Any Differences since Layoffs?

[Jakesmom1]

Just wondering, if anyone has noticed any changes in the parks since all the layoffs of last week?

I believe most of the layoffs were behind the scenes.

We are not going again till the fall, but am wondering if the service, cleanliness, etc are the same.

Cant help but wonder if the resorts still have the same customer service also. The one thing that always made Disney stand out for me was how really clean everything was. Hope this doesnt suffer due to the change in the number of CMs.



Thanks

Jakesmom53

 

[Blumonkeyboy]

When we went, we noticed bathrooms were gross. They didnt have janitors in them 24/7.

 

[Tiffany_PartyOf7]

The bathrooms were disgusting last Thursday at MK. I used 3 different ones and they were all the same LOL. CMs were all just as friendly as ever (with the exception of one who apparently was having a bad day? LOL) and I was even asked to complete a survey about the entrance process while I was waiting for DH and DM to come out of the bathroom. The entire survey was about how I got to the park and how the bag check and ticket lines were and such.... The lady was great.

Also, we were celebrating our 6 yr old's birthday and 2 different CMs gave our son a pin without a trade because for his birthday he has started pin trading. The 2 free pins really made our sons day. Also, in the Haunted Mansion (my sons FAVORITE ride - he sings Grimm Grinning Ghosts all day every day and he pretends to be in the ride all day. His lifelong dream is to work at the Haunted Mansion LOL - he is totally addicted). While in the stretching room, the CM came by and said something to my son. I told the CM that he is addicted and wants to work there when he is older. As the room was clearing out, he gave my son a "butler test" haha. He told him to stand up straight to see if he was qualified to be a butler. LOL. My son did it and the CM leaned on his head to see if he could hold him up and he said that one day he could make a good butler. LOL. On the way out of the room, the CM told my son he was joking and that he can be whatever he wants to be so long as he does his schoolwork and works hard. It was PERFECT. I kick myself for not getting a picture of him with that CM.

 

[J&J]

something is always missed when they have layoffs. last time we went and they had a big layoiff. the boats were running so slow a lot of the shows were missing the people who help with the rides and cleaning.

 

[OB1]

This is intersting. The layoffs were middle & upper management. None of the front line employess were affected. There should still be the same amount of custodial, park attendees, drivers, etc. They should be happy to see people around because they enjoy the interaction also.

Maybe the staff is not being directed as well and things may slip through the cracks. This will be interesting.

 

[WDSearcher]

Speaking as someone who has done custodial, keeping the MK bathrooms clean during spring break and Easter is one of the hands-down, flat-out hardest jobs at WDW! If people would clean up after themselves even just a little bit, it would help SO much! I've walked into bathrooms that look like a tornado hit them -- toilet paper everywhere, toilet seat covers spilled on the floor, paper towels wadded up and tossed kind of near the trash, masses of paper towels pulled out of the dispenser and all over the floor. Those kinds of things aren't caused by normal use -- they're caused by "Guests Gone Wild In Bathrooms!"

And let's not even go into how many times I was yelled at by someone because someone needed to use the bathroom, but I was taking up a stall by cleaning it. My favorite comment was, "You should only come in to clean the bathrooms when they're empty!" Really? And when would that be exactly?

Seriously ... it's really hard to keep the bathrooms clean when it's busy (at MK especially) and the CMs do work hard at it. Which I know all you guys know already, but just standing up for my peeps!

 

[MommyPoppins]

I've been noticing the bathrooms being dirty most the time for the last few years. We mostly travel during the slower times of year. I remember my first few years visiting there was ALWAYS someone in the bathrooms keeping up with things, now it's hit or miss seeing someone in there.

 

[HallGirl]

Speaking as someone who has done custodial, keeping the MK bathrooms clean during spring break and Easter is one of the hands-down, flat-out hardest jobs at WDW! If people would clean up after themselves even just a little bit, it would help SO much! I've walked into bathrooms that look like a tornado hit them -- toilet paper everywhere, toilet seat covers spilled on the floor, paper towels wadded up and tossed kind of near the trash, masses of paper towels pulled out of the dispenser and all over the floor. Those kinds of things aren't caused by normal use -- they're caused by "Guests Gone Wild In Bathrooms!"

And let's not even go into how many times I was yelled at by someone because someone needed to use the bathroom, but I was taking up a stall by cleaning it. My favorite comment was, "You should only come in to clean the bathrooms when they're empty!" Really? And when would that be exactly?

