Cuts coming to every area of parks and resorts - thanks to Shanghai and Paris

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Didn't even think of that but now I can see it happening.

All hail our fearless leader!!!
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DAK used to have evening Extra. Magic Hours back around 2006. We loved the park at night but those hours were cut when they had the recession in 2007/2008. I think anything is fair game and who knows what will happen.

 

[ford91exploder]

Completely shutting down a park that has 3 or 4 of the most popular attractions in the entire resort would not be a good idea. People are still flocking to this now half day park for those attractions and one or two shows. If you think the MK is overcrowded now, take all the people from HS and cram them in as well and see what you get.

From a short term business standpoint if it means severely degrading service across the entire spectrum of WDW services OR shutting down temporarily and building the new attractions faster and more cheaply so getting TSL/SWL land done in 2 years rather than 5 I'd say it's a better move.

 

[asianway]

Is the Extra Magic Hours and "Free Dining Plan" going away too? If they are are making cuts, those might be coming next.

Free dining is just a type of discount, it should go away. Besides it really attracts the wrong class of guest

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I am most concerned about the long-term repercussions of these actions. More often than not, we do not see full restoration after closures and cut backs. If it appears as though the parks can sufficiently operate with less and guests do not complain in significant numbers, then there will be no reason for TWDC to revert back to previous operating levels.

 

[willtravel]

CMs resort wide have been told about cuts because of Shanghai and managers are letting anyone who wants to leave early for the day do so, almost everyday now.

Wait, I am confused. Hour's are being cut and people are being let go. And they are asking if anyone just want's to go home without pay. Curious, is anyone leaving? I wonder if there is anything going on corporate wise as far as lay off's or pay cut's?

 

[ford91exploder]

Not to derail but often both sides pray for God's assistance in war but god only seems to answer those with the best artillery. Maybe God is as materialistic as us?

The logical answer is God is a Artilleryman or 'Cannon Cocker' in military lingo and supports those who practice his MOS most diligently.

 

[ford91exploder]

Free dining is just a type of discount, it should go away. Besides it really attracts the wrong class of guest

Actually it brings in Disney's FAVORITE type of guest the one who pays RACK RATE because free dining is always at the maximum rate for the room. And while the food is expensive at the retail level it's much cheaper than discounting the room 25-30%.

 

[ford91exploder]

I agree with most of this although I think some of the "doom & gloomers" as they are called around here are taking pleasure in this decline as well.

These cuts are real and there is no denying that. What I am interested in knowing is what the impact will be on overall guest experience. Will it be dramatic? Will it only be slightly? Will only some guests notice? I guess this may depend on how the cuts are implemented.

Believe me I'm taking NO pleasure in these cuts AT ALL, This is making me sick to my stomach

 

[YodaMan]

Wait, I am confused. Hour's are being cut and people are being let go. And they are asking if anyone just want's to go home without pay. Curious, is anyone leaving? I wonder if there is anything going on corporate wise as far as lay off's or pay cut's?

Depends on the person. Think of it this way instead: Locations are usually overstaffed, so if someone just really isn't feeling it and decides they don't want to work that day, they can miss their shift and receive a penalty on their record and the operation can still run smoothly because they were overstaffed. But now most locations are staffed at bare minimum. And if someone wakes up sick and doesn't think they can make it to work, those people are now encouraged to not come to work and are being allowed to miss their shifts without penalty since it helps the budget. But now the operation takes a hit because they are missing one person that they never could have afforded to lose in the first place.

 

[wogwog]

Naked greed drove that deal, It was a bad idea and even Eisner said too risky. A licensing deal with 'fee for service' in building the park would have been the way to go. There is money to be made in China but it will be made by the Chinese as Chinese business is based on relationships not on Law as it is in the west. As a result western companies are powerless in China.

This. The attendance will be what China says it is. Any loss will be what China says. Any profit will be what China says. China can void any Disney exec or employee visa at will. Where would Disney go for help if the check is always "in the mail?".

 

[ford91exploder]

Where is Save Disney when you need it, Right now the only hope would be somebody like Warren Buffet buying Disney keeping the Studios and Parks and unloading the media networks portion and selling the foreign parks to be operated as licensed entities like OLC currently operates (the best Disney park)

 

[matt9112]

Free dining is just a type of discount, it should go away. Besides it really attracts the wrong class of guest

Interesting I'm glad that I am the wrong type of guest....we plan around DDP now because 2800 becomes 1800 like "magic"

 

[matt9112]

Is the Extra Magic Hours and "Free Dining Plan" going away too? If they are are making cuts, those might be coming next.

I think EMH has been rumored to go away for a bit now.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I think EMH has been rumored to go away for a bit now.

Or it could be an extra charge per night - say $100.00 or $200.00 per person. FastPass Plus an extra charge - another $100.00 or $200.00 per person. You kind of get the idea. You can up charge everything you can think of to make a profit.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Interesting I'm glad that I am the wrong type of guest....we plan around DDP now because 2800 becomes 1800 like "magic"

Eh. It's all smoke and mirrors.

The smart money is to stay virtually on property in the Wyndham Bonnet Creek by renting from an owner, then pay for what you want to eat out of your pocket. Your $1800 magic would be certainly lower.

Obviously you know that, but still.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Or it could be an extra charge per night - say $100.00 or $200.00 per person. FastPass Plus an extra charge - another $100.00 or $200.00 per person. You kind of get the idea. You can up charge everything you can think of to make a profit.

They already used to do an upcharge for E-Ride nights. They went away from it.

EMH will go away and instead onsite guests will be given 2 extra FP+ reservations for that park on that day.

Bank it.

 

[rob0519]

Great idea! Maybe Disney can retroactively raise the fees and in affect double, triple or more the fees! DVC owners are all rich aren't they?

I didn't suggest that solution because I think they are all 1%ers (although the majority may be). I suggested it because it's a captive cash cow where the cows have no option but to pay the fees or default on their points.

 

[GhostHost1000]

They can't start taking away or charging for too many on property perks because let me tell ya, when you get right down to it the resort rooms at Wdw for the most part are not as good as others off property for much less (this even goes to dvc deluxe rooms as well)

 

[rob0519]

From a short term business standpoint if it means severely degrading service across the entire spectrum of WDW services OR shutting down temporarily and building the new attractions faster and more cheaply so getting TSL/SWL land done in 2 years rather than 5 I'd say it's a better move.

Even in the short term the strain it would put on the MK would be so unbearable guests may start to stay away for the 2nd year construction. There isn't enough product, in my opinion at AK and Epcot to keep people from slamming the Magic Kingdom. If it gets bad enough people will stay away.

 

[ford91exploder]

Even in the short term the strain it would put on the MK would be so unbearable guests may start to stay away for the 2nd year construction. There isn't enough product, in my opinion at AK and Epcot to keep people from slamming the Magic Kingdom. If it gets bad enough people will stay away.

I suspect people will start staying away once the Easter trip reports hit with much longer than normal waits for attractions and slower service in the dining venues (because of the loss of back of house CM's).