tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post116952377733866056..comments2024-02-08T07:33:49.907-08:00Comments on Re-Imagineering: Walking in Walt's Footsteps (Part 2)Mr Bankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-61400007427149885132007-05-03T03:02:00.000-07:002007-05-03T03:02:00.000-07:00I don't know. I usually go on off-peak hours/days ...I don't know. I usually go on off-peak hours/days so I don't experience much of this. I once left my house at 8:50 and managed to get into the park on time for the 9:25 fireworks with time to spare, and a great spot to view them from too.<BR/><BR/>I NEVER go to Disneyland in the Summer and I think I enjoy the park that much more because of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-50000508103795008372007-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:002007-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:00Oh, wow! What a description of the absolutely hel...Oh, wow! What a description of the absolutely hellacious process that is getting into Disneyland these days! And think how simply some of it could be fixed!<BR/><BR/>For starters, if the surface parking lot is full and therefore effectively closed, why is an attendant standing there blocking traffic and collecting fees, only to shunt vehicles all the way through the lot, out onto an unmarked public street, leaving drivers to wonder why they just paid $11 to *not* park their cars. Why not send that guy home, erect a set of cones in the lot to direct traffic, put up a sign that says, "This way to the parking garage -->" and speed things along that way. On a related note, what genius decided that $11 was a good price for parking? Avoiding for the moment the fact that when you're collecting $60+ per person for admission and that the parking lot and structure do not serve any other facilities (therefore you don't need to discourage people from parking there for some other business) the parking really ought to be "free"...why is the parking price not set at a price consistent with available cash? Isn't $10 enough? I remember when a Certain Other Park changed from $5 parking to $6 parking the immediate result was a two-mile-long back-up on the access road just because of the sudden need to make change. Isn't Disney smart enough to understand this? $10 parking makes for faster moving, shorter lines. $0 parking could almost eliminate the line entirely.<BR/><BR/>Why is the location of the tram stop not obvious from any location within the garage? Why are the spaces closest to the escalators not the first spaces filled on each level (instead of the last)? <BR/><BR/>Why are the trams not more frequent? Why are the tram stops not more clearly marked? Where there are two stacked tram stops, why does a worker not manage the traffic flow and guarantee that both tram stops get relatively equal service?<BR/><BR/>Why are the tram stops so short of the park entrance? Why is there a security checkpoint, anyway? Why are there any ticket booths not staffed, given that this is where the park makes most of its money? And why is Disney so backward that of all the major park operators, they are the ones who do the least to encourage you to buy your ticket online in advance, print it at home, and skip the ticket booth altogether? Heck, some major parks are bulldozing their ticket booths, they have been so successful with encouraging pre-sales of various types.<BR/><BR/>I visit a lot of parks, and Disneyland is without a doubt the one that takes the most time and effort to actually get into, from the time I bring my car on site to the time I finally start walking down the midway. Why is it that Disneyland has so much trouble with such a basic operation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-47753238782211585052007-02-06T01:13:00.000-08:002007-02-06T01:13:00.000-08:00As I did say in Part 1, you have worded it even be...As I did say in Part 1, you have worded it even better in this post. Very recently, we have noticed positive changes in a couple of these areas at DL. The parking crew seems to be bigger, and back to actually guiding guests instead of pointing them in the direction they need to turn (away from the obvious wall in front of them).<br />Most of the fixes don't even require much imagination or creativity. Even many malls have colorful, decorated, easy to find again floors to their parking structures. Simple stanchions to make defined lines at the security check and turnstiles would take away much of the confusion of where the lines actually are, and how many lines there are. Signs that let guests know that they are going through a security check would help. Signs as soon as guests get off of the tram would let them know that they are to get off there (we've heard people ask, and seen them stay on it, not knowing they have arrived at the only stop), and directional - to let them know which way the park entrances are, and which way Downtown Disney is would be a great help. Better sight lines at the ticket booths, or a CM watching and directing would help them see when a window is available (since they can't be seen from the line). The number of turnstiles open at a time, and more, as there are more guests (yes, like most grocery stores do already) would help hugely. More staffing would be so worth the money it would cost to pay them, and increasing all of their pay (as it used to be competitive, to actually attract people that wanted to work in the park - foods was known for paying significantly more than out in the "other world") would help to make better, happier CM's (generally known as a good business practice), and make them feel appreciated, which translates to a better guest experience, which translates to the bottom line... Bringing back the AP turnstiles could help to ease the burden of huge lines - even if there are many more than there used to be, signs that could be changed at each turnstile could be flexible as the need was there. Suggesting to the surveyists, that they maybe step back from the turnstile a couple of feet might ease the congestion of trying to get your whole party through before being bombarded with "why are you here?" questions, and maybe some relevant questions, too.