Are these the "Dark Days" of DisneyWorld?

[Dsnygirl]

I think some of the "ill will" comes from the computer age. I read several WDW blog sites and complaining is running rampant, it drives me crazy!

I think you are really hitting the nail on the head with this one... there are a LOT of issues out there, but it's true... complaining & negativity just seems viral on the computer.

I used to read comments to local news stories, etc., until I just couldn't handle it anymore... there was RARELY anything positive!! I think people just really love the chance to get things off their chest w/o the accountability of having to say it to someone in person... and although that's not quite as true re: Disney, seeing as very few of us would really ever have the chance to share our thoughts with anyone in a position to really listen and make a change, being able to vent and get our disgruntled feelings off our chest seems to be something that works in these online forums.

Thankfully, we have a place here where it's pretty balanced... people have the chance to vent, but we also have people who are "meh" about the negative stuff and stay sunny & cheerful, and it reminds us of all the good things we may allow our frustrations to overshadow.

I think the OP's thought that over time, we remember things more fondly also plays into it... I know that we've had trips that were good, and trips that were GREAT... but somehow, 6 months out, they ALL become great and it's easier to see the changes we hear about negatively b/c we like how it WAS.

Things have definitely changed, and the almighty dollar definitely seems to be a huge focus, pleasing the investors, etc... and I'm admittedly a bit nervous about some of the decisions being forced on all of us who just love Disney, and want the magic without all the rest.

All that to say... I think this is a cool thread... can't wait to read more comments!

[Utopia74]

Seems like all the ones who complain (about the food quality, etc) are still the ones going at least once a year.
If it's bad, then don't go. There's other places to vacation than Disney World. Vegas has great food and no dining plan, go there.

From a food standpoint, I was there in '05 (pre dining plan), and then again in '08, '09, and '10.
If anything, the food has gotten even better with time. Of course, we stick mainly to the Signature Dining places. I can see where maybe the Counter Service places have gone downhill, but if you're expecting burgers & fries at an amusement park to be gourmet, you're misguided.

[Aurora]

I think you are really hitting the nail on the head with this one... there are a LOT of issues out there, but it's true... complaining & negativity just seems viral on the computer.

I used to read comments to local news stories, etc., until I just couldn't handle it anymore... there was RARELY anything positive!! I think people just really love the chance to get things off their chest w/o the accountability of having to say it to someone in person... and although that's not quite as true re: Disney, seeing as very few of us would really ever have the chance to share our thoughts with anyone in a position to really listen and make a change, being able to vent and get our disgruntled feelings off our chest seems to be something that works in these online forums.

Thankfully, we have a place here where it's pretty balanced... people have the chance to vent, but we also have people who are "meh" about the negative stuff and stay sunny & cheerful, and it reminds us of all the good things we may allow our frustrations to overshadow.

I think the OP's thought that over time, we remember things more fondly also plays into it... I know that we've had trips that were good, and trips that were GREAT... but somehow, 6 months out, they ALL become great and it's easier to see the changes we hear about negatively b/c we like how it WAS.

Things have definitely changed, and the almighty dollar definitely seems to be a huge focus, pleasing the investors, etc... and I'm admittedly a bit nervous about some of the decisions being forced on all of us who just love Disney, and want the magic without all the rest.

All that to say... I think this is a cool thread... can't wait to read more comments!

You may be right about pining for how it USED to be. But that's because in my trips in earlier years, we never ran into grumpy CMs. (And I do mean never, and I'm not remembering wrong.) We didn't have to worry about when the monorail was going to stop running. The effects on the rides were awesome because they worked.

And, the focus wasn't so much on the "theme park experience" as the "Mickey Mouse" experience. There was more of an innocence there that is gone now, replaced with something more cynical. Plus, something that has nothing to do with Disney, people in general were better behaved.

While I do get upset about changes at WDW for the worse, I also believe we are now a nation of complainers, of people who believe that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I wonder how much all of this plays into how much we enjoyed our trips in the late 1990s and early 2000s vs. how much we enjoy them now.

One last point: On our last two trips we visited Universal. Both times we didn't encounter any CMs who didn't seem happy to be there. The comparison between Universal and Disney was surprising to me; on our trip last June, there were many, many unhappy CMs at Disney. If you closed your eyes and couldn't see their name tags, you wouldn't have guessed correctly where they worked.

[DizneyFreak2002]

You may be right about pining for how it USED to be. But that's because in my trips in earlier years, we never ran into grumpy CMs. (And I do mean never, and I'm not remembering wrong.) We didn't have to worry about when the monorail was going to stop running. The effects on the rides were awesome because they worked.

Doesn't stink pining for the days when they actually cared about show and giving the guests more bang for their buck?? Giving them reasons to spend money and buy quality merchandise?? Pining for the days they at least acted like they cared about the guest and not their next huge bonus check... Yea, shame we pine for quality and not accepting the crud they force down our throats now...

