Another example of “pay more, get less”..water park hours reduced

[mshanson3121]

Do none of the restaurants around you adjust hours based on demand? They do by me.

I know you're not referencing me, but where I live. No. Stores or restaurants do not adjust. Their hours are what they are 365 days a year.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Do none of the restaurants around you adjust hours based on demand? They do by me.

Can't say that we have ever seen that around our local area. I have definitely never seen a restaurant close before their stated closing time because of a lack of demand around here. We live in a very populated suburban area just outside a major east coast city.

 

[Nancyg56]

I know you're not referencing me, but where I live. No. Stores or restaurants do not adjust. Their hours are what they are 365 days a year.

They do not here either. Time is time. Best way to close a restaurant down is to close early or open late. People will go elsewhere.

 

[mom2rtk]

I know you're not referencing me, but where I live. No. Stores or restaurants do not adjust. Their hours are what they are 365 days a year.

Not here either.

 

[1234lucky]

The other thing that struck me is that with Disney quest closing the water park ticket option already looks less attractive. There's are not much "more" in the water parks and more now.

We went in April and the water parks were open 10-5. We found them to be moderately crowded. I would imagine in the summer they'd be quite crowded and a later summer close would be appreciated.

 

[brockash]

Do none of the restaurants around you adjust hours based on demand? They do by me.

I don't think I've ever seen or experienced that. When I was in high school I was the manager of a restaurant and even on our slowest nights/times of the year, no way would we ever think of closing early, opening late, or adjusting our hours to only be open when the more popular times were. - It just wasn't and as far as I can tell, is not the mindset.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It may make sense to open later, but as a customer, it's one hour of lower crowds gone. Not something to celebrate. Will it get to the point that only a park is only open when it's crowded? Look at the MK, crowded practically constantly, those true slow days dropping like flies, spare that one or two hours after RD.

 

[whiporee]

I know you're not referencing me, but where I live. No. Stores or restaurants do not adjust. Their hours are what they are 365 days a year.

Well, that ain't true. Stores have summer hours and winter hours, and they adjust because of traffic flow and whether traffic justifies the expense of being open. In colder climates it's pretty commonplace -- almost a necessity. Just like outdoor pools are closed during times it's too cold to be swimming.

And I'd argue that any business that stays open longer than its traffic dictates does not stay open for very long. Amusement parks in non-warm places often close half the year -- our local water park is only open three months a year, and it closes at six, chasing people out even when the sun stays up 'til eight.

And everywhere, stores close early for holidays, storms and other conditions.

 

[Hikergirl]

I would advise you to email customer relations or some of the higher ups. Their contact emails were shared awhile back on this board. The only way changes will ever be made is if enough people start complaining and stop going.

But really how many are willing to do that? I don't think its enough to change anything. There will always be someone new to take your place, and for them all these changes that you don't like will be their normal.

 

[Nancyg56]

But really how many are willing to do that? I don't think its enough to change anything. There will always be someone new to take your place, and for them all these changes that you don't like will be their normal.

Maybe yes, maybe no. I was at the bank a few weeks ago, and the teller and I were discussing vacation. She heard "Disney" and I could not get in a word edgewise. Blah blah expensive....,blah blah REALLY EXPENSIVE....never going back........This happens a lot lately. The new normal may not be enough for new folks to continue going. And the once and done folks may not be enough to carry the parks and the rest of the money pit ventures that Disney I saddled with.

 

[Hikergirl]

Maybe yes, maybe no. I was at the bank a few weeks ago, and the teller and I were discussing vacation. She heard "Disney" and I could not get in a word edgewise. Blah blah expensive....,blah blah REALLY EXPENSIVE....never going back........This happens a lot lately. The new normal may not be enough for new folks to continue going. And the once and done folks may not be enough to carry the parks and the rest of the money pit ventures that Disney I saddled with.

