Post here regarding WDW cutbacks, changes & Complaints

[PinMan]

yes i too wasn't happy about ee, i think i'll follow suit and e-mail disney. who did they poll to come up with that answer ??? my family would rather ride the rides when its less crowded rather than eat at a character breakfast or have a big or lazy breakfast.than we can take a break mid-day and return when the crowdes go home for supper.

 

[eeyore0062]

Baxie and Micol...just read your posts concerning April hours...what you must understand is the times you are speaking of were during Easter last year. With Easter coming earlier this year, the extended hours are during that time. If you will compare the hours the end of March last year, you will find that they were shorter than those this year, due to high crowds the 2 weeks surrounding Easter. Then I am sure that you will understand the discrepancies between April's hours last year and those of this year.

 

[Tara8595]

Wow, I can't believe what I'm reading about people thinking staying on property isn't worth the extra money due solely to the cessation of Surprise mornings. How can anyone think that an offsite Hilton compares to the Yacht Club? Or a Days-Inn to an All-Star. I *love* the Disney properties. To me, it's part of the vacation to feel like I'm at Disney World from the time I check in until I check out. The theming at every Disney hotel is worth every penny to me.

I stayed offsite once when I was young and knew no better. Since then I've started trying all the WDW hotels one by one. I love the pools, and I don't even swim, I just like seeing them. I love the gardens. The shops, the food courts and restaurants. I love the giant Dalmations at the All-Star Movies, and the mer-horse chandelier in the entrance to the Boardwalk Inn. I love that you can come in from a long day at the parks and settle into a big sofa surrounded by 6 other adults and a few kids in the Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby and get sucked into watching a video of Snow White, during which all the adults start singing along. I love the sun-burnt smell of the always freshly painted Boardwalk and seeing the juggler there. Or walking to Epcot from the Yacht club almost every night to see Illuminations, just because you can.

Feasibly, you could stay at any Disney hotel, never go to the parks, and still come home fully having experienced the Disney magic.

I'm all for the end of surprise mornings. People are more spread out in the parks and you don't have to avoid any because they're so crowded due to early entry. I guess I understand some people being disappointed about it, but I really don't understand anyone being *upset* about it - especially to the point of staying off property.

Tara

 

[KFISCHER]

The energy being used to e-mail/ write/complain about a business move by Disney would be better spent being put into planning a Disney vacation without EE.

How long is this incessant whining on this board going to go on......

 

[raidermatt]

yes i too wasn't happy about ee, i think i'll follow suit and e-mail disney. who did they poll to come up with that answer ???

It seems that the most likely data Disney used to guage how important EE was to guests was to simply look at the turnstile count. Yes, they bring up Character Caravan whenever somebody asks about ee, but really, that's just a spin so they can say there is a good to go with the bad. The two (EE and CC) are completely unrelated, and either can exist either with or without the other.

Regardless, I encourage you to write. The reason there is a CC is that a significant number of guests did ask for more character interaction (that was actually a common complaint several years ago). Its also possible that guest feedback could result in ee returning. The only thing to keep in mind is that Disney did not do this to spite anyone. They made a business decision based on what they thought would happen. If one feels they were wrong, its best to tell them, but without getting personal. Rational, measured letters will do much more good than angry letters filled with threats and accusations. (PinMan-that last part wasn't really directed at you, as you seem to have the right idea. It was more for those anxious to fire off an angry discertation about the many evils of Disney...)

For those who throw Universal out as an alternative, here are the total hours that each park is open for the month of April:

Disney Studios - 354
Epcot - 330
Magic Kingdom - 329
Islands of Adventure - 322
Universal Studios - 318
Animal Kingdom - 256

It seems everyone as found a need to cut hours, some more than others. Regardless, hours vary all year, depending on crowds, and prices are not adjusted.

The only regular parades/fireworks that I found on the Universal site was Mardi Gras at US, which has a daily parade and a free concert for 4/1 through 4/6.

All four Disney parks have a parade every day. MK has an additional parade and fireworks on some nights. Epcot has Illuminations (fireworks +) every night. Disney Studios has Fantasmic every night, sometimes twice.

Also, while some have complained about the Disney transportation system (busses, monorail, ferries, free taxis to and from golf courses, club storage), it works quite well for many of us.

Fastpass is available to all park guests, even those who stay off-site because EE is gone.

AGAIN, this is not to say that one should not let Disney know that the elimination of EE has upset them. I have only posted all of this as information for those who may not be aware of the other side.

 

[kevind65]

I agree that all the parks will cut back a little when times are tough. Our decision to try an off-site resort this year(Vistana Resort) wasn't really based on all the supposed cut-backs as much as was the fact that we have 4 people this year instead of 3; and we figured for the same price as the all-stars; we could stay in a comfortable 2br villa instead. I'm hoping that most of these "cutbacks" are a direct response to lower crowd levels and that by the time we go in late may-early june things will back to normal. We will never stop living the magic of disney!! Universal,IOA, and Sea World(our family favorite non-disney park) are nice to experience every so often, but, in no way alternatives to disney world. We have decided not to let all this talk of supposed cut-backs have any affect on our vacation experience. Disney is, after all, a business that needs to make a profit to continue it's existence. We know once we get there, it will be as magical as ever because we are there together as a family; and that's really what its all about.

