Disney feeling the economic pinch About This Page:

[Rainbowy]

I have to agree with several other posters, that Woody's CC, which now I realize we saw part of, was pretty lame. The thing is, we felt they had started doing too many "little parade shows" in the parks. Having been there in the 70's, I remember when there was only one parade. ANd the entire attending public camped out on main street to see it. So I think all of these many little shows have worn people out on the characters and their antics. Sort of a "too much of a good thing".
As for Poccohontis we decided it was something that was not worth visiting.
Fantasmic, we really, really enjoyed, It was our first time seeing it. But DH and I were wondering right afterward, how much that show costs. Being in theatre ourselves,having built some large sets, and knowing the thousands of dollars the sets alone must cost. Adding in all the FX, and the talented actors. It is not surprising that this isn't cost effective every night. You would pay 50 dollars or more for tickets to a show like that all by itself!
I hope Disney doesn't have to cut too much, but I surely get why they are making those cuts. For us it won't take away the magic.

[carters_mom]

Originally Posted by alecshawn

Huh?, The numbers dont lie.
1. Attendence is up
2. Profit is up (beat the street)
3. Capacity at the resorts is running at 89% Just about as ggod as you can get!
We just returned from Disney and the Resort (A.S. Music) and the parks looked as good as ever.
It seems that instead of accepting the facts and truth, you are interjecting your own (wrong and misinformed) opinion.
Disney is doing great...(heck, the overall economy is STILL in a positive pattern) despite all the main stream media doom and gloom.

While I agree that Disney is earning profits, it doesn't mean that they aren't making cut backs to save themselves money in a rocky economy. They may be concerned as to where the road will lead as money gets tighter and tighter for Americans. I Know that gas for my car and food for my family sure the heck is costing me a lot more these days! Will it effect whether I travel to WDW next year, very possible. Not to mention the outrageous climb in air fair.
Some of the things in the article made more sense as being let go due to unpopularity but not all of them. Also what about the changes being made to Character dining?
Either way, everyone is entitled to their opinion and for you to tell them it's wrong doesn't seem quite right.

[Shell_of_the_South]

Originally Posted by carters_mom

While I agree that Disney is earning profits, it doesn't mean that they aren't making cut backs to save themselves money in a rocky economy. They may be concerned as to where the road will lead as money gets tighter and tighter for Americans. I Know that gas for my car and food for my family sure the heck is costing me a lot more these days! Will it effect whether I travel to WDW next year, very possible. Not to mention the outrageous climb in air fair.

I agree, I think some of the cutbacks is Disney being proactive of the future, not that they are hurting right now. Business has been booming, but I wonder if as many people are still booking trips for next year.

Some of the changes remind me of the times right after 9/11. We went to WDW a few weeks after 9/11, and there were a lot of cutbacks - mainly less park hours, shows, etc.. But as things slowly started to get back to normal and the economy picked up, many of those things were brought back and even improved. I think Disney's being cautious and smart, exactly what I want them to do as a stockholder.

[tio marco]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

Disney is a money-making venture. They are a business and have a fiduciary responsibility to their investors and stockholders.

[MorenaSangre]

I have seriously mixed feelings about all of this...

For me, and perhaps for some of you, a lot of those mixed feelings come from a hodge podge of anxiety about the economy and a deep seated desire to believe that Disney is something special, a company that is a little bit more than just another corporation.

The Disney company has worked hard to sell itself as a purveyor of magic and to present its parks as "the place where dreams come true." As the media pelts all of us with an unending onslaught of doom and gloom (the economy is crashing! The politicians are evil! The hurricanes are bringing the apocalypse!) we need to believe in magic and in hope. We (at least those of us who participate in Disney message boards!) look to Disney to give us magic in the middle of those fears and insecurities.

Because we think of Disney as something "different," I think we view news of closings and changeovers a little differently. Yes, the blogger seemed to be focusing on the doom and gloom, but that's easy to do. Disney represents all our good, innocent hopes, and by suggesting that even they are cutting back, the blogger plays on our fears. I, for one, am more upset than I probably should be over every "cut" - even though some of them may simply be a change to a new act - because I'm afraid that the Disney magic is as delicate as so many other hopes and dreams that have been sacrificed to "the way things are."

