Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Recently returned from a spirited visit to the Timeshare Kingdom of the World ... or is it The Place Where Dreams Come True ... hmm ... but all that merchandise sez 'Where Magic Lives' ... so confusing, only a Jay Rasulo puppet exec could figure it all out. That said what follows are my usual stream of concsiousness ramblings of what I experienced and observed ... the good, bad and ugly and my opinions of what it might all mean for Disney park fans. A warning also that most of this will be the bad and the ugly as I don't feel the need to repeat all the great things about WDW unless they are new experiences to me. So Everest may be great, but I've ridden dozens of times ... Illuminations may still thrill me, but I've likely seen it over 100 times ... so if you can't handle the truth, you might want to change channels now. I guess I should start out with the following statement because I think it might sum up exactly my feelings on where I stand right now on the State of the World: it might be best if on future visits I limited myself to just going to DAK, the great park that keeps getting better, and Epcot, the park that even a decade of being run by weenies hasn't destroyed ... yet and the resorts. I think my reports would be a helluva lot more upbeat if I did that. I say that because I honestly find myself sickened more each time I go to the MK (especially) and Disney-MGM as well. The MK is staler, blander and dirtier each visit and it's very obvious that so long as it's the cash cow of the WDW parks empire, that Jay, Al, Inoverherheadmeg, Erin and Phil will do nothing at all to make it close to the place it was 20 years ago. Some examples of what's wrong with the MK: in two visits on different days, the queues were FILTHY with trash and I never saw a solitary custodial CM ... do they even exist anymore? PoC, Buzz and Peter Pan were especially bad. Fountains all over the park remain stuffed with buckets of plants to cover up the fact they haven't operated for years ... some examples ... the Walt Disney Story (oops, I mean HUGE Kodak shop that isn't needed) courtyard, the one outside First Aid and 2-3 locations in Adventureland (oh, and one outside Italy in Epcot, while I'm thinking of it). Most people wouldn't notice, naturally, which is why they continue to ignore the infrastructure. Show elements are awful. PoC on two visits (on the same weekend day) had the Davy Jones effect inoperable so all you heard was him talking and a light above ... inside the synch between the 1973 and 2006 audio remains muffled and muddled. Splash Mountain got a great looking new paint job in January, but inside? All the problems detailed here remain. How about the intricate pavement work in the Carribbean Plaza entry between Adventureland and Frontierland ... the thing is rotting away so badly there are potholes that will give NYC a run for its money. I seriously doubt that one finger has been raised on this in at least 15 years. Then, there's the Mansion. At least it's going down for the summer for rehab. But don't expect anything significant added as the budget gets cut more than a cake at an Compulsive Eaters Anonymous convention. Even when there's good, there's bad. I saw more themed trash cans make appearances ... and more overflowing ones and walkways littered with trash. And please, don't give me the condescending rebuttal about guests being pigs because while it may be true now it always has been and it still doesn't mean Disney shouldn't allocate the needed resources to make the park look pristine ... especially since across town Universal has no trouble doing so even with a major event like Mardi Gras going on. The Crystal Shop has returned to a full, regular sized location, but took away the Market House with it. I doubt it'll return, so yet another piece of Main Street USA dies. Center Street recently came out from under the rehab tarps and looks brand new ... BUT every shop on the street is closed and covered with blackout on the walls making it again look like an outlet mall gone bad. While I'm sure the Super Wal... I mean SuperWorldofDisney that merchandise honcho Dan Cockerell has turned the left side of Main Street into may seem wonderful to the plush, pin and princess pushers, I can tell you from observing that (forget the Golden FastPass) it's a shoplifters dream. They've added lights to the trees in the Hub, including blinking ones on the corners, but it'll take at least 5-6 years for them to mature to the point anyone will be able to enjoy them. OK ... so want a Monster sized laugh? Well, it's the fact that only at WDI could you conceive of, sell and create an attraction costing tens of millions of dollars that's so devoid of anything worthwhile yet you keep your high-paying jobs. Kevin Yee did a fantastic job on Miceage talking about all the details, so I'll spare you from them. But this attraction, from the banners hanging in a queue where much remains from Timekeeper to the plastic kiddie-playground type benchseating to the subpar animation to the guy voicing Mike (who sounds nothing like Billy Crystal) just reeks of the triple C -- CHEAP CARTOON CRAP! Yes, to be fair I will say that the kids in the 12:30 a.m. audience seemed to enjoy it. But WDW isn't supposed to be only for the 4-10 crowd up way past their bedtimes. I