If I Ran Walt Disney World

[pixiepower]

My husband and I had a running routine during our recent trip, --- what we would do if we ran Disney. It would go something like this "Well, if I ran Disney I would drop the Nescafe contract and strike up negotiations with Starbucks or Peets so people could get a good cup of coffee".

This went on and on: "If I ran Disney I would make the dryers in the resorts run for at least 45 minutes for your $2" "Well, if I ran Disney I would make the Barnstormer go around a second time to make it worth the 30 minute wait"

So, What would you guys do if you ran Disney? I say, bring back the Mickey butter (you know, the pats of butter shaped like Mickey that they used to have in the table service restaurants).

Looking forward to the fun responses!

Pixie

[tony609]

Well if I ran Disney

I would....have POTC open for my end of April visit...just kidding...

I would have more characters, especially rare ones in the parks all day.....

I would definately have that rumored Halloween party at MGM this year throughout Oct.

[NJ Mike]

Well if I ran disney (god help us all) rofl...

I would have one vmk computer terminal in each hotel lobby rather than just the 6 or so they have in mk so people could sign up after the parks close (and vmk is still open until 1am E.S.T.) and not waste park time doing so.

I would also sell vmk merchandise in vmk central such as t-shirts and pins (at least). Wait a minute, Disney NOT merchadising the heck out of something??? What is up with that? I'm still shaking my head on that one.

I would spend the millions of dollars to connect the 4 parks via monorail to the next closest park. (ie mgm connected to epcot, and ak connected to mgm). Yes going from mk to ak would require 3 different monorails, but it would still be cool.

[WDW heart]

I would spend the millions of dollars to connect the 4 parks via monorail to the next closest park. (ie mgm connected to epcot, and ak connected to mgm). Yes going from mk to ak would require 3 different monorails, but it would still be cool.

Hey, if we're going that far, how about demolish the old monorail and TTC, rebuild one inside monorail loop to loop to all four parks and an outside loop to take you to all the resorts and Downtown. I would also add an extra station right across the street from me so I can hop on anytime. Yeah, it would be a long ride, but I would ride in style.

[Cheshire Figment]

It is hard to tell the sequence of events, but at the very least the following:

1. Bring back The Dreamfinder to work with the Figment of his Imagination. Possibly redo the Magic Eye Theater with a 3D movie, part live, part cartoon, that effectively recreates the original attraction.

2. Except for people directly in a Finance position get rid of anyone with an MBA. These people are trained to manage, but they have no idea of what they are managing and also they attempt to quantify an experience.

3. Bring back the real Disneyana Convention.

4. If they are going to have event-limited pins at the end of the event destroy any that remain unsold and don't dump them on Cast Lanyars a year or so later. In a similar vein, If they have pins for a program and the program ends (such as Kodak's pin giveaway in 2004 with certain purchases) destroy all remaining pins instead of wholesaling them out.

5. Make every administrative employee, from Al Weiss down, spend a full week every year with an assignment as if they were an hourly employee in regular Guest contact at one of the Parks. If their regular job involves working in a Park they cannot work in that Park. The jobs will be either in food service, custodial, attractions or greeters, but will definitely involve regular Guest contact. During this week they cannot carry their Blackberrys. Also, they will be subject to the automatic scheduling of the Cast Deployment System.

[ChoEarfan1]

Ok since it's MY Park now.....

1) I'd bring back a new and inproved version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

2) Update or improve: Oh Canada (go Canucks!), China, Norway

3) Remove Body Wars from EPCOTand replace it with a weather themed
attraction

4) Update Universe of Energy

6) Build out the Magical Monsters area of AK that was scrapped.

7) At MGM I'd build a Monsters Inc. themed stand up coaster. This would be based on the "Door Maze" scene

8) Add in a few more table service resturants

9) Add in a Monorail Run to MGM and AK with tie ins at TTC

10) Bring back the Live entertainment, Steel Drum, Brass Band ect.

11) Lastly, up the wages of the CM who work the "trenches"! Thanks to you all for the great job you do!!

