The Great Paper Napkin Watch

[DisneyDebNJ]

Personally, I really don't care if people thing complaining about napkins is silly. As the OP said, for a place that has built it's reputation on being better than the rest, I find this corner cutting to be extremely cheap. The whole Disney Parks thing is bad enough. This is just pathetic. That entire place was mobbed to the 10th degree a few weeks back and people were spending money hand over fist. I'm sorry, but you can't do one thing for so long, then cheapen out, change things, and not expect anyone to notice how cheap you are being.

And to answer the OP's question, yes, Disney is getting this petty. However the correct word would be cheap.

Yes, the Captain is right. Prices continue to go up, while certain nuances seem to fade. I can understand Corporate Disney trying to save a buck but at what point does it stop?? What's next, being swung over Splash Mountain on a rubber band???

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I want to see Mickey when I wipe my mouth. It's the little things that make Disney. I can get a better burger and fries at home, cheaper and tastier too. I go to Disney because they serve Mickey with my fries. If they don't do that, why should I bother?

 

[unkadug]

I want to see Mickey when I wipe my mouth. It's the little things that make Disney. I can get a better burger and fries at home, cheaper and tastier too. I go to Disney because they serve Mickey with my fries. If they don't do that, why should I bother?

Best post of the thread.

 

[GoofGoof]

Will you be upset when Disney paper cups are done away with in favor of plain old Dixie cups? How about just plain white paper plates? It may not seem like much, but little by little, all the Disney touches will be gone if we take the "I don't care" attitude.

They will be gone no matter what attitude we have. There is a whole thread on here listing all of the things that are gone from WDW. This is just one thing in a long list. As long as people keep going back (and we will) nothing will change. The reality is that 95% of people won't even notice the napkins are gone. I'm not trying to say that people don't have a right to be upset by this change and I know in a lot of people's minds this is just one more small example of a downward trend, but with only a few exceptions we are all still going to go back.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I hear that corn cobs are a lot cheaper than toilet paper.

With the drought this year, actually anything corn based is very expensive.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Will you be upset when Disney paper cups are done away with in favor of plain old Dixie cups? How about just plain white paper plates? It may not seem like much, but little by little, all the Disney touches will be gone if we take the "I don't care" attitude.

The fact that there is no Disney logo on my cup or plate does not affect my enjoyment of the food and/or beverage.

 

[JenniferS]

I stole napkins from Disney. Sorry.

Well, at least we know who to blame now.

Gotta say, though, not that big a deal to me. In retrospect, I believe I used to always use the reverse blank side to wipe my mouth anyway, as I must have sub-consciously feared spreading ink on my face.

 

[mickey2008.1]

Are they gone from all Disney parks, or just Orlando? It is the little touches that separates Disney from everywhere else.

 

[Tom]

Sometimes environmentally friendly lacks good sense.....

Like "low flow" toilets? So, we go from 3 gallons per flush to 1.8 (or whatever it is). As a result, some business requires 2 flushes in order to leave the facility in an adequate state of readiness for the next patron.

With the drought this year, actually anything corn based is very expensive.

We got corn from the farmer's market last week. Might as well have been cob-only. Very depressing. Most crops around here have been written off. They're just letting the corn die. Those insured will come out alright, but many of the smaller operations are taking a huge hit.

As for the napkins, I'm holding a McDonald's napkin right now. Arguably one of the most lucrative quick service entity in the world - yet always looking for ways to trim costs. Not only is this napkin of decent quality (white, textured, multi-ply), but their logo is actually embossed in the paper.

If good 'ol McDonald's can produce quality logo'd napkins, why can't Disney? Even if they just emboss a Mickey head in them - which is likely cheaper than ink-printing.

Ray Kroc and Walt Disney were buddies from the war....too bad one of their company's lost sight, while the other became the literal king of fast food (i.e. the Disney of quick service food).

 

[unkadug]

Like "low flow" toilets? So, we go from 3 gallons per flush to 1.8 (or whatever it is). As a result, some business requires 2 flushes in order to leave the facility in an adequate state of readiness for the next patron.



We got corn from the farmer's market last week. Might as well have been cob-only. Very depressing. Most crops around here have been written off. They're just letting the corn die. Those insured will come out alright, but many of the smaller operations are taking a huge hit.

As for the napkins, I'm holding a McDonald's napkin right now. Arguably one of the most lucrative quick service entity in the world - yet always looking for ways to trim costs. Not only is this napkin of decent quality (white, textured, multi-ply), but their logo is actually embossed in the paper.

If good 'ol McDonald's can produce quality logo'd napkins, why can't Disney? Even if they just emboss a Mickey head in them - which is likely cheaper than ink-printing.

Ray Kroc and Walt Disney were buddies from the war....too bad one of their company's lost sight, while the other became the literal king of fast food (i.e. the Disney of quick service food).

