Has USF cutback as much as WDW?

[DisOrBust]

WE are back from our 5th trip to WDW and I am pretty much fed up with the lack of everything. We did USF in 2001 and liked it. Now I am thinking we should do USF and forget WDW. Has USF cut back hours and shows as wDW has done? Will I disappointed after being there in 2001?

 

[jmagoo]

It is getting nearly impossible to ignore the lack of truly new and exciting attractions at Disney these past 2 years. USF and IOA are making the effort to keep their parks fresh to repeat customers and at this time offer much better $ value for my vacation budget. We visit Orlando often and have annual passes to both Universal and Disney and are seriously considering not renewing our Disney passes after 7 years of being very loyal customers. Yes, I know times are tough, but Disney parks DO make money, they are just siphoning the profits to other Disney interests and not reinvesting back into the parks. I realize the new "e-ticket" attraction at Epcot will be opening soon but based on the lame "new" attractions at MK and AK. I will have to see it first to believe it. Sorry for the rant. Don't think I actually answered your question

magoo

 

[robvia]

A news story talking about this can be found here.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/sto...20030312-sbt-MICH-B10-Events_quiet_Disney.sto

No, you won't be disappointed going back to USF so quickly.
No, USF and SWF have not cut back as much, because they draw more locals.

Disney is blaming war, recession, gas prices, and everything else on poor attendance. While these are major factors, the big thing I see is Michael Eisner's lack of adding any thrill rides to the parks.
Yes, Mission Space is this year, but when you get right down to it, that's just another simulator that's taken 3 years to build. Heaven forbid if it makes people sick like most simulators do.

What does he build in AK? A kiddie mouse coaster (no pun intended). With all the money they have, it should have been a B&M speed coaster.

 

[chainsawwolf]

My mom works part time at AK, and they are cutting out almost all hours for casuals (part time) and cutting back their full timers to about 35 hours a week.

In contrast, we had 4 new skippers training at JAWS last week, 2 more next week, when Jimmy Neutron and Shrek open up there will be some more positions.

Most casuals are able to get as many hours as they need, and in fact OT was approved for yesterday because we were understaffed (they called my daughter in who is also a casual who gets about 30+ hrs a week).

Don't get me wrong, tourism is still down in general. But it doesn't seem as bad at Universal as Disney/Eisner are making it out to be.

 

[YenSid1222]

First of all, I agree with the fact that WDW hasn't done enough to get vistitors back compared with the major expansions going on at both UO and SWF. Plus, it is much better to build during the recession times...the cost of labor, etc. can be much less, and you are ready to go once it is over. This is what I see happening at all of the non-Disney parks. Once people are traveling, look at the host of new things to do at UO and SWF!

However...I must also play the other side and say that Mission:Space is NOT just another simulator ride. I was fortunate enough a few years ago to work load and unload tests for this ride (a mock up of 1/4 of the building was set up, and we used lots of cast members walking in circles to see if it was possible to get the whole thing loaded in time, etc. VERY interesting) ANYWAY, we were treated to a glimpse of what will be the final version...and let me tell you that it should be wonderful. Is it enough to save Epcot? Well, no one attraction can do that. Disney is going to have to realize that they have to spend the money to "fix" what has been ignored for so long.

As for Primeval Whirl, while I do not thing that an off the shelf Reverchon Spinning Crazy Mouse coaster has a place in a Disney park (I have the catalog if you want to buy one for yourself however) but it is definately not a "kiddie coaster". A few trips on it should let you know that it can be quite intense if you get the balancing of weight just right. Would I rather have the original concept of the "Excavator" wooden coaster back there? DEFINATELY!! It would have worked very well there. But in reality, I also know that a wooden coaster is very maintenance intensive and in the current era of Disney cutting costs on everything, I am scared of how they could have ruined a great ride. But who knows? Maybe the Excavator will still see the light of day years down the road.

In the meantime, lets hope that next months announcement of the new ride at DAK brings some light to what are still some of my favorite parks. And maybe the pain it is to see them in their current state will go away too....

Here's hoping.

 

[pheneix]

>>>But it doesn't seem as bad at Universal as Disney/Eisner are making it out to be.<<<

The word that I have been hearing is that Mardi Gras and the local attendance support (as well as the weekend regionals) has actually pushed attendance at Universal's parks into positive territory, and in the case of the Studios this may be the first time that the park could claim a decent gain over any measureable length of time in nearly 4 years (September 11th quarter not withstanding). Of course, the weather has been playing a good role in running people away as soon as they get to the park, but the general feeling is that Universal has "stabilized" and will be making some HUGE gains with Jimmy Neutron and Shrek 4D opening over the next couple of months.

