News Round Up 2018

[Amy11401]

News

More cuts, Rafikis Planet Watch is going seasonal...

Do you know when this is going to start? This is one of my son's major requests for our trip in mid October. He loves trains and snakes. I think when I checked on the schedule this morning these experiences were open for the date we will be there.

 

[j2thomason]

I thought the pirate tutorial was cute... did always seem to have a crowd gathered for it. But I really wonder how many people actually were going to Rafiki. Even those who like it -- how frequently did you actually go?

I'm an annual passholder and 4-6 times a year. Of the 30ish times I've been to AK I've been to Rafiki's Planet Watch twice.

 

[koala1966]

I thought the pirate tutorial was cute... did always seem to have a crowd gathered for it. But I really wonder how many people actually were going to Rafiki. Even those who like it -- how frequently did you actually go?

We go to Rafiki's Planet watch almost every visit. The kids love the Wilderness Explorer activities, character greetings, and the petting zoo, and we like the vet procedures. Plus the train ride is nice.There are always people there when we go.

 

[rteetz]

Do you know when this is going to start? This is one of my son's major requests for our trip in mid October. He loves trains and snakes. I think when I checked on the schedule this morning these experiences were open for the date we will be there.

September 29th is the last day.

 

[Amy11401]

September 29th is the last day.

For Rafiki's planet watch too?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Disney won't confirm cuts like this. Much of this is on the hub and/or being told by cast working these places. I wouldn't expect them to return either.

Things like this have been said a lot over the years when they flex down due to economy, attendance, whatever. And eventually different new offerings come up or they do add back in some players in different roles. While I feel badly for those who don't have another position with Disney at this point, this seems to me to be part of working in this industry.

 

[rteetz]

For Rafiki's planet watch too?

All of these cuts go into effect the 30th so the 29th is the last day of operation.

 

[rteetz]

Things like this have been said a lot over the years when they flex down due to economy, attendance, whatever. And eventually different new offerings come up or they do add back in some players in different roles. While I feel badly for some who don't have another position with Disney at this point, this seems to me to be part of working in this industry.

I understand but a lot of these cuts are little things that make Disney what it is. The Citizens of Hollywood for example have been quite popular and were part of the theme of Sunset/Hollywood at DHS.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I understand but a lot of these cuts are little things that make Disney what it is. The Citizens of Hollywood for example have been quite popular and were part of the theme of Sunset/Hollywood at DHS.

And this is said every time, too. Then eventually they add back in new "little things that make Disney what it is". It's par for the course. Cyclical, almost. I guess I'm just saying it's typical -- ebbs and flows -- and not a dramatic end to something that has always been.

We could search DIS and find these exact same discussions during the Great Recession. Then more "color" like this was added back in.

 

[rteetz]

And this is said every time, too. Then eventually they add back in new "little things that make Disney what it is". It's par for the course.

We will have to agree to disagree here. Disney isn't losing money by any means but I guess they have to pay for that Fox deal some how.

 

[Amy11401]

All of these cuts go into effect the 30th so the 29th is the last day of operation.

I just checked on the websites for attractions and now this afternoon Rafikis planet, etc is no longer listed....it now says schedule unavailable. So they just pulled it from this morning. The Boneyard is also listed the same way and it was listed as open this morning....so I wonder if staffing for that is also being cut and that will only be open seasonally?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We will have to agree to disagree here. Disney isn't losing money by any means but I guess they have to pay for that Fox deal some how.

It's not quite a matter of agreeing to disagree on all of this -- if you search DIS way back to when I first joined these exact same discussions were taking place with a different impetus (recession). And then the little things were added back in. That's just history -- not really an opinion.

I guess it might be seen as a matter of opinion whether they should offset for the Fox deal at all? That just doesn't strike me as realistic.

 

[rteetz]

I just checked on the websites for attractions and now this afternoon Rafikis planet, etc is no longer listed....it now says schedule unavailable. So they just pulled it from this morning. The Boneyard is also listed the same way and it was listed as open this morning....so I wonder if staffing for that is also being cut and that will only be open seasonally?

I haven't heard anything regarding that.

 

[j2thomason]

I understand but a lot of these cuts are little things that make Disney what it is. The Citizens of Hollywood for example have been quite popular and were part of the theme of Sunset/Hollywood at DHS.

