FYI: More Cuts Coming

[capegirl]

Our thoughts exactly. Going to Orlando in two weeks, for two weeks and the closest we will get to Disney is Downtown. Universal and other things are getting our vacation money this trip. 5 years ago I would have never imagined coming to Orlando and doing anything but WDW. The bean counters and maximizing shareholder value rule the roost these days. In the process they are losing something that made Disney something more than just another theme park. Can't even put my finger on what "it" was that made Disney different but after our last trip neither of us were clamoring to go back like we had in the past.

Totally agree. We were there last April, and as a result we unanimously agreed to spend two or three days at Universal for our July trip this year. This is a first for us, as we were always quite content to stay on Disney property, but we came away from our last 'Disneycation' feeling more frustrated than happy. We gained the convienience of Magic Bands and FP+, but we also lost the freedom to wake up and decide to switch out parks; we were slaves to our planning. Now we have to contend with the ongoing cutbacks that will most likely further diminish the whole Disney experience. I suppose there will be enough first time visitors and DVC owners to compensate for the loss of repeat guests like me who will be spending less time and vacation dollars at Disney. Historically, repeat customers are bread and butter of any business, so I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around Disney's logic. IMHO I believe Disney is putting their own brand at risk; they are in the process of passing off this watered down version in the hopes that no one will notice or care. With all the cutbacks, it will be interesting to see what the parks are like when the summer crowds roll down Main Street.

 

[rteetz]

Wishes FP+ gone due to cuts and Illuminations is supposedly next.

 

[buzznina]

Actually it's 4 dwarfs.

Dopey is running the company now.

Touche

 

[Disneylover99]

Wishes FP+ gone due to cuts and Illuminations is supposedly next.

Wow. Next up, they'll cut the fireworks and parades completely. Think of all the CM's they can cut who keep the walkways clear and keep people moving along.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Not to mention the bathrooms. We'll have to resurrect that old thread...
This time we are staying on and off property, something we haven't done in a long time. We will be back in Orlando later this year for another trip, but this next one is off property and US. I bought season passes for that park. Couldn't see the value in the WDW season pass.

 

[beesly]

Illuminations had been showing no available FPs for April 19th but they may be available again. My 60-day window closed when I checked out of CSR so I can't check FPs.

Definitely no Wishes FPs beginning April 19th.

The IllumiNations FP is an available option for me during my upcoming trip, 4/23-5/1.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

"Biggest problem? Well, I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life. MONEY. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true. From the very start it was a problem. Getting the money to open Disneyland. About seventeen million it took. And we had everything mortgaged including my personal insurance."

- Walt Disney



Maybe what the Disney Company lacks now is Walt Disney's spirit- the desire to make people happy and create a quality product in spite of the cost.


"I knew if this business was ever to get anywhere, if this business was ever to grow, it could never do it by having to answer to someone unsympathetic to its possibilities, by having to answer to someone with only one thought or interest, namely profits. For my idea of how to make profits has differed greatly from those who generally control businesses such as ours. I have blind faith in the policy that quality, tempered with good judgment and showmanship, will win against all odds." —Walt Disney

 

[azdisneylover]

Iger took a measly 22.3 million bonus this year. He's hurting too, folks.

Perhaps Disney visitors should send a letter or email weekly suggesting instead of cutting CMs hours, to apply Iger's measly bonus to cover the hours. I know I will be writing an email and handwritten letter to send in the next couple of days and repeat every week.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Wow. Next up, they'll cut the fireworks and parades completely. Think of all the CM's they can cut who keep the walkways clear and keep people moving along.

Oh, come on.

By cutting Wishes and Illuminations FP+, they are not making a life changing decision like completely cutting parades and fireworks.

Let's keep this in perspective. 5 years ago, there weren't Fastpass locations for either of these things. We all lived without a Fastpass section and we can do it again. It's completely unnecessary and an easy place to cut. This barely impacts the quality of a WDW trip. Just stand on Main Street or basically anywhere around World Showcase. It will be okay.

