Rumor concerning Phil Holmes

[SirGoofy]

I never said lazy, please don't put words in my mouth.

If they are firing people for this, then they could have a wrongful termination suit of their hands, so I don't really buy that.

Well implying that I'm not looking to "get ahead" sure sounds like another way for saying lazy to me.

And yes, they have been finding ways of getting rid of people who aren't inline with the managers' ways of thinking.

You may have worked as a CM at one time, but things have obviously changed drastically since you have.

 

[jakeman]

Well implying that I'm not looking to "get ahead" sure sounds like another way for saying lazy to me.

And yes, they have been finding ways of getting rid of people who aren't inline with the managers' ways of thinking.

I'm not responsible for the way you interpret things. There very many people happy with their station in life that are hard working and not looking to get ahead.

Again, if you are terminated for doing your job, then you were wrongfully terminated.

 

[Computer Magic]

The big problem is that for the past 10-15 years, WDW has been looked at as the cash cow for the entire company. Profits are not being kept in Orlando and not reinvested into the parks. They go back to Glendale and make the board of directors oodles of money.

That is exactly the problem. They are milking the WDW cow dry. Taking the profits and opening new theme parks over seas. They will continue to do this until attendace records show a decline.

My beefs are more with the resorts and the restaurants. The cuts and consolidation have ruined Disney dining. You can get the same meat, pasta, and chicken at almost every restaurant

The uniqueness is gone.

Amen! The DDP has ruined variety and degraded overall quality of food served at WDW restaurants. Like refillable mugs, it's cheaper and easier to buy the same of something, so now instead of unique, quality dining experiences, we get 'same ol', same ol' from location to location. Rant/thread drift over.

There has been some type of DDP plan and refillable mugs since 1994. The quailty degraded started in 2005. They need to go back to the old dining plan. So DDP is a good idea but implemented poorly to squeeze every dime out. This money is used to grow other ventures and not placed back within WDW. Read photodaves wonderful post

 

[Brian Noble]

So DDP is a good idea but implemented poorly to squeeze every dime out.

Strictly as a business decision, this is a good thing.

The DDP plays an important role, together with ME and the MYW ticket structure, in "Destination Disney." The idea: if someone is visiting Central Florida, Disney wants to capture every last minute and penny of their vacation time and money. From this perspective, DDP has been a runaway success, and that's why it's been expanded again this year with QSDP.

From a quality point of view? DDP is a disaster. No two ways about it. But, right now, the metric isn't quality. It's profit. And, from that standpoint, The Powers That Be in Orlando are doing fine.

It will be interesting to see how "fine" they do in the face of this downturn. That might be one hope for real change.

 

[SoccerMickey]

Next time everyone goes into a Disney theme park, ask at City Hall for an "I'm Celebrating" button and take a Sharpie and write "I just lost my job at Walt Disney World." Just to see what kind of reaction you get....:lookaroun

 

[Computer Magic]

Strictly as a business decision, this is a good thing.

The DDP plays an important role, together with ME and the MYW ticket structure, in "Destination Disney." The idea: if someone is visiting Central Florida, Disney wants to capture every last minute and penny of their vacation time and money. From this perspective, DDP has been a runaway success, and that's why it's been expanded again this year with QSDP.

From a quality point of view? DDP is a disaster. No two ways about it. But, right now, the metric isn't quality. It's profit. And, from that standpoint, The Powers That Be in Orlando are doing fine.

It will be interesting to see how "fine" they do in the face of this downturn. That might be one hope for real change.

You are correct. As a business person I love the idea. WDW managment force guest to use the plan by inflating the cost for those not using the plan. It is a artifical savings. Mangement hooked guests then change all the menus to offer a limited menu and remove dessert.

The days of earning a "fair" profit is gone for now. Now WDW is out to get every dime possible out of the guest while reducing quaility. I would hope they would learn but as long as attendance it up they won't.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94161754.html

Sadly you are correct. WDW is all about profit.

Excellent post.

 

[unkadug]

You are correct. As a business person I love the idea. WDW managment force guest to use the plan by inflating the cost for those not using the plan. It is a artifical savings. Mangement hooked guests then change all the menus to offer a limited menu and remove dessert.

The days of earning a "fair" profit is gone for now. Now WDW is out to get every dime possible out of the guest while reducing quaility. I would hope they would learn but as long as attendance it up they won't.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94161754.html

Sadly you are correct. WDW is all about profit.

Excellent post.

ugh...I hate sites that require you to join before being able to read their content. Especially since they are only quoting others material.

