FYI: More Cuts Coming

[Budshark]

Rapid fire responses:

Frozen makes me laugh. Do something about world showcase its so stale! Needs updates! Didn't work out as envisioned! Wait. Don't do THAT...
I'm excited for it. Cuz you know. There are really mariachi ducks in Mexico and stuff.

Magic Bands. Love the idea. Loathe the execution. Waste of resources. From a technology standpoint they are already dated and if they are still around 5 years from now it'll be like Disney still having pay phones in every land...

 

[larryz]

You don't think they are continuing Walt Disney's spirit?

"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

No. No, I don't, not as so eloquently stated by Walt Disney himself.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

No. No, I don't, not as so eloquently stated by Walt Disney himself.

That's fine, you can have your opinion and I can have mine

 

[Lehuaann]

"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

You don't think they are continuing Walt Disney's spirit?

No, not even close. Walt sacrificed the food on his family's table to make his and our dreams come true. Sure, they are adding new attractions, but many at the expense of others. The suits would rather pave paradise and put up a profit...right into their pockets.

 

[Budshark]

No, not even close. Walt sacrificed the food on his family's table to make his and our dreams come true. Sure, they are adding new attractions, but many at the expense of others. The suits would rather pave paradise and put up a profit...right into their pockets.

Time to put my flame suit on

Walt set the company and us on this course in 1957 when he took the company public. Once he made that decision the fate was sealed.

 

[rteetz]

No, not even close. Walt sacrificed the food on his family's table to make his and our dreams come true. Sure, they are adding new attractions, but many at the expense of others. The suits would rather pave paradise and put up a profit...right into their pockets.

To an extent yes. If you look at DHS for example. Lights motors action and the backlot tour area take up a ton of space for just just attractions. Toy story will be going in mainly what is now backstage areas so nothing will be sacrificed for that other than maybe one mans dream. LMA area will initially be staging and prep areas for Star Wars and Toy story and then the site of phase 3. Star Wars will go to the left of star tours and extend towards the parking lot. It's uncertain if Indiana jones will go or not.

 

[rteetz]

Time to put my flame suit on

Walt set the company and us on this course in 1957 when he took the company public. Once he made that decision the fate was sealed.

Walt needed the money to fund everything we have today. Walt of course was never into the finance side that was Roy. Walt created things and Roy found a way to pay for them.

 

[Budshark]

Walt needed the money to fund everything we have today. Walt of course was never into the finance side that was Roy. Walt created things and Roy found a way to pay for them.

Agreed. Just saying its not all cut and dry. It's not like Walt could have done whatever he wanted today. He may not have agreed. He may have influenced the direction. But in the end the decision he was part of in the 50s truly laid out the ground rules. It's not like this all happened post Walt was my point.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

No, not even close. Walt sacrificed the food on his family's table to make his and our dreams come true. Sure, they are adding new attractions, but many at the expense of others. The suits would rather pave paradise and put up a profit...right into their pockets.

Edited: nevermind

 

[Disneylover99]

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

Well, one thing leads to another. As rteetz has pointed out, they are already cutting parades and shows. Who is to say they aren't considering cutting a night or two of Wishes per week? They could save a ton of money.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

MM+ was created to enhance one thing...... company profits.

I'm not saying company profit is a bad thing. But I believe that Disney used to dream up things they knew people would love, which in turn maximized company profits. Now it seems more like they dream up ways to enhance company profits. If guests love it, that's great and a bonus. But I just don't feel like that's the priority any more.

 

[Csaks]

This just proves how so many people have different opinions (and I totally respect your opinion.) We went just this January and had one of our most magical trips. I've been going regularly for more than 30 years and my parents have gone since it opened. This year was top 3 for us.

I've been to Universal/IOA once and there's not enough that appeals to our group of 9 there that could keep us busy like WDW can.

Here's the thing about upcoming cuts. I could care less if there's two Fantasmics or not. There weren't always two shows. I could care less if they drop the Wishes FP area, that didn't always exist. This can be said for so many of the things they will cut. Stuff that didn't even exist before. We fell in love with WDW long before so many things even existed.

Next trip, I'll go with an open mind as usual and judge the cuts for myself.

