Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I know Al Lutz is a polarizing figure in the Disney Community. Most people either love him or hate him, give him all the credit when positive change comes to Anaheim or refuse to give him one bit ... but I have to say that today in an update that was pretty light on 'new' news, he brought up fans he calls DoMs (or Defenders of Mediocrity) ... and boy did he nail this point. Let me quote the man: <<It's well known the Disney company keeps an close eye online, and more than a few times the immediate and unsparingly honest feedback for their latest offerings has resulted in refinements, reworkings and even the rare shutdown of a show or ride. But the gushing DoM fan postings supporting a product that is of a lower quality than what Disney should offer get monitored too - and more than a few times they have been used to try to convince the higher-ups that customers don't care or notice. The people who care about quality at Disney are very encouraged by the sea change in management at the company, from Iger on down. Unlike the latter of the two decades under Eisner, or the 10 years with Pressler there is a lot being done right nowadays. But there are still those DoM postings that get printed out by those more concerned about budgets or cutbacks that worry some of the folks spearheading the renaissance going on right now. Walt Disney World in particular suffers from the incredible amount of damage these DoMs can inflict - those little salvos praising the poorest quality shows or attractions can hold back those who want to improve the offerings out there. How can those who care be helped? All they ask is that if you see a DoM posting making excuses for a botched product or service, that you take a few moments to respond to it. Take a minute to post how important the higher standards Disney is usually known for justify their premium pricing, and that the best quality product is important to you. It doesn't need in any way to be a putdown, it just needs to be honest about what can be done better. >> Yep. That says it all. That's why you often see me get into Spirited debates with folks who justify crap from dirty parks to homogenized merchandise to keeping old attractions unaltered to just plain awful management. It's interesting that Al has used the BAH as a symbol for DoM ... that's just about perfect. I have my issues with the man and what he sometimes writes, but again, I've never seen him nail something so important in a few simple paragraphs.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey While I'm not nearly as vocal as Spirit or TDLFAN when it comes to the constructive criticism of WDW, I totally agree that the company does not pay attention to quality and detail as stringently as it did in the past. I HATE the fact that every store on Main Street has the same exact merchandise you can find in every other store throughout the park. I HATE the fact that quality animatronic dark rides have become a thing of the past and that spinners, throw up rides and 3D movies are the company's idea of an E-ticket nowadays. I HATE that the company is hiring CMs that adon't care about the Disney legacy or the ideals that the company used to hold dear. Don't get me wrong - I love WDW and it's still my favorite place to vacation, but the company is losing sight of Walt's original vision: to give the public a quality show and a quality vacation, even if it costs a few extra pennies. I want the OLD WDW back, with animatronics and quality shows and CMs who smiled and went the extra mile to make someone's visit magical. The public deserves that, and that's what Walt would want. Great post, Spirit. I'll do my part to get WDW to return to its former state of glory.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, as a Disney stockholder (as of today, in fact), I have this to say... I expect the company to continue walmarting main street, selling identical, easy to produce, cheap goods. I expect the company to pay as little as possible for their workforce, regardless of quality of qualifications. I expect the company to continue building off-the-shelf, generic amusement park rides which are cheap to maintain and operate. Further, I expect constant vigilance when it comes to maintenance, and by that I mean they should run everything to failure and not fix anything a moment before it is absolutely necessary. Beyond this, I expect the company to cost cut wherever possible, and squeeze every last penny out of the pockets of the suckers we call customers, regardless of how it affects their experience or opinion of the brand. There...if Lutz is right and the company checks out the net, they have not only heard from a customer but a PART OWNER. (after I sell my stock in a couple of days, I'll go back to bitching about quality )
Originally Posted By MPierce ^^^ Spoken like a true stock holder. In principal I agree with this article. However, I think we need to be careful of how we label people. If a person likes SGE or MLF do we label them DoM's because we may have differing opinions on the quality of these attractions. As long as we keep things in persperctive that everyone here is entitled to their own opinion, even if it might seem stupid.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I like the Lutz label of DoM to George Bush labeling his critics unpatriotic or terrorists. It's a juvenile approach to respond to criticism. What Lutz doesn't address is the growing number of his "rumors" that aren't coming to fruition and how his continued naysaying isn't showing up in the Disney company performance.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Hey Mr. X - yourself! My rose colored glasses started to come off when I went back to work for the Disney Store for a very short time a few years ago (before it was sold to Children's Place). When I first worked at the store, we were encouraged to talk to guests about their experiences and their WDW vacation. We were told that the stores were an extension of the parks and that making sure the guest was happy was our main priority, even if that meant we wouldn't sell an extra t-shirt that night. When I went back to work at the store, we were told every night that we were supposed to sell X amount of a product. A tracking device was installed at the front of the store, and we were supposed to sell a certain dollar mount in ratio to the number of people that walked in the door. We were supposed to sell sell sell instead of make connections with the guests. The store became the antithesis of what it formerly was, and I ended up quitting after only a few months. I worked at the store because it was fun, because I could talk about Disney with people who were really interested. If I wanted to work at regular retail store, I could've worked at the Gap (and gotten paid a hell of a lot more). I wanted to work for Disney, the OLD Disney, not for a retail company only interested in making a profit. That's when the haze finally lifted, and I saw what the company was really becoming.