Why defend Disney

[Nancyg56]

Can you give me specific examples of the cuts you've experienced and how they've impacted your time at WDW?
I'm not doubting you, I just read the generic "all these cuts" complaint over and over in so many posts, but I rarely see specific examples cited.
And what, do you think, is the solution? It seems people want these new areas, and they want the same amount of service, lower crowds, and no price increases. How do you propose Disney completes the expansions and additions, restores the level of service and quality some say is now missing, lowers crowd levels and wait times, and keeps prices affordable for everyone?[/QUOTE

I can. I like Narcoossees for dinner and often ordered the steak and lobster on the DDP. Well now I can have the lobster but now need to pay $26 for it.

I used to be able to watch WIshes from the rain station, but now I cannot. It is a special viewing area for folks who have paid for a tour.

There are attractions that are running at reduced capacity to save money. I get to stand in longer lines due to this cutback.

The parade in DLR is gone for now.

I am not a fan of the generic desserts that are offered all over the WDW resorts. I do not believe the DDP is the cause, I think it is a part of a huge cost cutting measure.

 

[GPC0321]

I like Narcoossees for dinner and often ordered the steak and lobster on the DDP. Well now I can have the lobster but now need to pay $26 for it.

I used to be able to watch WIshes from the rain station, but now I cannot. It is a special viewing area for folks who have paid for a tour.

I'm not sure these are really "cuts" exactly. Having to pay extra to have lobster with your steak on the DDP and no longer being able to watch Wishes from your preferred location due to a paid event being located there isn't really a "cut". You can still have lobster with your steak, and there are plenty of great places to see Wishes for free. I can understand being bummed, but people who pay for that tour probably think it's pretty sweet to get that special viewing area, and if the other option was increasing the price even more of the Dining Plan so people can eat lobster with their steak, those who don't want lobster anyway are probably glad they chose to make it an extra charge for only those who want it.

There are attractions that are running at reduced capacity to save money.

This is one I see mentioned a lot. I was there over Easter week, and I didn't notice this. Maybe I'm just not observant enough, but can you explain how you knew the ride was operating at reduced capacity? What does that look like? And has Disney stated that they're doing this to save money?

The parade in DLR is gone for now.

For now? Do you know why? Are they planning on bringing it back? Or introducing a new parade? Or is it gone for good?

I am not a fan of the generic desserts that are offered all over the WDW resorts. I do not believe the DDP is the cause, I think it is a part of a huge cost cutting measure.

Did these generic desserts replace desserts you really loved, or is this just a general distaste for them? And that's kind of an opinion thing anyway. You might not care for them, but others might think they're a vast improvement. As for WHY you think this has happened, that's pretty much speculation, isn't it.

So the question is, if Disney HAS to make cuts in order to keep the parks open, and to make the expansions and additions as spectacular as everyone wants them to be, where do you think they should make them?

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not sure these are really "cuts" exactly. Having to pay extra to have lobster with your steak on the DDP and no longer being able to watch Wishes from your preferred location due to a paid event being located there isn't really a "cut". You can still have lobster with your steak, and there are plenty of great places to see Wishes for free. I can understand being bummed, but people who pay for that tour probably think it's pretty sweet to get that special viewing area, and if the other option was increasing the price even more of the Dining Plan so people can eat lobster with their steak, those who don't want lobster anyway are probably glad they chose to make it an extra charge for only those who want it.


This is one I see mentioned a lot. I was there over Easter week, and I didn't notice this. Maybe I'm just not observant enough, but can you explain how you knew the ride was operating at reduced capacity? What does that look like? And has Disney stated that they're doing this to save money?


For now? Do you know why? Are they planning on bringing it back? Or introducing a new parade? Or is it gone for good?


Did these generic desserts replace desserts you really loved, or is this just a general distaste for them? And that's kind of an opinion thing anyway. You might not care for them, but others might think they're a vast improvement. As for WHY you think this has happened, that's pretty much speculation, isn't it.

So the question is, if Disney HAS to make cuts in order to keep the parks open, and to make the expansions and additions as spectacular as everyone wants them to be, where do you think they should make them?

I disagree on the parade viewing form the train station. That's a cut for someone who wanted to watch from there and now cannot.

Easter is one of the peak weeks of the year. I don't think even Disney would cut back ride capacity that week.

The DLR Soundsational parade was cut back to save on costs. I imagine it will be back, but that's little comfort to the people visiting now. That of course is in addition to Fantasmic being dark because of construction in the Rivers of America area.

