Magic Kingdom evening Extra Magic Hours attraction line-up to change next week

[GoofGoof]

The thing is, they're one in the same. If Disney wasn't continuing to cut corners, they'd have the maintenance to fix up SM over the course of just a few nights.

You are probably right. They could double the number of people working on the problem and cut the time in half. Then they could keep the ride open during EMHs and still get the work done. At the end of the day everything is a big balancing act between revenues in and costs out. We all know they are not going to lower the profit margin so if they add cost for maintenance they either need to cut costs somewhere else or raise prices. For me I would rather see them cut this than something else I actually care about, but I guess that's a selfish opinion.

 

[JustInTime]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the interactive queue...

 

[menamechris]

Or maybe I'm actually an Ops CM who knows what's going on in the front lines.

Sweet...so when we going to get the water effects working again in the cavern scene in Splash? It has been...years...

 

[yoyoflamingo]

TDO definetely has magic.... They're making everything disappear.

Maybe it's run by the Maelstrom trolls.

"Disappear. Disappear..."

 

[WDW1974]

We know THAT type of procedure because some of the front line management does decisions like that. Again, will we know? Yes.

Us in Ops are big time fans and care about the parks. I'd argue we're the biggest because we are actually involved in the decision making - NOT second hand news from, say, a CM who wants to say something or a bus driver who doesnt know because they ARENT in that department or dont know anyone in that department. I've been on these forums since 02. I'm not stupid so don't treat me as such.

As for the cutting of 2 hours - go to any Ops CM and ask how they feel about it and 97% will give you the same answer: It makes sense.

In the first two hours, EMH is common business for everyone: waits go down to 45 minutes at max. However, that last hour makes almost every single ride a walk on. Having a fully staffed attraction as well as the costs involved don't meet the demand quota. Yes its a loss for those families or like late nights or deserted parks - but its killing the business side of things.

Not to mention - many Ops CMs work 40-75, even 100 hours a week during extreme peak season. All of us CMs celebrated the news. It gives us a chance to rest more as well have more time with OUR families. Think about others before thinking of yourselves.

Oh please. Cry me a river. If you don't like your job or the way Disney treats you, either take it up with management or quit.

Maintenance in your park sucks. Flat out. So either you're part of a team of bumbling incompetents or people who don't care about their jobs or you have management that doesn't provide you the resources needed to keep things in proper shape.

The last hour of EMH could be looked at as a 'loss leader' in terms of Exceeding Guests Expectations. WDW used to leave its parks open longer across the board, which if you are a long-time CM, I'm sure you're aware. The fact the MK doesn't have one closing in August at midnight is just a small example of the MASSIVE cutback in hours.

If you guys can't have Ghetto Mountain looking like it just opened (say, like it does in Tokyo), then please don't blame guests who want to get the most for their vacation dollars as Disney constantly takes more from their wallets and cuts back offerings in the parks.

 

[WDW1974]

If there is a serious issue in which the attraction needs some work, then it should not be operating at all. It should be shut down for the duration of time for which the work is required so that it can be completed in a proper manner, not shoehorned over a few extra hours across weeks/months.

Exactly. It's why I am not whining that Indy won't be open when I visit DL in a little over three weeks!
Same with Casey Jr and Storybook Land. And all three are things I can't experience up the Turnpike at The Timeshare and SpreadSheet Vacation Planning Kingdom of the World!

Take a look at WDW's FOUR parks and what is listed as being closed for regular rehabs and/or plussing and compare it with DL's TWO parks, DLP's TWO parks, TDR's TWO parks and even HKDL's one. ... WDW budgeted basic annual closures and semi-annual closures out of the budget plan 10-15 years ago ... and look at the shape of the parks today versus their sister resorts around the world.

This just again takes us to it being an issue of cost. If Walt Disney World paid better and treated employees better, it would be able to attract and retain more employees so as to not require over time. Instead, those business model was cut to generate "growth."

Yes. And you can only grow by cutting for so long. See my Disney (land) vs. Disney (world) thread if it hasn't been taken over by taco-eating villians! They have gotten away with it (not really, though) for a good 15 years. And it is coming home to roost now with the end of the world coming on 12/21/12, they probably figure it wasn't worth it!

 

[menamechris]

, what disturbs me about all of this is from on high and NOT by TDO's hand. At least someone has woken up and taking action....