I'm sure it's a budget move, I am also shocked that they would take away anything from DHS before SWGE opens.

 

[rteetz]

It's not quite a matter of agreeing to disagree on all of this -- if you search DIS way back to when I first joined these exact same discussions were taking place with a different impetus (recession). And then the little things were added back in. That's just history -- not really an opinion.

I guess it might be seen as a matter of opinion whether they should offset for the Fox deal at all? That just doesn't strike me as realistic.

In the example of the Citizens of Hollywood they cut a good portion but not all of it. So why not just cut them all? They aren't hiring new cast for it as far as I am aware. Disney shouldn't have to make cuts to things that work and work well. And if they don't work replace it with something new. Now with the seasonal Rafikis Planet Watch the train and building will sit empty other than the animal hospital when they need it for procedures.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

In the example of the Citizens of Hollywood they cut a good portion but not all of it. So why not just cut them all? They aren't hiring new cast for it as far as I am aware. Disney shouldn't have to make cuts to things that work and work well. And if they don't work replace it with something new. Now with the seasonal Rafikis Planet Watch the train and building will sit empty other than the animal hospital when they need it for procedures.

I don't see anything wrong with either of these things.

And I disagree entirely with this: "Disney shouldn't have to make cuts to things that work and work well." Maybe they have survey data that suggests it'll work just as well with half the staff. Maybe they just want to cut costs now for larger reasons and will add them back in later. Maybe they have other things in mind to introduce later that might work better than "well".

There are such greater forces at work than what we have visibility into. I just think it's silly to draw definitive judgments without any of that knowledge. We can like or hate the changes, but I don't see how we can really judge their wisdom in any informed way.

That's just my take after seeing many cuts and new offerings over 13+ years. And whatever business school, MSF and some business experience is or isn't worth -- in the eye of the beholder, I'm sure! I'll leave it there.

 

[rteetz]

I don't see anything wrong with either of these things.

And I disagree entirely with this: "Disney shouldn't have to make cuts to things that work and work well." Maybe they have survey data that suggests it'll work just as well with half the staff. Maybe they just want to cut costs now for larger reasons and will add them back in later. Maybe they have other things in mind to introduce later that might work better than "well".

There are such greater forces at work than what we have visibility into. I just think it's silly to draw definitive judgments without any of that knowledge. We can like or hate the changes, but I don't see how we can really judge their wisdom in any informed way.

That's just my take after seeing many cuts and new offerings over 13+ years. I'll leave it there.

Not sure why empty areas are okay but whatever. And if things are coming why not introduce it when this ends? Its all about cutting costs for the end of the fiscal year. Its not about the long term entertainment plans.

Yep agree to disagree.

 

[ejgonz2]

I just checked on the websites for attractions and now this afternoon Rafikis planet, etc is no longer listed....it now says schedule unavailable. So they just pulled it from this morning. The Boneyard is also listed the same way and it was listed as open this morning....so I wonder if staffing for that is also being cut and that will only be open seasonally?

I can’t imagine the boneyard going away. It can’t cost much and Pluto now meets there.

 

[skier_pete]

This all happens every year end of September and it's a shame every year. None worse than the year they closed Pleasure Island.

We really like Rafiki's planet watch but now that DD is a teenager we rarely get out there. Honestly it's the time involved, since with the train ride back and forth you need to plan at least an hour plus to go out there and we never seem to have the time to do it. The fact that it is going seasonal though isn't necessarily the end of the world. They may pull it back to full time if the crowds start rolling in with Star Wars land starting up. Remember when they cut Fantasmic to only 2-3 times a week?

Losing more citizens of hollywood is sad, but not a shocker. They cut some last year too, seems to be a slow death going on there.

Pirates tutorial surprises me, with only really two CM how much money are they saving here? Hope the new muppets show survives at MK - they could certainly cut that with little "Cost" to the crowds. Compared to the cost of cutting "Move it, shake it" which is dozens of CM.

Would be VERY surprise they close the boneyard - unless the lawyers do that.

I would also expect that this has not been the last cut. At least one M&G will bite the dust. And we haven't heard from Epcot yet.

 

[JK World]

News

Another cut, Ending September 29th is the Captain Jack Sparrow Pirate Tutorial at MK.

They are ruining my trip plans for Halloween! We were going to do this, MISI, and Rafiki's Planet Watch!