<br /><br />Next stop (still before actually doing anything) is the lockers. Why is it that last week they were: $6.00 for small, $7.00 for large and this week: $7.00 small and $10.00 large? That is a huge jump in literally just a week. I know this is not the doings of WDI, but it goes along with the rest of the beginning of the day experience.<br /><br />Mr. Banks, digitaljedi, others along the same lines: well put come-backs.<br /><br />Anon w/ CM wife: Thank her and others like her for upholding the traditions and values of what it is all supposed to be. Allow room for improvements and for others who are trying to do the same, to make these comments, suggestions, criticisms... toward making it a better place for everyone.<br /><br />Anyone who doesn't like what they see at this blog: Don't read it! No one is forcing you to, and sure not forcing you to participate.WOKcreativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05970083755401883889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1170075229407270812007-01-29T04:53:00.000-08:002007-01-29T04:53:00.000-08:00Where should the magic begin?In "the old days", it...Where should the magic begin?<BR/><BR/>In "the old days", it WAS the parking lot. Yeah, it was just a parking lot, but no matter where you parked, you could see the Disneyland entrance, flags beconing. The parking lot employees made sure you had a sense that all was well.<BR/><BR/>---<BR/><BR/>Today, the parking is more of an adventure. You pay the fee, and a friendly, but rushed employee gives you instructions which you forget while you're trying to figure out where you're supposed to go. There is excitement when the large tour bus runs the red light, just missing your vehicle, while you're still trying to understand that you're supposed to cross the street to get to the parking structure. <BR/><BR/>You then make your way into the unremarkable parking structure - the echoing of the car alarms mixed with sub-wofer enhanced rap music adds intensity to the atmosphere. Amazingly, you find a space to park without the help of a single human. <BR/><BR/>After taking a few minutes to discover the escalator, which, naturally, is out of order, you make your way down the stairs to the tram, where you have fun with your friends trying to figure out just what the tram operator, who hasn't been told that if you hold the microphone too close to your mouth, nobody can understand you, is saying.<BR/><BR/>The adventure continues as you're dumped into the middle of a shopping mall, where the sounds of old songs, carefully chosen so that everyone is equally annoyed by the selection, rattles your eardrums at a level, also carefully chosen to be below the threshold of pain, but loud enough so nobody else can be annoyed by complaining or conversation.<BR/><BR/>You realize, that since you've made it this far, you're now ready to begin your day of entertainment at Disneyland, or Disney's California Adventure....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1170037524967694112007-01-28T18:25:00.000-08:002007-01-28T18:25:00.000-08:00Greeters were always the first to get the axe when...Greeters were always the first to get the axe when the mandate from Eisner came down to cut the budget. Although they are *CRITICAL* to creating that certain sense of arrival at whichever park you were visiting or the specific attractions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169959771352648592007-01-27T20:49:00.000-08:002007-01-27T20:49:00.000-08:00Anonymous said: >>>"You guys get down there at lea...<B>Anonymous said:</B> <BR/>>>><I>"You guys get down there at least twice a month. For God's sake, don't eat off the lot. Stay there... lunch with the guests... talk to them."<BR/><BR/>Some do....some really really do. And they don't wear button-down shirts, and they don't have pressed skirts, and you won't see them on cellphones with a stack of papers in their hands. <BR/><BR/>In fact, you don't even know they are there. And they're trying to make a difference as best they can, even though they don't always have the direct authority to do so.</I><<<<BR/><BR/>And right there is the essence of our problem. What we need is for the people <B>with</B> the direct authority to do so, to go down there and get their hands dirty with the rest of the Guests. <BR/><BR/>It's wonderful that there are people within the corporation still trying to foment change. It's a testament to what Disney once was and could be again. But <I>"The folks in button-down cotton shirts, semi-stylish skirts and conspicuous sunglasses..."