Universal announces details on diagon alley

[rteetz]

It wasn't rolled out to offsite guests over two years. They didn't even start really testing MBs in the parks until late last year.

but we on the boards have had a head start on what was coming. Disney isn't going to start the test with off site first because that number is greater than those in their hotels. They needed to take these gradual steps. Without those steps this could have been a huge mess and really backfired at Disney as a complete fail. Doing it this way helps prevent that.

 

[Borishack]

Disney is trending a bit more toward the homogenization side.

An excellent point which is not news to the cogent and observant.

Is the "Disney is doing just fine" crowd going to tell us the choices at retail shops at WDW are getting more diverse and customized to location?

And how about dining? One would have to be a rock to not see the fact menus across the entire resort are becoming more and more standardized. Which is the direct result of MBA types using the standard corporate "cut quality to increase our margins and hope the clients don't notice" playbook.

 

[Silock]

but we on the boards have had a head start on what was coming. Disney isn't going to start the test with off site first because that number is greater than those in their hotels. They needed to take these gradual steps. Without those steps this could have been a huge mess and really backfired at Disney as a complete fail. Doing it this way helps prevent that.

I never said they should have, but a heads up that they were completely eliminating FP would have been nice. I've had my trip planned since May. They basically cut it out completely between late November and January. I don't consider that a lot of lead or prep time.

 

[rteetz]

I never said they should have, but a heads up that they were completely eliminating FP would have been nice. I've had my trip planned since May. They basically cut it out completely between late November and January. I don't consider that a lot of lead or prep time.

well indications for the past year prior to the elimination has been that they were going to get rid of it. I think it was kind of expected Disney wouldn't have both systems running once it was rolled out.

 

[Silock]

well indications for the past year prior to the elimination has been that they were going to get rid of it. I think it was kind of expected Disney wouldn't have both systems running once it was rolled out.

Maybe. Maybe not. There was no way to know for sure. Same with whether or not MK and AK get Tiering or if Epcot and DHS keep it.

I don't plan my trips around indications. Even if I did, what of the people that weren't on here and REALLY had no idea?

 

[rteetz]

Maybe. Maybe not. There was no way to know for sure. Same with whether or not MK and AK get Tiering or if Epcot and DHS keep it. I don't plan my trips around indications. Even if I did, what of the people that weren't on here and REALLY had no idea?

I understand I'm just saying that being part of the disboards helps out with these types of things knowing ahead of time.

 

[Silock]

I understand I'm just saying that being part of the disboards helps out with these types of things knowing ahead of time.

Agreed. I'm also just saying that even being a member here didn't give me enough heads up that MBs and FP+ would be fully rolled out when we went. It wasn't even testing at the resorts when we booked our flights.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm new to the love craze that is Harry Potter; just finished book three for the first time. I've been to the land in IoA and saw the early construction in US, so I'm excited to see how things unfold. I'm a Disney, have been since birth, but I LOVE thrill rides, so US/IoA has always appealed to me. Hopefully both parks will take a turn for the better and make some changes to up their anti in the other lands (Simpsons Land is well done, even though I was very sad to see BttF go). My thing is, why does one company have to be better than the other? They are so different in my eyes, why not just leave it that each is good in it's own way? The arguments that ensue on these pages are bizarre to me; these are theme parks, family vacation fun, that's all.

I wasn't going to comment because this endless argument is like disagreeing as to whether the sky is blue or black. (It depends.) That is until I read your post. I couldn't agree more. It's primarily just a matter of opinion and everyone has one that is as good as anyone else's.

 

[mvk]

Notice I have been a DIS member for a short time. From what I've read and experienced, Disney has let their commitment go down the toilet. I've seen CMs arguing with each other, heard them using curse words, and not being very helpful. I've been going to Disney World since Magic Kingdom was Disney World in the mid 1970's. If service then was 100%, now I would grade it at 75% on a 10 point scale in comparison.

I've felt the CM's and service the past fews years was as good or better than it was in 1998 when I worked there. I haven't encountered anything like what you described. I thought CM's went out of their way to help my family and engage us in conversation,, and we go in mid-August so its not like its a slow period.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I wasn't going to comment because this endless argument is like disagreeing as to whether the sky is blue or black. (It depends.) That is until I read your post. I couldn't agree more. It's primarily just a matter of opinion and everyone has one that is as good as anyone else's.

I've felt the CM's and service the past fews years was as good or better than it was in 1998 when I worked there. I haven't encountered anything like what you described. I thought CM's went out of their way to help my family and engage us in conversation,, and we go in mid-August so its not like its a slow period.

