Post here regarding WDW cutbacks, changes & Complaints

[jdads2]

We just got back from our first trip.

A couple of things about this being a first trip:

1. We never had any hope of seeing all that we wanted to because we hadn't seen anything.

2. We didn't have first hand knowledge of the benefits of EE days so we didn't know what we were missing.

That being said, we saw more than we ever hoped to see. Even with the decrease in hours we never felt that we missed something because hours were shorter or staffing was down. If anything we probably saw more and had more personal care because attendance levels were so low.

You may ask that how I can compare my singular experience to anything. I can't. What I can say is that my family wanted for nothing. When we wanted something we got it immediately or certainly within a resonable amount of time (less than 10 minutes). This includes beverages at dinner, towels at the pool, rides to ride on or shows to watch. It was like WDW was open for us and a few friends.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We have provided this thread as a place to post concerns regarding the recent WDW cutbacks. This is NOT the Debate Board however and regular board Posting Guidelines apply here.

Personal attacks in particular will not be allowed here and will be deleted by the moderators.

We respectfully request that DIS Posting Guidelines be followed in order to keep this thread active and open for discussion. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation in this regard.

The Moderators of Theme Park Attractions & Strategies.

 

[eeyore0062]

RaiderMatt, you did a wonderful job showing the profitability, or lack thereof of EE mornings. Bravo to you

 

[tarzanman]

Disney is doing everything it can to keep all of our park experiences magical. It is actually quite a feat condidering what they are going through. Consider this article from Reuters.

http://yahoo.smartmoney.com/bn/RC/index.cfm?story=RC-20011108-N08111262

Keep up the good work Eisner!

 

[Maridw]

100AcreWoodFriend,
I don't know where you got that MGM is closing at 6:30. According to WDW official page, the hours are until 7 pm. All others have changed as you stated, and they had been the old hours until recently. I checked one day and they were still at the old hours. The next day they were at the new hours. My sister did the same. We are both going together and comparing our park schedules.


I had also written to WDW from their page and have yet to receive a reply. I was commenting on how with the Caravan of Characters and no EE, they have taken something away from the guests of Shades of Green. Shades of Green has always been treated as a regular WDW resort until now. SOG is not on the schedule for the Caravan of Characters. Guests of SOG are now being treated as the Ugly Stepsister. No EE AND no CoC.

Oh Well, will try and make the best of it anyway. 14 days and counting......

 

[livsea2]

By now everyone who had a 5:00 Candlelight Procession Package has been notified by Disney that although they took your money and gave you a reservation, that show is being cancelled. Too bad, tough luck. We at Disney will do nothing for you except change your reservation if one is available even though you made your reservation weeks ago and now all the good times are booked.
A WELL run customer service business (Think outside the Disney box) would have done this;
"We are sorry to inform you that we've found it necessary to cancel the 5:00 performances, however to compensate you for your inconvenience, please allow us to reduce your package price by 20%...or.....Please accept a free round of drinks at dinner on us...or....please accept free passes to Pleasure Island that evening.... or one of many creative minimal cost to Disney gestures their marketing people could have come up with.
Considering the fact that we have been hearing for a couple weeks on this board that they were going to cancel the 5:00 shows they could have come up with something better that "WE've got it and you want it so take what we give you and shut the hellup" mentality.
I have considered cancelling this trip but I would lose about a thousand dollars in non-refundable prepaids. I assure you however I will take every opportunity to spend money offsite and it will be aloooooooong time until I return if at all!
I fear that Disney will continue it's downward spiral as long as Ei$ner is at the helm.
Thanks for letting me vent. Whew.

 

[eeyore0062]

Oh, Livesea2, perhaps it would be better if you did cancel your trip. If your feelings about 1 show time being cancelled and your ressie having to be changed can color your attitude that much, it doesn't sound like you will be able to enjoy anything else that Disney has either. I hope that you will be able to come to terms that things are not great down there, financially, and that they are doing the best that they can to preserve the magic for future generations.

I hope you feel better about it soon

 

[dan-tot]

I don't know about anyone else but it seems to me that if they keep taking and taking from us what will there be left. I want to support Disney as we all do but when is enough. I can see the cutbacks during the winter time but if they keep taking away major attractions then why go. We are going this Christmas and I am wondering what will will see besides the decorations. I love the parks did up for christmas but I would like to see something other than that. I was wondering about the Osborne exhibit will they have that this year? With CofP and Timekeeper gone it seems alot of our family favorites are going by the wayside. What next!!! The Bear Band?

Dan-tot

 

[KFISCHER]

My advice is to ignore all the complaints from people upset about cutbacks WHO HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN DOWN THERE TO ACTUALLY EXPERTIENCE THEM!

Instead, take to heart the reviews of people who actually travelled recently and saw first hand what Disney World is like right now.

