What's with all the changes at WDW?

[BigGreen73]

All I have to say, is what's with all the changes as of late at WDW? Let's see, of note, there's been:

1. No more characters at LTT.
2. Plesaure Island Clubs closing.
3. DHS studios will be only showing Fantasmic twice a week starting in Jan. Just read this one on Touring Plans.

Plus there's probably more that I missed, but those are the ones that stick out for me.

Our next trip isn't until May 09, but these changes have been affecting our possible plans. We wanted to try LTT character meal, scratch that one. We love Fantasmic and wanted to catch that a few times next trip, but we are not scheduling our trip around the nights it is showing. I wonder why that changed.

Oh well, the changes aren't going to change our trip or anything, I was just wondering if these changes had others shaking their heads too.

 

[Miniefan]

I totally agree with you.

It seems to me that guests are paying more and getting less. Now, with PI closing they aren't changing the price in adding waterparks and more to their tickets and since we are going in Nov-Dec I just can't justify the extra money to go to Disney quest a time or two.



I wish they would start adding things for the guests instead of taking things we like away!!

Kim

 

[Doc CW]

We had to modify our trip schedule b/c of Fantasmic only being twice a week and we had to switch most of our plans, but at least we got them changed now instead of later

 

[BigGreen73]

Yeah, the Fantasmic change is the one that bugs us the most. We have seen it many times and love the show. We really wanted to see it a couple of times next trip. but with it being only twice a week now, we are not scheduling around that. Maybe we'll have to go with park hopper tickets after all next year

Were you able to find out the nights Fantasmic is running? Is it set nights or on a rotating schedule? I still want to k now why WDW made this change.

 

[marcjmorris]

When is Pleasure Island closing?

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

When is Pleasure Island closing?

9/27/2008



RIP Adventurer's Club!

 

[Becky521]

When is LTT changing to no characters?

 

[SnowWtch]

LTT will stop characters January 2009. I always wanted to do that one during MNSSHP. Guess I never will now. We won't be going this year.

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

I totally agree with you.

It seems to me that guests are paying more and getting less. Now, with PI closing they aren't changing the price in adding waterparks and more to their tickets and since we are going in Nov-Dec I just can't justify the extra money to go to Disney quest a time or two.



I wish they would start adding things for the guests instead of taking things we like away!!

Kim

Sounds like my cable company- they raise rates once or twice a year- AND take away channels.

 

[GarrettJD]

The speculation I've heard is that the reason for the characters being cut from LTT is that people felt that there wasn't enough table service at the MK for people who didn't want character meals. (Yes, there are people out there who don't like them. )

Think about it. If you want a sit down meal at the MK for dinner without characters, your only current options are Tony's Town Square (which isn't very good IMO) or the Plaza Restaurant (which is very, very small.) On the other hand, you still have two character meals in the MK (Crystal Palace and CRT) as well as three more accessible by monorail (Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Faire, and 'Ohana breakfast.)

Having said all that, I'm still sad to see the LTT dinner AND the Garden Grill lunch go away. Those were two of our favorite character meals.

The Fantasmic change is upsetting to me also, but I have a feeling that may be adjusted seasonally. My guess is that during peak and summer seasons, there will be more than just two showings a week. If you are going during peak season I would take a wait and see approach.

I just wish Disney would hurry up and give us some information on some of their future attraction plans. Other than American Idol at DHS (which I personally don't care about), Disney hasn't announced any new attractions on the horizon. I'm sure that the strongly rumored Space Mountain rehab will be nice if it happens, and there's a new rumor that's been going around relating to changing the Tiki Room in a few years. We can only wait and see at this point.

 

[Rose&Crown]

I would like to see some more Countries at Epcot. Also, some of the rides originally planned at the countries would be nice.

It's still the best by far.

I don't mind PI closing to make room for other things,a nd we haven't done character dining in a few years. I was saddened when they changed Norway to Character dining, it ruined a hidden gem.

 

[jonestavern]

Disney better start cracking before the Universal's Harry Potter gets up & going.

The closing of PI, cutting back on Fastasmic! lack of new rides/attractions, the advent of HP, rise in airfares; seperately no biggie but taken together certainly makes me give pause to buying anymore DVC at this time. Then again, is Disney holding back on additions/improvements until HP splashes it's way across the public view the better to compete at that time with Universal?


