Rumor concerning Phil Holmes

[WDW1974]

But wasn't everybody and their lawyers saying the tourism business was about to tank? That is the way I remember it. I'm sure you were saying the opposite however.

I did say tourism would be down. And it is.

The point is it isn't down enough -- especially now during Spring Break -- that hours should have been cut like they were.

 

[WDW1974]

It was prudent to be cautious in these uncertain times. It's better for the guests for Disney to post a schedule and then go and increase it than the other way around.

There is prudent and then there is conservative to a fault.

I do agree that is is, however, always better to add hours than to cut them once people are there.

You can bet the other Orlando parks have gone with cautious hours and haven't bothered increasing them. That would be mismanagement.

The other parks have been going largely with their traditional hours. Hell, Aquatica has NIGHT hours and is pulling in thousands more than TL since it reopened.

BTW, Disney gave up night hours at water parks many, many, many, many years ago because apparently no one likes to swim in a sub-tropical climate at night.

 

[DoctorPrius]

Yep, and it all went downhill the more the government involved itself in the auto industry. What started out as supposed good intentions has pretty much destroyed the industry.


Ralph Nader invented the slippery slope :brick:


Al Gore franchises them

Wow you got a really messed up view.

GM went downhill not because of "ZOMG Teh government" involvement. They went down because they were building a POOR product and not providing adaquate service for their customers! Eventually more and more people got sick and tired of it and began looking at better products from competitors such as Toyota and Honda.

GM became complacent ignoring complaints and their falling reputation because short term sales were good. Meanwhile Toyota was pushing ahead with better cars and better technology (like the Prius) which GM (after the fact) is now struggling to catch up with.

If Disney begins loosing market share to Universal will you blame Government involvement for that as well?

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

BTW, Disney gave up night hours at water parks many, many, many, many years ago because apparently no one likes to swim in a sub-tropical climate at night.

I hope they change their minds eventually, because I'd love to see Typhoon Lagoon at night. Supposedly Blizzard Beach doesn't have any night lighting.

 

[wdwmagic]

BTW, Disney gave up night hours at water parks many, many, many, many years ago because apparently no one likes to swim in a sub-tropical climate at night.

Not really true. You can be in Typhoon Lagoon at night. They run Extra Magic hours from 7pm to 10pm.

Still, Disney has so much more to offer in terms of nighttime entertainment than Sea World, most people are going to be in one of the main parks after dark. With Seaworld having such a limited night offering, it seems a good move for them have night hours at the water park.

 

[WDW1974]

Not really true. You can be in Typhoon Lagoon at night. They run Extra Magic hours from 7pm to 10pm.

I thought that was only an experiment, although I was in China last summer and not paying attention.

And, much like shorter hours for ALL guests at the main gates, it doesn't do anything for you unless you pay to stay at a WDW Resort.

Still, Disney has so much more to offer in terms of nighttime entertainment than Sea World, most people are going to be in one of the main parks after dark. With Seaworld having such a limited night offering, it seems a good move for them have night hours at the water park.

SWO has plenty to offer day/night ... but that shouldn't be the point.

TL and BB shouldn't close at 5 p.m. during Spring Break because the MK is open until 10 or 11 or midnight ... one thing should have no affect on the other.

Someone who wants to stay longer at a water park doesn't give a damn that they can go ride SSE or ToT or Mansion.

 

[wdwmagic]

I thought that was only an experiment, although I was in China last summer and not paying attention.

TL and BB shouldn't close at 5 p.m. during Spring Break because the MK is open until 10 or 11 or midnight ... one thing should have no affect on the other.

They have been doing Typhoon Lagoon evening hours since 2005.

TL is 7pm closing over spring break.

 

[WDW1974]

Again, EMH's is for WDW resort guests only. And it's on selected nights. It doesn't equate with leaving an entire park open until 10 for all guests any more than leaving parts of EPCOT open until midnight two nights a week during summer for resort guests somehow makes it OK they don't leave the ENTIRE park open until 11 or midnight EVERY summer night for ALL guests.

EMH is a nice resort perq. But it needs to be viewed in that context.

 

[wdwmagic]

Again, EMH's is for WDW resort guests only. And it's on selected nights. It doesn't equate with leaving an entire park open until 10 for all guests any more than leaving parts of EPCOT open until midnight two nights a week during summer for resort guests somehow makes it OK they don't leave the ENTIRE park open until 11 or midnight EVERY summer night for ALL guests.

EMH is a nice resort perq. But it needs to be viewed in that context.

Despite what you may think, the reality is that guests head over to see the main park nighttime offerings. I've personally been in Typhoon during the EMH over several years, and I can tell you, each time it is absolutely dead. My wife and I were about the only people in the lazy river, the slides were all work on. When you have all of WDW's nighttime attarctions that are such big draws, there just isn't the demand for the water parks to be open much past 8pm.

