Post here regarding WDW cutbacks, changes & Complaints

[rkalm]

This is my letter to Disney:

There will be close to a million of us there during spring break (March 9-16) and between us we'll be spending billions, maybe more. So why not let us in early so the wheelbarrows of money we'll be rolling in won't get in the way of those outside guests?
Thanks,
rkalm

 

[renessa]

I recieved the call also. I had emailed from the official website. I actually attached the url of a page full of DIS opinions. It was one regarding " if you are willing to pay for EE" . Maybe they were inpressed by the pages of posts from the DIS!

 

[josierac]

I have read that an executive of the Disney Cruise LInes, reads the cruise board on here. I hope that other execs read them also.

 

[Babblin'Boo]

Just be nice when they call, but upfront. I was honest about how I felt and brought up the fact that USF gives their hotel guests more privileges than Disney, especially at this time! I said that the characters in the resorts mainly benefit the families with smaller children only. I told them how EE mornings were a big incentive for staying onsite, but I did not feel Disney appreciated their hotel guests anymore.

I expressed my concerns regarding the delays at the entrance gates during searches and the fact that as the summer approaches and the parks fill up, guests will have to stand in the same long lines waiting to be searched, without the option of bypassing them earlier in the morning. The CM only offered comforting words in terms of "maybe it will get better next time you come". My trip is in August.. We'll see.

 

[jasmine206]

Thanks for the link - it was just the incentive I needed to write that email!!

 

[eeyore0062]

Dustmouse, please do not let what you are reading dissuade you in any way. We went in May before the cutbacks, and then in January, after the cutbacks, and thought things were much better in January. It was actually far more relaxed, and the CMs were much better than ever! We didn't miss EE mornings, and enjoyed the opportunity to sleep in a little during our vacation. As for the breakfast at the Garden Grille...if Epcot doesn't even open until 10, why have GG serve Breakfast. The lunch is really good, and by that time, most people have already eaten breakfast anyway. They are still offering E ticket nights as crowds warrent, and will keep parks open and add parades too. It is all being done on an as needed type schedule. There is no sense in opening early, or closing late when you have plenty of time to do and see everything during the regular operating hours. We had no problems, at all!

Until you have gone and experienced it for yourself, don't let the negativity get to you!

 

[eeyore0062]

Hey now, wait a minute, I am an adult, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Character Caravan. Got to dance and goof off with Timon for quite a while. I hope that they NEVER get rid of the character caravan. Take advantage of it, and see if you too don't enjoy it. Yes, it would be nice to see EE mornings return, especially for the little ones and especially in the MK, but I really have no complaints. I would choose Disney with no perks, over Universal with perks any day of the week!

 

[raidermatt]

With all the concern expressed by those with trips coming up, I thought I'd do a little research. I went to Laughingplace and got the hours for the MK for March 2001, and compared them to the hours for March 2002 (note-this does NOT include EE).

Here's what I found:

In 2001, MK was open a total of 371 hours in March.
In 2002, MK will be open a total of 358 hours in March.

That's right, even with all the cutbacks in hours, MK will only be open an average of 25 minutes less per day.

For those wanting EE, can't help there. HOWEVER, please note that MK opens at 8:30am the last 8 days of March this year. Last year it never opened earlier than 9am in March.

Like the late closing? Well, it is true that is where the difference comes from. Last year, MK was open until an average of almost 9pm. This year, its almost 8:30pm. However, if you are there the last week of March, you'll find MK open LATER than last year. The last 7 days of March 2002, MK will be open until 11pm. Last year, it was never open past 10pm.

My next trip is May/June, so I don't yet know what the hours will be. But if March is any indication, there isn't much to worry about.

 

[raidermatt]

rkalm- Just a comment on your comments to Disney. It does cost Disney money to open the parks early for EE. And they are very well aware that most of those who did use EE were not spending money during the EE time (they were riding rides). And they are also aware that many of the EE folks would then leave the parks during midday, not really spending anything at all.

So the only real question is whether enough guests will balk at going to a park, or staying on site, because they don't have EE. Certainly some will, but is it enough to offset the savings by not opening early? When tourism is slow anyway, the answer is probably no. Disney could offer all the incentives it wanted to, but if somebody just got laid off, or thinks they might get laid off, or is still afraid to fly, or lost 50%of their life savings in the stock market, etc, they aren't going to come right now.

That's not to say you shouldn't express your desire for to have EE to Disney. I'm just saying that it might be more effective if you express it with an understanding of why they did it.

 

[eeyore0062]

Very interesting info you obtained on park hours, RaiderMatt.

