Religious Services end at the Polynesian

[anniet]

FunkyLamb has a great point. It's BETTER business for the Catholic church to do their masses over at their shrine with their gift shop, than to send a priest over to Disney to say them.

Mr. Sunshiny- since Disney didn't charge for the masses in the first place, I believe nothing gained, nothing lost. If you are worried about your soul, you can take it off property down to the MQOTU shrine, and participate in Mass there. Perhaps as Christians we should be thankful that Disney was kind enough to provide the service for us as long as they did, instead of complaining about the fact that we have to drive a few miles down the road now.

And Las Vegas has a much larger interest in keeping high rollers on property than Disney does to keep Christians. Let's face it, the Christians are going to come back after Mass or Services and spend money on property anyway.

It's probably a number of contributing factors and this whole thread is just speculation on reasons why the masses have stopped. If writing to Disney makes people feel better, I think they should. But if the priests aren't willing to go over there to say the masses, then it doesn't really matter anyway, and nobody knows for sure whether it's Disney or the Catholic Church.

But pick the target that you feel better bashing, Disney or the Church, I'm sure they are both used to it.

 

[MrShiny]

Funny, I had a long conversation last December with my friend (who is a tour guide at the Vatican) about the wedding thing. Her point was money isnt the issue - the Church in the past has turned down millions to hold true to it's beliefs.

While there is a requirement to attend Sunday mass, there is no requirement to get married. So there is the luxury to perform that in the proper atmosphere. The Church generally likes to ensure that the two participants are prepared for the sacrament - this would be very difficult for those coming in for a wedding.

As far as those who stay on site continue to do so, I take issue with that since I see on boards more and more people doing exactly the opposite. I myself stayed off site my last trip, in part because Disney wasn't offering the value it ad in the past. Now next trip is very short, so the location makes up for that.

They are loosing money in this move. When we were there in June, we drove in from off site to go to Mass at the Poly. We spent about $100 in the shops (mainly on things that were impulse buys and that we probably wouldn't have bought otherwise). We ate there - probably another $50 (six of us at Capt. Cook's). We weren't the only ones from Mass to do so.

That revenue stream will be lost.

Of course in Vegas it's more - that's why they give you more as well. But the fact remains that they are sending people off site that they could easily keep on site. It definitely costs them money in lost sales - it's just a question of enough to outweigh the minimal cost of hosting the Mass.

 

[anniet]

I've stayed off site many many times. I know the prices are down now, but it's cyclical. I was getting the $20 rate in the early 90's when nobody was visiting because of the economy then. Over the years, the rates began to increase, but the upkeep of the hotels didn't change much.

I've stayed onsite too, and I have to say it is a different feel to the vacation. That's why we bought the DVC this past March. Rates will go up and down offsite, but that offsite property that looks real good this year for the price, will be more expensive next year and have a lot of upkeep to be done too, and let's face it nobody keeps up their hotels the way Disney does. The low rates are nice, but I was tired of mirrors placed too high for me to see my face (I'm 5 feet tall) Bathroom lights that don't come on in the middle of the night, housekeeping that does a minimal job, and rude staff who are slow to respond.

Mass or not, give me a Disney Resort any day.

I guess it's fools like me that Disney relies on!

 

[reggie92762]

Well are car is booked for this weekend. 7:00am for the 7:30 mass. So this is how I chose to "Get Over" the issue. I also think I have a right to voice my opinion on this discussion without getting into a religious dispute. I hope everyone enjoys their religions and observances as much as my family. I love to discuss but not to butt heads...

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Greg K.
...I dunno 'bout that. It's perhaps a combination of factors.

Here's my little Disney wedding story.

In 1996, my wife and I wanted to renew our wedding vows at WDW for our 10th wedding anniversary. Not get married, just renew our vows. We inquired at the diocese about finding a priest to do just that.

The response: no. The diocese considers the atmosphere at Disney World to be inappropriate for an event as sacred and important as a wedding. (They have a point, actually, when you get right down to it. It IS an amusement park, after all.)

I tried to impress upon them that this was a RENEWAL OF VOWS, not an original wedding. They were unfazed.

So the Disney wedding planners found a very nice Methodist minister who performed a renewal of vows for us, in the garden at the Yacht Club. We'd have preferred a Catholic priest, but c'est la vie.

Greg-

We'll be in the same position in a few years with our vow renewal, and plan on andling it the exact same way.

We're already married in the eyes of God in a Catholic church ceremony, so I don't think he'll really care if we do our vow renewal with another Christian officiant...