Seriously ... it's really hard to keep the bathrooms clean when it's busy (at MK especially) and the CMs do work hard at it. Which I know all you guys know already, but just standing up for my peeps!

Hear hear!

They may have to go between several restrooms and the time in between is when they get messy. They can get messy very very quickly, especially if it's busy. You can clean the restroom, come back 20 minutes later after cleaning a 2nd one, and it will look as if you never cleaned the first one.

 

[arrdee11462]

We have gone for 7-10 days each visit and have always found the bathrooms to be neat and clean? We typically go in May not during spring break though.

I can't imagine it's easy with so many people there.

 

[WDSearcher]

One problem in particular that I noticed a lot during Spring Break a couple years ago was that people would employ various methods to avoid having the automatic toilets flush while they (or, more often, their kids) were using the facilities. And I get that -- lots of kids are scared to death of the automatic flushers, and many adults find them annoying.

However ... if you are one of the folks who use post-it notes, tape, whatever, to cover the sensor while you do your thing in the restroom, please remember to REMOVE the post-it note, tape or whatever when you vacate the stall! Otherwise, the toilet will never flush (or it will be a long time before it does, and if there's someone right behind you wanting to use the stall, they'll be grossed out ). Most auto-flush toilets have a button or switch that will flush the toilet at will, but lots of folks don't know that. And then when I come in to clean, I've got all sorts of people pointing to stalls and saying, "Those toilets are broken -- they won't flush!" When, if the previous user had simply removed the post-it that was blocking the sensor, all would be well.

I know we're there to clean up after you -- you ARE on vacation after all! -- but little things like that will help more than you know!

:: end of public service announcement ::

 

[twokids0204]

I don't have a frame of reference to compare to, as my previous trip before 3 weeks ago, was 12 years ago (and they didn't have Photopass then to my recollection). But I was told by a CM that there were not as many Photopass photographers around.

I kinda expected to see them at ALL character's. But only say them with the big name ones. In fact there was no photopass photgrapher in HS animation studio with the big Bolt display or with the Incredibles. A little disapointing.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[jb01]

I don't think you can blame dirty bathrooms on layoffs during spring break. Wait till the crowds slow down then you can see if layoffs have had any effect.

 

[WVParkfan]

We were there last week, and did not notice any changes. Everything was just as wonderful as it always has been.

I also did not notice the bathrooms being dirty last week. We spent most of our time at Epcot and and the Animal Kingdom, and everything was clean and perfect!

 

[katallo]

We were there two weeks ago and encountered many dirty bathrooms in the parks.

One afternoon, Epcot had one boat running all afternoon. People were very frustrated. I was surprised because of the Flower and Garden Show at Epcot. I have to say this is the first time we did not make ADR's and had no problem eating at the Y&B Club, Boardwalk, Contemporary or GF. Had about 15-25 minute waits. Actually, we even walked into Chefs De France without an ADR.

 

[Jakesmom1]

Thanks for all your comments, what about the resorts? Did anyone notice any changes in them? Still as clean as always?


my DH made me put all these smileys on lol

 

[katallo]

We stayed at BCV and they were very clean. We just noticed less help at BC Marketplace and slower transportation. I think they will probably adjust cutbacks to seasons. We joined a group for an Illuminations Cruise and only two boats rather than four went to the fireworks. We also did not make an ADR and really didn't have problems with meals. We were there 3 weeks ago.

 

[Sweety_tweety]

Speaking as someone who has done custodial, keeping the MK bathrooms clean during spring break and Easter is one of the hands-down, flat-out hardest jobs at WDW! If people would clean up after themselves even just a little bit, it would help SO much! I've walked into bathrooms that look like a tornado hit them -- toilet paper everywhere, toilet seat covers spilled on the floor, paper towels wadded up and tossed kind of near the trash, masses of paper towels pulled out of the dispenser and all over the floor. Those kinds of things aren't caused by normal use -- they're caused by "Guests Gone Wild In Bathrooms!"

I read your post and just had to respond. I give people that clean bathrooms a lot of credit and I don't think they are paid enough. We recently had a few incidents recently at our bathroom at work. I work in corporate office building--all the women on our floor are typically very clean. Someone was leaving some very nasty things in the bathroom. We called to apologize to the custodian. We still don't know who was doing it and why.

I ALWAYS clean up after myself in the bathrooms. Hats off to the cleaning people!