The magic is also gone from your videos 😞 It makes me so sad that we can’t see you walking through the parks anymore with your big smile, riding all the rides with you, seeing you try new foods, and just feeling that we are there with you… You forgot that is what it was all about. Not just giving us “the news” but the waves of going there and while at the same time being in our temporary housing location… It really makes me so sad! 💔
Respectfully I can’t emphasize how much I used to look forward to your videos. The content has made such a dramatic shift It’s almost unwatchable. Please consider making some minor adjustments.
Agreed. We go back a long was as followers of Michael's vlogs and adventures and hope he's doing well, is finding happiness and knows that his efforts here to share the magic have been, and continue to be, appreciated.
You are 100% spot on. I’ve been going to Disney multiple times a year since 1972, AP holder since 2015. We didn’t renew this year. Big decision but the right one. Mr. Walt Disney is being pushed out of Disney and it’s heartbreaking. I don’t look the other way and say, oh it’s ok.
I used to love going to the Parks. These days, I feel like Disney wants my dollars but doesn't value me much as a customer. "Going back to their roots" is definitely something I'd like to see, too. I love seeing new stuff, but I also go to see a place that meant so much to me when I was a kid myself. I also feel like the company doesn't value its Cast Members as much anymore. They work often insane hours and it seems they're not exactly getting paid very well, and as you say, leadership has not been good in recent years and I wonder if there are any incentives for stellar performers. I'm in no hurry to go back and am waiting to see if Disney- or whoever ends up running the Parks- recaptures their mojo. Great analysis!
I wish that the new ride buildings were not boxes - Guardians and Tron. I enjoy when you cannot see the ride buildings because of their facades; like Space Mountain and Tower of Terror etc.
Love the podcast! ( It is great I can just listen to this while at work but I do miss the old way with you in front of the camera with your Disney stuff in the background.) Hopefully Disney can get the magic back before our next trip next summer.
All excellent points! I also feel like the use of genie, virtual Q and the app has led to a lot of dissatisfaction with guests. Just last week I heard confused guests from out of town talking with a cast member at Tron because they hadn’t gotten a virtual Que and couldn’t get in line. 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️ The 7am wake up every day on your vacation is ridiculous!! This is something they could simply and quickly change that would make a more positive experience.
One of the parades at Epcot was called “Tapestry of Nations”. Best Disney parade ever in my opinion. The music was amazing! I bought the CD and still listen to it today 🥰 I miss creative, original Disney things like it. Nowadays everything has some kind of other IP in it. It doesn’t feel fresh and new in my opinion. I miss that especially at Epcot.
You want to add some more magic, add some more rides. Nobody wants to spend 2 hours in a line for Peter Pans flight. Do a fast pass similar to universal. Quit making people use there phones 24/7 and plan every step they take.
5 things to bring the magic back: 1: Return of free fast pass 2: Bring back Illuminations Reflections of earth at Epcot. 3: Have standards for food quality in the restaurants and especially at the food festivals. 4: Hire and train (and pay well) Cast members to provide the best guest experience possible. 5: Focus on creativity, talent and quality when it comes to movies / Disney + content. Extra ones: Stop putting IP and characters all over the hotels and parks - Magical express??
As a previous employee and frequent vacationer to WDW, it’s not a lack of fulfillment in one’s work that is the issue. The jobs are tough and they always have been, but they used to be very particular about who they hired, driven people who took pride in their work. They used to have serious standards regarding appearance and behavior and these completely evaporated. It’s definitely bigger than a Disney issue, but Disney used to be clean cut, family oriented fun and thanks to an escalation during Covid it has really lost that feel in many ways. There are still plenty of great people working there that take pride in their work, and I’ve had several great experiences going back over the last year, however I don’t see them returning to their traditional standards and I feel they are not quite meeting Walt’s vision as a result. I guess they just need to lean in and try to compete with universal but Disney won’t have the same feel it did in the 90s.
Its about value. If you keep providing less value while increasing prices, it will drive your customers away. If you have been to the parks throughout the years, you see you need to spend more money to get fewer services at a diminished quality. Taking away fast pass, dining plans, magical express, free parking at the hotels, etc. It adds up.
