Nutty rumor - is it true?

[DC7800]

In the park they want you to get your food, eat, and get the heck out.

Why?

Aside from a capacity issue (which is actually only a problem during the lunch rush - after early afternoon, there are plenty of seats available) once you have entered the park and used a days purchased admission media, the only way Disney has to make more money off you is by selling you food/beverages or merchandise. They don't make a cent from you riding Space Mountain. Now, they really and desperately would like to spend a lot of your time in the many shops in the park buying things and spending money (the rationale behind FastPass), but if you're not doing that, maybe you'll buy something else to eat.

 

[Chuck S]

Why?

Aside from a capacity issue (which is actually only a problem during the lunch rush - after early afternoon, there are plenty of seats available) once you have entered the park and used a days purchased admission media, the only way Disney has to make more money off you is by selling you food/beverages or merchandise. They don't make a cent from you riding Space Mountain. Now, they really and desperately would like to spend a lot of your time in the many shops in the park buying things and spending money (the rationale behind FastPass), but if you're not doing that, maybe you'll buy something else to eat.

Not exactly true, I've seen Cosmic Ray's packed at dinner time, especially during the transition between park closing and MVMCP.

Even a 10% increase in overall profit is a substantial amount of $ for Disney...if the change would increase it that much. Several thousand $ per day. Not an amount to be taken lightly in todays economy.

 

[FireDancer]

Why?

Aside from a capacity issue

100% for the capacity issue. If someone walks into a restaurant and can't find a place to eat they won't purchase any food. With the addition of a CS free dining package the CS restaurants will start getting busy even at non peak hours so they want you in and out. It isn't for the DP people, they already paid, it will be so that those not on DP can walk in and find a place to sit.

I have the abdominal dexterity to sit without a back on my chair so I don't care. I also spend as little time as humanly possible eating while in the parks so on both accounts I won't let this enter my mind let alone ruin my trip.

 

[TDSAXX]

I don't see Disney making a whole lot more money even if they do get people in and out quicker. Think about it. If you go to McDonald's and the place is packed you leave and go to BK. If you go to Peco Bill's and it's packed you go to Columbia House or you ride Splash and come back an hour later. Disney is still going to get your money. Not many people are going to leave the park or go hungry all day.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

I can't wait for this to find its way to TS restaurants: "Excuse me, Albert, could we get another stool for our table, please?"
"Yes Sir, right away".

 

[Experiment_626]

the fact that there has been a steep and worsening decline is objective fact.

It is not "objective fact" -- it is your subjective opinion, which is the opposite of "objective fact."

This is like saying "It was literally raining cats and dogs!"

SSB

 

[ChrisFL]

It is not "objective fact" -- it is your subjective opinion, which is the opposite of "objective fact."

This is like saying "It was literally raining cats and dogs!"

SSB

If Disney charges $6 and gives you 4 chicken strips, then a year later they charge $6 and give you 3, would that not be objective fact that you get less for your money?

If Disney replaced seats with backs with stools that don't have backs, and charge the same...ahem, raise ticket prices, wouldn't that be getting less (comfort) for your money?

 

[tjkraz]

If Disney replaced seats with backs with stools that don't have backs, and charge the same...ahem, raise ticket prices, wouldn't that be getting less (comfort) for your money?

Depends upon who you ask. I suspect the person eating their dinner from a tray perched on top of a garbage can or at an outside table in 90+ degree heat doesn't really care whether there are chair backs or not.

 

[WDSearcher]

If Disney charges $6 and gives you 4 chicken strips, then a year later they charge $6 and give you 3, would that not be objective fact that you get less for your money?

That depends. What is inflation in the rest of the country like? Are the other people who used to charge $6 for 4 chicken strips still giving you 4, or are they giving you 3 as well?

Disney does not exist in a vacuum. If no one else in the world changes their prices and Disney does, then yeah ... I'm getting less for my money at Disney than anywhere else. But if things are more expensive everywhere, then I need to look at the changes in that context.

If Disney replaced seats with backs with stools that don't have backs, and charge the same...ahem, raise ticket prices, wouldn't that be getting less (comfort) for your money?

Depends on how comfortable I was in the chairs. If they gave me a solid plastic chair with a back that also had arms on it that barely allowed my Pooh-shaped body to sit down, vs. a sturdy square stool where I could ... ahem, spread out, then I'm suddenly far more comfortable than I was before.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I believe Pecos Bill's had those type of stools in that timeframe, too. I only remember eating there once, and it was either 2007 or 2008, and I seem to remember sitting on a stool...no big deal. And I know I sat on a stool for our Picnic in the Park meal at AK.

The podcasters were pretty certain Pecos Bills stools were new... and they DO go more often than most of us. Corey I think reported it.

 

[yitbos96bb]

That depends. What is inflation in the rest of the country like? Are the other people who used to charge $6 for 4 chicken strips still giving you 4, or are they giving you 3 as well?

Disney does not exist in a vacuum. If no one else in the world changes their prices and Disney does, then yeah ... I'm getting less for my money at Disney than anywhere else. But if things are more expensive everywhere, then I need to look at the changes in that context.