</I> that Epcot82 alluded to are not those people. Likely they were not the people Walt was talking directly to either. The folks that we're speaking of and the folks who need to follow the above principle are the ones with the actual power to do something practical with the lesson once learned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169958466188744922007-01-27T20:27:00.000-08:002007-01-27T20:27:00.000-08:00Mickey and Friends solution ...think people mover!...Mickey and Friends solution ...think people mover! People Movers around the outside perimeter of each level, with stops at three corners and the elevators!No trams in the way , optional for those who enjoy the walk, brief stops for loading and unloading with a magical rail the rises when the vehicles are full..but its ok the next one is clearly in view.<BR/>Possibly some wonderful Disneyland music to set the tone for the day and Wishes music to relax us all on the ride to return to our cars. <BR/>Also cant blame Disney for security checks unfortunatley due to past historical events it has become the way of life. If everyone was prepared when aproaching the check point , purses and mamouth diaper bags, back packs etc.. open things would go a bit quicker, photographers at entrances ...a simple "No thanks.." will do. Buying tickets if you must at the gate... have your order ready to go and your cash or credit card out and ready to go also. Hemming and Hawing and wallet and purse searching takes a lot of time. Being a good park guest can speed things along so can politeness to the CM's. It does make for a more magical experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169947242993212512007-01-27T17:20:00.000-08:002007-01-27T17:20:00.000-08:00"You guys get down there at least twice a month. F...<I>"You guys get down there at least twice a month. For God's sake, don't eat off the lot. Stay there... lunch with the guests... talk to them."</I><BR/><BR/>Some do....some really <B> really</B> do. And they don't wear button-down shirts, and they don't have pressed skirts, and you won't see them on cellphones with a stack of papers in their hands. <BR/><BR/>In fact, you don't even know they are there. And they're trying to make a difference as best they can, even though they don't always have the direct authority to do so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169870233806220562007-01-26T19:57:00.000-08:002007-01-26T19:57:00.000-08:00I don't understand why it matters if there was a t...I don't understand why it matters if there was a tram or a flaming moat filled with fire-proof crocodiles in Walt's day.<BR/><BR/>The point of the article is that there is a problem <I>now</I>.<BR/><BR/>As for solutions, the easy ones were implied by the author and have been mentioned in this thread...simple crowd control would allow the current resources to be used much more efficiently.<BR/><BR/>Not as nice as Universal Orlando's moving sidewalk, but considerably cheaper. With a little witchcraft, they might even get the crowd controllers to smile.<BR/><BR/>If it requires opening a few more turnstiles, I don't think a couple more minimum wage workers are going to break the bank.<BR/><BR/>If there must be surveys, how about questioning people in line for attractions? It will give guests something to do to pass the time.Captain Schnemohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15112333068173312142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169866713903663662007-01-26T18:58:00.000-08:002007-01-26T18:58:00.000-08:00And also for the record, I love this Digital Jedi ...And also for the record, I love this Digital Jedi guy. Infact, I think everyone at Re-Imagineering loves this guy. He really should work for the company. Talk about someone 'getting it'.Mr Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169801635870190902007-01-26T00:53:00.000-08:002007-01-26T00:53:00.000-08:00Anonymous said >>>That's just it -- IT WASN'T. Tha...<B>Anonymous said</B> <BR/>>>><I>That's just it -- IT WASN'T. That is exacty my point. You are trying to get Disneyland to conform to an ideal it never matched. A place where parking lots were lands of wonder, all the theming was perfectly conceived, the attractions were all wonderful and pleasing to all who visited, and nobody ever had a bad time or anything, really, to complain about.</I><<<<BR/><BR/>If I may, here is the portion of my quote you commented on: <I>"Somehow, I don't see what could possible be wrong with the desire for something <B>to be as good as it once was.</B>"</I><BR/><BR/>For the record, never did I, nor anyone else, imply that Walt's Disneyland was Superman. I implied that Walt's Disneyland was <I>healthy.</I> <BR/><BR/>If you look at my last post you'll see where I point out that it's a matter of context with the times. Walt's and Imagineering's ideas for the old parking lot may not be great by today's standards, but they were innovative for that era. What we want is something innovative for <B>our</B> era. Walt wasn't perfect by any means, but he always strove for it. That's not what today's Disney does.<BR/><BR/>>>><I>Well that's assuming the treatment is ever forthcoming. How about it, so-called re-imagineers? How about a post with suggestions, and not just portentious bitching?</I><<<<BR/><BR/>How about the first paragraph of this post: <I>"You guys get down there at least twice a month. For God's sake, don't eat off the lot. Stay there... lunch with the guests... talk to them."</I><BR/><BR/>Simple. Elegant. Doable. And the solution to fixing every complaint made in this thread.