Post here regarding WDW cutbacks, changes & Complaints

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by wdwfreak
The Disney "magic"? With so many lay-offs, customer service is as mediocre as it has ever been at WDW, and I'm sure that there are plenty of visitors to Orlando who will gladly sacrifice the "magic" for a cheaper room.

I wouldn't. We went after the cutbacks and we have been treated wonderfully both times.

I, personally, am glad to sacrifice EE for a $ 50.00 room as this single mom would not be able to afford to go if I had to pay FULL RATE.

Disney is NOT a non profit organization, they are a business and have thousands of employees as well as their families to take care of. Without tough decisions Disney might very well have to shut down. I, for one, am thankful they are still open.

There is a thread that is strictly for posts like this.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118258

 

[DeeP]

I am leaving in 15 days for my 5th trip to WDW in the past 14 months and I have not seen any decline in customer service, CMs, resort or park maintenance etc., etc. At the completion of my upcoming trip I will have spent 64 days in the past 14 months staying on WDW property and I have not experienced any less magic or any less of a wonderful vacation at WDW in the past 14 months than I have since I have been going to WDW since the mid 70's. In all the yrs of multiple trips per year we have been going to WDW, we used EE maybe tops 4 times and have done E ticket night 5 times. I have absolutely no desire to go to Universal or any other area park for more than a day or two, I would never spend over 2 months out of 14 months of the year at Universal! WDW is still top notch with me and also to many other Disney fans. To me Universal, IOA, SeaWorld are nice places that I go to for a day or two every 3-5 yrs but they can not even begin to compare to the complete vacation destination that WDW is.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by Eeyore2U
I've spent a night offsite and will never do that again.

Just as the EE diehards are only a small group, so are the DISers. It represents just a select portion of those who are repeat visitors.

But those who are NOT repeat visitors, those who are going once for the annual family vacation; you know...the vacation that changes every year and sees more of the country than Orlando; they're the ones that will think twice and get a room off-site.

Someone on a budget may go for that "magic", but with the economy the way it is, people are more concerned about money and when they see that there are no standout perks to stay on-site, they'll save their money and book off-site.

The Disney company is making cuts that for right now may make the financial reports look a little better, but in the end, I truly believe that there are fewer Disney diehards than those who are looking to do Disney on a budget, and that these cuts won't look so hot a few months or years down the road.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by A kid at heart
I still think that fastpass should be for resorts guests only.

Oh really???

Why is that?

 

[STOFFER]

"There is a thread that is strictly for posts like this."

Who wants to wade through twenty pages to discuss these problems? As great as Disney World is, there are some serious issues that Eisner & Co. need to look at.
The elimination of onsite perks is a major concern with many on this board.
Disney will probably make Fastpass an onsite perk some day. After cutting EE they need to have SOMETHING to offer their onsite guests.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I had always wanted to stay on site since my first visit to Orlando in 1996, this year my dream came true but I was sad to know that the first time I get to stay on-site EE is no longer.

I stayed at the Yacht Club and it was magical for me, the question has bee asked here "what perks do you get for staying on site" well.....

- Mickey Mouse, himself, woke me up every morning on the phone!

- I was able to have all of my purchases shipped back to my hotel, this was an absolute god send.

- I could still get to the parks just before opening and get a good jump on the "off-siters".

- I didn't have to worry about carrying money as everything was charged to my room (except a bit of loose change for drinks and ice creams).

- I was able to walk to a character breakfast


These were just some of the things that made me feel like I had experienced the Disney "Magic" and I had a great time at the parks and still got to do everything I wanted.

Obviously I don't miss EE because I've never experienced it.

 

[popy]

Fast Pass for resort guest, COME ON NOW.

If they did that, that would be a good reason
not to go to WDW unless you was a resort
guest.

Then we could say WDW is only for resort guest,
and now we dont need fast pass, and now the
every body waits in line again.
The resort guests get mad and stop going.

