Originally Posted By davewasbaloo My only issue with Europa park is the reliance of thrills the last few years. I prefer dark rides in the main, and I know EP has them, but most of them were added 20+ years ago.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 My only issue with Europa park is the reliance of thrills the last few years. I prefer dark rides in the main, and I know EP has them, but most of them were added 20+ years ago.<< They actually added a Dark Ride this past year called Adventure Atlantis, basically Buzz Lightyear underwater. A very cute ride that my 4 year old absolutely adores. They also added a 4D Show called Panda Vision which was better than any other 4-D show I have seen in recent memory.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Cool, i had not heard of Adventure Atlantis. Maybe a future trip is on the cards.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Firstly, I don't think I'd ever call a McD's anywhere near upscale - European or otherwise!>> One of the most vivid memories I have of Stockholm (besides seeing the Wasa) was of Stockholmers all dressed up and eating in Mickey D's. It was surreal. To be fair, I have never seen this anywhere else in Europe.
Originally Posted By dshyates I believe that the sliding standards are a natural ebb and flow process. And I also believe that we just past the apex at the bottom of the standards and are on the way up. As some of the other threads noted, there has been a noted increase of the customer service and entertainment. I was tempted to dis the opinion, but it makes sense. These were my 2 biggest complaints on my '06 visit. It was really disappointing to see tired old parades, no streetmosphere except at DAK, and slovenly disinterested CMs. It really sucked the magic out of the place. We haven't returned since. Its good to hear a good review, but for us it will take way more than one . OK, I believe it was TDLFan who was blown over by the shockwave blast of Disney Magic emitted by MK's Ice Castle lighting. Don'tcha just love when that happens? As far as the standards across America, believe it or not, I believe they are now on the rise. Thanks to hipsters like Justin Timberlake the neck tie has seen a 70% increase in sales over the last year. The aggressive youngsters are starting to realize that polished is impressive, attractive, and most importantly, cool. And they are dragging the youth into a less casual attitude. Good. Its going to take time, but I think we are seeing the birth of a slimmer more polished generation. Let's not forget Brittney, Paris, and Lindsey's role in this. They were the most visible example of the bottom, literally. The classy girls now wear $300 designer panties to flash instead of going commando. Over heard on the red carpet of the VMAs, "Oh, here's Brittney stumbling out of the Limo now. OK, there's the flash. Oh, I'm not sure, but with all the fringe my guess is Blackwell." I made that last part up.
Originally Posted By blueharvest82 Mr. X, you need to go back to neverland my friend. I will keep this short and sweet; no where in the employee manual does it state that there can't be gum chewing on stage. Any guest relations office should have a copy of the manual for you to read. Also, complaining about cast members speaking in spanish is borderline racial. They work very hard to speak english as best as they can to the guests, why should they have to struggle when speaking to each other. By the way, you would be surprised how many guests request cast members that speak spanish. I am sorry you are not muilti-lingual.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I believe that the sliding standards are a natural ebb and flow process.>> An optimist. I'm glad to see they still exist. I completely disagree, but I'm glad just the same. I think customer service is at an all-time low in the USA, and I don't see it getting better. <<And I also believe that we just past the apex at the bottom of the standards and are on the way up. As some of the other threads noted, there has been a noted increase of the customer service and entertainment. I was tempted to dis the opinion, but it makes sense.>> Things have gotten better in many areas. There is more quality entertainment. There are longer park hours again. There are old fave attractions being plussed. There are resort rooms that have been modernized and almost are worth what Disney now charges ... when you get a discount ;-) But there are just as many things headed in the other direction too. Like I've said, inconsistency is the biggest problem at WDW these days ... well that and awful management. <<These were my 2 biggest complaints on my '06 visit. It was really disappointing to see tired old parades, no streetmosphere except at DAK, and slovenly disinterested CMs.>> Tired parades are still there, just two years older. Streetmopshere is very prevalent at Studios. And anyone who isn't a CPer or retiree is likely slovenly and/or disinterested. The good thing is most of WDW's employees are CPers and people who don't need the money. <<As far as the standards across America, believe it or not, I believe they are now on the rise.>> I don't. Not at all. <<Thanks to hipsters like Justin Timberlake the neck tie has seen a 70% increase in sales over the last year. The aggressive youngsters are starting to realize that polished is impressive, attractive, and most importantly, cool. And they are dragging the youth into a less casual attitude. Good. Its going to take time, but I think we are seeing the birth of a slimmer more polished generation. Let's not forget Brittney, Paris, and Lindsey's role in this. They were the most visible example of the bottom, literally. The classy girls now wear $300 designer panties to flash instead of going commando. Over heard on the red carpet of the VMAs, "Oh, here's Brittney stumbling out of the Limo now. OK, there's the flash. Oh, I'm not sure, but with all the fringe my guess is Blackwell." I made that last part up.>> Well, I've been on many a red carpet ... you hear all sorts of things ;-)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Mr. X, you need to go back to neverland my friend. I will keep this short and sweet; no where in the employee manual does it state that there can't be gum chewing on stage.>> I'm not Mr. X. I just try and discredit him whenever I can and ruin his magical memories because I am a slimeball. That said, blueharvest, you are 100% wrong about CMs being allowed to chew gum on stage.
