Discuss what Disney is doing wrong part II

[BillSears]

I can't get over the closing of Pleasure Island. And I don't like the dining plan, which is here to stay.

These are exactly the two things I was going to mention!

Downtown Disney is now just a small stop for me instead of the big multiple night event it used to be. I'm a night owl and the Adventurers Club and the Comedy Warehouse were my favorite things to do after the parks closed early.

The dining plan has caused a major change in my eating habits at WDW. I was one of those people who would eat at least 1 and usually 2 sit down meals every day at WDW. But I also loved to just walk up or to call in the morning to make reservations. With the dining plan everything gets filled up so fast. Plus I feel the variety of food has changed for the worse because of the dining plan.

But I still go back to WDW and enjoy it. I just enjoy it less then I used to.

 

[MattM]

We really enjoy the special ticket parties at MK. It gives you a chance to pay for smaller crowds, if thats what you want. If not, you still get a full day at the park. Obviously, more people like it than dislike it or they wouldnt continue doing it.

I agree that Disney has cut back on a lot of things recently. If you haven't noticed, the US and the rest of the world is going through a pretty rough recession right now. Disney is a business, meaning they exist to make a profit. If Disney continued doing everything it was doing without cost cutting, then they could possibly run the risk of losing money. If they did that long enough, then Disney could conceivably have to shut down. Meaning no more WDW vacations for your family.

I'll take some cuts now, but when things get better I sure hope to see more things return.

 

[cymbaldiva]

But I still go back to WDW and enjoy it. I just enjoy it less then I used to.

That statement sums things up perfectly.

 

[abandcsmom]

I would love for the Disney resorts to provide a television channel for classic Disney cartoon shorts..... Donald Duck, Goofy, Chip & Dale, Mickey. There are so many that we haven't seen since childhood.

Obviously the goal of any vacation is not to spend all your time in your room. But whether it's during bad weather or at the end of a long day in the parks, it would be great to be able to kick back in your room and watch the classics.

Yes, I have even often thought there should be a cable channel (not just at the resorts, but a channel you could subscribe to through your cable/satellite provider) with just the old Disney cartoons and old Wonderful World of Disney episodes, maybe the old Mickey Mouse Club (that is before my time, but I bet people would watch it) Disney has so many options now Disney, Toon Disney, Disney XD. I bet Disney Classic would be a hit.

 

[abandcsmom]

to dawgsgirl:

"My other complaint would be calling Disney. They can sure mess up things and most of the poor underpaid and untrained CM's just don't have a clue."

Speaking as a trainer and one of the "poor underpaid and untrained" CMs I have to say that you are generalizing and insulting a very large group of people. These cast members are definitely not untrained and the pay isn't really that bad (though not great either).

I am sorry that you had problems in the past but you certainly don't need to go putting specific groups down as "most" of my co-workers do their jobs very well.

Granted I am in DL not WDW, but I am sure our training is very similar.

Not trying to start a debate here but there really is no call for putting particular groups of people down like that, we do have feelings too ya know!

Just wanted to thank you for what you do. I have never been given wrong information or even had an unfriendly reservation CM. I know I do hear complaints here, but honestly, I have just not experienced it. Quite the contrary, I have had CMs who were more excited than I was when they were able to get me a special reservation, give me good options when reservations I wanted weren't available, make suggestions for events I hadn't heard of based on the ages of the people travelling with me. So thanks to you, your co-workers, and trainees for adding to the magic.

 

[MissSixty]

My complaint: the kids meals. WTH. Would it be so hard to add a few mini versions of the adult menu items? Chicken nuggest and hot dogs are fine on occassion, but just because they are kids, doens't mean they don't like food. I checked out the kids menu at Kat Cora's new restauraunt and couldn't believe it, the same old stuff.

 

[dawgsgirl]

To Ltl Mermaid and anyone else offended by my CM remark: I should not have said MOST CM's, I shoud have said SOME CM's are untrained. And I will give an example: My last experience was 2 weeks ago trying to order AP's. CM would not let me order the AP's unless I told her if I wanted park hopping or not with them. And The CM was not talking about water parks. I told her I did not want the premium pass to include the water parks, but was informed that was a different thing than park hopping. I just finally had to tell her I had to decide and would get them later. CM highly recommended park hopping with my AP?? I have more good than bad experiences calling Disney, but I have definitely had some horror stories. I just get totally frustrated when I know a LOT more than the CM's I am dealing with.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Ignoring loyal repeat customers in favor of the quick buck. Saw a lot of that this year.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

To Ltl Mermaid and anyone else offended by my CM remark: I should not have said MOST CM's, I shoud have said SOME CM's are untrained. And I will give an example: My last experience was 2 weeks ago trying to order AP's. CM would not let me order the AP's unless I told her if I wanted park hopping or not with them. And The CM was not talking about water parks. I told her I did not want the premium pass to include the water parks, but was informed that was a different thing than park hopping. I just finally had to tell her I had to decide and would get them later. CM highly recommended park hopping with my AP?? I have more good than bad experiences calling Disney, but I have definitely had some horror stories. I just get totally frustrated when I know a LOT more than the CM's I am dealing with.

