Another Bites the Dust

[yulilin3]

At Animal Kingdom, after March 11, Gi-Tar Dan will no longer perform. Gi-Tar Dan has created memorable Guest experiences for many years I remember him at Camp Minnie-Mickey.

 

[Praying Colonel]

A butterfly flaps its wings and a hurricane happens on the other side of the world...

A project in Shanghai Disney ends up costing more than projected, Gi-Tar Dan loses his job at AK....

 

[lovethattink]

So sad. Didn't he "originate" at MK? Horseshoe Jamboree?

 

[yulilin3]

So sad. Didn't he "originate" at MK? Horseshoe Jamboree?

I'm not sure.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We saw him at Camp MM too - once he made up a song for our daughter - it was really amazing how quickly he could come up with it! Such fun - he will be missed

 

[norjack]

#RIPLiveDisneyEntertainment

 

[larryz]

A butterfly flaps its wings and a hurricane happens on the other side of the world...

A project in Shanghai Disney ends up costing more than projected, Gi-Tar Dan loses his job at AK....

Whoa! Very zen of you...

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

Ok... This whole "all these cutbacks---argh!" conversations have me confused. Isn't change to be expected? Aren't new things being added at the same time? Ok... Goodbye Gi-Tar Dan. I understand being sad if he is a favorite for you. But aren't they adding new stuff at AK? A festival in Harambe and party on Discovery Island pop to mind.... From my perspective I see as many posts for cutbacks as I do for new additions. Isn't it all a wash? Folks were lamenting cutbacks to M&G at Epcot but then I see that Joy and Sadness have been added.... I guess I think it's more about change than it is about cutbacks.

 

[ajwolfe]

I don't guess I've ever seen this person before?? Was he in a costume or what?

 

[BrianL]

Ok... This whole "all these cutbacks---argh!" conversations have me confused. Isn't change to be expected? Aren't new things being added at the same time? Ok... Goodbye Gi-Tar Dan. I understand being sad if he is a favorite for you. But aren't they adding new stuff at AK? A festival in Harambe and party on Discovery Island pop to mind.... From my perspective I see as many posts for cutbacks as I do for new additions. Isn't it all a wash? Folks were lamenting cutbacks to M&G at Epcot but then I see that Joy and Sadness have been added.... I guess I think it's more about change than it is about cutbacks.

But the rumors have also stated that there are many cut-backs behind the scenes and there have been confirmation of CM hours being drastically cut. Some of the additions also have up-charges, meaning they are not cost centers. I do agree that they are adding a lot as well which is why I think the cutbacks are going to end up being pretty temporary in the long run, just right now there are a lot of questionable things happening.

Also, we don't know why Gi-Tar Dan is leaving. It could just as well be his decision for any number of reasons. I know we automatically associate everything with cutbacks, but it could be anything.

 

[andyman8]

Ok... This whole "all these cutbacks---argh!" conversations have me confused. Isn't change to be expected? Aren't new things being added at the same time? Ok... Goodbye Gi-Tar Dan. I understand being sad if he is a favorite for you. But aren't they adding new stuff at AK? A festival in Harambe and party on Discovery Island pop to mind.... From my perspective I see as many posts for cutbacks as I do for new additions. Isn't it all a wash? Folks were lamenting cutbacks to M&G at Epcot but then I see that Joy and Sadness have been added.... I guess I think it's more about change than it is about cutbacks.

Not quite. The very definition of cutbacks implies cutting costs by making cuts and not replacing those cuts. The addition of the IO characters is honestly unrelated to all these entertainment cuts. Those two characters don't equate in financial value to 10 streetmosphere performers, Fairy Godmother, Gi-Tar Dan, the additional showings of Fantasmic! and MSEP, Sleeping Beuaty at Epcot, and the many other cuts being made this year because of SDR. So far, IO is more or less the only addition not reduction been announced.

 

[gsp4ever]

Aren't new things being added at the same time?

Meh, not so much. Perhaps in a year or two. Unless, of course, you want to count dessert parties

 

[Mikie]

But aren't they adding new stuff at AK? A festival in Harambe and party on Discovery Island pop to mind.... From my perspective I see as many posts for cutbacks as I do for new additions. Isn't it all a wash? Folks were lamenting cutbacks to M&G at Epcot but then I see that Joy and Sadness have been added.... I guess I think it's more about change than it is about cutbacks.

