What procedures or policies would you change if you were in charge?

[John Dobbertin]

Lots of good ideas here. Some suggestions would introduce new problems. Idea of FastPass all the time for on-site WDW guests is problematic-- there are 30,000 hotel rooms on-property at WDW! Could have 80,000 (or more!) on-site guests with unlimited FastPass -- not workable. Posting EMH & LMH at least 30-days out should not be difficult. Apparently this is a question of who-works-when at the Parks (shifts) as WDW continues to "experiment" with EMH & LMH.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

I would expand the monorail system to all 4 parks and to a few more hotels too.

That would be great but very costly! I'm all for it if Disney can do it, but I doubt well see it in the near future. Imagine the logistics of errecting platforms at already built hotels so that the monorail can come by them? I guess they did this at the Poly (I think it was built before the monorail? NOt 100% sure on that one) so it could work!

The fast passes idea seems great only b/c we are used to being able to get into a ride quick with a fast pass. If they expanded it any more the fast pass lines wouldn't seem so great anymore. Too bad though b/c I would love to see quick moving fast pass lines available more frequently!

I know someone mentioned that the CMs can't enforce the no smoking policy b/c of unruly guests. I have to be honest. There are kids at Disney. I'm studying biology and the stats on second hand smoke are undeniable. The CMs need to be mean about certain things if they have to. And if a guest is so unstable as to become unruly b/c they were asked to put a cigarette out I think the CMs should throw them out. People who become violent like that around children are scary! That being said, I dont think the CMs really have to worry about rowdy guests. Most people would sya okay and put it out. Plus, if someone is going to be a complete jerk and blow smoke in my little cousins face (thats happened to us as well) while we are there the bloke better hope that the CM says something before I put the fear of God into them. I seriously think they need more smoking areas positioned around the park though, that way for those who do smoke, there is the chance for them to find a spot for a quick cigarette right away. That combined with stricter CMs would alleviate the problem.

 

[3xthecharm]

I hate that I need to coordinate our park tour according to when certain parts of the park open.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

(1) to deal with the birds in EPCOT
(2) to have more buses run from resorts
(3) airport hotel check-in

Eegads! But what would a trip to Disney be like without birds dive-bombing you from every angle to steal your fries!? Say it isn't so!!!!

Seriously though thats such a hallmark of Disney. A sparrow planted himself on top of my husbands head on our last trip while we were eating and let me tell you, my husband is afraid of birds! I hadn't know that!!!! I have never laughed so hard at a grown man in my life! So if you see a guy looking scared out of his skull and swatting with his hat if birds come by, that woudl be us!

 

[maxaroni]

Some really great ideas.....

I do agree that park hours should be released earlier. I also agree about the Fantasmic dinner package and having to call twice to get the time that you want.

I do not agree with alcohol of any sort being allowed in the parks.

My idea of changing policy would be to have a better system of pricing the hotels and parks. I honestly didn't even know about 'codes' until I came to this board only a week or so ago. When we went to Disney in '01 & '02, stupidly we booked through Disney thinking how can you go wrong? Little did I know there is a whole world out there to get better prices. I'm not even sure I understand codes yet. I don't have a problem with AAA members getting a good price or any other travel service but the rest of this is all too confusing an unknown to many.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Leave the birds alone,watching them wage war for treats is part of the fun of Epcot

 

[SnackyStacky]

That would be great but very costly! I'm all for it if Disney can do it, but I doubt well see it in the near future. Imagine the logistics of errecting platforms at already built hotels so that the monorail can come by them? I guess they did this at the Poly (I think it was built before the monorail? NOt 100% sure on that one) so it could work!

The Polynesian and Tempo Bay (Contemporary) opened with the park in'71.

However, the Grand Floridian opened in '86: BUT that was designed to accomodate the monorail. (ie: when they drafted plans for The Grand Floridian, the blueprints included a monorail platform)The other hotels were not, but I'm sure they could conveniently build a platform.

The trouble with the monorail (to expand on what you said) is that it is a HUGE capital investment. The costs are astronomical, especially with Florida's water table. If you build it, you're really not getting a return on your investment. Disney doesn't charge to use their transportation system, and I highly doubt that building a monorail would increase bookings: if for no other reason than because currently, there are times when you can't get a hotel room!

 

[mybgirl]

I would have the park hours available 4 months in advance if I expect guest to make PS 90 days in advance. That way, people who plan can make appropriate arrangements. This includes indicating which parks will be open for EMH. I don't see why it is so difficult to figure out how late to have the parks open in each month. They have been around for 50 years! Also, have all seats available at the 90 day point. Why should the person planning ahead and making PS for Fantasmic have to schedule a 4 o'clock dinner and call back 30 days later to see if anything else has opened up. The early bird should get the worm.