Originally Posted By blueharvest82 Also spirit, (who by the ways I have no problems and enjoy your insight and reviews) I never said they are allowed to chew gum, I just said it wasn't in the manual
Originally Posted By Mr X **Also, complaining about cast members speaking in spanish is borderline racial.** I disagree. **They work very hard to speak english as best as they can to the guests, why should they have to struggle when speaking to each other.** They shouldn't be speaking to each other at all, that was the main point. The fact that it was in Spanish just made it stick out more to my racist ears, I guess. **I am sorry you are not muilti-lingual.** I am. Are you? **spirit, are you cm???** No, but I was. And you can't chew gum onstage, of that I am certain.
Originally Posted By blueharvest82 <<They shouldn't be speaking to each other at all, that was the main point.>> As a guest (like my self), who are you to say who can and can not be speaking to each other?
Originally Posted By Mr X I'm telling you what the company policy is, or at least used to be. Nothing more.
Originally Posted By jonvn "I'm not Mr. X. I just try and discredit him whenever I can and ruin his magical memories because I am a slimeball." A fat slimeball. I agree with you though, I think service in this country is going into the dumper, but it's part of a larger problem of civility in general dying a very painful death. It's not just at Disney, and it's not just service. People are dumber, expect less, and in return do less. I don't see it getting any better.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<spirit, are you cm???>> Never have been. Never will be. (unless it's at a high exec level!)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<A fat slimeball.>> Yeah. A fat slimeball who has lost three pounds in the past week! I think I'll celebrate with some ice cream! <<I agree with you though, I think service in this country is going into the dumper, but it's part of a larger problem of civility in general dying a very painful death. It's not just at Disney, and it's not just service. People are dumber, expect less, and in return do less. I don't see it getting any better.>> Agreed on all counts, Jon. And I never said it was just at Disney. It just saddens me because they were always an oasis in a desert of mediocrity. It isn't anymore. You'll see soon on your trip. You may have all great experiences or all crappy ones. My guess is you'll have some of both.
Originally Posted By mickeyboy43 ^Unfortunately, this is true. Very true. Ive had 2 that stick out in my mind. ONe was at MGM on a SW weekend a few years back. My mom, sister, and I went over to a bench while my dad and other sister went to go get fastpasses for Millionare. My dad asked a CM named TOdd where the line for the Maire fastpasses was and he pointed them off to a loooong line. So my dad stood in line for 5-10 mins waiting on a MIllionare fastpass. Then when he got there, Todd told my dad that he could only get 2 fastpasses since there were only 2 people in line. Then my mom got up and got angry and things turned ugly. Butt ugly. It was actually pretty funny though because he was trying to be all snappy back. My mom eventually yelled him back to the wall and he rounded off the whole thing by telling us that Millionare fastpasses were on the other side of the line and that he had told my dad to stand in line for the wrong ones! That was a funny/strange day. The other one was past trip on Mission Space. I convinced my sisters and mom to go on the Green (easy) ride. They got all the was there and decided to duck out. But the CM in charge of the area refused to let my sister get out of line for the longest time. Then she started yelling and my sister started crying, and i was stuck on the weenie mission all by myself. But it all got better with a few rounds of that aftergame and a coke slushie! Yup, service has gone down. How did spirit put it? Its no longer "an oasis in a desert of mediocrity?"
Originally Posted By MPierce >> members speaking in spanish is borderline racial. << My biggest pet peeve. The over use of the word racist. You could possibly be a biggot for implying that Mr X might have been racist in his remark. >> They work very hard to speak english as best as they can to the guests, why should they have to struggle when speaking to each other. << They better work harder at it then. If you want to stay away from poverty, and being a second class citizen You better learn to speak English in the U.S. of A.. >> By the way, you would be surprised how many guests request cast members that speak spanish. << What does that have to do with anything. >> I am sorry you are not muilti-lingual. << I don't know, I thought Mr X was straight, but that Hot Tub incident with Dennis might have given him a whole new outlook on life. (sorry Mr X I couldn't resist). Next time you start calling people out on things you might want to know a little about them. I would guess an American working in Japan might know a little more than English. .>> And I also believe that we just past the apex at the bottom of the standards and are on the way up. << I'm an optimist also. I certainly hope you are right. I think the vast majority of people are starting to get fed up with service that is less than acceptable.
