Why defend Disney

[Kimberly9701]

Thanks for finding that.

But did you notice what it was talking about -- 25 percent of resort workers getting 2-4 hours less a week? I know that sucks for them, but it hardly represents a massive downshift. At least not to me. And then it talked about the perception they were doing it. That's what we get here -- perception and popular narrative becoming reality, whether it's true or not.

Here's an ABC affiliate article discussing the cutback in employee hours in February: Source

Bloomberg article about cuts at Hong Kong Disneyland

Orlando Sentinel article about WDW cutbacks

Hours being reduced isn't the same thing as laying people off entirely. It isn't likely to get the same type of press that layoffs would, but even still there has been professional press coverage of there being reductions in hours for CMs since February.

What's interesting about that article is that the minimum pay is getting a 50cent increase across the board. It's also interesting that most of the drastic cuts that people have been talking about- are still just 'speculation', and even the article admits that. Disney has denied it, and there is still no proof of massive cuts.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thanks for finding that.

But did you notice what it was talking about -- 25 percent of resort workers getting 2-4 hours less a week? I know that sucks for them, but it hardly represents a massive downshift. At least not to me. And then it talked about the perception they were doing it. That's what we get here -- perception and popular narrative becoming reality, whether it's true or not.

I did notice what they were all talking about. And it was about more than hotel CMs.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Disney is coming off its most successful quarterly earnings report in company history, but many employees at Orlando parks learned their hours would be cut.

Tom Corless, of WDW New Today, a Disney insider website, said an unknown number of employees will have their hours cut to 32 a week during the busy spring season.

The employees will still qualify for health benefits under the Affordable Care Act, but they’ll lose pay and overtime.

"They're going to be cutting nonprofit positions, so not merchandise locations. Things like guest relations, concierge (and) entertainment,” Corless said.

[...]

Corless said there will be fewer character meet-and-greets, and some parades, like Fantasmic and the Main Street Electrical Parade, will be cut to once a night.

Hong Kong did actually fire people, not just cut back on hours.

Reduced operating times at certain attractions include shorter hours soon going into effect at DisneyQuest. Some Walt Disney World employees in other parts of the resort have reported they have been working less. Last month about 100 Disney World painters lost their jobs and 10 of the Citizens of Hollywood performing group at Disney's Hollywood Studios learned they would too.

Other employees who told the Orlando Sentinel they've seen fewer hours include a bus driver, a custodian and an attractions worker.

Matt Dobrovolsky, who works in Star Wars Launch Bay, said he's lately worked between 35 and 37 hours weekly instead of 40. Dobrovolsky said he hasn't gotten upset because he expects "we'll probably be back to normal come Eastertime when we get extremely busy again." The cuts are "not that drastic," Dobrovolsky said.

But Donald Souza, who says he's had trouble getting overtime this year as a Disney bus driver, said last month that every hour counts. "You're looking at your bank account before you go to the grocery store," he said.

No one is saying that the cutbacks are massive. But they don't *have* to be massive to affect wait times.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I think where most of the issues arise is evidenced above. Disney Quest having shorter operating hours shouldn't be a surprise, eventually it will be closing (I'm hoping not before December).

Hollywood Studios has added a lot of great new attractions...yet HS keeps getting referred to as "So many attractions closed.." "nothing left there.." and things along those lines. If you're not a Star Wars fan then ok, I get why you don't really care..but when people say that it is now such a 'reduced attraction park', that just isn't true. It just means the new attractions don't appeal to that person.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Everyone is always, of course,welcome to their own beliefs on a source. A statement was made that there was no professional press on this topic, which is why I posted links from professional press about the topic. Whether one chooses to believe it at that point is up to them.

Personally, I appreciate things like this being posted on the forums from CMs and people sharing their live report experiences. I would *much* rather plan for the "worst" - in this case plan for there to be reduced attraction capacity and potentially longer waits - and then arrive and be pleasantly surprised that that isn't the case - than to not be aware of these concerns at all, show up, and find out about it while on the trip.

FTR, I put "worst" in quotes, because I don't think it's horrible to expect there to be longer waits based on certain information. It's not an ideal situation, but it's not the worst thing ever either. Especially when you can try to head off any potential impact from such a concern in your own planning before arriving on property...perhaps by arriving earlier, or planning to be in the parks later than anticipated, etc. I appreciate all that CMs on this site share with us. They certainly don't have to.