THIS IS SO TRUE

 

[WillCAD]

Simple consistency!

ALL CMs at CRO and WDTC should have the same training and have the same info to give out to callers.

AP rates should be standardized to be 20% off rack rate in Peak season, 30% off in Regular season, and 40% off in Value season, year after year, no changes. AP holders are by definition the best, most loyal repeat customers WDW has, so why keep jerking them around like puppets every year?

Park hours should be consistently added to the on-line calendar each month, and should be posted 4 months out to allow people time to plan those 90-day PSs.

Checking in with an AP rate should require an AP or a voucher. You should always have to show proof, but a voucher should be considered proof. After all, they are totally non-refundable; what am I gonna do, lay out $430 for an AP voucher just to get the hotel rate then not activate it and have to lay out $250 more for MYW passes? I don't think so!

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Simple efficiency!

MYW stinks. Sure it is more flexible than the old system and if you can work it you can save money over the old system, but it's TOO DARN CONFUSING, especially for the average first-timer. WDW passes should all be park hoppers and should have a longer expiration; 2 years would be a reasonable time, instead of 14 days.

Trying to link a particular pass to a particular person is dumb. It has hurt the lines to get into the park immensely and will ultimately cost Disney money since I can't give my partially-used hopper to my cousin when he takes a trip to Orlando. Disney will make money by selling tickets that never get used but they will lose money on food and merchandise they would have sold if the tickets were used.

Park turnstiles should be split into three categories:
1. AP Holders & CMs. This would include many DVC owners who have APs.
2. On-site Guests. Make the on-site experience feel more special by giving on-site Guests a section of the gates to call tier own.
3. General admission. By getting the AP holders, CMs, and on-site Guests out of the general queue, the park entry lines would move much quicker.

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Simple customer loyalty!

Bounce-back and loyal customer perks. Take a trip within 12 months of your last trip and get a 5% discount on resort rate and park passes. Take a third trip in a 12-month period and get 10% off the third trip, and 15% off the 4th trip. Take 4 trips in 12 months and get the DDE card for half price.

AP 10% discounts on merchandise should apply to all Downtown Disney stores. AP 10% restaurant discounts should apply to any Disney-owned restaurant on property, in the parks, resorts, and DD.

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Magical ways to save
Disney Dollars are fantastic, but limited. Let people buy rechargeable WDW gift cards ahead of time (like WalMart does), and let people add $10 or $20 at a time to the card. Let them expire after two years of non-use so the bean-counters won't have a fit.

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Simple high standards
Clean the damn bathrooms! Paint the railings! Fix the cracked sidewalks!

 

[pezpam]

Simple consistency!

ALL CMs at CRO and WDTC should have the same training and have the same info to give out to callers.

Man, that alone would be worth it. For this trip, I called to find out if I could get the package I wanted using a PIN I rec'd in an email. I was told yes after the friendly CM (her name was Calypso and she was great!) went off and made doubly sure with her manager, so I went off and booked airline tickets, thinking I'd book the package once I had my dates set for sure. Big mistake. When I called back, the CM I got that time was a little rude and insisted that I coudn't get what I was asking about - politely explaining that I had just been promised this 20 minutes earlier and providing the original CMs name didn't help. I wound up hanging up, but took a deep breath and called again. Got a CM who, after checking with her manager (I think I was among the first to book this package, lol) said that I was good to go. I got my confirmation a couple of days ago and it does indeed have everything I was asking about.

I could have saved a serious heart palpitation if that second CM had had the same info as everyone else.

 

[BostonRob]

The Polynesian and Tempo Bay (Contemporary) opened with the park in'71.

However, the Grand Floridian opened in '86: BUT that was designed to accomodate the monorail. (ie: when they drafted plans for The Grand Floridian, the blueprints included a monorail platform)The other hotels were not, but I'm sure they could conveniently build a platform.

The trouble with the monorail (to expand on what you said) is that it is a HUGE capital investment. The costs are astronomical, especially with Florida's water table. If you build it, you're really not getting a return on your investment. Disney doesn't charge to use their transportation system, and I highly doubt that building a monorail would increase bookings: if for no other reason than because currently, there are times when you can't get a hotel room!

If the AKL had a monorail they could double the room prices and still sell out.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'd say if anyone comes in wearing t-shirts with swear words or nudity on them they get the boot. Saw a lot of that on my last two trips and not a thing done about them. No need for anyone to be wearing an FU shirt in a family park.

I also wish they'd enforce the smoking policies better. My SO smokes, and HE was telling smokers to please go to the smoking areas. We saw one moron smoking in line for Pooh and blowing smoke at a baby.

People who starting cussing, swearing acting violent = kicked out.

 

[John Dobbertin]

EsmereldaX: Saw a T-shirt near "Paris" at Epcot in January: "I've used up all my sick days, so I had to call in dead."