Something stinks here...

[rantnnravin]

knox - we keep saying it, but too many still believe the illusion created by the "magic"

 

[redrosesix]

I don't find what he said disrespectful or rude. I'd say he's more pragmatic than most of us. Read www.whatreallyhappened.com You'll be surprised. The webmaster predicted this housing crash years ago. After all, did some Americans really think they were going to sell their 2 bedroom 1950s rancher in Fort Lauderdale for $350,000? Yeah, but they were wrong.

As a former WDW passholder, I started seeing a decline in park attendance in the early summer of 2008, a time when all kids were out of school. I was walking onto headliner attractions or waiting no more than 10 minutes. CMs were telling me that it wasn't necessary to get a fast pass because they were waiting for guests "for the next show" or "to fill the next train," etc.

Surely Disney execs had to see this coming. If that is the case, then who decided it was appropriate to raise the price of a White Glove pin from $15 to $16.95, a pin which isn't even made in the US, providing a job to an American?

Thanks for posting this link. If nothing else, the topics there cover items that might be considered not important enough to cover in the network news, or on CNN, or in the daily papers. It did make me look elsewhere for for info to substantiate some of the claims that were made -- but I have yet to find any contradictory evidence.

Although I didn't agree with everything posted, I like it when somebody makes me question my own beliefs. I often return to the same conclusions, but at least I have more reason to hold them. And, I think the truth can change over time, over regions, and under different circumstances.

Which leads me to my argument...as an outside observer, I have to say that it is clear that some areas of the US are doing just fine, and some are struggling. Recessions always provide opportunities as well as obstacles. Unfortunately, monetary policy (exchange rates, interest rates, taxes, banking guidelines) affect everybody, and sometimes they cause more harm in some regions and some industries.

So, I don't think it's rude for somebody to point out that some parts of the economy are not struggling. In fact, those citizens, regions and industries may actually suffer as a result of economic programs to help others.

 

[bavaria]

Fixed that for ya..

Good thing that we speak the same language!

Oh, and the same holds true for some Airline in Canada

 

[rocketriter]

As a member of the Board in our synagogue in Illinois, I can tell you that we have never had so many members unemployed (including families of our Board members) and so many in the early stages of losing their homes because they can neither keep nor sell them.

 

[CanadianGuy]

knox - we keep saying it, but too many still believe the illusion created by the "magic"

"But I waited 13 minutes to buy a churro and the line was four miles long" - (at the only place in the park selling churros because of CM cutbacks.. )

"The line for (insert attraction here) was over 95 minutes.. " (at 3pm in the afternoon with the attraction, and all those adjacent to it, running at just 50% capacity.. )

Good thing that we speak the same language!

Oh, and the same holds true for some Airline in Canada

Oh believe me.. I know.. Ugh.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

The parks made 380 million last quarter.

think about it.....in Disney's financial perspective.....that's not much profit at all.

 

[lugnut33]

think about it.....in Disney's financial perspective.....that's not much profit at all.

I know, a billion would sound so much better.


What really upsets the Disney brass is they are going to lose their big fat juicy bonuses if they don't keep profits up.

 

[bouncycat]

I agree with a pp who said thanks to the deals we're able to go. I'm in that same boat, thanks to the military deals, I got 2 trips planned this year, wouldn't be able to do it on a military salary otherwise. I'm soooo loving the deals, and am glad they're finally doing some kind of deal for the military. Yea, our husbands aren't in danger of losing their jobs, they're pretty secure, but I am, and it would be devastating to us!!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I know, a billion would sound so much better.


What really upsets the Disney brass is they are going to lose their big fat juicy bonuses if they don't keep profits up.

You better believe it. They will layoff MICKEY before they reduce their bonus!!!

 

[bavaria]

Fixed that for ya..

Oh look, I found some Canadian double-speak for you! I thought that you might enjoy this

Air Canada reports February traffic; Load factor of 79.6 per cent matches February 2007 record

Woo hoo!!!! Great news!!!!

For the month of February, Air Canada
today reported a load factor of 79.6 per cent on a consolidated basis with
Jazz, matching a February 2007 record, versus 79.2 per cent in February 2008, an increase of 0.4 percentage points. System traffic decreased 10.5 per cent on a capacity reduction of 11.0 per cent system wide

We'll just sweep that critical bit under the rug and hide it with a great headline!!!

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/04/c5949.html

 

[prfctlyximprfct]

all this talk of the reality of these harsh economic times has put a damper on my night. being a junior in college, and having to get a REAL JOB in the near future scares the bejesus out of me. i would love to get away from all this negativity in such a magical place like disney.. if only i could afford it

 

[redrosesix]

Oh look, I found some Canadian double-speak for you! I thought that you might enjoy this

Woo hoo!!!! Great news!!!!

We'll just sweep that critical bit under the rug and hide it with a great headline!!!

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/04/c5949.html

Poor Air Canada! Well, at least we're used to this...