Would love to see go back to their 2D roots. I mean… imagine how 2D movies of Incredibles, Frozen (Yes, I AM a Frozen fan), Wreck It Ralph, etc. would do in 2D. I mean 3D is totally fine for me but 2D was how it all started.
thought this was great....."Epcot’s Tapestry of Nations Parade was a daily parade in the park’s World Showcase area. It ran the entire span of the Showcase from Mexico to Canada and featured a wide variety of props and performers such as drummers and puppeteers. It was created as part of Epcot’s Millennium Celebration." additionally, if i remember correctly, i think the KidCot stations started here where our kids would draw "something" that they would take to the parade and some sort of interaction in the parade dream catchers...
In talking with a CM a few weeks ago, many of the well seasoned veterans they had employed prior to covid are no longer there. They knew how to provide "the magic"... something they really don't train newer CM's anymore... sad.
Michael, great video!! I couldn’t agree with you more. All of the points you make in this video are so accurate. I am constantly asking myself either on a weekly or monthly basis why Disney continues to make changes for the worse, why Disney refuses to bring back so many of the things that us adults enjoyed so much during the 90s and 2000s. It really is a shame, the magic is there but nowhere near as strong as we experienced growing up visiting the parks as a teenager and young adult.
I feel that society has taken a downward turn post Covid. Our culture has grown away from caring about others. I still see and feel it at Disney, but yeah… not nearly as much. The leadership isn’t pulling the cast members in the right direction.
We live 20 hours away from Orlando and altho we're not die hards, we will be there for the second MVMCP this year, we'll be staying on property at CBR and we'll then head to Port Canaveral for the first Fantasy Merrytime cruise of the season. That said, this has been a tough trip to talk ourselves into. Total cost should run us about $13,000 and we expect the park and resort to still be packed (too packed). For us, the top concerns are price and crowding and both of them show no signs of relief so, for us, this will probably be our last splurge with Mickey.
These parks have been going down the tubes in regard to customer service for years. Long before Covid. You never feel welcomed there, more like your presence is a burden to most of the unfriendly workers. Forget about magic, lol. That disappeared ages ago!
Haven’t listened yet but Night of joy at magic kingdom, 24 hour park days, free fast passes, and more perks for APs come to mind. As an annual passholder i literally feel hated compared to Universal and SeaWorld especially.
@@bryankelloway6610 that’s really well said. I love the way you stated that. I wish a lot of people would self reflect and stop acting like their opinion is some how the majority. Narratives gone wild. Lol.
@@Grimmnight16it’s not though. You either have to be biased or only a fan for a short time to not agree. There’s nothing in Disney World currently in terms of what they offer that’s better now, than what they used to have. Outside of an attraction or two. Everything else has gone downhill.
Walt nearly bankrupted the company twice and his vision doesn’t apply to the world now. It simply can’t. Economic realities are completely different now.
The magic is also gone from your videos 😞 It makes me so sad that we can’t see you walking through the parks anymore with your big smile, riding all the rides with you, seeing you try new foods, and just feeling that we are there with you… You forgot that is what it was all about. Not just giving us “the news” but the waves of going there and while at the same time being in our temporary housing location… It really makes me so sad! 💔
Respectfully I can’t emphasize how much I used to look forward to your videos. The content has made such a dramatic shift It’s almost unwatchable. Please consider making some minor adjustments.
Hope you're doing well Michael. Miss seeing you in the parks and doing the vlogs. Hope you get back to vlogging soon. God Bless!!
It be good to see you vs just hear you
Agreed. We go back a long was as followers of Michael's vlogs and adventures and hope he's doing well, is finding happiness and knows that his efforts here to share the magic have been, and continue to be, appreciated.
You are 100% spot on. I’ve been going to Disney multiple times a year since 1972, AP holder since 2015. We didn’t renew this year. Big decision but the right one. Mr. Walt Disney is being pushed out of Disney and it’s heartbreaking. I don’t look the other way and say, oh it’s ok.
Bring back the free fast passes, magical express, lower the prices, bring back dining plans.
We don't want to see old men with beards dressed as princesses.
