Oh No - One Group Does Menu Planning

[TheRustyScupper]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co said on Wednesday it will consolidate some "back of house" operations, including menu planning and ride design, at its two U.S. theme parks to try to offset the effects of the global economic downturn.

The reorganization is effective immediately and will result in new job cuts, but the company would not specify how many.

Disney Parks Chairman Jay Rasulo said "economic realities" required the company to focus and streamline its operations in a way that "eliminates redundancies."

Earlier this month, Disney's parks division reported a 24 percent drop in quarterly operating income and a 4 percent revenue decline in part due to slowing consumer spending.

The new organization calls for Walt Disney Imagineering, the parks' engineering and design teams, to be consolidated into a single group that handles attractions for all parks.

The company also will create a single domestic group to handle behind-the-scenes services such as maintenance, menu planning and security, for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Last month, Disney Parks and Resorts offered voluntary buyouts to 600 parks executives at the U.S. parks to trim its administrative costs as hotel bookings slipped at its parks.

The company received "a satisfactory response" to that offer but did not divulge the number of executive positions that would be eliminated.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Who didn't see this brilliant move coming?

Flying Fish, Artist Point, Jiko, Citrico's ... Kiss what was left of them goodbye. Hello Big Mac's!!!

Eisner, Eisner, Eisner ... Where are you? Look what this moron Iger is doing to what was once a pretty respectable part of the Disney organization. Hey Iger, how much did you make last year?

I didn't think Disney dining could get worse but now just wait for the departure of the Disney chef's as soon as the economy turns and they can find better jobs. Disney has no cred in any sector at this point. I hate, hate, hate this saying but truely, Walt must be rolling over in his grave.

 

[Scurvy]

Well, at least we won't have to stress about getting our ADRs before each trip any longer. And my family spends far too much money on food when we visit the parks, so this might help with that as well.

The menus are already homogenized enough; they don't need to dumb them down any more!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Well, at least we won't have to stress about getting our ADRs before each trip any longer. And my family spends far too much money on food when we visit the parks, so this might help with that as well.

The menus are already homogenized enough; they don't need to dumb them down any more!

Oh boy you are absolutely right.

During our December trip we dined at Boatrights at Riverside before we spent the evening laughing with BOB in the lounge.

The following night we had ADR's for Cindy's castle. Besides making me park my scooter outside the castle and walking to the elevator (injured achilles tendon was still dangerous to walk on), oh yes, passed up on the photo with Cindy......once we were seated we noticed the menu was almost identical to the night before....just more $$$$......even down to the recommendations from the server.

We were poilite....but we left and they refunded our $$$$.

After the disaster with Le Cellier we finally realized what everyone was talking about with the dining opportunities at WDW sliding downhill.


It's a shame....Disney worked so hard to overcome the deserved reputation for bad food and now they are going down the slipery hill again.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Oh boy you are absolutely right.

During our December trip we dined at Boatrights at Riverside before we spent the evening laughing with BOB in the lounge.

The following night we had ADR's for Cindy's castle. Besides making me park my scooter outside the castle and walking to the elevator (injured achilles tendon was still dangerous to walk on), oh yes, passed up on the photo with Cindy......once we were seated we noticed the menu was almost identical to the night before....just more $$$$......even down to the recommendations from the server.

We were poilite....but we left and they refunded our $$$$.

After the disaster with Le Cellier we finally realized what everyone was talking about with the dining opportunities at WDW sliding downhill.


It's a shame....Disney worked so hard to overcome the deserved reputation for bad food and now they are going down the slipery hill again.

This is one of the areas (dining) where Eisner was good for Disney (and the Resorts). He is an upper crusty muckity muck and nice hotels and fine dining were important to him (at one time at least). Iger is a pencil pushing geek who, aside from supposedly being a real nice guy, just doesn't get it.

I guess the buffets like Boma, Cape May and 'Ohana are going to once again be the best Disney has to offer.

 

[lugnut33]

Dine Off Property!!!

 

[JDinCO]

Maybe simplifying will make it better. If they keep it to the KISS principle.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Not a good sign to be sure. Might wind up with every restaurant being virtually the same.
This might be a good one for the restaurants board, if it isn't there already----.

 

[doconeill]

They already had a consolidated menu group at WDW - they are just eliminating positions by merging with the same group at DL.

There is always the possibility that those let go were the ones that decided on the homogenization of food in the first place...

 

[Colleen27]

There is always the possibility that those let go were the ones that decided on the homogenization of food in the first place...

Now that's looking on the bright side.

 

[Snowgod]

Having just returned from the World last week, I can tell you that the restaurants have all cut the available options. Example: Last year at CG, my DW who is a vegan was able to get a large variety of options for her meal including tofu and fresh vegetables. This year there were no options that were not part of the regular menus list of ingredients. The ability of restaurants to accommodate people with dietary needs looks to be the first casualty. This also was the case at other restaurants my DW used to love for their ability to come up with meals for her. This year the only restaurants that were able to make changes for her were non-Disney places like the RFC and the HOB.