Also, you are right on the money about EE mornings... I know I've been trying to get across the same point, but you said it much better...thanks

 

[MulanMom]

Raidermatt,

Your comparisons of March 2002 to March 2001 are interesting. However, I believe Easter was a little later in 2001, which may account for MK's hours being a little more for March 2002. A fairer comparison may be for the two weeks around Easter 2001 vs. two weeks around Easter 2002...and include the extra hours MK would've been open for EE in 2001.

To everyone else...

I'm really reluctant to get in the fray here. I used EE when we visited before having children and was looking forward to using EE in the future when they could handle getting up and out to the park early. (This trip would've been it!!!) Though my children are small, they are afraid of masked characters, therefore the character caravan is totally of no use to us.

I am concerned about cutbacks and the effects on the guest experience. I don't think we'll ever see the return of EE when people are willing to pay for E-ride nights.

Just my .02.

Sharon

 

[cforza]

Well, it seems that Disney has a loyal friend in a few of you, who will defend its actions to the end! I too understand WHY Disney got rid of EE, and I also understand that they don't make extra money immediately by reinstating it, but that's not the point. They need to reinstate it for purposes of goodwill, and to make customers want to spend the extra money at Disney resorts by staying on-site.

Raidermatt, what you seem to fail to acknowledge is how the deletion of EE will affect peoples decisions to stay on-site, which will not be immediately evident in the bottom line, but most certainly will in future months, when people need to decide if staying on site is worth the extra money. Some will, but I guarantee you that others who have in the past will not. Or, they will consider splitting their vacation at Universal to take advantage of it's considerable on-site perks and discounts, when in the past they may not have even considered it. It seems that Disney is being very shortsighted and not looking at the longer term affect it's decision to cut hours without cutting prices will have in the future. Very bad business!

I think we all understand why they did it, we just don't agree that it is a wise decision on Disney's part, and certainly not worth the short term savings to them!

 

[SoccerNut]

cforza,

This was posted on the DVC Board. It looks like the cutbacks have affected US/IOA as well as WDW. I hope you have fun at US/IOA. Last February, we couldn't find a place to eat until noon time.

But I'm sure you'll discount this person's view, because you will deem them a "loyal friend of Disney"

DVC trip - got refund at US and went to WDW!

Before we left for our trip Jan 20-30th I posted that we would not be going to the WDW parks because of price and Cdn dollar exchange. We changed our mind pretty quick.

We went to US for the first time and lasted about 15 mins before we went to get our money back. I have never been to a more lame park in my entire life. We went for park opening at 9am and nothing was open. There was only 1 store open, the rest were to open at 10:30. We wanted to see Curious George and it didn't open until noon. I will never go back. We are still laughing that Rocky and Bullwinkle were there to greet the guests as they arrived. There is absolutely no meaning or history to this park at all. We were shown a back exit to leave so that nobody could see us leaving. I will definitely be giving Disney my money for the rest of my life!

The Disney experience far exceeds any other and it took going to Universal Studios to find out how good Disney really is!

We stayed at Vero Beach for the second time, great weather and an all round relaxing experience.

Then onto OKW where everything was great but BWV are still my favourite.

 

[cforza]

Actually soccernut we went to Universal/IOA last year and my kids like it better than Disney. You made the mistake of not staying on-site there. If they had more than 2 parks we would spend our entire vacation there. We stayed on-site at the Hard Rock, which is by all accounts a fabulous hotel and knocks the socks off of most Disney Deluxe's, not to mention we didn't wait in a single line because we stayed on site. There is a separate line for on-site guests and we breezed right through. It is fantastic and the absolute best perk of all. And now Universal is offering a 7-day pass for the price of 2 days!

Of course I love Disney too, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with the cuts they are making. I just happen to have a strong aversion to waiting in lines. That's not my idea of a nice way to spend my vacation. Too be honest next year we'll probably do the Disney cruise again, since that is the best "disney" experience of all and the no lines!

 

[AParabola]

After many trips to Disney my teenage DS wanted to try Universal (he's a comic book addict and wanted to see those themed attractions) We stayed at the Portofino, which is a wonderful hotel, beautiful setting and really great rooms. Transportation to the park was a boatride. The Studios and Islands of Adventure were fun for one day - maybe stretch to two but they'll never be a substitute for WDW. Firstly: The whole atmosphere is different. Yes, for teenagers Spiderman, The Hulk and MIB are exciting and I imagine little ones will like the Dr. Seuss area but it's very limited. The people who work there are only doing jobs, they don't see themselves as part of your experience the way most CMs do. The parks are not nearly as clean or well run as Disney and the downtown area is pretty pitiful (although the people and the food at the Sports restaurant were pretty neat.) Front of the line access is a nice perk but when we were there it was only for a few hours in the morning and many of the people working on the lines didn't have a clue as to what to do (we were directed to the wrong line -single riders- and waited longer than the normal line. It's difficult to put into words the differences - except to say that Disney has the magic. Universal is just a theme park and the hotels although nice are just hotels. I don't think we'll ever go back to Universal, it was fun but not worth repeating. However we're going back to Disney AKL is just a few days!