Absolutely! I honestly do not understand the view of some that there has been an obvious decline at Disney since decades ago. This is stated as if it is obvious fact and everyone knows it. It isn't and they don't.

I have not seen any drop off in cleanliness, maintenance, CM quality, or anything else. My experiences have been fantastic every single time.

In fact each visit I am worried my expectations won't be met, and they are!

This doesn't mean that things couldn't be better or that in isolated things fails have happened. And yes, we could use a ride or two - and we are getting them. But overall I see no drop off in quality.

In fact, over the years I have seen great improvements: Awesome rides, FP then FP+. I actually found MM+, website, and app easy to use in September.

I don't want to dismiss other's experiences or problems. I just have not experienced them. And my experiences shouldn't be dismissed either.

 

[Disneychick75]

I've felt the CM's and service the past fews years was as good or better than it was in 1998 when I worked there. I haven't encountered anything like what you described. I thought CM's went out of their way to help my family and engage us in conversation,, and we go in mid-August so its not like its a slow period.

Glad you haven't experienced bad cast member behavior. We were at Animal Kingdom year before last and 2 cast members almost got into a fist fight. Security was called. This was besides indifferent behavior by cast members in a club level lounge and cast members in the Emporium on Main St using foul language.
I did not say all cast members are bad. It does reflect badly when they act out. In the old days, cast members did not behave like this at least in front of guests.

 

[clsteve]

I've read through the posts and wanted to just throw in a suggestion. In discussing where/whether DisneyCo is concerned about Universal, look at the numbers that matter and how those numbers relate to executive compensation. Park Attendance numbers are only a part of the picture and need to be correlated against per guest expenditure and profitability. It also needs to be broken out by "when." There's minimal room for gain for either company in the high season, they're competing for the low.

Also keep a close eye on:

Occupancy rate (very important)
Per guest expenditure (and if increase is due to price increase or actual spend increase)
Length of stay - the area of most concern

Just a suggestion.....

 

[ChrisFL]

Glad you haven't experienced bad cast member behavior. We were at Animal Kingdom year before last and 2 cast members almost got into a fist fight. Security was called. This was besides indifferent behavior by cast members in a club level lounge and cast members in the Emporium on Main St using foul language.
I did not say all cast members are bad. It does reflect badly when they act out. In the old days, cast members did not behave like this at least in front of guests.

There are several things that have changed in the past several years in regards to CM's (and I can speak for this as I am a former CM and also know several others who have been over the years).

The Traditions training they receive has been reduced substantially, as well as the department training.

Secondly, since they are the largest single-site employer in the U.S. with 60,000 plus employees, they've had to do a lot of things to get and keep CM's hired....including the international program, and college program...for high school and college age employees to stay for a year or less. That means there's a constant revolving door of new people (just think about how many times you see the name badges with the "Earning My Ears").

The third problem is that they are paying just over minimum wage for most jobs and even the managerial positions don't pay very high either.

 

[Disneychick75]

There are several things that have changed in the past several years in regards to CM's (and I can speak for this as I am a former CM and also know several others who have been over the years).

The Traditions training they receive has been reduced substantially, as well as the department training.

Secondly, since they are the largest single-site employer in the U.S. with 60,000 plus employees, they've had to do a lot of things to get and keep CM's hired....including the international program, and college program...for high school and college age employees to stay for a year or less. That means there's a constant revolving door of new people (just think about how many times you see the name badges with the "Earning My Ears").

The third problem is that they are paying just over minimum wage for most jobs and even the managerial positions don't pay very high either.

I understand your points. Hasn't Disney always paid minimum wage or a little over? The college CMs-at least I think they were, unless they were just young workers- did not act like some of them do these days. Were people more polite and considerate in the past?
It's a big problem. I don't expect cast members or anyone else to kiss my feet but I do expect basic courtesy and I don't expect to see fighting or cursing.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

There are several things that have changed in the past several years in regards to CM's (and I can speak for this as I am a former CM and also know several others who have been over the years).

The Traditions training they receive has been reduced substantially, as well as the department training.

Secondly, since they are the largest single-site employer in the U.S. with 60,000 plus employees, they've had to do a lot of things to get and keep CM's hired....including the international program, and college program...for high school and college age employees to stay for a year or less. That means there's a constant revolving door of new people (just think about how many times you see the name badges with the "Earning My Ears").

The third problem is that they are paying just over minimum wage for most jobs and even the managerial positions don't pay very high either.

I also think that, no matter how good your training, when you have 60,000 people working for you, there are going to be a number of bad eggs. I am sure part of Disney's plan is to monitor and weed out those bad ones as soon as possible.

If 60,000 work there I wonder how may are fired in a week?