It's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Tuesday, November 17. 2009
We interrupt this writing blog for a completely unrelated rant.
Disney has announced—only via Twitter—that the Lights of Winter display at Epcot will not be installed for the holidays this year; no reasonable explanation given.
I think this may be the last straw for me, the one that breaks Walt Disney World's money-hungry back. The magic that WDW has represented for me has dwindled to a tiny spark but, unlike Tinker Bell, I think it's finally actually dying out. For years, Disney has been making cutbacks to the guest experience at WDW. It hasn't been the utopia it was in the 70's and 80's for a long, long time. But things have gotten much worse in the past couple of years.
Their first egregious offense was the closing of the Adventurers Club.
They closed all of Pleasure Island, of course, but quite frankly the loss of some dance clubs (there are plenty of those around) and an improv comedy club (there are other options in Orlando) didn't bother me beyond the insulting penny-pinching their closure represented. AC, however, was unique; there was no other place in the world like it. It took time for new guests to "get" it, but once you were part of the club, it was a unique, immersive comedy experience. AC was one of the most magical places at Disney for adults, and one of the few real attractions specifically geared toward the over-21 crowd. It worked, it was wonderful, it was magical, it made people smile.
So, of course, Disney killed it. They claimed their polls showed that guests would rather have "more dining and shopping options." Insert your profane interjection of choice here.
Last Christmas, they continued the cost cutting. They cancelled the nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony at Epcot. Why? Because it represented something magical for guests, and it cost money. Thus, onto the refuse pile it went.
This past fall, I attended the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, as I've done every year since moving to Orlando. It was a major disappointment. Gone were most of the "extra" exhibits and experiences, and the previously free culinary and viticultural demonstrations were now available only for a fee. The Party for the Senses, literally the highlight of the Disney year for me, was a disgrace. The live entertainment was gone, the number of food choices was reduced, and, naturally, the price of tickets went up. Amazingly, they even created an "elite" area within the normal venue; for the privilege of sitting within this fenced-off area, one had to pay even more money, and they had security stationed to keep the "riff-raff" out—we "riff-raff" who had paid $135 each to be second-class citizens!
But now, they've removed one of my favorite parts of Christmas at Disney. I have always been mesmerized by the Lights of Winter during our frequent holiday trips to Epcot, and have been known to stop and wait for my favorite song to play: "Carol of the Bells." The arrangement they used, and the synchronized lights and fountain, represented pure magic to me, always bringing a smile to my face.
Ah, but Walt Disney World is no longer about smiles, is it? It's about the bottom line. It's about ignoring the quality of the guest experience. It's about moving people through, while extracting as much money from them as possible.
For me, and many other people, the magic is gone, replaced by stark economic reality. News flash to the Disney powers-that-be: I can get that at home. WDW is supposed to be about escapism, a brief flirt with utopia, a belief that anything can happen, a vacation for the soul. You know, magic.
Walt must be rolling over in his grave. Methinks he needs to pencil some hauntings into his schedule. Else I'm afraid—I hope, actually, if conditions don't improve—WDW may be joining him in the afterlife very soon.
We interrupt this writing blog for a completely unrelated rant.
Disney has announced—only via Twitter—that the Lights of Winter display at Epcot will not be installed for the holidays this year; no reasonable explanation given.
I think this may be the last straw for me, the one that breaks Walt Disney World's money-hungry back. The magic that WDW has represented for me has dwindled to a tiny spark but, unlike Tinker Bell, I think it's finally actually dying out. For years, Disney has been making cutbacks to the guest experience at WDW. It hasn't been the utopia it was in the 70's and 80's for a long, long time. But things have gotten much worse in the past couple of years.
Their first egregious offense was the closing of the Adventurers Club.
They closed all of Pleasure Island, of course, but quite frankly the loss of some dance clubs (there are plenty of those around) and an improv comedy club (there are other options in Orlando) didn't bother me beyond the insulting penny-pinching their closure represented. AC, however, was unique; there was no other place in the world like it. It took time for new guests to "get" it, but once you were part of the club, it was a unique, immersive comedy experience. AC was one of the most magical places at Disney for adults, and one of the few real attractions specifically geared toward the over-21 crowd. It worked, it was wonderful, it was magical, it made people smile.
So, of course, Disney killed it. They claimed their polls showed that guests would rather have "more dining and shopping options." Insert your profane interjection of choice here.
Last Christmas, they continued the cost cutting. They cancelled the nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony at Epcot. Why? Because it represented something magical for guests, and it cost money. Thus, onto the refuse pile it went.
This past fall, I attended the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, as I've done every year since moving to Orlando. It was a major disappointment. Gone were most of the "extra" exhibits and experiences, and the previously free culinary and viticultural demonstrations were now available only for a fee. The Party for the Senses, literally the highlight of the Disney year for me, was a disgrace. The live entertainment was gone, the number of food choices was reduced, and, naturally, the price of tickets went up. Amazingly, they even created an "elite" area within the normal venue; for the privilege of sitting within this fenced-off area, one had to pay even more money, and they had security stationed to keep the "riff-raff" out—we "riff-raff" who had paid $135 each to be second-class citizens!