Meh, not so much. Perhaps in a year or two. Unless, of course, you want to count dessert parties

Does anyone have a good +/- list?
For instance: AK is - Gi Tar Dan and + Rivers of Light and + Harambe Market and. . . .
Epcot is + Joy and Sadness and - Sleeping Beauty and. . .

(I'm mostly looking at free/included items vs add-ons, and of course we could make an infinite list depending on how far back we go, but I'm thinking of the recent flood of cuts/changes that are happening now or this year)

 

[Praying Colonel]

It's a general philosophical change to get rid of street performers and/or musical acts. DHS lost 4 For A Dollar a few years ago, and it turns out that was just the beginning: besides the ones listed in this thread there were also Off Kilter, Mo Rockin, UK street performers and many others. Many won't mind that because they didn't care about them--many of us thought their charm contributed to what makes WDW special.

 

[amg35]

It's a general philosophical change to get rid of street performers and/or musical acts. DHS lost 4 For A Dollar a few years ago, and it turns out that was just the beginning: besides the ones listed in this thread there were also Off Kilter, Mo Rockin, UK street performers and many others. Many won't mind that because they didn't care about them--many of us thought their charm contributed to what makes WDW special.

Weren't there replacements for Off Kilter, Mo Rockin, and others? You may not have liked the replacements, but still, they were replaced.

 

[amg35]

Ok... This whole "all these cutbacks---argh!" conversations have me confused. Isn't change to be expected? Aren't new things being added at the same time? Ok... Goodbye Gi-Tar Dan. I understand being sad if he is a favorite for you. But aren't they adding new stuff at AK? A festival in Harambe and party on Discovery Island pop to mind.... From my perspective I see as many posts for cutbacks as I do for new additions. Isn't it all a wash? Folks were lamenting cutbacks to M&G at Epcot but then I see that Joy and Sadness have been added.... I guess I think it's more about change than it is about cutbacks.

I agree completely.

I don't understand how now that there are "less" streetmosphere performers, or now you can't see Sleeping Beauty or whomever at EPCOT (but still at MK) but can now meet Joy/Sadness/Baymax (?))/Olaf and others equates to WDW being "just an amusement park".

Really? Your vacation experience is greatly diminished because of this? Maybe there is no second showing of Fantasmic, well, make sure you go to the first. Or check out all the new night shows at AK or DHS.
Cast Member cuts? Sorry, that happens in every industry, everywhere. It's sad when anyone loses a job. I am skeptical of how this will affect your experience. Please refrain from the chipped paint pictures - those, along with burnt out light bulbs and scuffed hotel furniture have been floating around this board for YEARS!
Food prices going up? You bet. Even at my grocery story, it's annoying. Wait until you see the price of olive oil later this year....
resort fees? Sure, that's annoying.
Things taken away, but not given back? Well, I guess my solution for you is to wait until all the new stuff opens, then see how you are feeling.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Weren't there replacements for Off Kilter, Mo Rockin, and others? You may not have liked the replacements, but still, they were replaced.

They sucked, got canned and no replacement has been made since. It's fair to infer that the original replacement with inferior substitutes was part of WDW's cost-cutting approach to street performers.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

And another comes on,
Another comes on,
Another one rides the bus

Hey, I'm gonna sit by you!
Another one rides the bus

 

[amg35]

They sucked, got canned and no replacement has been made since. It's fair to infer that the original replacement with inferior substitutes was part of WDW's cost-cutting approach to street performers.

Inferior to you, your opinion, not fact. There's a difference.

 

[twodogs]

I will really miss this particular person. He did a spontaneous song about my father and my daughters, about how he is an awesome grandpa because he cooks them pancakes and also plays the guitar. It was Gi-Tar Dan singing a song about Gi-Tar Bob (my dad, who also plays guitar). The kids were laughing hysterically, and we really all have a great memory of that particular 5 minutes out of an 8 day trip. Luckily I took a video that we will always have. I agree with OP that these personal experiences are what distinguish WDW from other theme parks, for me. I will really miss him. I have no information about the reason for this, his retirement or choice, cut backs or whatever, but it makes me sad...