am not a huge fan of Turtle Talk, but can appreciate it because I usually laugh and smile when I see it ... not MLF. While I'm on the bashing, the Living Seas ... oops, I mean the Seas With Nemo just looks abysmal inside. Why couldn't they rehab the whole pavillion at once? The second floor observation level into the tanks is dark, dismal and very poorly maintained ... the carpet looks like it hasn;t been replaced since 1986 and apparently the new 'thing' to do is spit gum on it because Disney custodial won't remove it... the walls are peeling, rotting and have been neglected for so long that they need more than just a simple paint job. I remember how futuristic and awe-inspiring this place was 20 years ago ... so sad that it's falling apart now except for the Nemo clams ... which finally have a wall so that you can't see directly from their entrance into the sea base. Saw a laser on SSE right at the very last scene (light tunnel) before you exit into the top of the dome ... thought it might be new, but I think it's just been inoperable for 10-15 years and Siemens has it working now. They are also working on a major redo of the postshow area and at some point soon the ride will be shut down for TLC and (hopefully) updating. The DVCing of the AKL has begun with much of the fifth floor closed off and major construction work going on. You can actually see clear thru the rooms on the left side of the pool (looking from Jiko) as they have been totally gutted already as Disney wants to milk the cow again ... Got to watch the demolition of the very last few parts of the Contemporary North Garden Wing and admit I found it very, very sad ... I probably stayed in that section on 5-6 trips, including my very first 'on site' stay as a child and am saddened to see it torn down for a timeshare tower that will forever change the complexion of that part of the resort. CMs were universally wonderful ... how they do it amazes me ... but I didn't have one interaction that was less than pleasant, many were truly great. (of course I didn't talk to any execs this trip either!) Food was another high point. Meals at both quick serve as well as full were all good to excellent (even the California Grill which has just replaced chefs). The WL pool is being rehabbed thoroughly and is closed with guests being directed to the Villas pool, which can't handle the load, or shuttled to the Contemporary (which has a lot fewer rooms than it did last fall!) ... while I find the work much-needed and admirable, the timing isn't very good at the heart of college spring break. January would have been better. Also, when you see the outsourced workers traipsing thru the lobby from their vans (St. Cloud based) ... and you see only 3-4 workers actually doing anything, you realize yet again that the 21st century is a whole new world. Saw the tail end of an ugly incident at the Finding Nemo Musical on Friday afternoon in which security and county sherriff's deputies were called and security CMs were quite nasty in chasing off anyone who might 'witness' anything while seated in a nearby area... as near as I can figure, the man with a wife and three young daughters (one confined to a wheelchair) were denied access to the show after being let into the theater due to the fact they have no organization when letting people in to the show.They seem to always let 100 people too many in and then assume it's 1987 and folks can just squish in, which naturally doesn't happen. I take it that the father assumed he was guaranteed a spot in the handicapped area when he was let in and things took a nasty turn, although I doubt it became physical. The wife/mother was crying and seperated from her husband with the girls. I don't know any other details, but maybe someone else here does? I just had a gut feeling (and my gut is usually right) that while the man may have told off a CM or two, he wasn't an evildoer and his trip was just ruined. Let's go back to the resorts where ... guess what? I don't have to bring soap and shampoo from home anymore. The hideous Ivory and make-your-hair-disappear shampoo have moved on after five years ... Disney has H20 products, including higher-end for the deluxe resorts and special stuff at the GF ... but even the values have new stuff and it is quite usable. Way to go! The rumor I have heard from excellent sources is that the wife of a bigtime exec stayed at one of Disney's better resorts and couldn't believe the crap that was being supplied to guests ... so out went the crap, in came the better stuff. And to end on a very positive note, guess who just reupped his WDW AP for a 25th straight year? Yeah, despite what you may believe, I still love the place ... and I'm also smart enough to know that it will outlive the folks who run it with no sense of respect or history for the amazing legacy they have been handed.