They Even Reduced The Food Amount.. Yup

[raidermatt]

I can't believe I let this thread get to 4 pages before I opened it... (gosh darned Monorails!)

For every person that says "I want my chicken finger" there is a marketing orc screaming "Look, Minnie Mouse is on the train!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I had to close my door after reading, and visualizing, this.


Man, sometimes I have a real hard time believing what I am reading. While I disagree with the "Its only a chicken finger, deal with it" attitude, at least its a logical approach for enjoying your vacation.

But, Scoop, are you actually saying the "adds" at least equal the "minuses"???? No need to do the list thing. Just tell me whether or not this is what you really think.

Just when you think you've heard it all, somebody says reducing the portion size is actually a benevolent move by Disney in their never-ending quest to improve the health of its visitors.

Well I would rather they remove a chicken finger than raise the price. I would rather they cheap out on the fries than close an extra hour early, or rehab a ride a bit longer than necessary so they don't have to staff it.

But they ARE closing earlier, and the ARE delaying and prolonging rehabs. They HAVE closed attractions without replacement. They HAVE reduced operating hours in periods of increasing attendance.

They have done and are doing all of those other things you DO care about.

Further, reducing the portions by 25% IS the same as raising the price. In fact, its the same as raising the price by 25%.


I understand not caring about the chicken finger. I don't order the things.

However, to paraphrase Hans Gruber:

"Sooner or later, they will get to something you DO care about."

And, actually, I'm sure they already have.

 

[mickeyminnie]

I am referring to further cuts or price increases, not that they have not done so already.

 

[raidermatt]

I am referring to further cuts or price increases, not that they have not done so already.

You can call me a cynic if you want, but somehow I don't think Poultrygate is going to be the last of the cuts...

 

[mickeyminnie]

but I agree with your raidermatt that I doubt this is the final cut back and from here on out it is all bigger and better. At least not until the whole Iraqi and Osama dealy is fought out.

 

[BRERALEX]

BUT AHA It's ok cause ive learned Disney is a business

man at least i could do that size thing cause is till dont know how to put peoples handles in quotes

 

[All Aboard]

GCurling found his straw with the rumored Adventureland staggered opening & EE.

Mein Goodness, that's quite a memory. Particularly the Adventureland thing. Well, since 2/3 of EE has been restored and Adventureland opens at 9:00 am, I guess I should be back in Car #1, right? Not just yet, a few too many disappointments in the last couple of years.

Gcurling's camel really broken i think he still goes often.

Just got off the phone from booking for arrival tomorrow night. I had my choice of just about any room on-site with an AP discount (though not the really deep ones). I translated that to fairly soft attendance this weekend, so I booked. Now, somebody do an anti-rain dance.

To the topic. Yep, they caught me. I, too, would typically get one basket at Cosmic Rays, Columbia Harbor House, Backlot Express and share it with the little Nat-ster. One and half fingers for her, two and a half for me.

This one baffles me a bit. According to Bob Sehlinger, one of the biggest areas of complaint he gets in letters is the cost of food. And particularly the cost of counter service food. A chicken finger basket at Columbia Harbor house is $6.50. Add the $2.29 soda and tax and you are up to $9.36. Ouch, that's a little steep dontcha think? Now, it seems that they've reduced the volume of your meal by 25%, making the value equation even worse. If it's true that guests in general balk at counter service prices, would this be your strategy in the area?

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

It all boils down to value ! I realize WDW food is overpriced, It always has been, But now instead of splitting the chicken finger meal between my boys I will have to buy 2.
Will it stop me from going again ? absolutely not.
But it may cause me to take a break and go back to my room and make a sandwich ( which Disney wont make a dime off of ) Or instead of eating at the food court I may take the time to drive over to the Bob Evans on 192.

 

[madthemouse]

And I thought WDW just didn't get it. Man.... was I wrong. They do get it! I believe this is Disney Worlds way of entering into the "World of Diets". After all, isn't 1 in 4 Americans obese? Maybe.... they just want to HELP.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Maybe they can charge me $5.95 per day for all the walking I have to do while at WDW.
Or use that as an excuse to not evolve their transportation system. " the walking is good for you "

 

[Pinnie]

Ouch....

