Just returned from 4 days (23rd-26th). Hmmm.... Things are changing... and not for the better.
First, as has already been posted - prepare for the park hours to change at any time during the day. We went on Tuesday 3/25. The hours changed after we got to the park. Some cast members were telling us one thing and some telling us another. They were in the dark too.
Now a moment to be negative, This slimmed down Disney may save them some money in the short run, but i believe it is going to hurt them down the road. I love Disney. LOVE It. But even I came away from this visit dissapointed.
The hours are shorter and the crowds weren't. So they get the same full price admission and shorter hours to pay their cast members. Next, I felt totally maniuplated this time. Without exception the posted wait times were double the actual time you spent in line. I kept wondering if this was to discourage people from standing in line, which keeps them in the park "buyin' ice cream & such". Additionally, there seemed to be a lot of stacking going on. The line would be well out into the park and then you get inside the building and they weren't utilizing very much of the queing space there. Again, to discourage people from getting in line?
Went to e-ride on 3/25 , my first time. Wait times of 20 minutes were common. My Opinion - even with the hour they HAD to extend the Parks, & I mean HAD to. IT was jammed - They still closed at 8 and charged 5,000 of us suckers $12 more to stay in the parks as long as they should have been open to start with, only without all of the attractions being open and no Spectromagic.
Finally, I noticed many attractions with items in various states of disrepair. Various things do not light up, or don't move, or sound .
At Fantasmic one of the Speakers in the center was hissing all night. They had all day to replace that speaker. there was a time when they would have. Not anymore. They have cut the use of fireworks tremendously. It's mostly cute little fountains. Illuminations is 10 minutes of boring music and sprinklers. Attractions look dirty - Star Tours in particular. Additionally, I encountered several cast members from the hotel to the parks who were beyond rude and short with guests. There were pockets of the traditional Disney Service, but, there has been a change. It's palpable.
This change might be saving them $ in the short term but it is making me think about not coming back until they get their house in order. AND I LOVE DISNEY. But lets face it, the only thing they had left over their competition was scrupulously clean parks and exemplary customer service. They have fallen behind on the technology and cutting edge attraction side and we all know it - Go to Islands of Adventure, look around.
Here's hoping they stop bailing out the entire corp. on the backs of the theme parks
Bandman
First, as has already been posted - prepare for the park hours to change at any time during the day. We went on Tuesday 3/25. The hours changed after we got to the park. Some cast members were telling us one thing and some telling us another. They were in the dark too.
Now a moment to be negative, This slimmed down Disney may save them some money in the short run, but i believe it is going to hurt them down the road. I love Disney. LOVE It. But even I came away from this visit dissapointed.
The hours are shorter and the crowds weren't. So they get the same full price admission and shorter hours to pay their cast members. Next, I felt totally maniuplated this time. Without exception the posted wait times were double the actual time you spent in line. I kept wondering if this was to discourage people from standing in line, which keeps them in the park "buyin' ice cream & such". Additionally, there seemed to be a lot of stacking going on. The line would be well out into the park and then you get inside the building and they weren't utilizing very much of the queing space there. Again, to discourage people from getting in line?
Went to e-ride on 3/25 , my first time. Wait times of 20 minutes were common. My Opinion - even with the hour they HAD to extend the Parks, & I mean HAD to. IT was jammed - They still closed at 8 and charged 5,000 of us suckers $12 more to stay in the parks as long as they should have been open to start with, only without all of the attractions being open and no Spectromagic.
Finally, I noticed many attractions with items in various states of disrepair. Various things do not light up, or don't move, or sound .
At Fantasmic one of the Speakers in the center was hissing all night. They had all day to replace that speaker. there was a time when they would have. Not anymore. They have cut the use of fireworks tremendously. It's mostly cute little fountains. Illuminations is 10 minutes of boring music and sprinklers. Attractions look dirty - Star Tours in particular. Additionally, I encountered several cast members from the hotel to the parks who were beyond rude and short with guests. There were pockets of the traditional Disney Service, but, there has been a change. It's palpable.
This change might be saving them $ in the short term but it is making me think about not coming back until they get their house in order. AND I LOVE DISNEY. But lets face it, the only thing they had left over their competition was scrupulously clean parks and exemplary customer service. They have fallen behind on the technology and cutting edge attraction side and we all know it - Go to Islands of Adventure, look around.
Here's hoping they stop bailing out the entire corp. on the backs of the theme parks
Bandman
