News Round Up 2017

[skier_pete]

It just seems janky to not offer 24 hour room service in supposed luxury properties.

I agree that it seems like a true "deluxe" resort should have the ability to get food round the clock - but I wonder if they found that like 0.01% of the customers were actually USING it between 12 AM and 6 AM, so they felt the # of guests affected were extremely small.

 

[BigRed98]

Olaf will be part of this years Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here's a link below:

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/793365001

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree that it seems like a true "deluxe" resort should have the ability to get food round the clock - but I wonder if they found that like 0.01% of the customers were actually USING it between 12 AM and 6 AM, so they felt the # of guests affected were extremely small.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is the case in WDW, unlike, let's say, NYC or Vegas...

 

[amberpi]

I agree that it seems like a true "deluxe" resort should have the ability to get food round the clock - but I wonder if they found that like 0.01% of the customers were actually USING it between 12 AM and 6 AM, so they felt the # of guests affected were extremely small.

I'm sure it's something like that, but it seems like such a small cost saving to take away an industry normative for luxury hotels. Is this another way of WDW saying they're not even trying to cater to those clients? Not that I always stay at the Ritz personally, but you'd think WDW would want to have the appearance of that level of quality, at least at the GF, since it's the flagship property.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I'm sure it's something like that, but it seems like such a small cost saving to take that away industry normative for luxury hotels. Is this another way of WDW saying they're not even trying to cater to those clients? Not that I always stay at the Ritz personally, but you'd think WDW would want to have the appearance of that level of quality, at least at the GF, since it's the flagship property.

I really think Disney is purely selling proximity with their "deluxe" moniker.

When I think of Disney resorts (as compared to value level) I think:
- Moderate = I get a queen bed, pool slide and restaurant;
- Deluxe = I get a queen bed, pool slide, multiple restaurants, interior hallways, a bigger room, and proximity to at least one park

I don't really expect "luxury style" amenities anywhere on Disney property (and I don't really desire them so it works for my family).

 

[jade1]

First Look at Woody's Lunch Box in Toy Story Land!

This will be the quick-service location in Toy Story Land. Menu will be released at a later time.

Disney Parks Blog Article: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ory-land/?CMP=SOC-DPFY17Q4wo1019171025170002B

Interesting XMAS lights-should add some vibrant illumination. Should be a fun land esp at night.

 

[DrunkJam]

I'm sure it's something like that, but it seems like such a small cost saving to take away an industry normative for luxury hotels. Is this another way of WDW saying they're not even trying to cater to those clients? Not that I always stay at the Ritz personally, but you'd think WDW would want to have the appearance of that level of quality, at least at the GF, since it's the flagship property.

Yep, If I stump up for flagship property, I want to feel like I am getting top end hotel experience.

 

[jade1]

I don't really expect "luxury style" amenities anywhere on Disney property (and I don't really desire them so it works for my family).

Same. We expect deluxe in Chicago, NY, Paris and Sydney visits etc, but zero interest in Waldorf or Four Seasons types at WDW.

If we were, that's what we would choose.

Just not why we are there.

Usually in shorts and sandals, love the walk to EPCOT and MK, sitting on the ground b4 fireworks and parades, walking with food and drinks. Entirely different atmosphere.

 

[amberpi]

Same. We expect deluxe in Chicago, NY, Paris and Sydney visits etc, but zero interest in Waldorf or Four Seasons types at WDW.

If we were, that's what we would choose.

Just not why we are there.

Usually in shorts and sandals, love the walk to EPCOT and MK, sitting on the ground b4 fireworks and parades, walking with food and drinks. Entirely different atmosphere.

I feel the same as a lot of ya'll personally; (everyone knows about my weird obsession with the Swolphin) I just find it a weird play for WDW to not offer that type of experience.

 

[Steph15251]

This is my frist post here but as far as the privite dining hours changing a bit I am not surprised . My sister works privite dining at AKL and going by the hours she mention’s that they have for the cast members that works for that seems like they do not really work around the clock .and she also says they are under staft and she works 6 days a week over 8 hours a day.

 

[SJMajor67]

Actually this renewed Yeti discussion brings up a point. Not that I generally like screens over real animatronic, but wondering if Disney should consider replacing the Yeti with a screen effect. The quality of what they can do now is so much higher than back in 2006.

Let's not give Disney any more ideas. We don't need another Universal.

 

[sachilles]

That's probably the one angle we haven't really explored. While we might look at it as cost cutting and belt tightening, it might simply be a staff resource issue. It's a hard shift to hire for, and combine it with low revenue potential, it was likely an easy decision. Florida already has an issue hiring up for the thousands of jobs they already have. That is always cited as one of the difficulties encountered when thinking of a 5th gate.