 

[GPC0321]

I disagree on the parade viewing form the train station. That's a cut for someone who wanted to watch from there and now cannot.

Right, but she didn't pay for that spot. For the people who paid for the tour, they've gained a perk for spending extra money. So they probably view this as a good thing. They're forking over a lot of money, and Disney is delivering an exclusive experience to them for it.
Now if Disney decided to stop reserving the train station for those who paid for the tour, and they had no special place to watch Wishes while anyone could go up there for free to watch? That would be an unfair cut to me.

 

[yulilin3]

Cuts in CM affects attraction and show loading
Slower service at quick service restaurants
General upkeep by custodial is going down because same cm has more areas to cover
Those are my first hand accounts, like I said having family and friends working at Disney I see the other side, it might not affect you, directly, on your visit, but for someone that comes as often as I do you can tell.
CM are doing their best but often getting frustrated because management is all about speed and numbers and they have a certain quota to reach, not being able to interact with guests add much add they used to
The solution? Have you seen how much Iger and the the of management are making? Is obscene amounts of money, sure pay them what's fair.
All the new attractions and park will get back their money, it's not like they are investing with no return
It's just greed at another level.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Can you give me specific examples of the cuts you've experienced and how they've impacted your time at WDW?
I'm not doubting you, I just read the generic "all these cuts" complaint over and over in so many posts, but I rarely see specific examples cited.
And what, do you think, is the solution? It seems people want these new areas, and they want the same amount of service, lower crowds, and no price increases. How do you propose Disney completes the expansions and additions, restores the level of service and quality some say is now missing, lowers crowd levels and wait times, and keeps prices affordable for everyone?

It's true that you can't please everyone. Personally, the price increases are not my main complaint, and I expect them, because of the popularity of the product and the high cost of maintaining and adding to it.

But when a company rapidly increases prices, and simultaneously cuts services and quality in very sneaky, underhanded ways, that's where I draw the line. You raise prices in order to keep up with your escalating costs, not to stick it to guests on both ends by raking in profits while reducing quality.

In recent years, we put up with FP+, and learned to adapt to it. We waited (and waited, and waited) with varying levels of patience, for the new projects to (finally) be announced. We paid more and more and more for our Disney trips. But cost cutting while raking in huge profits, and thereby aggravating the crowding/wait time situation? No, that's the last straw.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm sure I speak for some when I say this: Disney has just gone too far, and I'm already rethinking just how much money I will be giving this company in the future...and just how many people I will be encouraging to go there (that number might be zero). I used to be a cheerleader for their parks. Well, that's over.

Basically, as usual, they made some cynical calculation about what they can get away with. Why else did they get rid of Staggs, and put in charge of the parks a guy who made his reputation on cost cutting...and little else.

And look at the timing of these cuts. Chunks of the parks are behind construction walls. FP+ has slowed the movement of standby queues. And they're getting more first timers than ever. What a godawful time to be running rides at half capacity, closing the parks earlier than in past years, shutting rides down early for the day, etc. It's nice that they are adding capacity down the line, but until those new lands open, it's gonna be the world's most magical sardine can for everyone.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I'm not sure these are really "cuts" exactly. Having to pay extra to have lobster with your steak on the DDP and no longer being able to watch Wishes from your preferred location due to a paid event being located there isn't really a "cut". You can still have lobster with your steak, and there are plenty of great places to see Wishes for free. I can understand being bummed, but people who pay for that tour probably think it's pretty sweet to get that special viewing area, and if the other option was increasing the price even more of the Dining Plan so people can eat lobster with their steak, those who don't want lobster anyway are probably glad they chose to make it an extra charge for only those who want it.


This is one I see mentioned a lot. I was there over Easter week, and I didn't notice this. Maybe I'm just not observant enough, but can you explain how you knew the ride was operating at reduced capacity? What does that look like? And has Disney stated that they're doing this to save money?


For now? Do you know why? Are they planning on bringing it back? Or introducing a new parade? Or is it gone for good?


Did these generic desserts replace desserts you really loved, or is this just a general distaste for them? And that's kind of an opinion thing anyway. You might not care for them, but others might think they're a vast improvement. As for WHY you think this has happened, that's pretty much speculation, isn't it.

So the question is, if Disney HAS to make cuts in order to keep the parks open, and to make the expansions and additions as spectacular as everyone wants them to be, where do you think they should make them?

Why on earth would they HAVE to make cuts?? They're making billions of dollars in profits from the parks division. Usually, when a company makes cuts, it's because they are hurting. Disney is not hurting, unless the pain comes from the cracks in their giant coffers full of money. This is a question of greed, not need.

