50 MAGICal Enhancements for the 50th ...

[peter11435]

No, I didn't forget that. Every business in America was affected by it, and quite a few of the large ones made smart moves to prepare for reopening (most not even in Florida, who has extremely... forgiving... COVID policy). That's exactly why I said they missed the opportunity to leverage things to improve on everything.

Disney also made smart moves to prepare for reopening. It just doesn’t line up with what you think they should have done.

How many companies do you know of that lost almost all revenue streams were still investing in non essential items.

 

[montyz81]

After watching all the stuff they did for Disneyland's 50th, this is really turning out to be a truncated disaster... Half of the new meager attractions are unfinished, no new parades, few enhancements... The rides they are adding were just plain necessary, 50th or not...
You can blame covid, but it is not like the company can't afford to make the changes necessary... They just choose not to...While raising ticket prices and dragging out construction.

Investors are to blame regardless if Disney has the money or not. Too much spending worries investors.

 

[James Norrie]

Disney also made smart moves to prepare for reopening. It just doesn’t line up with what you think they should have done.

How many companies do you know of that lost almost all revenue streams were still investing in non essential items.

And here is the crux of our differences:
While you believe upgrades and improvements to the Biggest Tourist Destination in the world to be "non-essential", I argue that they are, in fact, essential for any company to thrive. They are also FAR overdue, and have been since my last visit to the bubble in 2016. Nobody in their right mind would have let WDW fall into bankruptcy, it is way too much of a cash cow and the ramifications of this would be devastating to the Central Florida region, and the US Tourism industry writ large.

So, with that in mind, let's now look to the future as it stands today:
-Phased openings (due to layoffs/hiring issues) of incomplete parks (due to construction delays which TDO is blaming on COVID) with reduced capacity (due to mismanagement of staffing) and reduced accommodations (also due to mismanagement of staffing).
-Cost cutting (as detailed above) has also now led to the Bourgeoise Deluxe sect getting extra Disney Magic compared to the proletariat at the Values/Mods (which goes against Walt's "To all who come to this happy place: Welcome!", and instead says "To all of those rich enough to stay at this happier place: you're more welcome!").

Whereas, if TDO had had a more forward-looking and less risk-averse management, it could have been this:
-Full staffing throughout the pandemic, with CM reassignment on a temp. basis to other areas in P&R, completing maintenance tasks and assisting in upgrades/improvements.
-Obviously the Hotel and F&B staff would have been most affected by this change. But, what is more impactful: being temporarily reassigned to another area, or being laid off with no return date or guarantee of reemployment?
-90% of the WDW Wish List (50 Magical Things...) could have been completed by doing this (my guess, not actual researched projection).
-Parks would have opened when Desantis lifted restrictions, resorts would all be at Full Capacity (or whatever existing restrictions would allow), there wouldn't be this massive effort to recruit housekeepers and F&B Staff with $1k Bonuses, and I'd even venture to guess the EMH for Deluxe only guests wouldn't even be here, as everything would be open, staffed and able to handle the amount of guests just like they used to.

Keep in mind: They also delayed a lot of the upgrades that they still need to complete no matter what (SSE, BTMRR, SM, etc). All of this could have been done during the lull, but instead it is now going to affect future guest experiences when it could have affected NO guest experiences. They will be completing these on borrowed money anyways.

 

[TTA94]

It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of Destination D in November. I’d think a big focus will be on some things coming in 2022. Likely nothing we don’t already know about or suspected.
Any additional entertainment announcements other than what has already been announced will likely be held off till November.

 

[itsy bitsy spider]

1. The trash can lids aren't prop open anymore
2. The prices have gone up on all food and drinks
3. The rides will break down more
4. Deluxe vacationers gets their own Magic Hours
5. The Magical Express will be ending

.... and 45 other things you don't want or care about.

 

[brb1006]

After watching all the stuff they did for Disneyland's 50th, this is really turning out to be a truncated disaster... Half of the new meager attractions are unfinished, no new parades, few enhancements... The rides they are adding were just plain necessary, 50th or not...
You can blame covid, but it is not like the company can't afford to make the changes necessary... They just choose not to...While raising ticket prices and dragging out construction.

I still remember seeing promos for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary Parade ("Parade of Dreams") on Disney Channel between 2005 and 2006.

 

[VJ]

I still remember seeing promos for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary Parade ("Parade of Dreams") on Disney Channel between 2005 and 2006.

i remember that too!

 

[mikejs78]

And here is the crux of our differences:
While you believe upgrades and improvements to the Biggest Tourist Destination in the world to be "non-essential", I argue that they are, in fact, essential for any company to thrive. They are also FAR overdue, and have been since my last visit to the bubble in 2016. Nobody in their right mind would have let WDW fall into bankruptcy, it is way too much of a cash cow and the ramifications of this would be devastating to the Central Florida region, and the US Tourism industry writ large.

So, with that in mind, let's now look to the future as it stands today:
-Phased openings (due to layoffs/hiring issues) of incomplete parks (due to construction delays which TDO is blaming on COVID) with reduced capacity (due to mismanagement of staffing) and reduced accommodations (also due to mismanagement of staffing).
-Cost cutting (as detailed above) has also now led to the Bourgeoise Deluxe sect getting extra Disney Magic compared to the proletariat at the Values/Mods (which goes against Walt's "To all who come to this happy place: Welcome!", and instead says "To all of those rich enough to stay at this happier place: you're more welcome!").