[crrees]

1. Allow resort guests who book vacation packages recieve 2 fast passes simutaneously

2. Hire a webmaster who will create a Disney Dining reservation program

3. Reopen timekeeper in a auditorium with seats

4. Boost growth by introducing a new deluxe hotel - theme: French Chattaeu - I think this resort would be great to overlook MGM

5. Remove star tours and update it with a game center that will allow children to lightsaber duel - fly an x-wing (or tie fighter) OR even against eachother! - Maybe even have 4 on 4 dog fights - any ideas?

6. Sue universal for not wanting to hug a princess anymore

[NJ Mike]

ok, one more that really bugged me and "seems" like a no brainer.


I would make it possible to put the ride photos on the photopass. I mean, it's quite silly that you cant. You can buy every other photo taken in wdw once you are home, but ride photos have to be bought on the spot or not at all.

You walk up to the person at let's say, splash mountain, and say "hi my photo number is 5872" and hand them your photopass, and whammo your card is scanned and it gets added just like the others.

I think the photopass is a great thing, but we passed on several ride photos and now wish we could still buy them like we can with all the other photos we had taken.

It seems like it would be something that is not that difficult to pull off, but hey, what do I know?

[wishiwasthere]

Well well well...

1) Nothin new until I take care of the old.

-Mk would be taken care of first, put a futuristic ride where Timekeeper was, keep CoP open all year long, make Stitch better, get all new logs for Splash Mountain (because of the smell!), and maybe find somewhere for another sit down restaurant.

-Epcot needs the most work especially with Wonders of Life pavillion. Universe of Energy needs an update (but keep Ellen!), put more nemo into Living Seas, bring back the original Journey Into Imagination, and update Honey I shrunk the Audience. Also a little tweaking at the end of Spaceship Earth just to make the future more of the future. Especially when riding down backwards and it is just the lights on the walls.

-MGM I would freshen up Indiana Jones, Muppets, and Star Tours. Backlot tour needs to be completely redone.

-Animal Kingdom needs to get rid of that Carnival area in Dinoland. It is so tacky! Also at Rafiki's Planet Watch have more people out talking about the planet, especially in all of those rooms.

After I did all of this I would build...

-Monsters Inc. Ride in MGM
-Spain in the World showcase, maybe Russia too
-Make an exit for those of us who don't want to watch the Norway video.
-Create another dinner show
-Have everything open for EMH
-With all of the lines that are outside have the large fans with the mist spraying out to cool down the guests on those hot days.

It's not like I thought about this or anything :P

[mazzie]

I think I would definitely have to replace Indiana Jones - I've seen it so many times, and though its great, I'm a bit bored with it now

I'm not sure what I would put in MGM, but I think I would give it a bit of an overhaul.

I would employ a few more CM's to keep on top of the bathrooms - I noticed last time I was there that they werent all in their usual sparkly clean order.

[geoffa]

Ok - here goes.

Get rid of the Indiana Jones stunt show and replace with the I.J. ride (like DL's).

Spruce up the Backlot Tour - far more effects and a bit less rusting vehicles.

Overhaul the "Honey I shrunk the kids" garden play area.

Create stepped areas so people can watch parades without having to cram behind each other (obviously not on Main Street).

Hold Adult Only nights (say from midnight until 4a.m.) for those who are not "families" per se.

Let people tour backstage at TOT (organised tour) so you can see how it all works.

Make Splash Mountain ride twice as long - it's my favorite!

Put more seats on the Liberty Belle stern wheeler boat ride.

Bring back cinammon rolls at Sleepy Hollow! How could they ever have thought that Brownies were a better idea?

Open World Showcase earlier. Why 11 a.m.?

Re-design EPCOT's United Kingdom so it actually looks like the United Kingdom! No, on second thoughts, re-design United Kingdom so it looks like EPCOT's version.

OH! And as for exiting before the Norway film starts you just walk straight across the cinema room and out the exit door. Don't think that one needs a fix????

[Keurigirl]

I LOVE the dino-carnival!!!!

Ok, my turn:

Fix Epcot so everything wasn't so freaking far away from each other. Add a people mover or some sort of transportation to get back and forth from opposite areas in the park. It just seems like everything is so spread out in Epcot compared to the other parks.

Also, update all the "worlds" in Epcot so the rides in each world are more interesting/updated.

