The Great Paper Napkin Watch

[mickey2008.1]

And why is it different today? Corporate greed? I'm not a basher of WDW, as I love it, but why make it similar to other parks. And why we are on the subject, does Universal have printed napkins? just curious.

 

[mickey2008.1]

And on another note, i have already ordered my holiday napkins for my restaurant. Which are printed and more expensive. But it adds to the fun of the celebrations. It's a cost of business.

 

[Cody5294]

Where in DHS were you? Snack cart? Commissary? Brown Derby?

Turkey leg stand at Sunset Blvd. They just had the Disney park logo and I think the castle and nothing else

 

[Patricia Melton]

To be proactive, I accept that some don't think this is a big deal. It's a reasonable opinion. IMHO, it is a big deal when a multi billion dollar corporation that claims to be a premium entertainment destination wants to charge me $90 per day for admission, $300 per night for a resort room, and $50 for a meal but doesn't match something that's provided at a fast food chain.

I'm sure the old printed napkins were lovely and made wiping your face or a child's nose that much more fun. I like little details like this too. But napkins are napkins and get thrown away. From a "green" perspective, I actually like the idea that less ink is being wasted and sent to landfills and that the napkins being thrown away are less toxic to the environment because of this. I know that was not Disney's intent, and that the move was cost-cutting in nature, but I chose to see the silver lining in this (as opposed to how you see it).



This economy we're in is actually in a depression. No one in the media wants to say that right now, but next year or in 2014 at the latest they're going to have to admit it. Every business out there is cutting back in any way it can. This past holiday season, for instance, instead of getting the big baskets of Pepperidge Farms samplers that I used to get from some of the suppliers to my business, we got cheaper, smaller Christmas gifts. The grocery store used to have these frozen pizzas I really like for 3/$10 and now they are never any less expensive than 2/$12. I've noticed restaurants everywhere cutting back on the quantity and quality of things like tomatoes that go onto sandwiches or in salads. As a tomato lover, I'm not happy about this...but I certainly know that no one is making these cuts just for the heck of it or because they know this will irk me.

Times are tough. Businesses make cuts to survive. They try their best to do it as unobtrusively as possible. Clearly, they thought losing the printed napkins would be a better cut to make than reducing the portion size of food or raising menu prices. Every penny saved means one less penny that has to be taken out of another department's budget.

No one likes having to make cuts. And no one likes cuts coming to things they personally enjoy. But things change and life is much more enjoyable if you don't spend too much time every day bemoaning the loss of something like printed napkins when you would have probably complained even louder if the napkins had stayed the same but something else was eliminated or reduced instead.

 

[Patricia Melton]

I wouldn't mind...or probably even notice...these little cost cutting decisions...IF they used the money they saved and updated or renovated more attractions that really need it.

You mean like DCA's makeover or WDW's Fantasyland Expansion?

Updates and renovations like that?

 

[Bob Saget]

From a "green" perspective, I actually like the idea that less ink is being wasted and sent to landfills and that the napkins being thrown away are less toxic to the environment because of this.

Well said. (All of your post). But this especially^

 

[luv]

Disney can spend a gazillion dollars on Avatarland, but they can't afford decent napkins or even crumby napkins with a cute Mickey head.

I'd rather have the cute cups, plates and napkins (and colorful plastic silverware) than Avatarland.

 

[maxairmike]

You mean like DCA's makeover or WDW's Fantasyland Expansion?

Updates and renovations like that?

You mean the $1 billion dollar do-over of a park at a resort that still has printed napkins as far as I know? Or do you mean a recovery of space and capacity that the park has been missing for almost the better part of 2 decades after it all finally opens up that was originally provided by a magnificent E-Ticket, while seeing constant corner cutting at said resort?

One is an update and improvement (although needed because of how much they screwed up with the park in the first place), the other is merely a replacement of capacity and space that was cut years ago. One of these is not like the other, and I'm sure you can figure it out.

 

[ParentsOf4]

So many interesting points to respond to.

I've always thought it was kind of vulgar when people trot out a list of numbers when they're bellyaching. $90 for this. $300 for that. $50 for this other thing. No one forced you to spend any of that and it's not really relevant to your complaint about napkins. You could have stayed somewhere cheaper, but chose not to. They have grocery stores in Florida so you could have chosen to bring food into the park or make other cheaper arrangements for meals. You could have even sat through boring time share presentations to score free Disney tickets (and I've done that in the past when money was tight, so I know it can be done). So, your tirade tally of expenditures does not carry a lot of weight with me. You chose to spend what you spent when a more savvy traveler could have brought the whole affair in for much cheaper.

Respectfully, money is the issue. Please don't fool yourself. Disney does not make reductions because they feel these cuts make the parks better. They do this because they are trying to increase profits. It exemplifies a declining business, one lacking creative leadership. Rather than think big to try to grow revenue, think small to try to squeeze profits out of existing revenue. History shows that companies that fall into this business model eventually fail, even if this fall takes decades.

