Originally Posted By danyoung >Nobody's doing anything "wrong", an annual pass entitled people to show up as often as they want, for as little time as they wish.< I agree with you on this one, X. Although there wasn't the AP advantage in the earlier days of the parks, times have changed, as have attendance patterns. An AP has every right to stop in after work for a few hours. There are simply too many people that are taking advantage of the relatively cheap prices of some levels of AP, causing the system to be out of balance. Sure, Disney's making the bucks, but the experience is diminished for all of their guests.
Originally Posted By mawnck Donning my Scrooge McDuck hat for a moment here ... Consider what type of customer is more likely to put up with uncomfortably crowded conditions. Speaking generally, it's the lower-grade customer. The customer that doesn't have a whole ton of other entertainment options, for whatever reason. The customer for whom the AP is probably their main "big" entertainment expenditure for the year. It's not the same customer who is likely to spend tons of money inside the park, whether they have an AP or not. So don't assume that double the crowd size means double the retail revenue. Cause although I don't have any hard numbers, my infallible gut says it ain't even close. It's something that DL's marketing research isn't likely to pick up. "Nobody goes there any more, it's too crowded" isn't as silly a sentiment as it seems.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Westsider (or anyone else in the know how do they go "manning" the parks in such a case? Do they go from department to department to see who can stay for a longer shift or is it asked earlier in the day? I can't imagine the pressure it must put on the CM's, for instance, to say "we are doing another Fantasmic at 11:30" or we are keeping the park open 2 hours longer. Also, how and when do they announce this to the guests?
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "I can't imagine the pressure it must put on the CM's, for instance, to say "we are doing another Fantasmic at 11:30" or we are keeping the park open 2 hours longer." Pressure? A lot of cast members want overtime or extra hours. Remember, Disney doesn't pay well. Those extra hours can mean a lot to a college student.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I actually meant pressure as in rides home, meeting someone after work, tests to study for if they had a class the next morning, kids to pick up at grandma's house, a job interview at 8am the next morning or whatever else they had going on in their life. I live 5 minutes from my job and all my kids are grown. If I need to stay an extra couple of hours, no big deal. For my "kids" with obligations and families or school, I'd think it would be a big deal. I also doubt most CM's have a simple commute. So I'm wondering how much leeway the CM's have. Just wondering
Originally Posted By pecos bill Count me among those who have become disenchanted with the current Disneyland experience. I am just sick of planning trips in the middle of winter, hoping for light crowds, only to find the place packed to the gills. The park just doesnt feel special anymore, the integrity has been cheapened and compromised. I really dont blame the locals for using the place as their social center, but it is hard not to feel a little resentment when you have planned a trip and spent thousands of dollars only to deal with huge crowds of people who are in the place two or three times a week. My last trip did it for me, it was pouring rain in the dead of winter, and the place was still crowded. I have weaned myself off of the annual Disneyland trips, and have discovered that there are plenty of magical places where massive crowds are no issue at all.
Originally Posted By Pollyana I am with you Pecos...we will go back probably next summer, but for now, the magic is gone....
