Why SO Many Complaints?

[twokids0204]

Unfortunately, Disney is one big company, and when one piece (films, for example) goes down, then other areas (theme parks, cable) step in to bolster them up. Just as the film studios stepped in to keep the parks alive after 9/11. The money coming into the theme parks doesn't just go into a big bucket to be used only by the theme parks.

But out of curiousity, did you feel as though you "suffered" during your trip in March? Did you feel you got your money's worth?

I am just playing devil's advocate to this post.

I had an awesome vacation in March, and will go again next year. It was my children's first visit, and that was worth the price of admission alone for me.

I am a HUGE supporter of Disney, and always will be. I am "the guy" that my firends and family go to when they have questions about Disney. I have sent people to take a Disney vacation, when they were planning to go elsewhere.

But did I suffer... I noticed little things - Less photopass photographers then usual. When I asked a CM, I was told their salaires are too high, and they had to cut back. I still bought my photo CD, but did not have as many photo's as I would have had. I noticed less staff at the check in / conceirge desks at the resort, etc...

Again, don't get me wrong, I am a big disney fan, I don't normally complain, I just ran across this post, and don't 100% agree with the fact that we should accept it just because!

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I personally want to hear the good and the bad so I can plan accordingly. Disney needs to earn my dollar just like every other corporation----I am not saying they have to be perfect but I do want to make an informed choice about where my vacation dollars are going to go.

I think saying "if you don't like it, don't go" is overly harsh. One does not have to love everything about Disney to enjoy it overall and posting comments on the things you do not like helps Disney focus on what needs to be improved.

I think it is awesome that the 13 year old wrote such a polite and thoughtful letter.

Just my two cents.

 

[thorphin]

Simply want to say that over the past 5-6 years, generally speaking, wdwmagic's posters have gotten more and more negative and complain-y. I got fed up with it, started looking around for a fresh community, found the DIS, and couldn't be happier!

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

Its like I Mentioned I also work in the hospitality industry and In the past 3 months i went from full time (32 - 40 hours) down to 18-20 hours so the hotel industry all across the board is hurting I know i have seen the numbers for the company that I work for so what makes everybody think that Disney is the excpetion??????????

 

[styron]

All businesses offer deals for you to give them your business over someone else, and Disney has ALWAYS done this.

I don't know what to say because this isn't a matter of opinion or agree/disagree. Disney is promoting the heck out of its business through massive, multiple sale offers. They've never done this before. It's creating havoc on their stock price because, even with sales, they've always been a high priced premium product and now they're running major sales basically all the time, without stopping.

They have to do it because their amusement parks have high fixed costs. It's like airlines. They need to have bodies in the door just to cover the fixed costs. So they run these major sales and give up profit just to cover their costs. They will give you free food if you just show up. They will give you free food EVEN IF you spend the whole time complaining about how they're still not doing enough to make you happy, never mind the 40% off sale.

 

[tink22]

But did I suffer... I noticed little things - Less photopass photographers then usual. When I asked a CM, I was told their salaires are too high, and they had to cut back. I still bought my photo CD, but did not have as many photo's as I would have had. I noticed less staff at the check in / conceirge desks at the resort, etc...

Again, don't get me wrong, I am a big disney fan, I don't normally complain, I just ran across this post, and don't 100% agree with the fact that we should accept it just because!

Maybe those on this board see that as cutbacks because they go so much. But first timers don't see it that way. They don't know that there are less photopass people. Or less concierge. They have nothing to compare it to. I agree that it's sad to see things go. But I can recall many 'pre-recession' times that this has happened. And new things are almost always being added in their place.
The 13 year old poster mentioned they are upset about PI being torn down (though I wonder how much of PI they enjoyed at that age to begin with that they would miss it??) but they are most likely building new things there that may soon become favorites. So maybe it's a personal thing that some Disers look for. Maybe some people on this board see their own version of a 'cutback'. And others still have fun and don't happen to notice those things.

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly? I think people are just generaly more unhappy. A lot of people are either out of work, or worried about losing their jobs. Fincances are very tight, and people are watching very carefuly how they spend their money. So when a business like Disney starts making cuts, it is easy to feel cheated. Here you are struggling to save you pennies and make that trip to Disney, and there are fewer shows than there used to be. Fantasmic only twice a week.It is easy to complain.

