[MissDisney]

Isn't there something we can do to nudge Disney to fix this stuff up? Can we forward this thread to someone who may care? Can we save the situation?

[mickaholic4077]

I will be in the MK on Wednesday and I am going to be sure to look at these things.

[dznygrl]

It's times like these I really wish I was in a position of power within Disney, so I could get the ball rolling on an overhaul!

[Disneybound]

Heck, if I lived closer to Disney I would see if a committee could be started to help fix the park up. I was so shocked to see those pics. So sad, especially, to drive up and see the lights burned out!

[brumcg]

Having just returned... I can safely say that I noticed none of these things. Now... I'm 100% sure that they are in fact there, but you have to look for them to find them.

The things that disturb me are the garbage problems (washing up on shore around Wilderness Lodge, strewn through queues) and images like the bath room picture...but these are also part of the responsibility of the guests; in general, I don't think the guests care as much anymore either.

I'm also disturbed when I hear that Disney needs 141 bus drivers but can't get them because of the low starting pay. I'm disturbed when I hear that 3 good cast members (boat captain, safari guide, and guest relations) are leaving WDW. I was disturbed recently to hear of a family friend's experience in the College Program (some eerily similar articles have been written over at jimhillmedia.com) where she made french fries in MGM for 35-40 hours a week.

I worked for a huge conglomerate that has a rep for 'quality' yet from the inside you could see that they were willing to lose good people assured that their golden rep would carry them. It doesn't work that way. If you want quality, you have to hire quality folks. And of course, it all starts from the top...and at the top you have Eisner/Mitchell, and now I'm just digressing... :)

Bruce

[dznygrl]

That's one thing that really concerns me...the amount of CMs who "don't care" about the Magic...it's just another job to them. I realize that with the number of people they have to hire, that is going to be inevitable, but it's sad.

You know that if all the CMs were folks like us DCers, Main Street would sparkle and shine like Disneyland in 1955! :)

That's one of the reasons I want to work there so badly. I'm truly concerned with maintaining the quality!! I wish there was a way to make all CMs feel the same. I don't know if I can make a difference on my own.

[downsouthtigger]

Disney is still the cleanest and most efficient of all theme parks. I have never noticed many of the flaws as everyday on my way to work, or out, I noticed many clean up crews taking care of any and all problems. There is a problem though, money has been cut and those cleanup crews were basically doing the bare minimum. Its sad to me to watch and think of the CM's who are doing it!?!?
We all work for Disney cause we have a dream, a magical memory, a wish to be where fantasy lives. It was always nice to see them cleaning but sad in a way. We all knew that it was just polish, why replace and rebuild?? It's easier to repaint and make things look nice. Walt never wanted that, he wouldn't have sacrificed his ethics for us just to make a quick buck at night.
Now I see tickets rising again and it hurts me even more. I don't have to pay for tickets, but my family and friends still do. Why raise prices? Where does the money go?? It tears me up inside all the time and I have to sit and be a happy little CM!
I don't mean to vent and the parks really are very clean as the cast does a wonderful job. Its just always sad for me to see everything get cut back and the burden be placed on our guests.
You're the ones who make us who we are! You're the ones we work so hard for, just to see you smile! I want you to come back time and time again to see the castle glitter and shine! I want you're kids to come see the castle just as you did so many years ago. I want so much, cause yall mean so much to us. Thank you my dear guests and we have so much to work out on our own. Of course its not just the parks, but Disney as a whole. We really need to focus and regroup before all the magic is gone.....

[dznygrl]

Aw, that was moving :cry: (And I'm not being sarcastic!!)

Makes me want so badly for it to be later in the year...closer to the time when I get to finally work for Disney! I want to be part of it all!! :love:

P.S. All CMs need to be like you, tigger! :)

[neday]

After reading the report on MK I had to respond. It is truly sad to see the needed repairs and I would hope they are still keeping up on all safety aspects.

I must say that on my last trip through through the Small World, I started to notice the "plastic". Too many trips started to take the Magic away so for someone who has been over 500 times it must be real hard to keep the magic. Plus inspection was what he was there for.

Still, I have to say I had noted a big difference between Disneyland (1969) and my first visit to WDW in 1979 as far a cleanliness. The CA themepark had been emaculate! I saw messy restrooms in Florida back then, but figured the tourist size made the difference. And that is my point, Disney calls us guests and if you were a guest in someone's home I would hope you'd leave it neat. What's with us as visitors!!! Gum on sidewalks or counters shouldn't be a problem if someone didn't put it there. Where are our manners? No doubt there will be soda and popcorn spills, but on the whole, can't we all do better?

I haven't been since 2001 so maybe next month I will see a big difference, but all I know is it is still is a lot better than our local fair!!!

[DisneyHog6]

For the most part, I have to agree with what most of you have said, which is, that WDW is stiill, by compairison, the cleasnest of all theme parks. With that being said, I really have noticed that things aren't at the high level of repair and cleanliness as they have been in years past.