First butter.....
OK...now I have to make my toast in my DVC unit so I can have REAL butter.

Then Nescafe.....ok...now I have to make my own real Coffee in my DVC unit.....

Next.... Chicken Fingers....ok...now I have to buy a bag of frozen nuggets and make them in my DVC unit.

Don't you people GET IT??? It's a PLOT to have everyone buy into DVC!!!!!!!

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002

 

[HB2K]

Mein Goodness, that's quite a memory. Particularly the Adventureland thing. Well, since 2/3 of EE has been restored and Adventureland opens at 9:00 am, I guess I should be back in Car #1, right? Not just yet, a few too many disappointments in the last couple of years.

There in lies the problem Greg....it's a problem car 1'ers seem to brush off. Once the pandora's box is open (or the rose colored glasses are off, if you will) it can't be closed. You see all of the other things you brushed off before. It turns what you thought was a mole hill into a mountain.

BUT AHA It's ok cause ive learned Disney is a business

I know you're being sarcastic, but it's a pathetic excuse for these cutbacks. I don't care if Disney is a business. It doesn't excuse the fact that they are blatantly nickle & diming their loyal customer base, nevermind the casual customers.

 

[BRERALEX]

well HB2K i felt like i was bieng yelled earlier when someone said DISNEY IS A BUSINESS!!!!!!!!! duh i know this and it cant be used for everything...somethings yes........other things like my chicken finger NO!

 

[airlarry!]

You know what amazes me?

The amount of posts on this board that argue that we should ignore what are obviously cuts...because there is an implied promise by management that the cuts are for economic reasons and/or are balanced out by pluses.

I've said it about right, haven't I, M. Scoop?

But, please turn to page 7 of your annual report 2002 (which just arrived for me in the mail yesterday).

And I quote:

The plan continues to emphasize the important of our brands, but it represents a fundamental shift of emphasis from our company's recent history. Whereas the hallmark of the last five years has been investment, the next five years will be primarily about reaping the fruits of that investment.

Quick quiz. Did Walt say this, and they transposed one of his '58 quotes to the new book?

Hardy har har.

Of course not. Saurei$nerman said this.

So tell me again why you are surprised at this, or any other cut? Tell me again why there are relatively few additions announced for the parks? Tell me again that it is Disney's goal to replace the 'bricks' or, heaven forbid, increase them?

Ei$ner even tells us to expect more cuts. One page 3, he predicts 25-35 % growth in earnings in 2003 from "the strategic action plan" endorsed by the Board. My prediction if Ei$ner stays? He'll get his growth, and in 2008, the WDW parks will be...oh about the same as they were in 2003.

This is so eerily similar to his 10/10 plan that my eyes hurt. I used to be an Ei$ner apologist. Now I recognize him for what he is. The Chicken Finger King.

But I'm still going next Mardi Gras...

 

[HB2K]

well HB2K i felt like i was bieng yelled earlier when someone said DISNEY IS A BUSINESS!!!!!!!!! duh i know this and it cant be used for everything...somethings yes........other things like my chicken finger NO!

I know you were being sarcastic. I wasn't directing my comments towards your post.

I'm simply sick of being reminded that Disney is a business everytime they cut something.

Can I ask a question....when did Disney become a business? I'm pretty sure they were one when they build or included everything they've cut.

As a matter of fact, I think they were a more successful one back then....

 

[crusader]

I know you're being sarcastic, but it's a pathetic excuse for these cutbacks. I don't care if Disney is a business. It doesn't excuse the fact that they are blatantly nickle & diming their loyal customer base, nevermind the casual customers.

It's the loyal customer base that will really notice these subtle changes. The casual customer was prepared to spend out the wazoo because they were reminded a long time ago that the reason it was more expensive was simply because this was "Disneyworld".