<BR/><BR/>Oh yeah. Tenable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169782213377889332007-01-25T19:30:00.000-08:002007-01-25T19:30:00.000-08:00For the record, I personally agree that the origin...For the record, I personally agree that the original parking lot was not a field of wine and roses. It was a daunting place that was far from pleasing to the eye.<BR/><BR/>But the process leading up to your day at Disneyland (which is what this post was all about) was considerably better back in the 60's, 70's and 80's, three decades I'm actually familiar with on a personal level.<BR/><BR/>And for the record, I'm not the writer for this blog entry, though I find it a wonderful and worthy addition; the debate it's generated is priceless.<BR/><BR/>As for tenable, practical solutions- if solutions aren't obvious, (and most of them are glaringly so) then the debate and discussion here in comments will do the job just fine. As most of the participants in this blog are also gainfully employed by Disney it's also a conflict of interest issue.<BR/><BR/>Overall, though, let me help you out here. There's a rudimentary philosophy that the Disney parks were founded on. Over the last couple decades that philosophy has been aggressively dismissed. Our job here at Re-Imagineering has been to remind the readers of what that was, one bite sized peice at a time. <BR/><BR/>The timing of this discussion and debate is also crucial. The direction of imagineering during the Eisner years was running headlong to hopeless. But with new leadership the fate of Imagineering isn't quite so hopeless anymore. It's time to air out the egos and let Imagineers get back to being the leaders of the theme park business once again, not the followers.<BR/><BR/>And so the debate showcased here at Re-Imagineering during this pivital time is incredibly inspiring, thoughful and helpful. <BR/><BR/>For those of you who have participated in the debate with integrity and professionalism I thank you. For those of you who have belittled, dismissed and taunted, I thank you not so much.<BR/><BR/>Now, back to work.Mr Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169780119393350902007-01-25T18:55:00.000-08:002007-01-25T18:55:00.000-08:00>>>Somehow, I don't see what could possible be wro...>>><BR/>Somehow, I don't see what could possible be wrong with the desire for something to be as good as it once was.<BR/><<<<BR/><BR/>That's just it -- IT WASN'T. That is exacty my point. You are trying to get Disneyland to conform to an ideal it never matched. A place where parking lots were lands of wonder, all the theming was perfectly conceived, the attractions were all wonderful and pleasing to all who visited, and nobody ever had a bad time or anything, really, to complain about.<BR/><BR/>To extend your analogy, a suppose there is nothing wrong to wish your friend had super powers even though he was born without them. But since he wasn't and never had them, there is no point in judging him on his lack thereof. It is ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>Furthermore -- again, the stated mission of this blog is to provide "tenable solutions" to problems at DL. Not an endless spew of bitching and quite frankly often ill-informed bitching at that. Mr. Banks, for example, is a Pixar story artist. This means that I am almost certainly a huge fan of his work, and I have no doubt (and I say this without sarcasm) he is an insanely creative chap. However, this does not equate to a knowledge of theme park design and management, nor do I suspect he was actually a witness to the days of wine and roses he dwells upon so fulsomely in these pages.<BR/><BR/>In short -- Disneyland was never the perfect place this blog so often seems to pose it as. Honestly, it really wasn't, even though it may have been to your wondering 6-year-old eyes the first time you went.<BR/><BR/>>>><BR/>Diagnoses always takes place before treatment.<BR/><<<<BR/><BR/>Well that's assuming the treatment is ever forthcoming. How about it, so-called re-imagineers? How about a post with suggestions, and not just portentious bitching?<BR/><BR/>As to Parisinjune:<BR/>>>><BR/>And where has this pathetic management team been the past several years when there was over $400 BILLION of liquid equity floating around wallstreet looking for a home and Iger managed to secure NONE of it for our company.<BR/><<<<BR/><BR/>Apparently the millions spent on refurbishments for the 50th. The difference between the park under Pressler/Harris and under Rasulo/Ouimet was gigantic, a night and day improvement. Not perfect, but huge. I could waste your time with a detailed list of little details that have been repaired or improved upon since what even the lowliest paint shop worker calls "the dark times" but maybe you can observe some of these things for yourself.<BR/><BR/>Time will tell what Ed will do.<BR/><BR/>As to Iger, it's absurd to point a finger at him for not putting any money into the resort, especially with the 800+ million Iger has supposedly approved for the DCA plasemaking/total rehab alone -- which moves forward from the (correct) asumption that DCA was put together on the cheap and crappily themed.<BR/><BR/>Bob Iger's been running the company for, what, around a year? Not even? Let's give the guy a little benefit of the doubt.