 

[jknezek]

That's probably the one angle we haven't really explored. While we might look at it as cost cutting and belt tightening, it might simply be a staff resource issue. It's a hard shift to hire for, and combine it with low revenue potential, it was likely an easy decision. Florida already has an issue hiring up for the thousands of jobs they already have. That is always cited as one of the difficulties encountered when thinking of a 5th gate.

Which of course is completely ridiculous. There is no staffing problem, there is a wage problem. I have more than a few retired friends, a function of owning a vintage motorhome despite being in my 30s, who work at Disney in the winter. They do it because they like working with people, but often they would make more, and work less, if they took a job at Chick Fil A. Especially when you consider the time spent getting to and from costuming and employee parking. Which is unpaid. Then you throw in the joy of having late night and early morning shifts thrown on you regularly back to back, and many tell you it is the most physically challenging and worst paying job they ever had.

But they do it because it is Disney. Although very few do it for more than a season or two. Disney's problem with hiring has never been about being unable to attract employees. It's about being unwilling to pay to retain their epic sized workforce.

 

[Q-man]

See - to each his own - room service is something I never, ever, ever use - I can't get over the pricing up-charge that they stick you with - and also we don't eat late night. (Just not a habit I ever got into.) So this didn't even register with me even though we are DVC and are generally staying at these resorts.

I've never understood getting a cold $20-25 burger/club and soggy fries 40+ minutes later as a plus for a hotel.

 

[Steph15251]

Another thing is my sister that works at AKL some days she only gets like 8 tickets some times they get busy other times it is very slow.

 

[Q-man]

Another thing is my sister that works at AKL some days she only gets like 8 tickets some times they get busy other times it is very slow.

That is why 24 hour room service is going away outside of business hotels. Most people won't swallow the upcharge if they can't expense it. For a family of 4 that upcharge is going to be $40-50 per room service meal.

 

[sachilles]

Which of course is completely ridiculous. There is no staffing problem, there is a wage problem. I have more than a few retired friends, a function of owning a vintage motorhome despite being in my 30s, who work at Disney in the winter. They do it because they like working with people, but often they would make more, and work less, if they took a job at Chick Fil A. Especially when you consider the time spent getting to and from costuming and employee parking. Which is unpaid. Then you throw in the joy of having late night and early morning shifts thrown on you regularly back to back, and many tell you it is the most physically challenging and worst paying job they ever had.

But they do it because it is Disney. Although very few do it for more than a season or two. Disney's problem with hiring has never been about being unable to attract employees. It's about being unwilling to pay to retain their epic sized workforce.

It doesn't matter what the root cause is, it's a staff resource issue. Third shift is a tough one to hire for. Maybe they don't pay enough, that really isn't the point. If they can't make the numbers work already, what is the likelyhood they'll up the pay of those folks working in those outlets?
There is low demand for the service. The labor pool demands higher wages. It's not recipe for keeping a business alive, no matter how nice a perk it is for the 100 people that use it per night. It's probably barely enough revenue to keep the stoves/grills fired up for the evening.
The resort and the guests are probably better off opening themselves up to allow uber-eats on campus.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

If the room service was all Pixie Dusted up, but now going away, I could see getting upset about it. But sounds like it's the usual haphazard hotel room service.

Every single time we order room service late nights at a hotel, it's always terrible and we have to argue it off the final bill in the morning. Seriously. I called room service while we were in Banff on our anniversary, and my DH's burger was totally raw inside. And we are not talking one of those budget hotels on the Strip... I am talking about a DELUXE hotel. A real one at that! With proximity to the Rocky Mtns rather than WDW...

So I understand how this throws a wrench in your automatic musical monkey machine if this adversely affects YOUR vacation. I'll re-adjust my online grocery order.

 

[amberpi]

I've never understood getting a cold $20-25 burger/club and soggy fries 40+ minutes later as a plus for a hotel.

I disagree. I thought eating Bluezoo in my pjs last month was the best thing ever.

I know my views aren't WDW normal though, I also don't travel with kids and love minibars.

 

[jknezek]

It doesn't matter what the root cause is, it's a staff resource issue. Third shift is a tough one to hire for. Maybe they don't pay enough, that really isn't the point. If they can't make the numbers work already, what is the likelyhood they'll up the pay of those folks working in those outlets?
There is low demand for the service. The labor pool demands higher wages. It's not recipe for keeping a business alive, no matter how nice a perk it is for the 100 people that use it per night. It's probably barely enough revenue to keep the stoves/grills fired up for the evening.
The resort and the guests are probably better off opening themselves up to allow uber-eats on campus.

If you pay, people will apply. It might make no financial sense, I agree with you there, and I personally don't care if they deliver crappy food to your door late night or not. But when you start throwing the concept in as a problem with a fifth gate I just kind of laughed. Disney never has trouble hiring enough people. They simply can't hold on to them. Issues with the fifth gate have way more to do with the length of vacations, capital expenditures, and the maintenance costs of the existing infrastructure and parks, than any inability to hire.