Originally Posted By wachawacha What are the thoughts of the Disneyland fans about the lack of a Christmas party for cast members? I have worked at the resort for more then a decade. I have to say that I found it disappointing that Disney has decided to get rid of the party. It was always a nice way to see coworkers, let off some steam and enjoy your place of work. I am sure someone who is visiting the resort during early December might have some concerns. However I would say that as a two theme park resort most if not all of our guests concerns would be mitigated by keeping DCA open late. What do you all thing?
Originally Posted By -em Are they going to more of a WDW style 'celebration' where you get a free park day, food discount coupons and a bunch of other coupons? If so you may find you like it better. I think that DLR has grown to the point its impractical to be able to schedule everyone to go and people were potentially being left out..
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It is impractical. Even if they kept the party look how many people from the hotels, ride operators, security, maintenance, and other essential 24/7 functioning departments would never get to attend. It's not like they can just shut the whole place down for a night.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Some of the best things in Life are impractical. When it was being built many thought Disneyland, itself, was impractical. It's far too easy to forget what's most important in Life when certain things--such as showing respect and thanks for a job well done--are no longer considered worth the effort to show.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt But how do you show respect to your workers with a party when a good portion of them are unable to attend? Better to offer bonuses or gifts to all so that the reward is at least somewhat equitable.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: I'm not sure that they weren't all able to attend. I had always heard that there were two nights for the party so that the group that couldn't attend on one night was able to attend the next night. Be that as it may, the main point to be made is that there should be something that the company does for their employees to show a nod of respect. If you're going to take something away from them it should be replaced by something equal to or even better than what went before. In this instance it comes across as though greed is the motivation for discontinuing something that has always been there. When WDW discontinued the parties, it was bad enough. Now that Disneyland management is doing the same thing--along with considering charging locals to pay extra for the Christmas parties at Disneyland that always used to be included in regular admission prices--that's OBVIOUS greed.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub IT is sad to see the free holiday festivities end this year but I am surprised it has been able to endure thru this year. I am expecting to hear of daily overcrowding during the school vacation dates . The only way to keep it safe is to change the format and make it an extra ticket event. Don't know of any other strategy to use, unfortunately.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Doesn't having multiple parties sort of defeat the idea of having all the employees celebrate together? I bet one reason for its demise is that they events weren't drawing the kind of attendance that they once did. "If you're going to take something away from them it should be replaced by something equal to or even better than what went before." Do we know that Disney isn't planning to do this?
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: The implication certainly seems to be that nothing better or equal is being planned. Plus, I really don't think it takes anything away from the party if the party is divided up into two different groups on two different nights for celebrating. It would be like splitting hairs to try finding fault with that. The main point is that it was always a good thing when Disney management did something for the cast members so they could celebrate the Holidays at the park. It was like a pat on the back or an acknowledgement of appreciation and THAT is what needs to continue. Thus far there hasn't been any announcement that indicates any sort of replacement for the cast member Christmas party.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Well I wouldn't go to my company's holiday party if I couldn't attend with people that I worked directly with. Given that someone has to "man the shop" while the party takes place the probability that something like this would happen is pretty high. Bottom line is that we don't know enough about the situation to identify the exact reasons why Disney is cancelling the event(s). Disney is money hungry, but let's not jump to conclusions on this matter.
Originally Posted By Manfried The problem with the party is that they extended it to all segments of Disney. So that's a lot of people and very expensive.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt All segments of Disney? What do you mean? Were people from Burbank invited?
Originally Posted By lesmisfan here is the thing about the holiday parties, they were held over a couple of different nights so most people could attend with a few mix ins for those that do not mind missing the private event for cast members. It was a great way for the company to say thank you to the cast for all their hard work and enjoying it with coworkers and family with no guests was amazing. I prefer the private party, I personally do not like the whole you get to mix in with guests, since its already busy enough as it is during the holidays and a coupon for free popcorn. It just does not seem to cut it. There used to be all sorts of things they did for cast and one by one most of those things have all be cut. Besides, we can get in every day and spend the day with the guests that tend to abuse the poor cast members, what makes this any different?
Originally Posted By lesmisfan do not know. but there is that one disney park initiative so it seems whatever florida does, anaheim follows sooner or later. They want everything to be the same. But in my opinion, Disney parks should not be a mcdonalds, the same everywhere, they are both different resorts with different guests and should be ran differently.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I think the average guest expects or at least assumes that a Disneyland experience in China will be similar if not identical to Anaheim or Florida. I hate to break it to you, but I think for most people the Disney brand IS like McDonald's, Starbucks, Marriott, or Coke.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<<I think the average guest expects or at least assumes that a Disneyland experience in China will be similar if not identical to Anaheim or Florida. >>> Especially with Shanghai, the average guest will most likely not have been to any other Disney park, and probably never will.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It's true for any Disney park. How many DLP visitors will ever see HKDL or even DL? Most people just don't really dwell or think about this stuff enough to care. They simply assume that it's all the same, and for that reason I really don't the big deal about the "One Disney initiative.
Originally Posted By DlandDug The reason so many multi-national brands have successfully competed in foreign markets is because they have adapted to local tastes. McDonalds in China serves black and white burgers. In India there are all vegetarian McDonalds. In Japan KFC offers salmon burgers. Coca Cola sells Beverly, a bitter aperitif in Italy. Even in the United States the biggest corporations understand regional and local predilections. Walk into a 7-11 in the south or the west, and you'll find a different set of soft drinks on tap, courtesy of your local Coca Cola supplier. Wal-Mart stocks very different size ranges in ladies dresses, depending on whether the store is located in New England, Southern California, or the Florida panhandle. Even Sears offers different ranges of merchandise, tailored to the local market. Only Disney seems determined to pursue a one-size-fits-all policy.
Originally Posted By Manfried The Disneyland cast party made sense when it was just Disneyland employees and WDI. Now it's Disneyland, DCA, hotels, WDI, the studio, ABC, KABC and more. It is time for the "tradition" to die. If they truly want to have a cast party, and get away from where they work, then rent Knott's Berry Farm for a day.
