Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<The only seasoning this man sees is on his french fries.>> Ah... THERE'S a comment reflecting intelligence and culture...
Originally Posted By Labuda "The Stagecoach Inn was where WDW1974 spent a majority of his first trips to WDW back in the '70s when on property rooms were very hard to come by. Back then it was a very nice, although very basic motel-style place with some western theming including a mini-Boot Hill. " <-- now humming "Small World" If ever we're in Orlando at the same time, I'd like to have you show me exactly where it was, please.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN G-Fan and I went to the MK to give our farewell to "Share a Dream Long Overdue" parade. Of course.. Bless Julie Andrews' intro for giving this tired parade the little biut of class it has. Of course, we both had to laugh (as we always do) when Julie says.. "to celebrate the Legacy of Walt Disney..." hahahaha... what legacy at the MK and who in management remembers about that? Anyways... as usual. G-Fan and I found the park, to put it in soft terminology... FILTHY. Trash everywhere and disgustingly unclean floors like the ones you never see in Tokyo. Some magic that is at $67= tax prices. Then the usual monorail problems... we boarded Monorail green, third car from the back. NO air conditioning in the car on a day when the temperature raised up to the upper 90s here in Central FL. Then we waited not once, not twice, but 3 TIMES before we got to the MK station. Total travel time from TTC to the MK was close to 25 mins in non air conditioning confort. Many guests were wondering what the heck was going on and why it was taking so long. Finally one of those pre-recorded messages came on to tell me the same lousy excuse for their bad service "We are waiting for traffic clearance to proceed" This after we sat for close to 8 mins in between the Contemporary and the MK stations, just looking at how filthy the WDW bus terminal at the MK really looks from above. But hey.. this park is worth $67 and more. I am hoping it will go up to $75 a day before summer 2007, since many of you feel the place is worth every penny and more.
Originally Posted By GalDisney So does this mean there won't be a ticket price increase Jan. 1, 2007?? I Doubt it. If Disney continues raising rates as they are, in a few yrs, a one day ticket will cost $100.00. Also, I can see charging the $67.00 for the Mk and Epcot, but I think AK and the studios are not worth the price.
Originally Posted By Labuda "But hey.. this park is worth $67 and more." Careful, TDLFAN, folks who don't like you might change their minds if they realize that you actually love WDW, including the MK.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Finally one of those pre-recorded messages came on to tell me the same lousy excuse for their bad service "We are waiting for traffic clearance to proceed" This after we sat for close to 8 mins in between the Contemporary and the MK stations, just looking at how filthy the WDW bus terminal at the MK really looks from above. >>> It sounds like this business of "waiting for traffic clearance" happens a lot at WDW. What exactly is going on when this happens? I'm assuming the obvious - that the next train on the beam has not departed the next station, but what would be the cause of this? If it were a mechanical breakdown of some sort, it would seem that it would take a lot longer than 5-8 minutes to get resolved. If it's passenger related, what could possibly take 8 minutes longer than it's supposed to with regard to getting on and off the monorail?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Several scenarios... -Monorail ahead had not left the station -Monorail ahead is beingtaken off line or placed on the active line from the backstage beam -Monorail ahead is being inspected for safety reasons (like undergoing a rough breakes test or something) The last reason, which happens often, indicates to me that the monorails at WDW are not to be trusted with safety issues. I mean... do real modes of transport in any given city undergo so much scrutiny?? >>Careful, TDLFAN, folks who don't like you might change their minds if they realize that you actually love WDW, including the MK. << Labuda.. that was a sarcastic remark but you possibly didn't get it? For the record, I feel the fair price for a day at the MK is at the most $38. Notice Disney's strategy is to trap you there for 5+ days to give you a false sense of "worth it".
