Cut backs on Entertainment!

[JAY-ROD]

I've also just read this in R.A.D.P. :

"As of 9 pm this evening Disney has fired close to 200 performers (singers,
dancers, actors etc.). Plan your vacation very carefully. There will be no
dancers at Pleasure Island, no Can-Can Girls at the Diamond Horseshoe,
Beauty and the Beast is closed 2 days a week, as are also Flights of Wonder
and Pocahontas at Animal Kingdom, Animal Kingdom's parade is now at 4pm not
3. This is only the beginning and the victim is the guest. Festival of the
Lion King is down to 4 shows a day, the same at Tarzan, Rocks. Cutbacks are
coming to all entertainment areas. 17 performers at Indiana Jones were
fired, 8 actors at EPCOT were fired, 8 performers at Lion King were
fired... the list goes on.

I urge every guest to speak up and let them know you're disappointment. For
every show that you cannot see due to scheduling cutbacks you need to let
your voice be heard."

I've got to say that I'm disappointed. I recognize that we're in an
economic slowdown, and that current events have caused many people to
reschedule their vacations or put off planning new ones. But because of
this, it's EXTRA important for Disney to pump up its parks and do
everything it can to encourage more people to come.

Also, I'm not clear on the attendance situation. I keep hearing that resort
occupancy and park attendance have been fairly decent--so why all the cutbacks?

 

[disneyfan1313]

Once again guys.. if this bothers you. LET THEM KNOW! When you write to guest communications not only does the area the comment is about hear about it, but all executives in the company hear about it. This is REALY important.

Write to.. wdw.guest.communications@disney.com

 

[The Mom]

I also hate to see Disney cut back on hours, entertainment, and "perks" (see EE thread, also) However, I think we have to be realistic! ALL tourist and tourist related industries have taken a tremendous financial hit....things were slowing down even before the Sept attacks. At the same time they're losing money, they're implementing new security features at additional cost. Simple economics demands that they cut costs someplace! I would rather that they eliminate shows and reduce hours rather than do less visible but more important corner cutting...i.e. ride inspection/maintenance, garbage pick-up, custodial care, security, all the things that no one notices until they are neglected. Let's hope that things get back to "normal" soon!

 

[Chris]

I too am very concerned about the cutbacks at WDW. I have a special concern since I am going in about one month. While I do not want my vacation enjoyment compressed because of shows cancelled or operating on a reduced schedule, I do understand the The Walt Disney Company is in the entertainment business. The key is that it is a business. When revenues are not available, businesses have ot cut things: employees, perks, products. WDW is not made of cash and depends on attendance to provide an operating budget. When attendance is down, they do not have the cash to operate. Cutting hours, eliminating EE and reducing staffing and shows very well may be required to allow Disney to entertain another day. If Disney allows their cash reserves to be depleted further, and the stock price stays depressed, they become even more of a take over target then they are now. I don't think any of us want Disney to be operated by another company that has no connection to Walt what so ever. I would rather suffer som inconviences today and have Disney come out of this and remain strong than have them be taken over or (worse) have to close entire parks or operate parks on certain days. It could be a lot worse. Some good friends of mine own a travel agency and they say that business trave is coming back strong but consumer travel has not rebounded much. All of the travel they are booking is for next year. I'll do my part and spend lots of money at Disney next month.

 

[prberk]

Well said

Well said, Chris. This is all an unfortunate reality. The only real help will be what the President said: "Go to Disney World"!

 

[Tink]

Originally posted by JAY-ROD
I've also just read this in R.A.D.P. :

Hey, Jay, what does R.A.D.P. stand for? :veryconfu

 

[mkt]

What is RADP- I refuse to believe that.

 

[disneyfan1313]

It stands for rec.arts.disney.parks - a usenet newsgroup. And it is true.

 

[Fievel]

They have also scaled back quite a bit on the castle shows.....I think we only saw one during the week we were there in sept.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by disneyfan1313
It stands for rec.arts.disney.parks - a usenet newsgroup. And it is true.

I just spoke to the general manager for MK Entertainment, and she told me that all they are doing is dropping hours for seasonal and part time cast and recasting shows and prades with full time cast only.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Fievel
They have also scaled back quite a bit on the castle shows.....I think we only saw one during the week we were there in sept.

there is only one castle show

 

[Fievel]

No, what i meant is that it wasn't running. We only saw it on the weekend. The sign always read "no shows today" during the week.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Fievel
No, what i meant is that it wasn't running. We only saw it on the weekend. The sign always read "no shows today" during the week.

whenb were you there. The MK castle show premiered on a Saturday and that may be why. Every day I've worked there has been a show.

 

[Tink]

Originally posted by mktiggerman
What is RADP- I refuse to believe that.

What do you mean? That you refuse to believe that I don't know what R.A.D.P. stands for?

Thanks for enlightening me, DisneyFan.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Tink


What do you mean? That you refuse to believe that I don't know what R.A.D.P. stands for?

Thanks for enlightening me, DisneyFan.

both were answered. that was actually 2 question in typo form..

 

[disneyfan1313]

You spoke to RK? Hmmm guess she will be supprised to read tomorows orlando sentinel with this article..
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...101801oct18.story?coll=orl-business-headlines

This article does not mention the streetmosphere cuts or cut of a show at hoop de do or other various small cuts in ammounts of shows.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by disneyfan1313
You spoke to RK?

briefly.. one thing I've learned about disney management is this: you WILL get the runaround at all levels of management. I couldn't have been more clear in the questions (all 2 of them) I asked and she steered clear of them very well. BRAVO!

 

[mkt]

heres a quote from a reliable source on another board:

AK...
Festival of the Lion King will now show only 4 shows a day.
Tarzan will now only show 4 shows a day.
Pocahontas will now show only 5 shows a day with it closed completely on Sun/Mon.
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade is now going to be at 4pm instead of 3pm.

Studios...
Beauty and the Beast down to a 5 day operation; 4 or 5 shows a day.
Hunchback down to a 5 day operation; 4 or 5 shows a day.

Magic Kingdom...
Diamond Horseshoe saloon girls and Miss Lucille have been let go. They will no longer be part of the show. The Host is left as well as the Singing Cowboy, Piano Player and Magician.
Belle's Story Time is down to a 5 day operation.
Merlin's Ruler for the Day is down to a 5 day operation.

Pleasure Island...
All P.I. Dancers have been let go. There will no longer be Dancers at P.I.

All performers who lost their jobs are Equity contract performers (Singers, Professional Dancers, Stunt Men, etc.) Many people lost their jobs....to be fair, some were offered other positions in the Company....Third Shift Custodial, Parking or Merchandise, but many turned those offers down due to the HIGH cut in pay. (I know at least it's a job....but still....I probably would have turned those offers down too.)

Some performers were offered positions in Christmas shows, but that only lasts until the beginning of January. No Character Entertainment performers who are full time have lost their jobs so far. They are part of a different union and are not contract performers. Many of them have had their hours cut severely, though.

 

[Tink]

Originally posted by mktiggerman


both were answered. that was actually 2 question in typo form..

Ohhhhhh...I thought you were saying that you couldn't believe that I didn't know what RADP meant....you were also asking what RADP means and stating that you didn't believe whatever RADP was saying....sorry for my defensiveness...

 

[Flower]

Here's my question.

We will be there in about 2 weeks. Will there still be plenty of characters for the kids to meet at the various stations? For them, that's half the fun.