Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I sort of wonder why Kevin Yee or some of the people who are most disturbed by this haven't forwarded the video to upper management at WDW, Burbank, or to the local media. Despite what most people here assume, I don't believe that the folks at the top wouldn't be mortified to know that this is what people experience when riding WDW's Splash Mountain.
Originally Posted By Donny As I walked out of the Magic Kingdom last nght the survey people who I normaly see with hand pads asked if I wanted to take a survey as I said yes they pointed to the guest relations office where they had 5 tables with tuff books and a multible choice questionair.One of the questions was What attractions need refurbishment. I pointed out Hall of Presidents,Carosel of progress,splash mountain.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Thats good that you did the survey Donny. It tells you something is seriously wrong when on a survey it asks what attractions needs refurbs. Donny, i know you regular WDW alot and does seeing certain things turn you off and want to visit less? I know for me if i returned to WDW and DL and kept seeing problems with the attractions it would make me consider not visiting. If i saw WDW's SM in that condition on my visit last month i would be pretty ticked off and that would be the last time i visited.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Hans, that is a good idea but, if this is a regular problem at WDW how cant upper management know? There are videos plastered all over the internet and im sure regular guest complaints.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt You and a whole lot of people Tasha, many of whom are probably not Disney nerds like us. This is exactly why I believe that the top managers at the Florida parks must be completely oblivious of the sad state of Splash Mountain. Makes me wonder how safe some the Florida attractions are to ride.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt OOps. My response above was to #43. "Hans, that is a good idea but, if this is a regular problem at WDW how cant upper management know?" WDW is a huge and complex operation. Although inexcusable, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the top managers at WDW simply aren't aware. Surely the ride facilities team knows, but I wonder how far up the knowledge of this goes from there? I know from experience at the organization where I work (a large tech firm) just how amazingly informed people at the top can be it comes to basic operations. Certainly there is no excuse for the kind of show failure seen in Kevin's video, especially when TDL and DLR mostly get it right, however most top managers don't have the time to snoop around youtube while running an operation like WDW. I'm wondering how long it would be before the whole attraction was completely rehabbed if the local media featured the attraction in a story on how the MK is falling apart.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I guess it is possible management could be oblivious. Anyays, who is making the choice to keep attractions running at these conditions?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Regardless of whether it's in the local media or the executives inboxes, if it's in one of Yee's online articles, I'm sure they know about it. In the early 00's, Al would do similar spotlights on areas that looked really bad (I remember one specific one on the Twain about a month after a big refurb), and those problem areas would 'magically' get fixed within a couple days or weeks (depending on the extent of the problem). I do think that Kevin tends to be a little too nice, and give them too much wiggle room, but having photos and videos of the problems really does go a long way. And the higher up aren't just reading the big articles, they read (and occasionally post on) the various message boards too. Although that information isn't factored into any formal survey, you can bet that they take those opinions into account. We're a big group of people from various backgrounds, who have a general understanding of what it takes to run a theme park, who are more than willing to share our opinions on any issue. When a new poster shows up with a crazy idea to build something, or tries to steer an existing conversation in a certain direction, there's a good chance the company is behind it (even if they're not doing it formally).
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "In the early 00's, Al would do similar spotlights on areas that looked really bad (I remember one specific one on the Twain about a month after a big refurb), and those problem areas would 'magically' get fixed within a couple days or weeks (depending on the extent of the problem)." Yep, I remember that. The bar at DL dropped pretty low at one point, but I don't recall DLR show standards as abysmal as what I saw in Kevin's clip at WDW. "Regardless of whether it's in the local media or the executives inboxes, if it's in one of Yee's online articles, I'm sure they know about it." Who is "they". How can you be so certain who is aware of the embarrassing online videos and pictures when there so many levels of staff and management between the robotic alligators and chickens inside Splash Mountain and the Team Disney building in Lake Buena Vista? Of course there are Disney managers that follow this stuff, but it isn't certain that it's always filtering to the top. Again, as absurdly bad as this show is (and the fact that WDW is making money hand over fist), it's hard for me to accept that top brass goes home every night knowing that this mess is on display for visitors from around the world to see. It doesn't make sense. And if Meg Crofton or someone in her management circle DOES know about how broken down Splash Mountain has become and refuses to shutter the ride and make repairs, then perhaps someone ought to escalate this matter to Thomas Staggs.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Hey kids... the rehab question wasn't on the survey as a means to inform top management. They are fully aware of the problems in the parks. Fully. The reason why the question is part of the survey is so that management can assess how noticeable this stuff is to the regular guest. If they question 100 guests each night and receive only 10 responses that Splash is in need of rehabbing, then management won't be as concerned with the fan site videos showing its dreadful condition. But if 40 or 50 of those 100 surveys mention Splash, then they're going to sweat a bit. Having 40% to 50% of your park visitors mention deteriorating conditions on a major attraction is bad. Very bad. So I'm guessing that these surveys are going to be used to decide which of the deteriorating attractions are going to get the limited rehab dollars in the next budget. They won't be able to fix them all; they'll just focus on the ones who receive the most mentions in those guest surveys.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox And FWIW, I think this process is BS. They should spend the money and fix EVERYTHING that's broken. But this is not Walt's Disney anymore.
