Tokyo WARNING for Disneyland USA fans!

[MattO]

You just don't get it that other people may enjoy TDS for what it really is, do you? Why don't you get yourself over there and then make up your own informed and experienced opinions of this park instead of attacking someone who is relating his experiences.

I can't afford to go. I'm a custodial cast member at DCA.

Your post has no merit as it's based on heresay and not experienced facts.

What were the experienced facts given? That something is superior? How can a judgement be a fact?

TDS is that good over what we have in the States that people like you will never be able to understand where those of us are coming from because the quality surpasses 10 folds when compared to the low standards now administered at WDW.

I do wish I wasn't a custodian.

You will not understand that enthusiasm until you have experienced TDS. Sad. FYI...I too have been to friends to the various Disney parks and they have not been too kind in their opinions to me at WDW and DLP, so I don't think friends would patronize me just because.

Ditto.

[MattO]

Meet the World was announced as part of EPCOT Center's Japan Pavillion as an attraction on opening day but budgets and the lack of sponsor delayed the attraction. Then it was altogether dropped. Why do you think the backside of the Feudal castle in the japan showcase is a huge building behind it?

CARD WALKER!

I don't blame Universal for trying but Disney is doing just about the same thing with every new attraction they have opened. Stitch comes to mind... However, you can't blame Universal or Disney for trying as it is the people, especially in the western hemisphere, who are loosing their attention span.

Finally! An admission of a vastly different culture. Who are we to say one culture is better than another?

One more thing.. "Stormrider" preshow is just about the only preshow with english subtitles as the live CM does his/her spiel and interacts with props as the purpose of our mission is explained to us.... I find it quite entertaining every time I have ridden...especially the huge noisy explotion we have to endure during the demostration.

That sounds intresting. Is it air conditioned and rascal friendly?

POTC is a fun proven ride, reason why it has stayed. Mr. Johnson had to go because the main show in that attraction sucked and became very outdated, just like it will happen to SIR from Stitch's Great Fiasco.

A robot talking to a robot, is not Sue from Garden Grove talking to Mr. Johnson.

"Stormrider" is a terrific simulator ride that take the simulation experience one step further with in-simulator theater effects and calamities.. Reason why I think it will play at TDS for several years more until something that can top it can be put in it's place.

Sounds like Star Tours, minus R2D2.

That made no sense to me and certainly not logical to me.

It was said in this post that there is a cultural difference. This plays into what I said; If people were really put off by the "lack of service" at Disneyland compared to TDR, Disney Corp would lose money. Considering that the audience of TDR is Japanese, and Disneyland's is Riverside....why even compare the two?

However...I was a WDW CM under Card Walker's leadership..and back then, we ran a tight ship. We hardly ever had guests coming into City Hall to complaint about anything in the park.

You also didn't have Larry Parker trying to get $2.1 million. We are a highly litigious society now.

Now a days..everytime I peek my head in there, I can hear someone complaining about something.

Ever go to restaurants? Hear people complaining and demanding refunds for cold french fries?

I pity those kids doing Guests Relations now...but when I see them making excuses for the problems guests encounted instead of being proactive and solve problems as we were required to so, it makes me ill to my stomach. People deserve better at $60+ for a 1-day pass. FACE IT!

$60 is bubkas.

The parks are operating under very restritive budgets... From the short staff levels of custodial, to maintenance, to reduced kiddy shows like Cinderellabration with little glitter (go see this show at TDL and compare), to behind the scenes initiatives like Castzooming where the cost of upkeeping CM costumes has been passed to the CMs themselves... Gimme a break. Operating under restrictive budgets will allow for big buck to be made in the lonh haul.

Bingo! Everything is about cutting costs and increasing profits. America tolerates this implicitly. How many Walmarts are there?

As for guests not caring about "the way things used to be".... that makes no sense to me. Sounds like an apologist remark more than anything. If people don't care to experience a MK that is dirty or eat at restaurants with dirty tables due to the lack of proper custodial staffing..it's not bacause they do not care about the way it used to be...it because THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE.

I seem to remember the only two mandatory choices in life were death and taxes. My parents never taught me the third one.

I am sure anyone would choose sanitation over Mickey anytime...or else, they are pigs. And mind you...most guests are pigs now a days. But in regards to what guests prefer or not... the fact remains that budgets cuts affecting things like Custodial, Maintenance, enterntainment, have deteriorated the WDW experience to alarming levels. WDW is simply not worth the price of admission they charge..which should make everyone wonder... as you say MattO, if the parks are making more money than ever now... how come the parks looks so run down and the attractions are so outdated??

Easy. The management has realized that you can spend less and make just as much if not more.

Why do we have the oldest Space Mountain in operation still looking pretty much like it did in 1974 when it opened, whereas DL's and DLP's Space Mountains just got revisional changes and updated special effects? Why is the MK park untidy on a constant basis when trash used to be collected within seconds?? Where is that BIG TIME money you claim they are making going?? Are you a stockholder and seeing this money being placed in your account?? Did stockholder not demand change, reason why Eisner is now gone? Who is pocketing the big money you claim the parks are making now a days???

Spilled popcorn at Epcot is the least of CalPERS worries. They worry about increasing bodies and spending, to justify their millions of shares of Disney. The money traded on WalStreet is virtually incomprehensible.

Thank God TDR did not adopt any of these budgetary initiatives, which is why of us who have been there concider the place to be close to perfection, just like WDW "used to be". They uphold their standards and Disney Traditions near and dear, while the new generation operating WDW has lost theirs. Whether this is cultural or not, may or may not be the case, and if it is...then we should be very concerned about where our culture is headed to in the future.

