News Round Up 2017

[rteetz]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...o-begin-feb-7-at-contemporary-and-yacht-club/

Express Fresh room service option running at the Yacht Club and Contemporary from February 7th to April 1st.

Not sure how this differs from regular room service..?

Quicker and easier food options. Probably cheaper too.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2017/02/express-fresh-test-begins-feb-7-at.html?m=1

 

[writerguyfl]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...o-begin-feb-7-at-contemporary-and-yacht-club/

Express Fresh room service option running at the Yacht Club and Contemporary from February 7th to April 1st. Not sure how this differs from regular room service..?

I'd guess that this is modeled after Marriott's Fresh Bites program. Fresh Bites uses disposable packaging, which means the hotel doesn't have to stock, store, or keep track of those clunky room service carts. It also cuts down on labor because no one has to return to the room to remove the cart or wash the dishes.

I am a member of a frequent travel website that operates a forum like this one. Of the people that have tried Fresh Bites, virtually everyone dislikes it. They say that it isn't really room service...it's take out food. And at Marriott, you end up paying the same fees that come with "regular" room service.

Quicker and easier food options. Probably cheaper too.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2017/02/express-fresh-test-begins-feb-7-at.html?m=1

The Marriott version is not really any cheaper. The fees are the same and prices are equivalent to standard room service.

 

[rteetz]

I'd guess that this is modeled after Marriott's Fresh Bites program. Fresh Bites uses disposable packaging, which means the hotel doesn't have to stock, store, or keep track of those clunky room service carts. It also cuts down on labor because no one has to return to the room to remove the cart or wash the dishes.

I am a member of a frequent travel website that operates a forum like this one. Of the people that have tried Fresh Bites, virtually everyone dislikes it. They say that it isn't really room service...it's take out food. And at Marriott, you end up paying the same fees that come with "regular" room service.



The Marriott version is not really any cheaper. The fees are the same and prices are equivalent to standard room service.

I meant cheaper in terms of costs for Disney since it's quick and easy to make food.

 

[Sweettears]

So I am not even half way through Disney War yet but something that relates to today's Disney already caught my attention. Michael Eisner and Frank Wells nearly had a deal with Marriot and Tishman to create new hotels for WDW. Card Walker always said they were in the theme park business not the hotel business which kind of led to this. Anyways moving forward the deal never happened and Eisner lured Marriot's CFO away to Disney, Gary Wilson. What was the first thing he did? Raise theme park ticket prices... Something Walker was opposed to during the Miller tenure. Direct quote from the book "The increase had little impact on the number of visitors to the parks. Indeed, the only thing that surprised him was how much guests were willing to pay."

That mentality has stayed with TWDC for now about 30 years. Prices go up, and people still pay it with little to no affect on attendance.

I don't recall the exact timing of when this exchange took place but I believe that subsequent to this is when they added quite a bit to the parks in response.

 

[Sweettears]

I haven't yet read a Korkis book but I love listening to podcasts that he is on. He is a wealth of Disney information.

They are definitely worth reading. Informative with inside info but not overbearing.

 

[Sweettears]

Your last point is the most important ... and, for those first time visitors, I think the biggest impact is if their friends come back and start saying "eh, it was ok, but not as great as I remember it being" that is really going to impact if they go or not. Right now I still think there is that feeling of a trip to WDW being a "rite of passage" that everyone needs to do at least once ... but what if that changes?

I think that this is the greatest danger.

 

[Sweettears]

I think the mentality of you gotta go at least once is something more recent. My family is an exception as I am sure many of us here are. My mom starting going in 1973 and went every year until she was 18. We had cousins go to WDW in January. They were your typical once in a lifetime visitors. They have never been, family of five, stayed at AoA, dining plan, etc. The kids enjoyed it very much but I think you could tell it was almost an exhausting vacation. They didn't plan FP 60 days in advance and only had a couple ADRs. They had fun but I don't think they will go again or at least for a long time.

I agree. My first trip was in college. We camped for a couple of days. Went to MK and River Country. It was fun but not a big deal. That was in th 70s. I didn't go back until 1995.

 

[rteetz]

I don't recall the exact timing of when this exchange took place but I believe that subsequent to this is when they added quite a bit to the parks in response.

This exchange was prior to that. This happened all right after Eisner took over.

 

[Sweettears]

This exchange was prior to that. This happened all right after Eisner took over.

