Discuss what Disney is doing wrong part II

[disneynikon]

In order to injoy Disney you must rembember it is a corporation. And as a corporation it has stockholders who want to see a profit. Its not like one person makes any one decision. Its whole purpose is to make money.

Once you are willing to understand that your dollars are someone elses profit or retirement fund then the prices make sense.

You are there to enjoy your self, but to make money for Disney.

The prices and the private parties keep the stockholders happy.

Just spend your money wisely and thanks for the dividends.

 

[KellyNY]

Err, yes, I had noticed there is a recession going on. Doesn't that mean you might appreciate your customers MORE.

Since people are trying to make ends meet and go less to vacations, it would be a good idea to treat your customers better and make it affordable. What is a deal with DP, with no apet. and tips included, it is a joke.
I cannot understand tickets price doing up, aren't tickets sky high already.
Why Universal have $99 for both parks all week long and still making money?
As much as I love Disney, it becomes less and less affordable even with all promotions they run.

 

[WDSearcher]

To somehow claim that without this cost cutting that Disney might conceivable have to shut down is not born out by the facts

Disney's gross profit
2005 $3,931B
2006 $5,355B
2007 $6,829B
2008 $7,404B
2009 $4,102B (with last quarter still to report)

Egads they are making oodles of money, so one can't claim that they are cost cutting to survive.

You're quoting DISNEY profits, right? Not theme park profits. And you've also got "gross" there, not "net." Doesn't make any difference how much Disney took in. It's what's left over after they pay all their bills that matters. And, just becuase the company has profits, doesn't mean the theme parks have more money to spend.

 

[mousygirl]

Better selections for the kids' menu. I would love to see grilled chicken, more vegetables and less chicken nuggets for Table Service. I know a lot of kids only eat nuggets, but I really don't like mine too.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

In order to injoy Disney you must rembember it is a corporation. And as a corporation it has stockholders who want to see a profit. Its not like one person makes any one decision. Its whole purpose is to make money.

Once you are willing to understand that your dollars are someone elses profit or retirement fund then the prices make sense.

You are there to enjoy your self, but to make money for Disney.

The prices and the private parties keep the stockholders happy.

Just spend your money wisely and thanks for the dividends.

The dividends stink. The years that Michael Eisner was in power my money made more money in municipal bonds than in disney stocks. They're sticking it to the shareholders, too.

 

[PirateFrank]

Err, yes, I had noticed there is a recession going on. Doesn't that mean you might appreciate your customers MORE.

To somehow claim that without this cost cutting that Disney might conceivable have to shut down is not born out by the facts

Disney's gross profit
2005 $3,931B
2006 $5,355B
2007 $6,829B
2008 $7,404B
2009 $4,102B (with last quarter still to report)

Egads they are making oodles of money, so one can't claim that they are cost cutting to survive.

A better figure to use would be Net Income. Gross Profit is a very, very misunderstood number on an Income Statement. Net Income is really what drives decisions made by users of Financial Statements.

However, these numbers (as indicated by another poster) are company-wide and do not break down profits/losses of theme parks....so even BETTER figures to use would be figures that Disney reports in it's annual report for the operating segment of 'Parks and Resorts'...

AFAIK, The Parks and Resort segments have operating profit (at least with respect to 2006-2008)...so I'm not challenging your point. just saying that the point might have more impact if it weren't made company wide.

 

[dejr_8]

Things Disney is doing wrong:

Taking prime viewing area for Wishes and Illuminations and creating paid "events" for those areas. I know they have been doing this at EPCOT for a long time for private parties but the one that gets me is the Wishes Dessert event on the terrace of the Tomorrowland Noodle Station.

Changes to the Tables in Wonderland Card (formerly the Disney Dining Experience Card) such as adding an automatic 18% gratuity to all bills and cutting back on available locations.

Kids meals getting ridiculously small. Just returned and the kids pizza can't be more than 4 inches in diameters. Also, all chicken strips have been replaced with nuggets.

At POFQ, they removed wine from the food court. You now have to go the bar or the gift shop to purchase. What a pain. I don't know if they are also doing this at other Mods.

 

[Racknack]

I received a complaint about my post on the orginal thread also. I did go back and reread it as requested, and I can't understand for the life of me why the post was deemed to be out of line in any way.