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Almost forgot to diss Mousekeeping yet again. I slummed it on this trip, knowing I would be in the parks or with friends almost all the time, so I stayed at POP. Well, I had towel animals waiting for me when I arrived ... and new ones every day. But a truly clean room? Hah? Surely you jest (and yes, I'll call you Shirley if I want to!) We could start with the cookie wrappers left between the bed and the nightstand. Or the fact one of the comforters had huge holes on the top. Or that there was an inch of dust on the bottom of the nightstand where the phonebook resides. Or the fact the TV had fingermarks from a child (?) with dirty, sticky fingers on it. Or how about the bathroom floor that had enough body hair left behind to make Borat proud? Bottom line: Disney Mousekeepers are trained/taught to make rooms appear clean to guests just so happy to be at such a magical place ... not actually clean them. This is a constant issue across all WDW resorts. I guess I shouldn't mention how I left a sunflower seed and half a cashew on the nightstand for four days to see if it would disappear and it never did. But hey, dem towel animals are way kewl ... oh, and Stacy is acting all Kryssa acting Samantha Brown!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Very sad but not surprising. I agree, the only things worth while at WDW these days are DAK, Epcot, the resorts and restaurants. If I want Magic, I'll go to California.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I guess I shouldn't mention how I left a sunflower seed and half a cashew on the nightstand for four days to see if it would disappear and it never did. << Ah...the old James Bond trick! Or was it Don Adams....I forget.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip A few comments on your comments... Queues... I agree with your comments 100%. I think the specific problem with the queues you mention is that significant portions of them are out of the sight of any CM. I have noticed this particularly at Buzz where guests, and I use the term loosely, apparently take great joy in peeling off the paint and the top layer of the drywall used in the queue. This could all be avoided by having CM stationed in areas so that no parts of the queue are unwatched. This is actually a pretty decent idea for the safety of guests too. Yea, it would cost a little money. But I bet you can pay a lot of entry level CMs to watch the queues for what Disney pays the carpenter/painter they need to repair the damage. I also have to agree with you on the Living Seas. I'm very happy that the lower level has some life again. I also think the Nemo ride is a dandy dark ride. But unfortunately I again have to agree with you 100% on the sad condition of the upper level. Now for a few areas where I'll pick a nit... <<Fountains all over the park remain stuffed with buckets of plants to cover up the fact they haven't operated for years ..>> Does this have anything to do with water conservation? I think I read somewhere a year or so ago that theme parks, hotels, etc. were being asked to turn off fountains etc. in an attempt to conserve water during a very dry year. <<<<plastic kiddie-playground type benchseating>> <<CHEAP CARTOON CRAP!>> Hate to have to tell you this Spirit, but Monsters WAS a cartoon. What would you expect them to use for seating... Victorian style sofas? <<I guess I shouldn't mention how I left a sunflower seed and half a cashew on the nightstand for four days to see if it would disappear and it never did.>> Your complaints about garbage in out of the way places and hairs in the bathroom are certainly justified. But for the sunflower and cashew thing... I think Mousekeeping has been taught to NEVER TAKE ANYTHING left on any surface in the room. I noticed this last trip when I left a few dollars lying on a towel on the vanity for the 'Trash and Towel' Mousekeeper. I usually put tips on a bed pillow, but since this person would just be collecting old towels and leaving new ones I figured they would never even check the beds. When we got back to our room the towel that the money had been sitting on had been taken, but the dollar bills were now sitting on the vanity in exactly the same place as where they had been on the towel. A candy wrapper may be trash to one person and the wrapper holding the Wonka Golden Ticket to another. My guess is that Mousekeeping is told to NEVER make an assumption about something left on a nightstand, vanity, etc. being trash. If so, they were just doing what they had been trained to do in response to your 'test'. Great review though Spirit. I agree about the resorts, restaurants and Epcot being the best of WDW. That is why we love the Boardwalk... we are probably in Epcot for at least a portion of our day every day we are at WDW.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I think Mousekeeping has been taught to NEVER TAKE ANYTHING left on any surface in the room. ... A candy wrapper may be trash to one person and the wrapper holding the Wonka Golden Ticket to another. My guess is that Mousekeeping is told to NEVER make an assumption about something left on a nightstand, vanity, etc. being trash. >>> I've noticed this trend in housekeeping in general in hotels over the last couple of years. For example, if you leave a half-consumed drink in glassware on the desk, it used to be that this would be cleaned up and you'd have a new set of four clean, empty glasses. Starting a couple of years ago, I've noticed that at most hotels, they will leave the partially-consumed drink in place, often with a napkin or coaster placed on top to signify that this was done on purpose. The same is true of newspapers unless you've placed them in the trash. A scrap of paper could have an important phone number written on it, and there's no way for them to tell.
