Early Entry officially over!

[SHELL]

Just an update over on Deb WIllis web site that it was officially announced that the have suspended early entry indefinately. ALso noted several closings and layoffs. Very interesting reading. Too bad I think they are making a big mistake

 

[All Aboard]

For what it's worth, the website has not been updated. In many of the email responses, WDW pointed to its website for info on EE:

Resort Benefits

 

[SHELL]

It was updated as of October 18th when the word came down! Check the actual page not the update tab and it show there UPDATED OCTOBER 18TH!!!

 

[All Aboard]

Not Deb's Website, it's Disney's official website that I have linked to. I'm not saying that it isn't true, I fear it is. But, many have emailed Disney about it and a common response is: "see our website for official resort benefits." As of now, that hasn't changed.


And, by the way, Deb's update still has it listed under rumors.

Here's the whole snip:

_____________________________


10/18/01
REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD!

(snip)

Other *unconfirmed* changes:

(snip)


--Surprise Mornings, also known as "Early Entry," which allows Disney resort guests to enter the various theme parks one hour before scheduled opening times, has been suspended indefinitely.

Although this change has been widely reported as taking effect on October 20, 2001, repeated calls to Central Reservations have not been able to confirm this.

____________________________________

Not official yet.

 

[SHELL]

Thanks for posting the whole thing. My experience has been that when the Orlando Sent. paper prints it the rumors are pretty much a reality. As we all know, Disney website has not stated changes before until well after they were official. Just thought I would update everyone on what the FLA paper wrote yesterday. Seems pretty solid to me. Not to my liking as well, I just didn't want everyone to be blind-sided when it becomes a reality.

 

[All Aboard]

Hey SHELL,

I am really just holding out hope here. I, too, know that it is likely to happen. There are too many sources (even CMs on other boards) that have this rumor as being true.

In fact, I did some reading that Future World (except SSE & TT) will be closing at 7pm and that World Showcase may not open until noon.

It just keeps getting worse.

 

[SHELL]

That is terrible. Did you read on Deb Willis site the rest of the closings. There were alot there that I had never herd rumors of. I think that they cannot expect people to pay full price when the value of what they are receiving has decreased significantly. They need to really think about what they are doing!!

 

[YoHo]

Well, EE closing doesn't confuse me, but I thought things were picking up? I realize Disney has to plan for the future and pay the price for what happened last month, but you would think the current uptick would help them out.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Early Entry is not "officially over." Right now, it's just an Internet rumor. I'm sure this option is being considered by WDW management as a "worst case" option, along with various other additional cost cutting moves. But surely WDW management recognize that it would lead to many room cancellations (which they can't afford now) as well as substantial negative guest reaction.

As of now (October 19, approx. 12:30 p.m. Eastern time):

• The WDW web site still lists "Early Entrance" as a Resort Benefit.
• The October 18 article in the Orlando Sentinel about WDW entertainment cutbacks does not say anything about Early Entry.
• Deb Wills' site says, "Although this change has been widely reported as taking effect on October 20, 2001, repeated calls to Central Reservations have not been able to confirm this."

Yes, it could still happen, but the title of this thread -- "Early Entry officially over!" -- is inaccurate.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay - I'm going to go out on a limb here.. Initially when all of these changes began to occur at DW - immediately after the events of 9/11 - I posted elsewhere that I felt most people were making too big of a deal over it - that they had options as to whether or not they should go now and "take what they could get" (mostly in regards to shorter hours and fewer parades and such) or simply reschedule their vacation.. I was very emotional at that point - particularly since I'm a resident of New York state - and felt that "trivial" things paled in comparison to what was happening in the "bigger" picture..

It's been over a month now.. We're dealing with airline travel that still isn't secure, daily anthrax incidents, "vague" alerts from the FBI of impending disasters, and who knows what the evening news will bring tonight.. I have had a lot of time to rethink my position on many issues and this is what I have to say now..

I have never stayed on-site at DW - simply couldn't afford it - and know little to nothing about early entry.. What I DO know is that above and beyond closing many of the food courts, cutting back or eliminating parades & fireworks, shortening the already shortened hours, choosing to have very popular shows only on selected days, closing down whole floors of the Disney Resorts, and now doing away with early entry, Disney World is basically doing themselves in - day by day.. You cannot expect people to pay such exhorbitant prices for admission tickets and perks of staying on-site and then take those very things away from the paying customers.. I'm sure that everyone would be willing to give up "something" but it seems to me that "something" is becoming everything and if they can't provide what people are being promised for X amount of dollars then they need to lower the prices so that their loyal followers do not feel totally cheated.. For many people this is a "once in a lifetime" trip - they simply cannot afford to go back year after year (or numerous times in the same year) - and to ask them to pay the same amount for a whole lot less just doesn't seem fair..

I understand the flip side of the coin as well.. Many CM's are being laid off (even if they don't actually call it that) and Disney is struggling right along with the rest of the many businesses that are suffering from the events of 9/11 but it seems to me that if they don't do something to ENCOURAGE people to come it's only going to get worse..

Maybe I'm way off the mark here but at this point in time I feel too MUCH is being taken away at a time when many people are in dire need of the "magic" of Disney World that we have all come to know and love..

Just my revised opinion.. (Go ahead - say "I told you so.." Ha!)

 

[YoHo]

C.Ann, I agree with you, but at the same time, this is something relative. If festival of the lion king is only shown x times, instead of Y times, but due to light crowds, you have no troubles seeing it, then the value is still there. Similarly, if EE is canceled, but crowds are so light that it doesn't affect you, then no harm no foul.

