Disney cutbacks...

[bethclayton]

to the pp who said that one of the cutbacks was pipa, wha-wha-wha-WHAT?!

we LOVE pipa! we just saw him 3 weeks ago! is he gone or just reduced hours? do tell! he is (perhaps this is pathetic, lol) one of our favorite parts of disney. we had some hilarious interactions with him that we talk about over and over again!

say it ain't so!

 

[bytheblood]

I have already purchased airfare for both of my trips for 2009 and I feel very blessed that I can still go.

Honestly, after my 2 trips this year, I do not plan to visit WDW again for quite a while. The cutbacks are increasing and planning is a bit more difficult than it has been in the past.

I do not look at it like a huge loss of magic, but my vacation still costs me $5K and I do not get as much out of it as I did in the past. (shows, favorites foods, etc) I do not blame Disney for this - they have to do what they have to do to survive in this economy and I applaud them for making smart financial decisions so that they can stay in business.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

to the pp who said that one of the cutbacks was pipa, wha-wha-wha-WHAT?!

we LOVE pipa! we just saw him 3 weeks ago! is he gone or just reduced hours? do tell! he is (perhaps this is pathetic, lol) one of our favorite parts of disney. we had some hilarious interactions with him that we talk about over and over again!

say it ain't so!

Yes, at least for now, Pipa is retired. Wes Palm is also gone from the AK entrance area for anyone who remembers him. PUSH is still out and about over at MK though.

 

[bethclayton]

Yes, at least for now, Pipa is retired. Wes Palm is also gone from the AK entrance area for anyone who remembers him. PUSH is still out and about over at MK though.

omg, when did he retire? as i said, we JUST saw him on 1/31!

we loved him so much from our visit a year ago, he made up a funny song about my daughter's stuffed flamingo that we sang all year. this year, as soon as dd walked up to him, he said,"hey! you look familiar!" well, she was sooooo tickled that he "remembered" her from over a year ago. maybe he says that to everyone but if so, she doesn't need to know that.

 

[hill6]

I am still going. Disney is still absolute Magic, and you still by far get your moneys worth.Try vacationing at the Jersey Shore for a week in the summer and you'll see that Disney gives more for the money.Are they experiencing a downtime right now? Sure, but who isn't? Seriously, I think people get to hyped up about what Disney is cutting and doing wrong instead of focusing on what DIsney does right.

Boy did you nail it with the week at the Jersey shore. That is so expensive it isn't even funny. Disney is a much better value.

 

[Grammie3]

As long as I have a job and can afford to go to WDW, I will go. I want my pixie dust, but you know there is still plenty of magic there.

I think the complaint about the buses is one that we all hear a lot and it's a very subjective complaint. Just because you are not seeing lots of buses running doesn't mean that their system isn't running at a very functional rate. Disney did some upgrades over the past year and a half or so and in doing so, they have figured out how to run less buses, but still get the guests moved around efficiently.

Yes, I hate the cutback of Fantasmic only being shown 3 nights a week. I think that it's a bad decision, but only continued guest complaints will make them change this. So far, guest complaints have encouraged them to show Fantasmic one additional day from the previously planned cutback to only 2 showings a week.

Yes, I wish that they would quit cutting out on the little bits of magic, like Pipa the taking trashcan at AK. But, at the same time, I know that they are making some new additions in other areas, so that offers something new to the guest experience.

I think that with all there is to see and do at WDW that even with the cutbacks, going to WDW is still a great vacation experience. We all must remember that Disney is aiming for the first time guest in their marketing. Most guests don't even do any research before they go on their vacation, which is why using TouringPlans.com or TGM still gives us an advantage when it comes to park touring. Just because we here on the boards don't like it that things are changing and maybe not always for the better, most guests have no clue, so Disney can and does get away with it.

On one other note, I refuse to live my life in a shell waiting for the freakin' sky to fall. If people would turn off their tv's and stop pinching every penny worrying about what's potentially going to happen months/years from now and just go about the business of living, then our economy would be doing much better right now. So, I say, go to WDW. Make some memories. Keep it open for all of us to visit in the future. Mickey needs our help and we certainly need the joy that he brings to each and every one of us.

I have been saying the same thing Too many Chicken Little's running the lives into being so scared to move around in the day to day things, Look the sky is Falling!

I think things yes are not as good as could be, but it will not improve if everyone just stops doing things, we hurt the economy by not getting out and spending some. Now, I don't advocate someone with no income trying to go out and throw money out on non-essentials. But, as long as we can provide the basic life needs then a vacation might be what the Doctor ordered for us, instead of stressing over the what if's.

Cindy

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

omg, when did he retire? as i said, we JUST saw him on 1/31!

we loved him so much from our visit a year ago, he made up a funny song about my daughter's stuffed flamingo that we sang all year. this year, as soon as dd walked up to him, he said,"hey! you look familiar!" well, she was sooooo tickled that he "remembered" her from over a year ago. maybe he says that to everyone but if so, she doesn't need to know that.

Pipa and Smear, Splat and Dip (the jugglers in Dinoland) had their final performances on February 7th.

 

[TripTime]

On one other note, I refuse to live my life in a shell waiting for the freakin' sky to fall. If people would turn off their tv's and stop pinching every penny worrying about what's potentially going to happen months/years from now and just go about the business of living, then our economy would be doing much better right now. So, I say, go to WDW. Make some memories. Keep it open for all of us to visit in the future. Mickey needs our help and we certainly need the joy that he brings to each and every one of us.