Originally Posted By Yookeroo Restrict initial entry for So Cal APs to the mornings. If you can't make it to the park before noon, you're shut out for the rest of the day.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo Of course, I don't see how restricting entry for APs helps Disney's bottom line. And don't kid yourselves, Walt would have no problem with the parks at capacity.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Walt would have no problem with the parks at capacity.<< Oh, I think he would've. But Roy would've talked him out of it. ;-)
Originally Posted By Westsider amazedncal2, Disneyland can extend your shift if it is less than 8 hours long at any time. That's a policy regardless of department or union contract. The "guideline" is that you are notified at least two hours in advance of the end of your shift if you have been extended, but that is only a "profesional courtesy" and if "business needs dictate", then your shift can be extended with even less notice. If you can not stay and you abandon your shift, you are subject to disciplinary action not excluding termination for shift abandonment and insubordination. That said, at least in Attractions they are very good at giving us more than two hours notice, and you often know you have been extended as soon as you arrive for your shift. It happens a lot lately with constant extended park hours, extra Fantasmic shows, additional labor added to maxed out E Tickets, added Guest Control shifts due to gridlocked walkways, etc., etc. They make it very clear at Casting that you are applying to work in a dynamic and ever-changing environment, and that you will work late nights, early mornings, holidays, your childs birthday, Thanksgiving day, Christmas morning, New Years Eve night, your best friends wedding weekend, etc., etc. The mantra of Disneyland Operations that management is always spouting is "WE WORK WHILE OTHERS PLAY!", and they mean it. Reliable transportation is also a must, and Casting and management make it very clear that OCTA and the SoCal mass transit agencies are NOT considered reliable transportation for CM's in Operations. Disneyland is not responsible if a third Fantasmic is added due to high attendance and the last bus on your route stops running 10 minutes before your newly extended off time. There is no real accomodation made for individuals who have to take the bus or train, nor should there be in my opinion. If you don't have a car or live very close by, you shouldn't try to work in Disneyland Operations. I know of people who had to crash at Motel 6 for the night because they live in Long Beach and they were extended from a Fantasmic! shift after the last bus left for Long Beach. Disneyland Operations isn't for everybody, and you need to make sure you have a lifestyle and abilities that meet the needs of the park before you apply and try working there. That alone is a big reason some folks don't make it past their first summer.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "There is no real accomodation made for individuals who have to take the bus or train, nor should there be in my opinion. If you don't have a car or live very close by, you shouldn't try to work in Disneyland Operations." And yet they don't pay enough to comfortably afford a reliable car, hahaha.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones However, I do see a lot of cast members on the bus. It's good that they didn't let Disney bully them into burdening themselves with a car payment that they can't afford. God forbid the bus is late. I guess they can't, God forbid, work at Disneyland for just above minimum wage! I guess all that environmentally friendly BS is just for show.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones <a href="http://corporate.disney.go.com/responsibility/environment.html" target="_blank">http://corporate.disney.go.com...ent.html</a> Reuse, reduce, recycle! But you better drive to work. Your job depends on it!
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Count me among those who have become disenchanted with the current Disneyland experience. I am just sick of planning trips in the middle of winter, hoping for light crowds, only to find the place packed to the gills. The park just doesnt feel special anymore, the integrity has been cheapened and compromised.>> My feeling exactly. It's gotten to the point where its LESS crowded in the summer, because the hordes with the cheapo APs are blocked those days.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***"WE WORK WHILE OTHERS PLAY!"*** I always preferred "when they're off, we're on".
Originally Posted By Mr X ***"There is no real accomodation made for individuals who have to take the bus or train, nor should there be in my opinion. If you don't have a car or live very close by, you shouldn't try to work in Disneyland Operations." And yet they don't pay enough to comfortably afford a reliable car, hahaha.*** That was my first thought. My second thought was "what do you mean "nor should there be""? So someone wants to work and save money and make use of public transportation (a cost effective AND environmentally preferable way of life, I might add) and they should be punished for it? No wonder Southern California is so congested and polluted, if everyone who works a McJob is supposed to also have a vehicle at their disposal "or else"!
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I think Disney should work with the OCTA to make every single Disneyland ID card a bus pass and encourage their employees to take the bus to work. Bravo! should be opening in Summer 2010 and it's going to stop very close to Harbor Pointe.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Reuse, reduce, recycle! But you better drive to work. Your job depends on it!< What you're reacting to is one CM's opinion. There are many Disney CMs, including my brother, who use public transportation quite successfully to get to and from their Disney job. On the rare occasion that a CM has to unexpectedly work later, he then needs to make alternate arrangements. But by no means is a car mandatory for employment at Disney. Get a grip, Westsider - you're spouting your biased opinions as if they're facts. It's sounding more and more like you hate your job. If so, quit.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Thank you for your response Westsider. I appreciate your taking the time to answer my question I'd never heard the "mantra" before and I understand the mind set better now. I didn't find it negative as much as the way most people sound after they have been at a job for quite awhile and have seen "everything."
