Post here regarding WDW cutbacks, changes & Complaints

[madcoco]

I will find it very hard to criticize WDW reguarding cutbacks,cleanliness etc. Just returning from a sidetrip to SF Magic Mountain,Wouldn't even know where to start or finish plus my 5 day old car was hit and run in the parking lot.Makes us appreciate Disney a whole lot more.

 

[atigeg]

Wow, I was wondering how things were going at WDW and found this thread while posting for an Illuminations cruise...I'm glad there are others who feel the way I do! We haven't been to WDW in a year, and we were not planning to visit this year, due to all the changes and cutbacks. They were bad enough prior to 9/11, and afterwards we realized that it was even worse. We did a cruise on the Wonder and then a weed art WDW last year, which we traditionally do each Labor Day week., but we were so dissapointed that we switched to three back-to-back cruises on the Wonder this year, with no time at WDW at all. Now we might be going because I'll (hopefully) be in Orlando on business in October. It will be interesting to see if there have been any changes for the better. At least Figment is back (although from what I understand, he's pretty much just shoved into the new ride). Oh well, if nothing else, at least we'll get to see the 100 Years celebration, and if it's bad, that will just reconfirm our decision to focus on Disney cruises instead of WDW (23 cruises and counting!).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[chrissy41678]

My first trip to WDW will be in Sept and has been planned for sometime now. We will be there Sunday - Friday and I can't believe I won't be able to experience Spectromagic & Fantasy in the Sky! I had no idea until I checked the hours on the website. I feel like I'm missing out - especially being my first trip. I'm sure we'll still have a great time, but I'm just a little bummed.

Chrissy

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by chrissy41678
I had no idea until I checked the hours on the website. I feel like I'm missing out - especially being my first trip. I'm sure we'll still have a great time, but I'm just a little bummed.

Chrissy

Chrisy,

Sorry you'll miss them. Just so you'll know, only having these events on weekend are not due to cutbacks but a standard offseason schedule. Last year the did do FITS on the Tuesdays.

 

[Tara8595]

For those of you who think Disney's economic status is really just a 'figment'...
------------------------------------------------------------

Disney plunges 9% after profit news
By Jon Friedman, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 4:27 PM ET Aug. 2, 2002

BURBANK, Calif. (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Walt Disney plunged 9 percent after the entertainment and media giant reported a 31 percent drop in profits in the third quarter and warned that light theme-park business will probably hurt its fourth-quarter results.

Disney, a Dow 30 component (DIS: news, chart, profile), fell $1.52, or 9 percent, to $15.31.

Late Thursday afternoon, Disney executives said the company's theme-park business continues to grope with the impact of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and the U.S. recession.

Disney Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs called the decline in theme-park attendance the "principal driver" that could disrupt the company's fourth-quarter results.

Quarterly net income for Disney was $364 million, or 18 cents a share, down from $527 million, or 25 cents, a year earlier. Disney's results were generally in line with what Wall Street had expected.......

........In the theme-park sector, revenue tumbled 5 percent to $1.8 billion, as operating income dropped 17 percent to $467 million from last year's $560 million.

---------------------------------------------
So... Disney's not joking when they say they had to make cuts for economic reasons. Check out their 3rd quarter statement here: http://disney.go.com/corporate/investors/financials/pdfs/2002_q3.pdf - for more understanding about why Disney has had to cut back hours, close some attractions, etc.

They're seriously hurting. So those of you who choose to 'send a message' with your wallet, are not going to make matters better, you'll just make them worse.

If you want to make things better in the long run, go and enjoy - it's still Disney and plenty of magic is there. So are the discounts. The quicker attendance gets back to normal, the sooner things can go back to the way they were. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by staying away until recovery happens. If everyone did that, there would be no WDW. What a shame that would be.

Tara

 

[Disney1]

I'm staying away because I am finding good deals at other resorts where there are no crowds and better food. $160 a night at the Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach where the service and food is really 5 star. Now that's the way to vacation.