I can tell you that where I work, you can really see a difference in people's attitudes. They are a lot more rude and mean than they used to be. I'm sure a lot of it is stress, and I'm hopeful that as the economy improves, so will attitudes.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

Here you are struggling to save you pennies and make that trip to Disney, and there are fewer shows than there used to be. Fantasmic only twice a week.

Depends on when you go. Last week, Fantasmic! was shown twice a night every night.

 

[WDSearcher]

If space mountain is closed - that is something that is temporary, and to be expected. It's also scheduled and made public before hand. It's required maintenance.

Fantasmic! cutbacks were scheduled and made public in September, for a new schedule that started in January. Plus ... it was stated that additional shows would be added as crowds dictate (which has proven true, as additional show days are added regularly). I can't think of a recent change (aka "cutback") that was made without notice.

As for your argument on dropping prices, I still disagree. All businesses offer deals for you to give them your business over someone else, and Disney has ALWAYS done this. There will always be special discounts and deals. Are you suggesting that we trade the quality of the vacation to compensate for the deal they are offering? in essence - you are not actually getting a deal, you are just paying less for less.

Disney has never done deals to this extent except for after 9/11. If you compare past years' promotions and levels with this year's, you'll see that.

Do you feel you got your money's worth during your trip? Or do you feel that you got "less for less"?

 

[SuperTink]

They've got to survive. They're a business; they're not a non-profit happymaking machine.

Well there's "surviving," and then there's "profiting." And then there's "mega-profiting."

Unless things have changed drastically, I'm pretty sure Disney is between the second and the third.

So, if Disney is cutting back so they can make MORE profit or even maintain healthy profit margin and still make cuts, I don't see why anyone should be denied the right to complain.

I do wish that everyone with complaints would complain to the source. I think venting is OK, but I think complaining should be constructive whenever possible.

Peace!

 

[WDSearcher]

I am just playing devil's advocate to this post.

I had an awesome vacation in March, and will go again next year. It was my children's first visit, and that was worth the price of admission alone for me.

I am a HUGE supporter of Disney, and always will be. I am "the guy" that my firends and family go to when they have questions about Disney. I have sent people to take a Disney vacation, when they were planning to go elsewhere.

But did I suffer... I noticed little things - Less photopass photographers then usual. When I asked a CM, I was told their salaires are too high, and they had to cut back. I still bought my photo CD, but did not have as many photo's as I would have had. I noticed less staff at the check in / conceirge desks at the resort, etc...

Again, don't get me wrong, I am a big disney fan, I don't normally complain, I just ran across this post, and don't 100% agree with the fact that we should accept it just because!

Oh ... I don't think people should accept it "just because." But I do think people need to be realistic. The economy is in the toilet for everyone. It's not like Universal, Six Flags and Dollywood are soaring and Disney is cutting back. Cedar Fair isn't going gangbusters while Disney slogs along. Everyone is in the same boat.

(And I'm sure all of the Photopass photographers would laugh hysterically at the thought that their "salaries are too high". )

The bottom line, though, is ... changes or no, cuts or no ... do you feel that you got enough "bang" for your buck? Did you get your money's worth from your Disney vacation? Or ... did you feel as though you got gypped? If making sure that you have at least one option of seeing Fant! every single night of your stay because you (and I'm talking the big, wider "you", not you personally! ) don't want to have to plan that and want to be able to see the show without standing in line is really really important to you, then you may say that no, you didn't get your money's worth. Because that one cutback caused you to have to schedule and stand in line for something you'd never had to do that for before. But if you never once used the concierge, even though you did notice there were fewer of them, then it probably didn't affect you.

I know that it's tough to go back to your magical place only to find changes, and to realize that Disney is vulnerable to "real world" concerns like the economy. But if you walk away from your vacation still feeling as though you got your money's worth, then Disney is still doing a great job. If you feel that the cutbacks affected you so deeply that your vacation was truly made less, THAT's when you sit down and write the letter and start re-thinking whether Disney is a future destination for you.

To expect Disney to be a super-business and have no effects from a bad economy is unreasonable, IMO. However, to expect Disney to still give you a good, quality, magical time for the money you're spending there is entirely realistic.

