Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >I'm taking a few week 'holiday' across the Pond (one that alas doesn't include a visit to DLP!) and I won't be reading for a bit.< Have a good trip. By the time you get back this site will probably have been renamed "The Spirit of LP". You'll have taken over the site, just like Stitch took over the MK.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> But does this mean TDLFAN and Spirit are bigger than god? You decide. << No, I don't think so. God has a pretty big following. Spirit, and TDLFAN could be more controversial than God however. Spirit, I can't believe you couldn't slip in a visit to DLP. You're working to hard, that will make an Old Man out of you. Anyway, enjoy the trip, and the visit with Dave, ta-ta.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris "The spirit of Disney is slowly dying. And the fans, rather than trying to save it, are letting it slip away. That is the most depressing thing of all." What is even worse is when you see "fans" telling you everything is still wonderful and dandy. It's akin to a family member standing over the dying body of a loved one in hospital, all the readings dipping to critical and them telling you they are looking forward to taking the palliative care patient skiing next winter. It's called denial. It was sickening back on these boards in 2001 and it's just as attrocious now.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris "Which is why it's great that Disney dreams for us ... and knows that what we want most of all is a couple of cheap pins and a dream fastpass." Exactly. I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear about TYoaMD campaign giving out churros. If your dream is getting a churro.....I mean.....just shoot yourself now. You really don't deserve to be wasting oxygen.
Originally Posted By dshyates If you get a good education, work hard, and stay on the right side of the law you can one day, eat a churro.
Originally Posted By MPierce >>If your dream is getting a churro.....I mean.....just shoot yourself now. << I dreamed about churros last night. Do I have to shoot myself or can I just overdose myself on cinnamon?
Originally Posted By Bob Paris I am feeling inventive today. Thus your punishment is sitting and watching the Disney World vacation planning DVD until your brain starts melting out your ears at the forty two thousand references to "dreams" and "magic" and pirates and princesses. God I am SOOOOOOO over all that sugary s**t.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal ^^^^Whoa, Nellie! There's none of that at WDW!! LA LA LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU LA LA LA LA!!!! P.S. My Wilderness Cabin has a separate bedroom, right? Just in case...I mean, just in case I snore or something.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Have a good trip. By the time you get back this site will probably have been renamed "The Spirit of LP". You'll have taken over the site, just like Stitch took over the MK.>> Thanks ... and somehow I doubt that. I'm sure everyone will have forgotten about me (neh, I can't even pull that one off). >> But does this mean TDLFAN and Spirit are bigger than god? You decide. << <<No, I don't think so. God has a pretty big following. Spirit, and TDLFAN could be more controversial than God however.>> I don't think so. ... Besides, no one has ever started a war in my name or committed atrocities in my name, but I do have my army of mid-level Disney manager stalkers waiting to pounce in the dark of night! <<Spirit, I can't believe you couldn't slip in a visit to DLP. You're working to hard, that will make an Old Man out of you. Anyway, enjoy the trip, and the visit with Dave, ta-ta.>> Not a question of couldn't more a question of couldn't justify the cost since our dollar will soon be worth less than Monopoly money thanks to that great man in the White House, but being a rightwing, redneck, wackjob you already know that ;-) ... And seriously, I'm glad you're posting again. It might help me return when I return. I think I'm going to be back at DLP this winter and I can wait as much as I love the place. And I am greatly looking forward to meeting Dave, who I truly consider to be a huge chunk of the heart (maybe he's the aorta) of these boards ... and he clearly has patience with his children as shown by him putting up with my neurotic attempts to schedule a meeting!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 "The spirit of Disney is slowly dying. And the fans, rather than trying to save it, are letting it slip away. That is the most depressing thing of all." <<What is even worse is when you see "fans" telling you everything is still wonderful and dandy. It's akin to a family member standing over the dying body of a loved one in hospital, all the readings dipping to critical and them telling you they are looking forward to taking the palliative care patient skiing next winter. It's called denial. It was sickening back on these boards in 2001 and it's just as attrocious now. >> That's what I've been saying for years, both here and elsewhere. I think it really comes down to this: Disney has conditioned me expect the absolute best from them in themed family entertainment from the classic animated films of Walt's Nine Old Men to Disneyland to EPCOT Center to amazing resorts like the Wilderness Lodge and the Disney Cruise Line etc ... and over a period of years (starting slowly in the mid-90s) they have lowered their standards and quality all the while touting the same PR as when it was actually true. well, that doesn't sit well with me and many others. BUT ... BUT ... you have a whole new generation of fans (actually more because many older folks never made it to WDW in its first quarter of a century) who are conditioned to a LESSER Disney experience and who enjoy it (because it still ain't exactly crap) and can't understand why some of us seem to be ragging on Mickey and Co. It all comes down to perspective and we all have different points on the map. I just don't want people to tell me that WDW is being run the same loving way it was in the 1970s and 80s because I KNOW that it isn't true ... and all the 'work days' that Inoverherheadmeg takes for Eyes and Ears photo ops ain't gonna change that one iota. I think I'll just repeat that Jay Rasulo must go. Disney needs its parks run by someone who actually well ... you know ... enjoys them.