I used to love going to the Parks. These days, I feel like Disney wants my dollars but doesn't value me much as a customer. "Going back to their roots" is definitely something I'd like to see, too. I love seeing new stuff, but I also go to see a place that meant so much to me when I was a kid myself. I also feel like the company doesn't value its Cast Members as much anymore. They work often insane hours and it seems they're not exactly getting paid very well, and as you say, leadership has not been good in recent years and I wonder if there are any incentives for stellar performers. I'm in no hurry to go back and am waiting to see if Disney- or whoever ends up running the Parks- recaptures their mojo. Great analysis!
I wish that the new ride buildings were not boxes - Guardians and Tron. I enjoy when you cannot see the ride buildings because of their facades; like Space Mountain and Tower of Terror etc.
Love the podcast! ( It is great I can just listen to this while at work but I do miss the old way with you in front of the camera with your Disney stuff in the background.)
Hopefully Disney can get the magic back before our next trip next summer.
You said it best Mike “Disney must go back to its roots”……people over profit.
I miss seeing you but i have enjoyed the podcast. Just wish you would have introduced it.
All excellent points! I also feel like the use of genie, virtual Q and the app has led to a lot of dissatisfaction with guests. Just last week I heard confused guests from out of town talking with a cast member at Tron because they hadn’t gotten a virtual Que and couldn’t get in line. 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️ The 7am wake up every day on your vacation is ridiculous!! This is something they could simply and quickly change that would make a more positive experience.
A very cool idea would be to have a mickey mouse land expansion.
One of the parades at Epcot was called “Tapestry of Nations”. Best Disney parade ever in my opinion. The music was amazing! I bought the CD and still listen to it today 🥰 I miss creative, original Disney things like it. Nowadays everything has some kind of other IP in it. It doesn’t feel fresh and new in my opinion. I miss that especially at Epcot.
I remember this too and loved it! I too have the CD and would listen to the fireworks music to destress. I wish they would bring it back.
Another vote for the amazing Tapestry of Nations Parade & music!! Saw it in 2000!!
Can't believe they destroyed the fountain of nations as well - It was Epcot history...
You want to add some more magic, add some more rides. Nobody wants to spend 2 hours in a line for Peter Pans flight. Do a fast pass similar to universal. Quit making people use there phones 24/7 and plan every step they take.
Bring back the magical express.
Just start by bringing back the magical express. It's a lonely welcome for out of towners. Eat that cost and you'll get profits.
I am not sure why you are still not in front of camera. Clearly everyone that follows this channel wants this. Is it never going to happen?
5 things to bring the magic back:
1: Return of free fast pass
2: Bring back Illuminations Reflections of earth at Epcot.
3: Have standards for food quality in the restaurants and especially at the food festivals.
4: Hire and train (and pay well) Cast members to provide the best guest experience possible.
5: Focus on creativity, talent and quality when it comes to movies / Disney + content.
Extra ones: Stop putting IP and characters all over the hotels and parks - Magical express??
As a previous employee and frequent vacationer to WDW, it’s not a lack of fulfillment in one’s work that is the issue. The jobs are tough and they always have been, but they used to be very particular about who they hired, driven people who took pride in their work. They used to have serious standards regarding appearance and behavior and these completely evaporated. It’s definitely bigger than a Disney issue, but Disney used to be clean cut, family oriented fun and thanks to an escalation during Covid it has really lost that feel in many ways. There are still plenty of great people working there that take pride in their work, and I’ve had several great experiences going back over the last year, however I don’t see them returning to their traditional standards and I feel they are not quite meeting Walt’s vision as a result. I guess they just need to lean in and try to compete with universal but Disney won’t have the same feel it did in the 90s.
Its about value. If you keep providing less value while increasing prices, it will drive your customers away. If you have been to the parks throughout the years, you see you need to spend more money to get fewer services at a diminished quality. Taking away fast pass, dining plans, magical express, free parking at the hotels, etc. It adds up.
For many, it's a rejection of wokeness and woke agendas such as peedoism.
Man toughen up already Mikey. Get on the stinkin camera! Enough already.
Yeah that is a way to motivate someone.
Or you get on the camera.
@@jon.stan31 And do what?
@@jonc3903 the same shit you're telling Michael to man up and do .
Would love to see go back to their 2D roots. I mean… imagine how 2D movies of Incredibles, Frozen (Yes, I AM a Frozen fan), Wreck It Ralph, etc. would do in 2D.
I mean 3D is totally fine for me but 2D was how it all started.