 

[bytheblood]

I agree. I feel blessed that I can visit WDW.

I do have to see it from the other side though. Disney is increasing prices and making cutbacks at the same time. Money is tight for a lot of people, so when your meal has increased $5 but you notice 1/3 of what you used to get is missing, it is easy to understand why people get upset. When it costs you more to visit WDW than it did last year and yet there are cutbacks, I can see where people get frustrated.

I am happy I can go and arrive there knowing that things have changed....but I also know that it is a blessing and I will enjoy it while I can.

 

[twokids0204]

Oh ... I don't think people should accept it "just because." But I do think people need to be realistic. The economy is in the toilet for everyone. It's not like Universal, Six Flags and Dollywood are soaring and Disney is cutting back. Cedar Fair isn't going gangbusters while Disney slogs along. Everyone is in the same boat.

(And I'm sure all of the Photopass photographers would laugh hysterically at the thought that their "salaries are too high". )

The bottom line, though, is ... changes or no, cuts or no ... do you feel that you got enough "bang" for your buck? Did you get your money's worth from your Disney vacation? Or ... did you feel as though you got gypped? If making sure that you have at least one option of seeing Fant! every single night of your stay because you (and I'm talking the big, wider "you", not you personally! ) don't want to have to plan that and want to be able to see the show without standing in line is really really important to you, then you may say that no, you didn't get your money's worth. Because that one cutback caused you to have to schedule and stand in line for something you'd never had to do that for before. But if you never once used the concierge, even though you did notice there were fewer of them, then it probably didn't affect you.

I know that it's tough to go back to your magical place only to find changes, and to realize that Disney is vulnerable to "real world" concerns like the economy. But if you walk away from your vacation still feeling as though you got your money's worth, then Disney is still doing a great job. If you feel that the cutbacks affected you so deeply that your vacation was truly made less, THAT's when you sit down and write the letter and start re-thinking whether Disney is a future destination for you.

To expect Disney to be a super-business and have no effects from a bad economy is unreasonable, IMO. However, to expect Disney to still give you a good, quality, magical time for the money you're spending there is entirely realistic.

A) I never mentioned Fantasmic cut backs, but you are correct, that was another of the cut backs.

B) Yes I did use conceirge, and did have to wait longer then expected (not that I expect everyone to bend over backwards for me, but traditionally this is what has come to be expected from Disney).

C) Photopass photographers - Just telling you what I was told. As for where they lacked. It was most noticable at DHS at "The Incredibles" and "BOLT", in fact they offer a BOLT border with almost all pics, but not photopass photographer there (and it was one of the largest character greeting display spots).

I am not saying they are not vulnerable to real world issues. I am simply saying I (personally) don't see where they are hurting to warrant cutbacks.

As a fellow DISer you have to agree that the thing that sets Disney apart from the competition is there attention to the details, and there eagerness to provide superior customer service. If these cut's continue that is where they will start to lack, and the difference will become more noticable.

Don't take this as a personal attack to you or to Disney, this is not at all what I am intending, I am merley stating that with my recent experinces, I don't see any sign of corwd cutbacks.

On a side note one place I did see a negative impact was also at DHS at Honey I shrunk the playground. I took my kids in there and it was extremely busy (just after Lights, Motor, Action). Well a mom had lost one of her children in the playground, She was all alone and trying to keep up with the one she still had control of, and still search for her other. She went to the CM at the exit in tears to find her missing 4 year old, and he was unable to help (obviously he couldn't leave his post), but with an extra CM there, they could have kept her calm, and aided in finding the missing child.

 

[styron]

I know that it's tough to go back to your magical place only to find changes, and to realize that Disney is vulnerable to "real world" concerns like the economy.

You made me understand! I get it now. People around here have been dreaming about Disney for so long that they really DO believe in magic. The economy can be in the toilet, we can be running 40% off sales for an entire year, profits can have disappeared for all amusement parks all over the country, we can be so bad off that we're laying off long-term management... but it's Disney so they should just MAGIC up a way to keep things exactly the same!

