A Spirited 15 Rounds ...

[CaptainAmerica]

Are the Minnie Vans even fully rolled out yet? When we were there we were told that they're only serving the Yacht / Beach / Boardwalk resort guests at the moment. We definitely would have used them to get from Old Key West to dinner at Ohana but we weren't eligible. I think the price was pretty decent, too. It's built right on top of the Lyft infrastructure so I'm not sure how it even could die unless people were ready to proclaim that Lyft / Uber are dead at WDW too.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I've never seen a luxury hotel with shampoo dispensors on the shower wall. At the prices they charge they are competing with high end hotels and one of the things they use to differentiate themselves from a holiday inn is amenities like higher end toiletries. I guess if it's the same quality products just in a larger bottle it may not be as big a deal but I still think the perception is going to be negative.

Values I can maybe understand but even at the moderates it's starting to get more difficult to stomach. The prices would dictate a more upscale experience to me.

I don't think I've ever seen dispensers on a shower wall at any tier of hotel. It doesn't strike me as high-end versus low-end, just a new thing that hotels are introducing.

 

[GoofGoof]

I don't think I've ever seen dispensers on a shower wall at any tier of hotel. It doesn't strike me as high-end versus low-end, just a new thing that hotels are introducing.

I've seen it at a campground and a local swim club by my house.

 

[becca_]

Not sure if this is old news or maybe fake news but I read somewhere online that the Disney hotels were no longer going to provide individual shampoo bottles to guests. They are planning to install larger permanent dispensors on the walls in the showers that don't have to be changed as frequently. I assume the driver is cost savings which might be OK at the value resorts but that's a tough pill to swallow at a deluxe resort that's charging deluxe prices. Any truth to this rumor?

FWIW, I read those were only in a handicap accessible room.

 

[wdwmagic]

Are the Minnie Vans even fully rolled out yet? When we were there we were told that they're only serving the Yacht / Beach / Boardwalk resort guests at the moment. We definitely would have used them to get from Old Key West to dinner at Ohana but we weren't eligible. I think the price was pretty decent, too. It's built right on top of the Lyft infrastructure so I'm not sure how it even could die unless people were ready to proclaim that Lyft / Uber are dead at WDW too.

Nope still in test mode.

 

[radiohost]

One wonders if Pixar Pier was done to keep John Lasseter (sober or drunk) from going crazy because they do plan on removing the Bug's Land.

Not a lot gets mentioned about Lasseter. He has to be pulling his hair out at all that is going on at DL and WDW.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Nope still in test mode.

So naturally everyone is posting about how unpopular and failing they are.

 

[TheGhostWithTheMost]

So naturally everyone is posting about how unpopular and failing they are.

 

[ford91exploder]

I always had high hopes for WDW with George K. in charge since he started as a bus boy at the Contemporary and was an opening day cast member. Does he really not care about the standards that were once there or for the most part are his hands tied by the Bobs?

Georgie K, While he's a senior executive he's not a member of the 'old boys club' since he started out as a mere busboy instead of growing up wealthy and going to the 'right' schools etc.

I'm sure the Bob's remind him of his origins frequently as a reminder that Disney made him and Disney can break him just as easily just in case he thinks of having thoughts snd ideas independent of the Bob's

So Georgie K is a mere functionary under this regime.

I'm pretty sure with Georgie K there is a large degree of cognitive dissonance between what he wants to do and is told to do.

He's not stupid does what hes told and will retire with a nice golden handshake and a window on Main Street

 

[ford91exploder]

Not sure if this is old news or maybe fake news but I read somewhere online that the Disney hotels were no longer going to provide individual shampoo bottles to guests. They are planning to install larger permanent dispensors on the walls in the showers that don't have to be changed as frequently. I assume the driver is cost savings which might be OK at the value resorts but that's a tough pill to swallow at a deluxe resort that's charging deluxe prices. Any truth to this rumor?

Already happening at some resorts there is a thread on it here. No I dont like this idea at all.

 

[Nubs70]

I've seen it at a campground and a local swim club by my house.

I've seen them at my local gas station next to the adult novilty dispenser.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Georgie K, While he's a senior executive he's not a member of the 'old boys club' since he started out as a mere busboy instead of growing up wealthy and going to the 'right' schools etc.