As for the parades at DLR, they also cancelled the Pixar Play Parade at DCA. And Soundsational is now only on weekends. There is no sign that either situation will change anytime soon. I don't know what lame excuse they offered. Who cares? I suppose it's just a coincidence that they're doing this amidst widespread reports of cost cutting?

These boards are not a court of law. We don't need incontrovertible evidence. We can put two and two together and get four. The more I read about Disney these days, the more I hear about this cost cutting, with plenty of examples. I suppose it's just some massive, malicious conspiracy to unfairly malign an innocent corporation. If so, why is Disney providing so much grist for that particular mill?

I guess you'll believe what you want to believe, unless someone comes up with the actual minutes of the actual meetings of the WDC Board of Directors. Why even come to these boards if you won't buy a word that anybody writes in their posts, except when they're applauding Disney?

 

[cobright]

Now that Disney has released it's quarterly report after market close today and indicated that park attendance had experienced a "moderate" decrease as well as a decline in resort bookings, I wonder if this changes anyone's opinion? Especially those who primarily cited ever-increasing-attendance as a possible reason for all that ails Disney?

I would reiterate what the Disney chief said on this issue, that the steps they have been taking are working.

The reduction in park attendance is the intended effect. Parks operating at capacity are not as fun.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would reiterate what the Disney chief said on this issue, that the steps they have been taking are working.

The reduction in park attendance is the intended effect. Parks operating at capacity are not as fun.

If they were looking to improve guest experience in the parks, they would not be cutting back capacity on some rides at the same time.

Have wait times gone down compared to this time last year?

 

[Boski]

Can you give me specific examples of the cuts you've experienced and how they've impacted your time at WDW?
I'm not doubting you, I just read the generic "all these cuts" complaint over and over in so many posts, but I rarely see specific examples cited.
And what, do you think, is the solution? It seems people want these new areas, and they want the same amount of service, lower crowds, and no price increases. How do you propose Disney completes the expansions and additions, restores the level of service and quality some say is now missing, lowers crowd levels and wait times, and keeps prices affordable for everyone?

This happened in Feb:

• Disney Pixar Short Film Festival: will now close at 7pm instead of its previous 9pm close
• Journey into Imagination: Will now close at 7PM instead of its previous 9PM close.
• Agent P's World Showcase Adventure: Will now close at 6pm, from its previous 8:15pm close
• The Living with the Land: Now closes at 7PM daily, instead of at 9pm

 

[NYDisGuy]

Can you give me specific examples of the cuts you've experienced and how they've impacted your time at WDW?
I'm not doubting you, I just read the generic "all these cuts" complaint over and over in so many posts, but I rarely see specific examples cited.
And what, do you think, is the solution? It seems people want these new areas, and they want the same amount of service, lower crowds, and no price increases. How do you propose Disney completes the expansions and additions, restores the level of service and quality some say is now missing, lowers crowd levels and wait times, and keeps prices affordable for everyone?

Pleasure Island still stings, especially since it was a graveyard until they decided to outsource the space. The current Hollywood Studios shell. Resort cutbacks, ill point to Caribbean Beach and how they cut the turtle park, pool band and dumbed down the food court. And there have been obvious staff cutbacks which causes service to slow down compared to years ago.

The Star Wars theme park will alleviate alot of this just like Harry Potter did for Universal but it is a glaring issue as of today.

 

[cobright]

And even if the figure is not accurate, the bottom line (so to speak) is that the parks are very crowded, and Disney is doing little to alleviate that situation.

I just spent about two and a half hours moving data on crowd levels from touring plans into a spreadsheet and every way I push it with data beginning in 2006 until present I see slowest growth in crowd level over the last 3 years.

Some other interesting trends. I tend to group the data by thirds, 2006-2009, 2010-2013, 2014-2016.

• The smallest variance between individual month and yearly average of crowd levels occurred in the last third. Even while the year to year average remained very steady.
  • Meaning that there was less month to month variance
  • This would indicate some measure of successfully balancing seasonal demand.
• Well over 95% of the increase in crowd levels between 2006 and 2015 (last year for a full set of data) happened between 2007 and 2012
• Weekly average crowd levels so far in 2016 are comparable to the same weeks in 2015 and 2014.
  • There is a slight upward trend across all the years from 2013+ (stronger upward trend before that) but so far this year the increases in average crowd levels are, for the most part, less than seen before.

