Disney cutting back on music?

[tiki23]

I saw that "The Tropcials" last performance at AK will be October 29th. The "Village Beatniks" also left AK this year.

Does anyone know if these groups are being replaced or is this another cost-cutting tool from Disney?

Loss of musicians and entertainers would make a huge difference to my enjoyment of the parks.

 

[DizCaptain]

I saw that "The Tropcials" last performance at AK will be October 29th. The "Village Beatniks" also left AK this year.

Does anyone know if these groups are being replaced or is this another cost-cutting tool from Disney?

Loss of musicians and entertainers would make a huge difference to my enjoyment of the parks.

Im glad someone is posting about this. Disney IS cutting back on performers. In fact, one or two years ago they pretty much had a cleansing of such performing groups, firing a bunch of them for no real reason at all. These include groups like Tomorrowland Countdown (jazz band in MK), Return 2 Zero (Acapella group in MGM), and several other groups. With this cut they also lowered the number of performances of many other groups there. Its really sad, at least for me, considering I love music and always enjoyed all of the groups' performances. Thankfully they still have groups like Mo'Rockin, Jammitors, etc. but for how long, we'll see.

In a nut shell, Disney is shafting their musicians big time. Then they hire crappy pep teams to sing Disney Channel garbage and what not. I prefer the hard working pro's they used to hire and who performed on a very high level. RIP Disney Parks Musicians...

 

[mitros]

Im glad someone is posting about this. Disney IS cutting back on performers. In fact, one or two years ago they pretty much had a cleansing of such performing groups, firing a bunch of them for no real reason at all. These include groups like Tomorrowland Countdown (jazz band in MK), Return 2 Zero (Acapella group in MGM), and several other groups. With this cut they also lowered the number of performances of many other groups there. Its really sad, at least for me, considering I love music and always enjoyed all of the groups' performances. Thankfully they still have groups like Mo'Rockin, Jammitors, etc. but for how long, we'll see.

In a nut shell, Disney is shafting their musicians big time. Then they hire crappy pep teams to sing Disney Channel garbage and what not. I prefer the hard working pro's they used to hire and who performed on a very high level. RIP Disney Parks Musicians...

Yea, you said a mouthful!
Great going Disney, give the guests less and less real entertainment, higher prices, more and more character meet and greets, etc. etc. You cheap B@$#@&$#!

 

[tiki23]

In a nut shell, Disney is shafting their musicians big time. Then they hire crappy pep teams to sing Disney Channel garbage and what not.

BOO! No one in my family, including my teenage daughter, have ever liked the HS Musical and Disney channel stuff. We always detour around it in the parks....I know many people like it, and to each their own but all things Disney parks is becoming overly homogenized.

I prefer the hard working pro's they used to hire and who performed on a very high level. RIP Disney Parks Musicians...

Agreed! We very much appreciate the Disney musicians and entertainers. I am going to write a letter this week letting Disney know how much.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Its just standard cost cutting...nothing to worry about.

I'm sure its just a line item on the plan that they set forth this year. The important things...raising gate prices by 6% and resort room rates by 4-8% and food costs by 10% will be unaffected by this.

Breathe easy

 

[manning]

The music in "It's a small world" has been cut. Now everyone in each boat is given sheet music and have to sing "It's a small world after all"

Failure to do so and the boat is rerouted to a holding area and you have to sit and listen to the song for an hour from other boats passing by.

 

[manning]

Ask any old time Chrysler owner why they fell from favor.

The answer....bean counters.

It got to a point you bought a car today and....it fell apart tomorrow.

Hello Disney.

 

[jimmytammy]

I dont like the fact that this is happening...but reflect back on how many people truly stop and watch these groups in comparison to how many are in the parks. Very, very small amount. So maybe its not all about the bean counters, not dis-cluding that idea, just saying maybe there is more to it than that. When British Invasion would play, I was amazed at how few folks would be there to watch. Sad really, but most in parks are on a mission. And that mission doesnt include stopping and smelling the roses...or listening to talented musicians.JMO

 

[anthony2k7]

I dont like the fact that this is happening...but reflect back on how many people truly stop and watch these groups in comparison to how many are in the parks. Very, very small amount. So maybe its not all about the bean counters, not dis-cluding that idea, just saying maybe there is more to it than that. When British Invasion would play, I was amazed at how few folks would be there to watch. Sad really, but most in parks are on a mission. And that mission doesnt include stopping and smelling the roses...or listening to talented musicians.JMO

true, but all these things that Disney seem to be considering annoying unnecessary costs are part of the atmosphere that makes it a Disney park.

