I know this is a WDW forum so we hear more about cuts at WDW and have more sources there...but even on Twitter and other Disney fan sites it seems like I don't hear about half as many things being cut and reduced at DLR, is that just me? It seems like they're coming out of this without too many cuts. You don't hear about them cutting multiple characters and entertainment options or other things of the like. Or am I just missing something..
I would assume there isn't a need for a lot of cuts at DLR this year because of all the existing closures for SW construction (Rivers, Railroad, Tom Sawyer, Fantasmic). Some of these cast members are still being used for similar jobs -- meet-n-greets at the RR and ships, but I would assume DLR has already had a huge drop in their operating costs because of these closures.
I was waiting for someone to catch on to this thought.
It's a very valid question - if Disney Parks is cutting expenses to the bone, then why is it that WDW is the one that has the long rap sheet of cost cutting moves that have been noticed and DLR, thus far... hasn't?
One could argue as Bubba has that DLR has already "paid the piper" with SWL's closures and no further cuts are necessary.
There has been some cuts (Mad T going down for the count) and penny pinching (overtime and Cast hour reductions) on the West Coast; but, nothing to the level of what is happening in Orlando.
Other factors that could be argued as a reason against the cuts at DLR could be that the Potter-apocalypse Cali style is about to manifest and Luigi's trackless dance floor isn't going to be enough to combat the wand waver.
There's a lot of things that "could" be reasons why WDW is carrying the brunt of Shanghai/MM+ overruns and Walt's park is not getting bruised up like Rocky VIII.
While I haven't specifically asked "my friends" in Parks why this is happening, I can take a reasonable guess as to the reasons. It's the same reasons why DLR has continued to operate like history has taught us a Disney Park should operate and WDW keeps steering further and further off course.
First and foremost, no matter what you may hear about "One Disney" - DLR and WDW still are managed very differently. WDW making deeper cuts than DLR is simply another example of this. TDA and TDO don't exist and entities anymore; but, the mindset behind making decisions for them still does.
DLR does get some extra love out of Burbank. Being Walt's park is a part of it and proximity to top of the food chain is another.
DLR also has a different audience than WDW. The locals sway over the resort is tangible enough that it keeps Anaheim honest. It's the difference in having local audience versus long distance vactioners that I think will play in the biggest reason why the cuts won't be as deep in Anaheim.
WDW's being punished because of its success. It is also being punished because its already been proven that cuts haven't negatively impacted attendance. It's also being done because, unlike Anaheim, a cut today won't impact tomorrow's attendance severely. As long as advance reservations at the resort hold, then the ability to cut will be on the table. In many ways, a punch to the gut today (like say, cutting evening EMH) won't be felt for 180 plus days out when many make their advance reservations. If Burbank sees an impact to resort bookings at WDW, it will be easily enough to make a change tomorrow and ease the pain.
If they attempt this in Anaheim, the locals would show up the next day with pitchforks.
So, unfortunately for WDW's sake - it will continue to be carved up like a turkey (even if there is no meat on the bone left), until the queue line to get to the table stops forming.
