News and observations from the past month

[awoogala]

Agreed. That isn't even close to what right to work means. Right to work states essentially means that employees have very difficult times joining unions and businesses have far greater leeway over how they treat employees and what the state requires of them as an employer.

Right to work doesn't mean that everyone literally has a right to work for any business no matter how under qualified.

Disney has many lousy Cast Members because they are bringing unskilled labor from many third world nations to cut staffing costs.

this. When we were there in January, many of the rude cm's were from other nations. We asked for help in the huge Disney shop in dtd, (had to ask, since 4 cm's were in the corner, talking to each other in another language and ignoring us) and were told "I don't know" , and waved at once... "over there".(finally found an awesome cm who helped.. her tag said FLA) In EPCOT, we asked about a character, and not one of the cm's knew what we were talking about. They did not know who the character was, or if they had anything with her image. No one offered to do anything about it.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique- the women barely spoke, did not seem like they gave a damn. My local hairdresser pays more attention to my daughter when she gets a $10 haircut.
I'd hate to blame it all on imported labor, but a huge amount of these rude cm's were from another country. Perhaps it is just that they were not trained/had no love for Disney, but it was awful.

 

[ShoalFox]

Energy is dated and unloved. Old scratched films. No smoke or mist anywhere in the diorama. Lava not flowing. AAs with minimal movement. And theatre three had a piece of decor hanging over projector one, creating a large black square on the screen. The CMs knew about it apparently. Whoop. Word is the building and ride system are staying thankfully. Its just the theme and topic that needs an overhaul.

Thank goodness Energy's ride system will remain for now. Maybe I'll be able to see it restored to its former glory one day

 

[JenniferS]

I felt that the overlay of TT lacks a soul. Atleast the previous version had a storyline and purpose. I know that with the new one you're own "testing" your design concept, but the actual ride now seems to be nothing more than Techno music, neon, and dead space with no storyline to continue through the attraction itself. You race for 10seconds, you stop and stare at an LCD screen for 10 seconds, you move on... It left me wanting something more.

Agree 100%
Rode the new version (FP+) for the first time yesterday, and then Single Rider today.
I was very disappointed, but at least today's ride was in and out in less than 10! Yesterday's FP+ took more than half an hour - that's crazy for what is now a pretty lame ride.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Another observation, even during the dead September times, Fastpasses for Toy Story Mania were all distributed by 12:30 and Soarin' and Test Track by 3:30. This is 100% because of Fastpass+.

 

[flynnibus]

This is 100% because of Fastpass+.

Where is that photo of the Fonz waterski'ing again?

here's what we have to look forward to for the coming years...

 

[Bairstow]

As long as actual ride capacity isn't harmed, what's the problem here?
Fathers with fistfuls of their families' park tickets, racing to the distribution machines at rope drop, or after every ride was never an optimal situation.

 

[1023]

As long as actual ride capacity isn't harmed, what's the problem here?
Fathers with fistfuls of their families' park tickets, racing to the distribution machines at rope drop, or after every ride was never an optimal situation.

I think you fail to realize that if you alienate locals and offsite guests by having them wait in line for 90 minutes or more, you create a great deal of resentment. Len Testa publishes a guide book annually, operates a successful online utility and has put into writing the idea that offsite guests will never see the opportunity to reserve FastPassMinus at premium attractions. If you have only 4 "rides" in a park and they all have standby times pushing over 90 minutes, you offsite guests will be LIMITED to those 4 experiences that day. That is the not optimal situation. There is nothing left to say to that.

*1023*

 

[HMF]

I think you fail to realize that if you alienate locals and offsite guests by having them wait in line for 90 minutes or more, you create a great deal of resentment. Len Testa publishes a guide book annually, operates a successful online utility and has put into writing the idea that offsite guests will never see the opportunity to reserve FastPassMinus at premium attractions. If you have only 4 "rides" in a park and they all have standby times pushing over 90 minutes, you offsite guests will be LIMITED to those 4 experiences that day. That is the not optimal situation. There is nothing left to say to that.

