Cuts coming to every area of parks and resorts - thanks to Shanghai and Paris

[wdwmagic]

There are already a couple of threads listing some of the specifics, but I think it is time for a centralized thread with an overview of the current situation with regard to cutbacks.

Over the past few weeks we've been contacted by CMs throughout the parks and resorts with details of some of the cuts taking place through the parks and resorts - and it is taking place at all levels.

Despite record attendance and financial results, cuts are being ordered anywhere and everywhere - to levels last seen during the economic downturn of 2008.

Cuts will include reduction of operating hours - at all levels, from the parks themselves, down to the individual attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Numbers of CMs are being reduced wherever possible. Fewer cast will be at registers in shops, fewer cast will operate resort front desks, fewer cast will be handling bags at the resorts, and fewer cast will be running attractions.

Overtime is being suspended wherever possible, and when cast leave, they are not being replaced.

Things are just getting started now, and are thought to be continuing through to the summer. No word yet on how long they will be in place.

What's the reason for this when the company has record performance in Q1? Overseas parks. Specially Shanghai's cost over-runs, and continuing poor performance of Disneyland Paris - which has increased further with the terrorist attacks.

 

[Tom]

Great.....

 

[ItlngrlBella]

... Just in time for the busy spring break and summer season.

Pay more for long lines, less street M&G and fewer streetmosphere acts, longer waits and bigger crowds.

...all while price points on tickets, food, and park swag creep up.

I am SO glad we are waiting several years before we venture back to WDW.

 

[wm49rs]

There are already a couple of threads listing some of the specifics, but I think it is time for a centralized thread with an overview of the current situation with regard to cutbacks.

Over the past few weeks we've been contacted by CMs throughout the parks and resorts with details of some of the cuts taking place through the parks and resorts - and it is taking place at all levels.

Despite record attendance and financial results, cuts are being ordered anywhere and everywhere - to levels last seen during the economic downturn of 2008.

Cuts will include reduction of operating hours - at all levels, from the parks themselves, down to the individual attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Numbers of CMs are being reduced wherever possible. Fewer cast will be at registers in shops, fewer cast will operate resort front desks, fewer cast will be handling bags at the resorts, and fewer cast will be running attractions.

Overtime is being suspended wherever possible, and when cast leave, they are not being replaced.

Things are just getting started now, and are thought to be continuing through to the summer. No word yet on how long they will be in place.

What's the reason for this when the company has record performance in Q1? Overseas parks. Specially Shanghai's cost over-runs, and continuing poor performance of Disneyland Paris - which has increased further with the terrorist attacks.

Should we expect an uptick in tickets prices in the near future as well?

 

[djkidkaz]

Is Disneyland, HK and Tokyo seeing the same? Or is this only effecting WDW?

 

[Rteetz]

Is Disneyland, HK and Tokyo seeing the same? Or is this only effecting WDW?

I'm sure Tokyo isn't affected because they aren't funded by Disney.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Maybe they should focus more on the existing cash cow parks and quit running them down because of stupid decisions made elsewhere....just sayin

 

[TBrooker11]

So basically this is Disney's message to us all:

Hello, welcome to Disney World. You are now paying more than you ever have for our tickets, resorts, food, and souvenirs. In return you are going to get less customer service, you will wait longer in stores when trying to buy our souvenirs, longer in restaurants when trying to buy our food, longer at the resorts when trying to check in and oh by the wait we are cutting hours on attractions and parks so you have less time to be at the parks and do stuff at the parks. Oh yeah, one of our theme parks is also going under a major remodel so it is gonna be almost half empty in a few months. Good news is our attendance is up so you have more people to be crowded in with and wait behind. Oh and this has nothing to do with our domestic parks, it is due to our international parks not doing what we need them to do.. Have fun!!

I mean I love Disney but they are making it harder and harder to love them as days go on. Higher prices, less things to do, more people there.. It is a shame.

 

[Nemo14]

Should we expect an uptick in tickets prices in the near future as well?

Do birds fly? Do fish swim?

 

[Next Big Thing]

Well this is just a sad, sad thread considering record profits. Not surprising, just extremely sad in a bad way. No wonder everyone I know (including myself in my experience) loves working for Universal more than the mouse...

Does this apply to Disneyland as well, Steve? @wdwmagic

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Bring back Save Disney.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It's a basic tenet of business: payroll is the single largest controllable expense.

