H&V meal - send a note to Customer relations

[pooh2001]

Please send a note to Customer Relations and let your views be heard about the new Playhouse Hollywood and Vine character meal.

Pro's and Con's I am sure would be welcomed.

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
or
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

My note to them is below
Dear Guest Relations,
Congratulations on creating a new character meal at Hollywood and Vine directed towards preschoolers.
I am sure many preschool families will acquire an ADR for the meal.

However, any family with a child over the age of 5, from other discussion web-pages, say they will not attend the meal.
The characters are just too baby oriented for older kids families.
Young children can see the characters at Playhouse Disney.
If you did your marketing, I have never seen large lines for Playhouse Disney.
So there will be no door knocking down to get into Hollywood and Vine to see the characters again after see them in Playhouse Disney. Check to see if the restaurant tables are being filled from Walt Disney World Dining.

A poll on one discussion web-site which is used by loyal Walt Disney World fans and Annual Pass holders, which was only started less than 24 hour ago, already has a tally of 32 families who like the meal and 209 families who will never eat there.
So only 13% of those who answered will eat at Hollywood and Vine for Playhouse characters while 87% of those who answered said NEVER eat at Hollywood and Vine with Playhouse characters.
The statics are not in favor of the meal.

You may want to rethink the characters at this meal after this year.
May I suggest the Villains theme meal you once offered at the Grand Floridian.
I understand the Pixar characters did not work out because of patent rights.

Just a suggestion.
Good luck with the Hollywood and Vine character meal.
We will not be eating there, my kids say the characters are to young for them.

Have a magical day!

 

[lillygator]

I sent them a Congrats!!

 

[Lewisc]

Really not a big deal. If there isn't enough demand Disney can and will discontinue it, it can't be costing Disney very much money to try it.

Emails and internet polls don't really provide enough information, the people who respond aren't necessarily typical customers. Disney's market research is probably more accurate.

I won't be one of the customers but not every dining experience has to appeal to every guest.

My guess is after the Pixar deal is completed Disney could just change the characters, if they think that would improve business.

 

[Cruz Family]

I just sent my two cents. What about the boys???????

 

[p2oh]

Why did they stop the villains meal?

 

[elastigirl]

They would have definitely done market research. They will be analyzing cost/benefit closely.

"Statics" from a messageboard poll will mean nothing to them. The only thing your letter is telling them is that the offering is not something that is good for you and you would like to see something else. However, in your condescending "I know you've made a wrong decision and here are flawed reasons why" copy, your message gets lost.

I'm all for letter writing and communication about likes and dislikes. But get to the point as it pertains to you and you're much more likely to get a serious response.

 

[kj2mom]

What about the boys???????

I have a boy who would love this meal. I don't think it is really gender specific?! Unfortunately they had to come up with an alternative to the original plan I commend them for working out something.

 

[doodle]

To the OP,

Good for you for sending in your opinion. I once participated in a "market research" interview at CNN headquarters. I was told that for every letter they receive at CNN they consider that to be the "voice" of 100 people and they count it as such.

I don't know how Disney weights emails/letters but I am sure they will listen.

Thanks for speaking out!!

 

[lillygator]

However, in your condescending "I know you've made a wrong decision and here are flawed reasons why" copy, your message gets lost.

I'm all for letter writing and communication about likes and dislikes. But get to the point as it pertains to you and you're much more likely to get a serious response.

I fully agree and was somewhat taken aback with the tone of the email...I guess I was brought up on "you get more flies with honey"!

I'm sure we'll get variations of meals coming shortly, hopefully anyway!

 

[Bird-Mom]

We are happy about this new meal, and I just wanted to add that there is always a line for the Playhouse Disney show. It is not a continuous entry attraction, so perhaps you have only passed by when a show has just begun. We always go in value season and arrive about 30 minutes prior to the show to secure good seats. That theatre is always packed full.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

A poll on one discussion web-site which is used by loyal Walt Disney World fans and Annual Pass holders, which was only started less than 24 hour ago, already has a tally of 32 families who like the meal and 209 families who will never eat there.
So only 13% of those who answered will eat at Hollywood and Vine for Playhouse characters while 87% of those who answered said NEVER eat at Hollywood and Vine with Playhouse characters.
The statics are not in favor of the meal.

