running at half capacity

[wdw4rfam]

Did notice last week they were using only one side of BTMRR as well as space mountain. But more so, noticed everything breaking down a lot. We came across Winnie the Pooh, 7dwarfs, pirates all down. We got stuck in spaceship earth for an hour, almost got stuck in peoplemover ( we were standing on the platform when it broke down. Everyone was evacuated eventually. That one we saw down MANY times as well as spaceship earth.

 

[otten]

It’s pretty standard practice for a company to have less staff during less busy periods. They are also making less money. Could they avoid to still run at full staff when it’s slow? Sure but I don’t think it’s surprising that they don’t.

 

[FastPasser.]

This really pisses me off, and we leave for WDW in three weeks. I say complain, complain, complain. I certainly will, if I see this kind of crap happening.

Maybe I should take a week off in three weeks.

 

[Punkrockbebop]

Yes that is true, too. We were in MK on Sunday and many of the attractions we intended to go on were temporarily closed: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Carousel of Progress, and a fourth one that I can’t remember (but I’ll come back & edit if I do) were all closed. Plus, Tom Sawyers Island has been closed, and Splash Mountain is under refurbishment. It was very crowded and very hot. Not a magical experience at all and a big mistake to go with First Timers in tow on that day.

So, maybe they are cutting back on maintenance staff, as well?

 

[firefly_ris]

Did notice last week they were using only one side of BTMRR as well as space mountain. But more so, noticed everything breaking down a lot. We came across Winnie the Pooh, 7dwarfs, pirates all down. We got stuck in spaceship earth for an hour, almost got stuck in peoplemover ( we were standing on the platform when it broke down. Everyone was evacuated eventually. That one we saw down MANY times as well as spaceship earth.

I am not there yet but have been checking wait times almost every day... seems like every afternoon when i look at the app Big Thunder is "temporarily closed".... I have an evening fastpass for it next week for after dark, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed...

 

[ArwenMarie]

I noticed CMs missing in spots on other rides and attractions too.

I can't explain it, but I would have a memory like, wasn't there someone usually standing here?

 

[hllb]

I am not there yet but have been checking wait times almost every day... seems like every afternoon when i look at the app Big Thunder is "temporarily closed".... I have an evening fastpass for it next week for after dark, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed...

This is rainy season too. When we were there this time a few years ago, every afternoon it POURED for 30 to 60 minutes. So, it could be weather related.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Passing along a complaint is fine, but don't let it get you this upset right before your trip! Could set the wrong tone for the whole trip.

That's true. We will complain if it's egregious, but otherwise, I don't think it will ruin our trip.

Maybe we'll bump into each other in the parks!

 

[firefly_ris]

This is rainy season too. When we were there this time a few years ago, every afternoon it POURED for 30 to 60 minutes. So, it could be weather related.

Ah yes, I didn't think about That! That would make sense.

 

[retlaw_yensid]

So...why is it whenever Disney does something that *someone* takes issue with, it's always because Disney's just a greedy, no-good, how-can-we-get-more-money-out-this evil-doer?

What if sometimes it's just a matter of someone calling in sick that day and they couldn't get someone another castmember to cover their spot at the loading area?

 

[mesaboy2]

So...why is it whenever Disney does something that *someone* takes issue with, it's always because Disney's just a greedy, no-good, how-can-we-get-more-money-out-this evil-doer?

What if sometimes it's just a matter of someone calling in sick that day and they couldn't get someone another castmember to cover their spot at the loading area?

Disney is a business.

 

[retlaw_yensid]

Disney is a business.

Ah...so, being a business always equals being greedy, all the time, and it could never mean anything else. Got it. Thanks for enlightening me.

 

[mesaboy2]

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes that is true, too. We were in MK on Sunday and many of the attractions we intended to go on were temporarily closed: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Carousel of Progress, and a fourth one that I can’t remember (but I’ll come back & edit if I do) were all closed. Plus, Tom Sawyers Island has been closed, and Splash Mountain is under refurbishment. It was very crowded and very hot. Not a magical experience at all and a big mistake to go with First Timers in tow on that day.