 

[Sparkly]

And I sometimes wonder if people post things just because they feel like a wind-up.

Me? I'm neutral. I prefer to not get too involved in the bickering because therein just lies madness and at the end of the day it really doesn't actually matter.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think where most of the issues arise is evidenced above. Disney Quest having shorter operating hours shouldn't be a surprise, eventually it will be closing (I'm hoping not before December).

If you read the sentence, it says that DisneyQuest is included in the reduced hours. Not that Disney Quest is the only attraction experiencing that.

Hollywood Studios has added a lot of great new attractions...yet HS keeps getting referred to as "So many attractions closed.." "nothing left there.." and things along those lines. If you're not a Star Wars fan then ok, I get why you don't really care..but when people say that it is now such a 'reduced attraction park', that just isn't true. It just means the new attractions don't appeal to that person.

A large percentage of DHS is currently closed. That's not opinion, that's fact. Yes,Disney has done a decent job of putting in temporary entertainment options to help bear the load of the closures, but it doesn't change that a large percentage of the park is closed.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

And there's a huge problem and source of many rifts on these boards: when people think they can tell you how you should feel about something or how it should affect you.

YES!! Telling people that they should have planned differently or shouldn't be surprised or it will only ruin Disney if they let it.

You don't know what emotions people are bringing with them to Disney. For some people, their parents have just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and they want to recreate their favorite tradition one last time, so NOT being able to ride mom's favorite small world ride one last time might truly ruin their trip. That's totally valid.

 

[Planogirl]

YES!! Telling people that they should have planned differently or shouldn't be surprised or it will only ruin Disney if they let it.

You don't know what emotions people are bringing with them to Disney. For some people, their parents have just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and they want to recreate their favorite tradition one last time, so NOT being able to ride mom's favorite small world ride one last time might truly ruin their trip. That's totally valid.

I couldn't agree more. In my opinion, no one (besides a moderator when it involves posts) has the right to tell people what they should think or post or whatever. Actually I guess that they do have the right because some do so on a regular basis but of course others have the right to ignore their opinions or perhaps tell them to cut it out.

 

[Kimberly9701]

If you read the sentence, it says that DisneyQuest is included in the reduced hours. Not that Disney Quest is the only attraction experiencing that.



A large percentage of DHS is currently closed. That's not opinion, that's fact. Yes,Disney has done a decent job of putting in temporary entertainment options to help bear the load of the closures, but it doesn't change that a large percentage of the park is closed.

I thought only 3 attractions closed. I could be wrong.

I have quite a few friends and family who went over spring break...their photos of all the new Star Wars stuff has my son asking, on a daily basis, to go back so he can also see this. (He doesn't know about our upcoming trip). So for "us" HS actually has more to offer.

Point is no one will ever be happy with everything. Ever. Regardless of if it's Disney related or not.
If Disney can make enough people "happy" by having enough choices for all different types of people with different interests, then I think that's a good thing.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I thought only 3 attractions closed. I could be wrong.

LMA had a huge capacity by itself. Not having that alone will have an increase on lines throughout the park.

I have quite a few friends and family who went over spring break...their photos of all the new Star Wars stuff has my son asking, on a daily basis, to go back so he can also see this. (He doesn't know about our upcoming trip). So for "us" HS actually has more to offer.

You'll notice I said nothing negative about the Star Wars additions. We are huge Star Wars fans in this house. Regardless of how I feel about Star Wars, though, I'd be remiss if I didn't recognize the affect that the closures at DHS have on that park. My personal opinion only.

Point is no one will ever be happy with everything. Ever. Regardless of if it's Disney related or not.
If Disney can make enough people "happy" by having enough choices for all different types of people with different interests, then I think that's a good thing.

I never said anything related to this either way..

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Any business was has a right to do business as they please.

 

[Kimberly9701]

LMA had a huge capacity by itself. Not having that alone will have an increase on lines throughout the park.



You'll notice I said nothing negative about the Star Wars additions. We are huge Star Wars fans in this house. Regardless of how I feel about Star Wars, though, I'd be remiss if I didn't recognize the affect that the closures at DHS have on that park. My personal opinion only.



I never said anything related to this either way..

Exactly, you didn't say anything at all. You said- " A large percentage of DHS is currently closed. That's not opinion, that's fact. Yes,Disney has done a decent job of putting in temporary entertainment options to help bear the load of the closures, but it doesn't change that a large percentage of the park is closed."

