Do you feel Disney World isn't what it used to be?

Question

What happened to my Disney World? We went back there for
the first time in many years and literally wept after seeing what
its like today. We went for first time in '72. It was truly a different
world(no pun intended) back then. Much smaller scale, one basic theme, clean beyond belief(thousands of underground maintenance workers, some who just scraped gum off surfaces),
just two sparkling hotels(poly and contemp), and MUCH smaller
crowds. Now, the crowds are mean(way rude asians and euros
everywhere), the two original hotels are outdated and falling apart,
esp. poly village, and that old magic just isnt there anymore.
Reminds we of, in a similar way, how great our suburb was when
it was smaller and on a livable scale, before the big-box stores
came and it quadrupled in population. DW just got too big and
unmanagable, and the MK became outdated and shopworn.
Now you have a surly worker prob due to $7 an hour pay as well.
They were making equiv. of $15 dollar hr. in 70's.

Answer 1

I never went during the '70s. I've only been in 1997 and the past few years. All I know is I always have an amazing time, no matter what. The Cast Members at the Walt Disney World Resort, in my opinion, do an awesome job. We stay at the Polynesian Resort and the staff there is awesome. We were upgraded to Concierge and got all kinds of free stuff. The manager told us we were V.I.P., and the whole duration of our stay that's how we were treated. Any request of ours was immediately taken care of. The staff in all the Parks were also very nice and helpful.

I don't know how you can say the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts are outdated and falling apart? All the rooms at these two Resorts are updated and remodeled, or in the process. In fact, they all have new bedding, new furniture, new safes in the closets, new mini fridges in every room, new, huge flat screen TVs. It's awesome!

One thing I will definitely agree with are the rude crowds. I can't believe how rude foreigners who come to the Parks are! They cut in lines, puch people out of the way, and literally just throw all their trash on the ground! And then they assume that because I hear them speaking a different language, I won't do anything about it. Hah! I yelled at so many people who probably couldn't even understand what I was saying... but everyone understands anger, and I'm sure they could tell by the tone in my voice, I was not happy with whatever they were doing. One man at the Animal Kingdom threw the wrapper and cap from his bottle of water right on the ground while waiting in line, even though there were trashcans located everywhere in the line to prevent that. One woman from somewhere in Europe literally pushed me out of the way in line to Kilimanjaro Safaris and then dragged her husband and daughter between my boyfriend and I. I was so pissed! There wasn't even space in front of us to move to.

I think the staff at the Walt Disney World Resort is fine, it's just the people who go there. It's the tourists who leave trash everywhere and make a mess of the Parks, and have no concideration for anyone else around them, who are also just trying to have a good time with families.

Answer 2

Ive noticed a bit of a difference, from going as a kid in the late 70's and early 80's to going this year with my own kids. not a big difference but- in Epcot in the spot where kids can play in the water which comes up from the ground it needed to be hosed off, there was a bit of trash and dirt- not exactly the pristine Disney i had experienced as a kid. also i saw a cast member walking around carrying a bag of trash. i thought Disney had an underground system which would eliminate the need for anyone to empty trash in the typical manner. I didn't see as many street sweepers walking around getting trash that people had left behind on the ground but overall it was clean. i have to admit that i went during peak season when the parks are more crowded. if cast members really only make 7 per hour they really should get a raise. I'm sure Disney makes enough to pay better than that.

Answer 3

I have been going to Disney World for over 25 years.

True, it has changed, but so have "the times". (I agree with the other answerer who said it is the crowd more than the place that has changed.)

We prefer to go to Disney World in the winter when the crowds are smaller. It is so worth it to take our child out of school for a vacation that is 10 x as good as it would be in the summer.

When I was 7 years old, I rode Space Mountain and loved it. Now 27 years later, they still have it and I still love it! Also, Carousel of Progress is still there after all these years, and for probably 19 years it has been my favorite attraction.

Disney owns a lot of land and has the means to update and expand. They would be crazy not to. We have been there 3 times this year and are going back next February. (And this is traveling all the way from Ohio!)

Answer 4

I could have wrote this the same way! Early 80's it was so clean you could "hear it",and that doesent make sense,but it just was serene and magical as you say.Now its like a script,like a commercialized production! The characters are hard to find,and not friendly.The grounds use to boast gorgeous blooms,and heavenly smells,but now,I call it "Diaper World".There was actually dirty diapers in the restrooms of the park,and outside it.Horrible! People do not care,and the workers arent paid enough to bother.How sad!

Answer 5

I went to Disney in the eighties and returned in 2002. It was still a lot of fun. It is so much bigger now you have a hard time seeing it all. My wife called me the vacation nazi after that trip becuase I was always pushing us to go and see everything. I think they are making it so you can return more often as there is so much more to see.

Is it the qaint environment it used to be.. NO.. is it better or worse... I think some of the qaintness and welcome feeling has left, but overall I think it is still uniquely Disney, and it is way ahead of other parks on cleanlyness and variety... Still a great destination in my book.

Answer 6

Totally agree. Epcot is horrible. We went in Nov. 2005. The water was dirty, half the fountains were not working at the place where the water "jumps". A lot of the small little carts were closed. It was just awful. What happened?

Answer 7

Yes...when I first started working there in 98 it was just as Walt would have invisioned. Anytime a person had a problem the castmembers were able to help them right away without asking permission from their manager. Now it's become a business (thanks to Eisner). It is no longer about the comfort and happiness of the guest...it's about the money.

Answer 8

I think you forgot the whole point of Disney world..It's all about cartoons,not about amusement parks.But it's true when you say that some things are different.The cartoons are not the same as they once were...unfortunately

Answer 9

I guess it's like they say "all good things must end." I haven't been to DW since 1990 and I don't really care to go back.

Answer 10

I know what you mean... we went back last year and I will never go again. They have too many parks to keep up now and it's just fallen to crap.