Originally Posted By tonyanton Spirit...do you remember the ad campaign: "This is the year to see the world...Walt Disney World." That brings back good memories. I think I have some general WDW brochures (I definitely have park ones) from trips in '86 (Club Lake Villas), '87 (Disney Inn), and '88 (Grand Floridian Beach Resort).
Originally Posted By bryans01 If you people are so unhappy with disney,maybe you should try Universal or Sea World,dont waste a good spot in the line.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo FYI - we have stopped bothering with WDW. We will spend our money where we can get real magic - DL, DLP and we are hoping TDL. But sadly for everyone that takes your attitude, it means people will expect less, and the magic will die. Because as less of us turn up, they will get less money. And if that happens, there will be less investment in new attractions and shows. Show enjoy your shorter lines (though with Disney running upcharge parties and closing parks early, you will never see short lines again, just cuts.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad bryans01, Don't pay them any mind. They love Disney more than most. They are just fighting for us, in hopes that quality will cease falling. No one can argue that WDW is as great today as it once was, but that doesn't mean we HATE it.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks DVCDAD - tis true. We do love Disney. If we didn't we wouldn't waste time writing about it, visiting it, trying to feedback positively about what should change. I was kind of ok when I returned from WDW (but concerned it didn't feel right). After my last trip to DLP, it cemented that things were not right with WDW. If WDW were the only Disney choice, we would still go. But while DL and DLP (and I hear TDL) offer a more Disney experience, we vote with our feet.
Originally Posted By MPierce Well bryans01 I don't know if you have children or not, but if you did, and they got sick would you just let it work itself out or would you try to help. WDW is still a nice place, but it could be better. Is anybody here wrong for wanting the best possible for a place we all obviously love. I can't speak for anybody else here, but when I spend thousands of dollars on my vacation I expect to feel like each, and every moment was time, and money well spent. It really doen't take a genius to see quality of show, and maintainence have slipped over the years. While WDW has made some improvements recently they can do more. If you want to continue to recieve, a second class presentation, that's fine for you. However I want to walk into any park at WDW, and see it sparkle. I want to feel that Magic from the time I get there until I leave. Then I want to get home think about what a great time we had, and how I can't wait to get back. I really think that's what most of us want here at LP.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed MPierce. My wife and I sadly realised we could have bout 6 luxury cars in the last 10 years compared to our Disney expenses. We used to think it was worth it (in fact our last trip to DLP was - our last trip to WDW was not). If I could get an exec job with Disney to sort it out, I would jump at it in a heartbeat.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I can't speak for anybody else here, but when I spend thousands of dollars on my vacation I expect to feel like each, and every moment was time, and money well spent.>> In trying to make WDW accessible to a wider range of people the prices have not kept up with what would be needed to maintain first class quality. A Disney vacation in the United States is not that expensive a vacation any more. We spend considerably more for a week in Washington DC or Chicago than we do for a week at WDW. I'm not sure that what Disney has done is necessarily wrong. I think it is good that Disney parks are accessible to more people. But I also think it results in reduced quality. Disneyland can retain higher quality because they do not have to support a vast infrastructure like WDW does. In fact no other Disney resort that I am aware of comes close to WDW in the amount that needs to be spent maintaining "Reedy Creek". Running what is essentially their own county gives Disney a lot of freedom in Orlando. But it also gives them a huge amount of expense that none of the other resorts have to deal with. Given the price and expense structure of WDW, I think they have done darned well in maintain the quality that they have.
