Kaleo was let go!

[MsAmerica]

Wow! This is sad news, he was an icon at the Poly! I loved having a drink before dinner and listening to him sing, it actually made me think I was in Hawaii instead of pretending to be in Hawaii while in Florida.

I hope Disney isn't cutting off its nose to spite its face! Management needs to be reminded Kaleo is someone who helped make the "Magic"!


MsA

 

[freepixie]

Am I the only one who did not know about Kaleo?? We've stayed at the Poly every trip except 3 (offsite, Coronado, and POR) and never knew about this? I know they had the torch lighting thing which I know I saw when I was a kid, and sometimes had hula lessons in the lobby, but never knew about Kaleo! Ha, learn something new every day!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Wow, that is just so sad.

Its these people who maike the Polynesian, the Polynesian. I wish Disney would understand this.

I know I joined the letter writing petition for Lipoa at the Polynesian to get her job back before, and I know disney does listen to the letters because they called me personally. I would like to know if anyone is planning on e mailing a letter to Disney.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Just a contrarian point of view......I always try to avoid both Ohana and WCC because the so called "entertainment" really spoiled my enjoyment of the experience. I suffered through his playing many a time since some of my family liked Ohana's food.And don't even get me started on the WCC noise and intrusions into my dinner!
I think there are many more out there than me who are afraid to admit that they are heaving a sigh of relief in case they ever have to eat there again.

Now on the flip side I am sorry for him as a person, losing his job.

 

[tardin1964]

Just a contrarian point of view......I always try to avoid both Ohana and WCC because the so called "entertainment" really spoiled my enjoyment of the experience. I suffered through his playing many a time since some of my family liked Ohana's food.And don't even get me started on the WCC noise and intrusions into my dinner!
I think there are many more out there than me who are afraid to admit that they are heaving a sigh of relief in case they ever have to eat there again.

Now on the flip side I am sorry for him as a person, losing his job.

Judy, I think you're missing the point. Of course there are some people out there that don't like the antics at WCC or the entertainment at Ohana's/Poly. I think the point is that there is something for everyone at WDW. If you don't like the entertainment at a particular restaurant there are dozens of other places to eat that will be more to your liking. It's sad when Disney does away with certain things because they will probably never come back. These are the little things that makes WDW such a great and unique vacation.

 

[kaysmommie]

That really sucks! Our last stays at Poly my kids loved to sit in the lounge before dinner and listen to Kaleo play. I think the budget cuts are going a little too far and it's ruining some of the magic.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I remember that guy from the last time I ate at Ohana, I think it was 2006. I'm staying at the Poly and I'm planning on eating at Ohana in April. I'm sad as well that he is gone.

 

[notsogoofy]

Sent mine!! Thank you!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Am I the only one who did not know about Kaleo??

No, I never heard of him either and I imagine that the grand majority of people who visit WDW haven't either. No doubt that's why he got the axe. He just wasn't popular enough. That's unfortunate for him but that's business folks. It was a way for them to save money that most people probably won't even notice.

 

[tecdavidt]

I will miss him. Cutbacks like these make no sense. Behind the scenes are most likely areas where cutbacks could be made and the magic is still for the guests. *paycuts for even the upper crusts, middle crust and the lower crust make more sense, at least all would still have their jobs.

In my opinion, when I read, "due to the bad economy blah blah blah we are cutting back." They are just jumping on the band wagon and using "the bad economy" as an excuse.

Is it really the "bad economy" or Disney not paying attention to the news and reading how people were losing jobs and then Disney raises prices thinking people would still come? We will never out price ourselves.

Disney needs to provide service, they need to provide the extra touches, the touches that draw people into their resort so that they get the people to spend money. They are in the business to make money. **reminds me of the airlines, cut out seats, charge more for tickets -- well, people get mad because they can't get a seat, people get mad because the price is high so they don't fly, people get used to not flying and the airlines are still hurting, so just what are the airlines gaining? This is how the non-direct airport market is like currently.