One last point: On our last two trips we visited Universal. Both times we didn't encounter any CMs who didn't seem happy to be there. The comparison between Universal and Disney was surprising to me; on our trip last June, there were many, many unhappy CMs at Disney. If you closed your eyes and couldn't see their name tags, you wouldn't have guessed correctly where they worked.

It is all about morale... Where is the morale higher today?? At a theme park that shutters attractions, runs them at 50% show ready, hassles CMs, and has remained stagnant for years or a theme park that has seen attendance increase 30% one year, 29% another, huge increased in customer spending, huge increases in customer satisfaction, and tons of momentum going for it the next 10 years while your competitor throws press events for new BENCHES???

Yes CM morale is down and it shows... Universal Team Member morale is up and guess what??? It shows!!!!

[BraddyB]

I have a slightly different take on this. Is this the dark days? No but if they continue at this rate, they can call it Six Flags of Orlando.

But I think what got them into this situation is being Comfortable.

You know you will have your visitors who will come atleast once a year. You know that little kids will beg their parents to go see that Castle that is on the screen before Disney Movies start. You know you will get your share of honeymooners and people returning for anniversaries.

When you put that together without much competition from surrounding parks, you get "comfortable" and slightly lazy. Sorta like a marriage, when its new you are putting you best foot forward, but as time goes on you get "comfortable" and take each other for granted without realizing it.

Well Disney, the honeymoon is over. Harry Potter and you can include Sea World has the attention of your spouse. Its time to get back to work and make that person realize why they fell in love with you. The last thing you want to do is go through a divorce ..

[KevMcNJ]

This sounds like every other thread I read on the auto racing forums I visit every day. This track is doomed. This series is doomed. The TV ratings are down, the tracks arent selling out. Its all going to be gone within 2 years Things were better in the old days.

Gloom and doom gloom and doom gloom and doom

You will never re-live your good ole days.
They were great. But they are gone.

95% of the racing fans have no idea what the TV ratings were for last weeks races or that the crowd is off by 10% from the previous year

But about 95% of those that are aware of the ratings and attendance #s are the ones who are on the message board 7 days a week

Sort of like the 95% who visit WDW once or twice a decade. They show up and have fun and say that was fun and I cant wait til we come back again.

They have no idea about how many people dislike the Space Mtn Refurb or how the Yeti isnt working like he used to

But the 5% that are aware of those things are the ones who come here.

Theres nothing wrong with being That Guy (or Girl) but sometimes one gets too close or too invested to see its really not as bad as you think it is.

Im lucky enough to be able to visit WDW once every few years and when I go Im not counting light bulbs that are burned out or garbage cans that havent been emptied

Im visitng my Happy Place

And its still looking great. Dare I say it looks better than it did when I visited in 1971 and even 1991

Lighten up and enjoy the ride Things arent as gloomy as you think they are

[MrPeetrie]

...Lighten up and enjoy the ride Things arent as gloomy as you think they are

Last year, we returned after a four-year absence. I remember wondering, "How far had Disney regressed since my last visit?" There were so many negative posts that I was sure we'd have a poor time. That was far from the truth. It was one of our best vacations. The CMs were amazing. (I was expecting them to be short-staffed, over-worked, and miserable.) The truth is: if they need three CMs to cover a service, there were four or five there. I was very pleasantly pleased.

With that said:
I still have some concerns. My fear is they will go the way of GM (i.e. taking a loyal customer for granted. Provide less, charge more, and one day suddenly wake up needing restructuring.)

• I hate the Dining Plan. My wife is small business owner, when we are paid prior to providing a service, the incentive to excel has been diminished. I think Disney figured it this way: Each family budgets $xx.xx amount of dollars for a trip. When they arrive, a large portion of their budget will go to food. But what if the food part was already paid in advance? Would the guest still bring the same amount to spend? If so, that would mean more $$ for Disney. Unfortunately, the incentive to provide quality food service has disappeared. I think we've all seen Disney's food slip in the past few years and I think it's no coincidence it coincides with the addition of the DDP.
• Ride breakdowns. It seems to me that there are more rides becoming "darker" in an attempt to mask the non-functioning aspect of the attraction.
• I am leary of this upcoming NexGen FastPass. I read (or heard in a podcast on this site) that since the current FastPass didn't generate the added revenue Disney anticipated, this new version will address the problem. Disney thought if they freed up the customer from waiting in line for an attraction, the guest would then be more likely to shop and thus spend more money. The problem is: we only budget for $xx.xx amount of money to spend. People will try to stay within their budget. So this new FastPass will then try to cram more people in the park, but handle the large crowd more efficiently. The problem here is: are we really enjoying ourselves if it's shoulder-to-shoulder, but well managed? I don't think so.

It just seems to me those at the top of the Disney corporate ladder are more concerned with squeezing each dime from us and less concerned with our overall experience. If that trend continues, I fear it will lead to their downfall.