Do you suppose that a majority of responses came from those who are irate over the new character meal?
I think you need to look at the audience, especially with the wording of the poll... I don't think they'd bat an eye at this poll on the DIS Boards.

Besides, I honestly think they've added this particular character meal for a few reasons:

1 - They need a new meal here to attract visitors especially since MGM is the least frequented park. Notice that it is only for breakfast and lunch. They already get a ton of people in there for dinners with popular restaurants like 50sPTC, Mama Melrose and Brown Derby. When they dropped the H&V character meal a few years ago, I think they saw that reflected in their park attendance...especially the morning attendance.

2 - The Playhouse Disney characters are really helping rake in the revenue for the Disney Corporation as of late...have you seen the 2005 Annual Report?

3 - The corporation has begun a new marketing endeavor targeting this particular audience. The new character meal makes sense for this new marketing strategy.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Do you suppose that a majority of responses came from those who are irate over the new character meal?
I think you need to look at the audience, especially with the wording of the poll... I don't think they'd bat an eye at this poll on the DIS Boards.

Besides, I honestly think they've added this particular character meal for a few reasons:

1 - They need a new meal here to attract visitors especially since MGM is the least frequented park. Notice that it is only for breakfast and lunch. They already get a ton of people in there for dinners with popular restaurants like 50sPTC, Mama Melrose and Brown Derby. When they dropped the H&V character meal a few years ago, I think they saw that reflected in their park attendance...especially the morning attendance.

2 - The Playhouse Disney characters are really helping rake in the revenue for the Disney Corporation as of late...have you seen the 2005 Annual Report?

3 - The corporation has begun a new marketing endeavor targeting this particular audience. The new character meal makes sense for this new marketing strategy.

How weird is this? I quoted CRSNDSNY and when the quote showed up for me to begin to type all the above showed too and it doesn't show in the original post.....so never mind, because you said basically what I came here to say.

I was going to comment on your comment about Disney not caring about a DIS poll....I agree with that - we are the Choir, so to speak, the captive audience, so they know it an we know it that we will not not go to WDW because of this meal....but there are people that will come to WDW for the exact same meal.

 

[Cruz Family]

Besides, I honestly think they've added this particular character meal for a few reasons:

1 - They need a new meal here to attract visitors especially since MGM is the least frequented park. Notice that it is only for breakfast and lunch. They already get a ton of people in there for dinners with popular restaurants like 50sPTC, Mama Melrose and Brown Derby. When they dropped the H&V character meal a few years ago, I think they saw that reflected in their park attendance...especially the morning attendance.

2 - The Playhouse Disney characters are really helping rake in the revenue for the Disney Corporation as of late...have you seen the 2005 Annual Report?

3 - The corporation has begun a new marketing endeavor targeting this particular audience. The new character meal makes sense for this new marketing strategy.

I think you have some good points but, as far a marketing goes I doubt the revenue of a Playhouse Disney meal will come close to the potential earnings of a Toy Story, Pixar meal. Just based on how small the demographic is age wise (IMHO) Disney is really missing the mark.
Isn't a lot of the Playhouse Disney audience so young their parents will not even have to pay for them?

 

[MichelleChell]

I for one and head over heals excited that they are going to do this (if they really are) I know my child will be too Yes there are the meals that have pooh and mickey and stuff but if you ask my kid or any kid her age who she wants to see. She will scream JOJO or LITTLE EINSTEINS. I am happy for Disney and will sned them the letter telling them Thank You to counter your letter.

Some people forget there are older kids and toddlers and there needs to be a balance for what is offered.