Anne

 

[PamOKW]

This isn't WDWs doing. It's the Catholic Church and it's not about a shortage of priests. It's about money.

Disney has decided to cease the masses at the Poly. The Catholic Church in Orlando has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide a beautiful setting for Catholics to worship and has also provided celebrants at WDW for mass on Sunday and holidays. My guess is the Shrine revenue will probably go down because many Catholics won't make the effort to go offsite to mass and they won't be making a donation.

They do not conduct weddings at WDW because the atmosphere at WDW puts much more emphasis on the "show" than on the religious sacramental aspects of the marriage. If it's important to the couple to be married in the Catholic Church that's what they'll do, even if it's not at WDW. If being married at WDW is more important, that sort of proves the point of why they don't conduct the sacrament there. The Church doesn't make money in Orlando by having the marriages offsite. The area churches all have residency requirements before they perform a marriage. The Church is not participating in the "business" of weddings that WDW has developed. They are encouraging Catholics to participate in the pre-Cana and marriage requirements of their home parishes. The same holds true for Vegas weddings. There are no priests in the drive-in chapels.

This is just an attempt to explain the Catholic position and doesn't reflect on any other faith that holds weddings at WDW.

I am sure that a priest would conduct a marriage renewal at WDW. However, it's very likely you would have to bring the priest yourself. Many people who do marry in resort or summer home locations, bring along their parish priest or a friend or family member who is a priest to conduct the ceremony. The local priests in these areas and WDW wouldn't have the time to conduct these ceremonies and attend to their own parishes and other events. Many WDW area ministers are in business to support themselves and their families by their work at WDW. I'm not sure whether they have congregations or basically just do the weddings at WDW.

 

[raidermatt]

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

Disney does very few things that every guest cares about. The services kept a significant number of guests on-site. You can cry "foul" all you want, but fairness has absolutely nothing to do with it.

They are a public company and had every right to offer the services, and every right to cancel them. I'm only questioning the business wisdom in cancelling. Since I don't have access to the numbers, I can only speculate and say its possible this was a bad business decision. However, its also possible it wasn't.

The point is, it was a business decision, and Disney's recent pattern has been one of making decisions based on short-term factors rather than long-term factors.

 

[7susan7]

My husband and I will be leaving for our annual Sept. vacation to Disney World. One of our favorite memories of each trip is Mass at the Poly., usually the 8:15 a.m. (then we have brunch etc.) Needless to say I am very disheartened to hear about all Masses being cancelled there. We always stay on the grounds and rent a car so we are lucky enough to have the option to attend Mass at Poly., or off the grounds at Mary Queen of the Universe. We were in Disney in May and we attended Mass at Poly., as usual.

I feel lately my celebration as a Christian in public places is being taken away from me. Its time for me to step forward and speak out and also write a letter to Disney.

There could be so many reasons why this has happened. Unfortunately I'm afraid we will never be told the real reason for what I feel is another wrong decision on Disneys part.

We leave in 19 days We need it BAD!!!!

Good Park Hopping to everyone.

 

[kimmar067]

You bring up a very valid point. We attended service at the 10:15AM mass at the Poly last Sunday. Although we have been to WDW 5 times, we've never had to opportunity to "check out" the Poly (except from the monorail as it passed). Not only did we do some shopping there, but I got to finally taste the Kona coffee that I'd heard so much about!! (BTW - I was NOT disappointed!) Those guests who would otherwise not even visit the Poly, really get a "taste" of this resort, as they have to, not only enter the lobby, but pretty much venture out to the far end of the grounds.

 

[AF Brenda]

I feel lately my celebration as a Christian in public places is being taken away from me. Its time for me to step forward and speak out and also write a letter to Disney.

So in other words, Disney has some sort of obligation to accomodate your celebration as a Christian?

Sorry, but I don't agree.

 

[CathyCanada]

Folks, this is not the debate board. Debating one another's thoughts and feelings on this issue should be done in the appropriate forum, the Debate Board.

As some of you have already done, if you are unhappy about the decision, contact Disney, fighting amongst yourselves will solve nothing. Personally I agree that it is yet another of Disney's decisions to be politically correct. Regardless of how many Christians go to Disney, the services were provided for one group only, to the exclusion of others.

Remember "Dixie Landings"?

Anyway, enough has been said, any other discussions on this can be continued on the Debate Board if you wish. Please, if you are unhappy, write Disney and let them know.

Cathy