Depends on how comfortable I was in the chairs. If they gave me a solid plastic chair with a back that also had arms on it that barely allowed my Pooh-shaped body to sit down, vs. a sturdy square stool where I could ... ahem, spread out, then I'm suddenly far more comfortable than I was before.

Inflation STILL decreases the value... it doesn't matter if it does it for everyone. THE only aspect inflation plays is whether its a natural economic increase OR the company is greedy or poorly run.... or a bit of both.

 

[safetymom]

They used to have some stools. Now there are no chairs and they are all stools. I can remember looking for a table that had the chairs. I will report back when the chairs at Cosmic Rays go to stools.

 

[rie'smom]

But...this only works if the seating capacity is filled. Every time we go, even during Free Dining, we have had no trouble finding tables at any CS restaurant we've eaten at.

Oh well, I guess I wouldn't put it past the suits doing this...I just don't see the practicality of it.

SkierPete

The suits are not known for practicality of their ideas. It's bottom line.

I agree. But it's not really haters, more whinner's. SInce you have only 26 posts, I'll assume your new to the boards....You'll find that if Disney changes ANYTHING, you'll find people here on the boards complaining about it. And it's always Disney is dropping it's standards.
Those people will still go, and make it sound like 10, 15 or 20 years ago everything was perfect...nobody ever waited in lines, you could walk up to any resturant and sit and eat without an ADR, the place was perfect everywhere, the food was way better....ect.

Not everything was better:

I remember having to stay offsite because it took 1.5 years to get an onsite hotel reservation. The first one we were able to get was the Golf Resort-yippee

Only 1 park-MK

Most, but not all, restrooms at WDW have some shaded sitting areas nearby.

Sorry, when I read this I thought at first you meant to go sit in the bathroom for shade.

I seem to be in the minority but have no problem with this. I have a backless seat in my office because it is good for the core and posture. McDonald's found out long ago that having uncomfortable seats is good for turnover. The reason McDonald's had those hard plastic seats back in the 80's and 90's was because they want you to sit and eat and then get the heck out because you aren't too comfortable.

I don't know if they are still like that because it would require a gun to my head before I walk into a McDonald's but I wouldn't be surprised.

I think there should be some seats with backs for those with disabilities that keep them from using stools but I have no issue with this. I usually sit up without leaning back on the chairs anyway. Most people will not really notice. The vast majority of guests don't go onto message boards and probably won't even noticed the change because they haven't been there in 5 years and can't remember what the chairs were like when they were there back then.

Can you just hear the sniping? " I saw someone at Pecos Bills sitting in a chair with a back and I know they did not have a disability." Chuck and safetymom, get ready.

They used to have some stools. Now there are no chairs and they are all stools. I can remember looking for a table that had the chairs. I will report back when the chairs at Cosmic Rays go to stools.

Sorry, this is OT- You're grand babies are beautiful!

 

[meowmarie]

Well I hope the rumors aren't true BUT I can see two sides to this story.

I think Disney is probably thinking more about customer satisfaction here, and less about profits. I could be wrong but let me explain my thinking. I don't know how much extra profit they could make by doing this. I mean we are a captive audience, we have to eat somewhere lol. Even if it gets people out the door quicker, the same number of people still have to eat at some point, right? Especially if they are on the dining plan. They are pushing the dining plans so hard and giving it away for free as well, it's not like they are going to lose money on those people, they've already paid for the food so they're going to find somewhere to eat. People will either wait or go to another CS I would think. If someone is going to leave the park to find somewhere to eat, chances are they would have done that anyways. If it's about profits, it's probably more about getting people out the door to spend their money elsewhere in Disney, rather than the profits of the actual restaurant IMO.

I think getting people out the door quicker would help customer satisfaction. I had a hard time finding a place to sit at several places on our trip last year. Some people were just sitting in the air conditioning and resting and not even ordering anything, or just a soda. Or maybe they had already ate and were just hanging out longer. That was frustrating since I was standing there holding a tray of food getting cold lol. So honestly if it deters people from doing that or getting out the door quicker I'm all for it. Yeah I'd prefer to have chairs with backs, but I can see their point.

Another thing to consider is the plus size crowd. When those chairs with backs have the "wrap around" or curved style back, sometimes larger people just can't sit in them. Trust me I know, and I'm not even that big. So I think stools would help in that aspect, and at least they're padded. At least they are at Pecos Bills.

As for young children, I assume they are going to keep the rolling high chairs so that should work for them. I do feel badly for those that NEED the chair backs. I am assuming Disney would keep some "real chairs" that you could request, how could they not? And some places do have some booths, hopefully they'll at least keep those. (And hopefully you won't have to make ADR's for them! )

The bottom line is, I hope the pros out-weight the cons with the stools. Pecos Bills was usually busy on our trip last year, they had stools then, so the stools don't seem to be bothering people enough to stay away from there. OH and I did find an interesting pic from Pecos Bills circa 1985... look, stools! lol And omg they look way less comfortable that the ones now.