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The only seasoning this man sees is on his french fries.>> Classic, TDLFAN!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<-- now humming "Small World" If ever we're in Orlando at the same time, I'd like to have you show me exactly where it was, please. >> Well, I usually don't head to the badlands of Kissimmee, but for you I'll make an exception FWIW, back when we would stay there, Kissimmee was a small, very-Southern, little cow town. Nothing like it is now at all.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Anyways... as usual. G-Fan and I found the park, to put it in soft terminology... FILTHY. Trash everywhere and disgustingly unclean floors like the ones you never see in Tokyo. Some magic that is at $67= tax prices. Then the usual monorail problems... we boarded Monorail green, third car from the back. NO air conditioning in the car on a day when the temperature raised up to the upper 90s here in Central FL. Then we waited not once, not twice, but 3 TIMES before we got to the MK station. Total travel time from TTC to the MK was close to 25 mins in non air conditioning confort. Many guests were wondering what the heck was going on and why it was taking so long. Finally one of those pre-recorded messages came on to tell me the same lousy excuse for their bad service "We are waiting for traffic clearance to proceed" This after we sat for close to 8 mins in between the Contemporary and the MK stations, just looking at how filthy the WDW bus terminal at the MK really looks from above.>> TDLFAN, this is where I point out for the umpteenth time to you that WDW execs do NOT care and frankly would rather that folks like you (and G-Fan ... and me ... and everyone else here who notices and complains about things like this) to NOT visit. Disney doesn't want people who have expectations, like much of our WalMarted nation. They don't want people who know how things are supposed to be. They don't want people who remember how things always used to be ... or (in your case) in Tokyo's parks today ... people with expectations of the product. They know your (and my and others) complaints are legit. They just don't care. Do you really think Jay Rasulo and Al Weiss care about Walt Disney and the legacy left behind? Or do you think they're just worried about numbers for the next few quarters and holding on to their jobs? In the past, a complaint at Guest Relations, or even just a frontline CM, would lead to the situation being resolved, usually immediately. Now, they just don't want to be bothered because that's the corporate philosophy. I wish things would change, but that's got to come from the top. Bob Iger's honeymoon period is over, so let's see what he believes Disney parks should be.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Monorail ahead is being inspected for safety reasons (like undergoing a rough breakes test or something) The last reason, which happens often, indicates to me that the monorails at WDW are not to be trusted with safety issues. I mean... do real modes of transport in any given city undergo so much scrutiny??>> In your attempt to blast Disney's management, your logic escapes me here. Why would they be bothered to do a safety inspection if they didn't care about safety?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Oh, and thanks for the interesting comparison posts Dave. I truly don't have a strong opinion about the hike (I know that may surprise folks here). I could write a very convincing argument as to why a Day at Disney is worth a few hundred dollars. ... Not that I'd pay that ;-)
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< In your attempt to blast Disney's management, your logic escapes me here. Why would they be bothered to do a safety inspection if they didn't care about safety? >>> If the monorails had the proper amount of routine maintenance done on them, they should not need to be taken out of service during the day for safety inspections except in very unusual situations.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Well, I can't speak for everyplace but I work in public transportation and they are indeed checked out several times daily for safety and mechanical failures. To not do periodic safety checks is irresponsible and fool hardy. These are machines, what was fine an hour ago can be on the verge of disaster now. No amount of safety inspections would be a problem for me. It merely shows that they don't want one of those things falling off the beam with me in it. It could be for reasons not having to do directly with me, like lawsuits, etc., but since that mentality helps make me safe, I am all for it. Because a monorail stops, for whatever reason, is not a sign of a breakdown of maintenance unless indeed it is a mechanical failure, then it might be. If it moves again in just a few minutes then common logic will tell you that there was no mechanical failure. Show me any form of public transportation that doesn't get delayed as some point in time and I will show you a transportation system somewhere in dreamland. I have never been delayed over a couple of minutes anytime I have ridden the monorails...that my friend is an indication of good maintenance not bad.