I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Aside from Kevin Mayer (Harvard MBA), there's relatively little in terms of fancy college degrees in Disney's executive ranks.

Bob Iger went to Ithaca College
Bob Chapek went to Indiana University and Michigan State
Christine McCarthy went to Smith College and UCLA
Brent Woodford went to Michigan State and St. Louis University

 

[ford91exploder]

I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Aside from Kevin Mayer (Harvard MBA), there's relatively little in terms of fancy college degrees in Disney's executive ranks.

Bob Iger went to Ithaca College
Bob Chapek went to Indiana University and Michigan State
Christine McCarthy went to Smith College and UCLA
Brent Woodford went to Michigan State and St. Louis University

Ithaca and IU are very much in the 'right schools' category

Ithica college is a school for rich kids without good grades so they can get their sheepskin and is about 44k per year.

IU while a state school is highly selective and out of state tuition is about 46K


We are not talking low end schools here

 

[Ag11gani]

Georgie K, While he's a senior executive he's not a member of the 'old boys club' since he started out as a mere busboy instead of growing up wealthy and going to the 'right' schools etc.

I'm sure the Bob's remind him of his origins frequently as a reminder that Disney made him and Disney can break him just as easily just in case he thinks of having thoughts snd ideas independent of the Bob's

So Georgie K is a mere functionary under this regime.

I'm pretty sure with Georgie K there is a large degree of cognitive dissonance between what he wants to do and is told to do.

He's not stupid does what hes told and will retire with a nice golden handshake and a window on Main Street

And your proof is?

 

[ChrisM]

Questions for CMs here (or anyone who might know):

Are the VERY short hours at MK in October (9 p.m. closings on Saturdays versus midnight and 1 a.m. past years) likely to stand?

Most of September and the first week of October appear to have been recently bumped to 10pm and 11pm closes at the MK. Curious as to whether the rest of October will eventually be bumped, as well.

 

[Kman101]

I don't think anyone's calling them (Minnie Vans) failures yet. I personally don't see them lasting long-term but who knows? I have nothing to base that on, just my gut feeling. What happens when $20 becomes $25, then $35 and so on?

I saw a few out and about Thurs-Sat when I was there. I'm sure they're nice and being used. But I also thought the Express Bus service was being used. I guess maybe it wasn't (and with that, prices naturally inched up quickly so maybe that lessened their usage) what they wanted it to be, or they think Minnie Vans can take that place?

 

[TheGhostWithTheMost]

It's not enough of a perk for the price. In the real world, $25 can still stretch. If this service was $15, I could see it being a niche success. But no one is going to want to break a $20 for this when services like Uber are SO much cheaper.

 

[wdwfan22]

I don't think anyone's calling them (Minnie Vans) failures yet. I personally don't see them lasting long-term but who knows? I have nothing to base that on, just my gut feeling. What happens when $20 becomes $25, then $35 and so on?

I saw a few out and about Thurs-Sat when I was there. I'm sure they're nice and being used. But I also thought the Express Bus service was being used. I guess maybe it wasn't (and with that, prices naturally inched up quickly so maybe that lessened their usage) what they wanted it to be, or they think Minnie Vans can take that place?

The Minnie vans are doing quite well according to Disney. In fact they were a little surprised by how well they have taken off. We used them quite a bit during out stay just a couple of weeks ago and there was often a wait for the service. They are handled though through a third party company so not 100% Disney.

 

[Kman101]

The Minnie vans are doing quite well according to Disney. In fact they were a little surprised by how well they have taken off. We used them quite a bit during out stay just a couple of weeks ago and there was often a wait for the service. They are handled though through a third party company so not 100% Disney.

That's good to hear. I certainly don't WANT them to fail. I can see the benefit of having them. Since I have a car and am local-ish, it's not going to be something I ever use. I possibly would have used the Express Bus transportation though.

 

[wdwfan22]

That's good to hear. I certainly don't WANT them to fail. I can see the benefit of having them. Since I have a car and am local-ish, it's not going to be something I ever use. I possibly would have used the Express Bus transportation though.

We had a car as well but found it much easier when visiting Disney Springs to use the Minnie Van service.