Originally Posted By -em >>If things get too economically crazy there had better be more closings than that.<< I disagree...
Originally Posted By barboy ///Yeah that so didnt happen when they came to my hotel (not even the CEO- just higher ups)... Their rate was a LOT more than that.../// What is that all about? -- how about some context to help the lost(like me).
Originally Posted By -em >>>>I watched CEO Scott on TV tell us he stays in $49 rooms when he travels for Walmart; and he also rooms with another corporate officer to save his company money.<< Yeah that so didnt happen when they came to my hotel (not even the CEO- just higher ups)... Their rate was a LOT more than that...<< The whole "we stay in 49 dollar rooms" may just be a good piece of marketing as when Mart stayed at the hotel I worked at their rate was almost triple that (so yes they were not staying 4-5 star they were staying high 3) and we were not the only hotel in the area...
Originally Posted By barboy I believe CEO Scott when he told us that **he** stays in $49 or cheap rooms and that he shares them as well. I think he travels economy/coach class too---got love that!! I really don't care if it's all a ploy, gimmick or marketing scheme(or not) as I fully appreciate the message it sends about corporate responsibility. In this one practice I fully respect Walmart.... 3 Cheers. Also, if the rate were $140 that can be quite cheap or expensive depending on **where** and **when**. If that was in Manhattan, NY on a Fri or Sat. night then that is a very, very cheap stay, yes? But if it were in Orlando in the winter times on weekdays then that is fairly high, sort of. So, again, what is the context? And even if lower reps did stay in $140 per night rooms in off times of the year and on a Tues. in Orlando it's still just $140 which is nothing to the world's biggest retailer and it still demostrates little to no company waste. Furthermore,(and I'm just theorizing here so bear with me)is it possible that Walmart will only allow for a specific dollar amount and if one of her reps/officers/employees wants to stay in something higher priced then he has to pay the difference out of his own pocket???
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I really don't care if it's all a ploy, gimmick or marketing scheme(or not) as I fully appreciate the message it sends about corporate responsibility. In this one practice I fully respect Walmart.... 3 Cheers. << Please don't get me started. I was sitting here full of Christmas cheer, while merrily drinking my egg-nog.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad <<<<What is Your RX for WDW?">>>> >>>>Viagra!?!<<<<.....................................................................................................................................................Yea, but if your sales increase lasts for more than 4 hours you have to call a doctor.LOL
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Why punish your loyal CM's while the executives still live a very comfortable life.>> Because you can. Welcome to Corporate America.
Originally Posted By MPierce Florida is a right to work State, so that don't have to join the Union. It's hard to get folks to rationalize giving up approximately 2 hours of pay each month when they get such poor representation. I know the Teamsters are just one of the Unions involved there. It's not like a typical Teamsters local though.
Originally Posted By MPierce Is it just me or does some of the post in this thread seem elongated? As in twice their normal width.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Not just you, it's been that way on some threads for several days now.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I think many of us would opt for DL giving us greater flexibility. Ok a small percentage of the population given the number of rubes who never consider anything other than WDW, but again it can make a difference.*** Infinitesimal is more like it. I would be shocked to the core if an even slightly significant portion of Europeans chose Anaheim over Orlando, and even moreso if for the reasons you cite. As Barboy said, it seems more as if you are planning YOUR personal dream vacation here rather than looking at things objectively and coming up with concrete solutions. Sorry, but that's the impression I'm getting from your comments (some seem pretty out there and non-workable imho).