Now, the are crowds are down, and Disney has to reduce
Park hours more, and on and on.

If they did resort guest only Fast Pass, Im going
to Six Flags.

 

[Eeyore2U]

If EE is a deal breaker for some, I feel bad for them.

If others refuse to see what else is offered so be it.

But in this time, Disney is in a bottom line situation. They are a victim of their own past. I prefer to see a cut here or a cut there to maintain an overall level excellence, which I still see. WDW needs to weather a storm so it can be there for my grandkids if we have any.

 

[slp87]

I just find it funny that the Character Caravan is listed as a perk for resort guests, but anyone staying on site or off can get to a resort and participate, I never saw them check resort id's.

 

[blackshirt]

What Disney apparently does not understand is that while EE may have been used by only a small percentage of guests, those that did use it really cherished it. For example, lets say only 10% of resort guests used EE, the majority of which probably went to the MK with small children. These families, by the way, would be the most likely to make yearly trips. Keep in mind that to use EE with small children requires a large time investment in order to get to the park early( Getting up early on vacation, getting the kids up, breakfast, etc)
So what does Disney do? They take away a perk that is VERY important for a small number of guests who are willing to pay a premium to stay at a Disney resort. This move enrages a small but loyal minority who are forced to reevaluate their touring strategies. I would make a sizable wager that a substantial number of this minority will decide to vacation somewhere else or make the decision to stay offsite because for THEM there is no reason to pay 2 to 4 times what it costs to stay onsite. Add to this the disappointment and general bad feeling toward those who made this decision. AND, to add insult to injury, when you complain about it, you are told "Nobody used EE".
I have stayed onsite twice and never used EE. That being said I completely understand why some place much importance on it. But Disney won't have to worry about that small minority much longer because they won't be seeing them anymore except perhaps as day guests. And Disney wonders why reservations are down at the resorts. Throw in shorter hours and attendence declines even further. For those who continue to say "I never used EE so I don't care", don't worry. As Disney continues to slice away at different aspects of the Magic in the name of ABC, rest assured they will find something you hold dear and do away with it.

 

[cindyfan]

Good Point slp87 !!
Just like no one checks IDs for the buses or boats that they say are for "resort guests".
IMHO......I am upset about cancelling of EE and E-nights etc, but I do understand the need for "cost-cutting". Just don't play us for a bunch of fools and tell us it is our fault!!

I think I am more upset about the shorter hours!!!

COME ON!!!! It is just crazy to open AK so late.....9am....by then most of the animals are headed out of the heat and taking their naps. and so many of the other things at AK don't open til 11am!!! In June....it was like 95 degrees by 10am and I couldn't find an open drink stand!!!!! and was told most don't open til 11am!!!

AND......to close MK at 6pm in Oct!!! Didn't they just change Oct from "value season" to "regular season" just 2 years ago???? So why the "value season" hours!!!!
The hours are even shorter NOW than they were just after 9-11 last year!! I know because I was there last OCT and will return this year! We have seen the crowds in Oct and the shorter hours is just CRAZY!!

I don't agree FP should be for resort guests only.......
FP is one of the best things WDW has come up with.....
Maybe they could give resort guests a couple extra FP....what would that cost them.....nothing!!!! But it would be a great perk...IMHO

When we were there in June the only decline of service we saw was at CBR.....well, they are taking care of that!!! The food court was truely in BAD shape!!

WDW has to realize that they have to come up with something better that Character Caravan to keep people coming to their resorts....or they will just have to lower their prices in order to compete.

 

[treesinger]

WDW attendance will continue to flag until they start offering back the "time" benefits. That is, EE and the later hours that they used to offer. It's often said that you can never see everything in WDW in one trip. But thatdoesn't mean that people don't want to try. Being a commando myself, I understand this feeling.
I can't afford the nicer resorts and often spend as much time as posible at the parks each day. Time, to me, is as important as the magic. Taking the time away hurts.

