Is Disney Getting Cheap?

[pax_65]

We just had a really nice trip to Disneyworld, but I did see some evidence of "cost-cutting" in the parks, the resorts, and even at the vacation club. I'm not suggesting that Disney isn't great or that DVC isn't wonderful (because they are) but I wonder if this is a trend we should be concerned with.

A few examples:

The OKW Turtle Shack snack bar was closed some of the time we were there, even during the middle of the day. Granted, the pool wasn't very busy, but I've never seen it close before.

Housekeeping and landscaping at OKW seemed slightly "off"... nothing to be alarmed about but things just weren't quite as "perfect" as usual.

Port Orleans and Dixie Landings have merged, and the bus service has been combined. The buses were extremely crowded - in some cases too crowded to board. This was done for "efficiency", we were told. Housekeeping at these resorts was even worse.

Perks for Annual Pass holders have been virtually eliminated!!!

Many snack bars and restaurants in the parks didn't open until lunchtime. I remember this happening in the past, but never to this extent. It was nearly impossible to find anything to eat in Magic Kingdom before 11am.

The "Character Connection" in Epcot appears to have closed - it was a great place to see Mickey, but now you have to stand in line at Toontown to see him.

What do you think? Are these signs of the "belt-tightening" Disney is doing, or am I overreacting?

Jon

 

[tommy_z]

Well, Disney has announced that it will be laying off 4000 people. I was unaware that anything has started yet, but who knows? Usually before companies announce lay-offs they try to cut back on some costs instead of letting people go, so maybe this is what was going on.

With the economy at a standstill as it is right now, I'm not surprised that Disney is feeling the pinch, too. Maybe we've seen the heyday of Disney service come and go. Ooo, scary thought!

But realistically, when people experience any sort of financial troubles (or even the idea of a shortage of income) the first thing to go is luxuries. And like it or not, a vacation at Disney World is a definite luxury. Furthermore, since labor is most companies' biggest cost, it's the easiest to spot, and so that's the first thing to get chopped. However, I would think that Disney can think of a better way to save some money rather than resort (no pun intended) to lay-offs. Since the company has always been known for its stellar level of customer service, a lack of personnel (which usually means a lower level of service) may backfire on them.

Hopefully, all this is just temporary, and everything - including the economy - will be back to business as usual in no time.

And while we're all griping about not getting checked in as fast as we used to, let's not forget those 4000 folks who are getting the shaft. There are plenty of things worse than having to wait an extra 5 minutes to get to your room -- like not having a job.

 

[Chuck S]

The Turtle Shack snack bar has always has sporadic hours, and as for landscaping...everything grows so fast in Florida in the warmer months. I've always seen the gardeners very busy around OKW.

Housekeeping, too, has always seems stretched a little thin during extremely busy times, but usually does a fine job. And the resorts have been busy this April.

I'm sure there have been some cutbacks...I just hope everyone isn't looking for picky things and not enjoying their vacation.

 

[buckylarue]

FYI, the bus service at Port Orleans and Dixie Landings was always combined; the only time busses stopped at one place and not the other was when extra busses were added due to increased crowds.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Keep in mind that the landscaping and housekeeping costs are paid directly by DVC owners (for all of OKW, and as an appropriate allocation at BWV and VWL). In other words, we pay for such operating costs through our annual dues. It's in our interest as DVC members for Disney to manage lean, efficient staffs. In this case, "cheap" is a good thing, as long as the job gets done well.

I took the early-morning landscaping tour at OKW last November. I don't remember the number of landscapers that work at OKW, but I was amazed how great the landscpaping looks given the small number of landscapers.

The landscaping around the new buildings, such as building 62, didn't look very good at the time. Here's why: The landscaping was still under warranty from the contractor, and OKW landscapers could not touch it without voiding the warranty.

Businesses such as the Turtle Shack or Olivia's are a different matter because they're not operated out of the DVC operating budgets. But it's in Disney's interest to run them well -- with appropriate hours and guest satisfaction -- to be profitable.

 

[normr]

Nice picture, I wish we could put up our own pics, Can we?

 

[valeriekc]

I think the biggest reflection of Disney cost cutting is the reduced park hours in the spring and this summer.
Also fireworks at MK has been cut back drastically to 1-2 nights per week!
It makes your bottom line much better as ticket prices are higher and labor costs have reduced by cutting hours of operation!
We are going to be at Boardwalk on friday and hope that everything we have heard is just a rumour about slow ,bad service etc..
We have been every year for many years so we will be try to look at it objectively.
Wish us luck!!

 

[pax_65]

Thanks for the replies. Valerie - definitely let us know what you think when you return from your trip. As I said, our trip was wonderful - we had a great time and the positive surprises outnumbered the negatives... but I guess I'm just used to near perfection from Disney, so when I see something that seems a little off, I notice.

Jon

 

[sueg]

On our last trip, in March, I thought the landscape looked a little "tired". But then I realized that the severe drought in Fla. probably is the major cause. Even the best landscape crew in the "World" needs some help from Mother Nature.
I did notice that many of the free standing snack stands, in the parks, have cut back on their hours. For example, our family has always enjoyed the cinnamon pretzels from a stand in Fantasyland. On EE days, it is a perfect mid-morning snack. The stand was still not open at 10 AM, causing youngest DS lament about the loss of his favorite snack in MK. The stand was sitting, but was all closed up. I don't know when it opened because we moved on from Fantasyland.

