DVC "Truths"

[808blessing]

The Disney truth hurts sometimes.

 

[PoppyJ]

The problem is not the Birds Eye view of EPCOT, it's the fact that you see things that guests are not meant to see - dumpsters, unthemed areas, etc.

I've never noticed those things!

 

[atthebeachclub]

I've never noticed those things!

It…is basically the entire ride, below you.

 

[PoppyJ]

It…is basically the entire ride, below you.

I guess we're too busy enjoying our time to notice?

It's all pretty magical to me because it brings back memories of our first time in a Disney World park

 

[DVCjj]

DVC was the best (expensive) purchase I've ever made.
Saved money? No.
Saved sanity? Definitely, absolutely yes.

Going more often got me through some seriously rough problems back home and it allowed me to 'breathe' and forget things for a while.
I will always be grateful I (and family) got to go often and stay at wonderful resorts in sunshine. I do not live in a sunshine climate and it was life changing to get to go while freezing temps and snow were back home.

I don't regret one single penny I spent on DVC. (I say "I" because I used money from a small lawsuit settlement from a neglectful nursing home for my mother).
DH was in total accord.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

I've never noticed those things!

I’m with you. I’ve been in the skyliner probably 20+ times and I’ve never really noticed it. Every form of transportation shows some unattractive aspects of the parks and resorts, but for some reason the skyliner gets a particularly bad rep for it. Idk I’ll keep an eye out for it next time we’re on it, maybe I’m just deeply unobservant

 

[BeachClub2014]

I’m with you. I’ve been in the skyliner probably 20+ times and I’ve never really noticed it. Every form of transportation shows some unattractive aspects of the parks and resorts, but for some reason the skyliner gets a particularly bad rep for it. Idk I’ll keep an eye out for it next time we’re on it, maybe I’m just deeply unobservant

This. The scenery observed from a bus seat isn't exactly magical, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't ride the bus.

 

[muppets3d]

My biggest issue with the skyliner is not the unthemed areas that are visible, but the fact that it often stops for no apparent reason and traps you in a convection oven. I was trapped on it for about 30 minutes earlier this year.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

This. The scenery observed from a bus seat isn't exactly magical, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't ride the bus.

What backstage areas can you see from the bus?

The monorail possibly a small amount, and I cannot think of any areas visible from any of the boats.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

What backstage areas can you see from the bus?

The monorail possibly a small amount, and I cannot think of any areas visible from any of the boats.

For me, seeing all that doesn’t take away the magic. I can accept that a 6mi long transportation gondola in the sky is going to show unintended back stage elements.

I’m not even a seasoned WDW veteran and even in my 7-8yrs of going to the parks regularly, I’ve seen plenty construction on the roads while on the buses. One time construction made our bus ride from VGF to AKL 40mins. I also saw imagineers and road workers once digging along the road, looked like maybe they were replacing some underground pipes? Idk exactly what was happening but it was happening in daytime nonetheless. I’d consider traffic definitely unattractive and construction backstage.

And speaking of construction, and although I found it really interesting, the monorail showed the entire construction and backstage building process of the Poly Tower and the center of Epcot. I’ve also seen laundry disposal happening from the Contemporary.

I love the boats and they are nearly faultless in all this. My only gripe is that sometimes the marshes and water around the docks can get gross and unkempt. People suck and I’ve seen plenty of trash in the water around the Boardwalk specifically. Luckily, Disney is pretty good about cleaning that quickly, but it doesn’t mean it’s not seen.

My biggest issue with the skyliner is not the unthemed areas that are visible, but the fact that it often stops for no apparent reason and traps you in a convection oven. I was trapped on it for about 30 minutes earlier this year.

This I totally get. It’s only happened to me once on the skyliner for maybe 15mins but it was dark and the Epcot fireworks just started so it was actually a really cool vantage point. But this is partially why I don’t like the monorail because twice I’ve been on it and it stopped for nearly 30 mins. I will almost always choose the boat over monorail now.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Regarding visibility to backstage elements of Disney, I will say that in the past Disney seemed to go to incredible lengths to make sure no guests saw any backstage elements. Heck, the secrecy of backstage is why Disney built the massive underground labyrinth under WDW. The entire goal is to have nothing break the magic for the guests.

That said, I think that still holds true when guests are inside the parks. The theming and effort of cast members to stay “in character” and not have guests see anything backstage when the guests are inside the park is still there. For the size of these parks and WDW in general, I think it is impossible to completely hide the backstage element from view outside the parks. For example, rooms at BCV that face Epcot include a view of the backside of France. And just driving into HS you can see the backside of Avatar. It is impossible to keep everything hidden when they are building bigger and more impressive attractions.

So I think when they were deciding on Skyliner, the view of backstage elements wasn’t really a big concern. Guests are already seeing those backstage elements. Do I like seeing backstage or big garbage dumpsters? Of course, not, but I also understand the magnitude of how big WDW is. It is impossible to hide everything.

Anytime I feel like Disney is slipping on attention to detail I swing by Universal Studios. That will quickly remind me of how Disney is still magical and paying attention to the little things. Universal is really cool and has a lot of great rides, but it definitely has a feel of “just theme park”…things are dirtier and the theming outside of actual rides is fairly nonexistent. It feels like Six Flags on steroids. You go for the rides and that’s about it. Disney is so much more than that.