Disney is trying to patch a big wound, but the wound is proving to be hemophilia-like, continuing to bleed. Disney needs to treat their condition first. They can treat the bleeding, or they can treat the condition that causes the bleeding. This is what Disney doesn't get

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by wdwfreak

If Disney believes that, by cutting out EE, they are saving $$$, then they are sadly mistaken. I don't have any official numbers to back this up, but, 5 years ago, we paid $80 per night to stay at the All-Stars, and now you can get a room for $50. Obviously, they number of guests staying in WDW resorts has dwindled if they are practically giving away room nights.

You're assuming here that the only costs that are affected are room rates. Not so. Opening the parks even an hour early means quite a lot of dollars for staffing, support, and other costs. Bus drivers, ticket folks, ride operators, characters, cooks, servers, custodial, and on and on are needed when the park is open, and that extra hour or 90 minutes every day adds up to a lot of labor. My guess would be that the amount Disney is saving in labor or overtime is more than enough to offset what they may be losing in room nights.

Of course, the one thing that can't be measured quantitatively is "good will." Has Disney hurt it's relationship with some guests? Undoubtedly. But they did institute the Character Caravan idea, which has been a HUGE hit, regardless of how many people call it a "cheap fix", and people can still get into the parks early for Character Breakfasts and such. And, frankly, from my family's standpoint, not having the added pressure of HAVING to be up at the crack of dawn to get into the parks at the stroke of Early Entry has saved a lot of arguments at bedtime ("We have to be up at 6am if you want to see Mickey; you need to go to be now!") and a lot of stress in the morning. And the kids actually had more quality time with Minnie and Tigger at the resort than they ever had at the parks. Of course, that didn't necessarily help when we ended up waiting (and waiting and waiting) for Space Mountain later in the day, but you can't have everything!

 

[wdwfreak]

What if Disney implemented a pay system for EE, just like they do for e-nights? For $5 per person, you can get into the park an hour to an hour-and-a-half early. This off-sets some of the costs involved and it would still be a perk. People love e-nights and gladly pay for them, why not EE?

It could be tested at MK and, if successful, implemented at the other parks.

 

[wdwfreak]

Originally posted by WDSearcher


My guess would be that the amount Disney is saving in labor or overtime is more than enough to offset what they may be losing in room nights.

But how much money are they losing when it comes to offering rooms for $50 that used to cost 70-80? You can even get "deluxe" resort rooms at WL and AKL for just over $100 ... it's kind of a Catch-22 -- cut perks to save money at the expense of room nights, but offer those room nights at almost half of what you used to get because you don't have near as many people staying in them because you cut perks to save money at the expense ...

and the cycle continues ...

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by wdwfreak


But how much money are they losing when it comes to offering rooms for $50 that used to cost 70-80? You can even get "deluxe" resort rooms at WL and AKL for just over $100 ... it's kind of a Catch-22 -- cut perks to save money at the expense of room nights, but offer those room nights at almost half of what you used to get because you don't have near as many people staying in them because you cut perks to save money at the expense ...

and the cycle continues ...

Right ... but if you offer room nights at $100 at AKL, you're probably going to get a fair bit of interest from guests who would have never even considered AKL before. So you've got more people in that resort at that rate than you could have gotten at a higher rate. And those folks will eat there, and buy souvenirs there, and pay more for food at a place like Boma than they would have ever thought to spend in a place like the All Star Sports food court. And maybe they stay a couple of days longer because the room rate is so affordable. Plus ... you've got All Star rates at $50, which means you've got people staying on property who would have never considered it before because the only place you could get a $50 room before was off-site. So, you're probably still going to fill up your resort. Or at the very least, end up with the same occupancy rate, just at a lower rate. You haven't added any costs to the resort, but you've pulled business from off-site hotels, which equals food business and merchandise business too. And people who were originally staying off-site may decide to spend more time at WDW and less time at Universal or Sea World simply because "it's right there."