 

[EpcotServo]

JT ... you seem to have an 'issue' with Al Gore. Do you prefer your leaders to be ignorant buffoons who can't speak in coherent sentences and make us laughingstocks around the world?

You don't really have to answer ... just rhetorical.

Ha!

 

[Biff215]

I hope they change their minds eventually, because I'd love to see Typhoon Lagoon at night. Supposedly Blizzard Beach doesn't have any night lighting.

True about Blizzard, although I'd argue that it would also be pretty cool at night in the right lighting. When I worked there in 2000, we were always closed before dark while TL often had private events after hours.

I'm not sure I really see the benefit to Disney opening the waterparks after dark on a regular basis. As a former lifeguard the idea absolutely scares me, and as Steve said, there is simply too much else to do. Night swims, that's what the resort pool is for!

 

[jakeman]

Mismanagement would not be reacting to the higher than expected crowds. Doubt you would see any non-Disney parks go to the lengths of adding parades and extending hours to give guests a better experience.

I can see your point. However, and this is just me admittedly not familiar with the system, I wonder how they could be so far off with their projections?

Are people just not staying on property? Are these day trippers? What piece of data fell through the crack that has them scrambling?

 

[jt04]

I can see your point. However, and this is just me admittedly not familiar with the system, I wonder how they could be so far off with their projections?

Are people just not staying on property? Are these day trippers? What piece of data fell through the crack that has them scrambling?

For starters, the didn't listen to me :lol::zipit:

 

[TURKEY]

I can see your point. However, and this is just me admittedly not familiar with the system, I wonder how they could be so far off with their projections?

Are people just not staying on property? Are these day trippers? What piece of data fell through the crack that has them scrambling?

They thought it would be bad so they decided to offer the 4/3 deal. People seemed to like so they milked it with commercials saying book this limited time offer it's expiring soon, then extended it at least once (twice I think).

Then instead of seeing how booked the resorts were for this time period and how they normally are in the past with comparable hours, Disney didn't want to revise their hours in advance.

Just wait till the guests get here they said. We can extend the hours and give them more parades and the guests will love it they said. It will really show we care and are meeting the demands of our guests.

 

[jakeman]

They thought it would be bad so they decided to offer the 4/3 deal. People seemed to like so they milked it with commercials saying book this limited time offer it's expiring soon, then extended it at least once (twice I think).

Then instead of seeing how booked the resorts were for this time period and how they normally are in the past with comparable hours, Disney didn't want to revise their hours in advance.

Just wait till the guests get here they said. We can extend the hours and give them more parades and the guests will love it they said. It will really show we care and are meeting the demands of our guests.

Is that conjecture? Or really what has happened?

 

[TURKEY]

Is that conjecture? Or really what has happened?

I know they were advertising the 4/3 deal and running Hurry, book now ads with end date of booking only to extend the booking dates just a couple of days after the ads were running.


The rest is conjecture.

 

[CBOMB]

Despite what you may think, the reality is that guests head over to see the main park nighttime offerings. I've personally been in Typhoon during the EMH over several years, and I can tell you, each time it is absolutely dead. My wife and I were about the only people in the lazy river, the slides were all work on. When you have all of WDW's nighttime attarctions that are such big draws, there just isn't the demand for the water parks to be open much past 8pm.

I suppose there's not much demand for them to be open later because they don't sell enough food, and beverage, and merchandising.

Disney use to look at a situation like this, and think how they could rectify it. They would say if other water parks have large crowds at night what are they doing right, and what are we doing wrong? What can we give our guest to make their visit something to remember.

Disney seems perfectly content to sit back on their hanches, and let the other parks be the trend setters now.

 

[wdwmagic]

Quote:
Originally Posted by WDW1974
I'd just like to hear one person say 'I saw Phil today at work with his badge on' so we can say it was false and planted for whatever reason(s).


This is just dumb at this point. You'd think someone would have either seen him or seen his office empty.

Got confirmation now from a couple of people who have seen him in the flesh over the last week, in his job at the MK. So it's a certainty he is still in the job at this point.

 

[WDW1974]

Got confirmation now from a couple of people who have seen him in the flesh over the last week, in his job at the MK. So it's a certainty he is still in the job at this point.

Yes, it is.

I'm wondering exactly who started this story and what their agenda was. Clearly, it was someone(s) at a fairly high level.

If I were Phil I might take the fact I've become a poster boy for hating on TDO execs to heart as a sign that maybe I could improve myself.

~The Escalade is safe!~

 

[GothMickey]

Yes, it is.

I'm wondering exactly who started this story and what their agenda was. Clearly, it was someone(s) at a fairly high level.

If I were Phil I might take the fact I've become a poster boy for hating on TDO execs to heart as a sign that maybe I could improve myself.

~The Escalade is safe!~

And then he sees his huge salary and extra large bonus for coming in under budget and he says, "Heck with the fanboys and whining sissies on the internet. My large bonus check tells me I am doing something right. **insert evil Vincent Price laugh from Thriller here**"