Most disturbing quote in this thread..

 

[Ignohippo]

What Spirit told you to expect cutbacks to come?

Do you know how much cheaper it is to run Tiki Room than Splash Mtn?

This was my first thought when I read the news. It's all about the cash. Splash Mountain has to be one of the most expensive rides in the park to operate.

This is really awful. The entire reason for EMHs is to ride the few E-tickets that there are in each park. TDO is really getting out of hand.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You are probably right. They could double the number of people working on the problem and cut the time in half. Then they could keep the ride open during EMHs and still get the work done. At the end of the day everything is a big balancing act between revenues in and costs out. We all know they are not going to lower the profit margin so if they add cost for maintenance they either need to cut costs somewhere else or raise prices. For me I would rather see them cut this than something else I actually care about, but I guess that's a selfish opinion.

The balancing act has bigger negatives because maintenance has been cut over the years to artificially generate growth. Had the business model not been changed, there would be less "need" because the maintenance would be given a higher priority and considered part of the product, not excess fat to be cut to make somebody look good to clueless bosses who couldn't point out Cinderella Castle.

 

[WDW1974]

Try telling that to a friend of mine whos working there for 25 years and only makes 15 dollars an hour, good luck trying to say that to them in such a tone.

Does any of us like the cutbacks or quality going low? No. Do we hate that they're doing this? Yes.

But the EMH cutback makes SENSE. Not in your point of view, but in ours yes.

EMH was and still remains a privilege, not a right. They could get rid of EMH altogether but they just cut it down one hour. And? EMH still exists. Be thankful for what you have.

Pal, you're defeating yourself more with each post.

If someone is working at WDW for 25 years and only making $15 an hour, then they need to look at what politicians and policies they've supported and what they've done to try and better themselves. FWIW, that salary is still double the average WDW CM gets paid (yes, it still sucks ... yes, they probably deserve $25-33 an hour, but it is reality).

EMH is NOT a privilege, it is a perk used to help fill 25,000-plus hotel/timeshares. They could get rid of it altogether, you're right ... and they also could keep the parks open late every night during busy/summer seasons for ALL guests ... oh, and they could maintain things like they did from say 1971-1996 too.

 

[Ignohippo]

Are we going to stop Wishes and MSEP/Spectro and replace them with a new projection show? Wouldn't surprise me one bit.

HA!!! This was exactly what I feared might happen when they announced MM&Y!

Mark my words, that's exactly what will happen at some point. The projection show won't replace the fireworks, but the two will merge eventually so that they can cut out at least half of the pyro.

 

[WDW1974]

I wholeheartedly agree; that is pretty much their mentality these days with every single thing and it's quite disturbing. It's on a very small mend (look at the food quality at AoA, the use of ACTUAL silverware and plates, something once only reserved for DL; renewed maintenance; refurbs/updating throughout the resorts and parks) but again, what disturbs me about all of this is from on high and NOT by TDO's hand. At least someone has woken up and taking action.

I've heard the same. That the silverware and better food items were an actual Tom Staggs hands-on deal. If so, they'll just wait til he forgets and they'll replace them. ... I'm still waiting for the prime rib and linen napkins to return to Boma (I guess they could afford those when dinner was only $18.99 a person, but now at over $30, they're losing money, right?)

They get away with crap in O-Town because ultimately people have allowed it.

EMH as the final straw for some of you though, as saying its a perk gone the way of the dodo when it's only been reduced one hour and swap out rides? Just way too dramatic for my taste...

It isn't up to you to determine what the final straw is for anyone ... I couldn't believe in 2009 when fans started getting DLR-like crazy over the cost-cutting move to eliminate the LoW from EPCOT's holiday display. ... The point is that people are angry and tired and many are at the not going to take it anymore level.

You don't see this as important enough, I say help get Splash Mountain back because I'm tired of riding Ghetto Mountain.

 

[WDW1974]

Actually, it is to give more time for maintenance. 3rd shift usually comes in at 11pm and works until 7am. 3rd shift is by far the biggest crew and do a lot of pre startup inspections and preventative maintenance. Splash for instance, takes a long time for inspections and corrective maintenance. The ride needs to be running and they have to cycle each log into storage and do all the inspections and replace any parts that are failing or need to be replaced and they have extra inspections to do because of the lap bars, it takes quite a while especially if you don't have that many people. You need someone in the tower and running load/unload, then you need people in the pits doing the inspections, they have to start up the ride about 4am and that means no other maintenance is getting done, but of course, if they had more manpower then they could get more work done. That dept also has to check Big Thunder, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Small World, Peter Pan, CBJ, and Tiki.

