Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Recently spent parts of three days at DL/DCA/DD. Here's some observations: Parks are MUCH cleaner than their WDW counterparts. Even on relatively busy early January (still holiday) days, you see cleaners/sweepers out. When something is in the walkways, it's more of an exception, an aberration. When the fireworks end, they are out en masse as opposed to the MK where the walkways can fill with refuse that sits until after close. Still, I could tell that things weren't quite as clean as they had been for my 2005 and 2006 visits. Which may have something to do with my next point. Staffing is a major problem. On a day the park isn't that busy, you should never have lines at Redd Rocket's that back up 15-20 deep all the way into the serving areas, blocking guests from even getting food. Then you watch the parade of angry guests going back with cold pizza and pasta for replacements because they stood in line 20 minutes to pay. Having only three of six registers open is the obvious cause. Having no one to work is the underlying one. While it's great to see Ed Grier's son can work like the commoners at the front desk of the DLH, the only thing that will keep Disney service from slipping is simply COLD, HARD CASH. You don't want CMs who don't stick around for a month. Someone needs to get it across to Bob Iger (and Rasulo and his park puppets just aren't) that Disney needs to raise its pay ... significantly if it truly expects to be a premium 'brand.' CMs don't know simple things like park hours and where the nearest open dining location is located (I know because I had to correct them to help non-local guests). No one has a clue what the Year of a Million Dreams is. While I continually notice all the effects that are not working at WDW or have been turned off/removed ... at DL I keep seeing more details that I never noticed from old stuff (like smoke coming out of the London rooftops on Peter Pan and the Wicked Queen talking in the dungeon queue to Snow White) to new (added props on PoC and new effects like barrels spinning when they've been hit by gunfire). Count me as a surprise liker of the Rockin versions of Space Mountain and California Screamin, especially the former, which reminds me an awful lof of DSP's RnRC. Whether you like the changes or not, it's nice to see DL management isn't afraid to do overlays, seasonal changes or just temporary changes like this. While DL's Space Mountain has basically had four different versions now over the past decade, WDW is stuck with a ride that has basically gone unchanged for three decades plus. Merchandise is an up-and-down deal. I see more I want at DL ... but I also see way too much generic Disney stuff placed in lands it doesn't belong. The entire Frontierland area suffers with glow crap, Bambi tops for women and generic DL sweatshirts ... but if you look real hard they've added some real western hats (not many) back to the mix. Tried the (relatively) new full-serve Cafe Orleans and it gets two thumbs up. DL suffers food-wise compared to WDW (even the MK) and it needs a few more full-serve locales. Blue Bayou remains wonderful, but $29.99 for prime rib for LUNCH?!?! Those price-points really have become absurd. And it's an all-over thing, Whitewater's prices have close to doubled in six years. It was nice to see the holiday decorations just a few weeks removed from seeing WDW's ... the MK really looks quite sorry in this aspect. No comparison at all. Although the Christmas Fantasy Parade is getting as tired as MVMCP at MK. I've said it before, but there's no reason why you can't change out a couple of floats a year and add some new characters without changing the 'traditional' parade that folks want. Holiday Believe is a much better show than Holiday Wishes ... and the projections on Small World give it another dimension for people willing to not stand on Main Street. Too many DVC carts have been added. You can't walk 30 yards without bumping into one. And guys, I think it's time to lose the 'Best Kept Secret' tag ... there are folks in Tibet who likely know what DVC is by now ;-) Nice to see a sub lagoon with H2O in it. Hell, just nice to see a lagoon. The current Aladdin cast isn't ... well ... no gentle way of putting it, very good. I get the feeling from talking to some friends at TWDC (yeah, I do have them) that TDA would be very happy getting another 18-24 months out of the show before it closes. The Mickey and Friends Parking Structure is FILTHY. It likely hasn't been pressure-cleaned since it opened. People leave all kinds of stuff behind and the stains just look awful. It IS the FIRST IMPRESSION and LAST that most guests get. It might be me, but I think I'd budget for regular cleanings. The new Penthouse at the DLH is nice, but overdone. (no, I didn't win a stay in it) Finally, I think most DCA critics will be in for some very positive surprises in the not-so-distant future ... some things you've heard rumored, others not likely ...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Good write up as always Spirit. And I agree, as cool as WDW is, it just is not DL. You have me very entrigued with your last line. Wish you could elaborate. And as for the Mickey suite, looking at pictures it does seem too busy for my tastes too.