All Annual Passes automatically have park hopping privileges.

It's not an option.

A Premium Annual Pass automatically includes water parks, also not an option.

 

[Poohbear123]

Ignoring loyal repeat customers in favor of the quick buck. Saw a lot of that this year.

Yep, I was told by a CM when I made my ressies for this past July that I NEEDED THE DINING PLAN! I said NO, I would never GET the Dining plan as I travel ALONE or meet up with people most of the time....she said that I would be "spending MORE on Food" if I didn't get the Dining plan....I said NO, cause I barely EAT when I am there, and I order Kids meals! I am NOT there to eat and if I was..I would eat OFF SITE...a LOT cheaper!

 

[cymbaldiva]

My complaint: the kids meals. WTH. Would it be so hard to add a few mini versions of the adult menu items? Chicken nuggest and hot dogs are fine on occassion, but just because they are kids, doens't mean they don't like food. I checked out the kids menu at Kat Cora's new restauraunt and couldn't believe it, the same old stuff.

My theory is that the kids meals are bland so that adults won't order off the children's menu... I could be wrong - I don't know

 

[KellyNY]

I have to say that CMs do have different levels of knowledge. It has nothing to do with training but with experience. When it comes to simple booking, they are all same, when it comes to something else, experience shows. It took 2 CMs to check if I had any pin codes attached to my name 3 weeks ago. First CM told me they are send by email and that she cannot check it, false. Sometimes codes are not send by email and she could check it for me. Second CMs found code attached to my name with no problems.

 

[rt2dz]

I, too, enjoyed the other thread and posted on it. I still didn’t understand why it was bothersome to the OP. While people were discussing, which was the first word in the threads title, no one was arguing. This thread is way more combative than that one—and that’s not saying this one is actually nasty, but then again, I have a thick skin and don’t get offended very easily.

I need time to organize my thoughts on any complaints I have. But I do want to point something out. The more we accept the downgrades in a tight economy when people are pickier about where they spend their dollars, the less likely Disney is to change anything when the economy gets better and people are more lax with their dollars. Those that think Disney will improve services (add Fantasmic back, for example) just because the economy improves, are looking through their rose colored Mickey glasses. We’ve already accepted it when we needed to be pickier with our dollars and are used to it; so now that we can spend more, Disney will just see it as more profit. Just my two cents.

 

[rt2dz]

All Annual Passes automatically have park hopping privileges.

It's not an option.

A Premium Annual Pass automatically includes water parks, also not an option.

I think that is what she was saying and that the CM didn't know that.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I think that is what she was saying and that the CM didn't know that.

It's possible, I went back and re-read her post and it's kinda muddled about what she wanted and what the CM was telling her...

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

I agree that Disney has cut back on a lot of things recently. If you haven't noticed, the US and the rest of the world is going through a pretty rough recession right now. Disney is a business, meaning they exist to make a profit. If Disney continued doing everything it was doing without cost cutting, then they could possibly run the risk of losing money. If they did that long enough, then Disney could conceivably have to shut down. Meaning no more WDW vacations for your family.

I'll take some cuts now, but when things get better I sure hope to see more things return.

Err, yes, I had noticed there is a recession going on. Doesn't that mean you might appreciate your customers MORE.

To somehow claim that without this cost cutting that Disney might conceivable have to shut down is not born out by the facts

Disney's gross profit
2005 $3,931B
2006 $5,355B
2007 $6,829B
2008 $7,404B
2009 $4,102B (with last quarter still to report)

Egads they are making oodles of money, so one can't claim that they are cost cutting to survive.

 

[4Robins]

In the area of customer service, the thing that drives me NUTS is having CM's who deal directly with guests who CANT speak or understand English. If i am calling the front deck to request something, i want to know my request has been understood and acknowledged, and i want to be able to understand what is said back to me. Last trip i had to walk to the front desk 3 times because i could not understand a single word the woman was saying. Secondly, I think it would be a good thing if Disney "took care" of the loyal repeat guests with an extra perk or 2. We have been there 16 times ( 17 will be this Nov) from the Northeast and at about 3K per trip....do the math!!! Too often simple requests are denied. Dont we all want HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!

 

[Tigger-Lover]

Yeah I guess that free topping on the pretzel rods at Goofy's put them over the brink of going into the red.

/sarcasm.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I think that is what she was saying and that the CM didn't know that.

Thank you. That is exactly what I was trying to say. I guess I just assume that everyone knows what an AP is. My apologies for being "muddled".

 

[cymbaldiva]

Yeah I guess that free topping on the pretzel rods at Goofy's put them over the brink of going into the red.

/sarcasm.

Love it!!