Jay R. commented on my miceage story that the clubs are nowhere close to being filled by new tenants:
[quote]
You should have really nailed Disney for the PI stuff.
When I look at it, here is what I see.
No plan, just one knee jerk reaction on top of another.
First, close up all the clubs, get rid of it.
then.. wait, put PI live back cause it looks bad.
then.. maybe use those empty clubs for events because, wait a second, conventions was making a ton of money all this time.
It's a joke, a big joke. Upper management needs to loose there job over what they have done to the place.
By the way. They have NOTHING booked to go into the former club spaces at this point.
Every 3rd party vendor has backed out.
The stuff from Mannequins is being kept in storage and was recently used for another private event in another location.
[/quote]
Disney critic Kevin Yee provides his thoughts on Walt Disney World and the myriad entertainment offerings in Orlando. He can be reached at kevin@ultimateorlando.com
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Design a Tee: TWO HOURS WAIT??!!
Michael S. responded to my miceage article this week with a good gem of advice:
[quote]
One thing people need to be aware of is the design-a-tee sounds like a good idea (and it is -- our kids took home these unique souvenirs) however, at no point during the design/ordering process does Disney tell you that you have to come back 2 HOURS later!! Everyone around us were startled to hear this -- no helpful warning signs at all. When you think about it -- it would take some time to create these shirts -- they're silkscreened, not instantly photocopied -- however, people are on vacation, and I know by personal experience that some of us tend to leave a little common sense back home -- however, Disney knows this too -- people are out acting like tourists and proper signage would help. It's funny, Disney has signs above each sink in Magic Kingdom bathrooms that tell us (step by silly step) how to wash our hands but they can't tell us how their new shirt process works? Or maybe Brawny paid Mickey several million for this helpful PSA? Anyway, there were people returning to pick up their shirts and people simultaneously trying to order -- complete disorganized chaos. Cast members didn't know who was next in line since there are no ORDER HERE or PICK UP HERE signs (one lady barged right in front of all of us to pick up her shirt order and received service immediately). Anyway, the take home message is that people need to work this purchase into their plan -- not everyone is at DD for an entire day or evening in our case -- we were staying at Saratoga and boated over for a bit while we waited for our reservation at the Turf Club. Interested buyers need to make this stop early into their DD visit to make sure they have the time to pick up their shirts. I didn't think to ask, but my guess is that these shirts could be delivered to your hotel (like most other purchases) provided you're staying at a Disney resort.
Just thought you should know this, since you wouldn't know unless you go through the process. I think Disney deliberately does not post warning signs or doesn't allow cast members to give you a heads up by design -- once your child has gone through the whole process, proud of their accomplishment while taking the printed paper slip to the order counter -- then and only then do they tell you to return 2 hours later. It's hard to tell your kids that they can't order their shirts now. Disney's got you! Remember, shirts are not ordered until you present your slip to the cast member behind the counter. You could create different shirts all day long, but the printed receipts that you receive from the computer design screens doesn't mean a thing until presented and reviewed for accuracy and then approved for order. I'm sure if a sign indicated a 2 hour process time, Disney would lose more sales because people wouldn't even test out the design screens -- but like I said, once you've gone through the process, any parent would have a hard time denying their youngster their new creation.
One more thing -- I could tell by the cast members working that day, that they were really stressed out having to tell people about how the system works. I felt for them. Disney should give up a little profit for a better experience for everyone involved. Maybe a Disney accountant should work the design-a-tee counter for one shift to appreciate the feeling.