The one thing about that article that bothered me is where the suit for Disney that commented on everything talked about the very high approval rating that they receive. Sure, they are going to get good ratings cause of all the "first time" visitors who take the survey. To them, the park looks great because it really is a cleaner park than any other. But to people like us, the "frequent flyers" of WDW, it is quite a bit different than it used to be. Shouldn't Disney be worried about us return visitors? I think they should be.

[Park Hopper]

Originally posted by DisneyHog6
For the most part, I have to agree with what most of you have said, which is, that WDW is stiill, by compairison, the cleasnest of all theme parks. With that being said, I really have noticed that things aren't at the high level of repair and cleanliness as they have been in years past.

The one thing about that article that bothered me is where the suit for Disney that commented on everything talked about the very high approval rating that they receive. Sure, they are going to get good ratings cause of all the "first time" visitors who take the survey. To them, the park looks great because it really is a cleaner park than any other. But to people like us, the "frequent flyers" of WDW, it is quite a bit different than it used to be. Shouldn't Disney be worried about us return visitors? I think they should be.

You're absolutely right, return customers are the key to any business and Disney should be very concerned about what's happening at the parks.

It's insulting for a WDW representative to say nothing has changed and the quality and upkeep is the same as it's always been. That's just an out-and-out lie. There are lots of ways Disney's public relations guy could have put a positive spin on his answers to the questions in the article, but he chose to make himself and his company look both aloof and stupid by denying anything was wrong.

[coasterman2002]

I think that once WDW is finished building the rides that are in construction right now, then they will begin an overhaul in creating a cleaner and more visually appealing park. I hope that by Disneyland's 50th anniversary in 2005 they can paint Tomorrowland, some of Main Street U.S.A. and Fantasyland. I think that they will get the trash problem cleaned up fast. I believe that by repainting, cleaning up the trash, and by rehab's of some of the rides, Disney can get the park back up to the standards of cleanliness that Walt Disney based his parks on.

[MissDisney]

Last trip, I went into the ladies' room at the Polynesian, where two teen girls were laughing and having a terrific time by throwing their drinks, hot dogs, candies and garbage across the room at the trash can, which was mounted on the wall. Absolutely everything they threw missed the can and splattered all over the wall and floor. This was big fun to them!
I have noticed more than ever the huge numbers of crabby, crusty, creepy people who show up at WDW acting like it is their right to be messy and obnoxious "just because they are on vacation!" They are rude to CMs, they are mean to their kids, they talk loud enough for the people five tables away to enjoy their inappropriate conversations, etc. You know who they are, you recognize them when you see them.
Don't get me wrong, I love WDW more than any place on the planet, and there is so much to love that it is easy to ignore the complainers and the crabs... More and more people are acting worse and worse in real life, so it follows that it might spill over into WDW.
I feel like WDW is likely fighting an uphill battle, trying to maintain its sparkle in the face of the "gimme" attitude and boorish behavior of so many of its guests! Go Disney!

[BuzzLightBeer]

The one item that really bothers me is the gum stuck to the wall beside the belt leading to off-load on POTC. This is a place where people wait, so this sort of thing does happen. The 1st piece of gum multiples (as does all trash), so it has to be dealt with right away. But 100s of pieces means no one is doing squat. And that gum is GROSS!

Fortunately, the ciggie butts are being contained to the smoking areas now (more or less).

The biggest issue is people caring about littering, which was more important to people in earlier times. People don't care, plus there are more global visitors. People from some countries act like they are at home, where litter is an endemic problem.

[Dana]

Originally posted by MissDisney
Last trip, I went into the ladies' room at the Polynesian, where two teen girls were laughing and having a terrific time by throwing their drinks, hot dogs, candies and garbage across the room at the trash can, which was mounted on the wall. Absolutely everything they threw missed the can and splattered all over the wall and floor. This was big fun to them!
I have noticed more than ever the huge numbers of crabby, crusty, creepy people who show up at WDW acting like it is their right to be messy and obnoxious "just because they are on vacation!" They are rude to CMs, they are mean to their kids, they talk loud enough for the people five tables away to enjoy their inappropriate conversations, etc. You know who they are, you recognize them when you see them.
Don't get me wrong, I love WDW more than any place on the planet, and there is so much to love that it is easy to ignore the complainers and the crabs... More and more people are acting worse and worse in real life, so it follows that it might spill over into WDW.
I feel like WDW is likely fighting an uphill battle, trying to maintain its sparkle in the face of the "gimme" attitude and boorish behavior of so many of its guests! Go Disney!

I have to applaud you for your comments. I thought it was just me who saw the "people" as being ruder and more obnoxious. I'm glad that I am not turning into a cranky person...that was my first thought when I started to lose my patience after being pushed and shoved and runover time and time again. The language and the trash throwing is unreal! I see people dropping their trash and want to shake them. The CM's cannot be everywhere at once. Yes, they definately need to do some painting etc, but that toilet paper didn't grow there. Some SLOB left it there. The trash left on tables wasn't left by Tinkerbell, some person was being a PIG. I would love to go to some of their homes (becasue WDW is a home of kind to me) and leave these little "messes" and see how they like it.