Why worry? If culture didn't evolve we'd still be burning people at the stake. Though I think that is done in other places.

[TDLFAN]

If you are indeed a Custodial at DCA, then that explains your bitterness. Must be difficult to do your job in a park that gets a bad rap from many on the Disney Fan community. Mind you, I *enjoyed* DCA very much and praise the fact that it was cleaner than WDW's MK in many ways...so you keep doing the great job you're doing. Some of us do appreciate your efforts and hard work. Unlike management.

CARD WALKER!!

Yup. He sure knew what he was doing if he was in any way responsible for the demise of Meet The World at EPCOT. I never cared that much for that attraction.

(Stormrider) Sounds like Star Tours, minus R2D2.

Again, your lack of knowledge about this subject deceives you. The Stormrider simulators are twice as big at Star Tours and much more capable of surprises... When the ceiling starts collapsing on you and the side panels fall and water gets in during the harrowing ditching... you too will come out in glee... and that not giving away an eighth of the show. If only Star Wars had this kind of 21st century showmanship.

If people were really put off by the "lack of service" at Disneyland compared to TDR, Disney Corp would lose money. Considering that the audience of TDR is Japanese, and Disneyland's is Riverside....why even compare the two?

You lost me pal... I have nothing to complaint about DLR...in the contrary. I love the place as much as TDR. I was refering to WDW-specific problems in most of my posts up above. I thought that was the point of this chatter...

Finally! An admission of a vastly different culture.

I don't recall saying anything to the contrary either. I should know better than anyone that both the american and japanese cultures are vastly different, and I have gone on record saying that culture plays a big part in the success of TDR as Japan's sense of duty and a job well done (something lost in some of our workforce I dare say) reflects in the way they do their thing at TDR.

We are a highly litigious society now.

Not to mention affraid of our own shadows.

Ever go to restaurants? Hear people complaining and demanding refunds for cold french fries?

At WDW? yes, I have witnessed a few times other guests coming back to ask for replacements for food they found unsatisfactory. Plus, I personally would not hesitate to request my money back if needs be.
If the rest of the World is affraid to do that or happy with their cold fries,..well, that's their problem. More power to them.

Everything is about cutting costs and increasing profits. America tolerates this implicitly. How many Walmarts are there?

America may tolerate implicity but I don't understand how that implicity relates to bad personal or lax service, which is my issue. I do expect good old friendly and efficient service with a smile. Is that so hard to do or out of reach? As for Walmart... it's not that implicity that makes them successful. It's America's love for CHEAP prices. Which is fine. Even the japanese love a great sale at Matsuzakaya... watching those old little ladies push people out of the way to get to the shelves is some sight to behold.

The management has realized that you can spend less and make just as much if not more. Spilled popcorn at Epcot is the least of CalPERS worries. They worry about increasing bodies and spending, to justify their millions of shares of Disney. The money traded on WalStreet is virtually incomprehensible.

Tell me something I don't know already. Why do you think you can't barely afford to live on Disney's paychecks?? Reason why I left Disney many years ago!! Sadly, the pro-corporate/anti-labor enviroment we live in now-a-days make these disparaties possible, and as you mentioned...acceptable.
But Disney Co. has always bragged about being "the leader" in their business and as such, I will continue to expect and demand great service and experiences for the money I invest in their company. They will have to deal with customers like myself who expect more and hold them accountable for it. Sorry, but I feel that's my right as a consumer who doesn't not mind paying higher prices for my satisfaction.

[ZeekSlider]

I would just like to say that I don't think StormRider is like Star Tours simply because Star Tours doesn't have in-theatre pryrotechnics. I thought that was cool.

Okay, carry on.

[TP2000]

I would just like to say that I don't think StormRider is like Star Tours simply because Star Tours doesn't have in-theatre pryrotechnics. I thought that was cool.

Okay, carry on.

Star Tours also does not have collapsing ceilings, spraying water, buckling walls, falling props, a rocket that crashes through the cabin, or ride operators who give a darn about profesional showmanship.

But other than that, Star Tours is similar to StormRider.

[MattO]

Star Tours also does not have collapsing ceilings, spraying water, buckling walls, falling props, a rocket that crashes through the cabin, or ride operators who give a darn about profesional showmanship.

Sounds like Disney copied Poseiden's Fury.

[cinder]

Sounds like Disney copied Poseiden's Fury.

Is that that show in IoA?

[Goin2Disneyland]

Yes. And it's totally different from StormRider. Poseidon is a walkthrough show with several in-theater effects. StormRider is a simular with several in-theater effects. And the effects are totally different.

Poseidon and DLRP's Armageddon would be more comparable.

[TDLFAN]

I think Universal tried to copy Disney's Fantasmic! in regards to Poseidon's Fury, which btw, has already undergone a total change of script and revisions. I have to say...I always enjoyed the ending of Poseidon's Fury...when you are magically transported from in the water vortex tunnel into the main theater and then when the entire underwater kingdom disappears just to find yourself "back" in the previous room, all without taking a step backward. very cool.

[cinder]

I think Universal tried to copy Disney's Fantasmic! in regards to Poseidon's Fury, which btw, has already undergone a total change of script and revisions. I have to say...I always enjoyed the ending of Poseidon's Fury...when you are magically transported from in the water vortex tunnel into the main theater and then when the entire underwater kingdom disappears just to find yourself "back" in the previous room, all without taking a step backward. very cool.

Yeah, I remember doing this "thing" when we went, I thought it very innovative and ingenious. The tunnel was pretty darn cool, too!