 

[SoccerMickey]

ugh...I hate sites that require you to join before being able to read their content. Especially since they are only quoting others material.

Well thank God the D23 website doesn't make you do that! :ROFLOL:

 

[Computer Magic]

ugh...I hate sites that require you to join before being able to read their content. Especially since they are only quoting others material.

Sorry My point was explain what Dream Maker is. :wave: I have no idea what that article is about :lol:

 

[CBOMB]

One of Disney's master sommeliers was also cut this week (he was largely responsible for the amazing wine selection from Africa at DAK Lodge) ... wish I could recall his name as I met him when he was at Citricos.

Anyway, lots of good people are being shown the door.

~I'll get the wine, you pour!~

John Blazon, another quality Disney CM to bite the dust.

~I'll decant, you pour~

 

[Hook's Girl]

Next time everyone goes into a Disney theme park, ask at City Hall for an "I'm Celebrating" button and take a Sharpie and write "I just lost my job at Walt Disney World." Just to see what kind of reaction you get....:lookaroun

You'd get a professional yet sad response as these cast members kept their jobs, but were personally and deeply affected by this week's firestorm that eliminated many of their mentors colleagues and friends.

 

[ChrisFL]

Why would they need someone like that when the kids that Disney is going after can't drink wine anyway. :brick:

 

[DougK]

:sohappy:

We're going for 9 days in June and we made ADR's at Le Cellier (lunch), Tepen Edo, Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch), and the Hollywood Brown Derby (lunch). And that is it. 5 years ago we would have made double the reservations. We would have even paid the $28.99 for the Garden Grill on this upcoming trip, but the ridiculous surcharge for "holidays" that do not exist in the summer was the deciding factor on that. We've got ADR's for there in case enough people complain about this new rip off practice, but if nothing changes they can forget it. Dining used to be something we looked forward to a great deal when going to WDW and while there is still a lot of good things there, it isn't nearly as important to us as it used to be. We used to ALWAYS go to 50's Prime Time Cafe, but the past two pot roasts I've got there were nowhere near what they used to be and the price went up 3 or 4 bucks. Same thing goes for The Plaza on Main Street. And we don't go to Alfredo's anymore for obvious reasons.

WOW! You just described our upcoming trip too! Although we also no longer do Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch because they got rid of that great "Sandwich Heard Round The World" that was awesome. So we have even one less favorite restaurant than you do. And of course we no longer do Alfredo's for the same reason as you (it's no longer there). But mostly it is because of how homoginized the restaurants at WDW have become. Expensive, average-quality-at-best restaurants. Not the way it used to be even a few short years ago (when they were expensive high-quality restaurants).

We have exactly 4 ADR's for our upcoming trip, in years past we would have 10-14 since we tend to eat 2 table service meals a day. We now rent a car so we can eat offsite. Because we go to WDW relatively regularly we can afford to miss some park time, and the cost of the rental car is very much defrayed by eating at less expensive (but better quality) restaurants outside of WDW. I highly recommend it if you can do it!

 

[TURKEY]

Oh it bothers me too. I think WDW as a whole can do so much more, so much better from theming to attractions to how they treat their cast.

My beefs are more with the resorts and the restaurants. The cuts and consolidation have ruined Disney dining. You can get the same meat, pasta, and chicken at almost every restaurant.

Disney could do better but the corporate suits are more concerned with getting the money in their pockets now, not even more money later. Everyone wants the instant money return now.

I think it's going to get worse. Dieter is gone, John Blazon is gone. Some guy named Mahmud Dhanani, who had held the position of vice president of resorts support for Walt Disney World, will now oversee food, beverage and merchandise operations for both WDW and DL.

 

[WDW1974]

This is pretty short-sighted and indicative of the current company mentality. What we, as you call "fanboys," are saying is that the WDC is on a slippery slope. It's incontrovertible that standards have been lowered steadily since the mid 90's.

I agree with this point as anyone familiar with my posts would tell you.

But just because we KNOW standards have fallen there are many who sadly want to stick their fingers in their ears yelling (NAH-NAH, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!)

It will take some time before the consequences are seen in attendance numbers. Disney still has their huge marketing and synergy machine to rely on. Many casual visitors haven't experienced enough visits to compare the lower value today with what they could have gotten 10 years ago for far less money yet. But many have. Just because you haven't personally talked with them doesn't mean they aren't prevelant.

Exactly.

Most guests don't complain (just like people in general). Many could have horrible experiences and they'd never say a word. They just wouldn't return or tell their friends to go.