So, maybe they are cutting back on maintenance staff, as well?

If rides are closed temporarily or being refurbished doesn't that mean that they are currently being worked on? Not sure how that translates to maintenance staff being cut. Seems to me it means that maintenance staff are actively working.

 

[paradesintherain]

So...why is it whenever Disney does something that *someone* takes issue with, it's always because Disney's just a greedy, no-good, how-can-we-get-more-money-out-this evil-doer?

What if sometimes it's just a matter of someone calling in sick that day and they couldn't get someone another castmember to cover their spot at the loading area?

That's too rational

 

[Junebugwv]

This is rainy season too. When we were there this time a few years ago, every afternoon it POURED for 30 to 60 minutes. So, it could be weather related.

We were at MK on Saturday afternoon (9/30) and 2 of our FP rides- Space Mountain and BTTR were closed. It didn't rain while we were there and we left at 7PM. The previous day Test Track was closed when we arrived at 2 and it didn't open at all, even though it didn't start raining until 5PM. Sat. morning we went really early to AK (well before the 8 AM early opening) and we were informed right before entering that all of the Pandora rides were closed and did not open until afternoon, although there was no rain. Really can't figure it out. But we chose to have a great time!

 

[twodogs]

So...why is it whenever Disney does something that *someone* takes issue with, it's always because Disney's just a greedy, no-good, how-can-we-get-more-money-out-this evil-doer?

What if sometimes it's just a matter of someone calling in sick that day and they couldn't get someone another castmember to cover their spot at the loading area?

I agree that people call in sick, and it is probably difficult to replace a CM on no notice when that happens. I think the difference I see is that Disney does this type of staffing consistently and repetitively, as I and many guests above can attest to. I noticed the "one side operating" multiple times over the numerous visits we have had over the last 4 years. I have asked CMs about it at the rides, and they tell me "we won't be fully staffed until x:xx time, and then both sides will be open." I believe it is a conscious choice by Disney and a business decision.

I own my own small business, and if I have an employee call in sick (it is a very small office with specialized jobs that can't be filled in on the last minute), I have to work one employee short that day, and it shows in our productivity. It happens rarely, but it does. If I purposely understaff every day or many days to save money (I would have to pay one less person each day that I choose this option), eventually my patients will notice that we are constantly understaffed and running behind and they will get frustrated. They would not believe someone could be "sick" all of these times we were understaffed. This is where I am as a guest at WDW, frustrated with Disney and their staffing decisions, and not believing it is an isolated sick call-in, because of the repetitive nature of it.

So for me, the fact that this happens often, on many different days, to many different guests at WDW, would indicate that it is intentional understaffing, not just that someone called in sick that day. I think they try to balance how many CMs they schedule with the anticipated crowds, and if they underestimate the crowds on any given day (and they may do that intentionally to save money and trade off your and my wait times), then the lines will get very long even though the crowds may be modest compared to other busier days.

 

[BrianL]

It makes sense for them to run half-capacity when it is slow, and it doesn't bother me if the waits are still reasonable. I'm not going to complain that Space Mountain is 15 minutes, even if it could have been 7 if they were running both sides. Now, if the line is an hour, or even half an hour, they should get the ride operating at capacity. I've never really witnessed that though barring technical issues. Usually, when I have seen rides running at half-capacity, it was very brief wait or walk-on.

 

[hllb]

It makes sense for them to run half-capacity when it is slow, and it doesn't bother me if the waits are still reasonable. I'm not going to complain that Space Mountain is 15 minutes, even if it could have been 7 if they were running both sides. Now, if the line is an hour, or even half an hour, they should get the ride operating at capacity. I've never really witnessed that though barring technical issues. Usually, when I have seen rides running at half-capacity, it was very brief wait or walk-on.

That's been my experience too and I also am OK with it. But it sounds like waits were much longer than 10 to 15 minutes which I don't think is OK.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think the issue is that when you see things running half empty you get the impression that you just can't beat the lines anymore. So maybe you've gotten up early for rope drop or gone at a slower time of the year and it doesn't matter anymore. Whether it's right or wrong of Disney to do this doesn't matter...it's the impression that it gives off that is poor.