I've said over and over for the last few years that sooner or later the more cuts they make they're going to reach a tipping point where suddenly people realise that all the disney parks are now are some fairly average rides, character locations and shops(with very poor choice of merch!).

Why not just go to six flags instead?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

true, but all these things that Disney seem to be considering annoying unnecessary costs are part of the atmosphere that makes it a Disney park.
I've said over and over for the last few years that sooner or later the more cuts they make they're going to reach a tipping point where suddenly people realise that all the disney parks are now are some fairly average rides, character locations and shops(with very poor choice of merch!).

Why not just go to six flags instead?

While the sheer construction alone will keep disney from being neck and neck with six flags....Though that is a credit to the "family run" disney of the 60s, 70s, and 80s more than it is to anybody who is in the corporate structure today.


I agree that that IS what will happen. The erosion continues and will as long as they are even still interested in running the parks. I am starting to believe that they will eventually outsource all the operations and just draw percentages and fees (albeit at a ridiculous rate)

Never thought i'd say that...but they obviously don't see park quality as a way to develop fan loyalty and future profits anymore...and that is exactly what walt disney world was designed to do

 

[Chuck-PA]

We were in EPCOT last week.
We were stopped by Disney Research team as we approached the exit.
We were asked to answer a few questions on a computer.

The questions involved the entertainers/performers in the park.
Asked if we watched any, if so who and would be watching them or telling friends to watch in the future.
What rides we went on etc....
if we did any tours...

It took about 10 minutes to complete

 

[Donut23]

I dont like the fact that this is happening...but reflect back on how many people truly stop and watch these groups in comparison to how many are in the parks. Very, very small amount. So maybe its not all about the bean counters, not dis-cluding that idea, just saying maybe there is more to it than that. When British Invasion would play, I was amazed at how few folks would be there to watch. Sad really, but most in parks are on a mission. And that mission doesnt include stopping and smelling the roses...or listening to talented musicians.JMO

Wait a minute. Where are your statistics to back up your claim.

Until DH met me 7 years ago he was a commando. Now the two of us are dedicated "rose sniffers" at WDW and DL. Line for Sorin too long...ah heck, we will catch it next time. Perhaps it's also age/maturity vs. the enthusiasm of running from ride to ride when we are young.

Don't discount us.

Sure there are many-many rabid planners here who enter a Disney park with a multi-page spread sheet of plans for the day. " DROP THOSE FRIES - we only had 16.25 minutes alloted to lunch and we have exceeded the allotted time by 3.75 minutes!!!!!

Let's be honest. Disney execs don't care a rat's poopy about return guests. They get all HOT over the newbee who doesn't know about discount codes. How many newbees run from ride to ride vs. enjoying a more leisurly pace. I'm curiuos.

Thank GOD there is more to WDW and DL than the rides....they are getting a little "long in the tooth" anyway.

From a rose-sniffer, it's a far more relaxed holiday when we go with the flow.

To each his own....but we DO enjoy the entertainment a great deal. Ok,ok, we DO plan something. Our first night at WDW is always spent at Riverside so we can see Bob!!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

they are only interested in "crap sales" at this point...

...or in disney vernacular "one of a kind limited edition souvenirs that will create memories that will last a lifetime and bring joy, dreams, wishes and magic to all who own them"

translation: if it doesn't sell gift shop crap...it's not even worth thinking about. The performers don't do that...and even disney had to pay them more than minimum wage...which is, again, a big no-no.

So i'm pretty down on them...and i only blame myself.

I'm beginning to see how the DVC has really torpedoed the experience for everyone at WDW. they really can now bank on the clientele and cut and slash anything they want without fear of retribution...cause they know your coming. It took along time for them to sell enough of these long term contracts to really make a dent...but we're there now.

so i bought the thing 5 years ago...and i keep going because i don't want to deprive my kids...but the quality gets worse everytime. On all fronts...most notable food quality, selection, and horrible China-shoddy merchandise.

And just for perspective...i have a reservation there in less than 48 hours...
but any excitement that i have is more and more tempered by what i know the realities of how they run the place. More profit, damn the economy and the struggles of their dedicated customers, cut it if you have too, don't give the people anything that doesn't show a huge profit margin on the ledger, raise the prices and eliminate the services and the experiences....

it's really quite sad...can't wait for the wonder of the giftshops

 

[Golf4food]

They've been shedding musicians for years, such as FutureCorps, the brass marching band, from Epcot years ago, etc. It isn't just a new phenomenon.

