For anybody who is attempting to go to Expedition Everest on April 6th read this.

[Hakunamatata]

Screwed up? Introducing Everest to media that can spread the word to thousands, or introducing it to freeloading guests who have been riding it pre-media for two months who will tell their friends back home (maybe 5)? Tell me again, how's that business you're running?

And to sort of add on to that thought......DISNEY OWNS THE PARKS AND RESORTS. THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.

 

[EpcotServo]

freeloading guests

Freeloading guests? Yes, how dare they pay thousands of dollars to vaction here and take advantage of our great rides. How dare they! You're problem is you seem to not get that Disney is not about being "good enough". I know how important press events are. I'm glad they have them. Nobody is saying that they shouldn't have press events. I'm just saying don't call a press event a "grand opening".

 

[Jheyman]

Freeloading guests? Yes, how dare they pay thousands of dollars to vaction here and take advantage of our great rides. How dare they! You're problem is you seem to not get that Disney is not about being "good enough". I know how important press events are. I'm glad they have them. Nobody is saying that they shouldn't have press events. I'm just saying don't call a press event a "grand opening".

Well put and I might add if you are going to have a grand opening have one for the public as well, people come to WDW to be a part of the magic not to get tossed out of it.

edit:spelling

 

[Enderikari]

While yes, TWDC does have a right to do this and even a responsibility to hold a media event, its just a timing issue. AK Closes earlier then any of the other parks as it is so why not close EE on the 6th for filiming and such and then after park close on the 7th have the media event. Even leave EE closed on the 7th if you need I just don't understand with the massive resources of WDW at TWDC disposal the need to close entire areas of the parks? Maybe you could explain it nicely and more of us would understand rather then just saying TWDC has a right to do it, that alone isnt justification enough, Iger can close down MK for himself and ride all the rides since its on the ticket that doesnt make it right.

During the week of April 8th, Animal Kingdom opens earlier than any other park besides the Magic Kingdom. For the benefit and enjoyment of the guests who wish to ride such a popular new attraction such as Expedition: Everest, TWDC is spending hoards of money in overtime costs for exhausted cast members to open the parks for more hours than it has ever been open before. Disney is literally bending over backwards so the guests can enjoy themselves, and someone will always find something to complain about. Congrats, you are that someone, and not being able to ride one ride on opening day so you can impress your friends by telling them about your accomplishment is that complaint.
There is no timing issue, why do you know that Everest opens April 7th? Is it because of the internet? Is it because of the countdown pins? To a majority of the guests, the ones that go to Walt Disney World to enjoy themselves, to have a magical experience, they will not miss a beat. Its the internet that is ruining the attitudes of once fine Disney guests. That which you read about on the internet you become obsessed about, and the Everest Grand Opening is one of those things that a select few people are going to complain about, not because they deserve to ride it on a press event day, but because somebody told them that they can't, and that's what enflames the passions.

And about Iger shutting down rides to himself, he sure can, and if he does, more power to him, but he'll have to explain himself to the stockholders and board of directors... Similar situation, if he didn't have a grand opening event for the media after building $100 million+ attraction, he would have to explain himself to those same people.

As to why are they closing entire areas of the parks? I can only guess at two reasons, first of all, there are going to be a lot of media there, each with their own equipment, which requires a lot of room. Also, look at it from your perspective, maybe they are anticipating you, angry, with a false sense of entitlement, trying to get close to Expedition:Everest. Even shouting a few things, ruining media shots. Consider it a precaution to avoid having to escort those types of guests out of the park.

 

[AndreainNY]

Umm - hello???? April Fool's Day?!?!??!

