If you ran Walt Disney World...

[dkrauss]

Really interesting thread! I too am glad to see many would like to increase the pay of CM's. Wouldn't we all love to be a CM at WDW............don't know how I could do it (full time) on $9-$10/hr. I also agree with many who speak about an update/upgrade to Epcot. There's a ton of space and existing buildings that ARE NOT used. Just seems like a waste.........right

Things like adding to the monorail...........in reality are just way to expensive. Even with Disney money the cost to add monorail track just wouldn't cut it. Instead of that I'd open a 5th Gate........for Villians!!!! It would be a whimsical look at Disney/Marvel[yeah I know the legal issues]/Star Wars bad guys....where they never win but its sure fun watching them try .........with that 5th gate I'd add at least 2 new resorts............definately a value........not sure if I'd go Deluxe or Mod on the second.

Doug

 

[choirboy501]

Gordon Ramsey and Robert Irvine would have a reality show where each week they compete to fix two TS restaurants. This could last three or four seasons. Round one is Tony's Town Square vs Coral Reef.

Every ride or attraction gets a 3 day rehab or refresh every 6 months.

ADRs would be available on a sliding scale. 30% at 180 days out, 30% at 90 days out, 20% at 30 days, and 20% at 24 hours out.

Dining success sharing instituted, where all employees get a quarterly bonus based on the restaurants performance, ratings, and improvement. Same for resort and concession CMs.

I'd like the company to find a way to attach well known chefs to more WDW restaurants. Could you imaging Mario Batali developing Tony's menu, or Rick Bayless revamping San Angel Inn? They don't all need to be changed to signature/fine dining, just improved. I imagine it would also be a morale boost to the staff, too, and could improve service in places that could use it.

 

[mcd2745]

1. Bring back random entertainment experiences. Things along the lines of "Push" or "Streetmosphere" or the living statues. However, these things work best when you happen upon them unexpectedly (this is where the internet and yes, sites like this one, are a detriment to people's experiences). When you read about them online and then seek them out...it's just not as fun or magical. Therefore they would have to be continuously replaced/updated etc. Included in this would be unscheduled/random character greets - especially rare ones.

2. Allow on-site resorts guests entry to all 4 parks an hour earlier every day. Eliminate evening EMHs and replace it with a version of the old "E-Ride" nights (except rotate it through all 4 parks instead of just MK like it was). Allow on-site guests to pay $20 additional per person. Limit "ticket" (it would be a virtual "ticket" on your Magic Band) sales to 5,000 per day (what it was rumored to be back when they did it).

3. Reduce the ADR window to 60 days for on-site, 30 days for off-site. Basically, sync it up with FP+. Do everything on the same day.

 

[KingLlama]

I second the idea of more random character meet/greets and appearances in the parks. Love it when we happen upon random characters in random places, and wish they would do it more often, especially with "rarer" characters that don't warrant a specific time/place because they're not quite as popular.

The podcast team has talked about this happening during their stay at Disneyland Hotel a few years back, and at Disneyland Park itself, the fact that character interactions seemed more random and organic. That sounds terrific to me.

 

[choirboy501]

I second the idea of more random character meet/greets and appearances in the parks. Love it when we happen upon random characters in random places, and wish they would do it more often, especially with "rarer" characters that don't warrant a specific time/place because they're not quite as popular.

The podcast team has talked about this happening during their stay at Disneyland Hotel a few years back, and at Disneyland Park itself, the fact that character interactions seemed more random and organic. That sounds terrific to me.

I visited DL for the first time this past September, and noticed difference between East and West parks with character interactions.

I only went to one character meet and greet (Oswald is at the front of DCA hourly). But I ran into random characters frequently. Bert and Mary; The Mad Hatter; Chip and Dale; Minnie Mouse; Goofy; Stormtroopers; Snow White; Ariel; Rapunzel; Aladdin; and Mickey several times over the course of three days.

 

[superme80]

Disneyland is my home park. I would gut Tomorrowland. I would take out Star Tours and put it in Star Wars Land. I would bring back Adventures in Inner Space or a new ride. I would widen Main Street. It is so crowded. Then I would add more to California Adventure. Finally I would add the Westcot we never got! Yes I still want it!

 

[dalt01]

i would just screw it up