At the same time, by eliminating EE, you've cut back on two hours of labor a day for, say, 400 cast members. Plus, you're saving wear & tear on rides and attractions. Custodial and horticulture shifts can start a little later and work a little longer into the morning, so you maybe have fewer people on third shift, which also carries a premium. That means you can also cut back a little on those people supporting third shift and overnight stuff -- costuming, food service, security, etc. And THAT means less food to order, less detergent and electricity being used, even less wear and tear on office machines. And all of THAT adds up.

The ripple effect works both ways.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by Fantasia Sam
I had always wanted to stay on site since my first visit to Orlando in 1996, this year my dream came true but I was sad to know that the first time I get to stay on-site EE is no longer.

I stayed at the Yacht Club and it was magical for me, the question has bee asked here "what perks do you get for staying on site" well.....

- Mickey Mouse, himself, woke me up every morning on the phone!

- I was able to have all of my purchases shipped back to my hotel, this was an absolute god send.

- I could still get to the parks just before opening and get a good jump on the "off-siters".

- I didn't have to worry about carrying money as everything was charged to my room (except a bit of loose change for drinks and ice creams).

- I was able to walk to a character breakfast


These were just some of the things that made me feel like I had experienced the Disney "Magic" and I had a great time at the parks and still got to do everything I wanted.

Obviously I don't miss EE because I've never experienced it.

Is all of that is really worth nearly double what we pay for staying off site?

 

[UKAnnie]

Off-Site vs. On Site - I have never been convinced of the benefits of staying on-site. I've been to WDW four times and had own rental car and it only takes a few minutes to reach wherever we've wanted to go, and we've always saved £££££'s by staying off-site - money that can be used for more treats! After all, all we need after a day at the park is a comfortable, clean bed and we can still enjoy the benefits of dining at the resorts.

Shorter Park Hours - We always go off-season when the lines are shorter - good grief - you need to have some time to eat and shop! We fit those in around park closing times - so no problem!

We get real good packages from England - we can enjoy our flights, rental car and accommodation for around £400 each if you pick your times right - only need to add the cost of your Disney/ Universal tickets and we still have a superb holiday.

Finally...... I can't understand people who knock US/IOA, they are just as good (DH reckons better), than WDW. We love them all!

I just don't know where in the world you can get a better vacation than in Florida. You have the wonderful weather, glorious beaches within driving distance and great theme parks - wonderful stores, divine food..................

What more could anyone want?????? When you think of the huge percentage of the world's population that can never enjoy such unheard of delights, we are so fortunate..... let's start counting our blessings!

Lecture over.

A happy Disney Day to everyone!

Love.

Ann.

 

[blackshirt]

I don't see how you come up with 400 hours for EE. Maintainance work would not really factor in the equation. Very few if any of the restaurants were open serving breakfast, just a shop or two selling coffee and pastries. Rides in Fantasyland were open and also a few in Tomorrowland. Security and ticket takers would number less than 20 people. All in all , I would bet that the park in question would need less than 70 people to operate it at its reduced level. Add about 30-40 bus drivers and monorail operators and you're looking at 110-120 people for an hour and a half. So lets say 150 workers at 1.5 hrs=225hrs. Paying them $18 in wages and benefits comes to about $4000. Add fuel and electricity of about $1000 and that comes to $5000. I am sure there are things that I'm leaving out, but I think I'm estimating on the high side. Wear and tear on the rides? Come on. At the rates the resorts charge you're looking at most 40 rooms a day, probably a lot less. I'll bet that the cutbacks have resulted in several hundred hotel rooms a day lying empty.

 

[emmagata]

UKAnnie,

I don't how you Brits do it. Seems that the Brits (and the Scots) own A LOT of rental properties near WDW!!

Of the 5 times we've been to WDW in the past 6 years we've rented 3 homes (you call them villas) from someone in the UK.
It possible that one other home we rented the owner was from the UK. We don't know because we rented through a booking agency.

And the rates are VERY reasonable (most of them).