Originally Posted By MPierce >> Well, I firmly believe if they could charge for the drinking fountains and restrooms in Orlando, they would. << The sad thing is, you're not kidding. What's even sadder is, I believe you are right. >> There is such a pervasive feeling of being constantly nickel and dimed to death (good thing I have my 1997 refillable mugs! ... where's New Orleans Nikki?) << I have to disagree with you here. I get the feeling I'm being dollared to death. >> But I'm sorry ... I digressed. ... I'll blame it on our 100-degree weather! Why do I feel it's worth braving earthquakes and Sarah Palin to head for Alaska now? << Sarah should be embraced, although you have yet to see the error of your ways. I'm sure you're more of a Pelosi or Boxer type person. Oh, I'm sorry Ma'am, I meant Senator Boxer.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 This is the shirt I wore today: <a href="http://shop.cafepress.com/design/15895832" target="_blank">http://shop.cafepress.com/desi...15895832</a>
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I'm not sure there even is such a thing as a local fan base in Orlando anymore. It's not like the one in Anaheim that's for sure. If the AP holders, and DVC members ever stand up, and be counted, they would be a force that WDW would have to deal with.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<If the AP holders, and DVC members ever stand up, and be counted, they would be a force that WDW would have to deal with.>> I don't think AP holders are nearly the force at WDW that they are at Disneyland. And I think for the most part DVC members (at least most of the ones I've met) are pretty satisfied with the product we are offered. I tend to look at WDW as a whole rather than a collection of 4 parks. To me the resorts themselves are a very major part of what I enjoy about a trip to WDW. To me the additions of Saratoga Springs, AK Villas and Contemporary Villas are at least equal to the opening of three new "E Tickets". So the MK hasn't seen a new "E" for 17 years. The recent additions of Expedition Everest, Mission Space, Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Madness in the other parks more than satisfy my need for something new at WDW. There have also been new attractions on a lesser scale that I find very enjoyable, including Philharmagic, Nemo and Friends, and the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Sorry... I really do enjoy it. For me the MK is primarily about nostalgia so the lack of a new "E" doesn't bother me. The AK without Beastly Kingdom is strictly a daytime park but that is fine with me. The 5 PM close gives me just enough time to enjoy dinner in the World Showcase and Illuminations. That is where I want to be most evenings anyway. Disney Studios takes a lot of flack from the fan bois for not having animators working there anymore, but really... how much time on an average visit did you spend watching them anyway? For me it was maybe 10 minutes tops. So sorry. If you are looking for rebellion from this DVC'er you aren't gong to get it. But of course you already knew that about me.
Originally Posted By MPierce Would you be putting those keystrokes down just like that when you were sitting in your E ticket attraction sweating on your laptop waiting for the AC to cool down your room so you could go to sleep?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Would you be putting those keystrokes down just like that when you were sitting in your E ticket attraction sweating on your laptop waiting for the AC to cool down your room so you could go to sleep? >> Let me get back to you after my next trip. I've heard some say that the temperature thing was discontinued because of complaints. I would like to hear from someone who has stayed at a DVC resort lately.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I have the Birnbaum for WDW for '89 and 2002. Also an "Unofficial" WDW guide for '89. The unofficial guides are interesting reading, devois, as they are, of all the corporate-speak. The two '89 guides are full of haunting "previews" of the shiny new Disney-MGM Studios. Makes me sad to read about it now...
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I think RoadTrip is exactly the guest that Disney has built their business model on. A person who sees WDW as one whole instead of lots of little entitites. And RoadTrips thoughts about new attractions is how Disney decides when to build and where.
