Originally Posted By demderedoseguys I also have a list of gripes from last weeks trip. Nothing that should shock anyone,but here goes: Tour groups- 1)Rude, as usual with all the chanting. This trip however, they hit a new low. While stuck in a log at Splash Mountain, the tour group in the boat behind us decided to pass the time away by splashing those of us in the boat in front of them and when we asked them to stop they started one of those obnoxious chants. 2)Tour group leaders who park themselves at a Fastpass kiosk and proceed to get 50 -100 FP's while a line forms behind them. Disney has to do something about this.. Dirty parks- Dirtiest I've seen in years -and I go 2-3 times a year, every year. Long gone are the jokes about litter being picked up before it hits the ground. Just a shame. Bathrooms- Like a sports stadium after a game or rock concert - nuff said. NOTE- Dirty parks and bathrooms are not a reflection of CM's, but more of a reflection of the LACK of enough CM's. Most CM's are a pleasure to be around and do work hard. Security/ bag inspection- Simply a joke. Insults my intelligience and should yours as well. Big lines, barely a search- small lines, let's see what's in that cosmetic case. Customer service- Upon complaining about the aforementioned, basically received NO satisfaction and left wishing that there was a customer service desk to complain to about the attitude at guest relations. I used to go to WDW expecting the best, now I go only hoping for the best. And oh, BTW, I'll be going again in November.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't know what Disney could do about the tour groups getting tons of FP's all at once, other than keep the rese of the group away while the guide obtains the tickets. At least in the really busy times I have seen CM's standing at the entrance to the FP machines creating a holding area, and not letting people go to the machines until there is one that is open. With the bag checks, there is really nothing that they can do. If they were any more thurough, then the lines at busy times would be rediculously long, even if they opened more stations. When the lines are short, they are actually checking the way they should. It would be very easy for people to bring in enough stuff to assemble something pretty bad in the park and just leave it. They should also do something about people with huge pockets full of stuff. I'm one of them, and just feel goofy every time I walk through there, obviously bringing lots of stuff in, and they don't even look at me. I also make sure when I bring a bag that every compartment is open while I'm waiting in line. That way, when I get to the front of the line, they are able to just peek in and wave me past. If people would think about the others in line, I think it would move a lot faster. As you said, the cleaning is just a lack of CM's. WDW has been cutting back on the things that made it special for so long that it is beginning to be hard to tell apart from other parks, as far as quality goes. If the trend continues, people who aren't Disney weirdos like us will begin to notice, and I'm sure people will stop paying the big bucks to go to WDW. The customer service sounds like it is simply unacceptable. You should send them an email, and hopefully that will be a little more helpful. If any CM's should be more friendly and understanding than others in similar fields, it should be Guest Relations. Hopefully you were just there at a bad time, but it is still unacceptable.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<And oh, BTW, I'll be going again in November.>> You can always go down the road to Universal.... why put yourself through this misery... so sad...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Tour groups- 1)Rude, as usual with all the chanting. This trip however, they hit a new low. While stuck in a log at Splash Mountain, the tour group in the boat behind us decided to pass the time away by splashing those of us in the boat in front of them and when we asked them to stop they started one of those obnoxious chants. >> That's not acceptable. But I've seen it from American groups ranging from Cub Scouts to church groups. But it shouldn't be tolerated at all. <<2)Tour group leaders who park themselves at a Fastpass kiosk and proceed to get 50 -100 FP's while a line forms behind them. Disney has to do something about this..>> I don't know what they can. They are following the rules. They are getting in line. I can imagine how annoying it must be waiting behind them as I've got ticked waiting for someone getting a dozen FP's, but there are usually 6-8 FP machines available. <<Dirty parks- Dirtiest I've seen in years -and I go 2-3 times a year, every year. Long gone are the jokes about litter being picked up before it hits the ground. Just a shame. Bathrooms- Like a sports stadium after a game or rock concert - nuff said. NOTE- Dirty parks and bathrooms are not a reflection of CM's, but more of a reflection of the LACK of enough CM's. Most CM's are a pleasure to be around and do work hard. Security/ bag inspection- Simply a joke. Insults my intelligience and should yours as well. Big lines, barely a search- small lines, let's see what's in that cosmetic case. Customer service- Upon complaining about the aforementioned, basically received NO satisfaction and left wishing that there was a customer service desk to complain to about the attitude at guest relations. >> I would write a letter to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel for the Op Ed page. They'll print it if you put your name on it as an out-of-town guest complaining about the conditions and quality at WDW. And Disney will go on damage control afterward, which means some of your complains will receive temporary relief. I'd tell you to complain at Guest Relations, but those CMs are just trained to lie thru their teeth and if you get loud and obnoxious enough, offer something free to make you go away. They don't care about solving the actual problem because it's corporate policy now to understaff custodial and underfund as well. They know your complaints are justified and the truth, but they'll lie right to your face and then tell you to have a magical day. I'd tell you to contact via email or phone the execs in charge of the parks you noticed things out of order. Heck, I'd give you the contact info needed. But my 'friends' at Disney would know it's coming from me and they'd ignore you. Even if you did it on your own, you'd likely get nowhere except a note on your file (and yes, Disney does keep files on guests who complain.) Disney hates bad press, and that might shine some light on the dark problems infesting Team Disney right now. You could contact Scott Powers, the O-Sentinel theme park writer, but he is likely on a very tight leash when it comes to negative stories about the Mouse. Anyway, just some thoughts. Oh, and welcome to the club of oldtimers who still LOVE WDW, but realize just how bad its management is right now.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You can always go down the road to Universal.... why put yourself through this misery... so sad...>> There's a Disney apologist mantra ... let WDW go to hell and if you don't like it, just go to Universal. Pixie, sing a new song. This one's tired. Very much so.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<Pixie, sing a new song. This one's tired. Very much so.>> You know what... all of you sing the same song.... its called Whine Whine Whine... deal with it or move on... IMO
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You know what... all of you sing the same song.... its called Whine Whine Whine... deal with it or move on... IMO>> No. What I am trying to do is offer constructive advice to someone who went to WDW and wasn't as blinded by pixie dust as you are. They saw things that were not as they should be and they have every right to bring it to light. Work for Disney, pixie? Or just take criticism of the place personally like it's an attack on you?
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Spirit of 74...You could use a course in manners yourself. Everyone of us, Pixie included, has the right to their opinion and the right to express it. In spite of the fact that you have appointed yourself the supreme observer of all things bad about Disney. That gets just as old as being an apologist, whatever that is. Pixie is correct. If it gets, in your opinion, unbearable, stop going. It IS that simple. As long as you continue to go no one, not Disney, not us, can take your stand very seriously. I am not saying that you are not correct. What I am saying is express your opinion and let other express theirs and make your own decisions for yourself. In this particular case you made Pixie's words come across sounding like a casual comment and you sounded like an obnoxious twit. I don't even care if I get banned from LP because this place is starting to become a broken record with the same people saying the same things over and over again. There are no real discussions anymore just dribble or mindless bickering.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Pretending that everything is "magical" in the Magic Kingdom is off base. I was working yesterday in someone's home. The screen saver on their PC was a photo of their two young son's standing somewhere in Fantacyland ( up against a resturant ) with Captain Hook and Smeed. You could clearly see the peeling and scraped paint on the building front behind them. Sure most people are not going to notice this. But for someone like myself its very noticiable. Peeling paint isn't going to ruin my vacation at "the world" but I have to draw the line when I walk into a bathroom to find them unsanitary.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys <<You can always go down the road to Universal.... why put yourself through this misery... so sad...>> Since I stated that I am going again in November, moving on is not an option at this point. The sad part is not my opinion or the complaints, but the fact that WDW has become a place where threads like this have to be started. It seems like Disney is trying very hard to become just above average, rather than the perfect place it used to be when I first started going 30 years ago.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 They could set aside one (1) fast pass machine for groups and let them line up rather then everyone else. In the case of the tour group throwing water on you. Next time tell the cm's at the end of the ride that these people assualted you and that you want to file a police report.this is a form of assault and {under my states law} then watch what happens when you ask the cm to please get the names of all the pople and that they be asked to wait till the police get there. One or two times and the whole park will come to a dead stop.I think then wdw will be forced to act.