I think it's a compelling story and if I remember this move wasn't as much about a money grab as it was as pricing to value. After all it's back when Disney was honing and perfecting their service model and culture. Seems whimsical in retrospect.

 

[rteetz]

I think it's a compelling story and if I remember this move wasn't as much about a money grab as it was as pricing to value. After all it's back when Disney was honing and perfecting their service model and culture. Seems whimsical in retrospect.

If only they could go back to that perfection and more value for your buck.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Speaking of which, does anyone know another location where they sell the butterfinger cupcake? Asking for a friend

I think I read that it was also at the Starbucks location in DHS, but I have not done it myself so not 100% sure.

I expect they would make some of the most popular items available elsewhere, like they added the carrot cake cookie to Sweet Spells when Writer's Stop closed.

 

[luisov]

Not sure if already posted, but enjoy!

 

[WooPigScientist]

I agree with that but I will add that no one around me growing up viewed WDW as a rite of passage. Frankly no one I knew growing up went to it. We grew up on Disney don't get me wrong (hello it was the 90s/early 2000s) but people didn't talk about when they were planning their WDW trip. Instead people were talking about when they were going to the Lake (meaning the Ozarks) or Branson or to an extent with those whose families had a bit more money when are we going skiing in Colorado. I know that a bit of that is what is near us. Plan a WDW trip or go to Worlds of Fun in a 45min-ish drive if you need your amusement park fix....plan a USO trip or drive 3-3 1/2 hrs and go to Six Flags St. Louis or Silver Dollar City. Granted this is just my experience with just those around me. My neighbor did go last year to WDW and he was sorta like "ehh it was alright but I think the kids would have been fine not going"

I do agree though there is that mentality of "you gotta go at least once in your lifetime" in certain areas and like you I do wonder what happens if/when that changes.

You must live very near us - I see the same thing. We are SE Missouri. And like rteetz said, maybe it's more recent. I grew up with lots of Disney cartoons in the 80s/90s, butnever went myself until I was about 28. But I have small children now who I've brought to WDW twice, and still don't see/hear the "rite of passage" stuff. I know a lot of people who have gone, but it's not "expected," I guess you'd say? So, like you, I'm thinking region plays a factor too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You must live very near us - I see the same thing. We are SE Missouri. And like rteetz said, maybe it's more recent. I grew up with lots of Disney cartoons in the 80s/90s, butnever went myself until I was about 28. But I have small children now who I've brought to WDW twice, and still don't see/hear the "rite of passage" stuff. I know a lot of people who have gone, but it's not "expected," I guess you'd say? So, like you, I'm thinking region plays a factor too.

I live in KC but yeah we're basically in the same region. You make a good point about going but not having been expected on going.

Personally I would love to be able to take my children (who btw I don't even have yet lol) to Disney multiple times but my husband doesn't have as strong of an opinion about going vs not going. Aside from going with me in 2011 the last time he had gone was 14 or so years before that and it was the only time he had ever been.

 

[soniam]

Thats my fiancé . We were at Nomad Lounge tonight around dusk. Talking to the CM there she was saying how they just started some of the broader light testing. We were able to see quite a variety of color combinations. Looked very cool!

Was your server Alexandria, dark curly hair always with a huge smile? She has been our server twice at Nomad Lounge. Love her and that place.

 

[Candlelady]

News

Starring Rolls Cafe is closing tomorrow

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/02/starring-rolls-cafe-hollywood-studios-closing-tomorrow/

Could they possibly be expanding the Brown Derby Lounge? We love to stop and have drinks and appetizers, but most of the time there's a wait for one of the few tables to open up. It's always busy from what we've experienced. More seats + more liquor = more $$$ for Disney.

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

A look at Paddlefish

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/padd...sh-restaurant,-now-open-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[Harry Wallace]

Photo update

A look at Paddlefish

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/padd...sh-restaurant,-now-open-at-disney-springs.htm

Well let me just say that they have done an amazing job on Paddlefish! It looks absolutely stunning and based on the looks, may be the nicest at DS

Can't wait to try this in June!

 

[Travis B]

Well let me just say that they have done an amazing job on Paddlefish! It looks absolutely stunning and based on the looks, may be the nicest at DS

Can't wait to try this in June!

i have to agree. I've never tried it as Fulton's so I have nothing to compare to, but it really is gorgeous. And the views!

 

[Harry Wallace]

Not sure if y'all have seen these already, but here's the newly refurbished Yacht Club rooms: http://allears.net/acc/g_yc.htm