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss How does TDLFAN or anyone else here know that they are not undergoing proper routine maintenance? I am not a monorail service technician, are you? Are monorail trains being taken out of service that often, i.e. moved back to the barn? I can't imagine anything would be found wrong and fixed in under eight minutes either... in those cases it sounds like something is reported but nothing found amiss. Or maybe someone is just making up stories in their head about why the monorails are always waiting for clearance.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<How does TDLFAN or anyone else here know that they are not undergoing proper routine maintenance?>> TDLFAN and the Spirit know EVERYTHING.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<TDLFAN and the Spirit know EVERYTHING.>> Well, not everything, but many things. And even though I haven't had the rail problems that TDLFAN has, a very good friend of mine used to work in monorails at WDW. And while I don't feel comfortable posting things he's told me in confidence, I am quite confident that the monorails (like most things at WDW) aren't kept up the standards they should be. And there is NO way a train should ever be in operation in Florida in August without the AC blasting cold air. No excuses. None.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom All I can say is that during my last trip to WDW. There was a problem with a monorail. I don't know what the problem was. My party was standing at the monorail stations at the MK and there was a big delay ( probably 20 minutes ). We didn't care we were exiting the park and just laughing and talking. Its not like we were in a rush to get back to our room. I think we finally decided to jump on a bus and go to DTD, instead of going to EPCOT that night.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<But I do think the MK to MK comparison and multi-day tickets throught the Disney park empire are the fairest gauge as to what the true 'value' is.>> The "value" of a day at WDW is a completely subjective thing. People can decide it for themselves, but they cannot answer the question for others. Various posters here have compared the amenities available in the respective world-wide Disney Parks, the Parks' different business practices and expenses, their attendance patterns, etc., to address the question of relative "worth." That's all well and good. Maybe it makes sense to the Disney bean counters. Maybe it's a fun pasttime for website posters. But the bottom line... "Is a day at WDW worth $67?" is a completely subjective question for actual potential tourists. People answer it for themselves based on their own appreciation for the Parks, their own financial situations, the other options they have, and their own idiosyncratric reasoning. Lots and lots of those potential tourists will answer "Yes." And that will be the right answer for them. <<Disney theme parks can't really be compared to anything else, except possibly other theme parks. A ticket to an NBA game will usually price out at more than a one-day Disney ticket, but how do you compare the two?... WDW is a resort. Yes, you go there to be entertained, but I just don't see any rational basis for comparison beyond that. It's not apples to oranges. It's more like apples to a steak dinner.>> Au contraire, Mr. Spirit. People can and DO make these meaningful comparisons all the time in the real world. "Honey, we've got it narrowed down. We have to choose between the 7-day Carnival cruise, five days in Vegas, or 4 days at Disney World (well, maybe 5 days if we can stay at one of those Pop Resort Places)." "What do I want to do? Atlanta for the weekend with Julie, or go to WDW with Jeff and Tom when they visit?" "OMG! Madonna's coming to Miami! I could get a $200 kick-butt seat for that show... or I could visit WDW a couple times this summer. Or do I just buy the i-pod I've been saving for?!" In people's real worlds, choices are made between apples and steak dinners all the time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I would argue they make choices based on many factors, most likely financial being at the top as well as just personal preferences. To use your example, if money is equal, if someone would rather cruise than visit theme parks, the cruise will always win out. If money is a factor then things become muddled. If it's a 7-night RCL cruise for $700 less than a 7-night stay at a Disney moderate resort ... who knows? Someone choosing a Madonna seat (and $200 won't get you a great seat at her shows) vs. an ipod or a WDW visit is simply making a choice of what to do with their funds based on what they most want to do with their money. But, again, I see those as choices. Not comparisons. Disney always had no comparison. It was unique. It was Disney. When you invite such comparisons, you simply marginalize the Disney magic (not the boat). So, while I understand your point, I'm not sure you get mine. WDW should be something without peer, not just another brand. Hence again, the only true comparison is with other Disney resort locales.