My point had to do with ADRs, and I said that I like the ADR system as it is, and if I could not make advance reservations and had to wait for the actual day I wanted to eat at my chosen restaurant to see if I could get in, I simply would not visit WDW in the first place.

Having confirmed reservations makes planning effective and easy. Without ADRs, such a trip would be of very little interest to me because of the likelyhood of not being admited to the restaurant of my choice; it would be almost impossible to make a personal itinerary for a day at the park without confirmed meal reservations, unless one is happy with waiting in counter service lines.

If that opinion offends anyone, gee, I'm sorry in advance.

HarkNack

 

[sleeping beauty 1]

I saw a comment about wanting a channel with Disney cartoons.

Well -- there is one -- channel 96 I think it is on TVs (it may not be 96, but it is up in the 90's). My kids love this channel -- very unfortunately they show the same 30-45 minute loop over and over. Sadly, the loop also hasn't changed for at least 5 years. So every year I listen to the same set of Disney cartoons and music every day. It seems like it would be fairly simple to add, change, or lengthen that set.

I also used to like the days when they played the Read-Aloud stories to the kids. Mine used to enjoy those as well.

Just thought I would add that information.

 

[W.E.D.]

I have yet to enjoy the pitfalls and perils of ADRs. That will come in '11 with the next trip.
No small children, so I can't complain about strollers.
My biggest beef is:

REHAB your rides!!!!!!
It has been a few years, and it's been pointed out that they are indeed working on the rides (ie. SM, HM, IASW), but c'mon.
I'm a WDW junkie like everyone else here. I'm sure I will continue to be. But it really irks me when, for the $$s I'm putting out, that stuff doesn't work on the rides, or the AA are out of sync with the sound/other effects, or you can't hear the sound for that matter. I think it really cheapens an experience which I have always equated with the word "magical".

 

[Glenn]

My complaint would be all the little increases or cutbacks that I am thinking Disney hopes no one will notice. The $8 charge for the wine tasting & cooking demos at the F & W festival is interesting. Oh, I also dont like the generic mechandise they have now days. I used to enjoy looking at all the unigue things they had but now its the same old, same old. But that has cut my shopping down to next to nothing. Only bought a CD my last trip.
For everyone that is complaining about Fantamic only being done 2 times a week even though its stuffed to the gills I would hope you complain to Disney about it. Face it, they will never increase the number of shows if no one complains, even if the lines reached the front gates.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I received a complaint about my post on the orginal thread also. I did go back and reread it as requested, and I can't understand for the life of me why the post was deemed to be out of line in any way.

My point had to do with ADRs, and I said that I like the ADR system as it is, and if I could not make advance reservations and had to wait for the actual day I wanted to eat at my chosen restaurant to see if I could get in, I simply would not visit WDW in the first place.

Having confirmed reservations makes planning effective and easy. Without ADRs, such a trip would be of very little interest to me because of the likelyhood of not being admited to the restaurant of my choice; it would be almost impossible to make a personal itinerary for a day at the park without confirmed meal reservations, unless one is happy with waiting in counter service lines.

If that opinion offends anyone, gee, I'm sorry in advance.

HarkNack

It doesn't offend me; I just don't agree. I long for the days long gone by when you could just enter a restaurant and eat. I'm not much of a planner by nature anyway, and I think it's ridiculous to have to actually make reservations 90 (or worse now 180) days for a ho hum table service meal.

To each their own.

As for the generic merchandise, I'm absolutely sick of it - the only thing I've found good about that is I spent a lot less money on souvineers on my last trip!

 

[cnjmom]

I haven't read through all the comments on this thread, I admit. However, I have not seen this complaint of mine ever discussed here (which is why it surprised me when it occurred to us). Maybe it's because here on the Disboards many posters are frequent guests to the same resort and know their way around?

We stayed at SSR in June. This was our first family trip. My DH and I each had separately visited WDW, but it had been years since either of us had. We arrived at 11:15 and our room wasn't ready. No surprise. We killed 4.5 hours by eating lunch, taking the boat to DTD, and then going in the small pool near Springs/Grandstand. At 3:45, I used the phone near the pool to call the front desk and was told our room was ready and given the room number. The CM couldn't tell me which actual building in Grandstand our room was in (i.e. was it the building on the far left, in the center, on the right??) I didn't have the map they had given us in check in, but I don't think it would have mattered because I think it was a copy of the 'maps' that are stationed every so often at SSR and was no more detailed than that one.