I have called Disney Dining and they said there is no planns for any Character meals at MGM for the summer or this year.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Do you suppose that a majority of responses came from those who are irate over the new character meal?
I think you need to look at the audience, especially with the wording of the poll... I don't think they'd bat an eye at this poll on the DIS Boards.

Good point. Here's some more.

1. Any self-selecting poll is not statistically reliable. Those with stronger views tend to answer them. Hence you do not get a representative sample.
2. The Dis, represents a very small minority of Disney customers. If we weren't a minority, none of our touring plans would work. This is ok if we are still as a group, representative of their customer base as a whole. We are not. In general, we're better informed and more in the rumor loop than your average customer. And because of this, there is likely to be a higher percentage irate here on the dis boards because of the rumor that they were going to have Pixar. The General public doesn't know hyde, nor hair of that as there was no Disney announcement on it. People are likely to be more irate if they thought they were getting something, whether Disney gave them that impression or not, rather than if they never thought they were getting something.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I think you have some good points but, as far a marketing goes I doubt the revenue of a Playhouse Disney meal will come close to the potential earnings of a Toy Story, Pixar meal. Just based on how small the demographic is age wise (IMHO) Disney is really missing the mark.
Isn't a lot of the Playhouse Disney audience so young their parents will not even have to pay for them?

You don't pay for 2yo and under, but I believe this demographic is from that age to nearly 10yo. That covers quite a big age group of Disney fanatics. Plus, think of it this way...what other character breakfast options are in Epcot aside from the Princess breakfast? In way, they're also isolating many patrons in Epcot.

 

[mugsy]

Here is the comment I sent to Guest Relations, based on what I know my 5 year old son would enjoy:

"While the Playhouse Disney/Baby Einstein characters selected might be OK for my son right now, I was hoping for some characters with broader appeal for children of all ages. Pixar characters might not be available for some time (and would be the best), but how about a 'Heroes' character meal to offset all of the princess meals in the parks? You could have the Power Rangers, Hercules, Aladdin, the Genie, the Beast, Robin Hood (and his merry men), even Mickey in his "Sorcerer's Apprentice" outfit. All of these characters would appeal to my son now and for years to come, and I think that you would get a more diverse crowd for the breakfast/lunch. "

Based on what I've read, the place would be packed if the Power Rangers were at each meal.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

A poll on one discussion web-site which is used by loyal Walt Disney World fans and Annual Pass holders, which was only started less than 24 hour ago, already has a tally of 32 families who like the meal and 209 families who will never eat there.
So only 13% of those who answered will eat at Hollywood and Vine for Playhouse characters while 87% of those who answered said NEVER eat at Hollywood and Vine with Playhouse characters.
The statics are not in favor of the meal.

Is this the poll you are referring too?
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1095171

 

[MichelleChell]

Here is the comment I sent to Guest Relations, based on what I know my 5 year old son would enjoy:

"While the Playhouse Disney/Baby Einstein characters selected might be OK for my son right now, I was hoping for some characters with broader appeal for children of all ages. Pixar characters might not be available for some time (and would be the best), but how about a 'Heroes' character meal to offset all of the princess meals in the parks? You could have the Power Rangers, Hercules, Aladdin, the Genie, the Beast, Robin Hood (and his merry men), even Mickey in his "Sorcerer's Apprentice" outfit. All of these characters would appeal to my son now and for years to come, and I think that you would get a more diverse crowd for the breakfast/lunch. "

Based on what I've read, the place would be packed if the Power Rangers were at each meal.

That sound good!

 

[mking624]

Mugsy, I like your comment that you sent in. It not only shows that their decision for these characters WILL appeal to some people (i.e. your son), but it also helps them to understand that the appeal will have a very limited age range. I love the idea of putting the "compliment" before the "complaint." I also love that your complaint was very brief...and then you made suggestions on what might be an awesome thing to do (which, by the way, I fully agree with you on having a "Heroes" character meal for the boys). Very brief comment and to the point, but it really is perfectly approached.