Man you are preaching to the choir here. This is what I have been saying for awhile. I lived like this before the recesssion. My kids are getting older and we don't know what tomorrow brings. Therefore I want to enjoy every moment I have with my family. My kids are 10 and 7 and we have been five times already with numerous memories and thoughts to cherish.

 

[summersalt]

Anyone making decisions not to go to Disney not just because of the economy but b/c of changes Disney is making in their parks? They are throwing out the 4/3 deal, offering free dining in codes/pins, bouncebacks, etc but we are experiencing & reading alot of services that Disney seems to be cutting back on. I noticed alot on buses. The deals are helping Disney fill the resorts & parks but the service of transportation & entertainment aren't as plentiful. I love Disney, but what good is the awesome deals if the magic is going away? Just curious.

I think they've cut back on some of the CMs that make ADR's..... I called last Sunday and was on hold for over 3 hours. Never did get thru until later on Sunday afternoon. I hope this is not a sign of how the customer service will be during our next trip! If so, this is definitely not be a very magical trip.

 

[mickaholic4077]

I am going with my daughter and her family and my wonderful granddaughter the first week in Sept! I know that things are tight but this is something that I have looked forward to for each of the past 13 years and as long as there is a way for me to go, I will be going!

I agree with Timon and Pumba fan wholeheartedly. I go for the magic and while I am there there is no radio, cell phone, tv, or newspaper. I need Mickey's help esp. this year. I am celebrating the fact that come Sept. I will be cancer free for 14 months!!!

From one survivor to another,you go girl!!!!

 

[akayek31]

I think they've cut back on some of the CMs that make ADR's..... I called last Sunday and was on hold for over 3 hours. Never did get thru until later on Sunday afternoon. I hope this is not a sign of how the customer service will be during our next trip! If so, this is definitely not be a very magical trip.

I think that was because of the new system. I called Saturday and for my dates up to May 25 went great. Only took 15 minutes. When I needed ADR's for May 26 and beyond it took over an hour. Hopefully it will get better

 

[natentab]

Just last year we noticed what seemed like fewer buses... hated the crowded ride but it all melted away once we hit the park!

 

[swald91]

Just last year we noticed what seemed like fewer buses... hated the crowded ride but it all melted away once we hit the park!

Yes, we noticed it too but figured it was just the bus going to DTD, then had similiar experiences while staying at WL in Jan. I'm not a fan of the buses, but we've been spoiled staying at a monorail resort.

 

[Tbelle1976]

We just got back and I didn't think the buses were bad at all. Checked into Pop Century on 2/13 for 7 nights. I asked for a floor level room and they told me they had to check on it because they were completely booked...but I got the floor level room anyway.

With there being that many people at the resort I found the bus service to all the parks and Downtown Disney to be great. I don't think we ever waited anymore than 10 minutes or so (except for right after a park closed). On our last day we went over to AKL to have dinner at Boma then had to catch a bus back to MK. I was pretty surprised that we waited over 30 minutes for a bus! I talked to a few families while there and they all told me that for some reason the buses there had been that way all week, and another lady told me that is the reason she will not stay at AKL anymore.

We spent 8 days in the parks and it was an absolute magical vacation. We had such a great time and even though it was over President's Day week crowds were pretty manageable. I did notice some cutbacks, but nothing that I would think twice about, and definately nothing to ruin my families vacation!

 

[janiejake]

<> I go for the magic and while I am there there is no radio, cell phone, tv, or newspaper. I need Mickey's help esp. this year. I am celebrating the fact that come Sept. I will be cancer free for 14 months!!!

Truly a reason to celebrate!

 

[Stitchfans]

I am celebrating the fact that come Sept. I will be cancer free for 14 months!!!

That is so awesome!!! I am so happy for you! I wish you many many many more years of living cancer free.

IMO I am just happy to be able to go to Disney. Everywhere you go or look there are cutbacks. Now a days that is just the way of life for now. Lets face it this is a every man for himself world and Disney has to look out for themselves and their stockholders.

If you can afford to go then go and enjoy yourself.

 

[disgram]

I am very excited now! I have made the resort reservations for my daughter and family! We will be staying in the All Star Music, Calypso family suite, hopefully. We are going to start the planing this evening and then wait till we can make our ADRs. My granddaughters are very excited and my darling granddaughter has told me that she is excited to go! She will be 17 and has been too "cool" to be seen with me. LOL

I thank you all for the good thoughts about my trip and situation. It is all good and I thank you.

 

[mom1005]

Disney is making adjustments. Every company in the entire world is making some sort of adjustment, Disney is just hit more in the public eye. As everyone has said, we know what is being cut-back because we lurk on all of the boards etc.

It could be worse.....and what if Disney decided for some ungodly reason to return to those darn coupon books .....they could really cut back some staff, hours etc then......I personally like not having to worry about my "E" Ride times!

 

[edwardsfire]

Not in the least bit......
Id LOVE to go now! We take advantage of this economic slowdown as much as we can. Times are GREAT for great deals.
BUT...we just went last Aug.
Our next trip is gonna be a biggie...(2 weeks) in May of 2011.
Sometimes the "fat" needs trimmed.
Im willing to bet that the times get "good" again, Disney will see that some of these positions werent really that needed.

 

[wall*e2008]

I am still going. If I conclude that the cutbacks hurt my trip, after I go, then I will make a decision on my next trip.