In his recent article, “WWSD,” MousePlanet staff writer Steve Russo discusses what he would do if he ran Walt Disney World. In this week’s mailbag, readers respond to Steve’s recommendations and offer a few of their own. What would you do?
Sheri N. writes:
When I was reading your article and got to the changes about dining, I was really upset when I saw you wanted to tie the dining reservations into resort reservations; we stay off site most times now. But then I kept reading and the suggestion of tying the off site people to a credit card in case of no-shows was every excellent! I would love that!
Excellent article. One thing I would do is for Cranium Command. Make that entire thing animated. Use Disney characters for each part of the body. It’ll never be outdated.
That’s What Sheri Would Do.
Yes, I really think they need to find a way to prevent folks from making multiple reservations for the same meal – and the only means I can think of is to tie the reservation to the individual. It’s not perfect and someone will always find a way to cheat the system, but we have to start somewhere.
Shawna P. writes:
I just wanted to tell you that I loved your article on the changes you would make if you ran Walt Disney World. When I began reading it, my first thought was to offer “incentives” to those of us staying in the higher priced resorts. Being a family with a busy toddler, we need to have room to spread out and I don’t want to be a bother to our neighbors, so we always book a suite or stay at the cabins. I TOTALLY believe we would stay at the World longer (subsequently spending more money) if the rooms were cheaper!
Thank you for those kind words and for writing.
Judith P. writes:
I agree with almost all of your suggested changes! A “Seas” theme park would be awesome! Here are the changes I would make if I ran the park:
In Epcot I would bulldoze that “Outpost” part and put in Russia with onion domes, music and an interesting movie or ride. Also, put in more kids rides in Epcot; Magic Kingdom is just too crowded! We just got back and standing in line for Peter Pan’s Flight for 40 minutes while holding a baby is no fun! You couldn’t even FastPass at the time. Make it bigger please. Why is there no Dumbo FastPass?
Make Buzz Lightyear easier to score and use the gun. The new Pixar ride is amazing and the ease-of-use unparalleled. Bring back Barbie with Mickey ears and clothes. Have German musicians outside again. Put a hot turkey plate at counter services — how much pizza, burgers and chicken can one person stand? Make Mickey’s Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Handy Manny into a large, well-lit attraction; kids LOVE this stuff.
Have an “Express Boat” that really moves to get you around. How about a better way to get on the monorails? Those ramps are steep when you are hoofing it. How about a large moving sidewalk to get you there?
Make Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party less scary! Have more of the characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, etc. Have the parks stay open until 9 or 10 pm all the time! Closing at seven is way too early. You get the “Bum’s Rush” at 6:45.
Build a giant princess castle to walk through, like Mickey and Minnie’s house in ToonTown, but make it “Princess Land”, where you could see where the princesses sleep, their kitchens, and the royal throne (not that one!). Or go through a pirate ship. Offer hot air balloon rides over the whole property. Make Soarin’ in every park with different themes–greatest world wonders, different states; throw in hot and cold effects.
All I can say is “Phew!” You have certainly given this some thought and those are some great ideas.
Kelly Z. writes:
From your column:
“I would also institute a Frequent Stay Program for all Disney resorts. Something along the lines of points for each night you stay. After 7 nights, you earn a free night in the same class resort (Value, Moderate, Deluxe or Villa).”I LOVE that idea! I also think Disney should consider a “World Pass.” Many people are annual passholders for each Disney destination individually, but if I want to go to Tokyo, Paris, California and Florida in one year, my pass should work at any of those parks.
The Frequent Stay or Dine program is certainly not new – hotels and restaurants have been doing this for decades. It would be nice if Disney would offer it though. I certainly understand there would be a cost involved, but if the repeat visits would support it…
I like your idea of a World Pass and I’m fairly certain it was asked about at the most recent shareholder’s meeting. And it received some attention from Bob Iger. I’m working from memory but I’d bet I read that in one of Mark Goldhaber’s Park Updates or maybe his blog – both on MousePlanet.
Gary writes:
Bravo on compiling your thoughts and wishes in creating an improved Walt Disney World. One of the highlights of the article was your wish to see Tokyo’s DisneySea on the Orlando property. I had always imagined this “water-related” park was best suited near or on a large body of water if it were ever to be recreated. I can now imagine it “land-locked” on the Orlando property, but it would look even nicer if it were built by one of the two largest bodies of water in Walt Disney World, like Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon. (On second thought, the Seven Seas Lagoon probably could not accommodate construction of a park that size). Do you suppose the northeast edge of Bay Lake would support construction of a park the size of DisneySea (without being too close to the property line)?
I hope some of the Disney leaders read and took notes on your article.
Thanks for those kind words. I wish I could tell you that I did the research and determined that Bay Lake could support a Disney Seas type park… but I haven’t. Disney has “created” bodies of water like this in the past so it’s entirely possible it could be done again.
Mindy writes:
I loved your article about what you would do to change Walt Disney World. I agree with just about everything you laid out.
I would also like to add a couple of scenes to Carousel of Progress, as that is one of my favorite attractions. I would like to add more dark rides to Fantasyland like the Alice in Wonderland ride from Disneyland and bring back Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but make it better. I loved going on the dark rides at Disney. They didn’t have to be themed to any particular movie.
For Epcot, I would like to see more futuristic-type worlds, basically talking about what could be. Like you, I loved Horizons and World of Motion and was sad to see them go. Anything that talks about the nostalgic past and the possible future, I’m there. Wouldn’t it be great to have a really cool house of the future that is free standing, something like the Monsanto House in Disneyland?
Another theme park would be cool, too. I truly enjoyed tripping down what could be; imagining it was almost as good as being there. Thank you for writing about such interesting subjects relating to Disney, I really enjoy reading them.
You’ve raised some points I hadn’t thought of… specifically, Mr. Toad. To be honest, it was not a favorite of mine, but so many people really loved it that we should bring it back. And I agree… playing “what could be” is a lot of fun.
Michelle B. writes:
My single biggest change would be to implement a web-based reservation system for Dining Reservations. All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card and you will be assessed a $5 no-show fee if you don’t cancel at least 12 hours in advance. This will let me see what is available and save me spending an hour on the phone asking “What’s available at Epcot for lunch?” and them saying “Where do you want to eat?” and me saying “Le Cellier” and them saying “not available,” and me saying “what is available” and them saying “where do you want to eat?” and me having to remember every restaurant in the whole park and going through one by one until it seems I’m always eating at Restaurant Marrakesh!
I like the idea of web-based reservations and the penalty for no-shows. I can still remember the days of same-day reservations and wish we had that back.
Carrie Ann writes:
Our trip report is on MousePad and I am looking to add pictures. What’s the best way to do that? Also, I would love a copy of the music played at Wilderness Lodge. Do you know where I can get a copy?
For photos, I recommend loading them to a free service like Picasa or Shutterfly, and then putting the link address in your trip report. Look at my last trip report here to see how I did it.
For the Wilderness Lodge music? Here you go…