I don't know how many times I've had conversations about slipping standards and whether people notice only to be interrupted by someone standing in line, sitting at the bar, sitting next to me in the jacuzzi etc ...
People DO notice.

Disney just can't, and would never attempt, to quantify how much potential money they are losing by lowering quality in some massive Power Point.

So many of them will take what they can get from WDW despite the lowered value. Will consumers eventually grow tired of the same old slop being served up by WDI and WDW management? I don't know. I've been amazed lately at what consumers accept as quality and the norm these days.

People in the 21st century seem willing to accept anything and everything. I don't get it. I realize we're the WalMart nation and all, but I know plenty of people who want and expect better.

But again, here's a 'fan' site and how often do threads come down to battles where so many people choose to defend things Disney management does that lowers the quality for all?

But at what point shoud they begin planning for this possibility? After attendance drops or should they head it off to maintain the numbers? Should they take pride in their product and offer more than the customer expects or should continue to lower the status quo? At what point will Disney become just like Six Flags?

Well, see that's the whole deal in a nutshell. Disney will never become like Six Flags or parks like that. So as long as they stay a few steps ahead (and in Disney's case, it's more like stairways) then management feels secure in cutting a bit more quality from the experience. Marketing takes over and makes stale seem like something new and magical and the bodies show up seemingly proving that quality and freshness and Disney Details aren't all that crucial to the all-important bottom line.

 

[WDW1974]

I don't generally fawn over your posts - it's a little like petting a crocodile and telling it what nice shiny teeth it has - but this one was spot on.

Moi?!! A crocodile?!?!

Well, that's better than a Florida Gator but ...

I'm more like a wuvable teddy bear. But I do have perfect teeth (dentist's words, not mine) so thanks for the compliment!

I was frankly shocked at the number of Phil Homes apologists who were popping up.

Sadly, I wasn't.

Although it may be telling that the amount of people 'apologizing' for the man is almost nil on other Disney forums.

And yes, what you said about money is right. If he gets fired, that just means he gets to live for a year just like he is now without working, before he lines up a new gig, works the speaking circuit, does some consulting, etc. No sympathy is needed.

A year? Actually with what Phil has earned over the years many people in his position might retire and never work again.

And many ex-execs (including a fair number of Disney folks) are earning more in consulting (and working less) than they did when employed.

I've trusted what the people on this site who have earned my respect have said about Phil Holmes, and the fact that he may or may not have been axed doesn't change that.

I still have no idea. But I did something functional with my day and haven't been on a 'Phil Watch' ... but I still have no reason to doubt the information and nothing to confirm it either.

 

[Computer Magic]

Well, see that's the whole deal in a nutshell. Disney will never become like Six Flags or parks like that. So as long as they stay a few steps ahead (and in Disney's case, it's more like stairways) then management feels secure in cutting a bit more quality from the experience.

This is so true. I use to pick Disney over other vacation destinations because of quality of entertainment, food and resort stay. Theme Park is one aspect of the total package. I stated the other day, I kept going back because I knew what to expect. Notice this is all past tense. I have a trip this year, but now may wonder out to see what else is out there. If its good, I might never come back.

 

[dxwwf3]

I have a trip this year, but now may wonder out to see what else is out there. If its good, I might never come back.

And if some people who post on here are to be believed, Disney would rather you not come back because you are a fan. :lol:

In all seriousness, it does change your opinion of the place when some people keep constantly telling us how little Disney cares about the fan community. Our opinions do not matter because "they've got us and we're always coming back". I enjoy my trips, but I don't look forward to them as much as I used to. And I sure as heck spend a lot less money there than I was when I was younger as well.

 

[Computer Magic]

I enjoy my trips, but I don't look forward to them as much as I used to. And I sure as heck spend a lot less money there than I was when I was younger as well.

I agree. I wonder if there are a few reasons for this, Internet, frequent of going and lower Disney quality... At least those are the reason for me.

 

[GenerationX]

Disney just can't, and would never attempt, to quantify how much potential money they are losing by lowering quality in some massive Power Point.

Eventually, if the quality declines enough that the average guest does not have a good experience, Disney will see a drop in their numbers. Until that happens or the recession ends - whichever comes first - the cost cutting will continue. Disney does not have a lot of choice.

I sympathize with the teams at WDW forced to try to maintain the same quality with fewer people and fewer dollars. I see it in the corporate IT world all the time, and it is certainly a frustrating experience for nearly all involved. However, the recession will end and budgets will loosen ... eventually.