Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[janoimagine]

This is where corporate America is so screwed up and Europe has the right idea, they get what a vacation should be and get Holidays and the importance of both. The US is trending more and more to money and corporate greed and less and less about quality of life, I for one will never set foot in a store on Thanksgiving.

 

[JenniferS]

I remember the first time I went to Florida, I was surprised that stores were open on Sunday.
It wasn't until my mid-20's that it was legal here in Ontario.

June 3, 1992, marked the end of an 85 year long ban on retail sales activity in the province of Ontario, Canada. The federal Lord's Day Act ban was defeated in Supreme Court of Canada in 1985, but the same court upheld a more oppressive provincial ban (the Retail Business Holidays Act).

I've gotta say, I liked it a lot better when everything except restaurants, corner stores and gas stations closed one day a week.

 

[PhotoDave219]

So I spent every major holiday in the Walt Disney World resort.

I remember Thanksgiving evening 2004, watching "Mickey's twas the night before Christmas"in the freezing cold with my mother and having snow flurries fall on us. It was fantastic and strangely not horribly busy.

Later that year, Christmas day was 47° and raining. My family was in town, they insisted on going to the Magic Kingdom in the rain until I could convince them that they wanted to be nowhere near this Crald when the crowd was informed that the Christmas parade would not be running due to the weather. There are many cast members they can verify that guest relations was inundated on Christmas Day 2004 with less than Christ like people.

FlashForward a year, it was 85° on Christmas and me and my best friend hung out at the Magic Kingdom. It was packed and I don't think we left Main Street all day. Saw about braids, just really checking all the shows and the ambience.

July 4, Veterans Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and my birthday which always seems to fall on Presidents' Day… All of these have one thing in common other then I went.

The crowds on holiday simply follow self-righteous people who are beyond demanding. The cast is treated very poorly by the guests who come here on holidays. the parks are packed, and there is no way in hell Walt Disney World would turn away that kind of money.

Then I went on to a career in journalism where I promptly worked every damn holiday. The attitudes of people I would run into while working seem to go hand-in-hand with the attitudes of how the crowds treat the guests.

Should Walt Disney World be open or anyplace be opening really on Thanksgiving or Christmas? Probably not.

Alas It's a moot issue and I'm just waiting for the day we get 6 inches of snow here in Orlando. The parks we closed for that

 

[WDW1974]

So when do we get the new thread?

When I have time and when I get bored with this one.

 

[WDW1974]

I'll be out of the country on Turkey Day. Just sayin'....

So, Big Shot, where are ya going to be?

 

[WDW1974]

On the one hand, I'm sympathetic to Wal-Mart, Target, etc. setting up their seasonal displays around November 1. Most people decorate before the end of the month, so why stock random merch to replace it in a week, two at most? No problem with trees, ornaments, lights, decor, that sort of thing.

Where I draw the line is shopping centers putting up exterior decorations that early--or CVS having a display of Christmas candy meant to be given as a gift--or playing Christmas music in stores. (My best friend manages a major clothing retailer, he turned the music off Saturday night rather than force customers to listen to corporate's piped-in Christmas loop.) It seems there can be degrees--just because Target is selling trees, why do Publix and Walgreens feel they have to go 100% holiday mode?

I am sickened by it all ...I took a friend from out of state to my town center last weekend and was shocked that all the holiday lighting was up. I think the only thing missing was what Disney would call the holiday tree.

Earlier that day, I had been in the local Macy's and heard Bing Crosby crooning 'Home for the Holidays' while I had friends headed to Halloween Parties both locally and at the theme parks.

Too much, too soon. November 2nd is not Christmas season no matter how much Wall Street wants it to be.

 

[rd805]

I am sickened by it all ...I took a friend from out of state to my town center last weekend and was shocked that all the holiday lighting was up. I think the only thing missing was what Disney would call the holiday tree.

Earlier that day, I had been in the local Macy's and heard Bing Crosby crooning 'Home for the Holidays' while I had friends headed to Halloween Parties both locally and at the theme parks.

Too much, too soon. November 2nd is not Christmas season no matter how much Wall Street wants it to be.

