A Spirited Perfect Ten

[asianway]

This is a serious question. Why is it, according to many here, that TWDC, and more specifically TDO, hates its guests? What is it that causes such maliciousness to take place in Florida? I own a small business, and the idea of hating my customers is so completely foreign to me.

First it's a 24/7/365 business and office drones are 9-5

 

[Hakunamatata]

It's impossible to say what Michael Eisner would do over the next 9 years because we don't know how he'd react to the current business environment.

During his 21-year tenure as CEO, his theme park philosophy evolved from "I don't have a clue" to "Build, build, build!" to "We need to reduce costs!" I can't say, if given the chance, which Eisner would emerge today.

I think the same could be said about Walt. Time changes people.

 

[jakeman]

First it's a 24/7/365 business and office drones are 9-5

That's funny. I'm an office drone, but my business is global. That doesn't mean I hate our product or our customers that pay our bills.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I just did a search for a Super 8 in my city and it's ~$85/night. I get the idea that Disney should have more deals in an attempt to fill rooms, but when you talk about 'worth it' I can't think of situation where a standard hotel room is $40/night and I wouldn't be seriously suspicious about it's quality. Unfortunately nowadays $100/night isn't a ridiculous price for a value hotel, especially with resort transportation like Pop.

(I say that while researching multi-room vacation home rentals that charge the same rate, but that's a different beast and doesn't change the fact that hotel rates are what they are around the country)

I spend around 100 nights a year in hotels for business travel. $100 to $120 a night is fairly average for a Fairfield/Hampton quality room. I've seen $79 to $99 a night even at those same franchises and the difference in quality is stark. Paying Disney prices is not out of the realm of reasonable given the environment.

 

[ford91exploder]

This is a serious question. Why is it, according to many here, that TWDC, and more specifically TDO, hates its guests? What is it that causes such maliciousness to take place in Florida? I own a small business, and the idea of hating my customers is so completely foreign to me.

I think it's more of a classist hatred the stereotype at P&R management is that WDW customers are all the 'Honey Boo Boo' and 'People of Wal Mart' demographic and the TWDC P&R management is more 'evolved' they vacation sorry 'summer' in Vail and The Hamptons and if they deign to visit FL it's South Beach behind a velvet rope.

There was a time when anybody who was anybody wanted to be seen at WDW, The Beatles and Yoko at the Poly for instance.

TWDC does not appear to have anyone who LOVES the parks or resorts actually running them any longer at one time they did and during that time WDW was the premier resort who had everyone from blue collar workers to the 0.01% percenters and made them ALL happy.

It's going to take a massive culture shift to bring WDW back to what it once was, Also contributing is as @asianway notes P&R is run by office drones who think 9 to 5 not hospitality people who love the hospitality lifestyle and its 24x7x365.25 demands.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I think the same could be said about Walt. Time changes people.

Exactly, which is why it's dangerous to pretend to know what Walt Disney would do today.

However, core values change only infrequently.

From Day One, Eisner's core value was "Eisner needs to make a lot of money." How he went about that changed as the business environment changed.

Walt Disney's core value was, "It's my name on it; I want to produce a quality product at a fair price." Walt Disney genuinely seemed to care what the public (his "Guests") thought, even if he was a difficult boss. (From everything I've read, I would not have wanted to work for Walt Disney.) If Walt Disney were magically transported from 50 years in the past, it is reasonable to assume his core value would not change.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Exactly, which is why it's dangerous to pretend to know what Walt Disney would do today.

However, core values change only infrequently.

From Day One, Eisner's core value was "Eisner needs to make a lot of money." How he went about that changed as the business environment changed.

Walt Disney's core value was, "It's my name on it; I want to produce a quality product at a fair price." Walt Disney genuinely seemed to care what the public (his "Guests") thought, even if he was a difficult boss. (From everything I've read, I would not have wanted to work for Walt Disney.) If Walt Disney were magically transported from 50 years in the past, it is reasonable to assume his core value would not change.

I wouldn't be so certain. You can look at any number of social issues (that won't be mentioned for fear of drawing a foul gaze from the purveyor of this fine thread). Values change as society changes.

 

[ford91exploder]

Exactly, which is why it's dangerous to pretend to know what Walt Disney would do today.

However, core values change only infrequently.

From Day One, Eisner's core value was "Eisner needs to make a lot of money." How he went about that changed as the business environment changed.

Walt Disney's core value was, "It's my name on it; I want to produce a quality product at a fair price." Walt Disney genuinely seemed to care what the public (his "Guests") thought, even if he was a difficult boss. (From everything I've read, I would not have wanted to work for Walt Disney.) If Walt Disney were magically transported from 50 years in the past, it is reasonable to assume his core value would not change.

Exactly, I think Walt was the Steve Jobs of the day, Created incredible things but was a monster to work for.

 

[bhg469]

Exactly, I think Walt was the Steve Jobs of the day, Created incredible things but was a monster to work for.

Sans the illegitimate kids?

 

[ParentsOf4]

This is a serious question. Why is it, according to many here, that TWDC, and more specifically TDO, hates its guests? What is it that causes such maliciousness to take place in Florida? I own a small business, and the idea of hating my customers is so completely foreign to me.

It's not hatred. Disney management does not hate its customers.