But that is just it, how many of the NOT once and done folks are really willing to stop going or sell their DVC to make any difference?
The only way Disney is going to listen is if the vast majority of those people just all decide to be done. As long as rooms are filled and park tickets are being sold they aren't going to even notice you aren't there anymore when its just a few here and there because there are people taking up those spots. It will take a significant number of people not going to make a change, and I just don't think that is going to happen.

Disney has been taking things away for years, and the complaints have always been there, but somehow they still have record attendance.

 

[Nancyg56]

But that is just it, how many of the NOT once and done folks are really willing to stop going or sell their DVC to make any difference?
The only way Disney is going to listen is if the vast majority of those people just all decide to be done. As long as rooms are filled and park tickets are being sold they aren't going to even notice you aren't there anymore when its just a few here and there because there are people taking up those spots. It will take a significant number of people not going to make a change, and I just don't think that is going to happen.

Disney has been taking things away for years, and the complaints have always been there, but somehow they still have record attendance.

Yes, things have changed a lot in previous years. I am not so sure that this practice can continue though, especially if we experience a financial downturn. You need loyal folks to keep the resorts and parks going.

As to DVC, that will not be enough to fill parks if folks choose to vacation, but cut back on passes. And HOLY DVC EXPANSION!!!! I am not sure that this growth is sustainable. I know that we priced it and for my family the value is not there. I am not sure we are that unique. Time will tell I guess.

 

[brooke789]

Our June trip is showing 10am-5pm. Is this different than years past?

 

[Minnesota!]

The move to 10 AM to 7 PM is absolutely deliberate. As an uber planner, I start filling in my Excel sheet of park hours in January (for a July trip). I then periodically update my Excel sheet monthly as park hours get finalized. I had captured 9-8PM for both water parks. Recently they were dialed down to 10-7PM. Every year going back 3 years, the water parks were always at 9-8PM. The hours of operation did not fluctuate.


As the person at work who is known as the "go to Guy" for Disney World vacation planning, I have enthusiastically encouraged and advised dozens of families over the years to visit Disneyworld. I don’t do that anymore. Now when someone at work tells me they are considering going to DisneyWorld my reaction is "Hey that’s great. I hope you have a good time." and I end the conversation.

I am the same - have been the "Disney junkie" since 1999. Everyone comes to me for advice in planning, strategies, deals, etc. In the last two years I have just started telling people who ask to not bother...I can't help them in good conscious, since I am so discouraged by the parks, myself.

 

[mshanson3121]

Well, that ain't true. Stores have summer hours and winter hours, and they adjust because of traffic flow and whether traffic justifies the expense of being open. In colder climates it's pretty commonplace -- almost a necessity. Just like outdoor pools are closed during times it's too cold to be swimming.

And I'd argue that any business that stays open longer than its traffic dictates does not stay open for very long. Amusement parks in non-warm places often close half the year -- our local water park is only open three months a year, and it closes at six, chasing people out even when the sun stays up 'til eight.

And everywhere, stores close early for holidays, storms and other conditions.

I'm sorry, do you live in our town? Because, yes, it is true. The stores in our area have the same operating hours, every year, every normal business day of the year. So do the restaurants.

And please, try to use some common sense. What as being referenced was not referring to holidays and storm closures, nor businesses that are forced to close due to temperatures (such as outdoor markets and pools in the winter). It was a question of: do they (your typical indoor stores and restaurants) close early when demand drops, such as: "Okay, we don't get as much business in September from 7-8, so we'll start closing at 7:00", or even "Well, it's been a slow night tonight, I think we'll close early". And no, that does NOT happen here.

 

[mshanson3121]

But really how many are willing to do that? I don't think its enough to change anything. There will always be someone new to take your place, and for them all these changes that you don't like will be their normal.

That's probably true. But, I do think more people could complain (to Disney) than do. And I think that if over time they had enough ocmplaints, maybe they'd listen. I dunno, probably just wishful thinking.

 

[whiporee]

I'm sorry, do you live in our town? Because, yes, it is true. The stores in our area have the same operating hours, every year, every normal business day of the year. So do the restaurants.
And please, let's try some common sense? What as being referenced was not referring to holidays and storm closures. It was a question of: do they close early when demand drops, such as: "Okay, we don't get as much business in September from 7-8, so we'll start closing at 7:00", or even "Well, it's been a slow night tonight, I think we'll close early". And no, that does NOT happen here.

