WDW Vacationer
Active Member
What if they truly were those companies but called Pinocchio's Bakery and Jasmine's Jewlery?
Jasmine and Pinoccio do NOT belong on MSUSA. Walkaround Pinoccio does fit.
What if they truly were those companies but called Pinocchio's Bakery and Jasmine's Jewlery?
I would say make going to Traditions a condition of working in the parks, regardless of who signs your paychecks. If you want to work AT Disney, you have to understand what separates the job from others, regardless of whether or not you work FOR Disney.The experiences I've had with non-cast members in years past has left me thinking that if they were Disney employees, more would be expected of them. I'm probably being too hard here.
What if they truly were those companies but called Pinocchio's Bakery and Jasmine's Jewlery?
Interesting thread in the Disneyland forum:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?p=3769587
In essence, Mouseplanet reports the long standing Magic Shop was threatened with closure, but micechat reports the store will remain. The catch is that it will be staffed with third party employees and the Disney cast members who worked there will be reallocated to other positions.
So with all the complaints of Main Street USA shops disappearing and merchandise becoming homogenized, what would you think of unique shops returning to Main Street USA if it meant the people working there were employees of third party companies?
Would it bother you if the News and Tobacconist was staffed by employees of Barnes and Noble? What if the fine jewelry shop was staffed by employees of Kay's Jewelers? Maybe there would be a place with rare toys, staffed by employees of Toys R Us.
Thoughts?
No. It should not take third parties to have a good MSUSA.
I agree, it's a shame that it has come to this. Disney IS capable of providing unique shopping experiences. (They have done it before.) While I wouldn't mind too much, it might be what it takes to make history repeat itself again. i.e. They hire outside companies, then take them back over when they see what they are missing sales-wise.
Sorta, kinda. It's more of a long-term rental thing. If I understand it correctly, the physical strollers and ECVs (not sure about wheelchairs) are owned by an outside company. However, the rental locations are operated and staffed by WDW Cast Members.I believe stroller and ecv rental (lockers too?) are outside vendors.
Thats fine, you are still keeping some of the disney allure. As long as they hide the comercialization of it I am fine with it.What if they truly were those companies but called Pinocchio's Bakery and Jasmine's Jewlery?
I am fine with it as long as it does not take away from the magic. If I start to see Zales jewlery signs or Panera bakery signs than I will have a problem.
...and you'll get that horrible homogenized shopping experience. We don't need it again, after we've paid admission fees to get inside the gates.
Isnt this already in place with the "Operating Participants" at WDW like Arribas Brothers?
If i recall, they have to go through traditions as well?
As far as I know, Photopass has always been Disney owned and operated. I believe it was originally treated as a seperate division of the Company--they even had seperate ID's from "regular" WDW CM's, much like DVC and DCL--but that's now changed. Interestingly enough, Photopass is now treated as a part of the Entertainment department.Isn't Photopass staffed by outside vendors? I seem to remember some problems there, at least early on.
Has Photopass gotten better over the past three or four years? Are their photographers still outside employees?
In case anyone is wondering, the concept of Operating Participants is nothing new. It's gotten more prevalent in recent years, but OP's have pretty much always been around in one form or another. As far as I know, they do have to go through a modified version of Traditions. Some of the Operating Participants currently on property:
- Balloon Sellers
- Hair Wrap
- Face Painting (I think)
- Jeoffrey's Coffee (Stands in DAK, Epcot and TTC)
- Spas
- Arribas Brothers (Including the location on Main Street)
- About 40% of World Showcase restaurants and shops
- Almost all of Downtown Disney West Side, including HoyPoloi, House of Blues, the Cirque Du Soleil gift shop, Planet Hollywood, etc.
- Rainforest Cafe
- Tutto Italia, Yak and Yeti, Portabella
- The Pepper Market at Coronado Springs
- Kennels
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