This is a cut with minimal guest experience impact.

That is hardly a road to completely cancelling fireworks and parades.

 

[Dentam]

"I knew if this business was ever to get anywhere, if this business was ever to grow, it could never do it by having to answer to someone unsympathetic to its possibilities, by having to answer to someone with only one thought or interest, namely profits. For my idea of how to make profits has differed greatly from those who generally control businesses such as ours. I have blind faith in the policy that quality, tempered with good judgment and showmanship, will win against all odds." —Walt Disney

Wish he was still here!

 

[azdisneylover]

As a first time guest I think they will still have a great time. Yes it affects everyone but really it's only going to increase the already large crowds. It's an unfortunate situation, all we can do is hope this has an end.

Actually, we can do something other than hope. We can boycott, or, we can write emails/letters to Disney and let them know how this is affecting us. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

"

Maybe what the Disney Company lacks now is Walt Disney's spirit- the desire to make people happy and create a quality product in spite of the cost.

You don't think they are continuing Walt Disney's spirit? WDW continues to expand. They recently made a major investment in New Fantasyland. Lands like Avatar, Star Wars and Toy Story are on the agenda. They're adding a Frozen attraction because that's what the people want. That's making people happy. They're not just letting the park rot (sure, DHS sorely needs an update and it is getting it.)

They just implemented an expensive system to enhance the guest experience (whether you agree with the MagicBands investment or not).
I'll tell you, I was a skeptic, but with our party of 9, it is pretty darn magical to not have to keep track of all those tickets for the park, room keys, Fastpasses, etc. anymore. For years, people begged to be able to book FP in advance and hey, you can do it now.

Everyone seems to think WDW is going to become the equivalent of a local carnival with these cuts.

I honestly don't know what more people want. Maybe everyone should go take a trip to Six Flags then go back to WDW to keep it in perspective.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

How, exactly, does eliminating FPs for Wishes and/or Illuminations save any money? And if it does save the company money, can it be enough of a savings to make any sort of difference? Are we talking about cutting back one hour each from the schedules of 10 employees who make $9/hour for a total of $90 per day, or is there some other significant savings that I am not seeing? I could see how eliminating Wishes would save tens of thousands of dollars per day, but I can't see how eliminating a FP for it saves anything that approaches $1,000. I must be missing something.

If they can turn around and use that space for another upcharge experience, they'll make more. Or they can offer a Wishes dinner package.

 

[rteetz]

Actually, we can do something other than hope. We can boycott, or, we can write emails/letters to Disney and let them know how this is affecting us. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

I agree, but don't write to guest services, letters or emails need to go to Disney executives such as VPs of the parks, WDW President, and even people as high as Tom Staggs or Iger.

 

[rteetz]

You don't think they are continuing Walt Disney's spirit? WDW continues to expand. They recently made a major investment in New Fantasyland. Lands like Avatar, Star Wars and Toy Story are on the agenda. They're adding a Frozen attraction because that's what the people want. That's making people happy. They're not just letting the park rot (sure, DHS sorely needs an update and it is getting it.)

They just implemented an expensive system to enhance the guest experience (whether you agree with the MagicBands investment or not).
I'll tell you, I was a skeptic, but with our party of 9, it is pretty darn magical to not have to keep track of all those tickets for the park, room keys, Fastpasses, etc. anymore. For years, people begged to be able to book FP in advance and hey, you can do it now.

Everyone seems to think WDW is going to become the equivalent of a local carnival with these cuts.

I honestly don't know what more people want.

WDW continues to expand but those expansions are long overdue. WDW hasn't seen much of anything from 2007-2014.

I'd also like to point out that many of us here on the boards didn't really want a frozen attraction where it is.

That magicband system cost over 2 billion dollars and the cost is still rising. That system is one of the reasons for these cuts.

 

[rteetz]

Oh, come on.