*1023*

My personal business philosophy is if you don't listen to your core audience, Why should the masses take you seriously. You see this with the "Walt Moustaches", etc. Just because someone hypothetically will buy something doesn't mean you should make it. The people first-timers tend to listen to are the people like us who know the parks like the back of our hand and if we are not satisfied then it spreads to the larger population. The thing that really drives me crazy is I like honesty and there are so many people in this world who are dis-honest. Walt was always previewing his attractions on television and every move the Company made was publicly known. Today, there are 30+ different agendas going on in today's major corporations, There is no identity anymore.

 

[Bairstow]

There is nothing left to say to that.

So Len Testa's never been wrong about anything? End of discussion? And Disney never changes a policy? Even if there's massive guest outcry at a new policy?

 

[Tom Morrow]

I'm not positive but pretty sure that slightly less Fastpasses are being given out to compensate for Fastpass+, which a good portion of guests now have.

 

[1023]

So Len Testa's never been wrong about anything?

I imagine, if you asked @lentesta if he was ever wrong, he would give you an honest answer. I would suspect that as a human, he has been from time to time. His park attendance predictions are amazingly accurate. His touring plans save thousands of people time when visiting the parks. His understanding of queuing theory and it's application is unmatched in it's application at WDW (just ask Disney).

End of discussion?

I doubt and hope that I do not have the ability to cease thoughtful discussion. My reply to your post ,as quoted, was a response to the "what's the problem here?" interrogatory you posed to everyone in this thread.

And Disney never changes a policy?

Evidence at Disneyland suggests they do change policy. The subtle changes in the GAC would support that at US parks as well. As has been said of politics," Politics is a strong and slow boring of hard boards." Change usually comes so incrementally slowly it's hard to mark time as it passes. I am not sure why your question of change is relevant as it wasn't part of the quoted text I replied to. Furthermore, clearly they change policy as we are all being hung with MyMagicMinus for the foreseeable future.

Even if there's massive guest outcry at a new policy?

Once the locals and offsite guests are excluded from "premier" FastPassMinus attractions, I am confident there will be an outcry. I stated specifically in my post that those specific guest types would be LIMITED. I have less confidence that the outcry will make any difference in Orlando, but I am willing to see what will happen. Disney sees locals and regulars as a drain on resources.

Please re-read the original post. There was very little that needed to be explained with the detail provided above.

*1023*

 

[marni1971]

Did they let you reride since you had this issue?

They did.

 

[Belowthesurface]

Keep debating the FP issue....

Ask most Cast Members how much easier and enjoyable their day would be without worry about FP. They could actually focus on things that matter, like picking up trash or how your day has been.

Getting rid of it would alleviate so much tension, Guest situations and all around aesthetic improvements. Think a little deeper about what ridding the world of this system means, not just how great it is that you can bypass ONE line in your day.

Complain to a CM about the FP line and you will get the usual "Well, you could of got one too, you dope!" Guest service at its finest; you could of been smart like them, but you are not, so shut up and wait.

 

[ParentsOf4]

So Len Testa's never been wrong about anything? End of discussion? And Disney never changes a policy? Even if there's massive guest outcry at a new policy?

The one true advantage of FP+ is that making changes to the system is mostly in the software. WDW can prototype several algorithms until it comes up with one that is the most "successful". This means the system that generates the most revenue which generally means making the most people spending the most money the most happy. It's simply good business.

If data suggests limiting FP+ to only onsite guests generates the most profit, then expect FP+ to go that way eventually. If it suggests all guests should have identical access, then expect FP+ to go that way.

FP+ will be driven by the market. It would be naive to assume that today's FP+ will be the same in a few years; even in a few months.

No matter what corporate Disney does, any version of FP+ does not solve the core problem: ride capacity. All FP+ does is change how the attraction capacity pie is divided. It does not increase the size of the pie. If for no other reason, FP+ was an expensive and short-sighted non-solution to a bigger problem.

