Originally Posted By fkurucz <<This easy-payment plan is designed to maintain and expand the program in a big way.>> Or perhaps there has been a big drop off in AP renewals and this is a carrot to keep people coming back?
Originally Posted By danyoung >...the longer they wait to begin, it's that much farther into the future before we'll see it.< Agreed. But who knows what they have in the pipeline? They most likely have many different scenarios ready, just waiting on the green light of funding. >..despite all those predictions especially on other websites about how Disney planned to reduce or eliminate the AP program, we see that those predictions couldn't have been more off base and wishful thinking.< I'd have to say that those predictions never came from Disney. While the websites were saying that, Disney was expanding its advertising to get more and more AP's. So I don't think Disney ever seriously considered curtailing the program.
Originally Posted By jedijeff25 So all of you that despise seemingly everything DL does....you won't be going anymore right? I mean, according to you the value is not worth what is offered to get into the ghetto? So you won't be going right? Sweet. Less people my kids and I deal with when we go at least twice a week. I totally get discussing some things that could be better.....but blasting every move that is made.....actually, go ahead.....keep doing it.....that means your not at the park in line in front of me.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <Characters in IASW and Winnie the Pooh offerings are not worth it. Hence why I think this (and the AP programme) are bad for the DLR.> Okay so I am a bit confused - You say the payment plan is bad -- Like I said I wouldn't do it even if it was offered to all APers since I stagger our passes to make them more affordable -- Then you say the AP program is bad for DLR...Is is just bad for DLR? Don't you have Ap's for DLP? I don't remember reading how they are cheapening the experience by giving free AP's to children under 7 this year. <<Disney was never designed to be a place people go regularly and cheaply. The amount of people who used to save up even in the relatively cheap days of ticket books. Why did they save? Because it was worth it.>> It still is worth it to some of us - I go 8-10 times a year and love it every time - I can't wait to get there and hate it when I have to leave... Having my AP has not cheapened my experience at all. It has only enhanced my ability to go more often and enjoy it more.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Don't you have Ap's for DLP? I don't remember reading how they are cheapening the experience by giving free AP's to children under 7 this year. <<< I agree, they are cheapening the experience at DLp this way too, but by the same token, I will not cut my nose off to spite my face.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <I agree, they are cheapening the experience at DLp this way too, but by the same token, I will not cut my nose off to spite my face.> My point Dave was why aren't you in the DLP thread saying these same things? I just don't get why it is you feel it necessary to continue to point out all the short comings in your opinion of the parks here. The only way to show your dislike for these things is don't go. If enough people who are dissatisfied with the way things are going just stopped going maybe the changes you feel are necessary will start to come about.
Originally Posted By danyoung >So all of you that despise seemingly everything DL does....you won't be going anymore right?< It's taken me a long time to realize that it's possible to be entirely negative about what the Disney company is doing these days and still love the parks with a passion. In fact, some of the most vocal critics are that way because they remember what the parks used to be and how the focus used to be much more on the show and less on the return on investment.
Originally Posted By jedijeff25 danyoung, you make good points and end with a positive outlook. That's how it should be done. You show a concern but still hold out hope that things will work out. Perfect. But there are quite a few from which it is purely negative. Those are the ones, who hold no hope that Mickey will conquer the bad guys, that should stay away until all is "fixed". For those like you Danyoung, I'll stand behind you in line any day. Well, unless I'm hungry. Then I'll go eat first. Or if I gotta pee....then, well, you know.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I do give DLP a good kicking if it is deserved, but on it's own curve, things are improving rather than getting worse. On the European boards I get into some hot debates too, but here on LP, the DLP board is virtually in a coma most of the time). I cannot say the same of WDW (and to a lesser degree DL). In fact I love DL with a passion, hence why I get so passionate about it. DL was the whole reason why I do get hot headed about this stuff and cannot sit idly by. I was on a Programme Management Certification course last week, and to me my concerns with modern Disney resonated even more true as we talked about 5-20 year change cycles, blueprinting, financial sustainability models etc. It made me realise that even if people bashing me can hurt, it hurts even more to know that the direction of travel of my beloved parks is going south. I really do yearn for the good old days, where it was quality rather than lean six sigma that ruled the day. BTW - thanks Dan If I didn't care, why would I waste so much time and money on it? It's not a waste btw
Originally Posted By danyoung >But there are quite a few from which it is purely negative. Those are the ones, who hold no hope that Mickey will conquer the bad guys, that should stay away until all is "fixed".< I tend to agree. Some folks around here are so consistently negative that it's hard to see how they can be getting any joy out of the subject at all. Like most people on these and other boards, I'm a Disney park fanatic - it's pretty much my main hobby in life. I get out to both coasts 1 or 2 times a year, and the rest of the time I'm counting down till I get back to a Disney park. Even so, I still see the problems, and want to hold Disney's feet to the fire till they're fixed. But then you gotta be careful with a positive attitude around here, or else you get labled a pollyanna, which I most definitely am NOT. >For those like you Danyoung, I'll stand behind you in line any day. Well, unless I'm hungry...< Hey, we'll get turkey legs and stand together in line, and badmouth all those who don't agree with our correct opinions!