Whereas, if TDO had had a more forward-looking and less risk-averse management, it could have been this:
-Full staffing throughout the pandemic, with CM reassignment on a temp. basis to other areas in P&R, completing maintenance tasks and assisting in upgrades/improvements.
-Obviously the Hotel and F&B staff would have been most affected by this change. But, what is more impactful: being temporarily reassigned to another area, or being laid off with no return date or guarantee of reemployment?
-90% of the WDW Wish List (50 Magical Things...) could have been completed by doing this (my guess, not actual researched projection).
-Parks would have opened when Desantis lifted restrictions, resorts would all be at Full Capacity (or whatever existing restrictions would allow), there wouldn't be this massive effort to recruit housekeepers and F&B Staff with $1k Bonuses, and I'd even venture to guess the EMH for Deluxe only guests wouldn't even be here, as everything would be open, staffed and able to handle the amount of guests just like they used to.

Keep in mind: They also delayed a lot of the upgrades that they still need to complete no matter what (SSE, BTMRR, SM, etc). All of this could have been done during the lull, but instead it is now going to affect future guest experiences when it could have affected NO guest experiences. They will be completing these on borrowed money anyways.

Wow. This is one of the most divorced from reality posts I've ever read here. Rivals Katiebug for being completely out of touch with reality, but far less amusing.

A year ago, there was talk of Disney not surviving the pandemic. There was no guarantee we would have vaccines. No one knew if this would last a few months, a year, or several years.

Disney had no choice but to tighten its belt and make sure it could survive.

 

[brb1006]

i remember that too!

Aww for a second, I thought it was the promo where two Disney Channel stars were attached to strings in front of the Giant Geppetto float. Still searching for that clip after all these years.

 

[wdisney9000]

It's a shame that threads like this no longer have the participation of forum members such as @WDW1974 or ANY of the trusted sources that once provided great information and lively discussion topics that made logging on to these threads exciting. The egos and arrogance of certain people put a stop to that tho, smh.

But hey, those faux insiders that remain provide hard hitting information such as restaurant openings, ride closures and other random tidbits of information you can easily find on the parks blog or Fadras YouTube channel.

 

[TTA94]

Such a shame WDW is not getting a brand new 50th parade in October. Something like PoD would have been awesome.

 

[Little Green Men]

It's a shame that threads like this no longer have the participation of forum members such as @WDW1974 or ANY of the trusted sources that once provided great information and lively discussion topics that made logging on to these threads exciting. The egos and arrogance of certain people put a stop to that tho, smh.

But hey, those faux insiders that remain provide hard hitting information such as restaurant openings, ride closures and other random tidbits of information you can easily find on the parks blog or Fadras YouTube channel.

Uh martin?

 

[doctornick]

It's a shame that threads like this no longer have the participation of forum members such as @WDW1974 or ANY of the trusted sources that once provided great information and lively discussion topics that made logging on to these threads exciting. The egos and arrogance of certain people put a stop to that tho, smh.

Um what?

It's actually kind of funny that you mention "egos and arrogance" as an issue while praising WDW1974 given that he was probably the most egotistical and arrogant person posting on here. I appreciated the information he would provide, but hated how he always lowered the level of discourse with insults and condescension.

Personally, I find the board way more pleasant these days that it was in the past. I would love to see @Lee come back though. And I don't recall seeing @articos around often any more.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It's a shame that threads like this no longer have the participation of forum members such as @WDW1974 or ANY of the trusted sources that once provided great information and lively discussion topics that made logging on to these threads exciting. The egos and arrogance of certain people put a stop to that tho, smh.

But hey, those faux insiders that remain provide hard hitting information such as restaurant openings, ride closures and other random tidbits of information you can easily find on the parks blog or Fadras YouTube channel.

Sorry you can't get your kicks over one-sided insider intrigue anymore.

Maybe a different site would suit you.

 

[brb1006]

It's a shame that threads like this no longer have the participation of forum members such as @WDW1974 or ANY of the trusted sources that once provided great information and lively discussion topics that made logging on to these threads exciting. The egos and arrogance of certain people put a stop to that tho, smh.

But hey, those faux insiders that remain provide hard hitting information such as restaurant openings, ride closures and other random tidbits of information you can easily find on the parks blog or Fadras YouTube channel.

Spirit did make a before return to the forums a few months ago. But yeah, I miss when threads like this were common.

 

[uncle jimmy]

Spirit did make a before return to the forums a few months ago. But yeah, I miss when threads like this were common.

The news or rumblings of new projects is what I miss, with the conversations that build providing more information.

I keep looking forward to those days again.

 

[brb1006]

The news or rumblings of new projects is what I miss, with the conversations that build providing more information.

I keep looking forward to those days again.

And threads like this would go for a least 50 or more pages because of how good those conversations were.

 

[bcoachable]

I recall Spirit selling to us that a reason he was getting out of this medium and not posting anymore was so he could build his own social media type (blog possibly??) resource page or something? Anyone else recall that??

 

[brb1006]

I recall Spirit selling to us that a reason he was getting out of this medium and not posting anymore was so he could build his own social media type (blog possibly??) resource page or something? Anyone else recall that??

Apparently he was planning on creating a dedicated website. He was active on other Disney fan blogs and was active in the comments section.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I recall Spirit selling to us that a reason he was getting out of this medium and not posting anymore was so he could build his own social media type (blog possibly??) resource page or something? Anyone else recall that??

Yes. The guy who despised b/vloggers was going to start his own b/vlog.