Funny Conversation With Cast Member

[DisGal520]

Who is running that place, Homer Simpson?

Nope - Homer is over at Universal!

 

[PeterPan09]

It makes perfect sense.

If the lines were too long the customers were getting unhappy. How many times have you heard "we even had to wait in line an hour to get lunch!"

Disney is about a lot of things - magic, families, memories - but as a business the theme park division is about crowd logistics as much as it is about anything else - making a magical experience for the tens of thousands of people that enter the Magic Kingdom each day. More of them will have their day made less magical by a long food line or higher prices due to topping bar abuse than will miss the panini sandwich.

Exactly-more guests complain about losing valuable park time standing in food lines than they do about food choices. Remember, we're the exception when it comes to Disney guests, the majority are casual visitors, there for a week or so with the kids. They don't care if the food choices at counter service are all the same, this is a once or maybe twice in a lifetime trip for them.

 

[SunnieRN]

Unfortunately it is all about the $$$$. If disney can limit menu items, increase turn around times and decrease labor, it is a win-win situation for them. The only way disney would be sent a message is if more people ate off site or ordered delivery while staying onsite. Changes seem to be a trend throughout a lot of the restaurant community this year. Also increasing prices.

 

[Happy99]

I totally agree with everyone and have voiced my displeasure in both the kids menus and the "across the board" mentality they are getting at a lot of their restaurants.

I would urge many of you to do the same, if they get enough complaints they will make changes. They have done before when something just didn't work and enough people complained about it

Their email address is wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I for one eat less TS meals then before. On our 12 day vacation in June we will only go 2 times. Reason being the prices keep going up and the food value is so so.

 

[eventamy]

I totally agree with everyone and have voiced my displeasure in both the kids menus and the "across the board" mentality they are getting at a lot of their restaurants.

I would urge many of you to do the same, if they get enough complaints they will make changes. They have done before when something just didn't work and enough people complained about it

Their email address is wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Thanks for the email addy, I emailed them, mostly with positives from my last trip but added a couple of negatives that really needed to be commented on. Also mentioned (in a positive way) how I appreciated CS like Sunshine Seasons because of his variety and fresh food.

 

[apostolic4life]

Here are my two cents for what they are worth.........I feel the people responsible for the poor variety between the restaurants would be the chefs. I say this because I feel if the powers that be want every restaurant to have the same base ingredients (i.e. 10 oz. NY Strip, 8oz chicken breast, 8oz salmon fillet, etc.) it is up to the Exec. Chef at each park/resort/restaurant to show a little creativity and skill to make that ingredient special with the items in his pantry...........the chef needs to make the most out of what he is given to work with. Yes, you may be able to get salmon at every restaurant, but you don't have to have it served identically at every dining venue.

Just a rant from a chef who thinks the food issues could be fixed with a little creative flair from my brothers in the the WDW kitchens!!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

It makes perfect sense.

If the lines were too long the customers were getting unhappy. How many times have you heard "we even had to wait in line an hour to get lunch!"

Disney is about a lot of things - magic, families, memories - but as a business the theme park division is about crowd logistics as much as it is about anything else - making a magical experience for the tens of thousands of people that enter the Magic Kingdom each day. More of them will have their day made less magical by a long food line or higher prices due to topping bar abuse than will miss the panini sandwich.

Well I personally think the "solution" to that line problem is serve the food that people really really want -at more than one place! The line wouldn't be so long if the really popular foods everyone wants is served at more places than just one. If something is really popular and tons of people want a few things- serve it at more than one place- you'll sell more and the line problem is lessened. instead they just remove it? Well that's just great- then there's what- food available that not as many people want? How does that really help the bottom line?
I think that they will notice as time goes on- that more and more people will be eating food offsite or purchased elsewhere in their rooms and such as that. (That's exactly what we're planning on doing on our upcoming trip!) Then what will they do- raise the prices even higher on the dumbed down menu that no one is clamoring over- to try to recoup money lost- so even more ppl eat offsite? and so on.. and so on... it's not a good route to go IMO. Sell the food people want is the way to go IMO.

I don't understand the term topping bar "abuse". I don't get that. Are there signs saying it's only for hamburgers or something? (admittedly the only topping bar I remember using is Pecos Bills I think it was- and it was for hamburgers! and we went there BECAUSE they have a topping bar so we could personalize our hamburgers to our individual taste). How is it abused if it's there to use? Do they tell you or have signs saying "use these only for specific foods" and then list out the foods?
And IMO raising the prices only motivates people to use the topping bar even more to make the meal worth the money. That's a downward (or upward depending on how you look at it) spiral there....

 

[apostolic4life]

I don't understand the term topping bar "abuse". I don't get that. Are there signs saying it's only for hamburgers or something?

I could be wrong, but I think the term abuse is used in referencing those who choose to use it as a salad bar rather than to top their sandwiches or other foods. Making a tossed salad out of items intended to enhance a sandwich would be considered an abuse in most circles I think!!

 

[lugnut33]

I love the mentality going on. It's so popular we must stop serving it instead of learning to make it quicker. Or as someone said, serve the sandwich in more locations.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I could be wrong, but I think the term abuse is used in referencing those who choose to use it as a salad bar rather than to top their sandwiches or other foods. Making a tossed salad out of items intended to enhance a sandwich would be considered an abuse in most circles I think!!

Oh.
My goodness I hadn't even thought about that! I had no idea people were using the toppings bar without even buying something! geesh

 

[TheRustyScupper]

there is a growing trend at WDW to streamline everything. they dumb down the menus

1) Blame the DDP.
2) WDW has substituted gluttony for unique tastes.
3) The public gets the DDP and then gets to pig out.
4) The public is happy.
5) And, so are the WDW banks accounts.
6) Meanwhile, those of us who want better tastes are left wanting.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Interesting topic.. I was sort of thinking as I read, what if we all decided to vacation elsewhere? Bottom line is as long as we still come, still purchase what we consider to be mediocre food in some places, they will change whatever they want. As it does now allow a quick turnover as in the line moving fast, more people purchasing more food, it probably became a money loser for them. It does not matter that it was the most popular sandwich with visitors, it became all about the money.

I have to continually remind myself, this is a business, this is a business, this is a business... when I get caught up in what I think of as the "magic."

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here are my two cents for what they are worth.........I feel the people responsible for the poor variety between the restaurants would be the chefs. I say this because I feel if the powers that be want every restaurant to have the same base ingredients (i.e. 10 oz. NY Strip, 8oz chicken breast, 8oz salmon fillet, etc.) it is up to the Exec. Chef at each park/resort/restaurant to show a little creativity and skill to make that ingredient special with the items in his pantry...........the chef needs to make the most out of what he is given to work with. Yes, you may be able to get salmon at every restaurant, but you don't have to have it served identically at every dining venue.

Just a rant from a chef who thinks the food issues could be fixed with a little creative flair from my brothers in the the WDW kitchens!!!

Oh, goody - now I don't have to say all that. I can just "I agree 100% with everything apostolic4life said (except the end, about being a chef)" !