 

[Glinda]

I haven't seen any cost cutting at the BWV other than the need for new vacumm cleaners. Housekeeping says they need them desperately and management won't buy them.

We did have bad check-in experiences at the BWV twice now. As a result of my complaining excetra I have come to the conclusion that it is their management staff who is setting the poor attitude. Anyone else have bad experience with them?

Looking forward to returning to a welcome home in August.

 

[pax_65]

The drought definitely does contribute to the challenges of the landscapers.

At Goofy's Barnstormer in Toontown, you might remember how that used to be decorated like Goofy's garden - in the waiting area you'd see a variety of plants, flowers, even vegetables growing along the way.

Today, that area is sun-burned grass. As you said, there is only so much they can do with the drought what it is and the water restrictions that are in place.

Jon

 

[Jhalkias]

Besides being a member of DVC, I have been a member of, and the "club director" for the Disney Club (PKA Magic Kingdom Club) for my company. The last three years all club directors got six free admission passes and two free Pleasure Island passes as a thank you. This year I just received my passes - only two of each. Along with this was a letter stating that this would be the last year for free passes.

All this along with the fact that now my employees have to pay $29 to join, when before it was free.

 

[bicker]

Disney's not so-much getting "cheap" as they're getting more responsible to their shareholders. They no longer over-spend, over-build or over-design things. They structure their product and service offerings based more closely on what their customers actually want, as evidenced by what they're willing to pay for. So, in the end, we, the guests, are responsible for the changes at the parks.

 

[pax_65]

Bicker,

I'm sure that's part of it... there's nothing wrong with being responsible, and there's no value in spending money (and increasing our dues and admission to the parks) for attractions and services that nobody wants. (I'm a shareholder too!!)

That said, I'd hate to see some of the "little extras" and tremendous service go away, because they are a big part of the magic we all love about Disney.

Jon

 

[jcodespoti]

Disney is just doing what most big businesses are doing trying to cut costs in a slowing economy. I do think though that the drought in Florida is the main reason for all the questiond about the landscaping



Joe in CT

 

[tsacyensid]

Okay now you had to get me started!
I am a cast member- gee couldn't guess that right! I will probably get this not posted or something but that's okay- I can tell you the Port and Dixie really was always one bus route. They did do this for cost cutting reasons, but I will save that for a more appropriate forum.

Walt Disney World Theme parks are short on staff because Disney does not pay their cast members a living wage- If they took Eisner's bonus and gave it to the cast members they might have the magic that is lost... somewhere in the last few years the "magic" was lost.

I have been a cast member Pre-Eisner and now. I can tell you there is a difference. Ask a cast member some sort of Trivia - I can bet if they have been there less then 5 years they will not be able to answer. However if you remember the "good old days" cast members had pixie dust oozing from them everywhere.

It is just simply this you have to work many hours of overtime to see what most see as a normal paycheck to work at Walt Disney World.

I love my job and thank goodness that I can survive with or without my Disney pay, but many of my fellow cast cannot say the same.

Anyway! Bus services, landscaping, and housekeeping comes from members dues. Keep that in mind when you want to complain about something at any of the 5 DVC resorts. If you own at Old Key West you know your dues are lower then Boardwalk.

so take it from someone who knows Disney is cutting way back but unless they hear it from the public nothing will get done, we need some stock holders to step in here!

Good luck and have fun.... sorry for venting

 

[TnRobin]

Just a friendly reminder guys. Lets not let this topic get out of hand. Please stay on topic.

 

[swinginevilmike]

Disney is just doing what most big businesses are doing trying to cut costs in a slowing economy

But no cuts (so far) have been made at any of the other parks (IE Universal, Sea World etc). Is Disney the only theme park company being hit by a slow economic time? I don't think so. Also these kinds of cuts have been going on for years this is nothing out of the ordinary...

 

[SueOKW]

I feel the cost cutting = Pay Michael's Bonus. A bonus for a company that had a dramatic decrease in earnings. Our Directors and above do not get bonuses if the company does not make so much over a certain threshold. It would appear that Disney's board set a very loooowww threshold for M.E.

Sue

 

[bicker]

Originally posted by tsacyensid
Okay now you had to get me started!
I am a cast member- gee couldn't guess that right! ...

Walt Disney World Theme parks are short on staff because Disney does not pay their cast members a living wage- If they took Eisner's bonus and gave it to the cast members they might have the magic that is lost...

$875,000 divided by 50,000 is $17.50 per CM at WDW. Now, that number is actually high, since there are far more than 50,000 Disney employees, considering all the other divisions that Eisner is responsible for, so we're probably looking at less than $10.00 per CM per year. You're saying that THAT will make the difference you're alluding to? I have to disagree.

somewhere in the last few years the "magic" was lost.

The magic is, and always has been, inside those who choose to embrace it. You may have lost the magic, and you might be providing inferior service, but millions of people visit WDW each year and have a great time, despite that.

I have been a cast member Pre-Eisner and now. I can tell you there is a difference. Ask a cast member some sort of Trivia - I can bet if they have been there less then 5 years they will not be able to answer.

Eisner has been in charge for over 16 years. I suspect the difference you're noticing is the fact that society has changed over that period of time, as has the marketplace (which, for WDW, is now competitive, whereas it wasn't previously).

It is just simply this you have to work many hours of overtime to see what most see as a normal paycheck to work at Walt Disney World.

There are many jobs at theme parks (in general) that pay living wages. There are many lower-level jobs that don't. This is true of many industries in our society.


This really belongs on the Debate Board...