I can't believe I'm being sucked into this. I really have no business being here, especially because I only have time to write a few quick lines, then I'm off to work where I won't be able to defend myself for many hours. (Not to mention the fact that I'm terrified of not using the exact precise words I intend to make myself understood.)
I have loved Disney my entire life. As a child in the 70's my Great-Grandmother lived a few miles outside Orlando, and Magic Kingdom was always included in our annual trips to see her. My Grandmother and I went to EPCOT together right after it opened, on our last trip before Great-Grandmother passed away. That was a bit taboo, because I was missing school, but my mother felt it was more important for me to spend time with GGM and GM. More importantly, however, was that GM was thrilled because not only was I spending quality time with great women who have influenced my life tremendously, I actually learned more in that day at EPCOT than I would have at school. (Yes, I am, unfortunately, a product of the SC public school system, but that really has little to do with my point.)
As the years went by and I earned my own money and could take myself to WDW, I went every chance I could. (Hmmm...car payment, or 3 day hopper..... - Yes, Jeff is gently fixing that problem, wonderful man, you...) My Mother, who had not been to WDW since the 70's was itching to get back. Summer is just too busy with her job, and she and my step-father (who had never been to any Disney park, and assumed it was just like Six Flags with a mouse) saw no reason to take my 11 year old brother out of school for a vacation. My argument was, go, he will learn so much. Yes, MK and MGM are there to have fun. But EPCOT and AK are there to have fun in an educational, informative manner. You can't get that at Six Flags (unless you count the lesson you learn about loosing all your money trying to get a basketball into a too small hoop). I particularly talked up the AK. "There's a great dinosaur exhibit, and you can see cast members cleaning pieces from actual digs, a great see and learn area where you can see animals that they are nursing back to health, or babies, and all throughout the park are cast members eager to tell you about the animals of their countries. "
I finally convinced them to go for a long weekend over a school break this past October. Granted, 4 days is not long enough and can be quite overwhelming, but Jeff and I gave them all our best tips, poured over maps with them, and helped them with an itin. that would let them see most of what they really wanted to, and hoped that this would put a desire in them to return later for a longer trip. (I also, secretly, wanted my mother to know that I had not been wasting my money all these years! Yes, quality costs a little more.) I DID NOT let any of my negative feelings toward the downward spiral of customer service be known. ( I remain, a member of car # 2/3, disapointed, but ever hopeful that someone will replace those money hungry ******** that are... I'm getting too worked up.) I truly wanted them to have the time of their lives. I was so anxious to hear from them. I wanted to see if fresh attitudes, that probably wouldn't realize that what was once expected of WDW could no longer be expected. I NEEDED them to have a great time.
They got back, with great stories, as with all good vacations, but when I asked when they were going back, my Mother replied "We enjoyed ourselves, and I think I see some of what attracts you to WDW, but I really don't see the need to take Evan out of school to go again, especially to spend that kind of money on it. I think Six Flags for the day will give us the same enjoyment." I was crushed. Until I opened my eyes a little wider and saw where she was coming from.
So much for a few quick lines. I guess what I took way too long to say, and if you're still reading, more power to you, is that I'm upset that the easy/cheap way out is being taken in EVERY direction as far as the parks go. I do not have children yet, however, I work with them every day, and have for most of my working career, and although they do not share my bloodlines, it doesn't mean that I love or care for them any less. Give me a reason to take them to a roadside carnival at those prices. Okay, maybe the cast members will have more teeth than the workers at the usual fairs, although I'm sure it has nothing to do with a better dental plan. (Sorry, not interested in being politically correct anymore) Tell me why it's okay to spend 4 Billion (golly that's a lot!) dollars on a tv station full of bad shows, most of which I wouldn't let my family watch, but you can't spend enough to restore CoP, or put a few more cast members back in AK to offer more information on what I'm seeing. Not a zoo my rear - you know what?! IT SHOULDN'T BE!!! IT'S DISNEY!!! Didn't that used to mean something? There should be NOTHING like it. Someone mentioned Imagineers that worked on Dino-Rama. I'm sorry, but I feel that you must have an imagination to be an Imagineer - silly me for thinking that's what the name implies. And I know I'm speaking of which I know very little, and someone will tell me that yes, the imagineers really thought of something better, but the ideas were scrapped in favor of the more cost effective, blah, blah, blah.
Has anyone seen the commercial advertising the 100 year hoopla, in which the little boy decides to do his school project on Walt Disney, the great visionary? As he and his father are enjoying the park together, you see them only on MK rides, and at the end they decide to "see Walt's vision" on Space Mountain - again? Funny, how you don't see them playing carnival games.....
I don't visit these boards often, usually just to see what my husband's been up to, so if I'm beating a dead horse, please forgive me. I don't feel like reading all the other threads to see if I'm saying anything new, in all honesty, they only depress me, and make me confrontational, a feeling I am not comfortable with. But it seems these always come back around to "What would Walt have done?" I thought it was to give the people something they couldn't find anywhere else. Yes, he put in a carousel, but he put in not just any carousel, but one that had an INCREDIBLE history, and put cast members there that loved to tell you all about it so you left the ride feeling more connected to it. I see nothing "visionary" about Dino-Rama. Yes, you can go, as I'm sure I will, and yes, I will even have a lot of fun and make happy memories there because that's what I do, but doesn't anyone understand that it doesn't belong there? How is this one going to stand out in my mind over any other carnival that I've been to? What makes it different? I'm really asking.
I'll quit now because I'm about to cry, and I've spent way too long on this. I know the lists that will follow, and perhaps I'll check back later to see if anyone has anything that will make me change my mind. Perhaps.
Okay - attack!
Suzy
You and Jeff sure seem to make a great team! 
