Everything else is basically a well known consensus, so why lie about this point?
Ryno shared he was assigned a room at Pop that absolutely reeked of bleach. Was he lying too?
This poor chap has been called everything from a liar to a whiner for an article that is basically a similar consensus to these boards.
What is going on here??!
OK, I'll own it - I called him a whiner. Keep in mind, we are responding to a nationally published news article. It has appeared everywhere. This is not some post on the DIS boards. That's open season for criticism in my book.
Yes, the vomit in the room is completely inexcusable. He should have been given different accommodations immediately. It seems a little weird that he was not -but- that's based on my experiences where I have been treated more than fairly in circumstances that were nowhere near as severe. I would call that an anomaly - that is if we are not being told the whole story (was he offered and he refused? No way to know).
His other complaints about the need to plan so far ahead - THAT is where I take issue. Disney responded to visitor complaints as best they could in all cases (FP's, ADR's and My Disney App). He's complaining because he has to plan so far ahead. I get that, but too bad. Disney is giving you the opportunity to skip the line at least 3 times each day...FOR FREE!! Do you really have so little knowledge of your Disney vacation that you are unable, or I dare say, UNWILLING to do this? I don't think so. You should be excited about your trip. I know I am, every time. Is it an inconvenience to log on to a computer and book these line skipping opportunities 60 days before your trip? Honestly? Not for me it isn't - I look forward to it. That's part of the experience for me. ADR's at 6 months - well, yeah. I can't say as though I get that excited about eating. It beats the snot out of picking up the phone and calling each restaurant individually though.
Compare that to Universal now, because that's what the author did. Nothing wrong with Universal, LOVE Universal in fact. Line skipping there costs you $69 per person, PER DAY - MINIMUM, and that doesn't include all rides. You want to check each restaurant individually for reservations? Universal is your place, because that's what you have to do there. Not to mention, dining options are REALLY limited at Universal. Universal has an app - not the same as
MDE though - not even close. Resort options at Universal are getting better but are still miles away from the options at WDW. I must say though, in fairness, MUCH more affordable! Universal also doesn't have DME or the internal transportation that WDW has.
Other complaints about the cost and the decline in quality - well... The quality could definitely improve, especially since, as others have rightly pointed out, cost is dictated by crowd control and what the market will bear - not actual costs of labor etc. Employees should be better trained as they used to be, and better paid. In turn, higher standards should be set and insisted upon, up to and including termination for employees that don't meet muster. Don't like it? Go work at Universal. It should be the Disney standard at Disney prices though, not the "that's what everyone else is doing" standard.