More bad news for Disney

[MickeyNicki]

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/...e-mickey-mouse-gnaws-away-at-theme-park-jobs/

 

[candielips]

That is very interesting. I guess there is a reason why Disney is offering so many deals right now.
It is too bad that they might have to cut some jobs, but times are hard, and even Disney isn't immune to this recession.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

From the article:

"Even some high-priced (and staff-intensive) "character meals," during which kids meet with a fleet of costumed characters, have been shelved, with some resort restaurants no longer offering them at all."

What's this about? I know LTT stopped offereing characters but anyone else?!

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

ah,,this isnt new,,,it is two weeks old, but thanks,

 

[csarenz]

From the article:

"Even some high-priced (and staff-intensive) "character meals," during which kids meet with a fleet of costumed characters, have been shelved, with some resort restaurants no longer offering them at all."

What's this about? I know LTT stopped offereing characters but anyone else?!

They also stopped the lunch character meal at Garden Grill. But I think that's it.

 

[goofy4tink]

From the article:

"Even some high-priced (and staff-intensive) "character meals," during which kids meet with a fleet of costumed characters, have been shelved, with some resort restaurants no longer offering them at all."

What's this about? I know LTT stopped offereing characters but anyone else?!

My friend sent me that same link. I had the same thoughts as you though. I have to wonder which restaurants will stop offering character meals. When the article says 'resort restaurants' are they talking about WDW Resort as a whole, which would include the parks, or are they saying the resorts themeselves?? If it's just the resorts, there just aren't all that many character meals. Beach Club has Goofy's Beach Blast Breakfast and the Polynesian has a character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. I can't see either the CR or the GF doing away with their character meals though.
People have been complaining about the lenght of wait for buses for awhile now...fewer drivers could be the reason. And you have to wonder about the quality of housekeeping..if there are fewer housekeepers, then quality has to suffer.
But, if they (Disney) want to give me a really good deal, I'll forgive them if my room isn't completely cleaned.

 

[redrosesix]

I kept re-reading the part about outsourcing the animatronics. Not feeling so great about that, even though I'm not even from the US. Sooo stupid! Do they realize how many people would just sit and watch them building those things. DH would probably pay to see that.

I wish WDW would stop giving me reasons to stay somewhere else next year.

 

[summersalt]

How much of Disney's busy is from repeat customers? I've been a repeat customer for the past 8 years. I keep going every year because I love the magic. If Disney makes cuts in staff and services, it'll effect the magic. I'm afraid lots of repeat customer will start considering other vacations because the magic just won't be there anymore? No one wants to spend a third of their vacation waiting in lines for buses and rides. Not to mention the fact that Disney deluxe hotels are not really all that "deluxe" in the first place. If they cut much back on these, what's left? I'm really worried. I believe cuts in staff and services will do nothing but make things worse for Disney.

I wanna keep my happy place.

 

[WDWTigger72]

I kept re-reading the part about outsourcing the animatronics. Not feeling so great about that, even though I'm not even from the US. Sooo stupid! Do they realize how many people would just sit and watch them building those things. DH would probably pay to see that.

I wish WDW would stop giving me reasons to stay somewhere else next year.

Yeah, I started reading all those different articles also that where hyperlinks from the main article. I thought initially the outsourcing of some animatronics would be a bad thing, and my feeling was will Disney have any proprietary type technologies they will build inhouse or will they just outsource everything that they imagine. The animatronics they have built for many of the rides (pirates, tiki, etc) is an old technology. When I read further along I was glad to see not everything with animatronics will be outsourced, and that they would like to concentrate their efforts on next generation animatronics.

 

[pepe of ohio]

That is very interesting. I guess there is a reason why Disney is offering so many deals right now.
It is too bad that they might have to cut some jobs, but times are hard, and even Disney isn't immune to this recession.

Figure, I'll stay out of this.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

They also stopped the lunch character meal at Garden Grill. But I think that's it.

The characters are still there for dinner though right?

 

[kmvand1]

ah,,this isnt new,,,it is two weeks old, but thanks,

Actually this was just on AOL's headlines today.

 

[Stittsville]

Actually this was just on AOL's headlines today.

But the contents are weeks old.

 

[DaveStroem]

One thing to take note of, this report says that PROFITS are down.

Payroll, maintenance, expenses etc all come out before PROFITS. So laying people off and cutting back services is all about GREED. Yes they have stock holders to answer to, but they also have their employees and guests to answer to.

 

[d1gitman]

One thing to take note of, this report says that PROFITS are down.

Payroll, maintenance, expenses etc all come out before PROFITS. So laying people off and cutting back services is all about GREED. Yes they have stock holders to answer to, but they also have their employees and guests to answer to.

except that if they aren't profitable and operate in a fiscally responsible manner, well they could end up just like GM and Chrysler.

I suppose if i am forced to have my tax dollars going to private business for a bail out, then I would rather it be Disney. Could you just imagine your income tax return being 5 nights at Disney?

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

One thing to take note of, this report says that PROFITS are down.

Payroll, maintenance, expenses etc all come out before PROFITS. So laying people off and cutting back services is all about GREED. Yes they have stock holders to answer to, but they also have their employees and guests to answer to.

Actually net profits are what's left after all expenses (including payroll) and capital expeditures are paid. If sales are down and you don't cut these items you will have reduced profits or none at all. You have to take care of all stakeholders; employees, investors, and guests. It's a balancing act for all businesses, not just Disney.

 

[DaveStroem]

I think we are saying the same thing. The difference is that people that get laid off and that will effect them right now. A stockholder, will notice a drop in their dividend and lower share value if they sell. You only lose money when you sell it. But when you purchase stock, you know that it is a bit of a gamble. When your laid off your SOL. If you upset your guests, they may not come back next year. That would be even worse for WDW.

Again, they said that profits are down, not that they are showing a loss. In this economy is that really a surprise to anyone?

 

[d1gitman]

I'll say this in defense of Disney. While it does suck that there are many cutbacks occuring, virtually every business out there is cutting back and in many cases, just trying to hang on for dear life.

For me, the fact is this. Disney would have to fall a lot farther from grace than from what i have been reading about, for me to not want to go. While it may be disappointing that many of the special touches have been reduced or eliminated, there is still much that Disney offers in the way of quality, value and entertainment for a vacation destination.

I think that we all are guilty, at times, of not giving Disney any room to breathe and demand absolute perfection and for them to continuously top themselves. On the other hand, they have kind of set the bar for perfection, thus we expect it.

There still is no where else I would rather take my family for a vacation for what Disney costs.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

I think we are saying the same thing. The difference is that people that get laid off and that will effect them right now. A stockholder, will notice a drop in their dividend and lower share value if they sell. You only lose money when you sell it. But when you purchase stock, you know that it is a bit of a gamble. When your laid off your SOL. If you upset your guests, they may not come back next year. That would be even worse for WDW.

Again, they said that profits are down, not that they are showing a loss. In this economy is that really a surprise to anyone?

I have to respectfully disagree with you; we're not saying the same thing. You said cutbacks are greed. I'm saying well managed cutbacks are good business. Investing and employment are both risks that we all take. A business can't survive without customers, employees, or investors. They all have to be considered equal for a business to survive long term.

Perhaps if you are a sports fan you might agree that a coach has to do what is best for the team overall and not just what might benefit one player. Business is similar in that respect.

Of course you don't want to cut back just to make more money, or to the point that you run off too much of you business. However if Disney doesn't make reasonable reductions they might not survive. This is applicable to all businesses everyday not just during a down turn.

 

[kmvand1]

But the contents are weeks old.

Well some people, myself included, are just seeing this article in print for the first time today.