Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<hmmm.. practical and dependable...sounds like a good guess...but maybe....a hybrid ?>> Not in Orlando. The natives would throw bricks at it. ... His wife just gave birth to their second child, so I'm seeing the SUV as a possibility too. Late model. <<exactly my thoughts, but what do I know...for a few posts I thought I was back in the World Events section...where everyone tells everyone else what is right and wrong. Plenty of posting police there>> I have never waded in there in either stint here and I never will. Frankly, a lot of those folks scare me. I'm also not sure why there needs to be a World Events forum on a Disney site, except for the fact many people don't want to talk about Disney but then what are they here for anyway? (Sorry, just a stream of consciousness ramble.) <<Ok- we'll get this back on topic and just blame Trippy for getting us of the path --LOL! He's frozen anyway so he won't mind...I am talking to a friend of mine in the twin cities whose furnace has gone out and it is 54 degrees in her house and dropping....>> I like to think everything is Trippy's fault, myself. But I do feel for the poor guy after the recent revelation that Mrs. Trippy doesn't like to go on most rides at theme parks. Apparently, she's a good cook, though, so it all evens out. It's a balmy 68 here in SoFla now and the AC is running. <<OK as for Disney mgmt setting the bar at less than excellent for some guest experiences...it is unacceptable when the major theme that sets them apart from others is Quality. Quality has always been a Disney hallmark and needs to remain ingrained in the management philosophy....sometimes less is more ( think Pooh Playground here) - >> It's the watering down that bothers me so. The fact that basic principles of Disney quality ... show, story, cleanliness etc ... aren't paid attention to. It's obvious that Disney can still build amazing parks and attractions ... but it's now when they want to or when another company is paying. That bothers me. A lot. <<btw - Iger just named CEO of the year by Marketwatch.>> Yep. And he is probably deserving. The thing is, though, it was easy. He bought Pixar ... no brainer. He made peace and brought Roy Disney back into the fold. ... no brainer. He disbanded Eisner's ridiculous Strategic Planning Dept. and cut fat at the Studios ... smart moves. Now, it gets tougher. ABC is doing much better, but it hasn't had a breakthrough hit this season (though Ugly Betty and Brothers & Sisters are both solid). The Studios must do better than the amazing year they had in 2006 or risk Wall Street terming '07 'a disappointment' ... the Parks and Resorts Division needs a new leader and new creative direction ... they also can't rely on DL's 50th to make '07 a big year for attendence ... heard on the radio tonight that Orlando hotels had poorer than expected results in September and October. ... and of course, there's global expansion, especially in China, and that hasn't gone smoothly. I wish him all the best for another great year, though!
Originally Posted By leemac <<Lee, You are paying way too much on your clothing...I love the stores you shop but still their quality isn't any higher than many other lower class retailers...Then maybe again your hitting their outlet stores...>> I guess I don't look at the prices. I'm not a huge fan of clothes shopping so I'm happy with those three brands (A&F, REUHL and Banana Republic) and a store like Macys/Bloomies for other stuff. I also disagree with the Macys comment. Although I don't agree with national homogenisation of a product (and the Marshall Fields in Chicago switched overnight when I was there earlier this year) Fed have been clever at being a broad retailer. No point being the high-end as there is so much competition there now with Bloomies expanding into the old Macys acquisition stores (and some of the even older Monty Ward stores), Saks, Neiman and Barneys expanding too. The middle of the road works and they are ultimately filling the void left by Sears and JC Penneys when they went for the low income crowd. I tend to buy stuff like my CKs, Rockport shoes etc. from Macys as they tend to be cheaper than anyone else.
Originally Posted By leemac <<<<It looks good (although I probably skew a little old for A&F's target audience I'm the right build) and lasts.>> Glad to hear you're keeping in shape.>> Dunno about being in shape but I've a naturally slight build. Can still wear the largest kids sizes from places like Disneyland and abercrombie! Crazy. Remarkable as I spend about 3 quarters of the year in hotels.