I just don't see this massive increase in wait times when I look at the data.

Analyzing data is one of the things I'm considered good at (by all means, make up your own minds) and one of the problems with basing conclusions on anecdotal evidence is the many reporting and perception biases that, without any conscious intent to deceive, end up creating a wrong picture of what's actually happening.

• Someone who loves the Dumbo ride notices that it's running at half-capacity even though lines are long can be forgiven if they feel slighted and view the situation as their long line being caused by reductions in staff and the resulting ride capacity.
  • They don't see that pulling staff off of Dumbo was a result of the longer lines and not a cause if the Dumbo staff was shifted to another more popular ride (or one with a yet larger wait time).
• People who feel they have lost something are far more likely to openly complain about it than people who get something are to openly praise the addition.
  • Cutting a third of DHS' Citizens of Hollywood for example gets a lot more complaints than we hear praise for the new Art of Shaving store in Disney Springs, even though plenty of us will get far more enjoyment shopping for classic shaving gear than we ever would watching 15 nearly identical characters perform instead of only 10.

Just my two-bits

 

[yulilin3]

• • Cutting a third of DHS' Citizens of Hollywood for example gets a lot more complaints than we hear praise for the new Art of Shaving store in Disney Springs, even though plenty of us will get far more enjoyment shopping for classic shaving gear than we ever would watching 15 nearly identical characters perform instead of only 10.

I just need to comment on this.
CoH is a part of Disney entertainment, actors and actresses that get paid for their improv skills, it opened with the park, back when it was MGM Studios. Their sets used to start at 9:30 am with their last set at 6 pm, now it's 10:30am until 3:30pm (cut)
HPW (Hollywod Public Works) another set of performers that had sets independent from CoH, used to have 4 sets a day, now they have been cut completely
Each character is completely different in CoH, they were able to spread around Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd and interact with guests, maybe just sit on a bench and converse with you, now they are more limited because of the cuts
Art of Shaving store is not a Disney store, it's an independent store that pays Disney to be there (BTW each time I go to Disney Springs the store is completely empty, I go once a week at various times)
So you really can't deny that Disney is cutting live entertainment, which they have to pay. It started back with Four for a Dollar, the group that performed before Beauty and the Beast, the World Showcse Players, Imrpov troupe that used to perform at Italy and UK in Epcot, the Candy Lady in Epcot, Mulch Sweat and Shears at DHS and now the cut of HPW.
There used to be a live actor keeping the crowds waiting for Fantasmic entertained, what do we have now, a recording of a "Dj" reminding people to buy those light up toys and the glow with the show stuff, and, oh don't forget to get your snacks and drinks" while you wait.

All of these are entertainment that have not been replaced.
Whatever each individual finds entertaining at Disney is up to them, I personally don't consider the Art of Shaving entertaining or an experience I want to have but you might and that's fine but you can't compare the two.

 

[cobright]

Why on earth would they HAVE to make cuts?? They're making billions of dollars in profits from the parks division. Usually, when a company makes cuts, it's because they are hurting. Disney is not hurting, unless the pain comes from the cracks in their giant coffers full of money. This is a question of greed, not need. I guess you'll believe what you want to believe, unless someone comes up with the actual minutes of the actual meetings of the WDC Board of Directors. Why even come to these boards if you won't buy a word that anybody writes in their posts, except when they're applauding Disney?

Disney has increased yearly investment into the parks by 40% ($1,400,000,000) over last year, and last years was a 30%($998,000,000) increase over the year before it ($658,000,000). At one point, all that spending was (or will be) operating profits. You like the new Fantasy land? Guess what, it was paid for by profits. Disney's got a lot of new construction? Doesn't happen without a warchest full of profits.

I don't have the minutes, but I have the quarterly earnings reports for the last 14 years (https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/investor-relations/ )

If they were looking to improve guest experience in the parks, they would not be cutting back capacity on some rides at the same time. Have wait times gone down compared to this time last year?

If they wanted to improve the guest experience. they would absolutely be cutting capacity on some rides. Imagine a ride where at full capacity it takes 20 CMs to make 500 guests per hour happy. Across the park there's a ride where, at full capacity, it takes 20 CMs to make 1500 guests per hour happy. In this model, these are the only two rides and the only sort of CM is the kind that runs these rides. Now let's say you were predicting the park would be at 75% capacity today and scheduled 30 CMs to run the rides, but the weather turned out to be milder than expected or the rain blew over and the park is packed full or maybe you knew it would be full but there was a labor strike; whatever . How many CMs do you put on each ride if your goal is to make the most guests happy?

