Originally Posted By danyoung >Two weeks ago we went to Atlanta...< One of my favorite cities, although I'm always working when I go there. One of my favorite restaurants on the planet is the revolving one up on top of the Westin Tower - great food and spectacular view! And I understand what you're saying about WDW. We each have a different level of tolerance. While I agree with you that several things have gone downhill in the past few years, there's still more than enough "magic" to keep me coming back. Perhaps it's the vodka . . .
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Dan, when was the last time you tried the other Disney resorts? Personally I do enjoy WDW, I just enjoy DL and DLP much MUCH more.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^ I also enjoy Disneyland very much and have been there about 12 - 15 times over the 50's to now - but it is a completely different vacation experience. At WDW I go to relax for 2 weeks in Florida - 7-9 days at WDW and another 5 - 7 at Vero Beach resort. At Dl - we usually hit DL - then DCA - then visit with friends /relatives ( I lived in Newport Beach for a while after college - have one set of realtives that did very well for themselves in the late 50's - uncle retired when he was 38 !. So it a lot more hectic vacation for me - lots of different experiences. I have not been to DLP - although I would like to go. The current Euro - $ rate will make that only on a biz trip right now.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think that is the thing VBDAD. I prefer everything in close proximity and a lot of options in a small footprint. DL and DLP offers that. The 2 hr commutes when staying on property really erode the fun at WDW for me. Mix in dirtier parks. And homoginized shopping. Well, it gets to me. Plus I really do not like the Florida climate. Well all of that adds up to disappointment.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Dan, when was the last time you tried the other Disney resorts? Personally I do enjoy WDW, I just enjoy DL and DLP much MUCH more.< I get out to DL at least once a year. Having grown up in SoCal, I know and love DL probably better than WDW. I have family out in California, so I have to give them some of my valuable park time . But I still manage 2 or 3 days a year, and enjoy it greatly. >The 2 hr commutes when staying on property really erode the fun at WDW for me.< Where on earth did this come from? Are you taking the slowest bus you can find? It should never be longer than 20 minutes or so to get anywhere, unless you're going from hotel to hotel. And because of that I always rent a car and just zip right to where I want to be. >Plus I really do not like the Florida climate.< I'm right with you there - you couldn't DRAG me to a Disney park in July or August!!!
Originally Posted By MPierce I'm with Dan on staying out of the parks in the summertime. I know it will be a while before you return to WDW Dave, but I do suggest late January or early February if your work will permit it. With the much cooler weather lower crowd numbers, and value rates there, it makes for a much more pleasant Holiday. I have to say most people who post on Disney boards have a love of Disney. I know I still love WDW, it is the most relaxing place I have ever been, total escape. Your right Road Trip Disney has always been expensive, and they are in business to get your money, but it really seems to stand out now. Do you notice how people now are starting to notice it more, and more. You notice how some of the Magic has slipped away, and we are all Disney Dweebs discussing it in a Disney forum. That speaks volumes in itself. Spirit would call it WalMarting, I don't know if he has a copyright on that word so I'll just refer to it as over comercialization, and promotion of the Disney Magic. It just seems kind of artifical to me now rather than a feeling I use to get when I went there. I still love it, but I need a break from it. There are a lot of people out there that want my vacation dollar so it's time for me to branch out. I still think it can be a lot of fun, and relaxing if you're not burnt out on it. This thread has really kind of gotten off track, like so many that Spirit starts. No one has attacked him so far, so I kind of feel obligated Hey SPIRIT next thread you start could you try to be a little more ambiguous!
Originally Posted By SpectroWishes321 ^I'm asking the same question. I hope the MK can really get it's act together, it seems like it's improved a little. Renovated Haunted Mansion, upcoming renovations on Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain, Castle Dream Lights, Once Upon A Christmastime Parade and hopefully more improvements coming in the near future.
Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1 In response to RoadTrip's post: <<As one post mentioned I too felt it was all about getting money out of my pocket.>> When has it ever NOT been? Agreed, it is a business and it is always about making money, but it's how you go about it. For example, with the vast amount of work done on Disneyland for the 50th, the Park has come back to its former glory. It looks beautiful and attractions are really at their best in many years. Last year at Walt Disney World the Magic Kingdom looked tired. It really needs a lot of upkeep. Many shops, restaurants and even attractions were closed because of low attendance. This was NEVER Walt's philosophy. I think what really put it over the top for me was the Candlelight Program. Here we were sitting and enjoying a wonderful program, beautifully staged and presented. At the end of the Hallelujah chorus there was an announcement about purchasing Candlelight souvenirs at the stand in front of the American Adventure. At the studio, a few years ago they handed out the holographic glasses to view the Osburn Lights. Now they are gone. It was a nice touch….something Disney WAS know for I felt. I just personally felt that since my last visit most of the Parks had been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, and the company felt if they come anyway regardless of how the place looks, why should we bother to fix it up. And then on top of it all we had a terrible experience with our lodging at The Animal Kingdom Lodge. All in all I just felt OK, I came, I saw, I enjoyed….I don’t need to return for maybe 5 to 7 years, where not all that long ago as soon as I got off the plane back here in California, I thought to myself, “when are we going back?â€
Originally Posted By jmuboy "My downer on WDW is how far the standards have slipped compared to what they once were." Those are my sentiments exactly.