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Amongst my community (theme park enthusiasts) Disney doesn't get a lot of love for the rides but gets props for the whole experience. That experience is almost always defined as the cleanest parks in the business. If that isn't happening now it is a true slap in the face to Walt and all those who have previously taken great care in the parks. I hope they get this corrected.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys Spirit of 74- I wrote and emailed Disney last year with similiar complaints and my son took the obligatory phone call with the message to be relayed to me saying they were sorry for any inconvenience.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys Just want to add this point and I don't want to offend anyone, but it seems that Disney is attracting more of a "rougher" crowd who don't have the respect for the parks as many of us do. For instance, during my past two trips I have witnessed blatant littering when there was a trash can within 10 feet of a guest, parents encouraging their children to urinate on street corners or near trash cans when there are rest rooms all over the place and guests spitting on sidewalks and streets. These are things that were unheard of at Disney until recent years. It seems to me that Disney is attracting what appears to be low class clientele, maybe because of the affordibilty. That's not to say that people with $$ can't be guilty of the same actions, but if Disney kept the parks cleaner, it may prevent some of these slobs from acting in this manner.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 People peeing on the street ? Where in the world are these folks from ? the board of health needs to look into that.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Pixie is correct. If it gets, in your opinion, unbearable, stop going. It IS that simple. As long as you continue to go no one, not Disney, not us, can take your stand very seriously. < this is the same america Loveit or leave it crapola from the 60's -- you don;t abandon something that's broken - you attempt to fix it..by suggestions/ letter writing etc.... if you have a relative that has an addiction problem- do you 'MOVE ON' or try and help ? Don't know why this is so hard to udnerstand <I don't even care if I get banned from LP because this place is starting to become a broken record with the same people saying the same things over and over again. There are no real discussions anymore just dribble or mindless bickering. < hate to say it but if you really believe that ( and I think it is incorrect) - then by the words above ( not mine ) - move on One can't give advice then not follow the same....now I don't want anyone to leave as I do not see it as a broken record but a log of whether it is improving or not. In fact it seems that early in the summer season things had improved and regressed lately...but for those who only want magical news...I believe this is the wrong place...one gets both here
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo ^^^and that's why I love LP. There are rounded views in the main. I too have seen the quality of some offerings erode over the last 30 years (e.g. in the parks and cheapquals), some improve (food, architecture, DSL and films), and some eb and flow (animation, attractions). And I still love Disney, but I will not give them a free pass if they do something wrong, or let standards slip.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^ Nor should you Dave, if you didn't care then it would be easy to do, but we really do care. And sometimes getting themessage out does help. For years DVC heard that people at OKW pool hopped a lot because they did not have a slide for the kids - well that is taken care of. Now I know many people writing letters and answering surveys for OKW upset about the menu cuts at Olivia's. Will it change anything ? Who knows, but guarantee if you don't let them know you don't like it, the assumption will be just the opposite. If Disney didn't want opinions they wouldn't run surveys and ask either. But for some it seems they take personal offense at anything that is written about Disney that is less than what we expect. I really don't understand it. I expect a certain level of return for my $ wherever I spend it in the world, and for certain places who have established high quality standards I expect even more. Disney / Four Seasons Hotels / BMW / certain high end restaurants / my alma mater University etc -- I don't give any of them a pass, nor do I think they want a free pass... It is NOT whining...and I believe that is a condescending way of looking at the comments made here...like somehow if you see something wrong, your opinion doesn't count because it is Disney..wrong. And for those who complain that is all they read here are complaints, I don;t see that as I read more than the WDW section also...there is as much help here as there every was...and comroderie.. If this section or any other was ONLY " what do you like best about MK " etc.. most posters would have been gone a long time ago.
Originally Posted By dsnygrl4evr Wow, several of the above are the reasons I enjoy visiting this board. I don't post a lot, but I read A LOT! I like the fact that MOST on this board LOVE WDW, but can also criticize constructively the obvious problems WDW faces. I am a true fan of WDW and all things Disney, and feel that a fan who can be objective about the parks and the management of them, is what I like to call a purist. I appreciate those fans who can be objective of the parks, because the fact of the matter is, everything isn't pixie dust and magic anymore.