Originally Posted By jedijeff25 Sounds good. The turkey leg is on me. Err....I mean.....I'm buying. Do you hear that.....someone typing something negative about the current state of the turkey legs.......
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I will call out when I see major improvements too: - see my latest DLP reports where I was very pleased - the addition of the Tinker Bell fiber optics to the floral Mickey at DL - Remember Dreams Come true - I fawn over Epcot and DAK - I commented positively about Expedition Everest (even if the Yeti never worked for us) - I praised Aladdin majorly at DCA - I think the Grand Californian and Napa Rose are too of the best tourist assets anywhere in the world. The issue is, there seems to be very little good news to me, and a whole heap of bad (from my perspective on the resorts). I fell in love with DL when characters were a small part of the experience, not the focus of today.
Originally Posted By jedijeff25 <<I fell in love with DL when characters were a small part of the experience, not the focus of today.>> I'm with you on that. It would just be good to have more people call out the good stuff as well.....even if it's not something brand new....there is still plenty of Walt's "stuff" in the park. And I think that stuff, more than any other, is what gets us back there. Complain all they want, I have mine too, believe me.....but there is still plenty of Magical stuff to see and do and that should never be lost site of.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>It would just be good to have more people call out the good stuff as well.....even if it's not something brand new....there is still plenty of Walt's "stuff" in the park.<< There is. And there are lots of threads for that, though they seldom generate the same number of posts as "negative" topics. I could list 10 things I love about the parks for everything I'm not fond of. But keep in mind, most everyone here is here because they are fans of the parks and have a lot of fond memories of them. So, what some view as "negative" is really just some people who do love the parks discussing what could be done to make them better. And that, when you get right down to it, is a "positive" thing. Davewasbaloo is making "constructive" criticisms, not just blindly trashing the parks. i think his concern is one that always exists for Disney fans, sports fans, whathaveyou: You don't want your favorite team, park, etc. to rest too long on their laurels, or to fade too far from the original vision and intent. Baseball fans will bleed the team colors, but it doesn't stop them from bemoaning terrible pitching or coaching. Same is true with Disney. Plus, how many different ways can you say how much you enjoy Splash Mountain? It isn't a particularly interesting conversation after awhile. It's more fun, for me anyway, to wonder about "what's next?" with Disney.
Originally Posted By jedijeff25 I actually complimented Davewasbaloo. The "Things I Love At Disneyland" thread did pretty well. Fans bemoan their teams but also cheer them when they do well.(It's not like Disney is the Clippers....sorry Clipper fan.) My comments are for those, and there are lots, who NEVER cheer for the park. If they are really fans, they would find a positive comment to go along with the complaint about every single trash can that is put in a new place or every chip of paint on the Autopia handrail after millions of people just ran their hand along it during Summer. It's just tough to understand how they can really enjoy it when all they look for is the negatives. I get it.....beat Disney up on the many things that need to be fixed....but give those 65 acres some love, too.
Originally Posted By danyoung >And "what's next" definitely IS the best part.< You're such a pollyanna . . .