So, in other words, it's simply an issue of them saving labor costs by not having enough staff, so said staff is spread so thin that even three hours makes a difference one night a week in off-season?

Yep, that sounds pretty much like what I thought you said.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The last hour of EMH could be looked at as a 'loss leader' in terms of Exceeding Guests Expectations. WDW used to leave its parks open longer across the board, which if you are a long-time CM, I'm sure you're aware. The fact the MK doesn't have one closing in August at midnight is just a small example of the MASSIVE cutback in hours.

I don't think TDO understands the concept of a loss leader.

 

[WDW1974]

And, another confirmation for maintenance.

Seems like '74 missed it again. LOL

Why don't you read what was said ... the confirmation as you state it (and I don't know either poster, for all I know they don't even work at WDW, but I'm gonna trust they do) only stated that it was for maintenance ... but not that it was NOT dictated by money, which it ultimately was.

 

[koryadams]

Worst trade ever...
Take one of the most popular attractions and replace it with near the least...

I hope they will start to repair Splash though...

 

[WDW1974]

Another excellent example of the kind of excellent service I received the last time I was at the Royal Pacific, and don't get from Disney, which is why I don't stay on Disney property anymore. As my Mom said during our last trip (and she is one of the original former pixie dust sniffers), "this is what staying at the polynesian *used* to be like."

That's VERY true. The RP is classy and upscale and a whole lot of things that the Poly ain't no moe.

But it doesn't have the Disney MAGIC. I'd rather stay without it, don't need to slip back into addiction so easily again.

 

[WDW1974]

They are thinking of the money they can save by not offering the attraction and staff. Look for additional changes coming in the weeks ahead.

I think I said that before ...

Sometimes it really sucks to be right.

 

[WDW1974]

I don't think TDO understands the concept of a loss leader.

No, not anymore.

But they once did. Pre-mid-90s. When show started to die in the swamp.

 

[t3techcom18]

Oh please. Cry me a river. If you don't like your job or the way Disney treats you, either take it up with management or quit.

Maintenance in your park sucks. Flat out. So either you're part of a team of bumbling incompetents or people who don't care about their jobs or you have management that doesn't provide you the resources needed to keep things in proper shape.

The last hour of EMH could be looked at as a 'loss leader' in terms of Exceeding Guests Expectations. WDW used to leave its parks open longer across the board, which if you are a long-time CM, I'm sure you're aware. The fact the MK doesn't have one closing in August at midnight is just a small example of the MASSIVE cutback in hours.

If you guys can't have Ghetto Mountain looking like it just opened (say, like it does in Tokyo), then please don't blame guests who want to get the most for their vacation dollars as Disney constantly takes more from their wallets and cuts back offerings in the parks.

First, who said I worked at the MK?

Second, Operations and Maintenance are two COMPLETELY different departments.

Knowing how you are, I thought you would know that by now but apparently not.

This post shows how much you know your stuff.

I had a lot of respect for you because I liked quite a bit of what you have said about insider info. Other times, either too cynical or negative for my taste (and I'm a realist if that says anything), or just times you have come off just plain rude. The third is pretty much what's going on here. Pretty much lost respect for the fact that you've had to go and answer every one of my posts and basically laugh at it when I've already supported and defended my answer in my earlier replies. Sorta sad really that you have to go through all of them like this and want to rip someone apart.

And in regards to the 25 year CM, believe me, he's tried for years on end and he's supported the right policies/leaders. The only way to get a job using his MFA degree is to move out of here because there's not many of those positions here in Orlando. With three mouths to feed including his own, 1100 in house rent, car loan and a $75,000 college loan when he graduated college back in the mid-80s, it's just not possible. How can he if he has sometimes only 15-45 dollars from one week to the next, after all necesscary weekly expenditures are done? He's applied to other jobs since the mid-90's and nothing's come up. Soon will be another chance but who knows what could happen. Just goes to show a perfect example of a long-time WDW CM who loves his job but strives for more, just like many other CM's.