What is the point going to Disney if the extra touches are going away? We could wait until spring and hit our own amusement park rides. We don't go to Disney just for the rides, it is all of the entertainment, even down to the guy who was just cut out from the Poly's lounge.

Sorry to ramble but maybe some Disney exec will read this. I do know they read the DIS. Kathy

 

[JimR24]

Sad. My wife and I were just talking about this and next years vacation will be the first away from Disney is quite sometime. We are heading to the beach. We are not even renewing our annual passes. I was raised on Disney and when I go back I keep hoping to find that same Disney but I fear that is long gone. There are other posts about Disney losing it's magic and I have to agree with that.

My kids still love it and I get the itch to go back and then I go back and see the crowds and the overpriced merchandise and that itch gets scratched quicker and quicker. Disney is not being hit by the economy. The crowds are still there and they are spending like crazy.

I think my parents would be sad to see what has happened to the Disney they fell in love with.

 

[drew64]

It is a shame, but i today's economy these things happen.

We have to remember the number of guests who saw him perform and/or the torch lighting was a small percentage of Poly guests- an even smaller percentage of WDW resort guests- and a miniscule percentage of guests visitng DW on any given day.

Disney as with all companies, when cutting back needs to look at what impacts the most people.

 

[Judy from Boise]

yes, and my point was of the entire population who did see him, not all were enamored.
Again, not a slam on him personally, but just to not make Disney the big corporate villian.

 

[tiggertabi]

Oh man!! I loved him.

We saw his family sing Happy Birthday to him in May, it was cool. His children decorated his little area and he was moved to tears. My daughter did a hula dance while he was singing.

 

[fbb]

Well, saving money on the help means the Tambu Lounge can keep on serving the cheapest $15 drinks in town.

 

[debster812]

As someone who was laid off/let go/company shuttered back in October, I really think you can't discount what's going on economically. It's really really bad out there right now.

There are scores and scores and scores of visitors to WDW who never once read these boards, or other like them. Guess what, they go to Disney, they have a FANTASTIC time, and they keep coming back.

We are a very small, yet seemingly very vocal, minority of WDW guests.

I do feel badly for anyone losing their job in this current environment, it's not easy to find a new job out there these days. This could also have been nothing more than an entertainer's contract being up, and not being renewed, in favor of someone, or something else.

I'm sorry for all of you who were fans, but like Judy said, you can't just blindly paint Disney as the big bad wolf here, as we only know what's posted here, and not what else might have gone on.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I just loved his music at the lounge. He just added to the magic of the resort. What will they do now...play taped recordings of his music???

I cannot imagine no music.

 

[Tink415]

That's so sad. We looked forward to hearing his music as part of the Poly experience. Going to Kona or Ohana and waiting in the Tambu Lounge won't be the same.

 

[anthony2k7]

yes, and my point was of the entire population who did see him, not all were enamored.
Again, not a slam on him personally, but just to not make Disney the big corporate villian.

but you can say that about anything, the big or the little things. There is nothing at WDW that will appeal to absolutely everyone - even mickey or the castle!

Take a little thing like hidden mickeys. I bet around 75% of visitors dont notice them. Of those that do notice them only a small percentage will be really pleased to have spotted one. So why bother?? no matter how small, there is still a cost in adding hidden mickeys to new attractions. Should disney not bother with them on future attractions? Of course they should because no matter how few people see them, and how few people appreciate them, they all add up to what we know as Disney magic.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

but you can say that about anything, the big or the little things. There is nothing at WDW that will appeal to absolutely everyone - even mickey or the castle!

Take a little thing like hidden mickeys. I bet around 75% of visitors dont notice them. Of those that do notice them only a small percentage will be really pleased to have spotted one. So why bother?? no matter how small, there is still a cost in adding hidden mickeys to new attractions. Should disney not bother with them on future attractions? Of course they should because no matter how few people see them, and how few people appreciate them, they all add up to what we know as Disney magic.

It's called cost-benefit analysis. When something produces more benefit than it does cost (like hidden mickeys, perhaps), than it is worth continuing. When something produces more cost than benefit (like Kaleo), it is worth discontinuing.