Originally Posted By ksargen DavewasBaloo - Well said! I'm with you on missing the entertainment and edutainment. It's a lot more like a 6 Flags now than it was when we were kids! FriendofDD - yes, I understand the perspective. I'm much more of a rollercoaster fan than lots of others, but DL was a very special place because of all the family trips, school trips, etc. And the closest I've ever lived to the place was a 3-4 hours drive! *LOL*
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl For my own part, about 5 years ago, I did my last DL New Year's Eve (which turned out to be a DCA New Year's Eve, because DL was in full lockdown from before I arrived until after midnight). Wandering around DCA and DTD, looking for a comfort food dinner (being physically unable to get to my Blue Bayou reservation), I had a great deal of time to introspect, and realized that I was no longer reaching the break-even point on my premium annual pass, and thanks to changes in both my life and in Disney, my pass had become a burden, rather than a boon. So I decided to take some time off (so far, several years) from my pass, in order to explore all the other things I'd been missing, like local museums (I'd spent more time in museums thousands of miles from home, than I'd spent in those practically in my own backyard, which I'd either never visited since childhood, or never visited period).
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "This may be a public forum, however my response in post 122 was specifically directed at Mickeymouseclub, not you." Oh well. Next time email Mickeymouseclub if you want to keep people from commenting. You seem to not understand how message boards work.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "This may be a public forum, however my response in post 122 was specifically directed at Mickeymouseclub, not you." Oh well. Next time email Mickeymouseclub if you want to keep people from commenting. You seem to not understand how message boards work.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Thanks for the valuable tip on how discussion boards work. Have a magical day!
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I find the comment about DL being more like 6 Flags interesting, simply because before 6 Flags took it over Magic Mountain was more like Disneyland. For those who remember Magic Mountain from the 70s and early 80s stop by for a visit and you will see what it really means for a place to "loose the magic". Very sad.
Originally Posted By ksargen Autopia Deb - EXACTLY. When Magic Mountain was not a 6 Flags property, it had a lot more personality. Now, it's a pile of rides and not much else. I enjoy rides, but there's next to nothing to draw you in between them. It's like walking in a concrete rat maze with the rides set up like cheese. *LOL* I miss the candle shop, and some of the other more homey things. Disneyland, in some ways, is headed in much the same direction.
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl Funny, the only time I ever visited MM was in 1976. Because my elementary school graduating class had done the "Disneyland Bicentennial Program," our graduation trip, by majority vote, was MM. I remember it being hot and arid. I remember an observation tower (where I spent a great deal of time, because it was air conditioned). I remember a short funicular railway. I remember some sort of "fun-house" with a hall of mirrors. I remember some sort of monorail, and an off-the-shelf Von Roll aerial tram, both of which seemed to have too few attendants. I remember some sort of safe-cracker arcade game that dispensed a token if you opened the safe before the time limit. And I remember it being hip-deep in thrill-rides that were of absolutely no interest to me. And I remember being bored.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I found it ironic that the only fully realized theming in the park was the Gotham City area. 6 Flags does "City in Disrepair" VERY well.
Originally Posted By cerise667 120 "6 to 15 visits per year? Wow. Aren't you bored with DLR by now?" Jesting, of course he is... ;-) We don't really do everything every time or stay all day... there is always something new to notice and I go with friends, we chat while we eat, shop and ride. Still enjoying it. Reality tv is boring, Disneyland, not. Thank you all for the welcome, have to admit (tempted to be new and admired for a while ;-) ) but I am an old face, LP decided to not recognize me and did not recognize the password I had so I am starting over, often sites will not accept the same name with a new pass... etc. Same old conservative AP holder ;-) renewing today, should call now while I think of it...
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Thanks for the civility Cerise... and the response. I certainly wasn't trying to rain on your parade.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones In 2007 I went about 50 times. In 2008 I went zero times. Same for 2009. In 2010 I think I went twice, and both those times were free. Shrug.
Originally Posted By cerise667 172 you can rain on my parade, just don't cancel my fireworks ;-) or close my POTC for refurb
Originally Posted By avimagine Heh everyones stories make mine look lame for why I love DL/WDW. I'm glad i'm not the only one getting a bit to jaded and feel that Theme Parks (among many other things) are getting to corporate/max profits/min expenditure) skewed with the magic/quality/goodwill seems to be evaporating. Before it was about the experience, now it's all about metrics. For me you can feel that. I recall reading how Walt would just have a dream and Roy would reign him in. (With Walt winning a lot more than Roy). Here's a kinda-related (at least for me) antedote A parallel story for me would be Chrysler. When Daimler took over, they basically stopped spending on Chrysler, under Cerebus it got even worst. Just take a look at a 2009/2010 Dodge Journey and see how cheap the thing is, then look at the 2011. The new management seems to be getting it. While Chrysler may not be the epitome of Chrysler, they do have decent engineers (They do innovate). They may not be near class leading but when "the suits/beancounters" let the Engineers do their job things get better. Let's not argue that Chrysler is a fleet queen or not Honda, but if you compare when the Engineers (Ie. Imagineers) get their way and the big boys get their way it's Night and Day. With quality comes goodwill, with goodwill comes sales. Yes the other way is great for this quarter profit, but uh this world will be around longer then 3 months of the year.
Originally Posted By cerise667 Really good observations It is interesting to watch the changes that result from a change of concept. It may be that I interact with Disney more than I used to, but they seem to not be as attentive to the details as they used to and I'm silly for noticing, know what I mean? And I'm silly for thinking it could be easier. Getting blocked date schedules, printing daily schedule from internet, neither as easy or effective as they used to be. Over past two years have noticed cast members talking to each other a lot and sometimes ignoring guests... I'm polite, don't expect a sassy response to a question, esp at Disneyland. Most are still great but more don't/know-don't care than ever. Three stops at carts one am to find someone who was not too busy texting, stocking or talking to a co-worker to sell me a diet coke. Then three tries to get the pretzel I asked for and... argued, regarding me suspiciously... (play the tape back ;-) ) I thought I was at Del Amo
Originally Posted By avimagine ^ Ban social media Get back to basics, teach children etiquette. You'd be amazed at what happens. Don't let HS children drink and party too much.
Originally Posted By calgrl2490 I am soooo feeling your pain ksargen. I'm also on a break from Disney. I find listening to the cd with the park music attending disney broadway shows or movies helps me to see the positives about the company (assuming its a good show/movie)But honestly you just need to starve yourself of disney so that when you finally go the magic wiil hopefully be back. Works for me usually. And about the crazy lady I would never underestimate anyone. As someone who has worked in Guest Services at a major theme park I can't tell you how many times I have thanked God for the window seperating me and some of the guests. Unfortunatly some people grow up in a world where rudness and negativity are all they know and we all have to deal with their insantity
