Festival Center Only Open 3 Days A Week

[WEDWDW]

I am probably way behind noticing this,but I'm quite shocked the Flower and Garden Festival Center hours have been cut from 7 days a week to just weekends.

I guess it was time for the Festival Center to "catch up" with the Flower Power Concert Series cutback of several years ago.

 

[minnie mum]

More cutbacks in guest entertainment in the parks. Quelle surprise.

 

[Planogirl]

Why would they do this? Are there a lot of CM's that work this?

 

[WEDWDW]

Why would they do this? Are there a lot of CM's that work this?

Besides the CMs,they are saving money by not having to plan and present seminars on the Designer's and Greenhouse Stages Monday-Thursday.

It just seems really strange not to have the FESTIVAL Center open for all days of the FESTIVAL.

 

[JanaDee]

What a joke. If the FESTIVAL is open, then the FESTIVAL CENTER should be open.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do we know if this is simple cost cutting or simply lack if interest? We have not been to F&G in years, but when we have--we never did any of the talks or went into the Festival Center. Admiring the topiaries was enough for us. I wonder how many other guests do the same.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have always attended at least 1 workshop, and I am disappointed with the current schedule.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Looks like it is weekends only.

 

[ashleyrm]

Wow, that stinks. I always enjoyed walking through there and seeing was there. I'll be there on a Sun-Tues quick trip so will need to be sure to check it out on Sunday.

 

[minnie mum]

What a joke. If the FESTIVAL is open, then the FESTIVAL CENTER should be open.

MTE. Our visits during F&G season were the only times we bothered with PHs. We would hop over every day for a couple of seminars or presentations. These always seemed very well attended. And it's not as if they were open long hours to begin with. How much do you want to bet that in a very few years theyll do away with them completely. So the "Festival" will be nothing more than food kiosks, recycled topiaries, and a couple of concerts on the weekends. A poor version of the rich variety of offerings that long time visitors have enjoyed in the past.

Totally off topic, but I just noticed how I've started referring to WDW goers as visitors instead of guests. But that's how I feel now. It seems like Disney really doesn't care about the guest experience any more. Its only about the bottom line.

 

[WEDWDW]

Do we know if this is simple cost cutting or simply lack if interest?

I don't "think" it is for lack of interest.

Whenever I have been in the Festival Center on a weekday,the Seminars/Workshops have been well attended.

Also,the Merchandise Shop for the Festival is in the Center.

I have always really enjoyed the atmosphere at the Festival Center.

One cool thing they do is play a "loop" of songs by each of the Flower Power(Garden Rocks) acts in the "entrance area" of the Center-really neat.

 

[loves to dive]

I'll only be there from Sunday through Friday and won't arrive until around 3 on Sunday, staying at AK so I'm guessing I'm going to miss it this year. I'll admit I only poked my head in last year to get an activities guide and glance at the shops. I'm assuming since they have little shopping booths set up around the WS that they are expecting that to be the shopping for this year for most people. Just hope they don't do that for F&W because I spent more time in the center then I did the actual Festival last year.

 

[Amunet]

This is extremely upsetting. I wanted to get some F&G swag

 

[WEDWDW]

This is extremely upsetting. I wanted to get some F&G swag

They are going to have some of the Merch available in other Epcot locations,but I don't know if it will be everything available at the Festival Center shop.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I hope this doesn't carry over to Food & Wine. Although I think with all the tastings they'd have more trouble cutting back.

 

[Missyrose]

HGTV pulled its sponsorship this year. And with no influx of cash, Disney cut back the number of days the festival center is open and the number of demonstrations.

 

[Amunet]

Grr I was looking forward to demonstrations