WDW Dining Changes - Any Conspiracy Theories Out There?

[Eyesnur]

Maria, if you were staying at the Poly and, as Mr. Viking hypothosized, tram after tram of monorail guests arrived from the MK to watch the freworks on their way out this would be ok wth you?

No one said this "dreamed up" policy woudn't or couldn't include patrons of 'Ohana for example, but what if, just what if the crowd got so bad every night that the guests staying at the Poly could no longer find room on the beach? Do you think the Poly management should care for guests like yourself, who visit the parks, have an occasional meal at 'Ohana or the actual Resort guest themselves? This is just logic... The Poly management would have to institute this type of restriction or seriously risk the loss of repeat guests. It is exactly the same as handing control of the Observation Deck at the Contemporary over to the CG (or risk losing repeat restaurant patrons) or the wrist bands that keep out interlopers at SAB (or risk pool ovecowding and the potential for unhappy paying guests)...

These are no-brainer decisons that keep the magic alive for the guests intended..

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

Suppose the company did change control and reinstated many things which were once taken away.

So in other words, just to be sure I understand you, you’re saying that Disney puts in a CEO that “Gets It”. Right? And he “reinstates many things which were once taken away”. OK! I’m with you!!

Are those in favor now willing to pay the extra money it will cost to maintain the mandated profit margins?

STOP!! HOLD THE PHONE!!!! TIMEOUT!!!

I thought we agreed that this guy at the top – GOT IT!! Then that means that he also ‘GETS” that Disney in the market to ‘create’ magic, not ‘distribute’ product!! Therefore ABC is GONE!!! See! Isn’t life wonderful!!?? And since there is no longer a black hole in the company sucking the park’s money, there is more than enough to satisfy even the greediest executives AND reinvest back into the parks! WOW!! So simple!!

It won’t happen overnight, but the premise is these people at the top – Get It!! Without that caveat you are right!! It’s just more slippery slope!!

Guess what, the new coaster in AK, it's fun.

It very well may be fun. In Chicago (well just outside, actually) is a fun little place called Kiddyland. There are a whole bunch of rides there that are ‘fun’!! And they are “themed” just like the ride you mentioned. The only problem I can see is that the ‘theme’ is accidental. It’s just the way it is. And as far as ‘fun’ is concerned, every carnival in the world captures that kind of fun. Is that your idea of where Disney should set its standards??

People can brag up US/IOA all they want...it ain’t even close to WDW.

I agree!! Pirates, Splash, Haunted Mansion, ToT, CoP, R&RC, even Small World is why “it ain’t even close to WDW”. It is certainly not the AK roller coaster that sets them apart. In fact, that ride brings them closer together. And isn’t that disappointing!!??

Great post Mr. Viking.

I suspect that what really makes this post ‘great’ in Mr. Eyesnur’s eye is not really what you said, so much as you disagreed with me!!

(i.e., if the Mountain is ever built at AK, PW is just gravy).

That’s a mighty big IF, isn’t it? What on earth leads you to even guess that such a thing is in the offing?

(after all the CG ledger is footing the bill for this space).

And isn’t it sad that these ‘profit centers’ came into existence in the first place. I truly believe that WDW was much better off when management had a global concept of the place. I guess you disagree!

lets face it, with all of the apparent boneheaded decisions lately they should at least get credit for good problem solving when it's accomplished...

Hey Matt!!! Did you catch this sentence? Give him a couple of months! Before you know it he’ll follow Mr. Kidds right into the back seat of Car #3. It’s only a matter of time. Yeah, I know Mr. Eyesnur. Reality sucks!!

The Pirate and Captain have sailed to sea…

Hmmmmmmmm……..

 

[Eyesnur]

Fun IS good enough for Disney world. It can't be the end all and it can't be all they do but it IS OK TO JUST BE FUN once in awhile. Walt stole from everywhere. He picked what he liked and transported it to DL...If it was good enough for Walt..

No Mr. Baron, I would never disagree with you just because it's you...Well, almost never. We know your heart is in the right place, it's generally just the verbage that gets in the way. Mr Viking offerd a very good "what if" and I think it very pertinent how this 'what if' is answered...

Now onto my supposition on the new mountain at AK...You know that it will be built. The question is when. I will put a bright spin on anything they give during the dark times knowing that eventully things will once again turn around. I believe DCA will someday be a very good second banana to DL (heck, I like it fine right now)...And I see nothing wrong with PW as a second or third tier ride...It's just my outlook..

Your idea of a 'global concept' for WDW just isn't, IMO, a very practical idea. It becomes too hard to know what is working and what is dragging (financially speaking) and like it or not money does have to be the main impetus in running a conglomerate like Disney...

As for Car # 3, I'm afraid the Captain & Peter will never be heard from again (so they die Car twoers'...Unless they've been frozen), but it's still a bit farfetched to see me back there with you hooligans...I'm so disappointed in Mr. Kidds...

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

Mr. Eyesnur,

Just two points. I won’t waste anyone’s time going over some of the points as it is very clear that we will never see eye to eye on any of this. Over two years and I haven’t made a dent!! I don’t need a house to fall on me! And the two following quotes are evidence enough for me to concede that we should, "agree to disagree”!!!