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 And in case those posts don't push this thread toward 500, I'll leave to finish packing with this thought ... Happened to turn on the latest infomercial for TWDC on the Travel Channel tonight (Disney Splurge was the title and it was clearly aimed at the affluent travelers Jay wants so badly ... it focused on everything from having VIP tourguides to dining at Victoria and Alberts while staying at the GF's Walt Disney Suite and renting the Grand 1 for the night to sunrise safaris and dining at Jiko at DAK Lodge to ... yep ... taking an Adventures by Disney tour to Costa Rica). I really don't want to talk about the show, which was a great commercial as they all are perse. But I did see them take a tour through the GF lobby and prominently show the BIG EMPTY BIRDCAGE and all I could think of was that it seemed like a profound sign. Disney is trying to get back the affluent travelers that it lost 15 years ago, but it is still offering a dumbed down product ... the details ... those pesky Disney Details that us 'purists' point to are still being ignored even at a hotel that averages over $500 a night in 'cheap' season. Sure, it's nice that Disney is finally replacing the mall foodcourt tile with real Italian marble floors ... but those birds are still missing and it is obvious to anyone who stayed there or anyone who notices a HUGE BIRDCAGE that something's missing ... and why? The same reason the birds are gone from Poly, CBR and EPCOT's Mexico pavilion -- because it saves money. No birds means no animal caretakers there to tend to them. Again, just a small detail, but Disney used to be all about those details ... not about pintrading, plush, pirates, princesses and pooh playgrounds. And, as I've said about the WDW guests of the past decade, you can't really miss something that you never knew you had to begin with. And the WalMarting continues. And so hopefully will this thread ... without me. Spirit out.
Originally Posted By jkayjs After an exceptionally bad day in the ER I sit here wishing that I was getting up in a few hours to storm the gates of EPCOT. I would love to meander around the grounds enjoying the many offerings from the F&G festival. I love that this place can still take me away from myself. I hope the day never comes when I can't say this anymore. So if the Disney execs really do monitor this site please take note. Trust me when I say I'm your target guest. I enjoy your product and I want to return. But know this, I come for the fantasy, for that wonder that I can't get anywhere else that helps me escape reality. When you stop delivering this I stop coming. I miss many of the "little somethings" that have already gone by the wayside. I can still find the escape I need but please don't deny us anything else and bring back the details that always set Disney apart putting them in a class of their own. Thanks for letting me vent, it's the next best thing if I can't wake up @ the World. BTW Spirt my friend have a safe and wonderful trip.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo jkayjs - you are indeed the core market. You perform a wonderful service for your community, your country and humanity, and as always you have my utmost respect. I do not waist my time on boards because I have nothing better to do. I come on here (besides to socialise with my pals and share info) to try to lobby Disney to remember their roots. Bring in the quality. I totally agree with Spirit here. Disney did much better in the past, and they are still capable of it. In the real world, my job is to improve public services - I am a government advisor and I have run large international company divisions. I try to use my experience of the real world and my love of Disney to express how things can be improved. Our trip to DL (while still had some disappointments - White Water Snacks open 7-7 WTF???) showed us Disney can still do it. And there are indeed pockets of greatness in WDW and DLP, there has been a gradual erosion of quality, that more and more people are noticing. But it's funny, since Spirit and TDLFAN have departed or taken little breaks, its interesting to see how other people have bashed me for my critiques.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Not to defend anything subpar at Disney, but can you look around you and not see the same sad decline in the rest of the places you go to? Not just in theme parks, but banking, shopping for most any product, schools, government, hospitals, you name it, quality has become less and less important. $$$$$$$ is all that matters. I'm not a Dave basher, I just prefer WDW in July. My old bones and joints need heat! That aside, I respect the way you present your thoughts.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...Disney Splurge was the title and it was clearly aimed at the affluent travelers Jay wants so badly ...< FWIW, this week's edition of Samantha Brown's current series is called Disney World On A Dime.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "FWIW, this week's edition of Samantha Brown's current series is called Disney World On A Dime." Does she ever get off the bus?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo bobbelee9 - ironically, I think here in Europe, things are getting better. But I did notice a huge decline in the US, it was a shocking. As a proud expatriated American, I was so sad. But again, just because quality declines elsewhere I will not give a free pass to Disney. In fact, if the quality is maintained or improved, more people will see the value.
Originally Posted By leemac Safe travels Spirit. Having just returned to London from wet and cold Tokyo to find.... my home city to be equally cold and wet I hope the weather improves during your visit.