Originally Posted By dshyates "At WDW I go to relax for 2 weeks in Florida - 7-9 days at WDW and another 5 - 7 at Vero Beach resort." This place is more expensive than Vero, but by far the single best, most relaxing beach experience in Florida. <a href="http://www.littlepalmisland.com/littlepalmisland_home.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.littlepalmisland.co m/littlepalmisland_home.aspx</a>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<"My downer on WDW is how far the standards have slipped compared to what they once were.">> I think a certain amount of this may be based on the fact that WDW is no longer a resort exclusively for the upper middle class and above. Back when the only WDW hotels were the Contemporary and the Poly (later joined by the Grand Floridian) the clientele at WDW was certainly different than it is today. This meant that WDW could sell more unique (and expensive) merchandise than they can today. It meant that Disney could keep the parks cleaner than they can today. Partly because of higher revenue per guest; partly because the guests then didn't create quite the messes that the guests today create. Without trying to get into class warfare, I think much of what people see as declining standards is in fact Disney's decision to change the demographic of its guests. Where a WDW vacation was once pretty much reserved for the upper middle class and above; today those in the lower middle class can afford an occasional WDW vacation. Is this bad? I would argue that it is not. Why should the enjoyment of a wonderful place like WDW be restricted to a "chosen few"? Yes, widening the demographic Disney is appealing to has resulted in changes in the merchandise offered. Most anyone can afford a T-shirt or a stuffed Mickey. How many could afford the merchandise offered in some of the more upscale shops that used to line Main Street? I would also argue that the changing demographic results in parks that are not as clean. Partly because they are receiving less revenue per guest. Partly because some of the folks visiting now are just plain messier. I don't like all of the trade-offs that have been made. On the other hand, the Democrat in me loves the fact that WDW today is much more accessible than it was back in the "glory years". The Spirit may not be terribly far off when he talks about the Wal-Marting of WDW. But is that necessarily a terrible thing? It has allowed many more people to enjoy a Disney vacation than could 20 years ago. Does anyone besides me understand what I am trying to say here? (I recognize that I have not communicated it terribly well.) P.S. Maybe we should create a rich people’s Disney Park somewhere. A place where all of us sophisticated folks can go without having to tolerate those folks who shop at Wal-Mart.
Originally Posted By leobloom You made your point clear. And I agree with you except to say that class doesn't equal cleanliness. To say that somehow the lower middle class are messier than the upper middle class seems to be a dubious point. What theme park experience are you basing this on?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<And I agree with you except to say that class doesn't equal cleanliness.>> I would perhaps tend to agree. I was responding to claims that the All Stars have much more cleanliness problems than the other resorts (dirty diapers in the pools, etc.) I don't know that I necessarily agree with that, but that is what my response was based on. Personally, I think there is a fine line between those who see declining standards and those who are looking for the continuation of an elitist experience.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Dennis - I am with you my friend. Although we had fun at WDW last year, I felt really disappointed. Something that cannot be said for our trips to DL or DLP. WDW felt like it was having it's soul sucked out and was becoming more and more of a corporate machine. Instead of gay days WDW - why not go to gay days at DLP or DL, I am sure you would have a much better time!>> D&D ... while I agree with much of what you guys say/feel, and while I believe there is more 'magic' at DL and DLP right now, I still love WDW. Maybe it's because it's my 'home' resort and so close. Maybe it's because I love DAK and EPCOT so much ... and spending time at the resorts, especially the Lodges, the Poly and FW ... but I am in no way, shape or form down on WDW. I'm just down on a lot of things I see slipping, a lot of the details disappearing and the fact management as a rule only pays lip service to living up to its own standards and the Disney Legacy. But I still can't recall my last 'bad' WDW trip ... likely because there have been so few ... and those were largely because of people, not the place.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I am also in favor of a 2nd DtD type place over on Western Way to split the crowds.>> Oh God, I hope not! Not now. Not in five years. Not ever.
Originally Posted By leobloom Gotcha, Roadtrip. I wasn't thinking about resorts particularly, but the parks. You might have a point there.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Please don't let us curmudgeons overly influence you - WDW is a pretty spectacular place to take a vacation!>> Yep. I hate it so much I'm planning trips there in December AND January. Awful place. Stay away.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<When we got home I realised not as much fun as usual or other Disney trips, and then when we went to DLP in June, I realised we had a lot more fun at DLP than WDW in the main. Sad but true.>> Why is it sad? Not only is DLP the most spectacular and detailed MK built yet, a true 21st century template that should have been followed in Hong Kong, but one of the world's most spectacular cities is 35 minutes away by train!
