Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I think a more detailed report listing the good AND the bad would have been more illuminating.>> I emailed a similar sentiment to Lutz five years ago, when it was apparent that his reviews were becoming less objective, more negative. No response from him. It's such a shame. Just as was the case five years ago, his criticisms of the Parks would have SO much more credibility if he'd also acknowledge the positive. But he seems intent on creating a name for himself by being the perennially malcontent one.
Originally Posted By dresswhites al sometimes dwells in the negative, but to his credit, he does point out the positives as well. he said he liked Mission Space and Test Track.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Having gotten to know Mr. Lutz, personally, my sisters and I have to say that certain interpretations of him couldn't be more wrong. In the same way children follow the leads of school yard bullies who have chosen a certain victim to beat up after school each day, it often seems that this same wicked mentality has been acted out all over again within the Disney fan community. ORWEN: Just because it's considered 'popular' and 'acceptable' to beat up on Al is no reason to jump on somebody's bandwagon and continue to do the same thing. Al does NOT use his negative reports as a way of merely getting attention. Anybody who thinks that is grossly wrong and doesn't begin to know him at all.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct MY PERSONAL OPINION: LUTZ sees himself as a consumer advocate. I didn't get it at first, but over the years I have come to understand his point of view. I feel he should let his facts speak for themselves. if anything, I think he is guilty of an "I told ya so" approach. ------------ TDLFAN I used think he is just overexposed to the parks and is just jaded. He never gets the full WDW experience bucause he is a local. To experience WDW, you need to stay on property, etc ... Over time, I have some to realize he has some valid points. His insight on all three resorts is unique beause he visits them all so much. So his opinions are really an "apple-to-apple" comparison. I am glad both LUTZ and TDLFAN are "on the scene" Thanks guys. And thank you Leemac for offering your insights as well. You are one of the reasons I continue to vist these boards - along with Darkbeer. and by the way : Hey TDLFAN .. are you on your way to Tokyo for your B'day? Nov 6th is the actual day HAPPY BITHDAY (I started a thread int he COMMUNITY section)
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct urgh .. bad typing "I have some to realize " should be "I have come to realize"
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I quess I'm not as deep into the Disney fan things that many here are. I enjoy the Disney Parks for my own reasons. Yes, WDW has changed dramatically during the 30 years that I have been visiting the parks. I also have commented on many of the negative things I have seen in the parks. Personally, I enjoyed Lutz's opinions and observations. I respect everyone's opinions and observations here. However, I just wish that some individuals were a less brutal in their personal approach to other's opinions.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>(Al) is always looking for a way to tear down the Parks in a way that will be sensational and newsworthy.<< I disagree. I met the guy this past week and walked the park with him. He was quite enthusiastic to be here and enjoying himself greatly, and it is becuase of his dedication and love for Disney that is easy for him to administer tough love. Like myself, I am not blinded by the pixie dust and the bling. In regards to WDW, he is tellingit like it is, and because he knows about the negative perception of his columns, he can control it..which is exactly what he did with this particular column on WDW. And yes... our opinions do vary greatly. Personally I find Mission: Space and Test Track to be two of the worst attractions ever placed in a Disney park, yet he loved them to pieces. Go figure.. >>LUTZ sees himself as a consumer advocate.<< ...And you don't think that telling everyone here that the price charged at WDW does not match the quality does not make me a consunmer advocate as well??? Because that has been my #1 gripe about WDW in the past 15 yrs. Many here see the quantity instead of the quality. >> He never gets the full WDW experience bucause he is a local. To experience WDW, you need to stay on property, etc ...<< I disagree my dear friend, because I *have* stayed on property before... (4 times at the Contemporary, once at the Pop Century), and to me... the experience is not all that different than staying at your average 3-4 star hotel off property. I can always experience what the hotels have to offer without being a guest. I don't connect the hotel experience with the parks. I am very meticulous to separate them two. I can enjoy myself or the ambiance at this Disney hotel, and hate the ambiance and theming at the other Disney hotel... and I know I would hate to have to depend on bus service to shuffle me around property. So NO. I don't feel you have to stay on property to get the WDW experience or get a taste of the resort.
