A few thoughts on our week at WDW.

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

I will write a more complete trip report later, but thought I would share a few thoughts on our recent week at WDW.

The Parks.

Overall I thought the parks looked very good with the exception of the Studios. We enjoyed the updated People Mover and were happy to see Carousel of Progress looking better than I've ever seen it. For the first time in my memory everything seemed to work and the animatronics' hair, clothing, etc. all looked clean and fresh. The condition of the Great Move Ride at the Studios was very disappointing. Every time I've visited in recent memory there are fewer effects working than there were before. Why don't they just burn the ride down and put it out of its misery? But since they can't light a fire in the shootout scene any more, they probably couldn't burn the building down either. I was very happy that Ann REALLY enjoyed the Animal Kingdom... she did not really expect that she would before our visit. Now it is one of her favorites!

Our Resort.

We stayed at Old Key West, which has been a favorite of mine for its laid-back and relaxed feel. I still really enjoy the resort, but our room should have been an embarrassment to Disney. Curtains that did not fit the windows, mildew/mold throughout the bathroom and on windows and doorframes, stained carpet, etc. A Super 8 with rooms in that shape would probably have its franchise revoked. On the other hand, I've read that the rooms at OKW are being renovated starting at the north end by the Hospitality House, and that people have been VERY pleased with the quality of the renovations. Unfortunately we were at the far southern edge of the resort.

Transportation.

Our experience with Disney Transit was very good. I don't think our wait times ever exceeded 10 minutes. But for the first time in almost 10 years, we used a rental car on this trip. I'm not sure I would visit again without one. We really enjoyed the flexibility of driving being an option. If we just wanted to visit Epcot for Illuminations, it was great to be able to drive to The Boardwalk, use valet parking and then take the boat to the International Gateway... much better than taking a bus from OKW and having to walk the entire length of the park to get to France in the Showcase. The approach to the Magic Kingdom is also much more enjoyable by car. There is something magic about that trip across the Seven Seas Lagoon on the Ferry that you just don't get pulling up to the park on a bus.

Dining.

We did NOT use the Disney Dining Plan. I refuse to... my own little personal protest. I far prefer using the "Tables In Wonderland" card where you get 20% off all food AND alcohol purchases at the table service restaurants. We dined at 'Ohana, Liberty Tree Tavern, Olivia's (4 times - the restaurant at OKW), ESPN Club (twice) and various counter service restaurants. Our favorite by far was 'Ohana. We also really enjoyed our lunches at Olivia's. They have a wonderful soup and sandwich combination for $10 that is MUCH BETTER than anything you will find in the parks for that price. Olivia's does an excellent job on their homemade soups... nothing from a package there! Since we had the rental car we also dined a couple of times off Disney Property.

The Parking Lot Nazi.

Our only really BAD experience at WDW came with our visit to the AK. We drove to the AK and for some unknown reason they were filling each parking row starting with the space FARTHEST from the tram. That really didn't make much sense and caused a fair amount of guest rebellion... why park a quarter mile from the tram when you could park 15 feet from it? Wouldn't it make FAR MORE sense to start filling each row from the spots nearest the tram? That way there would be no question about guest compliance. The thing that bothered us is that they didn't want people to drop off passengers on the side of the lot near the tram before parking. Ann has substantial issues with her feet, and all the walking at WDW is really tough for her. I figured that if I could at least save her needless walking at the parking lot I certainly would. Got bitched at by the Nazi, but I didn't care and dropped Ann off anyway. I then watched the Nazi bitch at a woman who appeared to be in her upper 70's because she was also trying to get dropped off near the tram. The whole thing was really stupid... more than anything, why on earth would Disney try to fill their lots in a way that is the exact opposite of common sense?

Foreign Tour Groups.

Where did they all come from? January used to be blessedly free of them. No more! Sunday at the Studios was the worst... the park was more crowded than I've EVER seen it, and a major portion of that appeared to be the tour groups. I think that if Disney knows a large number of groups will be visiting a certain park on a given day, they should let their hotel guests know about it so they can avoid that park if they want to. Our park experience that day was very poor. It got to where when I saw someone with a little flag on a pole I wanted to grab it from them and beat them about the head with it! Some of the groups were very loud, obnoxious and pushy. They seemed to be especially fond of congregating at the exit at closing time, jumping up and down and chanting slogans (I presume in support of their home area/country). If large groups of Americans acted that way in another country they would probably be shot, and they would deserve it! Why do these groups seem to assume that type of behavior at WDW is OK?

Overall.

