Originally Posted By magnet On a recent trip to WDW I noticed that a number of rides at the Magic Kingdom have effects that just aren't working. There are always a few that are off on any particular visit, but it seemed especially bad this time. When POTC, Big Thunder, and Splash all have major effects that are either turned off or left in disrepair, it really is very disturbing and seems to be more than just a coincidence. Is it really so hard to keep the air cannons working in POTC? ...and to keep Brer Rabbit hopping at Splash Mountain? Shouldn't there also be at least some attempt to hide the scene lighting in the rides. Having a spot lamp screwed blatantly into a wall that is supposed to simulate a rock just screams apathy.
Originally Posted By magnet The other big shock was how much prices at Disney restaurants have increased even just in the last six months. It was really surprising! Appetizers and salads for $10 and higher? That's crazy. I fully support Disney having great dining options, but these prices are really pushing the envelope. Yet I fear it will only continue and get worse so long as vacationers continue to pack these restaurants. A single meal at many of the finer table service restaurants can easily be $70-$80 (and that's excluding alcohol). About three years ago I had an excellent dinner at Patina in LA that ran me about $100. It was worth the money. However, though the food is excellent at many Disney restaurants, the pricepoints should not be competing with those for truly phenomenal restaurants. Nonetheless, don't even think about trying to walk-up to most table-service restaurant without an ADR. You won't get in.
Originally Posted By BrianStarr It's called the economy. Disney, California and Florida, are desperately struggling to bring people back into their parks. So instead of putting the decreasing amount of income into sprucing up older attractions, their focus is to put money into new attractions (fantasyland). It's all a gimmick to get people back in the parks. New attractions = more crowds.
Originally Posted By BrianStarr As far as increasing prices in restaurants, it's really not a surprise. Simply, Disney needs more money.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Welcome to how how show and quality have been trumped foe economic efficiency.
Originally Posted By Manfried Particularly in Florida. I am ashamed of WDW. At one time, it's show quality was better than California's. Now it seems its not.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> It's called the economy. << I don't completely buy that. Show quality was dipping even before the economy went sour. I think it's just the corporate mentality of WDW: do the least amount of work in order to maximize profits.
Originally Posted By mousermerf <<<At one time, it's show quality was better than California's. Now it seems its not.>>> Trust me, there's broken crap out here too. It's not any better despite what people say.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper It's called not caring, not the economy. Management doesn't give 2 toots about show.
Originally Posted By danyoung >As far as increasing prices in restaurants, it's really not a surprise. Simply, Disney needs more money.< You also have to factor in the Disney Dining Plan. It's a way of increasing the perceived valut of the plan. What would you rather get for "free" - a $14 entree or a $26 entree? Raising the prices makes the plan more valuable to the average DDP user. And those of us who refuse the plan will have to pay more for an increasingly simplified menu. Not cool, Disney. But that's not to say that Disney dining is all crap. There are plenty of great restaurants in the parks and the hotels and DTD. But it's true that they aren't the value that they used to be.
Originally Posted By standor The only way things will get better is for the customers(guests) to take a stand. Just refuse to go there. Disney will get the message and hopefully things will change.
Originally Posted By danyoung While that's one way to do it, standor, it's just not going to happen, at least not in the immediate future. There's still plenty of good at the World to bring me there at least twice a year. It makes me sad to see effects busted, but then I get a big thrill out of seeing old attractions like the HM brought up to modern standards. I'm hoping that the new management within the California side of Disney eventually oozes over into Florida, and they get back to quality as one of the main reasons people continue to come to Disney parks worldwide.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The only way things will get better is for the customers(guests) to take a stand. Just refuse to go there. Disney will get the message and hopefully things will change.<<< That happens in Disneyland. Not in WDW.
Originally Posted By danyoung I don't think it ever happened at DL that people stopped coming. The large army of AP holders made a whole lot of noise on a variety of subjects, and the Disney company heard. There just isn't that type of inside crowd in Florida, where there are a lot more tourists than locals.
Originally Posted By MPierce Folks are really starting to take notice in the lack of quality, show, and the ever increasing price points at WDW. I bet most of the people that find WDW somewhat lacking nowadays, were filled with Pixie Dust just a few short years ago. I know the Mouse hasn't gotten any of my money lately, and will not be getting any of it anytime soon.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Folks are really starting to take notice in the lack of quality, show, and the ever increasing price points at WDW.>> They do.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, it's a real shame huh? I used to think of Disney being of religious proportions. Now, I am finding it hard to get excited about our upcoming trip to DLP and am more excited about taking our kids to the Louvre for the 1st time. Now if Disney still maintained, had fab entertainment and went over the top in guest satisfaction like the old days, then I would be counting down the seconds. Now, it is more of doing something nice for the kids. I never thought that would happen.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Now, I am finding it hard to get excited about our upcoming trip to DLP and am more excited about taking our kids to the Louvre for the 1st time.>> Go to TDL. From everything I hear they know how to do Disney better than Disney.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ya, but we have a villa at Paris and can drive there. The same cannot be said for Tokyo.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Hahaha.. ha.. Sorry, but if you're going to DLP expecting "Disney" as you know it in the states you're going to be sorely disappointed. That's the resort that allows CM's on Main Street to have facial piercings. And the Louvre, while interesting, has nastey moat dragons and more pushing/shoving tourists then you'd ever imagine in Adventureland at DL. Good luck getting anywhere near the Venus de Milo or Mona Lisa without getting body checked.
