Irksome management decisons

[Jared]

Reading some of the responses in this thread is a little disturbing. It's this attitude that will allow Disney to continue cutting back service. No matter what the company does, it seems the apologist fans can rationalize it away. This is why Disneyland is run up to standards, while the Florida property is struggling.

Just because certain decisions do not personally affect you does not mean they shouldn't bother you as a Disney fan. The monorail situation may primarily affect people staying at the Magic Kingdom, but the reasoning behind the cutback is problematic. I just returned from a few days at Port Orleans and still managed to ride the monorail about four times during our stay. At least one beam was closed regularly, particularly the express track. Disney is eliminating service under the guise of "maintenance" when it's their fault the monorail needs this much service in the first place. They let the infrastructure deteriorate to this point.

The fans must unite!

[Narawen]

When I first heard of the cancellation fee for ADR's, I thought the fee would be about $50. Was somewhat surprised it was only $10. Maybe $25 would have been a better deterant for the ones who make the multiple ADR's with the idea of going to which ever one they happen to be by at that particular time of day.

The fee is $10 per person. I assume this means the average penalty for missed ADRs would be at least $30-40 per missed meal, since most groups at Disney are families, not individuals or couples. This also cuts back on a somewhat smaller, but still real problem, of people making ADRs for more people than are in their party in order to get an ADR slot. I've seen people with parties of 3 or 5 make make the ADR for 4 or 6 because those tables are easier to get. Now if you do that, you get charged for the "missing" person.

[98'cpTyphoonGuard]

The monorail hours do not impact me, but if I were staying at a monorail resort I would be disappointed with the limited hours. However, maintenance is a necessity. And I'm sure there would be a terrible uproar if they closed the enitre monorail for a period of time for a refurbishment.
I enjoy walking through the stores and looking and sometimes making purchases as I exit the park, so this one disappoints me most.
However, I am ecstatic about the $10 fee for missed ADRs people are very inconsiderate when making their reservations mostly due to their being no consequences. Perhaps with there now being a penalty people will be more responsible when planning their ADRs.

[Zawadi]

None really bother me. If I had to choose one then the Monorail (only if I was staying at a MK monorail resort).

I think that the ADR no-show charge should be $10 per person in the party. This would be charged for a no-show of the entire party. Having to make ADRs 180 days before a trip is ridiculous

[Goes4FastPass]

Such stupid "business" decisions.

And don't try to play the safety card on me. The safety upgrade the monorail needs the most seems to be a full stop to late hours (after the bosses have gone home?) horsing around. Isn't that already a thing of the past?

But the resorts near the MK are not called "Bay Lake Resorts" They're marketed and priced as being monorail resorts where guests pay big bucks for great transportation including during EMH. Really folks, is a Mickey Waffle really better at the Grand Floridian?

What Sick Sigma genius made a Powerpoint deck to show how closing Main Street shops during EMH was a good idea? Only my credit card thinks late EMH without Main Street shops is a good idea.

[LAURA.WDWLOVER]

We are staying a Bay Lake Tower and use the monorail quite a bit. Because of the monorail system being down or having broken monorails pass us by, I have cancelled some of my ADR's at EPCOT - refuse to leave 2-3 hours early to get there. Why should anyone have to hassle the ADR fee when it's a transportation problem? Disney should fix this problem before they even consider charging people. There are better ways of controlling rsvs - ie: tie them into phone number or address.

[DizneyRox]

There are better ways of controlling rsvs - ie: tie them into phone number or address.

They already do and it is still not enough. Money talks, that's the only way to curb this behavior... It won't however, and the only ones who will lose are the honest, hard working folks that play by the rules.

[CU Tiger]

Monorails for me. This makes it inconvinient.

[Cinderelley]

Shops closing bothers me the most. I like to shop while I'm waiting for the bus lines to dwindle down.

While the monorail won't impact me, I think it is poor customer service for those who stay on the monorail line.

$10 per person charge at some restaurants? I don't think it will change much of anything. The restaurants that require payment/credit card while booking already have a policy.

[Mousemates]

Well, it looks like the poll has kind of played out and I guess my closing thoughts would be these:

First, I was kind of surprised by the number of folks who went with the no big deal option. However, I do wonder if some will change their mind about that once they experience the changes firsthand (as kind of seems to be happening with the discussion concerning early monorail closures in the "John is right! (of course) I got caught by the monorail closing" thread.

Second, in retrospect I wish I had offered one more option in the available answers that would have been something along the lines of "while no single management change is a big deal to me, I am concerned about the trend in diminished services some of the changes seem to point to." In the end, I guess thats where I am at. The monorail and shop closures to me are indicative of an incremental decline in the overall quality of a WDW vacation.

[DizneyRox]

The monorail and shop closures to me are indicative of an incremental decline in the overall quality of a WDW vacation.

These changes are supportive of the trend that's been happening for a number of years.

Cutbacks, etc have been happening for almost 10 years now. Problem is they have usually been behind the scenes things. now that the "fluff" is gone, you (we) will start seeing more and more guest impact. Mark my words!

I can faintly remember the Clean Plate Club stickers that used to be common at 50's Prime Time. I might even have one that I stuck on a 50's Prime Time napkin that I "stole" as a souvenier to show my grandkids. Turns out, I need it just a few years later to show people how much things have changed for the worse...

[Mousemates]

I can faintly remember the Clean Plate Club stickers that used to be common at 50's Prime Time. I might even have one that I stuck on a 50's Prime Time napkin that I "stole" as a souvenier to show my grandkids. Turns out, I need it just a few years later to show people how much things have changed for the worse...

I didn't realize those had become scarce...we were just looking through some photos from our 2009 trip and came across the one I "earned" ...lots of fun.