Originally Posted By Labuda Great post, Spirit. And, like you, I'm not a big fan of the MK these days - I go for Splash, HoP, TTA, and CoP. The rest I can do without - too depressing right now.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Fountains all over the park remain stuffed with buckets of plants to cover up the fact they haven't operated for years ..<< >> Does this have anything to do with water conservation? << I fear that the former may be true, while using the latter as the excuse. I simply can't believe a small, re-circulating fountain "uses" that much water, even in conservation times. (Except perhaps as PR) The waterfountain at the MK First Aid station hadn't worked for a year and a half when I came down here FT some 2+ years ago. I'd given up on it. Then all of a sudden it was fixed! It ran daily for some months, then quit again. Now it is now dry once again. I'm keeping vigil on it. >> My guess is that Mousekeeping is told to NEVER make an assumption about something left on a nightstand, vanity, etc. being trash. << >> I've noticed that at most hotels, they will leave the partially-consumed drink in place, often with a napkin or coaster placed on top to signify that this was done on purpose. << So if they discover a piece of trash on the floor, or a half cashew and sunflower seed on the counter top, they should leave it in place, with a napkin slipped underneath it to indicate that they'd been there?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<So if they discover a piece of trash on the floor, or a half cashew and sunflower seed on the counter top, they should leave it in place, with a napkin slipped underneath it to indicate that they'd been there?>> When I said 'any surface' I thought it was clear that I was NOT including the carpet. If that half cashew was on the carpet it certainly should be (and I'm sure would be) picked up. Where's the logic in this? If it is sitting on your nightstand it is reasonable to assume that you just might want to eat it later. If it is on the floor it is reasonable to assume it is trash. You certainly wouldn't pick up and eat something that had been on a gosh-awful dirty Disney carpet, would you? (Especially if you were staying at PO Riverside.) ;-)
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Queues... I agree with your comments 100%. I think the specific problem with the queues you mention is that significant portions of them are out of the sight of any CM.<< I have seen custodial CM's work their way through a long line at DL, cleaning as they move through it. Why can't they do that in Florida?
Originally Posted By mrichmondj The only thing I find interesting about these observations is that someone who claims to be such a WDW expert would even bother going to WDW during the Spring Break season. I learned 25 years ago that this is absolutely the most miserable time of year, and I haven't been back at this time of year since then. The parks are overcrowded, and worst of all, there is no swell of college program and teenage cast members that boost the WDW work force to the right staffing levels like during the summer season and Christmas holidays. It's been this way for as long as I can remember -- a peak holiday period that suffers from "off season" staffing due to the lack of an available work force in the Spring that is available at other times of the year.
Originally Posted By pheneix >>>The parks are overcrowded, and worst of all, there is no swell of college program and teenage cast members that boost the WDW work force to the right staffing levels like during the summer season and Christmas holidays.<<< Not entirely so. There is a full platoon of Spring CPs working inside the parks right now. They've been there since January and will be working until the end of May. You're right in that there aren't many local kids filling in the seasonal holes right now though. That won't happen until Summer. Still, WDW's issues aren't from a lack of frontline staff. They haven't been for a long time.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj << Still, WDW's issues aren't from a lack of frontline staff. They haven't been for a long time. >> Those are the same issues that are affecting every other service-based industry, why wouldn't they affect WDW?
Originally Posted By mrichmondj << Not entirely so. There is a full platoon of Spring CPs working inside the parks right now. They've been there since January and will be working until the end of May. >> Thanks for the clarification. I was aware of the platoons -- but there is a big difference between a platoon and a regiment.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I have noticed this particularly at Buzz where guests, and I use the term loosely, apparently take great joy in peeling off the paint and the top layer of the drywall used in the queue. This could all be avoided by having CM stationed in areas so that no parts of the queue are unwatched. >>> It could also be avoided by building out the queue using materials other than painted drywall. This is another example of how doing things on the cheap affects show.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Breathing a sigh of relief that changing chef's did not affect Cali Grill negatively