<BR/><BR/>Honestly, I've had enough of this whole thread. I will only sum up my thoughts one more time as follows:<BR/><BR/>This blog often commits the error of painting the old days at Disneyland as some kind of perfect world where everything worked just perfectly, and then judges today's park by comparing it to these supposed days of wine and roses. IN fact, DL has always had it failings, much as any enterprise of this size, ambition, and in Walt's day (sometimes overeaching) vision. The record suggetss that Walt himself was not ever satisfied. The park entered a very dark period under Eisner, and only in the last couple of years has been showing signs of renewed life.<BR/><BR/>Therefore, constructive criticism based on the REAL Disneyland, and not this imaginary once-perfect land of happiness, is valuable; but if merely pointing out things that don't work as well as they could (or at all) is the real mission of this blog (as it certainly seems to be from most of the entries) then why don't you change the mission statement to reflect that. Seriously. Just pointing out things is not a diagnosis. Pointing out things, assessing them, and proposing the scope of remedies is more like it. Get to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169754560109967972007-01-25T11:49:00.000-08:002007-01-25T11:49:00.000-08:00Adam Villani said: >>>So, Disneyland back in the o...<B>Adam Villani said:</B> <BR/>>>><I>So, Disneyland back in the old days would have given us a moving sidewalk to get from our cars to the escalators to the tram? How does this square with the actual reality, in which Walt gave us a big asphalt lot with power lines overhead and a tram?</I><<<<BR/><BR/>Who else, in a major capacity, was using trams to shuttle their guests from the parking lot to the front gate in Walt's day? In World they took you to the monorails which carried you over the lot and around the lake. That was unheard of, and certainly an innovation of the time.<BR/><BR/>It's a matter of context. You may focus on the trams as something unimpressive, but only because parks utilize a tram system the world over now. But it was innovative for the times it was initially created. What about today? <BR/><BR/>Walt's trams were something most people had never seen before. As a kid I loved the tram because to me it was like jumping on a ride from the word go. It was park element that no other park had thought to offer. A ride in something unique from the car door to the front door.<BR/><BR/>Today, we're offered nothing more unique then a lot of long lines and a parking garage no more impressive then the one at my local shopping mall. Hardly innovative. Hardly groundbreaking. <BR/><BR/>What we want to see is something at least as innovative for our times as the tram and monorail systems were for Walt's. It's unfair that posters keep pointing to the old lot and power lines and tram, when it's only mundane compared to what Disney is capable of today. And that's kind of the point. Their capable of so much more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169713400347163442007-01-25T00:23:00.000-08:002007-01-25T00:23:00.000-08:00So, Disneyland back in the old days would have giv...So, Disneyland back in the old days would have given us a moving sidewalk to get from our cars to the escalators to the tram? How does this square with the actual reality, in which Walt gave us a big asphalt lot with power lines overhead and a tram? Look, I appreciate that you're always looking for ways to make things better, but you're holding up Walt to to be some kind of mythical God of Family Entertainment. You're not going to get a personal rickshaw driver to escort you from your car to the front gate without paying through the nose for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169678462458262332007-01-24T14:41:00.000-08:002007-01-24T14:41:00.000-08:00Since when is it a company's responsibility to poi...<I>Since when is it a company's responsibility to point out shorter lines? When you go to the grocery store, gas station or any other place, it has always been your own responsibility to choose what line to wait in.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Apparently you have never shopped at Trader Joes.</B> Both locations that I have visited both have this service. It's a fairly pleasant feature for a grocery store, and does add to the overall sense of concern for the customer.<BR/><BR/>And in regard to getting the executives to visit the park to see what it's really like and making improvements - if you do succeed in getting that to happen - perhaps the next step would be getting them to watch some of the their modern era films or listen to their own branded radio stations. I think they would improve quite a bit if decision-making adults knew how bad some of them really are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169677435464571762007-01-24T14:23:00.000-08:002007-01-24T14:23:00.000-08:00I've never visited the land of the Diz, but some f...I've never visited the land of the Diz, but some friends of mine are avid (rabid?) fans. <BR/><BR/>After reading this article I can't help but feel that like many big corporations, Disney isn't afraid to cut whatever corner they can in order to better their profit margins, all the while taking their customers for granted. <BR/><BR/>If a company can treat people (inc. my friends) like cattle and still have them clamoring to throw their money at the park then maybe this is exactly how we ought to be treated. Why treat people with respect when they don't demand it?