But now, they've removed one of my favorite parts of Christmas at Disney. I have always been mesmerized by the Lights of Winter during our frequent holiday trips to Epcot, and have been known to stop and wait for my favorite song to play: "Carol of the Bells." The arrangement they used, and the synchronized lights and fountain, represented pure magic to me, always bringing a smile to my face.
Ah, but Walt Disney World is no longer about smiles, is it? It's about the bottom line. It's about ignoring the quality of the guest experience. It's about moving people through, while extracting as much money from them as possible.
For me, and many other people, the magic is gone, replaced by stark economic reality. News flash to the Disney powers-that-be: I can get that at home. WDW is supposed to be about escapism, a brief flirt with utopia, a belief that anything can happen, a vacation for the soul. You know, magic.
Walt must be rolling over in his grave. Methinks he needs to pencil some hauntings into his schedule. Else I'm afraid—I hope, actually, if conditions don't improve—WDW may be joining him in the afterlife very soon.
Disney has announced—only via Twitter—that the Lights of Winter display at Epcot will not be installed for the holidays this year; no reasonable explanation given.
I think this may be the last straw for me, the one that breaks Walt Disney World's money-hungry back. The magic that WDW has represented for me has dwindled to a tiny spark but, unlike Tinker Bell, I think it's finally actually dying out. For years, Disney has been making cutbacks to the guest experience at WDW. It hasn't been the utopia it was in the 70's and 80's for a long, long time. But things have gotten much worse in the past couple of years.
Their first egregious offense was the closing of the Adventurers Club.
They closed all of Pleasure Island, of course, but quite frankly the loss of some dance clubs (there are plenty of those around) and an improv comedy club (there are other options in Orlando) didn't bother me beyond the insulting penny-pinching their closure represented. AC, however, was unique; there was no other place in the world like it. It took time for new guests to "get" it, but once you were part of the club, it was a unique, immersive comedy experience. AC was one of the most magical places at Disney for adults, and one of the few real attractions specifically geared toward the over-21 crowd. It worked, it was wonderful, it was magical, it made people smile.
So, of course, Disney killed it. They claimed their polls showed that guests would rather have "more dining and shopping options." Insert your profane interjection of choice here.
Last Christmas, they continued the cost cutting. They cancelled the nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony at Epcot. Why? Because it represented something magical for guests, and it cost money. Thus, onto the refuse pile it went.
This past fall, I attended the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, as I've done every year since moving to Orlando. It was a major disappointment. Gone were most of the "extra" exhibits and experiences, and the previously free culinary and viticultural demonstrations were now available only for a fee. The Party for the Senses, literally the highlight of the Disney year for me, was a disgrace. The live entertainment was gone, the number of food choices was reduced, and, naturally, the price of tickets went up. Amazingly, they even created an "elite" area within the normal venue; for the privilege of sitting within this fenced-off area, one had to pay even more money, and they had security stationed to keep the "riff-raff" out—we "riff-raff" who had paid $135 each to be second-class citizens!
But now, they've removed one of my favorite parts of Christmas at Disney. I have always been mesmerized by the Lights of Winter during our frequent holiday trips to Epcot, and have been known to stop and wait for my favorite song to play: "Carol of the Bells." The arrangement they used, and the synchronized lights and fountain, represented pure magic to me, always bringing a smile to my face.
Ah, but Walt Disney World is no longer about smiles, is it? It's about the bottom line. It's about ignoring the quality of the guest experience. It's about moving people through, while extracting as much money from them as possible.
For me, and many other people, the magic is gone, replaced by stark economic reality. News flash to the Disney powers-that-be: I can get that at home. WDW is supposed to be about escapism, a brief flirt with utopia, a belief that anything can happen, a vacation for the soul. You know, magic.
Walt must be rolling over in his grave. Methinks he needs to pencil some hauntings into his schedule. Else I'm afraid—I hope, actually, if conditions don't improve—WDW may be joining him in the afterlife very soon.
Jimmy Anderson on :
Brent on :
What bothers me is when they simply cut things in a clear lessening of the experience. The trend really started with more slovenly park maintenance in the 90's. Now they're removing whole experiences. Not changing, improving, replacing -- removing. They expect guests to pay more for less. Not a sound long-term business plan.
Disney seems to think their brand is bulletproof, and they can treat their customers however they like with no repercussions. One of the Disney message boards had a post from someone who claims to have discussed the Lights of Winter removal with a cast member, who reportedly said, "They need to get over it. It's not like anyone's going to cancel their vacations." It's that kind of attitude -- if it is indeed pervasive throughout Disney management -- that is going to spell the end of the company, if it hasn't already.
Jimmy Anderson on :
wow - yes, I agree - that kind of attitude will definitely kill the company...
I'm not a Disney fanboy by any means, and I've never been to DW, but I've always been told it's something to see and experience once in your life. I'll have to keep this in mind if and when the chance ever comes up...
Of course to people like me it's probably not going to seem as drastic, but I'd like to know that if it costs a lot more than Six Flags that it IS a lot more than Six Flags.
Craig on :
They're not turning off the huge light installation in the Magic Kingdom, are they?
Brent on :