Instead, it's a matter of prioritization.

In any collection of individuals, there are competing interests. The question is: Which interests are given the highest priority?

Under the old Disney management, customers were given the highest priority. It's a philosophy that believes everyone's best interests are served by putting the customer first. This is what comes across in OLC's annual reports and public statements. This is what comes across when visiting TDL.

Under the current Disney management, money is the deciding factor. In this pecking order, Disney executives come first, shareholders second, customers third, and employees last. Executives manage according to objectives defined in their compensation packages. Of course, Iger (like many CEOs) exercises tremendous influence over the Executive Compensation Committee and steers it in a direction that maximizes Iger's gain. Customers are not hated but they are used (some would say manipulated) as a means to an end. It's the idea that "Greed is good."

 

[ford91exploder]

Sans the illegitimate kids?

Can't speak to that one but Walt was no saint. - remember Jobs was a commune dwelling hippie before he was Jobs the CEO illegitimate kids were expected in the commune environment.

 

[bhg469]

This is a serious question. Why is it, according to many here, that TWDC, and more specifically TDO, hates its guests? What is it that causes such maliciousness to take place in Florida? I own a small business, and the idea of hating my customers is so completely foreign to me.

I don't think they dislike their customers, just the ones who demand that Disney stay the best that they can be. That includes not allowing any other parks to come close.

 

[ford91exploder]

It's not hatred. Disney management does not hate its customers.

Instead, it's a matter of prioritization.

In any collection of individuals, there are competing interests. The question is: Which interests are given the highest priority?

Under the old Disney management, customers were given the highest priority. It's a philosophy that believes everyone's best interests are served by putting the customer first. This is what comes across in OLC's annual reports and public statements. This is what comes across when visiting TDL.

Under the current Disney management, money is the deciding factor. In this pecking order, Disney executives come first, shareholders second, customers third, and employees last. Executives manage according to objectives defined in their compensation packages. Of course, Iger (like many CEOs) exercises tremendous influence over the Executive Compensation Committee and steers it in a direction that maximizes Iger's gain. Customers are not hated but they are used (some would say manipulated) as a means to an ends. It's the idea that "Greed is good".

Agree with the prioritization, They do despise the customers though and hold them in contempt as many insiders have pointed out.

 

[Nubs70]

$107!?!?!? I miss my $39.99 Cast Member rate at Pop Century in Jan 04!

Better than $107/hr at the Bora Bora Bungalows.

 

[ford91exploder]

You didn't see the concept of the Olaf AA? Here is it:

State of the art AA for a major E ticket attraction!!!


***yes this is a joke....

Are you sure all it needs to be a WDW AA these days is a 49.99 Futaba servo...

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm not overly worried. They have to announce it sometime. They have to make up their mind.

I mean..... they cannot screw up the most successful film franchise of all time, can they?

Yes, yes they can and WILL.

 

[xdan0920]

I think it's more of a classist hatred the stereotype at P&R management is that WDW customers are all the 'Honey Boo Boo' and 'People of Wal Mart' demographic and the TWDC P&R management is more 'evolved' they vacation sorry 'summer' in Vail and The Hamptons and if they deign to visit FL it's South Beach behind a velvet rope.

There was a time when anybody who was anybody wanted to be seen at WDW, The Beatles and Yoko at the Poly for instance.

TWDC does not appear to have anyone who LOVES the parks or resorts actually running them any longer at one time they did and during that time WDW was the premier resort who had everyone from blue collar workers to the 0.01% percenters and made them ALL happy.

It's going to take a massive culture shift to bring WDW back to what it once was, Also contributing is as @asianway notes P&R is run by office drones who think 9 to 5 not hospitality people who love the hospitality lifestyle and its 24x7x365.25 demands.

So, the rich execs hate poor people?

It's not hatred. Disney management does not hate its customers.

I disagree.

This IS how Disney thinks today ... how little can we do? How long can we put it off? How much can we increase prices?

Thats hatred. That's malicious. If this is how the execs think, coupled with Ford's views on their outlook stated above, then they have moved beyond not caring about their guests, and into active dislike.

I don't think they dislike their customers, just the ones who demand that Disney stay the best that they can be. That includes not allowing any other parks to come close.

 

[ford91exploder]

Completely off topic, and in the wrong forum...but.
I'm planning my 60th for June at Disneyland. I wrote guest services and asked for suggestions on how to wrangle a large crowd of neighbors from Palm Springs (who already booked rooms at HoJo's, Disneyland Hotel etc.), and friends from Los Angeles. I happened to mention we love Trader Sam's and our crowd likes cocktails. They came back offering a $1200.00 deposit to reserve the Trader Sam's patio. Not the response I was expecting.

DId anyone NOT EXPECT that TS would be Wh----d out for private parties, Expect more of this and soon.

 

[gmajew]

Better than $107/hr at the Bora Bora Bungalows.

I agree I spend a ton of nights in hotels and even using priceline to get a decent hotel 3 stars and better on the system I am paying 75 and up now for a room. With most nights having to bid 100 to get a room.

Hotels are not as cheap as they were ten years ago that is for sure.

 

[asianway]

That's funny. I'm an office drone, but my business is global. That doesn't mean I hate our product or our customers that pay our bills.

It would also explain why TDO didn't pick you up after your CP