You are right, different strokes for different folks and there is nothing wrong with that. We just found on our last two trips we had more fun at US. Carefree, woke up in the morning decided which park we felt like that day, toured around used the front of the line when needed. Ate when you got hungry and the best part was I left my phone in the truck because I didn't need to keep track of all my appointments. Only bummer was I needed to find my old watch.
I'm glad it still works for you and others. It just doesn't for us anymore. We went on our honeymoon back in 2001 and clawed and scratched to save, to get back time and again because when a WDW vacation ended we immediately started planning for the next one. In 2010 it started to change and after the 2014 trip there was zero desire to go back. We will go back after Star Wars and Avatar are done. Till then we will find other things to do around Florida.

 

[jpeden]

And we still don't have opening dates for anything in AK.

Actually, on this note - I just got an email about a new Adventures By Disney Trip for Walt Disney World and Central Florida starting in June that includes VIP seating at Rivers of Light and a backstage tour of Rivers of Light. So, assuming that they're already selling ABD Vacation Packages that include this show, it should be up and running by the middle of June.

 

[norjack]

Rapid fire responses:

Frozen makes me laugh. Do something about world showcase its so stale! Needs updates! Didn't work out as envisioned! Wait. Don't do THAT...
I'm excited for it. Cuz you know. There are really mariachi ducks in Mexico and stuff.

Magic Bands. Love the idea. Loathe the execution. Waste of resources. From a technology standpoint they are already dated and if they are still around 5 years from now it'll be like Disney still having pay phones in every land...

I would guess the Magic Bands won't be needing to be "scanned" like they do now in a couple of years. Would guess they would make them more inconspicuous to use in the future. (Could have already done it easily today, but my guess is that they are dumbing it down a bit to get people in general used to the tech.

 

[Budshark]

I would guess the Magic Bands won't be needing to be "scanned" like they do now in a couple of years. Would guess they would make them more inconspicuous to use in the future. (Could have already done it easily today, but my guess is that they are dumbing it down a bit to get people in general used to the tech.

Or use the phone / watch and do away with the whole band. Besides using the phone would actually open up the possibilities far beyond what the band has.

 

[Angel Ariel]

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.

Where can we find e-mail addresses or snail mail addresses for execs? Disneyland execs too (I need to write to them about the Photopass travesty )

 

[mom2rtk]

Or use the phone / watch and do away with the whole band. Besides using the phone would actually open up the possibilities far beyond what the band has.

I think that's exactly where DLR is heading.

 

[norjack]

I think that's exactly where DLR is heading.

I disagree, only because there is too much money to be made with outdated tech. Why do everything on your phone, when they can sell plastic jewelry to people, and have them personalize them for exorbitant rates? They are creating a type of game for people, imo. Getting the used to the tech, and "playing": And many times, you pay to play.

 

[mom2rtk]

I disagree, only because there is too much money to be made with outdated tech. Why do everything on your phone, when they can sell plastic jewelry to people, and have them personalize them for exorbitant rates? They are creating a type of game for people, imo. Getting the used to the tech, and "playing": And many times, you pay to play.

They've already said magic bands are not coming to DLR.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Rapid fire responses:

Frozen makes me laugh. Do something about world showcase its so stale! Needs updates! Didn't work out as envisioned! Wait. Don't do THAT...
I'm excited for it. Cuz you know. There are really mariachi ducks in Mexico and stuff.

I don't have any issues with adding characters to World Showcase. Meeting Ratatouille in France? Cool. Mary Poppins/Alice/Winnie the Pooh in UK? Awesome. It's not the simple addition of characters to the Norway pavilion that people have had a problem with. I had no issues with them adding the A&E meet and greet back when they did. What I have a problem with is eliminating *actual* Norway history and culture - which is what every pavilion in WS is about - and replacing it all with Frozen. The stave church exhibit is now all about Frozen. The ride and movie about Norway are gone, replaced with Frozen. The Viking Ship playground gone completely. The previously fairly authentic Akershus menu watered down to where it's at now (though certainly not the only location that's done that, unfortunately). There's very little of actual Norwegian culture and heritage left in Norway. They can add characters to a pavilion, to an attraction *without* eliminating the culture and history of the pavilion - as they did in Mexico.

I'd have no issues with adding Frozen characters and aspects to Norway if they hadn't pretty much completely replaced Norway with Arendelle in how they chose to do it.