Major Entertainment Cutbacks at Animal Kingdom

[Oglet]

And here go the suits again!

Starting Nov 20th.
Characters being removed from the park

Lilo
Stitch
Terk
Jiminy Cricket
Pocahontas (Rafikis Planet Watch)

Also the morning opening show at the front of the park and at closing are also being eliminated. No replacements are planed at this time.

 

[lwake]

Can't imagine that they won't replace them. Any idea why they are removing these characters/events?

 

[Oglet]

Can't imagine that they won't replace them. Any idea why they are removing these characters/events?

No Idea at all. The cast were all told today and were pretty upset about it.

Cost cutting seems the most logical reason.

 

[anthony2k7]

Can't imagine that they won't replace them. Any idea why they are removing these characters/events?

I can say with 99% certainty its due to cost cutting and they wont be replaced


seriously, its not gonna be long before six flags has more entertainment than Disney.

 

[nytimez]

Well, you have to see it from their point of view. These are difficult times. It's not like the company just announced a record profit amid gains at theme parks.

Disney sees record profit amid gains at theme parks, TV channels

Oops... never mind.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Well, you have to see it from their point of view. These are difficult times. It's not like the company just announced a record profit amid gains at theme parks.

Disney sees record profit amid gains at theme parks, TV channels

Oops... never mind.

LOL! Greed always wins out but I'm sure someone wil defend these true keepers of the magic.

 

[joncorr3]

Hmmm,
Seems odd about costs when WDW is up 11% over last year.
MAybe they are just switching things around.

 

[johnGorski]

TDO

enough said!

 

[Oglet]

Hmmm,
Seems odd about costs when WDW is up 11% over last year.
MAybe they are just switching things around.

Actually not really. There has been a pattern company wide of cutting back, especially with entertainment, anyone remember Flynn and Naveen?

Anyone see any characters in Halloween outfits or props at Animal Kingdom this year?, Yes Christmas costumes and props are out but this year they totally skipped anything to do with Halloween there.

It was not that long ago there were discussions on here about the rope drop procedure being eliminated at Epcot also have you noticed the cuts in street performers and other atmosphere live entertainment around WDW?

Anyone remember the days (less than 2 years ago) when at Animal Kingdom you would find 5,6 or 7 characters outside the front of the park in the mornings? Now you might find 1 or 2 characters out there.

Remember the days when they would have big parades celebrating character birthdays and other milestones? look at what the treated us to this year for their 40th birthday.

Don't get me wrong, I love Disney but their cheapness is really starting to show, well at least for my family and I. Every year ticket prices go up a little and we get a little less bang for our buck.

 

[Donut23]

Well, you have to see it from their point of view. These are difficult times. It's not like the company just announced a record profit amid gains at theme parks.

Disney sees record profit amid gains at theme parks, TV channels

Oops... never mind.

I hear you.

How on earth do you think they REACHED these record profits.....by taking away.

"We have taken away your character encounters for your future enjoyment"......the New Disney Reality.


Hey guys, this isn't new. Some of us have been talking about it for a few years now. But, it's sad, isn't it.


Best thing I can say is....I married well.....my castmember husband ensures we can continue to visit Disneyworld with his GREAT discounts. Oops......we aren't going this December. We opted for a suite on a 12 night Caribbean cruise. The cruise will cost LESS than our 8 night Disney trip with all castmember discounts. Besides, last year it broke our hearts to see everything they have taken away.

Other times...OK. The holidays just were empty comparied to Disney of past years.

 

[mcd2745]

I hear you.

How on earth do you think they REACHED these record profits.....by taking away.

"We have taken away your character encounters for your future enjoyment"......the New Disney Reality.


Hey guys, this isn't new. Some of us have been talking about it for a few years now. But, it's sad, isn't it.


Best thing I can say is....I married well.....my castmember husband ensures we can continue to visit Disneyworld with his GREAT discounts. Oops......we aren't going this December. We opted for a suite on a 12 night Caribbean cruise. The cruise will cost LESS than our 8 night Disney trip with all castmember discounts. Besides, last year it broke our hearts to see everything they have taken away.

Other times...OK. The holidays just were empty comparied to Disney of past years.

Interesting details in the earnings report. Resort occupancy was down 2%, yet per guest spending was up 9% - mostly due to increased room rates, increased ticket prices and food. Merchandise spending...not so much. Sounds like guests are already using their wallets to show their displeasure with the state of their merchandise. It's gets a little tougher for guests to do that with the other areas. After all, everyone does have to sleep and eat. However, given the path they've been on, I can see the decline in resort occupancy accelerating beyond 2% in subsequent quarters. Plus, I doubt they an can continue to get significant increases in per guest spending.

