Ice Cream/Drink Carts - More Cutbacks?

[captainkidd]

I was wondering if anyone who has recently returned noticed this. When we were there in July, many of the carts that sell ice cream and drinks were closed throughout the day. As anyone who has been there in July can attest, there are 2 guarantees:

1.It will be crowded.
2.It will be hot.

This was very noticeable. We'd decide it was time for a water break, and we had to go searching for an open stand. It happened in each park. If you know the parks well, then you know where all these stands are. There were several times we would finally find an open one, and the line was 20 people deep.

I really don't understand this. How much can they possibly pay the people that work those carts? Is it possible TDO is really nickle and diming the bottom line that much? They can't possibly use the excuse that there is not a need for them. 60,000 people in the Magic Kingdom. A heat index of 100 degrees.

 

[Scuttle]

I noticed this Sunday night. A Lot of carts were closed when I arrived at 9pm. The park was scheduled to stay open until 11pm. The cutbacks are getting ridiculous.

 

[ImagineerDude]

I noticed them closing before MSEP in July, but most were open until at least 6...

 

[captainkidd]

I noticed this Sunday night. A Lot of carts were closed when I arrived at 9pm. The park was scheduled to stay open until 11pm. The cutbacks are getting ridiculous.

In July, they were closed in the dead of the afternoon. I can't say for sure if they were closed all day, but we noticed carts in Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Main Street all closed several afternoons.

 

[Scuttle]

In July, they were closed in the dead of the afternoon. I can't say for sure if they were closed all day, but we noticed carts in Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Main Street all closed several afternoons.

Can't say I'm shocked. TDO is running WDW into the ground.

 

[luv]

Yup! There are less of them and the hours are shorter. It's nearly as bad in the summer as it used to be in the winter.

I wonder how bad it will get this winter!

I sometimes think Uni has infiltrated Disney's management and is trying to put them out of business. I don't follow Disney management like you all do and I don't know who is in charge of this crap, but it is totally moronic to deny people the opportunity to buy water.

I get really ticked with myself when I forget to bring my own. If I forget it at home, I always try to stop on the way.

 

[Master Yoda]

WDW usually has a good idea of how many guests are going to be visiting and adjusts the number of CMs accordingly. Is it possible WDW was anticipating lower than normal attendance, reduced the number of CMs present that day and, as a result, some carts were unattended. I realize no one has actual numbers but how crowded did the parks feel?

It doesn't prove anything but when my family did a combined WDW/Universal trip about a month ago, my DW commented several times on how much less crowded WDW felt than Universal. I think it's because WDW is much better at handling large crowds than Universal. The posted Standby times at both WDW and Universal seemed typical for mid summer. However, it does have me wondering what WDW attendance has been like recently.

This^^^
Those carts make a ton of money for Disney. The only reason they are going to close them is if they are not seeing enough traffic or if they are simply out of product.

 

[luv]

This^^^
Those carts make a ton of money for Disney. The only reason they are going to close them is if they are not seeing enough traffic or if they are simply out of product.

You'd think so! But, no.

They raised the price of water, made it harder to buy and made the lines longer.

I've had a bee in my bonnet regarding this for quite a while, lol.

 

[ParentsOf4]

You'd think so! But, no.

They raised the price of water, made it harder to buy and made the lines longer.

I've had a bee in my bonnet regarding this for quite a while, lol.

Even if WDW management was being cheap, not manning the carts doesn’t make a lot of financial sense. Taking into account the cost of the product and the pay of the CMs staffing the carts, the carts are highly profitable. Even if the CM stands idly by for a good portion of the time, the risk of lost revenue is too great to not keep them manned. (The idea being if a line is too long, some customers will simply give up rather than wait in line to make the purchase.)

The only good managerial reason not to keep those staffed is because crowds are either extremely light or much heavier than expected & CMs were needed urgently elsewhere.

Perhaps it was too hot for the CMs? (Of course, what does that say about the guests. More than ever, they'd need something to keep cool.) There are other reasons as well; perhaps an unusual number of CMs called in sick or product was running low, but good management should have plans in place for these contingencies.

Having visited a Six Flags this weekend, I can tell you that every one of these carts were manned even though attendance was moderate-to-light. It surprises me that WDW wouldn't have these carts staffed.

 

[captainkidd]

This^^^
Those carts make a ton of money for Disney. The only reason they are going to close them is if they are not seeing enough traffic or if they are simply out of product.

Sorry, but you're wrong about this. In July, there were long lines at ALL of the drink stands. The parks were as mobbed as I've ever seen them. This is nothing more than another cutback. They know guests will just do what we did - Find another cart that was open.

 

[captainkidd]

WDW usually has a good idea of how many guests are going to be visiting and adjusts the number of CMs accordingly. Is it possible WDW was anticipating lower than normal attendance, reduced the number of CMs present that day and, as a result, some carts were unattended. I realize no one has actual numbers but how crowded did the parks feel?

It doesn't prove anything but when my family did a combined WDW/Universal trip about a month ago, my DW commented several times on how much less crowded WDW felt than Universal. I think it's because WDW is much better at handling large crowds than Universal. The posted Standby times at both WDW and Universal seemed typical for mid summer. However, it does have me wondering what WDW attendance has been like recently.

See, I felt the exact opposite. Universal was crowded, but didn't seem nearly as bad as the Magic Kingdom. And, EVERY cart that was in the park that serves drinks was open, line or no line.

 

[Fantasmic]

There's free water all over the place in WDW!!! (thank god for the bobble bottle)

 

[captainkidd]

There's free water all over the place in WDW!!! (thank god for the bobble bottle)

LOL - Last time I drank water from a bubbler in Florida, I spent the entire night in the bathroom.

 

[bgraham34]

Maybe they were just out of products. TDO makes some dumb decisions but if closing some carts to save a few bucks is what they are doing we are in for some serious problems in the next few years.

 

[captainkidd]

Maybe they were just out of products. TDO makes some dumb decisions but if closing some carts to save a few bucks is what they are doing we are in for some serious problems in the next few years.

Eh, I doubt it. We're talking carts that sell Dasani Water and Coke products. I can't imagine them running out of either of those.

I get not having a popcorn cart open at 9:30 in the morning. Makes sense. But to not have multiple carts that sell water and soda products closed at 2:00PM just reeks of TDO cheapness.

 

[wiigirl]

LOL - Last time I drank water from a bubbler in Florida, I spent the entire night in the bathroom.

Yikes!

 

[ScoutN]

Carts of any type are cash cows. If they were closed then there was more than likely a reason for it. I do not see them turning down the easy $.

 

[bgraham34]

They certainly could be cutting back because once Fantasyland is opened they will have 100 more employees working a day and this may not bring in more revenue so they will certainly cutback it other areas.

 

[captainkidd]

Carts of any type are cash cows. If they were closed then there was more than likely a reason for it. I do not see them turning down the easy $.

Like I said, my guess is they figure less people to pay, and not a big loss for the company - People will just have to go to another cart and wait in a longer line.

Again, mid July, parks are packed. What other reason could there be for them to have multiple drink carts closed?

 

[Master Yoda]

Like I said, my guess is they figure less people to pay, and not a big loss for the company - People will just have to go to another cart and wait in a longer line.

Again, mid July, parks are packed. What other reason could there be for them to have multiple drink carts closed?

Staffing issues, supply issues, logistical issues, maintenance issues, etc.