Lady Tremaine Being Cut

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Looks like Lady Tremaine will no longer be meeting with guests, effective 02/21/2016. She will, however, still appear during dinner at 1900 Park Fare. It seems that Anastasia and Drizella will continue to meet, just without their mother.

This is a really sad cut, as these are some of the last characters that aren't locked inside a meet and greet complex.

 

[mm52200]

It's horrible that any of them are being cut but as long some members of the Tremaine family remain, I can compromise. But you are right, this is a sad cut, the Tremaines are some of the best characters to meet at WDW.

 

[FigmentForver96]

Oh my God! What the heck is happening? Are these the cuts that were talked about? Is chapek just slashing everything to meet goal?

 

[wdrive]

The amount this is saving is minute, they're still paying for the attendants and photopass as Anastasia and Drizella seem to be staying.

Why not cut Rafiki in the MK, who can still be met at AK, then they'd be saving money on the performer, attendant and photographer.

 

[wdrive]

It doesn't matter, it is still a CUT. I swear, the defending of everything Disney cuts is getting ridiculous.

I know, I'm not defending it, just saying how odd and almost pointless it is.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

It doesn't matter, it is still a CUT. I swear, the defending of everything Disney cuts is getting ridiculous.

But he/she does have a point. If they really wanted to save money, they'd get rid of a stand alone character who needs his or her own seperate handler and photographer. Dropping Lady Tremaine is dumb, even from a penny pinching standpoint.

 

[Ignohippo]

I will never ever ever understand meet and greet cuts. I understand the entertainment budget (yadda yadda) but M & G's are like mini-attractions, and incredibly, incredibly cheap in the scheme of things.

You'd think Disney would want as many as they could because they disperse crowds, serve as a unique draw to the parks, and are fantastic promotional opportunities.

You could add $2 mil to the yearly budget and have literally almost every Disney character imaginable available for M & Gs. It seems like such a no-brainer to me.

I just don't get it.

 

[kap91]

My guess would be the cut has little to do with budget and stems from something else (maybe scheduling or interdepartmental drama)

 

[John]

IMO these M&G cuts are some of the last bastion of cuts that can be made. Maintenance has been cut to the bone long ago. Menu's have been shortened and basically repeated across property. Attractions have been shuttered and slashed. Resorts have been DVC'ized to the point where there isn't much left to convert. Prices have been raised. A lot of events have become special ticketed events..."upcharge". There is very little else they can find to cut to enhance their margins. Yet people still come in droves. Its why they cater to the "once in a life time guest" They don't know the difference. Lastly I am sure TWDC/TDO have more cuts in store for us.

 

[John]

My guess would be the cut has little to do with budget and stems from something else (maybe scheduling or interdepartmental drama)

Scheduling? interdepartmental drama? please.....Disney has been doing these things for decades. They know how to schedule....I wont even address the "interdepartmental drama" what ever that is supposed to mean. Steve has already told us to expect more of these types of cuts property wide....such as the reduction of hours at attractions and parks. Its the nip and tuck procedure of cutting where ever and whenever they can. Singularly any of these things are no big deal, but cumulatively it has an over all effect on the guest experience. But like I said, first timers will never know. Its ALWAYS about the bottom line.........ALWAYS!

 

[PhotoDave219]

.... A billion dollar entertainment company that constantly cuts entertainment.....

 

[brb1006]

It's a shame since the Tremaines are one of the most entertaining characters to meet along with the Mad Hatter and Alice. We at least you still see them at Disneyland.

 

[discos]

.... A billion dollar entertainment company that constantly cuts entertainment.....

And its always the first thing to cut before anything else

 

[WondersOfLife]

I do think it is a combination of saving a little money, but also the amount of people that visit the parks now compared to say.. What. 10, 15 years ago? Park crowds are so large these days that it is scary. So it makes sense that some characters are being locked up in a meet and greet room. That's a world population increase for yah. You may agree or disagree, but I really do think it is because of the amount of people that are in the parks these days and will surround characters.

Not AS much of a problem at Disneyland in California, based on my recent trip.

 

[Lirael]

I do think it is a combination of saving a little money, but also the amount of people that visit the parks now compared to say.. What. 10, 15 years ago? Park crowds are so large these days that it is scary. So it makes sense that some characters are being locked up in a meet and greet room. That's a world population increase for yah. You may agree or disagree, but I really do think it is because of the amount of people that are in the parks these days and will surround characters.

Not AS much of a problem at Disneyland in California, based on my recent trip.

I'm confused, wouldnt an increase in park guests who want to spend time on character M&G make it better to continue to have more characters out to cater to guests and add to the entertainment offered with something cheap (compared to rides)?

Since this doesnt cost save much at all, hopefully this is just so they can fill the position with new characters

 

[PhotoDave219]

I do think it is a combination of saving a little money, but also the amount of people that visit the parks now compared to say.. What. 10, 15 years ago? Park crowds are so large these days that it is scary. So it makes sense that some characters are being locked up in a meet and greet room. That's a world population increase for yah. You may agree or disagree, but I really do think it is because of the amount of people that are in the parks these days and will surround characters.

Not AS much of a problem at Disneyland in California, based on my recent trip.

No.

Its not a combination of anything.

Its about money, pure and simple.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Yet Alice, Mary, Snow, Pan, et al have no problem meeting Guests outside the standard meet and greet rooms. Sorry, not buying that argument either. The Tremaine family hardly roamed MK either. They always met along the NFL walls.

Those characters have never played a down in the NFL. (Find. A. Better. Acronym.)

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Only because we're talking about Disney does it somehow make sense, but how much money can they possibly be saving from this? All three characters only had one attendant and Photopass CM, so they'll still have to pay them to attend the step sisters. Other than a college student who makes $20 an hour, not much is being saved here. I just don't get it. You'd think a meet and greet with no facility to maintain would be right up TDO's alley.

More worryingly, though, is that they've now found a way to make you pay them if you want to meet her. You'd have to buy a meal. I hope this isn't a recurring trend in the near future.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Only because we're talking about Disney does it somehow make sense, but how much money can they possibly be saving from this? All three characters only had one attendant and Photopass CM, so they'll still have to pay them to attend the step sisters. Other than a college student who makes $20 an hour, not much is being saved here. I just don't get it. You'd think a meet and greet with no facility to maintain would be right up TDO's alley.

More worryingly, though, is that they've now found a way to make you pay them if you want to meet her. You'd have to buy a meal. I hope this isn't a recurring trend in the near future.

I hear moves like this ARE the trend for 2016.

 

[Peter Pano]

What depresses me the most, is that somewhere at Disney there must be some guy(s), who are paid to find more of these little ugly measures to save little pennies here and there, each at the cost of a little less magical experience for the guests (who are actually paying for everything).