I left my DH and our three young kids (oldest is 5.5 years) at the pool while I walked around trying to locate the correct building; I figured it would be easier for just one of us to walk around in the very hot sun than all of us with our pool gear, double stroller, carryons that we kept with us at the pool and the three tired kids. I looked at the posted maps, which just indicated the main area names (Grandstand, Carousel, etc.) but didn't have building numbers or something to tell me in which building I'd find room 9107. I asked two separate CMs who I saw in my travels and they couldn't tell me either. Finally, I spied a bell services CM making a delivery and figured if he couldn't help me, then something was really wrong. Yes, it's a large resort but if four separate CMs (the one at the front desk and the three I saw in my travels) can't help a guest, how is the guest supposed to be able to do it?

Thankfully, the bell services CM pointed me in the correct direction.

So, why not better posted maps at resorts, Disney? Not everyone knows their way around a resort as large as SSR. Just putting the range of rooms each building covers on the map would be a huge help.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Have you noticed how much Disney pushes the dining plan? every single time I call they try to talk me into it....even if I am calling about adding a request to ressie or making a payment.
then they are surprised when you don't want it. I understand the add-on for CSR's....but no I am not interested and no its not good for me.

Its funny because when I finally did listen to the spiel about adding the deluxe dining (since we only eat TS) the CM comes back with "that will be $3214...or some ridiculous # like that. ....ok I was just calling to add a new % to my room ressie at the POR and excited to save $90 more off my $900 room....but you think I am interested in going to a deluxe and spending $3214........I said "no thank you I am trying to spend LESS, not more"

My other gripe as I said before is the Free Dining. Its not even FREE really....you are paying rack rate for the room. I could add the dining plan to my discounted AP rate room and its a tad cheaper. but I do understand the lure for families...its does make a difference for families. there are only 2 of us.

I have to agree with others that the room prices have gone way up too...way too high. imho.

I still think cheaper rooms would bring people in and then they would spend on souvies, food, other stuff since they got a good deal on the room.

 

[maxiesmom]

I haven't read through all the comments on this thread, I admit. However, I have not seen this complaint of mine ever discussed here (which is why it surprised me when it occurred to us). Maybe it's because here on the Disboards many posters are frequent guests to the same resort and know their way around?

We stayed at SSR in June. This was our first family trip. My DH and I each had separately visited WDW, but it had been years since either of us had. We arrived at 11:15 and our room wasn't ready. No surprise. We killed 4.5 hours by eating lunch, taking the boat to DTD, and then going in the small pool near Springs/Grandstand. At 3:45, I used the phone near the pool to call the front desk and was told our room was ready and given the room number. The CM couldn't tell me which actual building in Grandstand our room was in (i.e. was it the building on the far left, in the center, on the right??) I didn't have the map they had given us in check in, but I don't think it would have mattered because I think it was a copy of the 'maps' that are stationed every so often at SSR and was no more detailed than that one.

I left my DH and our three young kids (oldest is 5.5 years) at the pool while I walked around trying to locate the correct building; I figured it would be easier for just one of us to walk around in the very hot sun than all of us with our pool gear, double stroller, carryons that we kept with us at the pool and the three tired kids. I looked at the posted maps, which just indicated the main area names (Grandstand, Carousel, etc.) but didn't have building numbers or something to tell me in which building I'd find room 9107. I asked two separate CMs who I saw in my travels and they couldn't tell me either. Finally, I spied a bell services CM making a delivery and figured if he couldn't help me, then something was really wrong. Yes, it's a large resort but if four separate CMs (the one at the front desk and the three I saw in my travels) can't help a guest, how is the guest supposed to be able to do it?

Thankfully, the bell services CM pointed me in the correct direction.

So, why not better posted maps at resorts, Disney? Not everyone knows their way around a resort as large as SSR. Just putting the range of rooms each building covers on the map would be a huge help.

You are not kidding with this one! I miss the days where they actually had a CM drive you over to your room after you checked in! It was such a neat way to start your stay!

My last stay at POR we arrived in the dark, and then struggled to find our building, then our room. Not fun!

 

[MattM]

Err, yes, I had noticed there is a recession going on. Doesn't that mean you might appreciate your customers MORE.