GOTTA MAKE DAT BANK 'YO.'

 

[nytimez]

Many retail stores run in the red all year and the Christmas season is their (pardon the expression) savior. They cannot afford to let others take that money from them, they need it to make their year and the only way that they can stop it is if they all got together and decided that it wasn't worthwhile anymore.

This is a myth based on an incorrect belief about the origins of the term "black Friday." While a good Christmas season is essential to the bottom line of many retailers, big and small, any store that runs in the red all year will be out of business long before Christmas season arrives.

 

[WDW1974]

Welcome to America. Where the almighty dollar is king.

We all contribute to this in our own ways.

I am not a big fan of Chick-Fil-A's corporate politics or opinions (although I love that tasty chicken!), but I greatly respect that they leave millions upon millions of dollars on the table by closing their units on Sundays. They may want their employees in church, but regardless, it is refreshing that a business in the USA says 'Sundays are family days. We do not have to be open.' ...As a young Spirit growing up in Florida, until sometime in the 1980s, Publix supermarkets also were closed on Sundays.

And do I have to explain that for decades, WDW's parks 'closed promptly at 6 p.m. On Christmas Eve, so that our cast members can spend time with their families.'

I do realize why that changed and sorta had to. Once you open 25,000-plus hotel rooms on your property, you do sorta need places for people to go. So when MK and EPCOT stayed open until 8 or 9 p.m., I understood. But 12/24 might as well be NYE now. MK is typically open until midnight or 1 a.m. There's no feelings whatsoever for the cast. And for every one person you find me who says they don't mind and their family lives in Ohio or the UK, I'll find you three that have no desire to be dealing with ugly tourists on Christmas Eve.

BTW, until very recently UNI-Hollywood closed on Christmas. Knott's, I believe, still does so.

I very much hate the 'tude that Americans have developed that everything has to be open all the time. They would get a rude awakening in Europe and much of the rest of the world.

Spirited Fun Fact: Only holiday I have never experienced at a Disney park -- Thanksgiving.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So, Big Shot, we're ya going to be?

St. Maarten....Maho Beach.

 

[WDW1974]

It's the shortest Christmas shopping season on record, 6 less shopping days than last year. You know how money hungry these companies are trying to feed those wall street traders.

I'll agree on on the second part 100%, nobody should be out shopping on Thanksgiving.

It is a BS excuse. So really is the entire Christmas Gorging Season. You can buy X-mas gifts on 12/26 or 12/27 and give them a bit late or save them for next year like many savvy shoppers do.

 

[WDW1974]

St. Maarten....Maho Beach.

Yet another cruise (I shouldn't talk as I am booked on three next year, even though I won't be taking them all)?

 

[WDW1974]

On the earnings call today someone asked about expanding the cruise line and adding more ships. The answer was that they were not considering new ships at this time and that they don't feel there are enough desirable destinations outside of the ones already covered. They mentioned the possibility of the Asian market opening up but it's not suitable for a family cruise at this time.

I'll be quite blunt here since I know who has talked to whom and what those talks entailed: Disney is lying.

They don't have a signed deal that I am aware of, but they have been actively looking at expanding and it is pretty much a question of when, not if. They said similar things before expanding in 2007. Hell, knowing Disney they might just be trying to pressure builders into lower costs and better terms.

the only things that are more sure things are price increases on tickets, food and beverage and resorts at WDW and more DVC additions at WDW.

 

[WDW1974]

To expect retail workers to report to work on Thanksgiving is horrible. Something I saw on the local news last year was just as bad, if not worse.

There was a large line of people lined up outside a major retailer, waiting for the store to open at some ridiculously early hour in the middle of the night (for those Black Friday "must have" deals). So, a mother walks over to her teenaged son in the the queue. She hands him his Thanksgiving dinner in a disposable pan covered in tin foil—while the kid is sitting on the concrete sidewalk. The reporter, interviewing people in line, asks her if this is how her family "celebrates" Thanksgiving, and she replied, "Oh yes! My son's in line to get a great price on a large, flat screen tv, so that our whole family can enjoy it!!"