The problem is that Disney resorts have one less perk without EE. The fact that it is an unneccsary perk doesn't change the fact that it no longer exists.


So I can see this being bad, but I can also see it being irrelevent.

 

[DanG]

Well, Disney management seems to be insistent on thrusting the theme-park business into a death-spiral.

Despite needing to keep rooms at an acceptable level of occupancy for numerous reasons (to maintain a captive on-site audience for the themeparks, restaurants, etcetera), Disney will save the comparatively negligible cost of opening one theme park a day open one hour earlier. They could have cut this back to one day per week per park and I doubt we would have heard the hue and cry seen on this board the last few days.

Many perceive that the only benefit of value to staying on-site is early entry. These people will now stay at one of the many excellent off site options. Once off site, maybe they go to Seaworld or USF for an extra day and they will eat many more meals off-site less expensively (including dinner on those days the parks close early). There are many practical, financial reasons for staying off-site: the rooms will be cheaper and larger, meals will be cheaper and they will be more open to Orlando's other attractions.

I don't personally attribute a whole lot of value to early entry, except at the MK. But many do, and Disney will come to recognize this as yet another in a series of bad decisions. I bet this one is reversed soon or alternate on-site benefits are developed.

The value proposition continues to diminish.

DanG

 

[tiggerstheman1]

does it seem like Disney Management is sitting around in a room having the following discussion:

Exec #1
"Attendance is down and we won't get our bonuses"

Exec #2
"That's bad, really bad"

Exec #3
"Well, if we cut costs we can still make our profit goals for bonuses"

Exec #1
"What costs should we cut?"

Exec #3
"Hmmm, how about cutting out entertainment, we don't charge for those shows"

Exec #2
"That's a good idea"

Exec #3
"Then there's some of the attractions, nobody will miss them"

Exec #1
"What about the resorts, bookings are down"

Exec #2
"How about hot water only on Tuesdays"

Exec #1
"Nope, that wouldn't work - I use the spa on Wednesdays so that would really interrupt my schedule, what about Early Entry"

Exec #3
"Yeah, that's another waste of money"

Exec #1
"I've got it! When was the last time attendance was at this poor? Let's just cut back the attractions and perks back to that time"

Exec #2
"Great idea, and are you proposing to cut ticket prices?"

Exec #3
"No way, if people want Disney then they have to pay a premium. After all, we are the best in town"

Exec #4
"Well, don't you think that if we charge the same tomorrow as today but offer less goods and services for the same price then people will stop showing up? Why not find ways to get more people through the gate?"

Exec #1
"I thought you were a team player, guess I was wrong, security will show you out."

Exec #4 is escorted out of the room.

Exec #1
"We need to pull together during these tough times. Remember, we are a family and we shouldn't encourage hateful behavior like #4 exhibited."

All execs nod in agreement

Exec #1
"Now, what else can we do without?"

Exec #2
"You know, do we really need to fix EVERYTHING? Maintenance is such a waste of money"

Exec #1
"That's the type of forward-thinking that will get you far here at Disney. Everyone should take note of #2"


TTM1
(tongue firmly planted in cheek)

 

[YoHo]

I realize you were joking, but every inside source I've seen paints a different picture. One that may in the end benefit us the consumer more then recent Disney Policy has. The problem is getting through the next couple months afloat.

 

[All Aboard]

One last thought on the subject.

There is a huge difference between weekend and weekday crowds right now. Mostly driven by locals and state residents. But, many of these state residents are making weekend trips and ARE staying on-site (I know from casually interviewing folks around the All Stars 3 of the last 5 weekends).

Given this, WDW should really consider leaving one day a week (maybe Fri, Sat & Sun) EE at each of the three EE parks. Elimination of Sat MK EE would be a HUGE mistake right now. I hope they are considering that.

I'll shut up and wait for an official announcement (or an "offical" lack of one.)

 

[NoodlesTheRabbit]

A poster from a thread on the debate board on this subject just received an email from WDW saying "you will be happy to know that we are continuing surprise mornings."

 

[Tracy0315]

Dear Tracy,

Thank you for contacting WALT DISNEY WORLD!

Walt Disney World officials have not announced a discontinuance of the Early
Entry Mornings. Please check for correct information on the Disney Website.
At this time, the Early Entries are listed on the website under park hours. If
the information does not come from Walt Disney World or the Disney website, it
is a rumor.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence, and allow up to 72 hours for response to
E-Mail.

Thank you - and have a DISNEY day!

Sincerely,

Melissa Libby

Online Guest Service
WALT DISNEY WORLD
P.O. Box 10100
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830-0100

 

[Mom of 4 Princesses]

My guess is that they will make the opening time later, and will offer EE before. So MK may open at 10am, with EE at 8:30 or 9:00. Still decreases park hours, and keeps EE, but it still would stink.

 

[OKWgal]

Just got off the phone with Disney Info. She is still showing MK as the park for EE tomorrow.

I am sooooooo confused!

 

[Testtrack321]

Over the past 3 years that I have been going to Disney (consecultavely, mind you, I have been there many times, but in the past 3 years I have been there the most often) I have used early entry once. YES, 1 TIME! I think WDW has become to big to handle EE. But, I think if they seperate the resort into 2 or 3 parts, they could have a different park open early for each section! One park per. But that would be really streious on the CM's, but it is a good idea none the less...