To somehow claim that without this cost cutting that Disney might conceivable have to shut down is not born out by the facts

Disney's gross profit
2005 $3,931B
2006 $5,355B
2007 $6,829B
2008 $7,404B
2009 $4,102B (with last quarter still to report)

Egads they are making oodles of money, so one can't claim that they are cost cutting to survive.

Gross profit is not the same as net income. Those numbers dont account for payroll, overhead, taxes, and debt payments, etc. So your numbers aren't totally accurate. Take a look at what Disney's stock has done over the past 2 years:

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=...=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=on;source=undefined

That will give a more clear picture of the numbers.

And here is a link to their quarterly earnings report. Check out page 2 for a quick overview. Page 4is where you can find the Parks and Resorts overview.

http://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/quarterly_earnings/2009_q3.pdf

 

[eliza61]

Things Disney is doing wrong:

Taking prime viewing area for Wishes and Illuminations and creating paid "events" for those areas. I know they have been doing this at EPCOT for a long time for private parties but the one that gets me is the Wishes Dessert event on the terrace of the Tomorrowland Noodle Station.

Changes to the Tables in Wonderland Card (formerly the Disney Dining Experience Card) such as adding an automatic 18% gratuity to all bills and cutting back on available locations.

Kids meals getting ridiculously small. Just returned and the kids pizza can't be more than 4 inches in diameters. Also, all chicken strips have been replaced with nuggets.

At POFQ, they removed wine from the food court. You now have to go the bar or the gift shop to purchase. What a pain. I don't know if they are also doing this at other Mods.

Don't get too upset it's not worth the money. That's what bugs me more. Disney isn't even giving an experience comparable to the charge. The dessert party is one. The tables were packed together so every time you move you had to excuse yourself to the person you bumped into. The lights stay on throughout the entire fireworks show so definitely runs the magic. The desserts were good but no better than the pastries from main street pastry shop of the shop in France.

 

[DisTwix]

As much as I love going to Disney, I too have had some issues recently...

The first is the newish automated phone system. It's a friggin' nightmare. I have an AP, it's not my first time calling, I know exactly what I want - and that is to talk to a person. Even if that person has to put me on hold to get someone else, I would prefer it immensely.

As part of that first point - I too have had my issues with the CM's I've gotten on the phone. After going thru the automated system, and experiencing some small frustration at the irritation of it (at some point the past couple phone calls, I just start saying Operator over and over and over until I get a human), the CM I've gotten for my particular issue hasn't been knowledgeable enough to help me out. They'll be plenty nice and accomodating, just without enough experience to speak to someone who has planned mulitple vacations, who knows the ins and outs of the reservation experience, etc, like myself. I usually get off the phone as politely as possible with those folks, and call immediately back - this has worked for me. It's a crappy system, but it works.

Secondly, I too miss the resort themed merchandise. I still use my refillable mug from POFQ (then Dixie Landings), and it's a great momento of that particular trip.

 

[abandcsmom]

I haven't heard this one discussed, but I miss when there was an actual live person narrating the rides, specifically the Backlot Tour and the Living with the Land. I am sure there are others that are not coming to mind right this minute, but I just remembered DH pointing this out on our trip in June.

 

[Colleen27]

But I do want to point something out. The more we accept the downgrades in a tight economy when people are pickier about where they spend their dollars, the less likely Disney is to change anything when the economy gets better and people are more lax with their dollars. Those that think Disney will improve services (add Fantasmic back, for example) just because the economy improves, are looking through their rose colored Mickey glasses. We’ve already accepted it when we needed to be pickier with our dollars and are used to it; so now that we can spend more, Disney will just see it as more profit. Just my two cents.

That's my big concern too. Disney is seeing right now that people will still come if they only run F! twice a week, close down the MK for separately ticketed parties 4 nights a week, let mousekeeping and park cleanliness standards slide, cut back on in-park entertainment, keep the a/c set a few degrees warmer, and on and on. So what incentive is there, from a business perspective, to restore any of that to previous levels? Perhaps when the economy rebounds and the discounts aren't so good, people will quit going to Disney or go less frequently because of these changes, but I doubt it'll be in sufficient enough numbers to bring back any of the things that have been cut. That's just the nature of business - cuts and price increases are generally permanent even when implemented to address temporary conditions.