But Disney's not doing that, either. They aren't throwing people out of the gates because there aren't enough people there, they're just adjusting their hours based on traffic patterns.

I don't know whether I live in your town or not, but I've lived all over the country and I've never been in a place where at least some of the businesses didn't seasonally adjusted their hours. Open air venues like amusement parks tend to do it more often than indoor ones, but bowling alleys and movie theaters, for example, open earlier during times when school is out. You can find a 9:30 am showing of Zootopia during spring break but not the week after the kids go back to school. And I'm betting if you look beyond the obvious in your town, you'll find a similar situation exists there, especially in entertainment venues.

But aside from that, any business would shut down when the revenue that comes from being open just match/exceed the costs of being open. My local Staples doesn't open until 9 while more urban ones open this 8, because they have a traffic history of justifying the extra hour while the one in my town doesn't. It's annoying when I need something early, but I can't blame them because it's their business to run as they need to run it.

It doesn't matter whether Disney makes a lot of money or not, because they aren't a non-profit that needs to zero sum their revenues. If the numbers don't justify being open, then they shouldn't be open.

 

[Hikergirl]

That's probably true. But, I do think more people could complain (to Disney) than do. And I think that if over time they had enough ocmplaints, maybe they'd listen. I dunno, probably just wishful thinking.

I agree, I think most people vent here but don't really take the time to contact Disney. Maybe the threat of leaving from the repeat or DVC guest would be enough for them to change some things but I'm with you, that may just be wishful thinking. I think Disney knows exactly how much they can get away with before it really effects their bottom line.

 

[Nancyg56]

But Disney's not doing that, either. They aren't throwing people out of the gates because there aren't enough people there, they're just adjusting their hours based on traffic patterns.

I don't know whether I live in your town or not, but I've lived all over the country and I've never been in a place where at least some of the businesses didn't seasonally adjusted their hours. Open air venues like amusement parks tend to do it more often than indoor ones, but bowling alleys and movie theaters, for example, open earlier during times when school is out. You can find a 9:30 am showing of Zootopia during spring break but not the week after the kids go back to school. And I'm betting if you look beyond the obvious in your town, you'll find a similar situation exists there, especially in entertainment venues.

But aside from that, any business would shut down when the revenue that comes from being open just match/exceed the costs of being open. My local Staples doesn't open until 9 while more urban ones open this 8, because they have a traffic history of justifying the extra hour while the one in my town doesn't. It's annoying when I need something early, but I can't blame them because it's their business to run as they need to run it.

It doesn't matter whether Disney makes a lot of money or not, because they aren't a non-profit that needs to zero sum their revenues. If the numbers don't justify being open, then they shouldn't be open.

But Is Disney adjusting their hours of operation to the traffic patterns or are they hoping to adjust traffic patterns to meet their new business model of fewer hours? I really do not know, and neither do you. I am not opposed to any business making money, and I do not have a dog in this race...yet.... I may once we return and if I find that a practice of keeping "normal" park hours increases park crowds to a point that I am not able to manage my very realistic expectations of how my park ticket value should end up to be at the end of my trip.

AS to businesses in our area, we do have a few ice cream shops that close for the winter season, and an ice creamery that serves lunch and dinner that does not stay open late during the winter. You see this business adjust their hours to increase late night once Summer arrives but then returns to "normal" hours after school starts. Other than these little shops I do not know of any that seasonally changes their hours of operation in my area.

Our bowling alleys remain open year round with the same hours, as do the theaters, with the exception of our Drive in movie theaters. We have amusement parks and once deep Fall arrives there are changes til they close for the Winter. But our regular businesses keep hours consistent year round.

 

[Callie]

I was going to say, last year, the parks were opening at 10. I wonder if it helps spread out the transportation influx? This way the bus stops have one less bus to be crowding the area for the 9am park openings?