Originally Posted By Moderation I had my first trip to WDW last April, and I found Al's review to be like deja vu all over again. I had many of the exact same impresions as he did. What really counts most for me is the issue of what it costs to have a good time at WDW versus DL. At DL, where you are not captive for food, lodging and transportation, you just get much much much better bang for the buck. At DL I can have a kids suite at the Hyatt for less than a motel 6 quality room at the All Star, The shuttle takes me to the front gate in a quarter of the time as in WDW, I can pop out to superior restaurants that cost half as much, and the two parks 100 yards away from each other have pretty much everything you find in the 4 parks of WDW except mission space, test track, and a safari experience I can get better elsewhere. And comparing the same rides at either place, WDW had some wins but a lot more losses. TSI is much better at WDW, it was nice to see a tree house still occupied by switzers, the people mover was nostalgic, Phil was delightful and the food was better, but Kali River rapids was grizzly river without the main drops, WDW toontown w/o RR was even more pointless than the DL version, what they did to the Tiki Room made me throw up in my mouth a little bit, The country bears made mee glad DL didn't have it anymore, small world in a building lacked charm, the lack of lndscaping at indy speedway was ugly, half or Epcot was pointless, more than half of MGM was pointless, I actually saw trash on the ground at WDW and getting anywhere was like the Donner Party Trek. Does that mean I hate WDW? Far from it, I had a very good time there- but I like DL more.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Lutz" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A l_Lutz</a>
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<Al does NOT use his negative reports as a way of merely getting attention. Anybody who thinks that is grossly wrong and doesn't begin to know him at all.>> <<I met the guy this past week and walked the park with him. He was quite enthusiastic to be here and enjoying himself greatly, and it is becuase of his dedication and love for Disney that is easy for him to administer tough love.>> It is admirable and characteristic that the Witches and TDLFAN would stand up for a friend. Most of us do not have the advantage of having a personal relationship with Mr. Lutz. We can only judge him on what he writes. My judgement is that he is consciously constructing an internet presence for himself through his negativity. If there is a disconnect between who he really is and how he is perceived, it could be corrected by him altering his writing to more accurately reflect his perspective.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>If there is a disconnect between who he really is and how he is perceived, it could be corrected by him altering his writing to more accurately reflect his perspective.<< That would be fine if he was writting for the "fans" but he is not. He writes with what should be management's concerns in mind first and foremost. We the "fans" are the beneficiaries of his opinions, be negative or positive. I respect the fact that he writes without regards about what people may think of him on a presonal level.. it takes pelotas to do that.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 It does not take pelotas to be a bitch. His gratuituous, gleeful, repeated character assasinations of Disney management has served no constructive purpose. Those comments were either a reflection of a mean nature, a way to ensure readership, or a dysfunctional writing ability. I don't see him as a hero for being negative.
Originally Posted By kennect The thing I don't get about Al and his comments or takes on the parks is what is his point? OK, there are problems and he complains about them...So what? It seems to me that someone with his take should be trying to start a grassroots movement to force Disney into making changes with boycott's, etc...Instead he just sits around and moans and groans about such things...He did it for years with DL and it sounds like now that WDW will be his new whipping post....A lot of what he said is right but he isn't the only person in the world that knows this...I also love the idea that he has such keen insiders to keep him abreast of all that is going on in the world of Disney parks...Like he is the only person in the world that knows these folks? I don't think it would take anyone too smart to say that WDW does have problems...But now that Al has said it, it takes on a different dimension....Give me a break, please.....Al's sojurn to WDW sounded to me, as he wrote it, as his stamp of approval or not on what is happening in FL...Bad enough when he was just sticking to the DL resort...
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: If a witch is evil, she deserves to be publically branded as such. Mr. Lutz discovered some cock roaches within the Disney management and dared to shine a light on them. For that he is perceived--by some--as negative. For others, he is a hero for daring to state what many Imagineers would have loved to have said. ORWEN: Years ago--before there was an Al Lutz making public reports about the Disney Company--there were Imagineers who warned us about bad things to come after Frank Wells had died. There were even cast members at Disney World who were aware that a certain negative change was coming and they were deeply troubled by what they were seeing behind the scenes. By the time Mr. Lutz started giving us the details of these changes, we weren't surpised. ORDDU: But, instead of shooting the Messenger and calling him 'negative', some of you should actually realize what a champion he is for telling the truth. Unless you want to be an ostrich with your head in the sand, there's no way any duckling who claims to care for integrity, quality and proper value can successfully villify a man like Al Lutz. My sisters and I continue to stand by him and his wonderful reports because they're the best we've ever come across. ORWEN: And also, because Mr. Lutz is a sweetheart when you get to know him.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: By the way, kennect, duckling. The fact that Mr. Lutz dares to report what he knows IS an example of his doing something about the problems he sees. First you educate the public and that's more that so many others are willing to do. After that, it's up to the rest of us to decide what WE'RE going to do about it. ORGOCH: An' believe me, us cauldron gals have done plenty. They knows us well from all the letters we's written 'bout stuff--makin' suggestions and pointin' out flaws. ORWEN: But we also make sure we include compliments for what's being done well, too. ORDDU: And if you ever take the time to see Al's entire reports, you'll notice that he also has plenty of positive things to say about Disneyland.
Originally Posted By kennect Come on gals, I know you love Disney...But you girls sort of keep here and don't go after a national audience...I know, I know...Al doesn't seek such it just finds him by chance....
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<Mr. Lutz discovered some cock roaches within the Disney management and dared to shine a light on them. For that he is perceived--by some--as negative.>> Orddu, I would not perceive someone as negative for being critical of Disney management. Even for being consistently critical. My issue is with the fact that he has gone out of his way on his columns to criticize, humiliate, and make fun of these management people. He has apparently DELIGHTED in running them down, to the point that he has raked them over the coals for ridiculously inconsequential things, to the point that he has engaged in adolescent name calling, to the point that he has "beat a dead horse" on numerous issues. THAT is not legitimate criticism. THAT is not working to make the Parks better. What that is is petty bitchiness. And what that also is is a detriment to his own credibility. Sweatheart or not, he needs to take responsibility for what he writes instead of acting the martyr. Part of my upset with him is because he DOES have good insights and good connections. He has a real potential ability to effect positive change for us fans. But he consistently undermines his own credibility with his own negative grandstanding.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 dont bash Al Lutz...he played a signifant role in ousting pressler, harris, and even Eisner. Al Lutz, like myself & many others, was apart of the "Save Disney" campain long before Roy Disney climbed aboard.
