Post #279021 by GatorRob on Mon, Jan 15, 2007 2:07 PM

I have been to WDW hundreds of times over the years and I've seen the spirit of Walt fade away. It goes so gradually, not all at once. They change a little here, renovate a little there, and before you know it, a lot of the magic is gone. The Tiki Room is just one of many examples. The Disney parks are just one of many revenue generators for the Walt Disney Company these days. I believe the people who make the money decisions are very far removed from the creative process. And that's totally different than it was back in the day when the creative departments had a direct line to Walt and Walt had a direct line to his brother Roy, who controlled the money.

I don't want to sound totally negative though. The parks are still overall wonderful and leaps above the competition. But slowly, over time, a lot of the magic is fading. The general public doesn't notice it, but for those who have been around for a while and those who pay attention to the details, it's very noticable.

If you want to read some insider "whining" about the current state of Disney parks from the point of view of current and former Disney Imagineers, GO HERE.