<BR/><BR/>Moo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169661486402433332007-01-24T09:58:00.000-08:002007-01-24T09:58:00.000-08:00While I agree that the parking structure could be ...While I agree that the parking structure could be a little more, er, magical, I prefer it over the large outdoor parking lot.<BR/><BR/>I'm now living in Orlando and I hate to park in one of the paved parking lots, walk under the hot Florida sun to a tram stop and wait for it. Then when it's time to leave, you have to enter your burning hot car.<BR/><BR/>The parking structure at DL provides protection from the elements, it's a nice perk! That's one of the reasons why sometimes I choose to visit the Universal Resort instead, nice shaded parking spaces.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169660537088165702007-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:002007-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:00You're being unfair and it has been far too long s...You're being unfair and it has been far too long since you looked at Disneyland with a child's eyes. Back in August of last year, I wrote an entry about our parking experience:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.starling-travel.com/2006/08/09/parking-at-disneyland/" REL="nofollow">Starling Travel » Parking At Disneyland</A><BR/><BR/>You didn't even notice or give credit for the awesome escalators that mostly go down in the morning and mostly go up in the evening.<BR/><BR/>Bad form, Jiminy, bad form.Laura Moncurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03282508625104840638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169658985340050652007-01-24T09:16:00.000-08:002007-01-24T09:16:00.000-08:00To Juilan Drews above: (clever username by the way...To Juilan Drews above: (clever username by the way)<BR/>I like your idea about the moving sidewalk and diarama, but the tram lines as security checkpoint wouldn't work because the security checkpoints check the people coming from Mickey and Friends AND Downtown Disney, the Hotels, etc.<BR/>Also, thank you for providing SOLUTIONS and NOT just complaints.<BR/><BR/>And for those that are complaining about the parking garage: it is VERY large (I heard the largest in the Western hemisphere) and I HAVE parked in the farthest corner opposite the escalators. BUT compared to other parking garages, it is MUCH more efficent and less of a pain. Again, I'm sure that DL would have LIKED to keep ground parking (see Downtown Disney's parking), BUT is a parking lot an efficent use of space when you have SO little space to begin with?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169655178201542502007-01-24T08:12:00.000-08:002007-01-24T08:12:00.000-08:00Disneyland sounds like it sucks. I go to DisneyWo...Disneyland sounds like it sucks. I go to DisneyWorld several times a year, and don't have much of a problem with any of this. There's almost never any wait to get into the parking lot. I don't ride the trams because it's almost always easier to walk. The ticket center at the Magic Kingdom is like a ghost town these days, what with all the other, better options for getting tickets ahead of time, and unless you get there right at opening time, the wait to get into the park isn't that bad. <BR/><BR/>The only line you mentioned that I have a problem with is the security check, and not because it's particularly long as much as bacause it is completely useless. I don't know how many times I've walked through there with a fanny pack, or small backpack that no one ever even asked to look at, or bags stored in the bottom of my son's stroller that no one cared about looking in. And even the bags they do check, they open up and poke around a little with a wooden stick in a manner which can't even pretend to be able to ascertain whether or not what I'm carrying is dangerous to anyone.John Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01895903722298748059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169637215337406952007-01-24T03:13:00.000-08:002007-01-24T03:13:00.000-08:00Anonymous said:>>>...there is often a wistfully to...<B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>...there is often a wistfully toned post wishing the park could just be that perfectly functioning, seamlessly magical place it was when Walt was alive.</I><<<<BR/><BR/>Forgive me, but is there something wrong with that? Is that a criticism? Because it's comparable to telling a caner patient that he makes wistfully toned comments wishing his health could be the perfectly functioning organ it was before he got sick. Somehow, I don't see what could possible be wrong with the desire for something to be as good as it once was.<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>It's complete bollocks. There have been missteps and mistakes literally every day since the park opened and it hasn't stopped it from being the favorite destination of millions. There has ALWAYS been something that could be done better.</I><<<<BR/><BR/>I'll echo what I said at Epcot82's blog. <I>"Success of a product is not tantamount to the correctness or usefulness of that product."