I've noticed that around here also. Acres upon acres on dried up corn stalks being plowed under. Total loss. Food prices will be going up this year most definitely.

Corn cobs will be sparse as a result. Perhaps they should take those unprinted napkins and put them in the toilets!

 

[captainkidd]

The fact that there is no Disney logo on my cup or plate does not affect my enjoyment of the food and/or beverage.

It has nothing to do with enjoying the food or beverage. Like someone else said, I can get a burger and fries at home or at Six Flags - Tastier and cheaper. I know it's not the same analogy, but to me it's like Disney building a new roller coaster with absolutely no theme. Sure, the thrill is still there, but it's not Disney without the theme.

 

[captainkidd]

Here's a good example:

What if Disney decided to stop selling Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars and Ice Cream sandwiches, and replaced them with ordinary ice cream novelties, would that change the taste of the ice cream? Or how about Mickey Mouse waffles? What if those were to go away? Would the waffles taste any different? Of course not.

But would people care? I know I sure would.

 

[unkadug]

Here's a good example:

What if Disney decided to stop selling Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars and Ice Cream sandwiches, and replaced them with ordinary ice cream novelties, would that change the taste of the ice cream? Or how about Mickey Mouse waffles? What if those were to go away? Would the waffles taste any different? Of course not.

But would people care? I know I sure would.

You should NEVER post such things on the internet. They will read your post and realize that they could save 50 cents per ice cream sandwich and so long Mickey Bars.

 

[Tom]

You should NEVER post such things on the internet. They will read your post and realize that they could save 50 cents per ice cream sandwich and so long Mickey Bars.

Sadly.....there's nothing in your post that could be argued.

 

[nepalostparks]

I can get a burger and fries at home or at Six Flags - Tastier and cheaper.

I'm sure you can get a burger at home cheaper. No doubt there.

But cheaper at Six Flags? I doubt it. A quick google search yielded this:

Six Flags over Texas - All American Cafe (menu from 2010)
- Cheeseburger Basket - $9.99 (Single patty burger, with cheese, served with fries)

Magic Kingdom - Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe (menu from July 2012)
- 1/3 Pound Cheeseburger - $8.69 (served with fries or apple slices)

Perhaps your local Six Flags has lower prices?

 

[asianway]

Here's a good example:

What if Disney decided to stop selling Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars and Ice Cream sandwiches, and replaced them with ordinary ice cream novelties, would that change the taste of the ice cream? Or how about Mickey Mouse waffles? What if those were to go away? Would the waffles taste any different? Of course not.

But would people care? I know I sure would.

Saw a guy walking away from an ice cream cart today with a generic Haagen Dazs novelty and the same thought crossed my mind. Im sure if the right power point were presented, they could make the argument today. Obviously that guy didnt care. Of course, nothing compares to the OJ bars in Tokyo......

 

[captainkidd]

I'm sure you can get a burger at home cheaper. No doubt there.

But cheaper at Six Flags? I doubt it. A quick google search yielded this:

Six Flags over Texas - All American Cafe (menu from 2010)
- Cheeseburger Basket - $9.99 (Single patty burger, with cheese, served with fries)

Magic Kingdom - Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe (menu from July 2012)
- 1/3 Pound Cheeseburger - $8.69 (served with fries or apple slices)

Perhaps your local Six Flags has lower prices?

Actually, you're correct about that. I remember going to Six Flags last year and being appalled at the price of food. However, it was better than Disney's typical fast food.

 

[bethymouse]

I will be watching those napkins soon! I'll report back in late September!

 

[xdan0920]

Lots of corn posts here. The kerneled menace strikes again.

This move by TDO is just one more example of the stunning lack of foresight in Orlando. Take, take, take. They do not understand the concept of brand deterioration at all. Yes they save a few bucks with the cheap-o napkins, slashing an hour of EMH, and converting water features into flower beds. But in the long run, this will hurt the brand, and eventually that impacts profits in a negative way. I guess we all just have to wait for that to happen, and hope it cycles back around.

 

[captainkidd]

Lots of corn posts here. The kerneled menace strikes again.

This move by TDO is just one more example of the stunning lack of foresight in Orlando. Take, take, take. They do not understand the concept of brand deterioration at all. Yes they save a few bucks with the cheap-o napkins, slashing an hour of EMH, and converting water features into flower beds. But in the long run, this will hurt the brand, and eventually that impacts profits in a negative way. I guess we all just have to wait for that to happen, and hope it cycles back around.

Well, obviously I'm gonna be the last one to say "I'm taking a stand!"

However, I will say this - I'm going to Orlando next weekend and we're just going to Universal. 5 years ago, I could not have possibly done that. I figure now it's because I love Universal so much. But could it be more than that? I don't know. Only time will tell.