 

[WaltD4Me]

But, can we please all just stop complaining about the planning process and the cutbacks. Disney is not impervious to the economic decline in our society, they have to do what they can do as well. I'd rather them cut some "fluff" then to have to close the doors completely because they lost so much money by keeping stuff just to entertain the masses. I am very thankful that my DH and I have jobs in the economic crisis we have here in this country and I am also thankful that I get to still travel to Disney, while I watch businesses around us close and then those families lose their homes. So, while yes, I'll notice some of the things that are missing, I'll also be mindful of how lucky I am that I am there. JMHO.

Yes, but isn't it Disney in the business of "fluff" and entertaining the masses? To me, if they cut all the fluff and aren't concerened about entertaining the masses they might as well close their doors.

I don't think Disney should get a pass on cutbacks simply because we love Disney. I too am very thankful to have a job and that I am able to travel to Disney, but it's harder now and if Disney keeps cutting back and cutting back, how long before it isn't worth the extra effort to save for that Disney trip?

 

[pktbMouse]

so you started a thread to complain about the complaints threads? efficient?

you just cant win!

 

[KigerKat]

I don't care if people post their vents and complaints about Disney here, that's what this forum is for!

But this forum also allows people to complain about the complainers - if they want to dish it out, they should learn how to take it.

I really don't think Disney has made the cutbacks they've made without crunching the numbers first. They didn't just blindly cancel F! shows, layoff PhotoPass photographers or close down PI without first making sure there was no way around it or anything else they could sacrifice in their places.

I'm not a seasoned Disney vet...I've only been once last year - and it was magical for me! I'm going again this year, and I'm expecting that it will be just as magical even with all of these cutbacks. I'm sorry if people are upset about some of the steps Disney has taken to keep their profit margins where they need to be, but it's a business and businesses do what they need to do to make money.

One thing Disney could have done is jacked up the prices on their resorts, park tickets, merchandise and food to make up for their losses but they didn't. Instead, they made cuts elsewhere and tried not to pass their costs on to their guests and customers as much as possible.

I guess I don't let the little things get to me like some people. I can still manage to have a magical time with the cutbacks Disney has made, and I am surprised to hear how so many people feel the need to complain about them.

I'll get off my soapbox now...

 

[WaltD4Me]

The 13 year old poster mentioned they are upset about PI being torn down (though I wonder how much of PI they enjoyed at that age to begin with that they would miss it??) but they are most likely building new things there that may soon become favorites.

Actually I have heard that Disney is not going to build new things were PI was. They are going to outsource spots there to chain stores and restaurants and THAT is what is upsetting. If Disney was going to build and create new things in PI, I would be fine with that, but I'm pretty sure that isn't going to be the case, they are just going to be the rent collectors and that is very sad and worth complaining about IMHO.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I went to WDW last 9/08, and have another trip planned for 9/09. It will be interesting to see if I notice any cutbacks.

I'm one of those "glass is half full" people though so even if I notice changes, they probably won't affect me too much. That said, I'm all for people making their opinions known to Disney via letters emails etc. because I think it's unfair to expect them to work on something if they don't know there's an issue. I don't mind when people post here to vent either as long as they aren't nasty about it...if I think a thread is stupid, I don't join in.

Obviously, I like some of the more controversial threads, keeps things interesting!

 

[topmonkeygirl]

I love Disney, I've always loved Disney, I probably always will love Disney. With that being said I don't see how they are losing money. I was just there in January, the value season, and the line for Rockin' Rollercoaster was 70 minutes. The place was packed.

The stores were full. you couldn't look around and not see a little girl who hadn't been to the BBB.

The movies they are coming out with are a hit.

The resorts were full.

Lines for all eating venues, didn't matter weather or not it was counter service, sit down, or a snack stand.

Prices of tickets keep going up, cost of food keeps going up (including the price of the dinning plans), resort rates are up, everything Disney is up from last year.

If I'm paying more I expect to have the same service and magic as before.

Please don't flame me, like I said I love Disney but where does Disney draw the line at how much magic they intend to cut in order to keep their profits higher? Disney is a business but like any good business you have to keep the customer happy and wanting to return.

I have a trip planned in 2010. I plan on staying at the Contemporary, going to La Nouba, going to some of the Signature restaurants, and maybe doing some golf. I've been to Disney 15-20 times and I've always had a great time but each time there is a little more missing than the last time I went and it saddens me really.