So, yeah, I feel the same way the blogger does about the cutbacks...they upset me. But more than that, they make me afraid. I don't want the Disney company to "make it through these tough times." I want them to continue to give their customers (mostly me ) magic and wonder above and beyond what I can find elsewhere, and my fear is that the economic pressure can interfere with that. I guess that in my little world, I'm trying to accept the closure and change as a natural part of what Disney is and has always been, and I'm closing my eyes, remembering the sun peeking over the towers of the castle, and whispering "dreams come true."

[tndisneyfam]

I agree that it just seems to be Disney doing business as usual. In my opinion, the blogger is trying to make more out of it than what it is. Disney changes things all the time. As a shareholder, I think it's good they are trying to cut back where they think it is necessary. Am I happy with all the changes? No, but I never am. And I agree it does sound a bit like what Disney did after 9/11.

[Brant]

Blog editorials are a tough sell, especially predictive ones like this that use phrases like "is shaping up to be" and such. I try to keep an open mind and I can see what this blogger was going for. Few people are world-class analysts so sometimes the evidence to theory ratio just isn't there! But remember that opinions like blogs are just a point of view and should be given due respect, just like those who agree or disagree with it!.

So please, if you disagree, remember to argue against the BLOG and the OPINIONS, not the people who offer them!

[Jolin]

well, I think the cutbacks and cancellations of performances are just part of the ever evolving WDW, this way, they ensure there'll always be somethign new for us to enjoy. Although it may be motivated partly by the horrible state of the economy right now, it would have still happened anyway even if the economy were booming! I'm sure Fantasmic will make its way back to a daily showing once things improve, and they might replace the other things as well.

[disneyqueenmum]

I think the one big disappointment for me in the list of cutbacks was that Fantasmic will only be showing two nights a week! I think that it will be a logistical nightmare to handle crowds trying to get into the show. They lines may far outnumber the seating. And if if they still do things like they did the last time we were there, they lined everyone up first before they let us in. Mine are teenagers now, so they can stand, but people with little children who try to get there early will be standing with little ones for a looooong time. Very unpleasant. I do hope this is a temporary cutback!

[Dreaming of DisneyWorld]

Uh-Oh! We're going to be there on "Black Saturday", September 27!! And, here Pocahontas and Woody's CC were the only two things I had planned! What ever will I do? I say, "move on Mr. Blogger." They are constantly updating and adding new things to my beloved Disney World. And, did anyone tell him that you simply cannot compare WDW to Six Flags? If he were a true Disney-atic, he would know that shows and attractions come and go, but there will never be a loss for magic.

[DISNEY03]

When I first read this I was very upset about Woody's roundup. We were just getting over PI closing and now this! We're going in 6 weeks and our ds4 was so looking forward to this. We are taking DD3 to BBB and DS was going to Woody's roundup during that time.
Oh well, I just have to trust that it was not meant to be and the fact that a few have shared that it was not that exciting makes me feel a little better, although ds loves Woody and the gang. We'll have to hang out at Al's in HS!!!!
Thank you for sharing this info. so we can tell ds it is no longer and find something else exciting for him to do.

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by DISNEY03

We're going in 6 weeks and our ds4 was so looking forward to this.

There's been no official announcement by Disney that Woody's Round-up has a definite end-date. As far as I know, it will continue through the end of the Year of a Million Dreams promotion -- which is scheduled through December.

I hope you had your kids get to see it!
Eileen

[DISNEY03]

YAY!! Thank you Eileen. I'll make sure we check for sure before we say anything to him, but I'm excited to know that it still might be there!!!!!

[SuperKate]

Originally Posted by Brant

Blog editorials are a tough sell, especially predictive ones like this that use phrases like "is shaping up to be" and such. I try to keep an open mind and I can see what this blogger was going for. Few people are world-class analysts so sometimes the evidence to theory ratio just isn't there! But remember that opinions like blogs are just a point of view and should be given due respect, just like those who agree or disagree with it!.

So please, if you disagree, remember to argue against the BLOG and the OPINIONS, not the people who offer them!

thank you! jeezo. what is going on around here?

I don't know how I feel about this. It's still my happy place. It's still full of things I love to do....I'm sure what they take away will be replaced with something bigger and better. I hope

but we can still be sad about the things we love that are leaving.

[mestitch]

I think we need to be careful stating that someone's opinion is wrong. As we all should know, an opinion is just that, someone's opinion. Facts are right or wrong. But what someone thinks is not fact.

As for the changes... I hate to see change, but what can you do? It's going to happen.