By cutting Wishes and Illuminations FP+, they are not making a life changing decision like completely cutting parades and fireworks.

Let's keep this in perspective. 5 years ago, there weren't Fastpass locations for either of these things. We all lived without a Fastpass section and we can do it again. It's completely unnecessary and an easy place to cut. This barely impacts the quality of a WDW trip. Just stand on Main Street or basically anywhere around World Showcase. It will be okay.

This is a cut with minimal guest experience impact.

That is hardly a road to completely cancelling fireworks and parades.

They are cutting parades and shows. Instead of two fantastics we only get one. Instead of two MSEP we only get one. That changes how people have to plan and makes things more crowded. I will say though that FP for parades and fireworks is one of the most unnecessary things they have done.

 

[rteetz]

Perhaps Disney visitors should send a letter or email weekly suggesting instead of cutting CMs hours, to apply Iger's measly bonus to cover the hours. I know I will be writing an email and handwritten letter to send in the next couple of days and repeat every week.

Write that to executives not guest services that won't get much of anything done.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

WDW continues to expand but those expansions are long overdue. WDW hasn't seen much of anything from 2007-2014.

I'd also like to point out that many of us here on the boards didn't really want a frozen attraction where it is.

That magicband system cost over 2 billion dollars and the cost is still rising. That system is one of the reasons for these cuts.

I'm just saying, the MagicBand system was created to enhance the guest experience. I realize the cost was/is high. But the intention is an enhanced guest experience which is hardly leaving the parks out to dry.

I agree on delayed expansions.

Re: Frozen, that's my bad. I'm not for where they're putting it either, but I was just listing off new things they're doing and I shouldn't have included it.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

On the

You don't think they are continuing Walt Disney's spirit? WDW continues to expand. They recently made a major investment in New Fantasyland. Lands like Avatar, Star Wars and Toy Story are on the agenda. They're adding a Frozen attraction because that's what the people want. That's making people happy. They're not just letting the park rot (sure, DHS sorely needs an update and it is getting it.)

They just implemented an expensive system to enhance the guest experience (whether you agree with the MagicBands investment or not).
I'll tell you, I was a skeptic, but with our party of 9, it is pretty darn magical to not have to keep track of all those tickets for the park, room keys, Fastpasses, etc. anymore. For years, people begged to be able to book FP in advance and hey, you can do it now.

Everyone seems to think WDW is going to become the equivalent of a local carnival with these cuts.

I honestly don't know what more people want. Maybe everyone should go take a trip to Six Flags then go back to WDW to keep it in perspective.

On the contrary, I love the Magic Bands. I love all the technology they are using. I love MDE. I don't like making cuts on things like paint, bathroom cleaning, and park staff. I think Walt would be appalled at the state of things in some places in the parks and resorts. Don't get me wrong. I am an AP holder and adore WDW. They still do it better than anyone else. But I fear that cutting quality like they are doing now could severely hurt them in the long run. I'd rather have clean bathrooms and well-kept resorts than a new ride or show or park section every year or so. New rides and shows are great, but these expansions need to be tempered with good judgment. Walt didn't just emphasize extreme growth. He cared about quality. WDW is still an amazing place and I continue to go back. I hope it stays that way.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

On the

On the contrary, I love the Magic Bands. I love all the technology they are using. I love MDE. I don't like making cuts on things like paint, bathroom cleaning, and park staff. I think Walt would be appalled at the state of things in some places in the parks and resorts. Don't get me wrong. I am an AP holder and adore WDW. They still do it better than anyone else. But I fear that cutting quality like they are doing now could severely hurt them in the long run. I'd rather have clean bathrooms and well-kept resorts than a new ride or show or park section every year or so. New rides and shows are great, but these expansions need to be tempered with good judgment. Walt didn't just emphasize extreme growth. He cared about quality. WDW is still an amazing place and I continue to go back. I hope it stays that way.

I'm 100% with you.