I feel the exact opposite. I don't feel that the resort has experienced any significant operation issues since Covid, if anything they've gotten better. More restaurants are open daily now (before covid smaller things such as Wimpy's or Green Eggs and Ham were rarerly, if ever, open) and they have been improving and refurbishing restaurants around the resort, such as opening Minion Cafe or smaller things like Central Park Crepes. I also feel that ride operations have for the most part remained relatively the same. I will agree with you on lack of maintenance, but that is something that all parks experienced after covid and was inevitable since leaving attractions sitting closed and not operating for awhile is not good for them. Not only that, but when Covid ended they probably had to hire a lot of new maintenance people who had to learns the ins and outs of the attractions and that takes time.
I also VERY much disagree that entertainment has declined. Since Covid we've gotten a brand new show (Bourne Stuntacular), multiple new street shows in USF, new meet and greets with original characters in Islands of Adventure in port of entry, and we are also getting four brand new tribute stores a year now. That's not even too mention additional offerings we get now that we never got before Covid like the Dead Coconut Club, which they change the theme of 3 times a year, an heavily expanded Mardi Gras event that is basically Universal's Food and Wine now, the Halloween Boutique in Islands of Adventure, and even the Escape Games in City Walk. These are all entertainment options that were either heavily improved or that we didn't have before Covid. I also don't believe Universal is spreading itself too thin and I think with all the extra hiring and training they are doing right now they will be pretty well setup for Epic Universe's opening. This isn't really related to what you mentioned but I find it interesting when people complain on here about lack of maintenance/upkeep at the park then complain when they go to Islands of Adventure and there are walls up because they are refurbishing and repainting things. You can't have it both ways.
Bourne was a replacement for Terminator, not an addition. The only real additions are the 2 street shows, but you could make the argument they just took the place of the band that originally played at the front of the park and FFL. We've lost Fear Factor (no real loss, but not an excuse for having no replacement), Sinbad, a parade, and a nighttime show (I'll let it slide).
I’m still at a loss at what exactly is broken besides JP, MiB, ET??… which are currently going through maintenance and Kong which is in good shape beyond the outside scene.
FJ has been looking a bit rough recently with a few effects and screens, not in the best condition. MSHI, just up to now, was looking very rough with broken cement/pavement all over. ET, just now receiving updates over the past few months, for years was ignored. Simpsons is just in horrendous shape at the moment, Mel's (up to its closure) was in really bad shape, Fallon has been running at reduced capacity recently on some days, Animal Actors is in rough shape with the roof leaking and the flying pig effect is looking rough. Cat in the Hat has several broken/missing effects and parts of it look like it hasn't been cleaned in ages.
I'm not claiming there hasn't been any maintenance done at all these past few months (finally!), my argument is severely on the lack of attention Universal has given to some of their attractions throughout the past few years. We've gotten
fantastic additions over the past few years, but that doesn't excuse the lack of upkeep at other locations.
However, that doesn't always equate to reality. AFAIK, maintenance hasn't made any big dramatic shift since COVID. TM training has not changed in some big way since COVID. Etc. You can feel disgruntled at certain things, but there's also another side that can point out "Hey, that's actually not the case at all. Whatever issues you may be feeling are not based on those things".
It also doesn't require insider knowledge to look at something like
@Brian G.'s post and see that most rides do get love. Hulk & Spidey were redone completely, Mummy got a big refurb, HRRR updated the songs, Hogwarts Express just made audio improvements, etc. Personally, I don't see much disarray in the parks outside of the vacant theaters and JPRA's current status which I've agreed suck. Refurbs in the streets/restaurants happen more in the slow seasons. It's not a new thing. Seeing a still open arcade facade behind a wall doesn't affect the vacation of anyone I know. Seeing comments like "Kong missing large portions of its effects" feels disconnected from reality when only one effect is down and the rest of the show scenes are in great shape. The B-Mode exists for a reason and by no means has the ride reached its point limit where it should be shutdown for show quality.
The point isn't just covid-related, its a lack of improvement even
before Covid from an ops perspective. TM Training hasn't changed, and that's not a great thing for a resort that is very different from 2009 and continues to expand.
The opening arch scene for Kong is
vital to the experience. Completely avoiding it is like skipping the bayou/cavern sections of Pirates of the Caribbean. Outside of severe weather (which was a great idea btw to skip), it's not something that should be skipped when its available.