 

[dvcdenise]

I will not be returning to Universal ever again. We went first week of December. Seven of us got there at 9:00am when they said they opened. Had to wait untill 10:30 before we could see anything. If they don't open a ride till 10:30 then let me sleep till 10:30.Tell me that it doesn't open till then. I was not happy. Also could not find a restaurant that was open. Three major restaurants were closed. Spent an hour looking for an open one then had to ask someone what was open. This is sad for Univeral
they will not survive if they continue to operate this way. We had four young adults with us to they enjoyed IOA much more and it seemed more was open. But again still not somewhere I would return. As posted again and again there is no magic at Universal or IAO, but the cost is nearly the same.

 

[eeyore0062]

Well, we have been to WDW 3 times in the last 14 months, and have another trip planned in October. From what I am reading it doesn't look as though it would be worth my time or money to venture over to US. We may visit SeaWorld, as we have Platinum passes that allow us access to all Anheiser Busch parks for a 2 year period, and we know what to expect from an Anheiser Busch park. But, we will do so from WDW property.

As for EE, there are many opinions regarding the return of this feature... some very strong about it return, and some that are willing to "go with the flow"... I am of the latter opinion. However, this post is now 24 pages long, and mostly about this concern. Isn't it time to agree to disagree. Those who miss it, by all means write your letters, visit other area attractions, and hope for the best, and those who don't, enjoy E ticket nights, staying onsite regardless, and Character Caravans.

Whatever happens, WDW is still worth my vacation dollar, and nothing beats staying onsite!

 

[Edina]

Hey, I love Disney too, but that doesn't mean I'll accept any bone they throw at me! I love my husband but how would I feel if he cheated on me? Some of you sound like you don't care how many services Disney cuts, you're just happy to be there! I don't understand it, maybe you are under a spell. Here, let's all chant, repeat after me;

"Disney can do no wrong. I promise to spend all my vacation dollars at Disney, without question and with a smile on my face, no matter how little I get in return. I agree to accept all changes and to praise the great and powerful Disney, and to defend her actions to all naysayers." Make sure to chant this with your mickey ears on!

 

[raidermatt]

Raidermatt, what you seem to fail to acknowledge is how the deletion of EE will affect peoples decisions to stay on-site,

Nope, I abosolutely acknowledge it. The only question is how many people will spend less at Disney, and how much less they will spend.

It seems that Disney is being very shortsighted and not looking at the longer term affect it's decision to cut hours without cutting prices will have in the future. Very bad business!

It seems that way to you because you consider EE a make or break factor in your decision to stay on-site. Nothing wrong with that, its just that you are in the minority. The only question is how large that minority is. Unlike you, I am sure that Disney has absolutely looked at the long-term effects of this. Their analysis may turn out to be wrong, but if it does, they will not hesitate to reinstate EE. Its possible they are planning to do that anyway, but are just going to wait until there are enough resort guests to make it worthwhile again.

I think we all understand why they did it, we just don't agree that it is a wise decision on Disney's part, and certainly not worth the short term savings to them!

Only time will tell. Again, it all depends on how many guests actually change plans because of EE being gone, and whether that costs them more than the cost of running the parks during EE. I suspect that Disney has estimated all of this, and believes they are making a good business decision. What I know for sure is that saying its a good or bad decision just because of how it impacts me would be drawing conclusions without any data to support that conclusion. Again, its fine to let Disney know how you feel, because by doing so, you become the data they are gathering to make their future decisions.

MulanMom- Good point regarding the timing of Easter. That certainly could be one reason why there was only a 13 hour difference for March. I was going to compare April hours when they are posted at Disney.com anyway, since I'm going in May/June and want to know what to expect. I'll post what I find.

 

[raidermatt]

Edina- As a practicer of sarcasm, I appreciated your comments.

But I really am having a hard time figuring out your analogy between a cheating spouse and cutting out EE???

My point is more that in the big picture, the cuts have been very small. 13 hours in a month is hardly anything (though we'll see what April brings). EE is only a cut if you use it. Many of us did not. The only planning I did around EE was to avoid that park for that day, because by 11:00 it was more crowded than on normal days.

I go to Disney for the rides, the attractions, the characters, the restaurants, the entertainment, the service, etc, etc, etc. So far, they are yet to disappoint me.

From the comments in the majority of recent trip reports, Disney is not disappointing very many others either. So rather than jump on the "Disney is evil and must be destroyed" bandwagon, I'll continue to give the most merit to the following, in order:

1- My own observations.
2- My own research.
3- Comments from others who have been.