Whether staying at a Value Resort or a Deluxe Resort, dining at a Quick Service or a Signature restaurant, or purchasing a one-day ticket or an Annual Pass, Disney is charging top dollar at all levels for what is supposed to be a premium experience. Disney, please stop acting like Kmart when you charge prices like Neiman Marcus.

Fundamentally, Disney corporate leadership has lost sight of what Walt Disney once said:

I've always been bored with just making money. I've wanted to do things, I wanted to build things. Get something going. People look at me in different ways. Some of them say, 'The guy has no regard for money.' That is not true. I have had regard for money. But I'm not like some people who worship money as something you've got to have piled up in a big pile somewhere. I've only thought of money in one way, and that is to do something with it, you see? I don't think there is a thing that I own that I will ever get the benefit of, except through doing things with it.

I'm sure the old printed napkins were lovely and made wiping your face or a child's nose that much more fun. I like little details like this too. But napkins are napkins and get thrown away. From a "green" perspective, I actually like the idea that less ink is being wasted and sent to landfills and that the napkins being thrown away are less toxic to the environment because of this. I know that was not Disney's intent, and that the move was cost-cutting in nature, but I chose to see the silver lining in this (as opposed to how you see it).

The napkins are representative of the attention to detail Walt Disney was so famous for. They, along with the many other "little details", represent what's best about WDW, what distinguishes WDW from the rest. When WDW starts to cut corners then it really is sinking down to the level of Univeral or SeaWorld. Both of those Orlando theme parks seem to be trying to improve, trying to catch WDW. Disney's corporate leadership appears to be determined to make it easier for the competition by slowing eliminating those details that once made WDW superior.

Sorry but I really don't buy into the entire environmentally friendly argument. If anything, I suspect plan brown napkins are more likely to be thrown away. If Disney is really worried about the micrograms of ink being printed on the napkins, then I suggest Disney could save a lot more ink by stop printing those lovely boxes to put souvenirs in. Of course, those brightly colored boxes help sell merchandise. I'll believe that Disney is fully committed to reducing landfill waste once they sacrifice sales & profits by eliminating brightly colored packages and plastic bags.

This economy we're in is actually in a depression. No one in the media wants to say that right now, but next year or in 2014 at the latest they're going to have to admit it. Every business out there is cutting back in any way it can. This past holiday season, for instance, instead of getting the big baskets of Pepperidge Farms samplers that I used to get from some of the suppliers to my business, we got cheaper, smaller Christmas gifts. The grocery store used to have these frozen pizzas I really like for 3/$10 and now they are never any less expensive than 2/$12. I've noticed restaurants everywhere cutting back on the quantity and quality of things like tomatoes that go onto sandwiches or in salads. As a tomato lover, I'm not happy about this...but I certainly know that no one is making these cuts just for the heck of it or because they know this will irk me.

Times are tough. Businesses make cuts to survive. They try their best to do it as unobtrusively as possible. Clearly, they thought losing the printed napkins would be a better cut to make than reducing the portion size of food or raising menu prices. Every penny saved means one less penny that has to be taken out of another department's budget.

No one likes having to make cuts. And no one likes cuts coming to things they personally enjoy. But things change and life is much more enjoyable if you don't spend too much time every day bemoaning the loss of something like printed napkins when you would have probably complained even louder if the napkins had stayed the same but something else was eliminated or reduced instead.

I suggest you look at what's happening at Universal and SeaWorld. Both are moving forward with major expansions. A visionary knows that a weak economy sometimes is the best time to strike. Recall that Walt Disney grew his company and created the first full length animated film ("Snow White") during the Great Depression.

Is current leadership at The Walt Disney Company up to Walt Disney's standards? No, and that's the crux of the problem.

While reading your post for some reason I was reminded of T.S. Eliot's line, "Not with a bang but a whimper." Sadly, I think it's because WDW appears to be slowly settling for mediocrity and there appears to be those willing to accept it rather than push Disney to be better. Don't we all want WDW to be better?

 

[unkadug]

I've always thought it was kind of vulgar when people trot out a list of numbers when they're bellyaching. $90 for this. $300 for that. $50 for this other thing. No one forced you to spend any of that and it's not really relevant to your complaint about napkins. You could have stayed somewhere cheaper, but chose not to. They have grocery stores in Florida so you could have chosen to bring food into the park or make other cheaper arrangements for meals. You could have even sat through boring time share presentations to score free Disney tickets (and I've done that in the past when money was tight, so I know it can be done). So, your tirade tally of expenditures does not carry a lot of weight with me. You chose to spend what you spent when a more savvy traveler could have brought the whole affair in for much cheaper.

I'm sure the old printed napkins were lovely and made wiping your face or a child's nose that much more fun. I like little details like this too. But napkins are napkins and get thrown away. From a "green" perspective, I actually like the idea that less ink is being wasted and sent to landfills and that the napkins being thrown away are less toxic to the environment because of this. I know that was not Disney's intent, and that the move was cost-cutting in nature, but I chose to see the silver lining in this (as opposed to how you see it).

I get the impression you really have a consistent axe to grind against Disney if you want to make a big deal about there no longer being printed napkins. I would love to have your life, where this is a big problem for you or something to focus on...that napkins at Disney are no longer embellished and printed on.