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer OK, let's talk about Blue Sky Disney, Kevin Yee, The Disney Blog and others who see some serious issues at WDW and elsewhere, quality IS going down at WDW (and that other guy, Senor Lutz, is only an occasional visitor to WDW, but does have some pretty good input from folks that work in corporate). But it is not just one person, or one website saying that there is a major change at WDW, and that is now focusing much moire on the SHORT term than the long term (quanity versus quality). A lot of folks that Al Lutz talks to (employees of the Walt Disney Company is some capacity, some in high positions) are complaining and bitching at him (basically voicing their frustrations) due to the change in attitude. Based on what I read, all he is syaing is that if you see things slipping, or not of the quality that you nornally expect of Disney, then say it. Heck, there are folks here at LP I pretty much ignore in their posts, you don't have to be rude, or call someone else a "............." (fill in the blank using your own terms). Just say I found that it wasn't Disney quality, it was more like something I would find at Six Flags/Cedar Fair/Universal/Busch. Disney used to be "above the bar", and the goal of many folks, both that work at Disney and their fans is that the old standard returns. (And yes, within reason, you do need to make a profit, on the other hand, if you spend a bit more to begin with, you can make more money overall...)
Originally Posted By jmuboy I am very happy Al Lutz addressed the Disney apologists. It put a smile on my face. I love Disney, but I dont have blinders on or rose colored glasses and can see WDW's increasing flaws.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>It doesn't need in any way to be a putdown, it just needs to be honest about what can be done better.<< This is why so many of the good points he has made wind up sounding hysterical. Because Mr. Lutz, whenever possible, makes it VERY personal. Look back at his trashing of anything and everything during the Prerssler-Harriss-Eisner late 90's to early double O's. He presents a very tabloid-ish tone too often and I think this undermines his efforts to point out when Disney falls short. Maybe he'll follow the advice he is sharing. There is nothing at all wrong with pointing out when a show, attraction, hotel, restaurant fails to live up to the high standard Disney has always represented. But it's easy to see people go over the top with this stuff, and I have a hard time believing that anyone in charge at Disney takes that sort of thing seriously. When you have people who post, ad nauseum, rehashes of the history of DCA that stretch for 1,000 words or more, that isn't taken seriously. The bottom line is always the bottom line. Post and discuss all you like. But if you vote with your wallet -- and that might mean not visiting a particular park until it meets your standards -- THAT is what gets noticed. Be it WDW or DCA or a Disney movie -- if you feel it doesn't work, by all means, don't spend a nickel on it. If you go to a place every bloody weekend, then post that it sucks, that contradicts your point in a BIG way.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN What I think Lutz failed to mention is that some of these DoMs (as he call them), apart for the real clueless ones who populate fansites like this one, are also Disney company-paid stooges placed on the net to create a false sense "happiness" and "approuval" in regards to Disney's lesser quality standards and small budgets that get in the way of creativity and true innovation that exceeds expectations. The whole "I am happy with my Disney of today" crap is as phoney as the Year of a Million Screams.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct << The whole "I am happy with my Disney of today" crap is as phoney as the Year of a Million Screams. >> *sigh* ... so young(and preety!), yet so bitter
Originally Posted By dshyates To be fair for every "DoM (Defendor of Mediocrity" there is a "DoM (Detractors of Mediocrity)". Of which I am one. It's a ying yang kinda thing. OK, other than Nikki who has had an epiphany and completely changed their initial assessment on DCA. I haven't. I still find it an unacceptable offering from the premier theme park corp. on the planet. I don't care what their excuses are or their apologists say. It is unacceptable and needs a major influx of cash just to bring the existing park up to what I think are the standards which Disney set for themselves. There are many here who say things like Mulholland is fine, it is a placeholder it will only be here for a short decade. They had a limited budget so its ok. Well Disney isne't a special kid who needs excuses made for their shoddy offerings. I am with Al, and call it as you see it. If you defend an attraction by saying, They had to do it that way because stockholders now days demand short term gains. You have just said "its crap, I know its crap, and I am ok with them selling me crap."
Originally Posted By Mr X **When you have people who post, ad nauseum, rehashes of the history of DCA that stretch for 1,000 words or more, that isn't taken seriously.** Sure, especially where only two words are necessary...
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<OK, other than Nikki who has had an epiphany and completely changed their initial assessment on DCA.>> I've never been to DCA - I've never been to DL yet at all.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I've never been to DCA - I've never been to DL yet at all.<< To quote one of the greatess LP posters of all time, ReedyCreek, I shall quote him/her.. "I am speechless!! I am with NO SPEECH!" Nikki! That is a bloody shame.