Originally Posted By Bellella What a terrible sight. Comatose AAs. Whenever I've been on D-land's Splash Mountain and some things were not all the same, the AA's that needed repairs were M.I.A, not standing around like mannequins. It's like the last two times I was on D-land's Jungle Cruise. Each time I went, one of the African elephants was missing, not both, and not one was stock-still. People may notice if an AA isn't there, but they'll notice it a lot more if something's there but busted. Guys in charge at WDW, get on the ball and take better care of your attractions!!! Otherwise, we either won't go ever or we'll stop coming. On a lighter note, yay for the LED lights! At least they're trying! But then they could have bought fake, shoddy LEDs for a cheap price. Yes, we know the really good LEDs are more expensive, but they're worth it!!
Originally Posted By tashajilek If a average guest has no problem with a major scene not working then something is wrong with them. Like i pointed out when i rode i noticed a little bit of audio issues which most people wouldnt notice. If i saw a whole show scene down at WDW i would take surveys, go to city hall and write a letter when i return.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Yeah, it's one thing for there to be a blown speaker or some expired light bulbs, but an entire 3 story prop malfunctioning with a dozen dead AAs stooped over? I can kind of understand an apathetic minimum wage ride operator, an unconcerned low level manager, or an overstretched maintenance team with bigger priorities being unconcerned. I can be pretty cynical when corporations deliberately try to play consumers for dumb, but even I'm having a hard time believing that this is allowed to happen if Meg and the people who report to her at the MK are fully aware of it. How could top management not care about something this significant?
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 It's also not a minor scene in a minor attraction. This is one of, if not the key scene in the attraction. It's been used in publicity shots, and it's the big payoff after that big drop. This is Disney finally becoming the cliche joke, where things are broken and AA's are malfunctioning. How many shows have we seen where someone parodies Disney (often It's a Small World) where things are not working, and kind of creepy? The MK's Splash Mountain has become the joke...
Originally Posted By Manfried <<We're a big group of people from various backgrounds, who have a general understanding of what it takes to run a theme park, who are more than willing to share our opinions on any issue. When a new poster shows up with a crazy idea to build something, or tries to steer an existing conversation in a certain direction, there's a good chance the company is behind it (even if they're not doing it formally).>> Some straight talk on this statement. You are not as big a group as you think you are. Yes you share your opinions. Yes, Disney management reads them, but mainly to watch out for the negative stuff. So when something bad is pointed out. As to the posting of new ideas by insiders. Disney's big brother is working to catch and fire insiders who are doing this. And as to posters posting ideas so that Disney will build them, well forget it. Any creative type who does this is opening Disney up to a lawsuit. My advice, don't post ideas for new attractions, no matter how great an idea it might be. Doing so pretty much guarantees it will not be built. By the way, Lincoln was brought back at Disneyland because some thought it would be a big hit with the public based on fan sites calling for it. My understanding is that the theater is always nearly empty except on the busiest days.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <By the way, Lincoln was brought back at Disneyland because some thought it would be a big hit with the public based on fan sites calling for it. My understanding is that the theater is always nearly empty> Eh. Lincoln never really played to full houses. Even back in the "good old days." Doesn't mean it should be removed. Not everything of value has to be a blockbuster.