Originally Posted By barboy ///To me the additions of Saratoga Springs, AK Villas and Contemporary Villas are at least equal to the opening of three new "E Tickets"./// Na Dude! There's nothing better than getting drunk or hitting the pipe 30 minutes before 'game time' then strapping into a fresh off the grill E. Can't beat fresh E meat! I've been known to travel to different continents to taste new E's. [OK.... there are much finer things out there but this site is PG-13 so I'll just leave it at that ]
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>>>>> If the AP holders, and DVC members ever stand up, and be counted, they would be a force that WDW would have to deal with.<<<<<< Maybe they are the problem? I know many pass-holders that are complacent and defend the mediocrity. Just look at Magic...Heh.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<<If the AP holders, and DVC members ever stand up, and be counted, they would be a force that WDW would have to deal with.>> < I am both, yet feel powerless
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<Would you be putting those keystrokes down just like that when you were sitting in your E ticket attraction sweating on your laptop waiting for the AC to cool down your room so you could go to sleep? >> Let me get back to you after my next trip. I've heard some say that the temperature thing was discontinued because of complaints. I would like to hear from someone who has stayed at a DVC resort lately. since our next trip is in August heat- I want to hear if this has been changed yet also... like you I am very happy with my DVC product ( I am less pleased about some other things) - but this would tick me off
Originally Posted By Disney and beyond <<I don't think AP holders are nearly the force at WDW that they are at Disneyland. And I think for the most part DVC members (at least most of the ones I've met) are pretty satisfied with the product we are offered. I tend to look at WDW as a whole rather than a collection of 4 parks. To me the resorts themselves are a very major part of what I enjoy about a trip to WDW. To me the additions of Saratoga Springs, AK Villas and Contemporary Villas are at least equal to the opening of three new "E Tickets". So the MK hasn't seen a new "E" for 17 years. The recent additions of Expedition Everest, Mission Space, Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Madness in the other parks more than satisfy my need for something new at WDW. There have also been new attractions on a lesser scale that I find very enjoyable, including Philharmagic, Nemo and Friends, and the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Sorry... I really do enjoy it. For me the MK is primarily about nostalgia so the lack of a new "E" doesn't bother me. The AK without Beastly Kingdom is strictly a daytime park but that is fine with me. The 5 PM close gives me just enough time to enjoy dinner in the World Showcase and Illuminations. That is where I want to be most evenings anyway. Disney Studios takes a lot of flack from the fan bois for not having animators working there anymore, but really... how much time on an average visit did you spend watching them anyway? For me it was maybe 10 minutes tops. So sorry. If you are looking for rebellion from this DVC'er you aren't gong to get it. But of course you already knew that about me.>> These are my viewpoints exactly, except I dislike the Nemo Living Seas.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<It was on the Empress Lilly.>> Nope. That's what I thought, but apparently it was the second.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit, I remember getting my Official Guide every year and reading it over and over again. Looking for the new info. I remember they would sometimes publish when there when certain attractions would be down for rehab. I used to keep them.>> Me too! <<I got rid of them years ago, along with my Disney magazines.>> I have every issue of Disney News, which morphed into Disney Magazine, from 1975 until it stopped publishing. Of course, you don't wanna know how many copies of Eyes and Ears, Disneyland Line, WDI-Eye, press kits, Newsreels, park guidemaps, schedules and even some operating manuals and technical items that I have ... I am pruning a bit now finally! <<Wish i still had them now.>> I don't know about that. I have saved so much I'm just thankful I am organized and live in a large home (and moving to a larger one!) because otherwise Oprah might be doing a show about me and clutter ... (watch as some twit makes me cry over my Dec. 3, 1995 Disney-MGM Studios guidemap and schedule that he wants to trash ... or watch as I take an axe out as he suggests dumping my Opening Day guides to EPCOT, Disney-MGM, DCA, DAK and HKDL (try and guess which ones I was at!). Yeah ... Disney clutter is magical! <<I am with you in that alot of people have no idea how immersive and alive the Magic Kingdom used to be.>> It's not just MK (even though that's what this wild thread was ostensibly about) ... just set aside some 1990 EPCOT Center guidebooks for some friends from my 'Disney clutter' and it is striking how much more superficial and phony Disney is in 2009 ... how all the critics who used to mock my Disney obsession are now not so far off. So much texture is gone ... and with Iger and Rasulo running things one wonders if things are gonna ever get better. <<I remember playing on TSI and getting Lemonade at Aunt Polly's. Now there are just drink machines and last time we were there they weren't even working. Hell, I don't know why they don't at least have someone working an ODV cart there. You would think mgmt wouldn't miss an opportunity to make money selling alot of drinks, ice cream and popcorn but it is that shortsightedness that plagues WDW mgmt.