Religious Services end at the Polynesian

[raidermatt]

Forget should or shoudn't, obligated or not obligated.

By having the services, Disney kept some of its guests on property who would otherwise be leaving, if only for a few hours.

Now those guests will leave the property. If they take the bus, they will have $10 less per person to spend on property. If they choose to drive, they just might find something else to do off-property.

The idea behind WDW is that its supposed to be an enclosed resort, one that you never have to leave until your vacation is over. The religous services fit in with that philosophy.

 

[Zoo Keeper]

I wrote to Disney using the e-mail address in an earlier post asking them to verify the info. They e-mailed me back asking for my telephone # so thay can call me.

My first impression was they didn't want to put anything in writing. And they wanted my phone # so they can do a search in their system and find what info they have on me.

 

[AF Brenda]

The idea behind WDW is that its supposed to be an enclosed resort, one that you never have to leave until your vacation is over. The religous services fit in with that philosophy.

Sure they did, as long as you are a Christian. Otherwise, no.

 

[VickiVM]

Worshiping our Lord can be done anywhere at any time. I've never attended Mass at Poly (I'm not Catholic), but I'm sure the services were very special. But I've been on vacations that crossed over the weekend where, as a family, we held a devotional Sunday morning - prayed, sang hymns. Please pardon me, but is everyone upset because WDW has "taken away" a feature they feel they no longer can provide, or is it because everyone feels they have no place to worship God?? I'm beginning to wonder if by everyone's measure, can Disney do anything right, or is every decision of change wrong??

 

[moosebug]

Originally posted by VickiVM
Worshiping our Lord can be done anywhere at any time. I've never attended Mass at Poly (I'm not Catholic), but I'm sure the services were very special. But I've been on vacations that crossed over the weekend where, as a family, we held a devotional Sunday morning - prayed, sang hymns. Please pardon me, but is everyone upset because WDW has "taken away" a feature they feel they no longer can provide, or is it because everyone feels they have no place to worship God?? I'm beginning to wonder if by everyone's measure, can Disney do anything right, or is every decision of change wrong??

I couldn't agree more. Like it or not Disney is a business. Certain business decisions have to be made. Disney will call you a cab give you directions to send you to church. It's not like they are keeping you from going. What did you do before they offered these services offsite? I worship God and practice my faith everyday whether I'm at home or on Space Mountain. I think Disney knew they were going to be bombarded with complaints before they made this decision. Granted its not as convenient but it's worth the extra effort.

 

[MauraAndIainsDad]

For a Catholic family who truly practices their faith, skipping Mass on the weekend is not an option. We consider it a sin to miss Mass on the weekend so a family devotional time is not an option as a replacement. You are right, worshipping the Lord can and should be done anywhere and anytime but that does not excuse us from the priviledge and obligation to attend weekend Mass. It's just that we were not planning to rent a car for our upcoming trip and this just places an unexpected financial obligation on us to get to Mass.

As far as the Christian vs. non-Christian comments go, I don't think anyone here would want Disney to deny any non-Christian services on the weekend. If enough people had written to Disney requesting this, they would have to consider it. Of course, this would have been before they pulled ALL religious services.

 

[Disneydenise]

Let's keep the Christian tone in this disscussion. I have never been able to attend mass anywhere but Disney World without providing my own transportation. If it is truly something you feel you need to do then a few extra $$$ shouldn't change your devotion. Unfortunately $$$ being what it is I think the Shrine will be seeing less in the collection basket. How do folks get to Universal when they don't have a car? I think maybe God is as special as Spiderman.

 

[Greg K.]

Originally posted by Patabel
I'm sure I'm about to get flamed here.......

"Well, the bottom line is that WDW has never been obligated to nor should it be obligated in the future to provide religious services for its guests. I cannot think of any other resort area across the nation that does that."

---

That may be because there is no other resort area across that nation that lure guests by assuring them they do NOT need a car.

Disney has always made a virtue of the fact that it is a self-contained resort, miles from many ordinary conveniences. But, they've argued, you can always use free Disney transportation exclusively to get around. (Among other things, this has proven to be a great way to keep people on property, spending their dollars in The World.)

Providing church services was one more way to assure people that they don't necessarily need a car to vacation there.

 

[Greg K.]

...following up on my idea about "not needing a car" at Disney.

Disney research has undoubtedly shown that fewer people want to fly. After 9/11, more people are driving to The World. So more have cars...and can go where they want to church.