BTW, attendance at WDW is not as bad as Disney is making it out to be either. Epcot and Animal Kingdom are definitely hurting, but MGM and the Magic Kingdom are doing good (in fact, the Magic Kingdom is becoming understaffed). It's not like you are going to waltz right in to the Magic Kingdom and fire a cannon down Main Street without hitting a soul. Once again the parks are needed to bail out the rest of Disney, and the only thing management in Burbank is able to understand is to cutback faster than revenues decline.

BTW, Forbidden Mountain at Animal Kingdom is officially dead. Let's be honest here, if Disney is cutting back employee's hours to the bone does anyone expect them to suddenly pour $80 million into one of their parks?

 

[TreeOfLife]

Disney is blaming war, recession, gas prices, and everything else on poor attendance. While these are major factors, the big thing I see is Michael Eisner's lack of adding any thrill rides to the parks.

I say it is the downfall of what it has to offer its guests. Disney just takes them for granted expecting blinded loyalty. They forget that they aren't the only form of family entertainment around anymore. Then in an economy like ours, other sites benefit when people count what is left on their walletts for a vacation. Everything factored in, the cost of being a resort guest vs. what you get out of it, the cost and benefits of APs and even credit card rewards, people go where they get more bang for the buck.

 

[robvia]

Originally posted by YenSid1222


As for Primeval Whirl, while I do not think that an off the shelf Reverchon Spinning Crazy Mouse coaster has a place in a Disney park (I have the catalog if you want to buy one for yourself however) but it is definately not a "kiddie coaster".

True, I've ridden the Exterminator at Kennywood, how ironic, it's in a dark building while Disney's is outside.

PW has been there since 03/2002, and I haven't gone there to ride it. Why? I knew it was there, it's a coaster, I'm a coaster fan. Because it's a family ride, and Eisner trys to pass them off as thrill rides. Yet I will visit SWF to ride Kraken and JTA. Had Eisher put a full length B&M coaster in the park, then it would be worth going. But a family coaster? No.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by robvia
PW has been there since 03/2002, and I haven't gone there to ride it. Why? I knew it was there, it's a coaster, I'm a coaster fan. Because it's a family ride, and Eisner trys to pass them off as thrill rides. Yet I will visit SWF to ride Kraken and JTA. Had Eisher put a full length B&M coaster in the park, then it would be worth going. But a family coaster? No.

There is a reason for this, plain and simple. YOU are not who Disney is targeting. Disney targets FAMILIES. Oddly enough, as much as Walt would be horrified by much of what has transpired with his company....one thing has remained relatively true...and that's that families are their focus.
Of course, I'm sure it's getting harder for families to AFFORD to go, but that's another issue!

Walt built Disneyland because when he took his daughters to a park, he found himself sitting there watching them go on rides. So he decided to build a place where families could go together and enjoy the rides TOGETHER. There are rides that aren't child friendly, but for the most part, WDW attractions CAN be enjoyed together. Walt didn't want to have a park full of attractions that some of the family could ride while the rest sat around watching. At 48", you are pretty much tall enough to enjoy everything...so that's what, 5 or so? Also, there is nothing that a grownup can't go on with their child, I don't think. They've stuck to Walt's family atmosphere pretty well, I'd say.

Karen

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by MsDisney
At 48", you are pretty much tall enough to enjoy everything...so that's what, 5 or so?

6-7 I'd guess.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
6-7 I'd guess.

Yeah, I guess that's more normal...my youngest was tall for his age, and he's only 8 now and has been tall enough for Hulk and Dragons for awhile now...well, since August or so, which is when he turned 8. He's been riding Rockin' Rollercoaster for a few years now...

Karen

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

Originally posted by pheneix

BTW, Forbidden Mountain at Animal Kingdom is officially dead. Let's be honest here, if Disney is cutting back employee's hours to the bone does anyone expect them to suddenly pour $80 million into one of their parks? [/B]

Hey,

Actually media all around Florida and the US has been informed recently of a major announcement that will be occuring at Walt Disney World next month.

So I'm not sure if the theme is Forbidden Mountain, but it is some sort of mountain.

 

[pheneix]

Disney holds major media events all the time, and they all end up being over nothing. Last Spring there was a HUGE media event where they hyped up all of the seasonal entertainment they were putting on for the summer (and subsequently canned when other divisions of the company needed a bail out from the parks).

Disney's media departments have made an ARTFORM out of hyping nothing. DinoRama and the 100 Years of Magic celebration are proof of that.