This economy we're in is actually in a depression. No one in the media wants to say that right now, but next year or in 2014 at the latest they're going to have to admit it. Every business out there is cutting back in any way it can. This past holiday season, for instance, instead of getting the big baskets of Pepperidge Farms samplers that I used to get from some of the suppliers to my business, we got cheaper, smaller Christmas gifts. The grocery store used to have these frozen pizzas I really like for 3/$10 and now they are never any less expensive than 2/$12. I've noticed restaurants everywhere cutting back on the quantity and quality of things like tomatoes that go onto sandwiches or in salads. As a tomato lover, I'm not happy about this...but I certainly know that no one is making these cuts just for the heck of it or because they know this will irk me.

Times are tough. Businesses make cuts to survive. They try their best to do it as unobtrusively as possible. Clearly, they thought losing the printed napkins would be a better cut to make than reducing the portion size of food or raising menu prices. Every penny saved means one less penny that has to be taken out of another department's budget.

No one likes having to make cuts. And no one likes cuts coming to things they personally enjoy. But things change and life is much more enjoyable if you don't spend too much time every day bemoaning the loss of something like printed napkins when you would have probably complained even louder if the napkins had stayed the same but something else was eliminated or reduced instead.

In case you ever wonder...responses like this is what makes a lot of people think you are a Company plant.

The argument about the ink is BS....why not simply do an embossing ala McDonalds. It's obviously not that expensive and still gives the impression that you aren't simply buying napkins from Sam's Club.

 

[unkadug]

You are robbing people from their joy of complaint. Don't dare tell them that any of the Splash AA's are working properly.

We aren't complaining about this per se, but about the whole cheapening of the experience. It's all about details, and to cut out these details and to constantly increase prices is biting the hand that feeds you.

 

[Brewmaster]

In case you ever wonder...responses like this is what makes a lot of people think you are a Company plant

Don't water the Plant, it only encourages growth....

 

[swissamy]

I still have one of the original 50's Prime Time Cafe napkins saved. These were honestly as thick and soft as a mini pillow! Alas...how times have changed - and napkins are just the beginning - ...

 

[olinecoach61]

I could care less if my napkins say Disney parks or not. I'm wiping my face and hands with them.

 

[wm49rs]

I've always thought it was kind of vulgar when people trot out a list of numbers when they're bellyaching. $90 for this. $300 for that. $50 for this other thing.

But the price of corn going up is fair play?

Now, should there ever be any damage to the coffee bean crop one year.....

 

[ScoutN]

But the price of corn going up is fair play?

Now, should there ever be any damage to the coffee bean crop one year.....

Price of corn? Still harvesting 1800sqft from the garden out back! Gotta love having space for one. Don't get me started on the tomatoes I harvested this morning... and eggplant.

As far as this kid who is making the seemingly erroneous claim that he had a printed napkin. I would like to call BS on that, it is the same kid that took what looks like slack info on an announcement and posted. Guess I will see first hand in ten days.

 

[Brewmaster]

I could care less if my napkins say Disney parks or not. I'm wiping my face and hands with them.

Absolutely, and that's exactly how it's supposed to be. It's a napkin and it provides a service, pretty simple. However there is an added Utility for the consumer when you have a product (in this case a paper napkin) and you add a non quantitative benefit to enhance that product (a cartoon mouse printed on the napkin) that creates a small level of satisfaction for the consumer that reassures them that their expected Utility has been met. In all reality it's the overall collection of small enhancements to the Disney product that creates customer satisfaction, and creates a competitive advantage for the Company.

 

[murphysmom]

I think the small things such as printed napkins are a very nice touch. However, if it comes down to Disney raising ticket prices again, or losing printed napkins, then the napkins can go. I'm glad they are looking at things to cut without immediately resorting to raising prices even more.

I also think part of the reason for getting rid of the printing is most likely to discourage people from taking gobs of them home with them. Even if every family at WDW only takes 1 extra napkin home, that is thousands of extra napkins a day.

 

[puntagordabob]

There are some things that bug me about the parks, I just see napkins as lower on the list.

By itself the napkins move is not a big deal....however when you look at the bigger picture it is quite distressing.

Each year during the past few Christmas holiday trips we have always brought back one wax paper cup with the holiday artwork on it... last year there were none.... I noticed it and must admit that I thought it was craptaclular.

Anyone know if Disneyland still has their napkins and such? If I were a betting man I would say Yes they do, though could be wrong of course.

 

[Brewmaster]

I think the small things such as printed napkins are a very nice touch. However, if it comes down to Disney raising ticket prices again, or losing printed napkins, then the napkins can go. I'm glad they are looking at things to cut without immediately resorting to raising prices even more.

But they are increasing admission pricing while simultaniously imparting cost cutting measures in park operations

I also think part of the reason for getting rid of the printing is most likely to discourage people from taking gobs of them home with them. Even if every family at WDW only takes 1 extra napkin home, that is thousands of extra napkins a day.

I have a hard time believing that napkin pilfering is a new problem at WDW, seems like a great excuse to justify the change though.