Originally Posted By dshyates "If you people are so unhappy with disney,maybe you should try Universal or Sea World,dont waste a good spot in the line." Just returned from a week in Orlando with my 2 kids, Parents, and Brother. We did Universal's 2 parks and Sea World. We didn't do Disney at all this trip. First time ever. We don't dislike Disney, but it is now out of our price range. I'll have to leave the kids at home next time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit...do you remember the ad campaign: "This is the year to see the world...Walt Disney World." That brings back good memories. I think I have some general WDW brochures (I definitely have park ones) from trips in '86 (Club Lake Villas), '87 (Disney Inn), and '88 (Grand Floridian Beach Resort). >> Yep. I've been meaning to dig an '87 guidebook or two out of a storage bin and put some details up of what was then vs. what is now. I am getting the 'the MK hasn't changed, you have' line of BS on another site where I posted the same thread ... you know the old standby, it's your rose-colored ancient perceptions vs. reality. I figure if I start listing things that used to be, it will help prove my points and also may jog some happy memories. Just been too busy working to do so yet. Maybe this weekend!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<FYI - we have stopped bothering with WDW. We will spend our money where we can get real magic - DL, DLP and we are hoping TDL.>> Yeah. I know the feeling. I can get so much more joy out of a visit to DL or DLP (plus they have a whole lot more to offer in their vacinity than Orlando does). But I still get plenty of joy out of WDW, but the magic? Not so much. DAK still wows me everytime. And strolling the World Showcase Lagoon is one of the great things about frequent visits. But the MK is just so WalMarted. And a whole new generation has grown up expecting that ... thinking that is what Disney quality ... the Disney Difference (no, I don't mean the free tix or 20% food) ... and it isn't. It's a vastly lower quality experience. I feel the same about the Studios, but they're going to be getting some major quality additions (although I won't be happy until the hat gets taken away). ALthough the Studios is a third gate and never was a fave of mine (I still vastly prefer DCA) so I don't complain about the dumbing down there. I'm just looking forward to my upcoming Asian trip and finally seeing HKDL, TDL and TDS (in that order) and (hopefully) Universal in Osaka too! I have the feeling they'll give me some magic back!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<A Disney vacation in the United States is not that expensive a vacation any more>> Really? What kind of trip are you on, Trippy? ;-) WDW vacations are incredibly expensive for the most part. Sure, a very small percentage will take advantage of one of their specials and stay at Pop Century in value season with tix included (and possibly free dining) and then it is very reasonable. But overall? A one day ticket is $71 PLUS tax. Food and cheap tees are pricey. And hotels? The average rate at a WDW resort in 2006 was likely somewhere well over $300 a night. Not cheap. Sure, there are plenty of more expensive vacation options ... Disney Cruise Line and Adventures By Disney are just two that come to mind ;-)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <A Disney vacation in the United States is not that expensive a vacation any more. We spend considerably more for a week in Washington DC or Chicago than we do for a week at WDW.< solution -- build the next Disney park in Chicago -- not the Middle East ! Just think of all the winter rides for Narnia - no fake snow needed !
Originally Posted By dshyates "I feel the same about the Studios, but they're going to be getting some major quality additions (although I won't be happy until the hat gets taken away). ALthough the Studios is a third gate and never was a fave of mine (I still vastly prefer DCA)" When I first went to DCA, i was far more disappointed than I was with the Studios in its hay days. But when I went last year, I thought the place was a mess. What has happened to the massive walking tours and cool studios stuff is nonsensical. And the Animation tour. WT*? The place is a shell of what it used to be. Now I find them both sad, and really only hit the highlights and leave.
Originally Posted By brerroadrunner If I wasn't concerned about the "Magical Feel" of WDW and concerned about clean parks/bathrooms and then the cost, I could just stay home and go to Six Flags. Absolutely nothing magical there, bathrooms are always dirty amd my sons's season pass was so darn cheap$$$ this year. We expect so much better from WDW and we are being let down.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> A Disney vacation in the United States is not that expensive a vacation any more. We spend considerably more for a week in Washington DC or Chicago than we do for a week at WDW. << ...but some of us can't be high rollers like you RoadTrip. Some folks might consider a weeks stay at a Holiday Inn in Hot Springs Arkansas expensive. >> DAK still wows me everytime. And strolling the World Showcase Lagoon is one of the great things about frequent visits. << That's what keeps me coming back for more. >> solution -- build the next Disney park in Chicago -- not the Middle East ! Just think of all the winter rides for Narnia - no fake snow needed ! << Is it just me or does anybody else sense that there could possibly be some bias in this statement!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <>> solution -- build the next Disney park in Chicago -- not the Middle East ! Just think of all the winter rides for Narnia - no fake snow needed ! << Is it just me or does anybody else sense that there could possibly be some bias in this statement! < lots of bias -- they gave me a Disneyquest as a tease - but took that away
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << ...but some of us can't be high rollers like you RoadTrip. Some folks might consider a weeks stay at a Holiday Inn in Hot Springs Arkansas expensive. >> I don't get the comparison. For the Holiday Inn crowd, a WDW vacation has always been expensive. It was expensive 25 years ago when my family was pinching pennies to take a side trip there when visiting the grandparents. I think Road Trip's point is that if you vacation anywhere with comparable facilities and entertainment options across the U.S., you're likely to spend as much as you would at WDW -- you'll likely spend more. I am consistently amazed at how much some of my friends spend to rent condos at the beach for their summer vacations -- they'll spend 2 to 3 times what a Disney vacation costs, without even having the option of all of the entertainment activities that are available at WDW.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I really miss the way WDW used to wow me. Some of them used to. Thankfully it is DAK, Epcot and some of the resort that entice us to WDW. But honestly, other than being with my family, the high point of our last trip was meeting up with our other LP friends.
