Originally Posted By Mr X ***And it cost us about $12,000 for the experience*** I think this is a "danger zone" sort of statement, and one my wife got caught up in this last trip as well (Disney was free, but the overall trip probably ran somewhere between 8-9 grand).. If you find yourself getting into the mindset of "wow, this trip is costing X amount and I'm still getting ticked off about this or that", it's a quick spiral into "wow, this just wasn't worth it at all, the place has gone downhill, we could've gone to places W, Z, and Y for much cheaper and it probably would have been much better" etc, etc.. With Tokyo Disney Resort just right down the road from us (easy to visit again if one day kinda sucked, and I think you might have a similar sentiment about DLP being so much closer and cheaper), I think we actually have a lot MORE fun just because we are never, NEVER trying to "squeeze more in" due to lack of time.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Beaches do little for us, and we live on an island.** Well, I live on an island too and the beach is, in fact, very nearby BUT I've never seen anything here as gorgeous as Clearwater Beach in Japan. But, I sure AM a beach person, so to be in Florida and not partake is almost unthinkable to me. In fact, we were in Florida two years ago and didn't go to DisneyWorld and it didn't bother me a bit. But if we'd skipped the beach, I think it would've bothered me.
Originally Posted By Mr X **And being brutally honest, I know we would have enjoyed it more without my MIL!** ROTFL! I had a similar experience at Animal Kingdom this time with my aunt...never again.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed I hear you. But I had never felt like that before. 33 years of Disney visits, some much more expensive in the past. This was the first time I felt a downer. In fact, the changes aren't difficult. Put proper hotel service staff in AKL. Return the parks to having unique food and merchandise offerings. Improve the mass transit system. Clean the MK and better maintain the place (HM shows this is hapening) Get rid of the aweful upcharge events during busy times and offer it to all. For those improvements, I would have been happy to pay $15,000+ and walked away a happy camper. AKL was a beautifully designed hotel, seeing animals every day from our balcony was increadible, and the dining options were fantastic. But surly cast members, slipping up on room allocations with very little to put it right, no ability to get hot food after 11pm and 40 min waits for busses really did sour the experience. AKL is supposed to be world class. The decor and ambiance is, but the service standards were worse than a Holiday Inn. Not cool.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I've lived on the pacific coast California and the Welsh coast during college (with an sea view room). We've been to 7 mile Beach Grand Cayman, Hawaii, Dubai, and many other "great beaches" - they do little for me. I prefer to be on the water in a boat or up in the mountains. different strokes Fla beaches do little for me.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "In fact, we were in Florida two years ago and didn't go to DisneyWorld and it didn't bother me a bit. But if we'd skipped the beach, I think it would've bothered me." See, even with some of my recent cynacism, I cannot be so close to a park without going. I mean when we got married at Lake Tahoe in 2000, it almost drove me crazy that we didn't drive down to DL - I think it really annoyed Sarah. And what is really hard now is I walk past the Eurostar train (litterly 100 ft from the checkin gate) from London to DLP on my way to one of the clients. One day I am tempted to call in sick and just hop the train (it is my fear of letting my client and family down that stops me).
Originally Posted By Mr X **But surly cast members, slipping up on room allocations with very little to put it right, no ability to get hot food after 11pm and 40 min waits for busses really did sour the experience. AKL is supposed to be world class. The decor and ambiance is, but the service standards were worse than a Holiday Inn. Not cool.** Nope, not cool at all. By the way, there IS a secret to getting hot food there after 11pm, but you'll have to ask SuperDry. I finally got to see the place for the first time ever, we strolled around a bit, and yes the whole Animal concept was very nice and the place was very well done. Don't think I'd ever stay there though. Too remote. And certainly if what you say is consistant, why would ANYONE stay there? I wonder if they rest on their laurels re service considering they've got the cool "we've got animals" deal going on which would attract lots of patrons even if the service might be sub-par compared to other places (certainly DisneyWorld AS A WHOLE has this problem..with so many nutjobs (nikki ) insisting that staying on property is, for some reason, so very very important that they would never think of making any other plans no matter what! (sorry Nikki...I kid, I kid).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think staying as a DVC guest with my own wheels, it would be fine.
Originally Posted By Mr X **"In fact, we were in Florida two years ago and didn't go to DisneyWorld and it didn't bother me a bit. But if we'd skipped the beach, I think it would've bothered me." See, even with some of my recent cynacism, I cannot be so close to a park without going.** How's this for ya...I could WALK to Tokyo Disneyland in under a half an hour from where I'm sitting right now, and the big new years bash is going on right now but I ain't going. AND, I probably haven't been to Tokyo Disney Resort in 6 months or so now. Regarding Florida...I could have gone to DisneyWorld for a day easily. Didn't bother me a bit. In the past, it would have. But I've been around Disney far too much at this point (I still love it, don't get me wrong), I just don't worry about that sort of stuff anymore...I just assume I'll "see it next time". By the way Dave, call in sick. You wouldn't be letting ANYONE down by taking care of your own self just once in a while (just so long as you jump back in the next day and go from there), and doing so will result in a happier, more refreshed, and more satisfied DavewasBaloo. I guarantee it. Do it. Tomorrow!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Nope - being there without my family would not be cool. And as I am now an assistant director running a significant national programme around Child Care, it would be even more difficult to come back to. I understand what you mean. If I lived so near a park, or worked at them for a number of years, I would perhaps feel the same. That is why I never tried to be a cast member. I thought it would make me too cynical. Working in WDI or in senior management I think I would enjoy because I could make a difference. But then again, I don't think that would be right either. So I would rather do what I do and hopefully have enough time and money to visit a Disney resort once or twice a year without worrying about our budget. I always felt that was a better way to go for me. But if Bob or John ever want a successor, I may change my view of the world.
