Disney trend specifically at the WDW Resort to having private offerings at extrodinary prices geared specifically for above the norm income crowd. One of the great appeals of WDW is that everyone pays the same amount of money for park passes. Everyone is waiting in the que line ( except Princess Di and les enfant ). How about if the offers were available to everyone instead of a select few? Why is Disney picking the winners and losers here. How about if offerings were geared toward a general crowd. When DAK opened you could either take KS or if you wanted to you could walk around designated trails to get closer to specific animals. Otherwise you could always stay or visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a more intimate encounter with the animals. Leave it to Disney to artifically create a "new encounter" at a price infront of everyone. Another Disney WDW public "see me, here I am" infront of the crowds encounter. I just wish perhaps Disney would exhaust half the time and energy into creating new rides/ attractions that everyone can experience and enjoy instead of hot air ballons and safari experiences they show a trend of doing designed for and available to a small percentage of their quests.
Originally Posted By danyoung I understand what you're saying, Tom. But again, I don't see the problem with having a premium feature at a premium price. It's not as if we're being kept out of an area of Kilimanjaro that was previously open. You get to do something cool, if you can afford it. American capitalism at work!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I don't care about the price. I do care about the eyesores it added to the Safaris.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The price doesn't really bother me either. I certainly can't afford it (well, I could save up for it, but it just seems like too high a cost for something so short-lived), but I can see why some people may be willing to pay for it. To me, it's no different than the guided tours that all the parks have had since their inception. If you want to pay more, you can have a guide take you around and show you the park in a different way, including getting preferential treatment for certain things. While they're kind of trying to bill this more as an attraction, it seems no different than the folks getting escorted around DL by a tourguide in plaid. What does bother me is that it detracts from the average guest's experience. Although I haven't been in person since it opened, I've seen pictures that make it pretty clear that there's been stuff added (and a lot of stuff in some places). If they can add a new extra-cost experience without impacting my visit, more power to them. But this seems to add something for a select few, while impacting the vast majority. That said, it does seem like a pretty neat experience that I would like to try some day. Just not at that price.
Originally Posted By CDF2 "I just wish perhaps Disney would exhaust half the time and energy into creating new rides/ attractions that everyone can experience and enjoy instead of hot air ballons and safari experiences they show a trend of doing designed for and available to a small percentage of their quests." Add to the wish above that Disney spend the money and exert the effort to maintain their existing attractions as they were designed, such as the Yeti on the Expedition Everest. What's the point of spending huge amounts of money and effort in creating truly spectacular attractions only to let them fall into disrepair while spending money that could fix those attractions for the masses to building special programs for the rich and entitled? Sure, there will always be some differences in the Disney experience based upon how much one is willing to spend but shouldn't those top end activities be taken care of after the money and effort is spent to keep the attractions for the masses at the highest level of maintenance and performance that built the Disney amusement park franchise to the high level of respect it earned over the years?
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I haven't seen it in person, so I haven't seen how it impacts on the view, but it does sound like something I'd be interested in looking into. Sounds pretty cool and definitely a different sort of theme park experience.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I never understood Disney theme park tours. I think people take because it costs extra money and golly if something costs extra money it must be better than experiencing Disneyland the stupid way and exploring the place yourself. If Walt Disney was into offering guided tours I'd probably disagree with him.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn They have on-foot guided tours for the "rich and entitled" in Africa too - on the same land as the Jeep riders. It makes the Safari even more real.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo True, my experience on real safari was actually quite crowded. I do agree maintenance is very important and disney has lost their way when it comes to this. But, there is also room for this kind of thing, and it generates more income. Sadly that is what Disney is about these days. The idea of vision and entertainment died at the turn of the millenium.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 OH I think the focus was always on income... they have spent money since the period you speak of, maybe not wisely in hindsight, but spent on Mission:Space /Everest etc. Even in the early days Roy was focused on $$, later days Wells was focused on $. It is easy to think of Disney as something other than a corporation, but when it comes to shareholders , meeting stockholder expectations ( especially since so much Disney stock is held by groups like teacher pensions etc. )- they are no different than anyone else. Their product is nearer and dearer to our hearts, but their spreadsheet has the same columns and colors. -- and truth be told- how many entitites notmeeting our expectations these days with deliverables - cost ? Everything from the grocery stores- to outragous entertainment costs for sporting events, to high food proces etc. It's a tough world out there right now..and it isn't getting any better real soon.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Maybe I would find it easier to chew if they were still true to their founding principles. It doesn't feel like it to me.
Originally Posted By danyoung >What's the point of spending huge amounts of money and effort in creating truly spectacular attractions only to let them fall into disrepair while spending money that could fix those attractions for the masses to building special programs for the rich and entitled?< You make it sound like Disney executives are sitting around saying "Hey, let's build a new roller coaster featuring the biggest, most complex AA we've ever created, and if it stops working after a year, who cares, cuz we can always spend more money on a private safari and keep on making money". And that's just silly.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 "Maybe I would find it easier to chew if they were still true to their founding principles. It doesn't feel like it to me. " only my opinion, but I believe hindsight has romanticized - at least to some extent those founding principles. Is there a downtick in maintenance - yes somewhat..evident, but I still wonder how much that has to do with a general downgrade in maintenance and standards everywhere - and some people not caring as much about it as you and I. doesn't make it right, just might be a lot more to explanation than a total reversal from company values. Also there are peoplelike myself that do not see as big a drop in product as you do. Doesn't make one of us right and the other right, it's perspective. I do not have the body of other product you do to compare it against. When I compare it with what I know here, I am still very happy. If I have 25 more choices like you have, maybe my opinion would change.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I agree that there has been a down turn in things like maitenance and customer service in the US in general. However that doesn't excuse Disney's decision to be a part of it. Disney set the standard and they should continue to do so. They choose not to because it costs more money.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Disney deserves this criticism because they set these standards and have abandoned them BUT still have the attitude that they are the Best of the Industry. It is this fake attitude that creates my frustration with Disney.