Get ride of Honey I shrunk the Audience and put something more interesting there.

Get rid of Star Tours in MGM, or update it so it's much cooler. It's so boring!

Oooh love Adult Only Nights! Maybe one night a week they close the park to kids at 7, and then keep it open until 2? Or something like that?

Hire some brilliant academic to figure out how to enclose each park in some huge material not yet invented so it can be air conditioned.

[tappenfeat]

Hmm, good topic:

If I ran WDW, I'd

* Drop the Magic your way and go back to the old Park Hopper Passes!!!

* Have a limit (a realistic one) on major holidays 'cause it gets so dang over crowded!

* Run the parks a little later in the off season...

* Get rid of the cheerleaders......ouch did I say that outloud?

* Add more monorails to all the Deluxe Hotels.

* Get Monsters, Inc. ride in WDW!!!!

* Replace or renew the Indiana Jones...the ride would be better.

* All the Thunderstorms would roll right by WDW and not rain on us! Yeah! Like that would really happen?!

[wishiwasthere]

* Drop the Magic your way and go back to the old Park Hopper Passes!!!

YES!!! I wrote on another thread "Ultimate Park Hoppers how I miss you so " Why can't they just offer UPH's again?!

[Keurigirl]

Not to Hijack the thread, but how did the old Park Hopper Passes work differently than the Magic Your Way?

[cheshirecatgirl]

Hmm, well, first of all, stop building more hotels until more rides are added. It is crowded enough already! I think DisneySea ought to be built here in Florida, I know I would love it.

Bring back Wonders of Life, but redo the Body Wars ride or replace it with something that doesn't make you sick. I looove Cranium Command!

Bring back original Figment ride.

Get rid of Stitch and bring back Alien Encounter, at least that version was clever.

Stop getting rid of good old rides, simply add new ones, I am sure there would be enough people to ride everything, especially on crowded days. Keep CoP for sure!

Have ALL the background atmosphere music played in the parks available for sale!

More diverse offerings in the counter service places. I'm sick of burgers!

Build Beastlie Kingdomme at Animal Kingdom!

Bring back e ride nights!

Put more country related rides in Epcot's World Showcase! And keep the ones that are there!

Have the orange chicken that is available at the China pavillion be sold at other parks, too! I love that stuff!

Have more ride specific special merchandise in the parks that you can't get everywhere.

Have more of the rare characters out. I was thrilled one day when I saw the Robin Hood characters, that is one of my favorite movies!

Have more rare character merchandise (such as Robin Hood characters) and bring back the Mary Poppins doll!

Build more rides in Magic Kingdom based on other Disney movies such as Mary Poppins, Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Sleeping Beauty etc. Also , I'd like a castle tour attraction!

Do something useful and fun with the old Skyway entrance in Fantasyland!

Get rid of strollers!!!!!!

[pixiepower]

Wow, these are great! Although my son would lose his mind if they got rid of Star Tours...he just wants it narrated by Han Solo and not the weird robot they made up for the ride that has nothing to do with the series.

I totally had the idea for a Monster's Inc. "door frame" stand up roller coaster too!!

I just have to add these to my list:

• Offer white grape juice at at least half of the restaurants and not just apple
  
• Offer bottled seltzer water everywhere, not just still water
  
• What ever happened to getting a grilled cheese for a kid's meal?
  
• Add another table service restaurant in MK between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland
  
• Fix up Aunt Polly's and do a homestyle restaurant with "Aunt Polly" CM's (like Prime Time) and serve kids meals in a "hobo" red & white napkin on a stick.
  
• Get rid of McDonalds
  
• Devise some way to manage the traffic flow inside Pinocchio's Village Haus...what a nightmare!
  
• Fix American Adventure. I am not sure what the hell happened post 9/11 but the montage ending sans animitronics is totally bush league....and wasn't there a scene with the Wright brothers and the plane in the old version??
  
• Offer organic milk in the resorts
  
• Add a Mary Poppins ride somewhere (besides the carousel) that all ages can ride
  
• Get rid of Stouffers hideous gelatinous mac-n-cheese and get some good mac-n-cheese for kids....what about Kraft making Mickey shaped mac-n-cheese?
  
  In total agreement about making DinoLand less Carny....