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The plan continues to emphasize the important of our brands, but it represents a fundamental shift of emphasis from our company's recent history. Whereas the hallmark of the last five years has been investment, the next five years will be primarily about reaping the fruits of that investment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am confused as to what "brand" is in this paragraph. If it is putting the word "Disney" on something which applies particularly to the parks then this is only saying that they will reap the benefits of the fact that it is "Disney".

And what are the fruits of that investment? Money? Where?

 

[airlarry!]

I am confused as to what "brand" is in this paragraph. If it is putting the word "Disney" on something which applies particularly to the parks then this is only saying that they will reap the benefits of the fact that it is "Disney".

And what are the fruits of that investment? Money? Where?

I can't speak for the Darth Ei$ner, but I did read the entire letter. Key word in the paragraph I quoted, IMO, is the word fundamental.

Ei$ner has always been about fundamental shifts. WDW had limited resorts built. Ei$ner fundamentally changed that by expanding the resorts at a phenomonal rate. (can be argued both good and bad...cf The Baron's treatises on value resorts or the hideously garish Poop Century Motel). M. AV can tell us even more about all the changes Ei$ner brought to the molasses Card & Ron were running.

Now he is laying it out, in black and white, that there will be *no* significant enhancements to the parks nor to feature animation in the next five or so years. (Read the part where he talks about how much money they are going to make on the sequels). He is telling us that they have spent enough in the last five years to justify limits on expansion in order to generate extreme cash flow. You can argue with me whether or not the cuts or standstills or lack of expansion or lack of new feature animation is significant to you or to your theme park experience. Fine. Just don't argue that it isn't there, or that it isn't ordered from on high.

What happens to Company X when it stops investing in R&D? It dies a slow death on the vine. This company's R&D IMHO is animation and parks. Why else would Ei$ner tell us how many shares he's bought, then tell us the company is going to generate huge cash reserves (allegedly)?

Because he is trying to stoke the instutional investor into upgrading their buys on the company's stock. Now his options and shares are worth more, and he can get out and buy that country in South America he has been wanting to try his hand at ruling.

 

[crusader]

He is telling us that they have spent enough in the last five years to justify limits on expansion in order to generate extreme cash flow.

I don't have the annual report in front of me so I will have to rely on what you are reading. If the cash flow generated from the theme park represents approx 38% of their revenue (somewhere this was posted - my figure may be wrong though) and they freeze expansion in this division, this will have a dramatic initial impact on the cash flow. I wonder if they including the DVC in this category?

What happens to Company X when it stops investing in R&D? It dies a slow death on the vine. This company's R&D IMHO is animation and parks. Why else would Ei$ner tell us how many shares he's bought, then tell us the company is going to generate huge cash reserves (allegedly)?

Absolutely agree. This has been a progessive problem for this Co. and the parks and movies have been steadily losing appeal. Eisner may be attempting to encourage the investor to buy more here - afterall he is and there will be promised liquidity which will increase your share value. This is a catch - 22 because is the anticipated cash reserve coming from the investor buying in or from the operating revenue?

Because he is trying to stoke the instutional investor into upgrading their buys on the company's stock. Now his options and shares are worth more, and he can get out and buy that country in South America he has been wanting to try his hand at ruling.

Not just his shares, but there will be more cash to bonus out!

 

[DisOrBust]

To think it all started with a chicken finger.......

 

[HB2K]

It's the loyal customer base that will really notice these subtle changes. The casual customer was prepared to spend out the wazoo because they were reminded a long time ago that the reason it was more expensive was simply because this was "Disneyworld".

Agreed. Kind of.

It's the loyal customer base who will notice the change, and fight to correct it.

It's the casual customer who, while expecting absorbanant prices, will see a lack of value and not come back, not become a loyal customer, and will not tell anyone about it.

Those are the people who are driving the numbers into the ground. Those are the people Disney should be most concerned about.

And they're not.

 

[space42]

Originally posted by Don Karnage
be careful..... this is one of those dangerous 'WDW Poultry' threads..... some of us have very long memories.

Emu fingers anyone?

*back to lurk mode*