 

[BrennyK]

In reading posts on these boards it saddens me to think of what others (who've been to WDW in the past) are missing. We're going to WDW in mid. Oct. and are really looking forward to "Experiencing the Magic" for the 1st time! I read about others "boycotting" WDW and think to myself, what am I going to be missing? Are things that much worse than they were? Then I realize, I'll be missing nothing -- I'm going to WDW! I'm just thrilled to be able to go, with park hours cut, EE gone and all! Just think of all the people (like me) who've never been. Who'd be thrilled to be able to go, just once even, to be able to afford it. Hopefully the "Magic" is still there and will always be there!

And I agree with TARA8595 and others who say staying away makes it worse. The sooner the crowds pick up, the sooner things can get back to normal!

 

[The Duchess]

We're visiting over Halloween week and not skimping at all on our vacation. My philosophy is that your vacation is the last place to try to stick to a budget!!
I will have to wait and see if any of these cutbacks/issues are real or imagined.
Also, we have quite a bit of Disney stock and we are holding on to it for the long run. I believe Disney is a great American Icon that will outlast all this.
I can't really think of another vacation spot I would choose to go to that has so much to do. So many people poo-poo Disney as just being MK but we have so much planned, I was unable to pack it into 7 days and 8 nights!! We're trying to squeeze in parks, parades, restraunts, mini-golf, horseback riding, boating, firework cruises, Disney Quest, golf lessons, spa visits, tours, etc...etc...
Next vacation, we're planning on a Disney Cruise, but I can't imagine only three or four days at the Parks!!

 

[mykidsmom]

We just arrived back Tuesday (8/1 - 8/6). I, too, was worried about how to fight the crowds since EE had been taken away. But I did NOT miss it! It was very nice to not have to wake up so early. As long as we were there right at opening, we were able to do all the major attractions before the crowds arrived between 11 and 12. I even liked the heat - we always went back to swim in the afternoon and it was so refreshing.

The Beach Club was great. Because of some posts on the resorts board, I was worried about cutbacks here too. I was aware that it was in need of some repair so I noticed some of the need, however it is still a beautiful resort with excellent service.

Needless to say, we truly felt the Magic and had a wonderful time.

 

[JRinCO]

Don't sweat all the hubbub about cutbacks. We just got back and also enjoyed sleeping later than with the EE. The lines were short so we never had to wait for rides.

Go and enjoy, and stay on site so you can enjoy easy access to the parks.

 

[Mustangdi]

I am glad that I check the forums for all the
WDW info that I can find. I am simply disgusted
to see that the park hours have been cut again.
This will be a first trip for my son and his
family. I made res. at the AKL months ago and I
thought this was going to be a well planned and
perfect trip. At this point I am undecided about
keeping the AKL res. and I still have time to
cancel and get offsite rooms before we go. What a
mess, help I am needing a touch of magic to
help make my decision.

 

[sandyrob]

Mustangdi: We know how you're feeling. We're leaving for WDW next week. We had planned to stay on site, but when we learned they no longer offer EE and you have to pay for e-ride nights, we moved to HIFS. We were never impressed by the room itself at Disney and only used the transportation once; we found it was easier to get around using our vehicle and parking in the AAA lot. We figured the only advantage of staying on site was free parking. We opted spend the same amount on the room, but go off site and get something a little larger that would better accomodate our family of five (something that is hard for Disney to do at a moderate price resort).

Now that we have a plan of attack, we're ready to go and have fun in spite of the cut in park hours.

 

[Mustangdi]

Sandyrob, thanks for this idea. I am going to
check out HIFS. I know that we could use some
extra room. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[sandyrob]

Mustangdi,

Here's the website for HIFS:

www.hifamilysuites.com

I think there are a couple "specials" that are not listed on the website. They list a family special, but it has expired. When I called for reservations, I asked if they had specials similar to those that had expired on their web page, and they did. Breakfast there is free for the entire family. DIS posters had only good things to say about the hotel and the breakfast buffet.

This site shows the different Kidsuites that are available. If the family has young children, be sure to ask for a room by the family pool.

There is a 21-day advance reservation rate that is pretty good, but it cannot be cancelled.