 

[Jheyman]

During the week of April 8th, Animal Kingdom opens earlier than any other park besides the Magic Kingdom. For the benefit and enjoyment of the guests who wish to ride such a popular new attraction such as Expedition: Everest, TWDC is spending hoards of money in overtime costs for exhausted cast members to open the parks for more hours than it has ever been open before. Disney is literally bending over backwards so the guests can enjoy themselves, and someone will always find something to complain about. Congrats, you are that someone, and not being able to ride one ride on opening day so you can impress your friends by telling them about your accomplishment is that complaint.
There is no timing issue, why do you know that Everest opens April 7th? Is it because of the internet? Is it because of the countdown pins? To a majority of the guests, the ones that go to Walt Disney World to enjoy themselves, to have a magical experience, they will not miss a beat. Its the internet that is ruining the attitudes of once fine Disney guests. That which you read about on the internet you become obsessed about, and the Everest Grand Opening is one of those things that a select few people are going to complain about, not because they deserve to ride it on a press event day, but because somebody told them that they can't, and that's what enflames the passions.

And about Iger shutting down rides to himself, he sure can, and if he does, more power to him, but he'll have to explain himself to the stockholders and board of directors... Similar situation, if he didn't have a grand opening event for the media after building $100 million+ attraction, he would have to explain himself to those same people.

As to why are they closing entire areas of the parks? I can only guess at two reasons, first of all, there are going to be a lot of media there, each with their own equipment, which requires a lot of room. Also, look at it from your perspective, maybe they are anticipating you, angry, with a false sense of entitlement, trying to get close to Expedition:Everest. Even shouting a few things, ruining media shots. Consider it a precaution to avoid having to escort those types of guests out of the park.

One I am not complain rather joining in this disccussion with my opinions . I myself will be nowhere near WDW anytime soon so I really have nothing to complain about. And I do think they need a media event absolutly. I was simply asking your explaination of why it has to go on during regular operating hours, which you really have yet to state. As far as opening the park early this has not been mentioned in any threads to this point and I think that is a great way to compenstate guests.

As a point of record you have a bit of an additude that we all owe TWDC our first born because of what they have built for us and I think this is completely rude. We do not owe disney anything, while i am greatful for the parks I also pay a decent amount of money to enjoy them. If they were a free thing for all to marvel in then yes you are correct we would owe them. If TWDC were not making money the parks woudl not continue to exist. Even opening early is driven by money im sure, if they are anticipating more guests then they need to find ways to accoidate them to make thier experince what they paid for so that they come back and spend more money. Lets just not forget this. For someone concerened about the magic your additude on here does not reflect it.

I do agree with your assesment of closing the areas of the park down. I think that is a valid arguement and a good idea, but I do defer back to the question why not after hours in a park that closes early?

 

[Michael72688]

Closed to Guests for the Grand Opening? I think they have some pretty screwed up priorities.

Why not take care of the filming during the soft opening period when being open isn't guaranteed anyway? As for the media, bring them in one morning for a few hours then throw them out and open the attraction. Paying Guests should be considered more important than an opportunity to suck up to the freeloading media.

Their priorities are not screwed up, with all this stuff they are doing its all free advertising so they really dont care.

 

[KumbaRider]

Their priorities are not screwed up, with all this stuff they are doing its all free advertising so they really dont care.

Exactly! Saves money on advertising costs to release info as a press event!

 

[freediverdude]

So, let's review shall we?
-Disney is releasing a series of limited edition pins to celebrate the opening of the new attraction, Expedition Everest.
-People must line up at the entrance to Animal Kingdom each day starting at 7AM April 1 through April 7 to get wristbands for the privilege of purchasing these pins. (which I have no problem with, if it makes things more orderly for those people)
-April 6th and 7th, these people will be told to line up for a wristband, then enter the park later to purchase the last countdown pin or opening day pin, and then be told "sorry, but the new attraction that this pin is for, and indeed, that whole section of the park, is closed all day"
Now, can anyone tell me what's wrong with this scenario? Anyone?
I would have to be a pretty die hard pin collector to go on opening day just to get the pin and not even be able to see that whole section of the park (and I am not that die hard). Although I'm sure there are some like that out there. Most of them will show up at 7AM and not even know they won't even be able to see the attraction or even walk past it.

 

[mousermerf]

Pin-crazies know that Grand Openings are Press openings. They do this every time.

About timing - You can't get shots of the Mountain with a TV crew in the dark. No amount of stage lighting will make it look good for most cameras.

