Has Disney's Staffing Decisions Changed The "Best" Time to Go to Disney?

[Mac30188]

I actually was originally scheduled to go to Disney World during the spring break fiasco, but luckily postponed until later in the year. While certainly the problem was Disney not prepared for such a different turnout then expected, is this just now possible common occurrence due to the staffing changes? Has the model changed?

If they had most rides running at 50% capacity under the idea that you would have 50% less people, even if the crowds had been as expected, the lines would be very similar to if you had planned to go on a busy day. While it is true that you do get better overall space along with parade and firework viewing if you plan on going on a dead time, you can no longer expect that to reduce your wait time. It seems you are actually gambling for the possible benefit of general walking space, improved parade viewing, and improved firework viewing versus the possible negative impact of having longer lines than an expected busier day. The lower the expected crowds on that day, the bigger a risk you are taking for significantly long lines. On the other hand, if you go on an expected busy day, and it turns out to be LOWER than expected, that will actually result in far shorter lines than attending on a notoriously slow day? I certainly haven't been since the staffing changes, so I am probably missing something but is this the new way you have to look at crowd calendars? Are low crowds not necessarily better than high crowds any more?

 

[mom2rtk]

I believe they are staffing to make every day feel like a 7. The information they get from MDE helps them to know better than ever before what to expect daily so they can "right size" their staffing.

 

[Mac30188]

I believe they are staffing to make every day feel like a 7. The information they get from MDE helps them to know better than ever before what to expect daily so they can "right size" their staffing.

True, but they don't seem nimble enough to change staffing to match an actual crowd surge. If they expected a 3, staffed for a 3, and turnout is a 6, it will feel like a 10. If they expected an 8, staffed for an 8, and get a turnout of 6, it will feel like a 4-5. Same crowd. Vastly different feel based on their expectations.

 

[mom2rtk]

True, but they don't seem nimble enough to change staffing to match an actual crowd surge. If they expected a 3, staffed for a 3, and turnout is a 6, it will feel like a 10. If they expected an 8, staffed for an 8, and get a turnout of 6, it will feel like a 4-5. Same crowd. Vastly different feel based on their expectations.

Nobody said they were good at it yet.

Seriously though, they should have a much better picture of what to expect than ever before because of the advance FP reservations people are making.

And of course their aggressive staff cuts recently have not helped matters.

 

[Mikie]

Very interesting. . . And challenging for trip planning! I have been in Disney parks a while back when it spilled over from "peak" week to "off-peak" and we were excited in expectation of lower crowds. Sure enough, as you describe, walkways were freer, food lines easier to manage, but park hours shorter, parades and fireworks fewer times per day/week, ride lines not all appreciably shorter because half was not operating. On one memorable day, one DHS was so slow that instead of feeling awesome, the park seemed kind of empty and sad with no fun atmosphere.

Crowd calendars may still be true and accurate, but that may not translate into predictable park experiences if this "right-sized" staffing is afoot.

 

[Mac30188]

Nobody said they were good at it yet.

Seriously though, they should have a much better picture of what to expect than ever before because of the advance FP reservations people are making.

And of course their aggressive staff cuts recently have not helped matters.

That is actually a very good questions about FP reservations. I wonder if they cut the FP reservations on those days as well? If they are going to staff at 50% for a day, there will be half as many FP for a ride than a busy day? Does the same math that apply for lines also apply for fast pass? I wonder how far in advance they set the staff limits for a given day.

 

[ArwenMarie]

There is still a benefit to going when it's lower crowds...walkways, good lines, bathroom lines etc.

How many rides can run less cars?

 

[pa. dad]

Between the hotel reservations they have and the fastpasses and the ADRs, they KNOW how many people will be at the parks from day to day.
They also have a good idea of how full the planes are coming into town and how many rooms are sold and unsold at the "Good Neighbor" and affiliated hotels. I believe they can predict crowds to a very high degree of accuracy given the info they have.

 

[Sevey13]

I actually was originally scheduled to go to Disney World during the spring break fiasco, but luckily postponed until later in the year. While certainly the problem was Disney not prepared for such a different turnout then expected, is this just now possible common occurrence due to the staffing changes? Has the model changed?

If they had most rides running at 50% capacity under the idea that you would have 50% less people, even if the crowds had been as expected, the lines would be very similar to if you had planned to go on a busy day. While it is true that you do get better overall space along with parade and firework viewing if you plan on going on a dead time, you can no longer expect that to reduce your wait time. It seems you are actually gambling for the possible benefit of general walking space, improved parade viewing, and improved firework viewing versus the possible negative impact of having longer lines than an expected busier day. The lower the expected crowds on that day, the bigger a risk you are taking for significantly long lines. On the other hand, if you go on an expected busy day, and it turns out to be LOWER than expected, that will actually result in far shorter lines than attending on a notoriously slow day? I certainly haven't been since the staffing changes, so I am probably missing something but is this the new way you have to look at crowd calendars? Are low crowds not necessarily better than high crowds any more?

This is the first I've heard of a "Spring Break Fiasco" and 50% capacity rides. To what are you referring?

 

[Mac30188]

There is still a benefit to going when it's lower crowds...walkways, good lines, bathroom lines etc.

How many rides can run less cars?

Another good question. Although based on the pictures of the lines over Spring break, it seems like the lines all over the park were out of control. There are only so many people that will jump in a 2-3 hour wait for Space Mountain. They will move on to the Astro Orbitor and then when it hits an hour, a 15 minute line for people mover doesn't look so bad.

 

[Mac30188]

This is the first I've heard of a "Spring Break Fiasco" and 50% capacity rides. To what are you referring?

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/ma...vice-menu-joy-where-does-the-line-start-4616//

 

[UncleMike101]

We used to go when the kids were out of school.
Not good.......
Now we only go when the kids are in school.
Nothing against kids.
Except when you put thousands of them in a resort park at the same time.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Another good question. Although based on the pictures of the lines over Spring break, it seems like the lines all over the park were out of control. There are only so many people that will jump in a 2-3 hour wait for Space Mountain. They will move on to the Astro Orbitor and then when it hits an hour, a 15 minute line for people mover doesn't look so bad.

Sorry about that, autocorrect on the previous comment, meant "food lines" not "good lines" lol

Yeah, I dunno when the PM has the extended queue out...yikes