Ice Cream/Drink Carts - More Cutbacks?

[ScoutN]

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?

Traffic is higher elsewhere where they deem the resources better utilized. Hard to keep cold in extreme heat. The list of possibilities goes on with this one. BGW will close them during high heat because the difficulty to keeping them cold. If another one is swamped and traffic is relatively light at another they will close it and send the TM there for a period to assist. A cart is never closed just to have it closed with the profit margin and certainly does not play into cost reduction. Or 1 2 3 people may have called in and the replacement has yet to arrive.

 

[sgtmgd]

Thats interesting..while there over Labor Day I noticed it..but attributted it to the parks nor being crowded...of the four days I was there...Epcot was not crowded at all...Sorin had a 30 minute standby line when we went to get FP.....DHS was again not crowded Toy Story wwas 30 minute SB as well....the RNR went down most the morning so that was backed up once it came to life..MK was the most crowded of the parks but I still didnt wait more than 40 minutes for any ride..AK was deserted..lol..Rode Dinosaur , Expedition I cant find the Yeti twice and the Safari in less than an hour..

 

[captainkidd]

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

At multiple carts on multiple days?

Come on...

Obviously, ANYTHING is possible. If this had been something we ran across 1 day, I wouldn't have thought anything of it. But we were there for 11 days and saw this at all the parks.

 

[Master Yoda]

At multiple carts on multiple days?

Come on...

Yes. Why is it so hard to see that more than one person out of several thousand might call in sick or simply just not show up? Is it hard to see that one cart with a minimal line could be shut down to help staff another that is busier? Have you even considered the possibility that Disney simply under estimated the crowds for that part of the day and got caught short handed? There are a myriad of reasons why and a cart might be closed. Why, out of all of those possibilities for a shut down food cart, do you immediately come to the least likley conclusion that it is some some sort of cut back?

 

[alissafalco]

It just doesn't make sense that they would not have these carts open to save $$. If anything it's the opposite, these carts are the money makers. These carts probably make the $$ in all of 20 minutes to pay the CM for the day, and the rest is all profit. To say they don't have these carts open due to cut backs I just find too hard to believe. If anything they are losing a lot of $$ by not keeping these carts open when it's busy. I feel it's got to be something else. What? I don't know. I'm not buying that people called in sick that day either LOL

 

[captainkidd]

Yes. Why is it so hard to see that more than one person out of several thousand might call in sick or simply just not show up? Is it hard to see that one cart with a minimal line could be shut down to help staff another that is busier? Have you even considered the possibility that Disney simply under estimated the crowds for that part of the day and got caught short handed? There are a myriad of reasons why and a cart might be closed. Why, out of all of those possibilities for a shut down food cart, do you immediately come to the conclusion that it is some some sort of cut back?

To answer your questions:

1.It wasn't just 1 cart or 1 person. It was several carts over the course of several days.
2.I suppose that is a possibility. But again, the likelihood that this happened over several days seems slim to me. Especially considering the high traffic areas that the carts were closed in. Is there any other traffic area more congested than Frontierland mid afternoon or Main Street an hour before MSEP?
3.You think Disney underestimated the crowds they would have in mid July? I've been going in July for the past 5 years, and I know exactly what to expect.

You're making it out like I passed 1 shut down drink cart in 1 park during the 2nd week of September. There were multiple carts shut down in each park over the course of 10 days, during what is well known to be one of the busiest months of the year.

 

[captainkidd]

It just doesn't make sense that they would not have these carts open to save $$. If anything it's the opposite, these carts are the money makers. These carts probably make the $$ in all of 20 minutes to pay the CM for the day, and the rest is all profit. To say they don't have these carts open due to cut backs I just find to hard to believe. If anything they are losing a lot of $$ by not keeping these carts open when it's busy. I feel it's got to be something else. What? I don't know. I'm not buying that people called in sick that day either LOL

I agree with this. But it's like I said - People will do what we did, which is just find another cart.

Who knows what goes through TDO's mind? Maybe they figure in the cost of the CM to run the cart, the electricity used at the cart, the CM who stocks the cart, etc. I know - It makes very little sense. But the argument Yoda is using that "somebody may have called in sick" doesn't make sense, or that they underestimated the crowds. Everybody who has been to Disney in July knows exactly what the crowds are like. All of a sudden, Disney is unaware of this?

 

[Master Yoda]

To answer your questions:

1.It wasn't just 1 cart or 1 person. It was several carts over the course of several days.
2.I suppose that is a possibility. But again, the likelihood that this happened over several days seems slim to me. Especially considering the high traffic areas that the carts were closed in. Is there any other traffic area more congested than Frontierland mid afternoon or Main Street an hour before MSEP?
3.You think Disney underestimated the crowds they would have in mid July? I've been going in July for the past 5 years, and I know exactly what to expect.

You're making it out like I passed 1 shut down food court in 1 park during the 2nd week of September. There were multiple carts shut down in each park over the course of 10 days, during what is well known to be one of the busiest months of the year.

Again, I know all of that. You still have yet to answer why anyone would think that closing something that makes piles of cash would be a valid way to save money. Reducing park hours, reducing shows are all valid ways to improve the bottom line. Shutting down an ice cream cart that all but prints money, not so much.

Of all of the reasons why a cart would be down, you seem to be focusing on the least likely.