 

[reggie92762]

Everyone above has a certain correctness to their answers. I am a practicing Roman Catholic who attends mass with my family every Sunday. Disney does not have an obligation to provide me with a mass but it was a wonder courtesy!!!! We will be booking cabs to take us to the Shrine next Sunday...cost was not a deterent to attending mass it was just convenient at Poly...as 8am would have gotten us to breakfast and the parks without losing any time. We will be attending 7:30am mass next week so again, no time lost....Hopefully just another wonderful experience of worshiping at another church....

I believe everyone can worship in their own way....This question is obviously touching cords with all involved and in some cases is getting a little disharmonious.

 

[LvsTnk]

Does this also include the Christmas services at the Contemporary?

 

[PamOKW]

Disney does not have an obligation to provide me with a mass but it was a wonder courtesy!!!!

That's the bottom-line. It was a wonderful thing they offered. It's too bad they have decided not to continue but, beyond expressing an opinion to Disney, there isn't much to be done about it. Just like any other change they've made recently, we may miss it but they aren't doing anything wrong in making changes.

I'm curious how the Protestant service was conducted. Did different ministers share the responsibility? One of the deterrents to other faiths offering services is how to provide the celebrant. As I mentioned earlier, Disney didn't pay the people who conducted the services. The Catholic Church has a very unusual and active tourist ministry so they had a priest assigned to conduct the services. A local rabbi or minister would have to take time away from their own congregation on their "busiest" day (so to speak) to run services at WDW. I'm not sure that would be feasible for them. IMHO, there wasn't any Disney effort to include or exclude any religion, it was just logistics and availability.

 

[JEANMR1]

Disney is a business!
Be thankful that mass had been provided conveniently and free of charge all of this time.
Be thankful that they are continuing to try and be helpful to arrange transporation and directions so you may continue to worship.
Be thankful that you were one of the religions considered mainstream enough to have had a service on-site all these years.
Be thankful that you are on vacation with your family.
Be thankful for your faith.

Do not complain to a company for trying to make a profit, or for not being able to find a priest, or for trying to be politically correct (or any reason they may have had for cancelling the service). If you can afford a WDW vacation AND stay onsite - you can afford transporation to a church folks. Don't be petty.

 

[reggie92762]

Like I said everyone has a right to input but this is just starting to sound snippy and snide. People save long and hard for these vacations so don't assume they have what they don't. Budgeting always goes into planning....I thought the petty comment was very petty.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by AF Brenda
I wouldn't see it as being politically correct as much as just plain fair. I'm kind of surprised that they had Christian services all these years, but not Jewish ones.

Yup. Or Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhast, or Wiccan. Remember, the very large majority of the global population is NOT Christian.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Greg K.
It occurs to me that if the Southern Baptists get wind of this -- and I'm sure, they will -- there will be hell to pay.

I can hear it now.

"What? You mean Disney is inviting ****-SEX-uals for those GAY DAYS and CANCELLING church on Sunday?!"

Can you say "Boycott"?

Oooh, that's just not good p.r., Disney, not at all. Somebody is definitely asleep at the switch here.

My guess is that they would have been screaming even louder if WDW started offering services for Muslims and Wiccans.

The Protestant service was seldom well attended, so maybe they need to rethink their arguments.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by disneykaws
Disney accomodates various conventions, private parties, etc. by closing normally public areas on occasion. They accomodate Gay Days and other special days in the parks. They should allow religious services on property, including Christian and non-Christian services.

The special events that close parts of the property are paid for DEARLY by the sponsors.

Disney does not support or condone Gay Day. They can't keep them out, they have no legal reason to. And any part of the property closed to the public for Gay Day is rented (read paid for) by the Gay Day organizers.

I'm sure that if a Catholic or Protestant ministry would like to begin paying for space rental, WDW would be happy to accomodate them.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Patabel
I'm sure I'm about to get flamed here.......

Well, the bottom line is that WDW has never been obligated to nor should it be obligated in the future to provide religious services for its guests. I cannot think of any other resort area across the nation that does that.

No bashing here, GREAT POST!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Patabel
I'm sure I'm about to get flamed here.......

Well, the bottom line is that WDW has never been obligated to nor should it be obligated in the future to provide religious services for its guests. I cannot think of any other resort area across the nation that does that.

No bashing here, GREAT POST!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by raidermatt
Forget should or shoudn't, obligated or not obligated.

By having the services, Disney kept some of its guests on property who would otherwise be leaving, if only for a few hours.

Now those guests will leave the property. If they take the bus, they will have $10 less per person to spend on property. If they choose to drive, they just might find something else to do off-property.

The idea behind WDW is that its supposed to be an enclosed resort, one that you never have to leave until your vacation is over. The religous services fit in with that philosophy.

Yeah, if you were Christian. What about the rest of the guests?

Anne