Fun IS good enough for Disney world.

I couldn’t disagree more!! Philosophically, this is VERY dangerous thinking!

Now onto my supposition on the new mountain at AK...You know that it will be built. The question is when. I will put a bright spin on anything they give during the dark times knowing that eventually things will once again turn around.

No! I do NOT know that it will be built! In fact I kinda doubt it will!! And you say that you put a bright spin an anything they give you… HEY!! Capt.. I mean Pet... I mean Mr. Eyesnur!!! THEY HAVEN’T GIVEN YOU ANYTHING!!! They aren’t even talking about it anymore, yet you post it as if it is a foregone conclusion!! That isn’t ‘spin’!! That’s ‘fantasy’!!!! And it borders on ‘delusional’!!

I'm so disappointed in Mr. Kidds...

Oh! Please!! Don’t be disappointed! Mr. Kidds is just going through what every Disney fan goes through. I know I went through it. The Frozen One and AV went through it! Most recently my shotgun partner, Sir Matt went through it! Heck even good old Scoop is going through it (though he is reluctant to admit it). It happens when you become educated in a little of Disney history and finally see that the upper echelon of Disney doesn’t care one iota about the guest or the ‘experience’. They don’t care about creating or innovating. They don’t even care about the company’s profits. All they really do care about is what the public thinks is just barely good enough. And of course their personal wealth!

 

[crusader]

Actually,no,it doesn't ! Despite all the negatives I read on this board, the World has NEVER disappointed me. I have great meals. I see great shows. I admire imacculate landscaping. I enjoy Spaceship Earth,World of Energy,TTA and all those other old, slow, boring to some, rides.

Actually, yes it does. You were overcharged for the shows, landscaping and the slow boring rides with your admission ticket. You were overcharged again for that "great " meal. Very little of that extra money you paid was reinvested in the "World". So while you continue to enjoy all those same non-disappointing things, remember how many things were cut back; removed or neglected so you weren't charged more real dollars for your redundant visit. That is reality, and that continues to bite!

 

[KNWVIKING]

Because you have no idea what I paid for anything ! First, I don't measure my fun by the amount of money spent. Second, please tell me where you can get the WDW experience for less money, Six Flaggs ? As is so popular here: Puh-Leezzz.

This year I will get 32 days of magic from my AP's, just about $12.00 a day..boy did I get gouged. In Dec,DW and I bought the Candle Light package at Tappenyakie. I believe total price was $84.00 which got us steak,lobster,squid,shrimp,salad,beverage,dessert & tip as well as great seats to the CLP. Wow,did I ever get ripped off.

 

[d-r]

No! I do NOT know that it will be built! In fact I kinda doubt it will!!

I had been doubting it, and I wish that it was beastly kingdom or the original plan for dinoland, rather than an addition to Asia, but I think it will be be built, and I think it will be high quality. My bet is an announcement on April 22.

DR

 

[MiaSRN62]

Do you think the Poly management should care for guests like yourself, who visit the parks, have an occasional meal at 'Ohana or the actual Resort guest themselves? This is just logic... The Poly management would have to institute this type of restriction or seriously risk the loss of repeat guests.

Honestly, yeah.....if I drop $400 in less than 3 hours at this resort (and we did this in July 2002), yep, I do feel entitled to 20 minutes of standing on the beach. I know you and others probably don't agree and this is fine. I just know if I was escorted off, I wouldn't feel very much like the "welcomed guest" Disney wants me to be. I'm not saying let everyone unload from the trams and monorail to hang out and watch the fireworks, but people who have just patronized the hotel not 30 minutes prior I find exception---I do feel that 20 min of digging my toes in the sand is not uncalled for. But it's ok....should I ever be restricted I would never feel "welcomed" back at this resort. I would never shop or dine there again.
We had an experience in 1999 at Tony's restaurant in the MK. We walked into the lobby area where they take your name to be seated. I told them we were a party of 6 but just wanted coffee and desserts (I had a craving for bananas foster and a cappacino). In front of all the other guests there, the CM told us that they could not oblige us "simply for dessert" and that we could grab dessert down at the Main Street Bakery if we so chose. Our family easily could have spent $50 there on desserts/drinks/coffe. I was literally embarrassed being sent away like that in front of all those people. I felt very much less than "welcomed guest". This experience has always stuck with me and I've never set foot in there again. So, if the Poly were to ask me to leave the beach area after dining there, I would not lose sleep over it. I doubt it would stop me from returning to WDW on vacation, but with every little slap in the face like these experiences, the so-called magic wanes a little more.

 

[KNWVIKING]

..The hypothetical scenerio I laid out wasn't meant to debate who has rights to the beach but rather the hard choices management must make when situations get out of hand. While I am no fan of ME I also don't think he sits back and tries to think of ways to screw guests. 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). I, being a Car 1.5 tend to believe that CG is a great restaurant, made Zagat's list, and to allow more guests the opportunity to experience it,added more tables. Are 200 paying guests more profitable then 100 guests? Yes. Is this bad,decietfull,underhanded,etc ? No. 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 ?