[/quote]
[quote]
One thing people need to be aware of is the design-a-tee sounds like a good idea (and it is -- our kids took home these unique souvenirs) however, at no point during the design/ordering process does Disney tell you that you have to come back 2 HOURS later!! Everyone around us were startled to hear this -- no helpful warning signs at all. When you think about it -- it would take some time to create these shirts -- they're silkscreened, not instantly photocopied -- however, people are on vacation, and I know by personal experience that some of us tend to leave a little common sense back home -- however, Disney knows this too -- people are out acting like tourists and proper signage would help. It's funny, Disney has signs above each sink in Magic Kingdom bathrooms that tell us (step by silly step) how to wash our hands but they can't tell us how their new shirt process works? Or maybe Brawny paid Mickey several million for this helpful PSA? Anyway, there were people returning to pick up their shirts and people simultaneously trying to order -- complete disorganized chaos. Cast members didn't know who was next in line since there are no ORDER HERE or PICK UP HERE signs (one lady barged right in front of all of us to pick up her shirt order and received service immediately). Anyway, the take home message is that people need to work this purchase into their plan -- not everyone is at DD for an entire day or evening in our case -- we were staying at Saratoga and boated over for a bit while we waited for our reservation at the Turf Club. Interested buyers need to make this stop early into their DD visit to make sure they have the time to pick up their shirts. I didn't think to ask, but my guess is that these shirts could be delivered to your hotel (like most other purchases) provided you're staying at a Disney resort.
Just thought you should know this, since you wouldn't know unless you go through the process. I think Disney deliberately does not post warning signs or doesn't allow cast members to give you a heads up by design -- once your child has gone through the whole process, proud of their accomplishment while taking the printed paper slip to the order counter -- then and only then do they tell you to return 2 hours later. It's hard to tell your kids that they can't order their shirts now. Disney's got you! Remember, shirts are not ordered until you present your slip to the cast member behind the counter. You could create different shirts all day long, but the printed receipts that you receive from the computer design screens doesn't mean a thing until presented and reviewed for accuracy and then approved for order. I'm sure if a sign indicated a 2 hour process time, Disney would lose more sales because people wouldn't even test out the design screens -- but like I said, once you've gone through the process, any parent would have a hard time denying their youngster their new creation.
One more thing -- I could tell by the cast members working that day, that they were really stressed out having to tell people about how the system works. I felt for them. Disney should give up a little profit for a better experience for everyone involved. Maybe a Disney accountant should work the design-a-tee counter for one shift to appreciate the feeling.
[/quote]
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
MiceAge update: Cheaters, GAC, and FastPass
My article posted today on MiceAge about cheaters (and the official announcement of the 2nd edition of 101 Things, no relationship to cheaters): http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky020309a.htm
I use this blog space sometimes to post some of my mail, so here are a few from the first half-day of the article's existence:
BM writes:
This is not the first time you have heard from me on this issue. I
suggest that you
A) Don't renew your AP (this is the most important first step)
B) Move more than 1000 miles from a Disney Park
C) Get a Minimum Wage Job
D) Only go to a Disney Park for 5 days every 3-5 years
Suddenly the Fast Pass system and the many ways to 'Work' the system
will become invaluable to you.
H writes:
The 'cheaters' of the system annoy me as well. I now totally agree with you in that Fast Pass should be retired. It causes so much back up on the stand by that my family ( 3 kids with premium passes - 5 in total) never ride certain rides. I can't remember the last time we rode Peter Pan because the return time is usually 5-6 hours later and we never stay in the park that long. And standby, even on a slow day is a minimum of 45 minutes for a line that does not move, although the ride never stops (go figure).
S writes:
I watched somebody make a salad from the condiment bar at Taste Pilot’s Grill this weekend. They even went up to the counter and asked for a packet of dressing. Total cost of lunch? Priceless.
I use this blog space sometimes to post some of my mail, so here are a few from the first half-day of the article's existence:
BM writes:
This is not the first time you have heard from me on this issue. I
suggest that you
A) Don't renew your AP (this is the most important first step)
B) Move more than 1000 miles from a Disney Park
C) Get a Minimum Wage Job
D) Only go to a Disney Park for 5 days every 3-5 years
Suddenly the Fast Pass system and the many ways to 'Work' the system
will become invaluable to you.
H writes:
The 'cheaters' of the system annoy me as well. I now totally agree with you in that Fast Pass should be retired. It causes so much back up on the stand by that my family ( 3 kids with premium passes - 5 in total) never ride certain rides. I can't remember the last time we rode Peter Pan because the return time is usually 5-6 hours later and we never stay in the park that long. And standby, even on a slow day is a minimum of 45 minutes for a line that does not move, although the ride never stops (go figure).
S writes:
I watched somebody make a salad from the condiment bar at Taste Pilot’s Grill this weekend. They even went up to the counter and asked for a packet of dressing. Total cost of lunch? Priceless.
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