At what point in time, did our basic priorities get so distorted?

Who knows? Priorities in this country are so twisted that I sometimes wonder how we don't simply collapse into an abyss of flames due to all the hypocrisy.

 

[WDW1974]

We still do our tree and Christmas Eve church, but we've cut down significantly on presents, and instead plan special events we can all do together. I print up special invitations to these and pass them out on Christmas Eve. Last year, for instance, we rented our city's municipal pool for 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon and had our own private pool party - in January! It was great fun, and the weather cooperated, although we were shoveling snow the week before. My husband and I plan a trip together as our gift to each other, and our (adult) kids have taken to contributing something to surprise us on that trip as their gift to us.

I think Thanksgiving and Christmas are what you make of them, and the optimist side of me still believes in the Spirit without commercialism.

And the Spirit always appreciates his believers, his flock if you will ...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yet another cruise (I shouldn't talk as I am booked on three next year, even though I won't be taking them all)?

Not with Mickey this time, tho. Little nervous. I know its important to see what the competition is like so I'm trying to keep an open mind. Few snafus during the pre-planning thus far. Even with the $$ already spent on specialty dining and soda (other cruise lines make you prepay stuff) we're still on-point with the cost of Mickey. Well, except we're in 2 rooms vs. 1 and on a holiday sailing vs. a non-holiday. We'll see. Definitely plan to do a full contrast write up when we return.

We have a few booked next year but looking like we may change a few things. All depends on the wrap-up of the old man's project. Originally he was supposed to finish early fall this year. Got pushed to end of year. Now it's looking like later spring which could present some serious issues to the travel plans.

 

[njDizFan]

We have some obscure Blue Laws here in north New Jersey. Basically the entire County of Bergen is closed for business on Sundays. Legislation has been inacted many many times in order reverse those laws. The public has turned them down by vote every time. In New Jersey we also are not allowed to sell motorized vehicles on Sunday and many auto retailers are crying that they are leaving money on the table from counties just across the border.

It's nice to have a day off, after 20 years in restaurant/retail, I appreciate that time even more. I will not shop on any major holidays and would never partake in Black Friday.

 

[Goofyernmost]

This is a myth based on an incorrect belief about the origins of the term "black Friday." While a good Christmas season is essential to the bottom line of many retailers, big and small, any store that runs in the red all year will be out of business long before Christmas season arrives.

It is hardly a myth. Throughout the year retail will draw enough to restock and cover expenses, but the holiday season will determine whether or not the year was good or was cause for concern. The term Black Friday didn't come into use until the Friday after Thanksgiving had been active for a few years. It was a term of dread that the public used to show how much they hated, yet had to participate to get the deals. The retail industry picked up on it because like the old days before FP at Disney, it was something that everyone whined about, but, considered it a part of the experience and not a total negative. It became more of a badge of honor to be sitting outside Sears at 4 AM waiting for the toy or electrical device of current demand could be had at a major discount. "You know", they'd say.."I had to get up at 3 AM but I got that Cabbage Patch Doll for less then half price."

 

[GoofGoof]

I'll be quite blunt here since I know who has talked to whom and what those talks entailed: Disney is lying.

They don't have a signed deal that I am aware of, but they have been actively looking at expanding and it is pretty much a question of when, not if. They said similar things before expanding in 2007. Hell, knowing Disney they might just be trying to pressure builders into lower costs and better terms.

the only things that are more sure things are price increases on tickets, food and beverage and resorts at WDW and more DVC additions at WDW.

It seemed kinda odd that they shot down the question outright. Usually if the answer is really no, you hedge that with something like "we are always looking for new opportunities to expand, but nothing is currently in the works". By emphatically denying even considering it makes me think they may be trying to hide something for strategic purposes. They gushed over the success of GFV so I'm sure more DVC is coming.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Would anyone be interested in discussing Thor 2? I saw it last night and have some thoughts on it. As well as the future of Marvel's tentpoles and whether or not Disney will start interfering in the future not unlike what has happened with Pixar seem like other topics worth discussing. We need to get an obligatory Iger-Netflix on an iPhone swipe in today.