Originally Posted By iamadisneyfan77 Spirit, thanks for your (typically) fine post. You are consistently one of the most knowledgeable and erudite posters around, and I thank you for the effort you obviously put into your posts. As a frequent WDW visitor but only an occasional DL visitor, I generally share your observations about the resorts. Still, when I visit DL, while I have to admit that the park is, square foot for square foot, a superior experience to any in WDW, I still find myself glad I live in FL. For a Disney fan, there's just so much... MORE of everything. Care to shed a light on these DCA rumors/developments?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I put some of what I have heard on the DL Board ... but DCA will be getting a lot of kewl stuff in the not-too-distant future. CarLand, which is a bit lame name but could change, is a done deal and will include the E-Ticket attraction that uses Test Track technology (and I've been told they have plussed it and made it more reliable because TT is always down in FLA and JTTCOTE in TDS also struggles with it.) There will also be a few smaller scale attractions and themed eatery and retail. The Steve Davison lagoon show for DCA will also be coming soon with fountains, projections and oodles of classic Disney characters ... I'm hoping for classic music as well instead of the recent trend of insipid moppets singing about dreams, wishes and magic There are two major projects (one themed to San Francisco and one to the California Gold Rush) that have a good chance of being developed in some form too. There's more too, but I need to be mindful of what I say. But I think if 3/4ers of what's being talked about for DCA happens, it will be a GREAT park ... really. And Midway Mania should be fun too! And thanks for the feedback ... I always like it whether people agree or disagree.
Originally Posted By Labuda "E-Ticket attraction that uses Test Track technology (and I've been told they have plussed it and made it more reliable because TT is always down in FLA and JTTCOTE in TDS also struggles with it.)" I thought that JttCotE used the same technology as Dinosaur/Indy - am I mistaken, I guess?
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Journey isn't an EMV attraction as the ride vehicles aren't on motion bases. They have numerous wheels (like TT) but they simply control the speed element. All the bumps etc are from the road surface itself.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Lee, have you heard about them improving the reliability of the ride system? I was told that the problems of TT and Journey wouldn't be repeated and improvements have been made. True?
Originally Posted By mrichmondj ^^ I haven't heard about significant problems at Test Track in a long time. I thought they had pretty much worked the bugs out there long ago?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 That attraction has to this day more down time than any other E-Ticket (even though I hate it, I will put it in that category) at WDW. Is it down less than 1998 or 2001 or 2004? Probably.
Originally Posted By leemac <<^^Lee, have you heard about them improving the reliability of the ride system?>> To be honest I'm not sure it is actually possible to improve the downtime. The problem with the attraction is that it works on the "gaps" between ride vehicles. And there a fixed minimum irrespective of the rider dynamics. However there can be a 5+mph discrepancies between a light and heavy load so especially on the outside loop a car can get too close to the one in front and trigger the emergency stop. Journey's problems are far worse as the vehicle goes through intense torque issues when it climbs out of the mountain. The attraction burns through tyres (US: tires, right?) at a rate of almost 3:1 compared to Test Track and the ride suspension suffers immensely. It was ultimately a poor design: the ride system was never created for roller-coaster- type "thrills". I've heard more than one senior OLC executive state that if they could they would rip Journey out of Mount Prometheus. It is a maintenance nightmare. A costly one too.
Originally Posted By leemac <<The attraction burns through tyres (US: tires, right?) at a rate of almost 3:1 compared to Test Track and the ride suspension suffers immensely. >> I always forget the number but there is something like 12-15 wheels on each ride vehicle too with custom Bridgestone tyres.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Thank you again, Spirti of 74, duckling, for your insights. They are always appreciated in Morva! ORWEN: And so are you!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Then ya better learn how ta spell his dang name right, don'tcha's think?
Originally Posted By Chelledun Very interesting. We're heading to DL for the first time in March, after 13 trips to WDW and one to DLP. Can't wait to make my own comparisons!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I'm sure you'll have a great time. There's a whole lot more DLP detailing and quality at DL, then MK's stale fluff and lack of upkeep.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<However there can be a 5+mph discrepancies between a light and heavy load so especially on the outside loop a car can get too close to the one in front and trigger the emergency stop.>> Maybe Disney should add a "skinny rider line" in addition to the single rider line. That way if a couple of chunky folks are in the vehicle you can offset it with a slim-jim. ;-)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN At least guests at TDS get a much better show at Journey than they will ever get at Test Track, so as far as I am concerned... KUDOS to OLC.
Originally Posted By Labuda "At least guests at TDS get a much better show at Journey than they will ever get at Test Track, so as far as I am concerned... KUDOS to OLC." That's not really saying much, considering that at Test Track, the freakin' queue is better than the ride!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN But ah... at "Journey", the queue and the ride are at equal level of detail and showmanship. You just gotta go Labuda, so you can believe in the power of Disney.
Originally Posted By Labuda I plan to, my friend. Just have to save up for a stay at Mira Costa and all.