 

[buzz2400]

I just came back from 6 days at WDW. I stayed at All Star Music. What a waste of money. You don't have time to take a break from the park. You have to be there when it opens and stay the whole day at the park to see everything. We got back to our room around 10:30 everynight and we were too tired to swim in the pool. Did not have to time to waste with the character caravan. We stayed offsite the first night and the room was half the price, same kind of pool, had a frig and microwave and they served a free breakfast. Unless WDW comes back with EE, it is not worth staying on site. Also there was not a lot of characters in the parks. Went two years ago and you saw characters every where. This time they were only at selected places for short times. It makes me sick that I spent all that money (and had a terrible time). Universal here I come!!!!

 

[RegularGuy]

I haven't been to WDW in 4 years, but am planning a trip in November. As a result, I'm not a regular here, but have just sort of discovered this board. I've been through much of this thread and am, quite frankly, a little embarrassed and (and this is too strong a word, but in the right ballpark) horrified.

We all lost an awful lot on September 11, some more than others. Early entry and longer park hours are on that list, but pretty darn far down it. I suspect Disney would just love it if business was good enough to pay for EE or extended hours. They are not doing what they are doing to screw anyone deliberately.

I understand the disappointment. Loss sucks. Whether it's something major or just a nice theme park perk that you've come to enjoy. I don't really have a problem with messages about calling Michael Eisner on the telephone to complain about EE. But what surprises me here is a little bit of insensitivity. Let's not forge how extraordinary some of the posts here might seem to those who would give virtually everything they have to say the only thing they lost on September 11 was Early Entry. Just a thought.

 

[madcoco]

Well said and how quickly we forget.

 

[denisenh]

I hope that I am not setting myself up or causing trouble.... I don't intend to at all. I just feel like I need to speak up.

RegularGuy, welcome! I understand where you are coming from, I really, really do.
A lot of these posts are such seemingly insignificant burps in the tummy of life, as many of our problems in life as a whole are. People know that.
We all have little problems and complaints and big problems and complaints .
This thread isn't compairing these Disney issues to 9-11 or the incredible losses incurred on that unspeakably tragic day.
Please don't interrpret this as being insensitive because the problem of the day or hour is just a little one.
May all your troubles be little ones.

 

[RegularGuy]

We all have little problems and complaints and big problems and complaints

You know, the more that I think about it, the more I realize that's a great point. Heck, I get annoyed that lines in airports are longer, but it doesn't mean I'm forgetting that others have much bigger problems. The internet is a great forum for all gripes, big and small.

I guess I was reacting mostly to some of the early posts in this thread from right after Septemebr 11. It seemed that alot of people are angry at Disney, without really even understanding the tie to September 11.

Thirty percent of disney's business is the theme parks and associated revenue. If you count only the 2 to 3 million fewer visitors, that's about $300 million solely in lost park revenue (in tickets plus the approximately $50-$75 that each average guest spends in the parks in an average day). Take into account the drop in hotel bookings, the need to put more discounted rooms out there, and the fewer cross-selling opportunities, and September 11 turns out to be a billion dollar day for Disney. There aren't a whole lot of ways to fix something like that. One small way is to reduce park hours, so that in less busy times, the price of each ticket pays for fewer hours. The flip side to the disappointment is that, thankfully, Disney is generally very fiscally responsible -- the anti-Enron -- and so should be able to weather this storm in a way that other companies might not. In the long run, that's a good thing for all disney lovers.

I'm NOT trying to make this thread political. My point is only that before anyone gets too angry at Disney, recognize that a much bigger portion of the blame should go to those who were responsible for the attacks. I guess it's just a reminder of how much was lost on that day, big and little. I'll shut up now.

 

[yup I'm Goofy's sis]

I agree with JRinCO--we also just returned from week on-site at POR, and had a great trip. Since our last trip was in '98, we had never enjoyed FastPass before now--that made all the difference! We found the first hour in the Magic Kingdom to be just as uncrowded as on an old EE day, and we were actually conscious to enjoy it!

We also enjoyed the little bit later start in the mornings, and made the choice to relax and take advantage of some of the resort amenities for a change. I think the close proximity and atmosphere of being in the resorts are more valuable than ever. It's so interesting to see reports from people who were there at the same time, and had such different experiences.

As the song goes, " there's more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done..." Isn't that wonderful?