Am I Being Too Cynical?

[Porsche44]

Ok so am I being too cynical. This is my take on the new Magic Bands/FP+ fiasco. We know that at the last WDW executives meeting staff were told all development was on hold until this ridiculous budget blow out that is "My Disney Experience" was brought under control. Since then we have seen the Ziti Sisters and the Japanese Candy lady axed from EPCOT, Trash is gone from MK and now the afternoon parade at AK has been cancelled. Sure Disney is releasing "valid" in their eyes reasons for these cuts but my cynical brain says that these things are just another result of the madness that is MDE. I have to say that Universal's development team really are looking more and more like the ones who are getting it right and Disney, well I think you better take a good hard look at yourself and quickly or else you are going to find those profit margins sinking to an all time low.

 

[AmyB2006]

I'm sad about the afternoon parade at AK and PUSH. But the Ziti Sisters and the Candy Lady? LOL Who are they????

I don't think it has to do with MDE budget issues, but I could be wrong.

 

[minnie mum]

I don't know that it can be 100% laid at the feet of the MDE/FP+ fiasco, but IMO the continuous pull back on so many of the little pluses that used to characterize guest's park experience is just further proof that the pencil pushers and numbers wienies are ruling the boardroom and executive offices. If this continues, I think it is going to come back and bite them in their well padded back pockets.

 

[DisneyBum303]

Oh no!! Not the Candy Lady!! We loved watching her work her magic! No matter how many times we watched, it was always fascinating.

 

[smitch425]

Ok so am I being too cynical. This is my take on the new Magic Bands/FP+ fiasco. We know that at the last WDW executives meeting staff were told all development was on hold until this ridiculous budget blow out that is "My Disney Experience" was brought under control. Since then we have seen the Ziti Sisters and the Japanese Candy lady axed from EPCOT, Trash is gone from MK and now the afternoon parade at AK has been cancelled. Sure Disney is releasing "valid" in their eyes reasons for these cuts but my cynical brain says that these things are just another result of the madness that is MDE. I have to say that Universal's development team really are looking more and more like the ones who are getting it right and Disney, well I think you better take a good hard look at yourself and quickly or else you are going to find those profit margins sinking to an all time low.

The candy lady left on her own. Her vision was declining. The owner of PUSH wanted to retire, and it is possible that there may be a return of that technology.
The parade is ending in June because the Avatar expansion will impede its path. No idea about the sisters, but that could just be a budget cut.

 

[tiggerdad]

Interesting, do you have sources for the information?
Not flaming, just curious since this is the first I heard of the reasons you present.

 

[smitch425]

Interesting, do you have sources for the information?
Not flaming, just curious since this is the first I heard of the reasons you present.

Parade...
http://touch.orlandosentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79294688/

PUSH...

http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50702259&postcount=94

And

http://wdwnt.com/2014/02/pushs-contract-not-the-only-thing-expired-disney-may-continue-character/

As for Miyuki, I can't remember where I read it because she left months ago. I do know that she was also intending to continue to do shows, just not as frequently as she did them at EPCOT.

 

[tkgdisney]

The avatar expansion is I fact the reason for the at parade cancellation. I think many people are looking for a reason to complain because they are unhappy with the limits set in FP+. Personally, we like it and it has made touring much easier for us. We do not consider it a fiasco, and I don't think Disney does either. Personal opinions and feelings are just that one persons opinion and many people want company. FP+ costs more than anticipated! but it also has been upgraded and does more than originally ordered. Hopefully all of the people that think universal is the way to go will skip wdw and make our experience nicer and less crowded. Change is rough at times for cast members that would have loved to not learn something new, but the new set of CPs will not know anything different and we should see a better attitude from them. Unhappy cast members are starting to retire due to this new system that they hate, because they had to learn a new system. As they get over it, guests may accept it and give it a chance.

 

[M5ward]

PUSH, the Ziti Sisters, and the Candy Lady are third party vendors...they don't belong to Disney.

 

[Ted C]

When you drop over 1.3B on something and it still doesn't work, I can guarantee you heads are rolling. This is all in one area mind you. Its crazy. Someday in the history books we'll read about some bonehead, or boneheads, who came up with these ideas, and of course they will be long since fired or gone. FP+ itself is not so much the issue as it is it doesn't work, very similar to the Obama Care roll out. The software is inadequate. You can't charge people this kind of money and then cut your teeth on them.

The thing I worry about, and have been worried about, is happening. If they're no careful the "Magic" will be lost due to all of the disconcerted people and cast members as stated in a thread earlier today. The only thing that makes Disney different is Disney. Its a way, a culture. If some "pencil pusher" starts messing with it at its core, the core will become unstable. Then they end up just like everybody else. And trust me, it will be hard to get it back once that trust is lost internally and externally. The reason we all love going to Disney is because of the way it makes US feel. Its what it brings out in ourselves. Nobody else in the biz has obtained such amazing success connecting people to themselves. And that's the core they're messing with.

I would hate to be CM right now. How in the world could you enjoy doing your job? Its not their faults but they're getting blamed for it. As a CEO of a very successful business I would never put my employees in that kind of harm's way. How could they be their best? No, some idiot is thinking they will be able to save lots of jobs with this system, that the guests can do it all themselves now. Computers don't need insurance or retirement plans. The problem is that doesn't work. Its the people inside and outside that makes Disney what it is.

The OP is correct except they're doing it in many areas not just here. I just hope they figure it out before they ruin it/us.

 

[tkgdisney]

No cp is in harms way! This is so overblown it is ridiculous! People want the old system back, it is not going to happen, so adjust in whatever way makes you happiest. If a guest feels the need to take it out on a cast member, they need to think hat if it was their child, would they want someone to do that to them? Universal only allows front of he line passes for money or online stays. People are spoiled, and need to get over themselves.

Comparing FP+ to Obamacare is so out of bounds it made me laugh. So many people are angry and upset and haven't even tried them yet and so they go with a bad attitude. Guess if you want to be happy, you are.

 

[Ted C]

Once again, my discontent is not because of FP+ before I get flamed. My problem is they're ruining the magic trying to get there because it wasn't ready for "prime time". Its like some idiot at the top is saying, "We're Disney, we can do anything we want, any way we want it. They'll still come. And heck we'll charge them out the rear, cut other perks, all at the same time too." Any company can fall, even Disney...

Sorry, I'm just mad. I admire and roll model after them so much in my own business. I just hate seeing them cause total chaos inside and out. This thing wasn't ready, simple as that. And we're all the Guinea pigs. I'm really having a hard time giving them thousands of more dollars coming up.

Once again, if it doesn't work right you shouldn't be charging for it... I don't mind the system. And yes, from that perspective, they're very similar... Laugh all you want.

In this specific case, THE OLD SYSTEM WORKED!!! And by way, see how happy you are after doing hours of extensive planning only to have the system dump your whole portfolio and then not be able to get it back even using their IT. Trust me, i want to be happy...