</I><BR/><BR/>Disney will continue to generate income for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that so many of us have our hearts and memories tied up in the parks and the fun that can still be had there. It is the rub of loving Disney for what it was, even though we hate what it's slowly turning into. It's like falling in love with a good person, only for an illness to slowly take them away. You don't stop loving the person, but you hate what the disease is turning them into. <BR/><BR/>Add to that, Disney is an established brand name with a long history and arms woven into many facets of big business. It would be very difficult for Disney to fail due to that fact. Not to mention, who’s Disney's competition? If Disney management stood still and let the parks sit and rot for the next twenty years, it would still take that long for its only real competition, Universal, to totally steal it's foothold. <BR/><BR/>The "everybody does it and their still making millions" argument means nothing held against our complaints. Disney management makes money by resting on the laurels of their predecessor. Not by doing anything special, nor by preserving what made Disney great to begin with. Its not as good as it could be. It's not as good as it used to be. It's not showing any signs of trying to be better. It’s a money making machine that’s slowly loosing its soul. And, I'm sorry, that's just unacceptable. <BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>It's no more perfect than it was in Walt's day. In some ways is is worse, and in some ways better. But this pining for the glory days of the old parking lot, which is ridiculous, or the wonderfully traffic-free approaches to the park, etc., etc., are absolutely absurd.</I><<<<BR/><BR/>I always marvel when some of you become incensed because this blog and some of its readers don't like the parking arrangements. But, once again, I need to point out that we're focusing on the little things that add up and affect the whole. <BR/><BR/>Disney lovers, like myself, look at things from the perspective of, not just a Disney employee, but Walt Disney himself. We try to see things through his eyes and wonder what he might have done differently. And as the CEO of the most popular and largest themed industry on the planet, I don't have the luxury of disregarding the parking lots, just because I think their unimportant. Well, maybe I can ignore them. I'll ignore them because it's not my problem.<BR/><BR/>Wait, that's how Disney management thinks. Not how Walt would have. The parking lot, the bathrooms, the trash cans, every little piece of minutia adds up. Observing and caring for the little things, in most cultures, has always been lauded and cultivated as a virtue. How exactly is that absurd?<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>But in fact, I rarely wait in lines. I plan my day and use FastPass and manage to get on every attraction I wish to. Worts case scenario, on a really crowded day, single rider is a great opton and often if I am with someone we will be able to get on together.</I><<<<BR/> <BR/>And that presumes that we all have that luxury. I have a physically disabled child and as a result, I can cut most lines without having to Fast Pass at all. Some places I can Parent Swap and use the Fast Pass line without ever having to get a Fast Pass ticket. Does this change a thing to the million other people in the park with me? Not everyone cares to ride alone. Not everyone can ride alone. A family of three will no doubt have entirety different needs and difficulties than a young dating couple. The focus of management should be on maximizing the experience of all potential Guest groups.<BR/><BR/>However, this particular article wasn’t even about lines in the park. It was about lines <B><I>to</I></B> the park, which can be unbearably long and disorganized and chew up a sizable portion of a Guest’s stay time. If you don’t recall it being better in Walt’s day then that’s fine, and more then likely a subjective viewpoint. But there’s not doubt that it could be much better now. That a little careful thought could make it smoother. More tram stops. More Cast Members in the parking area directing, guiding, cleaning. Hey, maybe even decorate the interior of the darn thing. It’s the favorite destination place of millions, right? So don’t tell me they couldn’t afford it.<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>One more thing. I tire of this depcition of Disney as some kind of monolithic entity designed to deprive people of their cash. Naturally they are in business to make money. But the company, and especially in some ways Disneyland, is made up of people. Many of them have been caretakers of the park for 30 years or more. Contrary to other comments here, many of them visit the park regularly. I know because my wife is a CM and we visit the park at least a couple of time a month. So I am sick and tired of hearing this BS about how people who work at Disneyland don't care about the guests. Even the lamest employee I have met cares about little else. So please, unless you have some personal experience, stop speculating.</I><<<<BR/><BR/>I have never once seen this blog blindly attack all Disney Cast Members as one faceless, uncaring entity. Your comment makes no sense in context with the statements made in this, and most other, blog articles. Disney <B>management</B> is who is being criticized here. It’s been widely acknowledged that there are still long time Cast Members who have kept the light on in the respective parks for many years. But it has also been pointed out that their influence is all but faded and that their numbers are dwindling. If anyone has ever complained about a Disney Cast Member (which, I believe, you just did in a previous paragraph) then it’s directly connected to the missteps of management who underpays and fails to reward those employees. Walt had a tenet that basically said if your employees are happy, then they’ll treat the guest well. <BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>But this relentless tarring of every management CM with the same brush ("The folks in button-down cotton shirts, semi-stylish skirts and conspicuous sunglasses, usually talking on a cell phone or holding a pile of papers while looking very earnest, as if they are Cast Members you can't bother") is tiresome in the extreme, and more than a little insulting to the hundreds of CMs who bust their tushies working long hours every day trying to make DL a better place for the guests. (And who, by the way, visit the park often as guests.)