Jean

 

[Disney1976]

The simple reason for these cuts is due to rising costs and/or poor profit. Pleasure Island is closing because it simply wasn't profitable anymore. Disney will make far more money with more shops and dining then they will keeping all those clubs.

As for the cuts to Fantasmic, the character dining, etc., look at the economy! Bookings are WAY down and people are also spending less in the parks. I don't think many guests realize the amount of money Disney spends to keep the parks open and guests entertained. With Disney's next fiscal year right around the corner, I am sure they are looking at ways to save money until the economy recovers and business picks up.

 

[BigGreen73]

The simple reason for these cuts is due to rising costs and/or poor profit. Pleasure Island is closing because it simply wasn't profitable anymore. Disney will make far more money with more shops and dining then they will keeping all those clubs.

As for the cuts to Fantasmic, the character dining, etc., look at the economy! Bookings are WAY down and people are also spending less in the parks. I don't think many guests realize the amount of money Disney spends to keep the parks open and guests entertained. With Disney's next fiscal year right around the corner, I am sure they are looking at ways to save money until the economy recovers and business picks up.

I agree to a point. I thought of this too, but I have yet to see a character meal that was not booked solid or a Fantasmic showing that wasn;t filled to capacity.

 

[stopher1]

I agree to a point. I thought of this too, but I have yet to see a character meal that was not booked solid or a Fantasmic showing that wasn;t filled to capacity.

That's probably because of the way the character meals have both been marketed by the company and the word of mouth about them from other guests - they're an easy way to see and get (knock out) several autographs in one place. No need to stand in a long line in the hot sun for one or two here and there, when you can get 4-5 at one time, or in one sitting.

It's interesting to watch, if nothing else. The same thing happened at DL several years back - lots of declines in small increments...closing attractions early here, or opening attractions late there, the loss of characters here, shorter operating hours there, or simply shuttering entire attractions, replacing actual human CM's with kiosks to order your lunch... all for the almighty dollar. Now it appears to be WDW's turn. Especially since WDW is the ultimate cash-cow for the company. And the shareholders demand a return on their investment year after year... so the management finds lots of "little" ways to impact the bottom line and hope the public won't notice or complain too loudly... then they can turn around and claim that the public doesn't want something anymore - kind of like they did in the press release regarding the closure of P.I. this September where they claimed the public wanted more shopping and dining opportunities. I don't believe it - the company just wants to have a facility that brings in cash all day long vs. a few hours at night.

Sure the character meals are full - I just wish the company would diversify the character line-up. Fantasmic is also always full because it's a cool show, and the only night-time event at the studios. It might not be as full if they still had a fireworks show, but I'm just guessing on that point.

 

[BigGreen73]

And with DHS not running Fantasmic every night, that is just going to make folks head to MK and Epcot for their shows at night congesting those parks even more at closing. I used to be able to spend a full day at DHS because of Fantasmic, but if Fantasmic isn't showing, I can't see staying past 4pm. Oh well...

 

[Smile4Me]

I think a lot of the wait has to do with the yearly themeing and upcoming anniversary that WDW is going to be celebrating in 2011, I believe. They are rumored to be announcing new attractions in all of the parks at WDW in the next two years to be finished in time for the anniversary!

 

[Disney1976]

Fantasmic doesn't fill up during the 2nd show on nights when they have two. Also, union regulations state that many of the CM's working Fantasmic must get paid for 6 hours work whether they do one show a night or two. I imagine that can get costly, running the show every night. By eliminating it on 5 nights during less crowded times, there is a money savings.

Oh, and did anyone hear they are also cutting Spectro to 2 nights a week as well? It will show on the same two nights as Fantasmic.

 

[marciemi]

Is the cutting back of Fantasmic/Spectro, etc. something new during the off season?

I know when we went in mid-January of 2005, we weren't able to fit either of those in due to their limited showings. We did see Wishes, but neither of the others were on days that we were in that park. So I'm pretty sure they weren't every day. I know when we went last summer (July), they of course had everything every day - sometimes twice. I'd be surprised if that wasn't the case come next summer as well.