 

[nytimez]

Interesting details in the earnings report. Resort occupancy was down 2%, yet per guest spending was up 9% - mostly due to increased room rates, increased ticket prices and food. Merchandise spending...not so much. Sounds like guests are already using their wallets to show their displeasure with the state of their merchandise. It's gets a little tougher for guests to do that with the other areas. After all, everyone does have to sleep and eat. However, given the path they've been on, I can see the decline in resort occupancy accelerating beyond 2% in subsequent quarters. Plus, I doubt they an can continue to get significant increases in per guest spending.

I've spoken to some people in merch who've told me that people just aren't buying crap the way they used to...

Can't help but notice that over the past year or so, they've offered discounts on theme park merch in ways they never have in the past. And in recent months, they've even offered 20-25 percent-off discounts for online purchases -- including theme park junk. In the past, theme park junk had always been excluded from the discount codes.

 

[anthony2k7]

I've spoken to some people in merch who've told me that people just aren't buying crap the way they used to...

Can't help but notice that over the past year or so, they've offered discounts on theme park merch in ways they never have in the past. And in recent months, they've even offered 20-25 percent-off discounts for online purchases -- including theme park junk. In the past, theme park junk had always been excluded from the discount codes.

I wonder how many years it will take them to realise the quality and choice of merch has got something to do with that!?

I think a lot of people are only buying merch to just take something back home, rather than it actually being stuff they like and want these days.

 

[Oglet]

I wonder how many years it will take them to realise the quality and choice of merch has got something to do with that!?

I think a lot of people are only buying merch to just take something back home, rather than it actually being stuff they like and want these days.

WDW merchandise is just like their food. Both need a good laxative to get the crap out.

 

[DC7800]

WDW merchandise is just like their food. Both need a good laxative to get the crap out.

Priceless! Thank You.

 

[nytimez]

WDW merchandise is just like their food. Both need a good laxative to get the crap out.

I nominate this for post of the year!

 

[wdwcrazy]

I just took a trip to Disneyland in September and I found the food to be amazing compared to the quality and prices of food in Orlando. My Daughter and I enjoyed everything from breakfast burritos that were delicious to a bbq dinner in the park with entertainment for $16. Where can you get a sitdown dinner at WDW for under $30? Also as for the merchandise, I can honestly say that the variety of things at Disneyland was better than WDW. I go to WDw every few months and see the same stuff year after year. At least at Disneyland, there were actually items that we wanted and bought. When we spoke to some cast members about the food and stuff they said that if the food wasn't good they wouldn't get the locals. Why doesn't WDW feel that way? I think since the inception of the dining plan the menus have been dumb down and the prices have skyrocketed. Still love the parks but I often eat off property or at Earl of Sandwich. At least the food is good there and you don't need a reservation.

 

[ljcrochet]

WDW merchandise is just like their food. Both need a good laxative to get the crap out.

Where is the tag fairy?

 

[Donut23]

I just took a trip to Disneyland in September and I found the food to be amazing compared to the quality and prices of food in Orlando. My Daughter and I enjoyed everything from breakfast burritos that were delicious to a bbq dinner in the park with entertainment for $16. Where can you get a sitdown dinner at WDW for under $30? Also as for the merchandise, I can honestly say that the variety of things at Disneyland was better than WDW. I go to WDw every few months and see the same stuff year after year. At least at Disneyland, there were actually items that we wanted and bought. When we spoke to some cast members about the food and stuff they said that if the food wasn't good they wouldn't get the locals. Why doesn't WDW feel that way? I think since the inception of the dining plan the menus have been dumb down and the prices have skyrocketed. Still love the parks but I often eat off property or at Earl of Sandwich. At least the food is good there and you don't need a reservation.

DH and I agree. Even though we are East Coasters....we have replaced our WDW travel with DL.....far better food, you are right - more mdse variety. The castmembers take pride in their work....and they also know WDW's reputation has been declining.

I cannot speak to ticket prices or room prices because DH is a 33 year castmember and our discounts allow for multiple Disney trips.

We fell in love with the Grand Californian the first time we saw it.....nothing at WDW to compare to the quality of that resort. Perhaps they are better at managing the $$$ cutbacks or perhaps they just HAVE to do better because they are so close to Burbank.

Sure it's not as big as WDW....and we actually love it for that. When we want to take a 2 week trip, there is plenty-plenty-plenty to do out on that coast to fill up the extra days.

It's fun. After so many WDW trips we cannot count, there is just enough different in the layout of DL that we find wonderful little surprises each day.

Hey.....and Space Mountain is sooooooo much better than WDW!!!!!

 

[Oglet]

The castmembers take pride in their work

That is a little harsh, isn't it?

I've also seen CM's at DL that don't appear to care too much either.