I miss seeing your face! I’d much rather watch you than a screen shot
Well said and so true.
thought this was great....."Epcot’s Tapestry of Nations Parade was a daily parade in the park’s World Showcase area. It ran the entire span of the Showcase from Mexico to Canada and featured a wide variety of props and performers such as drummers and puppeteers. It was created as part of Epcot’s Millennium Celebration." additionally, if i remember correctly, i think the KidCot stations started here where our kids would draw "something" that they would take to the parade and some sort of interaction in the parade dream catchers...
I miss your face Michael. Sorry, but im not going to listen when there's nothing to watch. I hope you're doing ok.
In talking with a CM a few weeks ago, many of the well seasoned veterans they had employed prior to covid are no longer there. They knew how to provide "the magic"... something they really don't train newer CM's anymore... sad.
Disney needs to stop changing classics and remember what made them fun.
Hmmmm…maybe the things you can get back to to get the magic back.
So sad.
Michael, great video!! I couldn’t agree with you more. All of the points you make in this video are so accurate. I am constantly asking myself either on a weekly or monthly basis why Disney continues to make changes for the worse, why Disney refuses to bring back so many of the things that us adults enjoyed so much during the 90s and 2000s. It really is a shame, the magic is there but nowhere near as strong as we experienced growing up visiting the parks as a teenager and young adult.
I feel that society has taken a downward turn post Covid. Our culture has grown away from caring about others. I still see and feel it at Disney, but yeah… not nearly as much. The leadership isn’t pulling the cast members in the right direction.
Prices are expensive and the hours aren’t even that long anymore
Now we’re saving Disney world and saving magic
I miss magical express!!!!! It’s not as magical at the arrival.
Thank you Michael 😊 ❤ they are missing walt disney roots. Taking out good rides .😢
Another outstanding episode! Keep them coming!
We live 20 hours away from Orlando and altho we're not die hards, we will be there for the second MVMCP this year, we'll be staying on property at CBR and we'll then head to Port Canaveral for the first Fantasy Merrytime cruise of the season. That said, this has been a tough trip to talk ourselves into. Total cost should run us about $13,000 and we expect the park and resort to still be packed (too packed). For us, the top concerns are price and crowding and both of them show no signs of relief so, for us, this will probably be our last splurge with Mickey.
We can’t take our family now.😭
These parks have been going down the tubes in regard to customer service for years. Long before Covid. You never feel welcomed there, more like your presence is a burden to most of the unfriendly workers. Forget about magic, lol. That disappeared ages ago!
Really well done video! Fantastic! Thank you!
Miss the vlogs, but the podcast has been great.
They also could have just expanded their current lands to help with the crowds.
Haven’t listened yet but Night of joy at magic kingdom, 24 hour park days, free fast passes, and more perks for APs come to mind. As an annual passholder i literally feel hated compared to Universal and SeaWorld especially.
Absolutely. They remove all these great thing from guests, raise the prices and expect you to fall in line.
@@Londwaryes oh and how could I forget Osborne lights! Miss that so much
@@kahristah I never got to see it. The thing I miss the most is the Main Street Electrical Parade.
I wouldn’t say “hated” but neglected sure. We’re like Iger’s stepchildren.
@@Jemmyjammer yeah they have really lost sight of Walt’s original dream.
This is an opinion. I think Disney is awesome. Thanks for vid.
I wish he would do a video that explains why he lost his Disney Magic. This channel hasn't been the same since August of 2021.
@@bryankelloway6610 that’s really well said. I love the way you stated that. I wish a lot of people would self reflect and stop acting like their opinion is some how the majority. Narratives gone wild. Lol.
@@Grimmnight16it’s not though. You either have to be biased or only a fan for a short time to not agree. There’s nothing in Disney World currently in terms of what they offer that’s better now, than what they used to have. Outside of an attraction or two. Everything else has gone downhill.
@@frontierlandfrank5314 I know this will be hard for you, but that’s an opinion. I have been a fan a long time. I truly enjoy going and being there.
@fritz1637 I have been following this channel for a long time. Something happened around that time that changed this channel.
Walt nearly bankrupted the company twice and his vision doesn’t apply to the world now. It simply can’t. Economic realities are completely different now.
First!