 

[captainkidd]

Again, I know all of that. You still have yet to answer why anyone would think that closing something that makes piles of cash would be a valid way to save money. Reducing park hours, reducing shows are all valid ways to improve the bottom line. Shutting down an ice cream cart that all but prints money, not so much.

Of all of the reasons why a cart would be down, you seem to be focusing on the least likely.

How do I know? Did it make any sense to take characters out of the Liberty Tree Tavern? Are you telling me that increased their bottom line? You can walk in there and get a table with no problem for dinner now. Or how about the Diamond Horseshoe?

The only reasons you've given are completely unlikely. People calling in sick, Disney underestimating crowds, lack of supplies. I'll say this again - It was not just 1 cart in Dinoland on 1 day in the off-season. This was several carts over each park, closed at busy hours during peak season.

At the end of Main Street near the Railroad station there is a popcorn/drink cart on 1 side, and an ice cream/drink cart on the other side. On 3 different evenings about an hour before MSEP, the cart near Tony's was closed. So, we went to the other cart. I'm sure that's what anyone else did. I don't see why it's so hard to believe it could be to save money. They're going to sell a drink either at the popcorn cart or maybe at the Confectionery. It's Disney. It's not as if people aren't used to standing in lines.

That's like saying, "Why aren't all the ticket windows open at each theme park? All they do is make money. Certainly more than they're paying the CM working it for the day." No problem - People will just wait in another line. What choice do they have?

 

[Master Yoda]

How do I know? Did it make any sense to take characters out of the Liberty Tree Tavern? Are you telling me that increased their bottom line? You can walk in there and get a table with no problem for dinner now. Or how about the Diamond Horseshoe?

The only reasons you've given are completely unlikely. People calling in sick, Disney underestimating crowds, lack of supplies. I'll say this again - It was not just 1 cart in Dinoland on 1 day in the off-season. This was several carts over each park, closed at busy hours during peak season.

At the end of Main Street near the Railroad station there is a popcorn/drink cart on 1 side, and a ice cream/drink cart on the other side. On 3 different evenings about an hour before MSEP, the cart near Tony's was closed. So, we went to the other cart. I'm sure that's what anyone else did. I don't see why it's so hard to believe it could be to save money. They're going to sell a drink either at the popcorn cart or maybe at the Confectionery. It's Disney. It's not as if people aren't used to standing in lines.

You are right, it is all cutbacks.

 

[captainkidd]

You are right, it is all cutbacks.

Why do you feel this incessant need to constantly prove me (and others) wrong. I'm stating my opinion as to why I thought they were closed. You're stating yours. I'm not saying you're wrong. It's opinion. Why does everything with you have to be right or wrong?

 

[Becky]

"Perhaps it was too hot for the CMs?" Yep, Central Florida in July, 100 degrees and 85% humidity. Intelligent management decision, move the CM's inside the many air conditioned QS restaurants and shops to sell water, ice cream etc. One is never very far from an air conditioned place to buy your drinks etc. I prefer not giving CM's heat stroke.

 

[Master Yoda]

I didn't say it was. But you feel this incessant need to constantly prove me (and others) wrong. I'm stating my opinion as to why I thought they were closed. You're stating yours. I'm not saying you're wrong. It's opinion. Why does everything with you have to be right or wrong?

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]

Which is why I changed my post. I believe it's a cutback. Do I know for sure? Of course not. I'm merely pointing out that this is my opinion, not fact.

Do you know for sure what the reason is?

 

[alissafalco]

As far as saying well, they will just wait in another line, I don't think that's a really good business strategy. As another OP stated, I'm sure sooo many people will just turn away because they just don't want to have to wait on another long line (=loss of profits). I can't tell you how many countless times I have walked away because I didn't want to wait in line. I would really have to be dying of thirst to get them to get me to wait in a crazy line for a refreshment.
If they think by reducing the number of carts that make huge profits for them is going to save them money then WDW is really in a state of no repair!!

 

[captainkidd]

As far as saying well, they will just wait in another line, I don't think that's a really good business strategy. As another OP stated, I'm sure sooo many people will just turn away because they just don't want to have to wait on another long line (=loss of profits). I can't tell you how many countless times I have walked away because I didn't want to wait in line. I would really have to be dying of thirst to get them to get me to wait in a crazy line for a refreshment.
If they think by reducing the number of carts that make huge profits for them is going to save them money then WDW is really in a state of no repair!!

I'm the same way.

I agree that it doesn't make sense from a financial point of view, but I just can't think of any other reason. Not under the circumstances at least. The whole thing is very odd.

 

[Rob562]

Is it possible that they're waiting for the new influx of College Program CM's to arrive, get trained and staff them? Isn't this time of year kind of the change-over from summer-session to fall-semester CP CM's?

-Rob

 

[captainkidd]

Is it possible that they're waiting for the new influx of College Program CM's to arrive, get trained and staff them? Isn't this time of year kind of the change-over from summer-session to fall-semester CP CM's?

-Rob

Possibly. Seems like a bad time to do it though, in the dead of summer. But time wise, I guess it's possible.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Granted I only spent 2 days in the parks over August 18-20, but I had no problems finding drinks or ice cream in MK or Epcot while I was there, and I didn't notice any closed carts. World Showcase had one cart or beverage/snack location open in each country on Monday the 20th.

 

[ddbowdoin]

odd, I was there 7.9 - 7.19 and I, nor my wife, never had an issue seeing a cart that was open