 

[Sorahana]

all this talk of the reality of these harsh economic times has put a damper on my night. being a junior in college, and having to get a REAL JOB in the near future scares the bejesus out of me. i would love to get away from all this negativity in such a magical place like disney.. if only i could afford it

I totally feel you. I'm due to graduate in December...what are we (college students close to graduation) supposed to do? We have loans to pay back and such, plus finding a full time job. I have no job now (I was told I was part-time but lied to and made seasonal) and I can't even find a part-time job.

 

[bsj4]

Recessions bring out great bargains. I have been seeing a lot of good travel deals lately, There is some great rates if you want to stay offsite. Remember, this recession too shall pass. BTW, Pardon the Dust: I'm unemployed and reinventing myself for many trips to Disney World for My future Enjoyment.

 

[btcrane]

BTW, Pardon the Dust: I'm unemployed and reinventing myself for many trips to Disney World for My future Enjoyment.

 

[BRERALEX]

http://www.newsday.com/iphone/orl-bk-disney-world-layoffs-032620090,0,940605.story

Hundreds lose jobs as Disney World layoffs accelerateDisney, which is Central Florida's largest employer with about 62,000 "cast members," refused to say Thursday how many jobs it has eliminated.
Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writer
11:58 AM EDT, March 26, 2009
Walt Disney World has stepped up layoffs this week, as the company prepares to close out its fiscal second quarter this week.

Disney, which is Central Florida's largest employer with about 62,000 "cast members," refused to say Thursday how many jobs it has eliminated. But one person familiar with some details of the cuts said he was given an estimate of 450.

Employees said the cuts, which predominantly target salaried workers, have occurred across the resort's back-office functions, including entertainment, merchandise, finance, transportation, training, emergency management and theme-park operations.

"It's property-wide," said Donna-Lynne Dalton, business agent for the Teamsters Local 385 union, which represents characters, laundry workers, parking attendants and ranch hands. She noted, however, that the job cuts have not affected unionized employees.

One former employee, who said he was laid off Wednesday after more than 10 years at Disney World, said he was personally familiar with about two-dozen others who lost their jobs. Another worker laid off this week said he personally knew about 20 others whose jobs were eliminated.

"We're not talking about one or two people. We're talking about 30 or 40 people in some areas," one of the laid-off employees said. Both spoke on the condition they not be identified, for fear of losing their severance pay.

Disney announced in February that it would begin slashing jobs as part of a corporate restructuring in which it is combining functions between Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

"We think these changes are essential to maintaining our leadership position in family tourism, and they reflect today's economic realities," Disney spokesman Mike Griffin said Thursday.

The job cuts follow voluntary buyouts offered to more than 600 executives across its domestic parks. Disney said approximately 50 people accepted the buyouts.

The layoffs and buyouts are part of deep cost cuts imposed across the Walt Disney Co., as the Burbank, Calif., media-and-entertainment giant suffers through the worst recession in decades. Company profits fell by 32 percent during the first quarter, which ended Dec. 27.

Disney's theme parks are particularly vulnerable to downturns in consumer spending. The company has attempted to keep attendance afloat with deep discounts that are eroding profit margins.

Among those who have already departed or are scheduled to leave by the end of the month: Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin, top chef and restaurant planner Dieter Hannig, and veteran spokesman Bill Warren.

The company has said it is trying to target cost cuts at its theme parks so that they do not hurt guests' experience. But one laid-off employee said the back-office cuts have been so deep that it will affect the employees who deal directly with guests.

"The support from backstage to cast members affects that guest experience," he said. "They affect the cast member, the cast member's attitude, the cast member's ability to do their job."

Disney World has been laying off workers since last month. But former employees say the cuts accelerated this week, and have been so widespread that one former employee described it as "a massacre."

The cuts could be timed to coincide with the end of the Disney Co.'s fiscal second quarter, which concludes Saturday. Disney will report its second-quarter earnings May 5.

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

The Greedy lifestyles of us Americans are what put us in this postion I am guilty just as you are too .Now we pay the price of Greed .Just telling the truth hope you handled it well and think about it seriously .

 

[jade1]

http://www.newsday.com/iphone/orl-bk-disney-world-layoffs-032620090,0,940605.story

top chef and restaurant planner Dieter Hannig, .

Not to hijack but anyone else think thats as odd name for the top chef?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Not to hijack but anyone else think thats as odd name for the top chef?

Dieter is a German name, pronounced dee-ter (two syllables, long "e" in the first), not pronounced like someone who is on diet.

In a way the English pronunciation of his name is apt. Hannig is an athlete and vegetarian who is unlikely to eat most of the food served in the restaurants that he "invented" at WDW, beginning with the California Grill and continuing with every resort restaurant that opened after the California Grill.

See http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--7444-0,00.html

 

[jade1]

Dieter is a German name, pronounced dee-ter (two syllables, long "e" in the first), not pronounced like someone who is on diet.

In a way the English pronunciation of his name is apt. Hannig is an athlete and vegetarian who is unlikely to eat most of the food served in the restaurants that he "invented" at WDW, beginning with the California Grill and continuing with every resort restaurant that opened after the California Grill.

See http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--7444-0,00.html

Ha, yea I kinda figured that, just looks kind of odd. Thats quite a history-sad.