About shutting down other areas - this is paid for by other areas of the company. It's as much as if IBM or some other big company came in and rented it out. The mouse does this, it isn't rare - deal with it.

Merchandise came up with the pins months ago. They did not consult with operations, entertainment, marketing - they made up the pins, they sold "Grand Reopening" pins for the Living Seas for no reason once before. Blame them, not the events folks or the operations folks.

 

[freediverdude]

Yep, typical WDW executive response, "Just deal with it", instead of someone stepping in and coordinating everything for the guest benefit, so the right hand knows what the left hand is doing at these things.

 

[SpenceMan01]

All they have to do is put free food down. No journalist is able to resist it. It's a guaranteed way to get coverage for your event.

Same goes for college students! :lol:

As for the closing of EE, I can see it now:

ed off guest: Why is Everest closed?
Guest Relations CM: For its grand opening.
PoG: What do you mean it's closed for its grand opening?
GRCM: Expedition Everest is closed today and tomorrow so that we can hold a huge party in honor of its grand opening.
PoG: Huge party? Why wasn't I invited?
GRCM: The event is only for members of the media.
PoG: So you're telling me that I paid thousands of dollars for this vacation, which I planned months ago around the opening of this ride, so that my family could have a wonderful time and ride the new coaster, and now I don't even get to ride it because its closed for a bunch of freeloading media?!?
GRCM: Yes sir, but there are thousands of other things to do here while you're at the Walt Disney World Resort...
PoG: Fine. I guess we'll go catch that Lion King show that I've heard so much about.
GRCM: Uh sir...

 

[Hakunamatata]

Yep, typical WDW executive response, "Just deal with it", instead of someone stepping in and coordinating everything for the guest benefit, so the right hand knows what the left hand is doing at these things.

And I am sure you could do 1000% better.

 

[freediverdude]

Great one, Spenceman01, hehe. That was good. Well, hakunamatata, if I were an executive who oversaw both the merchandising and operations and events (probably one of the VPs or the Prez of Disney World), it would certainly make sense to me to appoint someone to be in charge of the event, and coordinate the different departments so the experience is seamless, especially on a headliner attraction event of this type. Or if a person was appointed, they aren't doing their job correctly.

 

[mousermerf]

Everything can't be for the guest benefit. The company would be so far in debt if they thought that way.

AK will be open 8am to 8pm for two weeks after those tow days. EMH night is the night prior on the 5th. The two weeks after have EMH morning and night in addition to the 8am to 8pm, meaning 7am openings and 11pm closing some nights.

People are being silly.

If you paid thousands of dollars you're there for more than 1 day, if not, you paid too much for concierge.

This information has been released for the general public - to warn people against showing up. That is Disney being nice. Typically a closure of a guest area for a private event isn't even announced outside the park it's directly affecting - and no one comes on here ranting about those.

 

[freediverdude]

Geez, at least let people walk by the attraction on opening day! If for nothing else than to show people walking by in the background during the tv footage. Oh, no, wait, stupid me, all the people in the background have to be Disney executives' family and friends.....

 

[mousermerf]

Note:

Where does any Disney website or publication say the ride opens April 7th, 2006?

 

[Hakunamatata]

Great one, Spenceman01, hehe. That was good. Well, hakunamatata, if I were an executive who oversaw both the merchandising and operations and events (probably one of the VPs or the Prez of Disney World), it would certainly make sense to me to appoint someone to be in charge of the event, and coordinate the different departments so the experience is seamless, especially on a headliner attraction event of this type. Or if a person was appointed, they aren't doing their job correctly.

Maybe I should have said 10,000% better

 

[freediverdude]

So how did we find out it was that date then? From people like you! If you don't want people to be disappointed, then don't say what the friggin date is.

OWNED

 

[Captain Chaos]

What is the big deal? Really... How many of you that are complaining are actually going to be in WDW those days, JUST FOR EVEREST?? Really now... Come on people... And if Disney did not havea media event to celebrate the opening of such an important attraction (I say important because this is the future of AK we are talking here) you all would complain... So, let's get off the high horse and just celebrate the opening of Everest....