That said, I'm glad this is my Disney off-year. Hopefully they will be in better shape next year!

 

[wm49rs]

Bring back Save Disney.

 

[Jon81uk]

and the biggest problem with Disneyland Paris for me is that for us coming from the UK I still don't feel like I want to visit. Florida feels better value and has better weather.

They just made too many mistakes with the planning of that resort.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

This is just not fair. Why are they punishing the parks that are doing well? Let's just hope Shanghai is a success...

Despite record attendance and financial results, cuts are being ordered anywhere and everywhere - to levels last seen during the economic downturn of 2008.

They better not cancel new projects like in 2008.

 

[Next Big Thing]

At this Point, I'd rather they stop putting money into Paris, sell off the hotels, tear the park down and sell a bunch of stuff off or reuse it elsewhere and then sell the property.

Paris has proved to be a blackhole and like others have stated, it doesn't have much the other parks don't have and the weather is worse. No incentive to go there.

 

[JDL30]

Disneyland Paris is staying much more resilient however. If you look at their quarter 1 results:

http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-2016-02-09-FY16-Q1-Press-release.pdf

The main headlines are that revenues were down by 1% to €338 million, but this is mainly due to the events in Paris last November and both parks closed for 4 days.

However for the first part of the year higher guest spending, hotel capacity and theme park attendance was up - offsetting the damage at the end of 2015.

Also you only have to see all of the plussing they are doing to counteract the attraction refurbs they are doing - Swing into Spring and other seasonal evens, lots of added entertainment and character spots. The resort has seen a radical change in culture over the last year and continues to keep bouncing back. I would suspect its the overruns of Shanghai that are primarily to blame for this.

 

[fractal]

They are about to open Shanghai Disneyland while the Chinese economy is imploding. Time to panic.

 

[drew81]

Fantasmic is going to one night a week....Saturday night
Kilimanjaro Safari's animal stock will all be sold to other institutions and zoos. Cardboard cutouts will be up in their place. Hopefully the guest won't notice.
Magic Words with Mickey will no longer operate as is. The photopass photographer will try to do their best Mickey voice impression while taking photos. Hopefully the guests won't notice.
Star Wars Launch Bay will operate seasonally. Right now the plan is to only operate it when a new Star Wars movie opens.
The plastic from discarded Magic Bands will now be sent to Central Shops to be melted down for new Small World dolls.
Festival of the Lion King will now require a $15 upcharge per guest to make a FastPass reservation.
Toy Story Mania will now operate as a "Premium Ride Experience". Only guests staying at 4Seasons will be able to ride.
Magic Kingdom will now charge a Festival of Fantasy Parade "In Front" Experience fee for all guests standing on route. If guests want to have memorable experiences with characters on parade route it will now cost them.
Bob "Chappie" Chapek and Tom Staggs will now be visiting the parks more often taking photos and signing autographs for guests but at the same time charging a "Executive Experience" $50 fee for any guest who approaches them. The thought is it will help the bottom line.
Most character dining will remove the characters and now require guests to use their imagination by imagining the characters being there visiting their table. If any guest questions the new "Imagine the Characters at Your Table" policy they are to be encouraged to be more magical and use their imagination more.




Satire........

 

[PhotoDave219]

There are already a couple of threads listing some of the specifics, but I think it is time for a centralized thread with an overview of the current situation with regard to cutbacks.

Over the past few weeks we've been contacted by CMs throughout the parks and resorts with details of some of the cuts taking place through the parks and resorts - and it is taking place at all levels.

Despite record attendance and financial results, cuts are being ordered anywhere and everywhere - to levels last seen during the economic downturn of 2008.

Cuts will include reduction of operating hours - at all levels, from the parks themselves, down to the individual attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Numbers of CMs are being reduced wherever possible. Fewer cast will be at registers in shops, fewer cast will operate resort front desks, fewer cast will be handling bags at the resorts, and fewer cast will be running attractions.

Overtime is being suspended wherever possible, and when cast leave, they are not being replaced.

Things are just getting started now, and are thought to be continuing through to the summer. No word yet on how long they will be in place.

What's the reason for this when the company has record performance in Q1? Overseas parks. Specially Shanghai's cost over-runs, and continuing poor performance of Disneyland Paris - which has increased further with the terrorist attacks.

Fewer cast running attraction..... Means attractions won't run at full capacity and longer lines.

Oh dear.