Originally Posted By Mr X **I'm still having a hard time with this luxury plan of limos and charaters during mass layoff, foreclosure and stock meltdown days; if a setup like that lacked demand when everyone was dropping money left and right on swimming pools in the backyard, Porshe 911's in the garage and stainless steel/granite in the kitchen as well as trips to Tahiti why on earth would there be a demand in deep recessionary times?** That's what I'm thinking too. I think that the real debate is whether or not Disney needs to appeal to their "Whales", or just the regular folk. Methinks the regular folk outweigh the Whales down in O-Town... And as such, I would think that a focus on pure quality experience for all would be best (not ridiculous add-ons very few folks would even bother considering). And ESPECIALLY in times that are tough, it is important for a quality brand like Disney to keep delivering, so they have to cut behind the scenes and not where it shows...cutting executive salaries to the bare bones would be an excellent start.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>cutting executive salaries to the bare bones would be an excellent start. <<< This is a difficult one, especially as Disney pays less than most companies, and also, salary/bonus cuts do not add much in savings - however slashing posts does work, but DIsney have been doing that for years. If Disney want quality execs, they have to be competitive. How bonus plans are shaped, and constructive processes do make a huge difference. And Limo service is not for whales. I mean WDW used to be the No 1 honeymoon capital of the world. To contract something like this out would cost little and would deliver nice additional profit with a low investment.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And Limo service is not for whales. I mean WDW used to be the No 1 honeymoon capital of the world. To contract something like this out would cost little and would deliver nice additional profit with a low investment.*** I wasn't thinking of the Limo service, actually. What struck me was your idea about making fastpass a "luxury guest only" option. That, to me, would upset far more people than it would benefit (and I could imagine a real uprising happening as a result).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I would prefer Fast Pass to go the way of the Bathroom of the Future or the Swan Boats. I think it is awful with the negative impact it has on the parks. And there is little difference in the service between the tacky value resorts and the Deluxe other than the architecture and dining. So I was thinking of a way that would push people to consider staying at the deluxes and bolster the profit margins. Why should a value and a deluxe have near identical service? It shouldn't. I expect different service standards at a McD's vs. the Olive Garden vs. a Ruth Chris Steakhouse. Or Motel 6 vs. Holiday Inn vs. 4 Seasons. The WDW hotels do not offer that differentiation. At DLP the top hotels are the most fully booked, the reason being is they offer a free fastpass (and Castle Club at the DLP unlimited FP) for each day. It has made them very popular, and people save up to stay at them. I was thinking this could be something rolled out at WDW too. But personally, I would prefer if they just got rid of FP all together. After being at WDSP when they tested FP on Cruch Coaster, and seeing the impact before and during the test, it proved my hypothesis that FP is bad for the overall impact on the parks.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Why should a value and a deluxe have near identical service? It shouldn't. >>> Did you see in another thread where I pointed out that the Grand Floridian recently lost a Mobil star? I know they worked very hard when they opened to make that a 4-star resort, but have steadily reduced the quality of the offering such that Mobil bumped them down, and they don't seem to care.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed I did Superdry. It should not be happening, but it no longer surprises me. I do miss Eisner in so many ways. He really did up the ante for a while. Since Iger has come on board, I really do not know what his agenda is other than margin, margin, margin.
Originally Posted By u k fan Why shouldn't a deluxe and a value offer "near identical" service? That's kind of what I expect at WDW and one of the reasons I won't waste money on a deluxe. I'm not talking about the size of the room or the quality of the furnishings or even the soap in the dispenser, but the actual level of service and services available. Of course there has to be some incentive to staying at a deluxe, but why should that affect the level of service elsewhere? I think the idea of removing FP for the Values and limiting it for Moderates is terrible. In that case I may as well stay off site. If I'm going to get treated like a day guest on this I may as well be one. It wouldn't make me spend more it'll send me to the Howard Johnson on the 192 and whilst I'm there I may as well eat and shop elsewhere. This is seeming cheaper for me by the second (and more costly for Disney). This isn't about money spent. On my last trip I spent a shedload of money on property and I stayed at POP. As I've said before as an international and infrequent guest I'm happy to pay for a better experience where it's worth it. I've also found a limo cheaper than the bus in the past. I'd even pay a bit more to have a character there (though I'm not sure what we'd talk about). In fact, what I'd rather have (and would pay for) would be something akin to a concierge service in my limo. We could complete the check in paperwork and discuss dining reservations etc. That I would definitely take them up on. I agree that the best way to look at making more money is to offer more options, but all of your plans favor a very small portion of guests. Very little on your list would affect my plans at all. A couple of other points as an international traveller, park opening hours play no part in whether or not I visit WDW even with kids. Finally, as someone who works everyday with cottage industries (on both sides of the Atlantic) sale or return terms aren't easy to get with small businesses. I'm sure the Disney name would help, but many are wary of suddenly getting lots of stock back especially at the moment. I do like the idea though!!!