 

[crusader]

I thought we agreed that this guy at the top – GOT IT!! Then that means that he also ‘GETS” that Disney in the market to ‘create’ magic, not ‘distribute’ product!! Therefore ABC is GONE!!! See! Isn’t life wonderful!!?? And since there is no longer a black hole in the company sucking the park’s money, there is more than enough to satisfy even the greediest executives AND reinvest back into the parks! WOW!! So simple!!

Excellent -
He "gets it" alright - in options; perks; bonuses and vip status. But I doubt seriously that there ever will be a cap on how much money it takes to satisfy an executive's greed. So unfortunately, even if the black hole is obliterated, the parks will not be revamped unless the empire restructures itself and removes several top layers.

Another option would be to blind us with pixie dust so everything will continue to go on unnoticed.

 

[crusader]

I was literally embarrassed being sent away like that in front of all those people. I felt very much less than "welcomed guest". This experience has always stuck with me and I've never set foot in there again. So, if the Poly were to ask me to leave the beach area after dining there, I would not lose sleep over it. I doubt it would stop me from returning to WDW on vacation, but with every little slap in the face like these experiences, the so-called magic wanes a little more.

This is all part of that disillusionment process a WDW visitor finds themselves in. The conflict is in reconciling that welcomed guest feeling you had when you gave them your deposit money with the not so royal experience you felt when you tried to enjoy something simple.

 

[MiaSRN62]

..The hypothetical scenerio I laid out wasn't meant to debate who has rights to the beach but rather the hard choices management must make when situations get out of hand.

No, you're right.....it's not worth debating this. Doubt this situation would ever become a reality---especially since tourism is down as of late.
Of course management has difficult choices, I agree. Unfortunately, I'm not certain they always make the right ones, though on average I believe they do. I was just giving the perspective from the side of the "welcomed guest".....how they are impacted. I think perhaps in a situation such as throngs of people hanging on the Poly beach, that maybe management could check resort ID cards and PS lists. Anyone that could not "prove" they had a reason to be at the resort maybe asked to leave. Because I can honestly say I've never eaten at a restaurant located inside a hotel, and immediately after dinner been asked to leave the premises ? It's just not good business ? But, IF it should ever come to this, which I doubt, I would suppose management would be doing the best they could under the situation. Let's hope it never comes to this though.

 

[KNWVIKING]

See,that's the point I'm trying to make. It's very easy to sit at home and poetically type "how dare they", but the truth of the matter is there aren't always good,easy,answers to problems that arise.

 

[MiaSRN62]

It's very easy to sit at home and poetically type "how dare they", but the truth of the matter is there aren't always good,easy,answers to problems that arise.

And I absolutely agree with you KNWVIKING. This is why for every action there is always a distinct reaction. Disney and Guests will need to learn to adjust and live with this (changes/policies etc). Neither may be satisfied with the end that the means may bring. And honestly, I'm sorry if this sounds poetic----I don't mean for it to be.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I wasn't refering to you Maria.... not to say you can't be poetic

 

[crusader]

knwviking....

You are right. I have no idea what you paid and if you are an AP holder who can attend the parks from NJ for 32 days/year you may have felt some sense of savings during your visit(s).

There really is not any other place I can argue with you where you will get more for your money in theme park entertainment. Six Flags is an amusement park, not a theme park and is not popular because it is "soooo" great. It is visited because it is a quick day trip for a family which won't break someone's back to afford.

32 days in WDW is expensive. If you dined for $80/night that adds up. If you stayed onsite and had to travel in - that also adds up. There are ways to balance the budget with this type of vacation and you may very well be one visitor who takes advantage of those opportunities. My compliments.

The point of this thread is that you are losing things not gaining them for your money. The attractions need refurbishment - the parks need a facelift - the restaurants are cutting back. You may have felt a savings but in reality you may have just broke even.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I wasn't refering to you Maria.... not to say you can't be poetic

Got ya....I misunderstood. It was actually kinda cool there (for a second) that maybe my posts were a little poetic....

 

[Another Voice]

"Disney and Guests will need to learn to adjust and live with this (changes/policies etc). "

Absolutely, positively, completely not.

Going to WDW is a personal choice, not a requirement or an obligation. I do not have to accept anything they choose to do. It's my money and I will keep it unless they do things that I am willing to pay for. It the burden of the business to please me – it is not my fate to lower my standards just because the CEO wants a higher bonus.

Judging from the attendance figures over the last three years, there appear to be millions of people who feel exactly the same way.

 

[KNWVIKING]

"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.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Absolutely, positively, completely not.

Going to WDW is a personal choice, not a requirement or an obligation. I do not have to accept anything they choose to do.

Well, to clarify.....this is what I meant. I meant, "if" people choose to go (it is not a requirement by any means), they will need to adapt to the new changes. Of course, we all have free choice to not accept any new management decisions and to not patronize Disney at all. My original post was referring to those people who decide to go along with this new flow of Disney budget cuts & policy changes. Alot of us may be less than impressed with some of these changes but still make the free choice to go to WDW. OTOH, I'm quite certain Disney will lose (has lost) some guests permanently for various reasons discussed here on these boards.