Originally Posted By leemac <<getting used to my first C230, but once I did ... I just love the way the cars drive. >> We've got a S and a new ML and I must admit the S is an absolute joy to drive. Just don't get to use it that often.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Guess it is all down to your own opinion. I would rate DAK Lodge as one of the finest resorts in the country. All-round excellence.>> I guess you missed our 'world class hotel/resort thread' a while back, but I made that very same point. Now, how the DVC expansion is going to affect it remains to be seen ... <<GF doesn't do a great deal for me but it is still a 5* gem. The Sugarloaf service especially is exceptional.>> I doubt you will do so, Lee, but if you are so inclined spend a few nights at the Ritz or even the J.W. Marriott at Grande Lakes and then tell me the GF is a 5-star gem. <<The issue will also be whether one of the deluxe resorts can be as good as the corporate hotel brands like Conrad, Westin and W. I'm in the Bellevue (WA) Westin this week and my room and the service is phenomenal. They are always there. But it is a different kind of clientele and the hotel is likely to run at 1.1 people per room (even when full) compared to the 2.9/3.1 range that WDW deluxe hotels run at.>> Yes, but Disney knows that. You must staff and plan based upon what happens at your resort, not based on the industry. We all know Disney is a different animal. And since you told the whole world where you are staying, don't blame me if someone sends you a pizza at 3 a.m. ... it won't be me!!! And you don't have to sell me on Westin or their quality. Just spent a long weekend at their resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama. I wish I could get that kind of service at WDW.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<We've got a S and a new ML and I must admit the S is an absolute joy to drive. Just don't get to use it that often.>> My brother is thinking of getting an S, but he also travels a lot. But YOU should just have one at every Disney destination on earth. Just keep 'em waiting for you since you're around so often!
Originally Posted By leemac <<And you don't have to sell me on Westin or their quality.>> I'm still a Conrad fan but wish Hilton could hurry up and build out that range. The few I've had the pleasure of staying at (Tokyo, Hong Kong during the park's construction and Chicago) have been unbelievable. But I've spent a lot of time in Westin/W this year and I've been very impressed. <<I doubt you will do so, Lee, but if you are so inclined spend a few nights at the Ritz or even the J.W. Marriott at Grande Lakes and then tell me the GF is a 5-star gem.>> You are right. Never. I will only ever stay on property. I see no point in having a five star spa resort next to WDW if you are spending the time in the parks. And if you are there to relax rather than park-hop I'd have to question your jusgement on choosing Orlando in the first place! I rarely leave the resort when I'm there. Soulless and culturally barren city. No comment on the pizza.
Originally Posted By leemac <<But YOU should just have one at every Disney destination on earth. Just keep 'em waiting for you since you're around so often!>> LOL! I'm not sure Disney would pay for that. Not even Bob's car is an S600.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I guess you missed our 'world class hotel/resort thread' a while back>> I think I did. In light of some of the conversations going on recently I've not really read the boards much. Just not appropriate for me to wade into them. Plus it has been a quiet Disney news sort of month.
Originally Posted By leemac I can't remember where you said it Spirit but I recall you mentioning that you switched from WDW to elsewhere at some stage. Beyond work I've had the same thoughts for a while although it has never been about quality of service. We have gone through cycles. The mid-nineties saw us visiting WDW a lot. Lengthy trips during the year. We switched to Disneyland for the 40th but then reverted right back to WDW through the Millennium. We didn't flip back to DL until '01 and I think we were out there like 6 times in 18 months. WDW went on the back burner. We have been a lot more balanced recently but I'm starting to get bored with DL. Was there for work on Sunday just wandering around on my own and I just didn't feel any buzz at all. I miss WDW though and can't wait for the events at the end of January. TDR and DLRP come and go in my mind but I don't have the same emotional attachment to them. For some reason I do with HKDL and miss it immensely. Not sure if that made any sense (I am half-way through a lovely bottle of Washington State Syrah!). )
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Which is, at 18mos, ALREADY falling apart. Almost all lights in the facade are burnt out, the clock face has stopped moving, and there are already dolls out for rehab. WDI REALLY got ripped off on this one.>> I was just on IASW Monday Dec 4th. The clock was working fine and ALL nights were working. The ride was in tip top shape. ALL characters were working. I made sure and NO missing ceiling tiles.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<So they can spend money on LED lights at a SHOPPING complex but NOT for Main Street and Small World? umm, yeeeeeeaaaaaaa...............>> Who says they didn't upgrade the lights on Main Street? I was mearly commenting on the lights in Downtown Disney where they had a Christmas Tree catch fire last year. Anyway, its another example where Disney IS improving and doing a much better job.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I returned a day before Tom from a 3 day trip to the Mouse House. And, I think I can often be more critical of the place than others since I worked there and have visited hundreds of times. But, I'll say this, each time I go there is something...or many things...that continually impress me. This trip it was the Nemo Musical, the Dream Fireworks show, Mickey's Philharmagic and a host of other things. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention but I didn't notice lights out, areas in need of paint, dirtiness, etc. To be honest, the cast members seemed to be in good moods, fresh, etc. I did notice that the "Disney Look" didn't seem to be enforced to the degree it has been in the past but not to the point of being offensive. I don't know, I just think that LPers tend to think, talk, and breathe Disney so much that they are just looking for something to complain about.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I'd like to chime in on some of the comments being made about the Disney resorts. I don't quite see how they fit into the overall "declining" discussion. Resorts is one area where Disney has made vast improvements. Anyone who visited WDW in the late 70s and early 80s should be able to attest to the absolutely horrible service at the WDW hotels. It was abysmal. Maide service was spotty, check-in times were rarely honored, and you could hardly ever get into the type of room that you reserved because the reservation system really stunk. Disney, quite honestly, just had no idea how to run the hotel business. The hotels, at that time, had some unique amenities that attracted guests (and continue to attract guests): monorail service to the parks (or bus service at the Disney Village hotels), some unique theming at the Polynesian and Contemporary, and a "get away from it all" atmosphere during the time when WDW and Orlando were still "sleepy" and not overrun with overnight guests. However, if anyone was going to pick a hotel based on service or upkeep, they never would have selected a WDW hotel during the first 10 years they were in operation. Those resorts consistently got bad reviews in those key areas from critics and guests alike. I think the WDW resorts have made great strides since then.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>making the assumption people who drive BMW's as an example are all debt ridden is another misconception. << I suspect that the buyers of the high end models are mostly very wealthy people who can pay cash for their super cars. But I wouldn't be surprised if the lower end 3 series were purchased (or more likely leased) mostly by middle to upper middle class folk.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I used to rib a friend of mine about his fancy BMW and asked him how much the payments were. He always emphatically stated that he paid for it in cash and would never borrow money for such a frivolous expense. That was before they foreclosed on his home and repossessed the vehicle. One thing I have learned over the years -- people consistently lie about their income and finances to save face with their peers and justify the status symbols they accumulate which are really unjustifiable. The wealthiest people I have ever known, including my next door neighbor who is worth in excess of $100M, wouldn't be caught dead driving a luxury car or living in a McMansion-style subdivision. They don't stay in the 5-star hotels. That's why they have so much money in the bank. I honest don't know how WDW will continue to survive as a viable business when the housing market collapses and the U.S. debt bubble bursts. I suspect a hefty percentage of WDW vacationers are paying for their resort stays via mortgage equity withdrawal and not cash in the bank.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <One thing I have learned over the years -- people consistently lie about their income and finances to save face with their peers and justify the status symbols they accumulate which are really unjustifiable. The wealthiest people I have ever known, including my next door neighbor who is worth in excess of $100M, wouldn't be caught dead driving a luxury car or living in a McMansion-style subdivision. They don't stay in the 5-star hotels. That's why they have so much money in the bank. < you don't know all people...are there people worth $100M that don't spend it - sure there are, but I would say they are the exception to the rule, not the standard ...but to cast those with 'possessions' as people who lie about their net worth is just flat out wrong...and to me sounds like either wishful thinking or jealousy..or reading too many news clippings. There are plenty of people who have it and use it....my wifes best friend married into a wealthy hotel chain family ( not Hilton but close) - and btw they are a pediatric surgeon so not poor on their own...I guess I should tell them to move down from where they live and stop spending their money....geez. Not every rich person saves every nickle and lives down driving a 10 year old Dodge not every person with a nice home in a nice suburban gated community is living paycheck to paycheck people don't fit that neatly into boxes... sometimes I get the feeling there are those who wish ill on those who have more than they do...I just don't understand why......
Originally Posted By mrichmondj sort like the feeling I get about all the those who wish ill on everything at the Disney parks . . . I just don't understand why . . .
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I honest don't know how WDW will continue to survive as a viable business when the housing market collapses and the U.S. debt bubble bursts. I suspect a hefty percentage of WDW vacationers are paying for their resort stays via mortgage equity withdrawal and not cash in the bank.<< While I agree with vb in that there are planty of well heeled folks out there, I also agree that there are plenty of WDW vacationers who fit the above description as well. It is no secret that consumers have been using their home equity as a piggy bank this past decade. It will be interesting to see what happens if the housing market does not bounce back.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <sort like the feeling I get about all the those who wish ill on everything at the Disney parks . . . I just don't understand why . .< I would agree with that...I am critical of things that I feel are wrong - but sometimes it seems to go beyond trying to make sure quality stays in place...
