I am reluctant to start this mess again, but clearly there has been some misunderstanding! I dont know how that could have happened after ten+ pages of (dare I say) poetic posts, but it did. So, once more - -With feeling!!
Some here believe the sole reason the Observation deck is now closed to the general public is because ME is trying to squeeze more money from CG by adding more tables,(in some respect I think you're giving him too much credit for realizing a way to make money).
Ei$ner had nothing to do with it. Directly that is. Indirectly, however, he is ultimately responsible. He sets the agenda, tone and culture for the organization. The smart VPs and managers
KNOW his mind or at least what he likes and does not like. They do their best to stay a step ahead of him or at least out of the line of fire and off his radar screen. In this it is no different from any other organization in the world!
What I assert is plain enough. Because it has been decreed that every square inch of WDW become a self sustaining profit center, managers, even middle and lower managers, are under very heavy pressure to increase profit
AND cut costs.
Maybe you have to be a bit cynical, but the reason for the deck closure, under these circumstances is quite clear. A middle manage saw an opportunity to increase profits at the California Grill. He put up more tables. Pretty simple! He took a relatively unused portion of the lounge and crammed some tables into it. Even under the best of circumstances it would not have been my choice. It has the feel of the lounge and is quite separate from the dining room! Not the most optimum of choices! But, for a couple extra bucks they decided to do it.
But in doing so they created a huge traffic and crowd control problem. They greatly reduced the capacity of the lounge and more importantly narrowed, severely, the aisle to gain access to the deck. Of course this would become problematic!! And lets face it, the deck hadnt just become a popular hang out for the fireworks within the last six months. They knew that a lot of people enjoyed the view and made the nightly trek to the deck. What were they thinking?!?!
Ill tell you. They did not care!! Plain and simple. Just didnt care.
Hmmmm, they thought. Paying customers that make me look like a hero because of a slightly better bottom line, or making life easy for the ingrates that dont put a dime in my ledger books?
Who do you think would win that battle?
Are 200 paying guests more profitable then 100 guests?
Man!! I thought I was
ah
well
lets say
creative, when it comes to numbers when I need to make a point!! But where in the heck did you ever pull out those figures!!
Are hoards of people trapesing(sp) thru the restaurant to get a peek at the fireworks "bad show" for those dinner guests ? Yes. What should management have done ?
Simple!! Not put up the additional four to six tables for the greater good of WDW. Gee! That question was easy. Next!!
MiaSRN62 writes:
I'm sorry if this sounds poetic----I don't mean for it to be.
Nah! Im the one whos poetic. But I dont think it was meant as a compliment! But hey!! After dealing with DisDuck, The Pirate, The Captain, Eyesnur, Mr. Kidds and Scoop, Ill take whatever I can get!! So I will take it as a compliment!! THANKS!!!
Judging from the attendance figures over the last three years, there appear to be millions of people who feel exactly the same way."
Or maybe they've lost their jobs, or their portfolio is in the toilet, or they're afraid to fly or travel.
Yeah, could be, but I doubt it. The economy, while certainly not stellar, isnt as bad as your scenario would indicate.
I think its probably more along the lines of my sister-in-law. She is a Disney fan although not quite as big a fan as me. And shes in a slightly less economic bracket. Her trips happened every four or five years. However, since Disney has severely cut back on hours (and over all choices) and has gotten even more expensive than before, she is now opting for a Disney vacation every six to seven years. And when she goes next time shes planning on eating at least half of their meals outside of WDW. Im afraid Disney has lost her. Shell still plan on it for her kids, but the reality is, shed rather not go at all!!
From my good friend and fellow car dweller, Mr. Kidds!!!
Don't fret, my 'less than car #3' compatriots, Mr. Kidds is not dead yet
NO!! Of course not!! You have seen the light and come alive, my friend!! It is only by knowing and accepting the truth, that you will really become happy!! I have a ball every time I go!! But I can also see the waste, lost potential, ineptness, lack of creativity and unmitigated greed. I just dont let it interfere!! Youll get the hang of it!! It just takes a little bit of practice!!
disneyholic family I have to ask a question.
Disney is a business.....it was a business when Walt ran it and it's a business now...would you rather they ran the thing into the ground and went bankrupt? (like several well known conglomerates have been doing this past year?)...
Do you think they would really be in danger of doing so? Do you think the things Walt did would eventually run the company into the ground? Do you think that by radically changing the Disney Philosophy they prevented a bankruptcy?
I dont.