I just spent 6 days there. I'm telling you straight: it was wonderful, every single bit of it!

The naysayers have every right to chime in on this web site, absolutely.
But I have a right to say they're all wet.

 

[eeyore0062]

Osbourne Family Specticle of Lights is still planned for December, as are all but 3 showings of the Candlelight Processional, the parades will all be there, the MVMCP will stilll be in progress, as scheduled... and if you are really lucky, and they are busy, you might even get a real "Surprise" morning. If you go at Christmas time, or at anytime, you will not be disappointed!

 

[MosMom]

I've read several posts about crowds being normal or even more than normal from years past...if this is the case, why is Disney cutting back on so much due to "reduced attendance"? Is there something I'm missing or is this their chance to cut back stuff they wanted to before 9/11 but now they have a viable excuse? It just doesn't seem to make sense. My friend who went in mid-October when it is supposed to be near dead said it was packed. We are seasoned Disney travellers & know each other's definitions of packed etc. It just isn't adding up to me. I must be missing something.

 

[buckylarue]

If the hours hadn't been shortened etc., the crowds would not be at normal levels as they would be spread out over more hours. If things start to get really crowded (as apparently they think they might be over Thanksgiving week), they will likely add more hours, special events (like the 2 recently announced E-nights), parades, fireworks, etc. The more folks go, the more stuff they'll bring back...we're doing our part and heading down for our third trip this year in 3 1/2 weeks!

 

[100AcreWoodFriend]

We just got back a week ago Mos and while it was busy, it wasn't as crowded as October 2 years before. The buses were empty, there was never more than a 10 minute wait for most rides and Epcot was deserted the day we went.

The weekend was crowded, but that's because of all the local folks visiting now, but the weekdays were pretty tame. And the hotels are pretty empty too, which would be why Dis would need to cut back I imagine. If they're able to close a whole resort like FQ and move everyone to other resorts, then you know they're not at optimal crowds.

 

[DancingBear]

In addition to the comment above that crowds are somewhat compressed due to the hours reductions--

Be careful about people's judgments about what's "normal"--you don't know what time of year they've been, etc. I've seen several posts say crowds seemed normal, but then talk about walking right on to most rides, etc.

One recent poster said they watched Spectro from Frontierland and had nobody anywhere around them!!

Of course, it would be nice if Disney would release figures. I just read a Wall Street Journal article about Disney's dismal earnings for the quarter ending 9/30, and a spokesman there said Disney theme park attendance was down 25% during that quarter and expected to be down further in the current quarter. Article also said per-patron spending was down somewhat at the theme parks.

The same issue of the WSJ had an article about ClubMed closing 15 of its resorts. They say some will close for good, others may be reopened if things pick up. Things are not good right now in the travel industry in general--there is no reason why WDW would not be exempt from these problems.

 

[CarolMN]

No one outside of Disney has any good data concerning park attendance. All we have is people's opinions, which as DancingBear says, are very subjective and unreliable. I would tend to believe the WSJ article before any anecdotal evidence. I'm also looking to see what the Disney annual report might have to say on the subject.

We should also keep in mind that Disney's security costs have increased, while revenues decreased. Although I have no idea what it takes to provide security in the wake of 9/11, I'm very sure that it is significantly more expensive than it was prior to 9/11.

 

[vicb]

My sister just returned 11/10 and thought the crowds were fairly light but due to shorter hours more people crammed into less time. They used fast pass for several attractions but walked on others. Only needed to enter Fantasmic 60 min. in advance but it did fill up. Were able to walk into some resturants with no PS (GG and Mexico).

 

[minniemick]

I e-mailed WDW after seeing a post on this board regarding cut backs, this was several weeks ago. At 4.40 pm GMT I had a telephone call from a lovely lady in Customer Services WDW {I did not catch her name}. She explained that times etc. are altering all the time and it could be that in the future things could go back as they were. I thought it was very kind of her to take the trouble to telephone me in the UK, at least we know now that the e-mails are read and she said they are passed on to the people who make the decisions.

 

[philg]

Kinda concered about Disney. Hope with all the cutbacks we get our money's worth.

philg

 

[dandave]

Hi philg! I'm glad you didn't decide to cancel your trip after all. The way I see it is this: With the AP discounts we are receiving during this Nov and Dec, then we are doing pretty well. WDW, to my understanding, does not usually offer AP discounts during this time. With the AP discounts for the CR, for example, you are probably saving around 40%. Unless they cut out 40% of the park hours and entertainment, then you're still ahead of the game money-wise.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Poohbear123]

You Will, just don't look for anything negative and you won't find it! I had a great time 2 weeks ago, and if I didn't I would not be going back in Feb. It was as if everything was the same, plenty of CM's and Hotel people were nice! Have a great trip and take LOTS of Pictures!