We had a very enjoyable time. A WDW vacation is still one of my absolute favorite vacations. I must admit though that both Ann and I look forward to our next Disney Cruise more. Why? Largely because it is new and different. I think many who criticize WDW forget that no matter HOW wonderful a park is; it is not going to be as exciting on the 25th visit as it was on the first. That does not mean the park has gotten worse... just that it has become familiar and is no longer as exciting as it once was. To enjoy repeated visits, as I still do, you have to value familiarity, comfort and nostalgia as much as you do excitement.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

***If large groups of Americans acted that way in another country they would probably be shot***

Um...

Nevermind.

Glad you had fun!

p.s. sorry to hear about the condition of your accomodations. seems to me that hospitality folk (not only Disney, but of course it's seems all the worse when it IS Disney) tend to neglect the heck out of places that are "scheduled for refurb" whether in near future or even a while down the road. It really is a shame they put dollars before customers in cases like that!

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<<Carousel of Progress looking better than I've ever seen it.>>

Really? I was there earlier in the month and the first John looked like crap. Mouth was barely moving. Glad they apparently fixed him.

<<But since they can't light a fire in the shootout scene any more, they probably couldn't burn the building down either.>>

Ummmm...they do do the explosion during the bandit scene.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Maybe I called it the wrong scene. It is where they have a bank on the left side and some gangsters in a car arrive on the right. There are scorches on the bank building where I remember fire in the past... not so now... not so the last couple of times I've been there.

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<<Maybe I called it the wrong scene. It is where they have a bank on the left side and some gangsters in a car arrive on the right. There are scorches on the bank building where I remember fire in the past... not so now... not so the last couple of times I've been there.>>

Nope. There's never been an explosion in gangster. Only in bandit.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<Really? I was there earlier in the month and the first John looked like crap. Mouth was barely moving. Glad they apparently fixed him.>

They must have, because that was when I first noticed that things looked better. Last time I saw the first John it looked like he had a bolt that was about to poke through the plastic skin on his neck!

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

And I don't think there's a bank in Gangster either. It's just an alleyway.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Does every tram go through bandit, or is it an either/or kind of thing with the gangster scene? There has been no explosion anywhere the last several times I've been on Great Movie Ride. I remembered the explosion and heat being one of the best parts of the ride.

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

Bandit is usually only done during peak season, but they'll do it sometimes when you ask.

You always pass through bandit (it's the Western scene), but they only do explosions when the bandit comes out of the bank and highjacks your vehicle. When he does it, he pushes your driver into the bank and tosses a lit dynamite bundle into the bank. Behind the bank, the driver presses a button that causes the bank to explode.

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

Bandit is usually only done during peak season, but they'll do it sometimes when you ask.

You always pass through bandit (it's the Western scene), but they only do explosions when the bandit comes out of the bank and highjacks your vehicle. When he does it, he pushes your driver into the bank and tosses a lit dynamite bundle into the bank. Behind the bank, the driver presses a button that causes the bank to explode.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Glad you had a good trip, and it sounds encouraging (though no way would I put up with the state of your room for the costs, especially if a DVC owner). But it is great to hear you had a great time.

couple of things to pick up on:

>>> If large groups of Americans acted that way in another country they would probably be shot, and they would deserve it! <<<

Some American's do, in europe we have had people chantting USA, USA, USA. Or even worst, seemingly well off americans in Stores and Restaurants, when they don't like the service/price/portion size/taste shout loudly for everyone to hear - "In America....". Or if yold they cannot do something they say "Well I'm American", as a fellow American, it really makes me want to cringe.

>>>. I think many who criticize WDW forget that no matter HOW wonderful a park is; it is not going to be as exciting on the 25th visit as it was on the first. That does not mean the park has gotten worse... just that it has become familiar and is no longer as exciting as it once was.<<<

No, not true in my case. I can understand where you are coming from and it seems a logical conclusion, but that simply is not the case. I have been to WDW only a handful of times, I have been to Disneyland about every 6 weeks between 1974 and 1986, and 3 times in the last 12 years, and we will be going to Disneyland Paris for the 56th time this Easter - I do not feel anywhere near as disappointed with those as our last trip to WDW (I am a seasoned traveller and expect far greater service at a Deluxe resort than a Holiday Inn Express, especially for the cost).

So I am encourage by your report, but I am not fully buying the familiarity breeds contempt line here.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

***>>> If large groups of Americans acted that way in another country they would probably be shot, and they would deserve it! <<<

Some American's do, in europe we have had people chantting USA, USA, USA. Or even worst, seemingly well off americans in Stores and Restaurants, when they don't like the service/price/portion size/taste shout loudly for everyone to hear - "In America....". Or if yold they cannot do something they say "Well I'm American", as a fellow American, it really makes me want to cringe***

Yup...I've seen it with my own eyes MANY times. Thus the reason I cringed at the notion that Americans are somehow "special" or "different".