There's plenty of reason to run a ride at reduced capacity, but that's a separate issue from decisions that go to reducing attendance. They reduce attendance by raising prices, and by using incentives to shift park attendance. So if they get enough people to book a trip in September instead of June they are raising attendance in Sept but lowering it in June. The goal is to reduce the guest experience for attending in Sept less than you improve it for those going in June.

Right now, Disney is spending more on improving its parks than it has in decades, $1.4Billion. Despite the occasional anecdote of a ride running at reduced capacity or having to stop searching for Deusendorf at 6 instead of 8 The parks are running closer to capacity than they ever have and capacity itself (the number of guests that can be actively entertained at any given point) is higher than it ever has been. If you lose a favorite parade, for whatever reason, and someone else gets an ElsAnna sing along show that was supposed to be a limited time summer special event, it can be hard to see that other person's gain as just as important as your loss.

 

[cobright]

I just need to comment on this.
All of these are entertainment that have not been replaced.
Whatever each individual finds entertaining at Disney is up to them, I personally don't consider the Art of Shaving entertaining or an experience I want to have but you might and that's fine but you can't compare the two.

My point is that different people enjoy their vacation differently and that the loss of something you enjoy is going to hurt more than the loss of something you don't enjoy, or someone else's gain of something they enjoy. I'm sure a lot of people liked those characters. DHS is actually one of my favorite parks and when I heard about the CoH cuts I had to go back through my pictures and videos to see if we'd ever seen them. We had, plenty of times, but they were completely forgettable. Our last WDW vacation I recall plenty of live talent in MK, and DHS, so apparently they can trim a bit without hurting my feelings. I know that they added a lot of character M&Gs lately. I know that in 2014, the ElsAnna sing along that was supposed to close at the end of summer stayed on as a permanent show that we got to see in October (and since). I know I can go mix it up with Storm Troopers whenever I want to, and even if that meant cutting the CoH altogether I would call it a winning bargain. Plenty of people would disagree. But don't fall into the trap of thinking that Disney cutting something you enjoy hurts everyone.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I would reiterate what the Disney chief said on this issue, that the steps they have been taking are working.

The reduction in park attendance is the intended effect. Parks operating at capacity are not as fun.

It's a nice spin but analysts obviously saw right through that. Partly because of Disney's attempt to boost attendance in March and April knowing that the earnings per share would fall short and knowing that these attendance questions would come. The other Florida parks were down due to the international recessions which Iger couldn't bring up because his pricing structure makes it even harder for those groups to return since the tour group popularity peak with the higher ticket prices.

 

[yulilin3]

My point is that different people enjoy their vacation differently and that the loss of something you enjoy is going to hurt more than the loss of something you don't enjoy, or someone else's gain of something they enjoy. I'm sure a lot of people liked those characters. DHS is actually one of my favorite parks and when I heard about the CoH cuts I had to go back through my pictures and videos to see if we'd ever seen them. We had, plenty of times, but they were completely forgettable. Our last WDW vacation I recall plenty of live talent in MK, and DHS, so apparently they can trim a bit without hurting my feelings. I know that they added a lot of character M&Gs lately. I know that in 2014, the ElsAnna sing along that was supposed to close at the end of summer stayed on as a permanent show that we got to see in October (and since). I know I can go mix it up with Storm Troopers whenever I want to, and even if that meant cutting the CoH altogether I would call it a winning bargain. Plenty of people would disagree. But don't fall into the trap of thinking that Disney cutting something you enjoy hurts everyone.

And this is my point, you are thinking for you. About your particular vacation.
The problem is Disney cutting entertainment without adding anything, you had the opportunity to experience the CoH and you might find them forgettable but some people actually enjoy them.
What makes Disney great and sets it apart from Six Flags are the little touches, and that's what they are losing. Sure a particulars family vacation will not be ruined because they didn't get to see a certain show or act but it can be more memorable if they did experience it.
I'm fine with change, heck I'm even excited about all the stores coming to Disney Springs but you can't lose sight of what makes Disney different.
If there's more things for everyone's taste there will be more things to enjoy, that's my point. If the acts suck by all means cut them, but if you notice each time the CoH are on set they can gather a big crowd and they always have, so why cut them?
I'm not trying to change your mind, if you had a great vacation that's awesome, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Disney has increased yearly investment into the parks by 40% ($1,400,000,000) over last year, and last years was a 30%($998,000,000) increase over the year before it ($658,000,000). At one point, all that spending was (or will be) operating profits. You like the new Fantasy land? Guess what, it was paid for by profits. Disney's got a lot of new construction? Doesn't happen without a warchest full of profits.

