Upset About Hours? Check this out!

[AreWeThereYet?]

Hey Everyone!

After reading some of the recent postings regarding the new Park Hours, it is clear that there needs to be a specific outlet for these concerns.

This is a good forum for expressing our concerns, but an even more effective way is to communicate directly with WDW.

Walt Disney World Guest Communications does have an e-mail address, as well as a snail-mail address. These are as follows:

E-Mail Guest Communications

Written: Post Office Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

I can tell you from experience that they do retrieve and respond to the e-mail, either via telephone call or return mail. It is their job to take each concern into consideration.

Lets make sure to let them know about all of the good things they are doing as well, as opposed to hammering them with a million bad things.

Good Luck!

 

[Shells9]

How long has it usually taken them to respond?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I called mid-March to complain that MK was closing the week after Easter at 7pm. I received a phone call about 3 weeks later to let me know that they increased the hours. MK was now closing at midnight during my stay.

 

[Geoff_M]

If WDW changes their hours, it's going to be a business based decision and not one based on a couple hundred e-mails. Labor costs are the biggest single cost component for almost every business. If you assume it takes 1,000 people to keep MK running and if they make an average of $9 an hour (both SWAGs), then if they keep MK open an average of an additional hour each day in June Disney's labor cost would go up around $270K. I don't think they're gonna commit to expending over 1/4 of a million dollars in expenses based on e-mails from the DIS. If they expand the hours, it'll be due to the usual factors: hotel occupency rates and other factors that'll impact park attendance.

It appears that as a cost savings measure, WDW is trying to improve the accuracy of the attendance projections by making them closer to the actual dates. That way they don't add hours that they would later regret having to pay CMs for when the actual numbers come out different.

If you want to complain to WDW, I'd complain about the late announcements of initial park hours. Like everyone knows, it's kinda hard to make PSs and guess on special event dates and times 60 days out when the actual data isn't released, and then often later revised, less than 30 days in advance.

 

[mulgar]

I e-mailed them anyway.
It may do no good but it makes me feel better.


Shawn

 

[grinningghost]

I e-mailed them a few days ago. I realize Disney is looking at the bottom line when they reduce hours, but it seems they neglect to look at what a vicious circle they create. If MK is open until 7:00, they undoubtedly lose alot of money on food and merchandise purchases. When parks are open late, guests have more time to ride attractions and get everything they want to do in. That, in turn, leaves the later hours for shopping. If I'm there and the park closes at 7, I'm running commando trying to do all the rides. I'm not taking time out to have a nice EXPENSIVE sit down meal or shop.

I know it's not everything, but it's a point to consider.

 

[coachv]

Can't be that bad as everything is booked up for June!!!

 

[mulgar]

lets hope it ends up like May. That they will increase hours and add more fireworks as the month nears


Shawn

 

[dahess]

If they do close early, why would we pay for a sitdown meal @ 6:00, probably around $150.00 for my family of 5, when we could wait until 7:00, eat off property & save $$$$$$??????

 

[B'rer Karen]

Dahess and grinningghost, I think you need to make those points to Disney. As Geoff said, they're making business decisions. But if they hear more people say "hey, by you cutting back on hours, I'm going to spend my money off site" that could help. Personally I'd call up and thank them for the shorter hours because now I'm saving x amount of money per day since I won't have time to shop and there is no need to eat on site.

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by B'rer Karen
Dahess and grinningghost, I think you need to make those points to Disney. As Geoff said, they're making business decisions. But if they hear more people say "hey, by you cutting back on hours, I'm going to spend my money off site" that could help. Personally I'd call up and thank them for the shorter hours because now I'm saving x amount of money per day since I won't have time to shop and there is no need to eat on site.

I told them that in my e-mail. So far nothing but the canned e-mail response, but I'm waiting. It's true. I'm going with 2 teenagers who will want every second of park time they can get. No sense wasting time and money on a sit down meal when I can whisk them off to Ponderosa at 7:00. Of course, DH will probably like the money we save on shopping - but I won't tell Disney that.

 

[raidermatt]

Cost savings must always be balanced against customer satisfaction. Even though it maybe difficult to pin-down the financial impact of various negatives to guest satisfaction, the impact is real nonetheless.

Geoff's point is a good one... be polite and specific about what is bothering you, and point out how it will change your spending habits (if it indeed will). For example, its not just the shorter hours, but also the late changes that bother you. As a result, you plan to make fewer PS's, and instead eat counter service, or just eat off-site, since the park closes earlier anyway. Of course if you really don't think it will change your spending habits, don't lie...instead just don't mention your spending habits. If large numbers of people complain, threatening decreased spending and then don't follow through, Disney won't listen the next time you threaten decreased spending.

I've also been told that while sending an email is useful, a written letter carries more weight with Disney.

There are some names and addresses over on the Rumors and News board if you are interested. The thread is at the top with an "important" heading.

 

[Dznefreek]

If WDW changes their hours, it's going to be a business based decision and not one based on a couple hundred e-mails. Labor costs are the biggest single cost component for almost every business.

Most people get so wrapped up in the "Marketing" oops, I mean "Magic" that they forget WDW is first and foremost a BUSINESS!

Cost savings must always be balanced against customer satisfaction

Not these days.

I'm going to spend my money off site" that could help.

No, because they know someone else will fill the void.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Dznefreek said No, because they know someone else will fill the void.

If Disney chooses that business philosophy, then they might as well go ahead and start being rude to guests, too. After all, someone else will fill the void....

I just don't think Disney management feels that way. I believe they care what we think.

Disney is known for their business practices worldwide. Other companies send employees to be trained by Disney in the art of guest service.

I think Disney wants to hear from us and will respond as best they can.

Disney did bring back early entry for guests this year. Send them an e-mail, cause I believe these lyrics still express the Disney philosophy:

Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test.
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie. And we provide the rest.

Be our guest! Be our guest! Our command is your request.
We're obsessed with your meal, with your ease,
Yes, indeed, we aim to please.

While the candlelight's still glowing, let us help you.
We'll keep going, course by course, one by one,
'Til you shout, "Enough! I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest.

Tonight you'll prop your feet up, but for now, let's eat up.
Be our guest! Be our guest! Please, be our guest!

 

[AreWeThereYet?]

I say the more times Disney hears about this, the better.

I do agree that a few hundred e-mails may not immediately change the operational decisions that Disney makes regarding park hours. However, I would have to believe that the louder the concensus voice is over displeasure in hours, the more Disney will look at alternative measures to save on expenses. Early Entry is a great example.

As for who has the right to complain about this, I think that would be anyone planning a trip to Disney.

As for the mode of communication, I know that there are entire departments dedicated to answering e-mails, as well as written letters. They are both getting into the same hands eventually, and in todays age of electronic communication, the more cost effective option just might be e-mail.

Tactful complaining is definitely an art, not a science, and the more effective and logical your argument, the better the chance that it will be taken into consideration.