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Although, in fairness, I've been hearing more and more stories about "ugly Englishmen" and "ugly Frenchmen" that surpass even the "ugly American" stories in boorishness and idiocy...

Truly, acting like an ass while abroad is a global issue.

In Japan, the biggest culprits are the Chinese. But in any case, depending on your locale it could be any groups of morons that do it.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

>>>Although, in fairness, I've been hearing more and more stories about "ugly Englishmen" and "ugly Frenchmen" that surpass even the "ugly American" stories in boorishness and idiocy...<<<

Oh gosh no, every nationality is bad for it. The Brits are hugely embarrassing especially in some of the Spanish resorts. If a menu is in english, we have gotten to the point of not bothering with the restaurant when abroad. It is also why I am picky about the calibre of hotel I choose. Sad, but true.

 

Originally Posted By FenwayGirl

Thanks...look forward to the rest of the report. And I agree with Anne, AK is one of the best!!

 

Originally Posted By brotherdave

The Western "bandit" scene with explosion only occurs when you load in the first tram (first two vehicles on the right in the loading area), the "gangster" scene occurs if you board in the last tram (last two vehicles) on the left hand side of the boarding area. If you load in the first two cars, you will just "pass through" the gangster scene without much action. Same for the last two cars through the Western town as your vehicles will just "pass through" those scenes.

Basically, to experience the GMR in full, you would need to ride it twice. If your group seems to be "herded" towards the same tram loading area as the last time you rode, or if you specifically want to see the Western or gangster scenes, just ask a cast member at the loading area. They usually will try to accomodate you.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>Bandit is usually only done during peak season, but they'll do it sometimes when you ask. <<<

I had actually only seen Bandit until this past trip, despite it supposedly being rarer. I greatly prefer it... FIRE!

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

I will test your theory for sure next visit brotherdave. It has been forever since I have seen the fiery dynamite explosion.Thanks

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

>>Foreign Tour Groups.

Where did they all come from?<<

I've heard that Brazil's economy is booming these days.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Many were from Brazil (I recognized the Brazilian flag on jackets etc.) I also saw the light blue of the Argentina flag on many jackets so there may have been groups from there as well. I don't really blame the group members themselves... they looked like primarily high school kids and we all know what they act like everywhere. But I think the tour leaders should do a better job of keeping their minions under control.

It would also be better if they met up somewhere OUTSIDE the gate at closing; in a parking lot or somewhere they would not make it impossible for everyone else trying to leave the park. To have large groups just standing at the exits makes it a logistical nightmare.

Sorry to hear that Americans abroad act obnoxiously... I guess from fan behavior at American sporting events I shouldn't be too surprised. Personally, I couldn't imagine acting that way when I am a guest in someone else's country. But then I'm not much of a jumping and chanting type guy to start with.

As for demanding that menus etc. being in English, that is pretty ethnocentric. I even took a French phrase book with me when visiting Quebec province in Canada so I could attempt to communicate in their language!

 

Originally Posted By Indigo

<< The Parking Lot Nazi.

Our only really BAD experience at WDW came with our visit to the AK. We drove to the AK and for some unknown reason they were filling each parking row starting with the space FARTHEST from the tram. That really didn't make much sense and caused a fair amount of guest rebellion... why park a quarter mile from the tram when you could park 15 feet from it? Wouldn't it make FAR MORE sense to start filling each row from the spots nearest the tram? That way there would be no question about guest compliance. The thing that bothered us is that they didn't want people to drop off passengers on the side of the lot near the tram before parking. [...] why on earth would Disney try to fill their lots in a way that is the exact opposite of common sense? >>

I've had the same question myself. I actually had the opportunity to ask a couple of Parking Lot managers about it and the answer they always give is cast member safety. But they're unable to explain why the method they use is safer for the cast member than parking closer to the tram first, they just insist that it is.

I've read a couple of studies on the number of spots needed, but never on configuration. My guess is that some imagineers were sitting around a table in 1970 trying to figure out how to best build a parking lot that could hold 12,000 cars, get them parked in an orderly fashion with easy access to trams and then exited in the opposite manner using the same infrastructure for parking.

I've never understood how it is at all considered safe to have guests waiting to board a tram in the same roadway that cars are using to enter or exit the parking lot.