>> All they're thinking about is small-time ... they likely (have no idea) needed to make some improvements to TSI infrastructure at Polly's that would have cost a significant sum (that would be anything over a dollar to the penny-pinchers) ... they also had to staff it (even if you're talking about a handful of $7 per hour CMs) ... now, they don't have to do anything. So what if Aunt Polly's was one of those special places ... so what if it carried forth the story of the place ... so what if it actually made money? The folks who run the place don't think in anything but spreadsheets these days. <<I saw some Frontierland Woody merchandise in one of the Frontierland shops recently and I was like this is cool and then saw that it was actually DLand merchandise. I rarely buy any merchandise at MK.>> I can't tell you how long ago it's been since I did ... I think I bought a parks CD in Fantasyland in 2005 ... that may have been my last purchase. In the 80s and 90s it was standard practice for me to drop hundreds of dollars per trip (sometimes, even four figures if there was something special). I don't do WalMart, so what they have now largely isn't for me. And, frankly, I'll take my chances and buy things at CM locales like Character Connection or Company D when there is something I like. But my local outlet indeed dropped pin prices to $1.99 this week, so I dropped $6 there for three! And camethisclose to buying a decent DAK tee for $7.99. <<I would love to buy a BTMR, HM or SM shirt if they had one worth a damn or at all. The only reason Splash has shirts is because they hope that you might buy one cause you get soaked. If it wasn't for the retro Epcot shirts and the marked down stuff at the outlets i wouldn't have bought anything since I moved here 3 1/2 years ago. I have been going since 1985 and the MK has lost its soul.>> Well, I can only agree obviously ... I've been going since 1974 numerous times a year ... been an APer since 10/1/82 and have spent hundreds of nights at WDW resorts. People can have any opinion they want, but the reality is WDW (and especially MK) are shadows of what they once were. Just dumbed down, homogenized, marketing for the masses.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I save my shopping for Epcot where you can still get unique merchandise in the Showcase. We also have started to collect prints from the Art of Disney stores. Frankly the 'souvenir merchandise', whether from today or 15 years ago, just doesn't hold much interest for us any more. After a while you already have one of everything so what's the point of buying more?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The sad thing is, you're not kidding. What's even sadder is, I believe you are right.>> When I hear Ryanair, that ultra-discount carrier in Europe, charging for restrooms I can't help but think there really is someone at TDO thinking 'if only'. >> There is such a pervasive feeling of being constantly nickel and dimed to death (good thing I have my 1997 refillable mugs! ... where's New Orleans Nikki?) << <<I have to disagree with you here. I get the feeling I'm being dollared to death.>> Tell me about it ... my folks love 'Ohana and we talked about going next month until I explained that the price was either $30.99 or $34.99 (not sure whether the holiday gouging was added or not) a person now. We all agreed we don't love it that much. >> But I'm sorry ... I digressed. ... I'll blame it on our 100-degree weather! Why do I feel it's worth braving earthquakes and Sarah Palin to head for Alaska now? << <<Sarah should be embraced, although you have yet to see the error of your ways. I'm sure you're more of a Pelosi or Boxer type person. Oh, I'm sorry Ma'am, I meant Senator Boxer.>> Actually I'm a none of the above type person ... although if I had to embrace one of them it most assuredly would be the woman I believe I dined a booth away from at the Arby's in Wasilla! (Of course, I'd squeeze her so tight to try and get the demonic crazies out of her ... but I'd hug her alright. I'll leave the others to your Texas charms!)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<This is the shirt I wore today: <a href="http://shop.cafepress.com/desi...15895832>>" target="_blank">http://shop.cafepress.com/desi...>></a> Nice. I just got a new shirt as a gift ... it's Mickey The Rat ... I'm actually wondering if some schmucky CM will hastle me if I dare wear such satire into the hallowed grounds of WDW!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<If the AP holders, and DVC members ever stand up, and be counted, they would be a force that WDW would have to deal with.>> APers don't matter at WDW so much as there probably are as many in the UK or NJ or Texas or Massachusetts as there are in Florida. People have figured that so long as they visit twice in 12 months an AP is the way to go. DVCers are the great hope ... but how many have been members since the early 90s when Disney went into the magical timeshare business? I don't know the numbers and this is just a guess, but I'd say the vast majority of DVCers are say 1999 to today types. I don't know how many realize they're getting the same old recycled magic year after year ... Many of them are likely still in the honeymoon period. I am hoping the absurd locks being placed on their climate control might get them hot under their collective collars, but I really don't know.