 

[skier_pete]

Not that it surprises me - but every thread posted on this board immediately turns into a "Disney is awful" thread. Don't you guys get tired of repeating yourselves? Or do you just copy and paste your rants from one thread to the next?

That said, I do agree this is likely nickel-and-dime cost-cutting, and any loss of live entertainment in the parks is a shame. But, unfortunately there's a good chance 99% of guests won't even notice the difference. (If they kill "Four for a Dollar" which had a LOT of fans - why does this surprise..)

BTW, if you don't like them removing things like this, instead of ranting on a message board, stop at Guest services and let them know your disappointment. If enough people do it, it'll make a difference. (A good part of what brought Fantasmic back to full-time.)

 

[nytimez]

A couple of weeks ago I saw the Main Street Marching Band in Liberty Square.

A CM told me they canned the Fife and Drum act that used to be in Liberty Square a while back and now just have the Marching Band start from Liberty Square and work their way to Main Street... never mind that the Main Street Marching Band has no business being in Liberty Square.

 

[tiki23]

The music in "It's a small world" has been cut. Now everyone in each boat is given sheet music and have to sing "It's a small world after all"

Failure to do so and the boat is rerouted to a holding area and you have to sit and listen to the song for an hour from other boats passing by.

Heh!

 

[lugnut33]

they are only interested in "crap sales" at this point...

...or in disney vernacular "one of a kind limited edition souvenirs that will create memories that will last a lifetime and bring joy, dreams, wishes and magic to all who own them"

translation: if it doesn't sell gift shop crap...it's not even worth thinking about. The performers don't do that...and even disney had to pay them more than minimum wage...which is, again, a big no-no.

So i'm pretty down on them...and i only blame myself.

I'm beginning to see how the DVC has really torpedoed the experience for everyone at WDW. they really can now bank on the clientele and cut and slash anything they want without fear of retribution...cause they know your coming. It took along time for them to sell enough of these long term contracts to really make a dent...but we're there now.

so i bought the thing 5 years ago...and i keep going because i don't want to deprive my kids...but the quality gets worse everytime. On all fronts...most notable food quality, selection, and horrible China-shoddy merchandise.

And just for perspective...i have a reservation there in less than 48 hours...
but any excitement that i have is more and more tempered by what i know the realities of how they run the place. More profit, damn the economy and the struggles of their dedicated customers, cut it if you have too, don't give the people anything that doesn't show a huge profit margin on the ledger, raise the prices and eliminate the services and the experiences....

it's really quite sad...can't wait for the wonder of the giftshops

DVC is not the dining plan.

First, the actual percentage of DVC members at the parks on any given day is relatively low. You should know that in order to have crowded park conditions it takes a large amount of guests coming from off-site. Every hotel room on WDW could be occupied, but if you don't have people coming from off-site the parks would be dead.

Second, DVCers do NOT have to go to the parks, that is an option. We are not forced to buy any park media, we could just as easily stay at the resort and go to Universal or Sea World. If DVCers find the parks dininishing on perceived value, they will just stop buying tickets to the parks.

Third, DVCers do not have to stay at WDW. There are resorts in Cali., Hilton Head, Vero Beach, and Hawaii. If DVCers stop going to WDW resorts it will cost DVC money. Maintenance fees are just that, to maintain the property, they do not cover loss of income in the restaurants and stores.

Lastly, DVC has very little to do with the parks. DVC is strictly a resort option.

 

[manning]

BTW, if you don't like them removing things like this, instead of ranting on a message board, stop at Guest services and let them know your disappointment. If enough people do it, it'll make a difference. (A good part of what brought Fantasmic back to full-time.)

Better yet quit spending!! We own DVC and go every year, every year we go less and less into the parks and spend less and less money at Disney.

Why spend more at Disney when they give you less.

Problem with a bean counter is he can show you how to reduce spending, but is at a loss when asked to explain the impact.

Alas, life is not so simple or back and white, more gray than anything else. Many things go hand and hand.

Walt knew that or he would not have bothered with everything.

 

[manning]

YES, you said quite reasonable. kids and adults can find less and less enjoyment from disney, can they give us a reasonable explaination.

Why go to Disney when you got something like it in your back yard...Six Flags.

Every year the are getting to look more and more alike.

Want to sit down in a Disney park? Him a song.