</I><<<<BR/><BR/>Again, this article said nothing about Cast Members not attending the park. It pointed out that <B><I>management</I></B> failed to do what Walt used to instruct them to do. Go in through the front gate, and spend the day as a normal person, not a VIP. How you translated that as an attack on all CMs is beyond me.<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Anonymous said:</B><BR/>>>><I>I have yet to see a "practical, tenable" post on this blog to address the many grievances or wistful yearnings for the bygone days of fantasy. What I do see is a bunch of cynical nonsense that seems more like it's coming from a place of personal bitterness and less from the perspective of running Disneyland not as some kind of charity organization dedicated to making people happy (as if that's what Walt's goal was), but as a business whose product is the customer's happiness. Two thoroughly different concepts, and the latter must be at the forefront for ANY remedy to be "practcial and tenable" in ANY respect. </I><<<<BR/><BR/>Then you miss the point entirely. The solution to any problem begins with a spotlight on that problem. <B>There are many, many problems to spotlight.</B> First thing is first. I’ve milked this metaphor before and I have no qualms about milking it again. Diagnoses always takes place before treatment. You can’t cure a patient if you don’t know what’s wrong with him. You’ve got to shine a light on and examine the symptoms, and that can take time with someone very ill. Disney is an extraordinarily sick patient.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169626655777421312007-01-24T00:17:00.000-08:002007-01-24T00:17:00.000-08:00What I always found interesting with this blog is ...What I always found interesting with this blog is the inability to accept that change only happens with demand. Perhaps its confusing knowing that a few thousand of your Disney online-pals share similar experiences. Step back from the general internet consensus and start looking at a bigger picture. Disneyland is one of the most successful theme parks in the world. When you're on top, change happens slowly. Change is fueled by competition. I have yet to see any theme park overcome the issues brought up here. Especially none on the sale of Disneyland. Disney should take the lead, but with so many visitors still coming, despite these flaws, there is little incentive.<BR/><BR/>Look at the momentum in the park created by CMs, guests, and office politics. Do you really expect these simple changes to happen? Many people are willing to forget the photographer, the tram line, and the parking garage the moment they lay eyes on the castle. Disney has most guests ending their days on a good note, thus erasing or lessening their initial frustrations.<BR/><BR/>One final note. I love the fact that you're able to call out Disney on their faults. Most people that write about Disney only have positive things to say. I feel that by exposing a problem you're bring attention to something that needs help. My beef comes up when you leave us hanging. There is absolutely no imagineering going on here. No imagination is being used to find solutions. Sure, you make great arguments as to why something is broken but with little follow-up. Its hard to believe that someone that takes so much time to find flaws doesn't simultaneously look for solutions. Shouldn't a blog titled "Re-Imagineering" do what its named after?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169620810647398762007-01-23T22:40:00.000-08:002007-01-23T22:40:00.000-08:00Here's an idea. Have the tram lines also function ...Here's an idea. Have the tram lines also function as a security checkpoint. Then make available onboard keypads capable of letting guests purchase tickets en-route. Then have the trams disembark between California Adventure and Disneyland. <BR/><BR/>So simple.<BR/><BR/>And add moving sidewalks from the parking garage to tram loading that offers guests an entertaining kinetic animated diorama while moving; something visually inventive and exciting that gets guests excited about the experience to come; something worth the $11.00 they just shelled out. <BR/><BR/>Here's to the future!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1169614522995933512007-01-23T20:55:00.000-08:002007-01-23T20:55:00.000-08:00"If only I knew WHAT, Mr. Banks? Please, enlighten..."If only I knew WHAT, Mr. Banks? Please, enlighten me. If you have a specific beef with my remarks then by all means take me to task. But spare me the cryptic know-it-all routine. It's all too common amongst Disneyphiles of ANY stripe."<BR/><BR/>...said someone named "anonymous"... LOLThe Polsonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04419628721431937773noreply@blogger.com