 

[Edina]

Excellent point KFischer, why indeed waste energy e-mailing and complaining. Better yet, why plan a Disney vacation at all? If it takes energy, time, and research just to avoid endless lines while spending thousands of dollars on vacation why go at all? Now there's an idea! Why not choose a vacation destination where you spend your money to relax and enjoy yourself instead of strategizing on how you can actually squeeze the attractions into shortened hours!

Thank you KFischer for opening my eyes and making me realize what an idiot I am for even contemplating WDW! I think all look into an all-inclusive in the caribbean. Disney is just too much work.

 

[KFISCHER]

Because you're new, you obviously aren't fully aware of the guidelines for posting.

Personal attacks are generally not allowed.

Yours didn't bother me, but a moderator might not take too kindly, especially given that in the past hour, you've left two not- so- nice posts on this thread and another.

Having said all that, maybe it's best you don't plan a trip to WDW. They've already got enough Grumpy's running around.

 

[Edina]

Wow KFischer, I didn't realize I was making a personal attack. I was thanking you for enlightening me and helping me see the error of my ways. Apparently even hinting at any thing anti Disney is heresy around here. And I thought this was a board where everyone could express their opinions, be they positive or negative. Guess I was mistaken.

 

[treesinger]

No Edina, you were being a smart...alec. Unnecessarily. If you take exception to someone's post, you can reply in a more adult manner than that.

jason

 

[Edina]

Excuse me treesinger, but what makes you think I took exception to anyones post? Methinks someone is having difficulty with comprehension. I'll reiterate, I appreciated the post and was grateful for it. Is that any clearer?

 

[raidermatt]

Edina,here are a couple of your quotes that show the sarcasm in your post. (I'm assuming you are not actually an idiot...)

If it takes energy, time, and research just to avoid endless lines...

Thank you KFischer for opening my eyes and making me realize what an idiot I am for even contemplating WDW!l

And just to be fair, I would say KFISCHER's comment about whining was probably un-called for as well...

Edina, certainly if you are seriously looking for different ways to experience WDW, you will find them on these boards, and will not need to spend hours strategizing. This is true in peak periods, as well as during economic slumps.

Good luck, regardless of where you choose to vacation.

 

[Edina]

Raidermatt, I am neither an idiot, nor am I exaggerating when I as well as many others conclude that it most certainly does take effort and planning to avoid lines. Have you read "The unofficial guide to WDW"? Apparently the authors have made an entire career, not to mention a fortune on researching that very subject! I'm certainly not alone in inferring that Disney has lots of lines.

Just read the recent posts describing the 1 hour plus waits this past Monday. Now I have a vacation at Disney planned and paid for before I learned of the various cuts, so I intend to make the best of it by trying to minimize my wait time.

I don't think I'm alone in admitting that with this board and another, in addition to several guidebooks, that I have in fact invested a lot of time, energy and research in learning how to maximize my shortened time at Disney. If fact, I'm willing to bet that somewhere, someone has actually come up with a credited college course in Disney 101! If they haven't, maybe they should, I bet they'd get a lot of takers!

And just so you know, I can appreciate a litlle well-placed sarcasm, both on the giving and receiving end, and I think you can too, after all, you have to admit, it is just a tad dull around here, is it not?

 

[Cosme]

Are there any early entry days from Friday 2/15 to 2/24?

 

[Jubaby]

Unfortunately Early Entry was cancelled in October. Many are calling and writing Disney requesting it be reinstated, but right now doesn't look good.

 

[bjakmom]

A few weeks ago I e-mailed WDW at the address below that I found on another thread. Expressed my disappointment at loss of EE and my hope that it would be returned. About a week later I received a return e-mail signed by a supervisor asking for my phone # so that they could contact me after they finished "researching my problem" - (it was pretty much a standard e-mail). But low and behold I arrived home yesterday to a message on machine from CM responding to my e-mail. She gave the usual "character caravan" speach and left her name and phone # so I could contact her if I had any further concerns. I will call her tomorrow to restate my support for EE for onsite guests (and e-nite,too). So the bottom line is - at least they are paying attention to our e-mails and taking the time to acknowledge them - anyone who supports EE please send off an e-mail saying so.

mailto:wdw.guest.communications@wda.disney.com

 

[bjakmom]

Oooops! Sorry - not a link - that's just the e-mail address - Oh well, I tried! Just e-mail to: wdw.guestcommunications@wda.disney.com

 

[Humpbacks1962]

Moderators, please keep this thread here rather than transfer it to the bunch of EE complaints under one of those "Important" titles, where it will be ignored. Thank you

Wanda

 

[Humpbacks1962]

I don't know about your negativity. If more people join forces and e-mail Disney, it may be reversed soon enough.

wdw.guest.communications@wda.disney.com

 

[BrianD]

Early Entry will be back. It's just a matter of time. It may not come back until the economy picks back up but it will happen. And they will probably keep on Character Caravan, which seems to be getting positive feedback. So we will end up with both...eventually. At least that's what I'm hoping for...

BrianD