So, as far as what the Original Post on this thread was about, and what some have pointed out, is this-

Commenting on positives seems to be viewed as "disney fanatic" instead of just maybe not being all gloom and doom and pointing out positive additions as well.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Commenting on positives seems to be viewed as "disney fanatic" instead of just maybe not being all gloom and doom and pointing out positive additions as well.

The bolded is not at all what I said, or what I implied. Please do not put words in my mouth.

 

[Kimberly9701]

The bolded is not at all what I said, or what I implied. Please do not put words in my mouth.

I was referring to the original post, which was stated above.

Not every discussion is an argument.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Commenting on positives seems to be viewed as "disney fanatic" instead of just maybe not being all gloom and doom and pointing out positive additions as well.

I think since most people are mixed, it's not about commenting on positives at all. Most people will share their positive stories and they have a lot of them, that's how they become Disney fans.

Where I have been frustrated in the past and I think others as well is when I make a valid complaint about something truly negative "Two CMs were snappy at me." and then get responses back about how no one else has ever encountered a rude CM. Well, I never had before either, which is why it was so off-putting. A more productive response would be, "Wow, that would irk me too. I hope you shared what happened with guest services, because Disney clearly needs to address this."

 

[Angel Ariel]

I was referring to the original post, which was stated above.

Not every discussion is an argument.

it was the comment about how I said nothing that came across as directing that sentiment toward me. Perhaps it is not what you meant, and I can accept that.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I think since most people are mixed, it's not about commenting on positives at all. Most people will share their positive stories and they have a lot of them, that's how they become Disney fans.

Where I have been frustrated in the past and I think others as well is when I make a valid complaint about something truly negative "Two CMs were snappy at me." and then get responses back about how no one else has ever encountered a rude CM. Well, I never had before either, which is why it was so off-putting. A more productive response would be, "Wow, that would irk me too. I hope you shared what happened with guest services, because Disney clearly needs to address this."

I didn't read the post that you're talking about, but I completely agree with you regarding that situation.

 

[whiporee]

No one is saying that the cutbacks are massive. But they don't *have* to be massive to affect wait times.

Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm also not sure that an average 10 percent reduction in about 20 percent of the workforce automatically translates to it, either. And it also goes to the nature of the board. Because which has more potent effect?

Disney has made all these cuts and rides lines are longer and the bathrooms are dirtier as a result.
or
Some insiders have reported that Disney has reduced its hourly employee numbers by 2 percent during the winter (about 20 percent of the workforce seeing their hours reduced by about 10 percent), but the employees and analysts expect WDW to increase back to seasonal norms in the spring.

Do you think someone reading that WDW has made staffing cuts assumes the second portion, or do they just think WDW is screwing them over. Again. That's my point, and why I offer the other side. Because if you let the first statement go unchallenged, then the perception changes.

The other thing to remember about these reports is that they a) all use the same source and b) the source doesn't reveal any numbers or sources and c) he suggests where they are coming from. He doesn't know, either.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm also not sure that an average 10 percent reduction in about 20 percent of the workforce automatically translates to it, either. And it also goes to the nature of the board. Because which has more potent effect?

Disney has made all these cuts and rides lines are longer and the bathrooms are dirtier as a result.
or
Some insiders have reported that Disney has reduced its hourly employee numbers by 2 percent during the winter (about 20 percent of the workforce seeing their hours reduced by about 10 percent), but the employees and analysts expect WDW to increase back to seasonal norms in the spring.

Do you think someone reading that WDW has made staffing cuts assumes the second portion, or do they just think WDW is screwing them over. Again. That's my point, and why I offer the other side. Because if you let the first statement go unchallenged, then the perception changes.

The other thing to remember about these reports is that they a) all use the same source and b) the source doesn't reveal any numbers or sources and c) he suggests where they are coming from. He doesn't know, either.

Some of those sources had named Cast Members reporting in them. I have no reason to believe they would go on record with their names if they were not telling the truth.

and, as I said, of course anyone is welcome to believe or disbelieve any source they'd like. A statement was made that professional sources had not reported on this, I only provided links from professional sources that did in fact report on it.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of one side or the other of anything, nor am I interested in trying to.

 

[Planogirl]

Any business was has a right to do business as they please.

I agree! People also have the right to critique the business as they see fit. Or discontinue being a customer as some have suggested.