 

[muppets3d]

Regarding visibility to backstage elements of Disney, I will say that in the past Disney seemed to go to incredible lengths to make sure no guests saw any backstage elements. Heck, the secrecy of backstage why Disney built the massive underground labyrinth under WDW. The entire goal is to have nothing break the magic for the guests.

That said, I think that still holds true when guests are inside the parks. The theming and effort of cast members to stay “in character” and not have guests see anything backstage when the guests are inside the park is still there. For the size of these parks and WDW in general, I think it is impossible to completely hide the backstage element from view outside the parks. For example, rooms at BCV that face Epcot included view of the backside of France. And just driving into HS you can see the backside of Avatar. It is impossible to keep everything hidden when they are building bigger and more impressive attractions.

So I think when they were deciding on Skyliner, the view of backstage elements wasn’t really a big concern. Guests are already seeing those backstage elements. Do I like seeing backstage or big garbage dumpsters? Of course, not, but I also understand the magnitude of how big WDW is. It is impossible to hide everything.

Anytime I feel like Disney is slipping on attention to detail I swing by Universal Studios. That will quickly remind me of how Disney is still magical and paint attention to the little things. Universal is really cool and has a lot of great rides, but it definitely has a feel of “just theme park”…things are dirtier and the theming outside of actual rides is fairly nonexistent. It feels like Six Flags on steroids. You go for the rides and that’s about it. Disney is so much more than that.

Speaking of six flags, have you seen the new communicore hall and communicore plaza?

 

[disneylandtour]

• The skyliner is far superior to the monorail. Full stop.

Well, that time, in September, in the late afternoon, when I was stuck on the Skyliner for 45 minutes at one of the turning stations...sorta led me away from the feeling that they were "superior" to the monorail. The monorail can be crowded; it can stop in a holding pattern if there's a train in the station ahead, but I've never just sat there for 45 without A/C.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Well, that time, in September, in the late afternoon, when I was stuck on the Skyliner for 45 minutes at one of the turning stations...sorta led me away from the feeling that they were "superior" to the monorail. The monorail can be crowded; it can stop in a holding pattern if there's a train in the station ahead, but I've never just sat there for 45 without A/C.

Nope. I woulda lost it. Confined space, you cant leave and miserably hot. I hope you at least didnt have to hang out with strangers in there for 45 min.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Speaking of six flags, have you seen the new communicore hall and communicore plaza?

We were just there two weekends ago. I thought it was nice. My wife and I were commenting how nice all the outside seating was…and the food and drinks were really good, too.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Well, that time, in September, in the late afternoon, when I was stuck on the Skyliner for 45 minutes at one of the turning stations...sorta led me away from the feeling that they were "superior" to the monorail. The monorail can be crowded; it can stop in a holding pattern if there's a train in the station ahead, but I've never just sat there for 45 without A/C.

That would suck.

I'm guessing that you have a different "truth" about the Skyliner than I do.

 

[CraigInPA]

Well, that time, in September, in the late afternoon, when I was stuck on the Skyliner for 45 minutes at one of the turning stations...sorta led me away from the feeling that they were "superior" to the monorail. The monorail can be crowded; it can stop in a holding pattern if there's a train in the station ahead, but I've never just sat there for 45 without A/C.

I was stuck over the waterway that goes to Epcot for over an hour, when I had a lightning lane reservation for Soarin' and a lunch reservation at San Angel Inn immediately following. The people in the cab with us were not as chilled as we were. Turns out our conversation about the boat-mounted man lift to rescue us only caused them to be more apprehensive about the whole stoppage. When we arrived at the Epcot station, there was a CM who scanned out magic bands and put a lightning lane on them good for any ride any time. My wife said "that's the least you can do, since we blew a lighting lane to Soarin'" and the CM gave us each another one! We arrived at SAI just in time for our lunch reservation.

 

[Kingkonig]

I will say I think there's a big difference between the idea of "don't see backstage while you're in the park" and "don't see backstage ever. Going into Animal Kingdom via the bus, you see the back of Pandora, the cast parking lot, etc. Magic Kingdom on the monorail you see the back of Tron. Heading down the highway you see the back of Galaxy's Edge. These are things you're going to see regardless, because they can't hide everything, these aren't real. However, they can look real when you're viewing them from the parks - well, everything but Guardians. Taking a gondola ride from behind and above the park is obviously going to show you parts that aren't magical or French. Though, I would suggest that if you took a helicopter/gondola ride over the actual French alleyways you'd find they're not exactly gorgeous either.

 

[muppets3d]

I will say I think there's a big difference between the idea of "don't see backstage while you're in the park" and "don't see backstage ever. Going into Animal Kingdom via the bus, you see the back of Pandora, the cast parking lot, etc. Magic Kingdom on the monorail you see the back of Tron. Heading down the highway you see the back of Galaxy's Edge. These are things you're going to see regardless, because they can't hide everything, these aren't real. However, they can look real when you're viewing them from the parks - well, everything but Guardians. Taking a gondola ride from behind and above the park is obviously going to show you parts that aren't magical or French. Though, I would suggest that if you took a helicopter/gondola ride over the actual French alleyways you'd find they're not exactly gorgeous either.

Certainly a fair point. The immersion is really meant for inside the park, and for the most part Disney still does a good job with this. Although things like the huge show building for Guardians sort of chips away.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Certainly a fair point. The immersion is really meant for inside the park, and for the most part Disney still does a good job with this. Although things like the huge show building for Guardians sort of chips away.

I thought Disney could have done a better job on the outside of the building. Having a themed paint job or mural would be better than a large stark white building.