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't think AP holders are nearly the force at WDW that they are at Disneyland. And I think for the most part DVC members (at least most of the ones I've met) are pretty satisfied with the product we are offered.>> That's what scares me ... a lot! <<I tend to look at WDW as a whole rather than a collection of 4 parks. >> This is what scares me even more ... Remember my Four Stale Parks: One World thread? <<To me the resorts themselves are a very major part of what I enjoy about a trip to WDW. To me the additions of Saratoga Springs, AK Villas and Contemporary Villas are at least equal to the opening of three new "E Tickets".>> That's just pathetic with all due respect, Tripster. People don't visit WDW to see new timeshares. You can't seriously suggest otherwise. <<So the MK hasn't seen a new "E" for 17 years.>> Yes. The world'd No. 1 theme park according to Disney PR (well, they don't give figures out, they just let someone leak them to industry trades and then they never dispute them) hasn't had a major addition since 1992. That's just flat out pathetic. I'm not saying Disney needs to add an E-ticket to MK every 3-4 years, but c'mon ... they add NOTHING ... or worse, they spend and it's crap. They demolish a theater so Phil Holmes can get to his Escalade quicker and then spend to build a new facility in the middle of the sun with no shade or seating for a Stitch dance party to showcase LCI yet again (WE GET IT ALREADY!) and the thing is such an unmitigated disaster they are forced to close the whole thing in a month. They haven't had a new daytime parade since 2001 or a night parade since 1991 (you know when DVC started). They haven't added a new dining location since ... um ... um ... I don't even know. <<The recent additions of Expedition Everest, Mission Space, Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Madness in the other parks more than satisfy my need for something new at WDW.>> What about the guests who only visit MK? Or maybe one other Disney park? And who really cares? MK is stale and tired and that reality supercedes any argument regarding what may or may not be added elsewhere. By your logic since I'm going to ride Manta shortly, I shouldn't complain about MK either because I'm getting a new bigtime ride, even if it isn't at a Disney park ... it's close enough. <<There have also been new attractions on a lesser scale that I find very enjoyable, including Philharmagic, Nemo and Friends, and the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Sorry... I really do enjoy it.>> We all have different tastes. I won't rip yours other than to say I enjoy the first two, but they were cheap and thrown in to MK and EPCOT largely for that reason. Again, I expect more from Disney than 'the least we can do'. <<For me the MK is primarily about nostalgia so the lack of a new "E" doesn't bother me.>> That's the point there, Trippy. And I know you get it. MK isn't supposed to be about YOUR nostalgia for past visits. It's not supposed to be the same (or worse) everytime you visit. Do you think that's what Walt had in mind? Do you think that's what the amazing men and women at WED who built the place and added to it for decades had in mind? That it would be a place that grew stale because Disney could just skate by on rep? <<The AK without Beastly Kingdom is strictly a daytime park but that is fine with me. The 5 PM close gives me just enough time to enjoy dinner in the World Showcase and Illuminations. That is where I want to be most evenings anyway.>> You do know it isn't all about YOU, right? I may enjoy WS at night too, but that shouldn't make it OK for DAK to be able to close at 5 p.m. <<Disney Studios takes a lot of flack from the fan bois for not having animators working there anymore, but really... how much time on an average visit did you spend watching them anyway? For me it was maybe 10 minutes tops.>> You are really covering a lot of territory and bed is calling soon (I do have a real business lunch I have to be at in 12 hours and 10 minutes and need my beauty sleep!) ... BUT ... BUT ... first I haven't heard many fanbois (one word) complain about lack of animators at TPFKaTD-MGMS. And I'll be more than glad to point out the folly in creating an amazing studio that put out three hit animated features (two that were really big) that were all financial successes that have put well over a billion into the coffers in everything from BO to DVD to Consumer Products to theme park attractions ... as well as do work on other hit features and shorts ... and then you shutter it after spending tens of millions (I once knew the exact number, but can't recall now) building the state of the art facility a few years earlier. From both creative and financial viewpoints that makes no sense. But I am glad the execs got to move into the cushy digs when the artists moved to the unemployment line. <<So sorry. If you are looking for rebellion from this DVC'er you aren't gong to get it. But of course you already knew that about me.>> True ...