I don't have the minutes, but I have the quarterly earnings reports for the last 14 years (https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/investor-relations/ )



If they wanted to improve the guest experience. they would absolutely be cutting capacity on some rides. Imagine a ride where at full capacity it takes 20 CMs to make 500 guests per hour happy. Across the park there's a ride where, at full capacity, it takes 20 CMs to make 1500 guests per hour happy. In this model, these are the only two rides and the only sort of CM is the kind that runs these rides. Now let's say you were predicting the park would be at 75% capacity today and scheduled 30 CMs to run the rides, but the weather turned out to be milder than expected or the rain blew over and the park is packed full or maybe you knew it would be full but there was a labor strike; whatever . How many CMs do you put on each ride if your goal is to make the most guests happy?

There's plenty of reason to run a ride at reduced capacity, but that's a separate issue from decisions that go to reducing attendance. They reduce attendance by raising prices, and by using incentives to shift park attendance. So if they get enough people to book a trip in September instead of June they are raising attendance in Sept but lowering it in June. The goal is to reduce the guest experience for attending in Sept less than you improve it for those going in June.

Right now, Disney is spending more on improving its parks than it has in decades, $1.4Billion. Despite the occasional anecdote of a ride running at reduced capacity or having to stop searching for Deusendorf at 6 instead of 8 The parks are running closer to capacity than they ever have and capacity itself (the number of guests that can be actively entertained at any given point) is higher than it ever has been. If you lose a favorite parade, for whatever reason, and someone else gets an ElsAnna sing along show that was supposed to be a limited time summer special event, it can be hard to see that other person's gain as just as important as your loss.

There is no way that they are deliberately trying to increase wait times in order to reduce attendance. That is ridiculous; you're suggesting that they want to make guests miserable, so that they won't come back, in order to have less guests in the park in the future, in order to make guests less miserable then??

Here's a much more likely scenario: they are instituting cuts to hide their Shanghai cost overruns, to make their latest quarterly results look better, in their usual slavish devotion to the Gods of Wall Street. They are hoping that they can spread these cuts over a far enough area in the resorts so that not too many guests are so pissed off that they will never come back. In other words, they are calculating that they can save more money than they lose in terms of customer loyalty. As usual, they want to see what they can get away with.

You mention record amounts of reinvestment in the parks. Well, I hope so. That should go along with record profits and record crowds. Because of competition from Universal and others, who just keep building and improving at a furious rate, I think the WDC has realized that they can't get away with budget cuts when it comes to building new attractions. They tried that in the past, but it backfired. After the greatness of the Harry Potter lands, they can't afford to unveil Star Wars land to great fanfare, only to show everyone that it's just a bunch of off-the-shelf carny rides and half-assed theming. They don't want another embarassing debacle like DCA 1.0, for example.

I believe that they are spending at least a billion dollars on each Star Wars land. That's my guess, and I applaud that. But clearly, they can also afford to provide the number of CMs that are needed, and to invest in every other aspect of the guest experience.

They already budgeted for all these new lands, and the parks division just keeps minting money. No matter what investment they make (1.1 billion for Cars Land, $500 million for New Fantasyland, $2 billion for FP+ and related infrastructure), the parks division just keeps rolling as the most consistent performer in this media conglomerate. But suddenly, they just can't afford to pay their minimum wage CMs, to keep a popular parade going, or keep both sides of a ride running? Oh, come on. That's just silly.

 

[Boski]

@cobright Disney doesn't release park attendance numbers so how are you performing your statistical analysis? Touringplans whom to my knowledge, aren't privy to Disney's numbers. So your bemoaning about other peoples "anecdotal" evidence while using another's to try and back up your point????

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Here's a much more likely scenario: they are instituting cuts to hide their Shanghai cost overruns, to make their latest quarterly results look better, in their usual slavish devotion to the Gods of Wall Street. They are hoping that they can spread these cuts over a far enough area in the resorts so that not too many guests are so pissed off that they will never come back. In other words, they are calculating that they can save more money than they lose in terms of customer loyalty. As usual, they want to see what they can get away with.

Ding ding ding!! I agree with you wholeheartedly and it's disappointing. Disney has always been a company and I interact with it as a company, but I used to view it as a company that prided itself on differentiation. Lately, across the parks and cruise divisions, it seems they want to rest on their laurels and are perfectly content to be at "industry standard."