[wishiwasthere]

Wow, these are great! Although my son would lose his mind if they got rid of Star Tours...he just wants it narrated by Han Solo and not the weird robot they made up for the ride that has nothing to do with the series.

I totally had the idea for a Monster's Inc. "door frame" stand up roller coaster too!!

I just have to add these to my list:

• Offer white grape juice at at least half of the restaurants and not just apple
  
• Offer bottled seltzer water everywhere, not just still water
  
• What ever happened to getting a grilled cheese for a kid's meal?
  
• Add another table service restaurant in MK between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland
  
• Fix up Aunt Polly's and do a homestyle restaurant with "Aunt Polly" CM's (like Prime Time) and serve kids meals in a "hobo" red & white napkin on a stick.
  
• Get rid of McDonalds
  
• Devise some way to manage the traffic flow inside Pinocchio's Village Haus...what a nightmare!
  
• Fix American Adventure. I am not sure what the hell happened post 9/11 but the montage ending sans animitronics is totally bush league....and wasn't there a scene with the Wright brothers and the plane in the old version??
  
• Offer organic milk in the resorts
  
• Add a Mary Poppins ride somewhere (besides the carousel) that all ages can ride
  
• Get rid of Stouffers hideous gelatinous mac-n-cheese and get some good mac-n-cheese for kids....what about Kraft making Mickey shaped mac-n-cheese?
  
  In total agreement about making DinoLand less Carny....

I agree with getting rid of McDonalds, but not the mac and cheese! I love going to the food court at the hotel and getting me some mac and cheese.

[fccabs]

ok, one more that really bugged me and "seems" like a no brainer.


I would make it possible to put the ride photos on the photopass. I mean, it's quite silly that you cant. You can buy every other photo taken in wdw once you are home, but ride photos have to be bought on the spot or not at all.

It seems like it would be something that is not that difficult to pull off, but hey, what do I know?

I was listening to a WDW Podcast the other day and this is on their list of things to do.

[nursemelis374]

I would restore their Tiki Room back to the old one. The revamped version at WDW makes me ill.

[DisneylandForever]

I would restore their Tiki Room back to the old one. The revamped version at WDW makes me ill.

This might be the best post I've ever seen on MousePlanet.

[bpaniagua75]

I feel late for the party but here it goes...

*Bring back the Marshmallow Marsh canoe trip in Ft Wilderness. You canoe with a group to a campfire site, sing songs, roast marshmallows and watch the Electrical Water pageant - good old family fun - not the same as campfire program

*Make the refillable mugs useable in all the parks for Disney resort guests

*Connect all Parks via the monorail

*Add more countries in Epcot (love Spain idea) and build rides for all the countries

*Get rid of the Fulton Crab House and bring back Steerman's Quarters (loved the Filet Mignon) and Character breakfasts aboard the Empress Lily - it was my favorite

*Bring back the Fireworks Factory on Pleasure Island - the barbecue was the best.

[2of9]

This is a great topic!!! I would make every building accessible to folks using a wheelchair or electric scooter, who happen to be alone. There should be an electric eye over the door, or a button that is pushed, to open the door. Most of the resorts (I haven't been to ALL of the resorts) have these types of doors, in their main buildings.

[Wendy3]

Bring back the parade in Epcot - can't remember the name of it, but the music was so fabulous (I bought the CD) and I loved the parade people. Why get rid of McD?? My sons would probably starve .

[Pirate Girl]

I would have one vmk computer terminal in each hotel lobby rather than just the 6 or so they have in mk so people could sign up after the parks close (and vmk is still open until 1am E.S.T.) and not waste park time doing so.

That's not the point of VMK. VMK's sole purpose is to get people (10 to 14 year old boys in fact) into the parks. The kiosks are not there for people to sit and play on... and having kiosks at the resorts would defeat the purpose of VMK.

I would also sell vmk merchandise in vmk central such as t-shirts and pins (at least). Wait a minute, Disney NOT merchadising the heck out of something??? What is up with that? I'm still shaking my head on that one.

That is in the plan eventually... currently, VMK is not popular enough to merit the expense of merchandise. And they did release a pin briefly last year... it was a prize. It looked like the CM's pins, but it was blue.