Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer This has seemingly been popular enough to warrant Disney looking at other options for it. (AKA MORE tours...)
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Sorry vbdad but you might want to reconsider using this as an example online. You can contact the moderators to remove on your own personal request. Unless you have permission from your daughter to post that. If so i do realize it is not any of my business. I just care about you and your family and your daughter's future and it makes me worry slightly about possible ramifications. Believe me I have done some really innocent things and found my daughter slightly upset. So just a small caring warning cause nothing is worse than having a child upset because of something little that can become big very easily. Sincerely,MMC
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub p.s.: if this is removed i just want everybody to know it was an innocent work story and nothing to get all ...What was removed ... what happened,etc. It has been a long time since we have had an uproar on LP!!! I also want vbdad to know that I realize i could be wrong.And hope I am.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 you might be right judgement wise. She tells the story all the time as an example of what she views as youth run amok ( and she herself is only 27) - but I will ask Doobie to remove post 22 in this thread. I sent him an email also thanks for watching for my back
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Personally vbdad, when I was working I saw more rude/boorish/disgusting behavior from the International Crowd than those in this country. So it's definitely not confined to America.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 my job is global - and I absolutely agree with you that it is not confined to this country.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "However that doesn't excuse Disney's decision to be a part of it. Disney set the standard and they should continue to do so. They choose not to because it costs more money" Somehow they are able to do it in Anaheim but not at Disney World. I may not agree with the direction of the parks, but it was very difficult for me to find bad show and everything was under my own tolerance levels. This is night and day compared to a decade ago when it was very easy to find worn paint, trash and things that simply don't work.
Originally Posted By CDF2 There is little doubt that adding "behind the scenes tours" can be a very profitable portion of an animal park's business - Sea World has been the leader in that area in the animal parks genre (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks or dinner with Shamu for instance) and Disney has for years provided similar backstage experiences (see where they stash the costumes and process the trash in the catacombs of WDW's MK park). But it just seems to cheapen what had been the gold standard set by Disney themselves in terms of having very special attractions and putting on a terrific show if they are willing to spend a lot of money on those type of new add-on experiences while neglecting the maintenance of the very attractions that made them famous and compelling in the first place (instead of the much discussed and ballyhoed fantastic Yeti at EE we get a frozen "Disco Yeti" with all the charm of those non-AA stiff statues you find on the Knott's Mine Train; on BTMRR we see the the falling boulders as simply a fake rock with a pole sticking out the side of it) One would hope that Disney would still want to hang their hat and reputation on their park experience itself as opposed to becomng more famous for their behind-the-scenes add-on tours. Perhaps this is the case of rabid Disney fans that have been to the parks so many times dealing with increasing boredom that such backstage excursions provide a way to provide some measure of relief from the "been there, done that 20 times" kind of syndrome that could occur from frequent park visits or that there is now a group of people for whom the message is indeed the medium by which entertainment is being delivered as opposed to the actual experience of the entertainment itself. And let's face it, a chat board full of Disney fans would be the place where one would expect to find those kinds of people who frequent the parks and are looking for unique experiences that those who do not frequent the parks might not even be aware of or care about. But again, we are talking about an iconic organization, Disney, which has for so many years hung their hat on perfecting the guest experience and established such high standards for the maintenance of both their attractions and their parks that it signifies a bit of the kind of thinking that has come to typify American business overall by seeking to offer new widgets for sale instead of consistently making sure the older model widgets still function at the highest level. Who knows, if the trend continues, Disney might offer, for a fee mind you, a chance for guests to become a hotel maid or restaurant waiter or perhaps a very well supervised ride operator or maintenance worker for an even closer look "behind the scenes" at their favorite park attraction or resort hotel. I guess for myself, on my visits to the WDW parks and resorts, I sometimes wonder how they did something behind the scenes or what things look like backstage but those questions become quelled in the pursuit of leasure activities that are not meant to rival the mental challenges which one seeks to avoid by going to an amusement park in the first place. But I certainly understand that my minimalist and traditional approach might not be the same approach that the more frequent Disney park visitor or fan that posts to this site may have on this topic.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb vbdad, I want to thank you for not only raising your daughter to be a good citizen, but for instilling the values well enough that she is teaching (or attempting to teach) the youth she works with to be better citizens. All is not lost.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 thanks, I did my best, as you know there's no real parenting guide -- she is a teacher by trade as well-- so she gets lots of opportunities to help shape young lives
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Disney has for years provided similar backstage experiences (see where they stash the costumes and process the trash in the catacombs of WDW's MK park).>> Yes, but the prices of those tours doesn't even come close to how much Disney is charging for the Wild Africa Trek. And Disney didn't build "new" show buildings specifically for guests on those tours. In fact AK for a long time now has had Sunrise and Sunset tours available to concierge level guests staying at AKL for a reasonable fee utilizing pre existing DAK park features. Just like Disney planting a hot air ballon in the middle of DTD and charging crazy ticket prices to go up in it.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Perhaps this is the case of rabid Disney fans that have been to the parks so many times dealing with increasing boredom that such backstage excursions provide a way to provide some measure of relief from the "been there, done that 20 times">> Disney had a reputation for always putting out something "new" each year, new rides, new attraction, new parades, new shows. These days there is not much of anything new. And using your logic those bored guests would be taking advantage of Disney's add on tours. The reality is that your average WDW guest ( and I would argue that the average WDW guest is definately NOT the target market for this tour ) are now spending days at Universal and Sea World Parks. Those bored WDW quests are now breaking up their vacation time and spending a greater amount of it off WDW property.
Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1 Sorry to have started a topic that caused so much negativity to be voiced. I guess we all have different opinions of what kind of an experience we want to see in the Parks. This one for me however was one of the best experiences and one I will remember for a very long time and one that I would consider doing again the next time I visit WDW.
Originally Posted By danyoung Don't feel bad, Mickeyfan. You could have started a thread that said that you just had the most incredible time of your life at WDW, and you'd be bombarded with posts here telling you how wrong you are, how bad WDW is, and how no one with any intelligence could possibly have had a good time there! Sadly, the negativity most of the time overwhelms the positive comments here on the ol' Laughingplace.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 so keep on posting mickeyfan... there is nothing wrong with liking WDW in general and certain attractions in particular. I am thinking my family will do this next trip-- looking forward to it
Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1 Thanks Danyoung and Vbdad55...I will keep doing just that. I agree that the negativity on these boards have increased over the last few years. Disney Parks are just about "rides or attractions". Sometimes the simpler things like special tours are an added bonus. Yes they cost a little more, however again I think Disney really delivers on the money spent. Don't miss this experience at Animal Kingdom...it was great!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Mickeyfan, I'm glad you had a great Disney experience on this particular Disney offering. That is what counts!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Mickeyfan1 - Thank you for sharing your experience. While I am very agreived by my last trip to WDW and overall find a higher standard of quality in other Disney and non Disney resorts, there are some amazing things at WDW too. And this is one of the offerings that would appeal to us if we did not have a wild animal park that does something similar 15 miles from my home. But I am glad you and others are able to enjoy it. Getting up close to mother natures true masterpieces is just inspiring. Glad you got to enjoy it.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms So - I'm curious - how much is the tour? Apparently so much they don't want to put the price online.