 

[lentesta]

So Len Testa's never been wrong about anything? End of discussion? And Disney never changes a policy? Even if there's massive guest outcry at a new policy?

I'm used to apologizing for being wrong. I've been married.

 

[alphac2005]

My personal business philosophy is if you don't listen to your core audience, Why should the masses take you seriously. You see this with the "Walt Moustaches", etc. Just because someone hypothetically will buy something doesn't mean you should make it.

Thanks for bringing up the Walt 'stache because I saw that yesterday and just laughed. I couldn't help but laugh because as always, Disney is way behind the trends. Virtually three years ago to the date (Always at the beginning of October for these strategy disclosures and launches), several manufacturers that my company deals with were informing us of their then upcoming business year product decisions, trends, etc. What was the big craze? The moustache. Retailers hit a peak with the 'stache about a year and a half ago and now it's an overproduced and overused concept that is running out of steam rapidly.

Low and behold, what does the Mouse do now? They jump on the train that is ready to grind to a halt. It's so fitting and symbolic of how this company is run today. They no longer innovate, they imitate, and when they need to find new drivers of revenue for the company, they purchase established money making properties.

As to your point with the Walt Moustaches, isn't it something that a company that has whitewashed Walt's name in nearly every way, loves to offer merchandise in Florida featuring Walt? If his name wasn't on the property, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that there wouldn't be a chance that we'd ever see anything related to him (let alone an attraction at The Studios) in Florida. It reminds me of Dreamfinder. They'll bring out tons of junk to make money off the character, but they don't give a damn besides the greenbacks. They don't care about the quality and principals of Walt Disney, but they sure love making money off of his namesake and his ideals that have gone extinct within the majority of the ranks of the company.

 

[NearTheEars]

The studios attraction ... The train ... The statue ... The window ... The books ...

 

[misterID]

I have to say, I love the new Test Track, and not only do I think it's better but I think it fits FW a whole helluva lot more than a crash test dummy ride around a warehouse. Seriously, if we're talking story, I don't see how the previous version was so much better. At least here you know you're the car designer and your design is being tested and even, eventually, marketed. It's hands on and interactive and placed in a cool futuristic-digital theme that you used to get from parts of Horizons and even the finale of WOM through the oval theater of the future.

I just don't see how being part of a simple car test is such a great story. My only complaint is that they could have done a better job with Light City, but at least it's there.

 

[ford91exploder]

As long as actual ride capacity isn't harmed, what's the problem here?
Fathers with fistfuls of their families' park tickets, racing to the distribution machines at rope drop, or after every ride was never an optimal situation.

The problem is that FP+ REDUCES ride capacity due to the extended time needed to check FP+ entitlement, The current FP system probably takes 1-3 seconds per rider to check and collect the physical FP's New system takes 10-20 seconds on average to check the entitlement.

This of course reduces the capacity of the ride now the CM's provided they are allowed by management could push more standby's through but the open question is will they be allowed to do so.

So in effect FP+ acts to reduce overall ride capacity regardless of the actual capacity of the ride mechanism.

 

[flynnibus]

The problem is that FP+ REDUCES ride capacity due to the extended time needed to check FP+ entitlement, The current FP system probably takes 1-3 seconds per rider to check and collect the physical FP's New system takes 10-20 seconds on average to check the entitlement.

This of course reduces the capacity of the ride now the CM's provided they are allowed by management could push more standby's through but the open question is will they be allowed to do so.

So in effect FP+ acts to reduce overall ride capacity regardless of the actual capacity of the ride mechanism.

I know what you are trying to say... but the way you are saying it is soo b0rked. The time required to fill the queue means nothing to ride capacity as long as the queue remains full enough to feed the actual ride capacity. Given there is always standby... that's never an issue.

The only issue is traffic jams in the queue itself.. it's never going to impact actual ride capacity.