Originally Posted By Mybails We have been to DLR about 15 times (lost count) and to WDW once. The first thing that we all discussed was how polite the CM's at WDW were and the second discussion was how less agressive the guests were. We had numerous CM's ask how our day was and what we thought of the parks. I can't say that we got asked the same more than 10 times in all of our visits to DLR. I hope that DLR management will take heed. My husband and I have been in Customer Service ares for combined over 50 years and we have always maintained that if you train your staff to smile, the customers will follow.
Originally Posted By Mr X **how less agressive the guests were** Too many annual passholders in Cali...same with Tokyo. It's a real drag for the "normal" patrons, that's for sure!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip For late-night dining try staying at the Boardwalk. Both ESPN and the Big River Grille stay open late (1:00 AM weeknights, 2:00 AM weekends). If you are staying at the Boardwalk you can also get Room Service 24 hours a day. You can even have food delivered to the Belle Vue Room (Lounge) which can be a very fun option! As for busses, we enjoy them. I HATE driving when I'm on vacation and I see the Disney transit as a big plus. Occasionally I have to wait a little. So what? I'm on vacation. I'm in no hurry. I have no problem chatting with my wife and enjoying the wonderful January weather while I wait for a bus to arrive. I think you can get too much of a good thing though. The longest we've stayed is 10 days. By day 10 we were more than ready to go home. Trying to decide what park to visit on the last day was a chore rather than a pleasure. I always find the service at WDW to be good to extremely good. My one complaint is cleanliness. Hire more people and keep those rest rooms shiny clean like they used to be!!
Originally Posted By Mr X **I think you can get too much of a good thing though.** There's a lot of truth to that. One reason why I think a lot of the frequent visitors/AP holders find lots of things to bitch about, IMO. (sometimes it's fair...othertimes it's just picayune on their parts) When FGM and I were in Orlando one year for a couple of months, we each picked up annual passes for Disney and Universal. So, no jobs and nothing to do but go to theme parks. It was lots of fun for a while. Then one day, we were driving down I-4 past Universal and I was like "wanna go to Universal?", and she was like "nah", and I said "how bout MGM?", "no"...and I replied "yeah, I don't wanna go there either". And we went home..never to return to any of the parks (that trip). RT, I assume you do a lot of driving in everyday life? As for me, living in Tokyo we have no need for and don't own a car. In fact, I don't even have a license to drive in Japan since it's expensive and I've never had any pressing need to get one. So, for me, a BIG part of the vacation thing is to stroll up to Avis, Budget, Hertz etc..and get me a set of WHEELS! Plus, I really enjoy driving around Disney/Orlando for some reason (easy driving, fun stuff to see along the way I suppose). I don't really have a problem with Disney transport stuff in Orlando, though I do think it's probably overtaxed and not all that magical...I've taken those buses plenty of times and never really minded much, but I can imagine if I were there for a week and counting on them I might get frustrated (specially at the end of the day, when everyone is tired and cranky and EVERYONE is waiting for the same bus and all that!).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>how less agressive the guests were<<< Funny, we had far better treatment at DL in 2002 than our WDW visit in 2007. Maybe people in California were more entrigued with our DLP clothes and my wife's English accent? Not sure. But we found the other guests at the MK to be very rude and pushy. Then again we were there during Pop Warner, so that may have something to do with it.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "Occasionally I have to wait a little. So what? I'm on vacation. I'm in no hurry" That's fine, but 40 minutes with a couple of toddlers and no orderly queue is not my idea of fun at all. Maybe I'm spoilled because our local public transport is every 10 - 20 mins dependent on when. Or if they simply posted a timetable for the buses, that's fine too.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think the issue I really had is it could actually be 90 mins between our room and the park gates. I think that is why I prefer DLP and DL. Spending 3 hours of my day commuting does not feel like a vacation at all.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<That's fine, but 40 minutes with a couple of toddlers and no orderly queue is not my idea of fun at all. Maybe I'm spoilled because our local public transport is every 10 - 20 mins dependent on when.>> We've had 15 trips to WDW over the past dozen years and I think we've had to wait 40 minutes for a bus only 2-3 times. Generally it is in the 5-15 minute range. I'm not saying your experience doesn't happen, but as Mr X said; timing is everything! We never try to get on a bus at park closing. We either leave half an hour before closing or 45 minutes after. As for toddlers... we never took our kids to WDW until they were older for just that reason! By the way... I’m not trying to kindle the "Should you take young children to WDW?" fire. Just relaying my experience.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip As for timing... I forgot to mention that we almost always go during January which I'm sure makes a considerable difference.
