lightbikes

Well, I guess my question has been answered. 

On 2/12/2022 at 5:23 AM, dblr....Rennie said:

I just wanted to drop a line about our current trip, we are here in a Treehouse early Feb 2022 and have to say this has been probably the most dis-appointing trip we have ever done (out of at least 20 or more). Crowds have been very high for this time of year, does not help there is a Cheer-Dance competition here this week either. Lines have been extremely long, and we decided against the extra cost for their new fast pass version. If it was not for the very little extra magic half hour, we would have only gotten on a couple attractions or rides, I will say they are trying to fill things up with lesser shows and such but not a lot of options in each park. We are DVC Members and seeing how things are now we would never buy now and if offered decent money would even sell our points.

Couldn't agree more.  We were there in January and it was so disappointing.   It was our first stay at the Fort in almost 5 years and I don't see us coming back again any time soon.  The whole Disney Genie, Genie + and Individual Lighting Lane arrangement is a disaster.  It is expensive beyond belief for a family of 4, and the Disney IT structure keeps stalling or failing completely.  Not to mention that it burns through your phone's battery like lightning.  

We resorted to taking turns getting in standby for the rides we really wanted to do while the others did bathroom breaks and the lesser rides they wanted to.   Took a sandwich and a water bottle and bumped along. 

Like you we are also DVC members and even the so-called "perks" we're supposed to have were non-existent.   

For a supposed 50th Anniversary celebration all Disney wants is the money for high priced, low quality merchandise.   

They have lost the "magic" they had.   

On 1/4/2022 at 4:28 PM, DaveInTN said:

Cinnamon Roll Kingdom!! 

 

Can I please get a job there?    - nobody has to pay me - I will take my salary in Cinnamon Rolls !!!!!!!

6 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

What a naive question from this blogger. Chapek isn’t going anywhere. He’s doing exactly what the Board of Directors wants him to do- maximize profits no matter the cost. A better question would be to ask how much longer will D23 be around?  The Disney company clearly doesn’t give a rat’s ass about their fans, and that isn’t changing any time soon. 

TCD

Sorry TCD - I asked that as a sarcastic question.  I do realize that he is exactly what the company wants right now.  I just think it's sad

So just saw this on Disney news blog:

Disney CEO Bob Chapek Pulled from Destination D23 Appearance Out of Fear Disney Fans Would Boo Him - 

When the presentations for this weekend’s Destination D23 event at Walt Disney World were posted back in July, the event was set to kick-off with an in-person welcome from Disney CEO Bob Chapek. This welcome was quietly removed from all announcements in the weeks following, and is now nowhere to be seen on the schedule.

Since July, the CEO has been under scrutiny from a fair amount of people, from the Hollywood elite, to plain-old day guests at Disney theme parks around the world. Just days after the Destination D23 schedule went live, Scarlett Johansson filed lawsuit against the company. Disney announced Genie+ and Lightning Lane in August to the worst public scrutiny any parks announcement had ever met on the internet. In solidarity with Imagineers, many signed a petition to remove Chapek as CEO, even if the petition wasn’t very well put together.

It became most clear that Chapek could not appear in front of Disney fans after his brief meet and greet with guests on October 1st at the Magic Kingdom. While some asked the CEO for a quick pic, others heckled him from afar over budget cuts, mass layoffs, and the “nickel-and-diming” that have been a hallmark of his regime as either the head of the theme parks division or now the entire company. Once the heckling started, Chapek bolted from the scene to a backstage area. That being said, he’s never been one for public appearances or for actually greeting guests, often making brief on-stage appearances and then leaving as quickly as possible after a photo or video is taken.

The more knowledgeable the Disney fan, the more likely they are to disagree with Chapek’s decisions, which often go against long-standing beliefs of past executives in The Walt Disney Company. You’d be hard-pressed to find a room of more knowledgeable or die-hard fans than you will this weekend at Destination D23, an event attended by members of Disney’s official fan club. Chapek being booed as he walked on stage on Saturday wouldn’t be a good look for the CEO, so he simply won’t appear according to sources inside the company.

Saturday’s festivities will instead be lead off with some nondescript introduction, which after this piece may end up being pre-recorded by Chapek to save face. Either way, any and all announcements regarding the future on Saturday will be left to Josh D’Amaro, who will make his first keynote presentation to the public since taking the job.

So the question is how long can a company that is supposed to be as public/family/tradition oriented as Disney keep a  CEO who's being booed at every public appearance?

22 hours ago, Theed31u said:

We (a family of 6) are looking at going in June 2022.  After looking at 14 days at the fort and 10 day park tickets we will be passing on Genie+.  We like to plan ahead and not knowing what sort of value we would get out of it I just can't bring myself to spend the extra $1000 on it.  If it ran exactly like fast pass and I could book multiple things in advance I would consider it but as it sits now, I'll pass.  Looking at the free Genie service it doesn't look much better.  The free service seems more like Disney pushing crowds where they want them and marketing dining to you.  After watching multiple YouTube videos of people's experiences, I do think we will be doing it old school and using all the standby lines.

That's going to be us in January - doing it old school.  I've already pointed out to everyone we can take turns getting in the standby lines while the others go for bathroom breaks or sitting down for a rest.  There will be 7 of us, spread over three generations and everything we've look at about this whole Genie, Genie+, and the extra purchase rides just looks like a way to force us through the parks the way Disney wants us to go, not the way we want to spend our day.  

Add to that it is a blatant money grab.  You can always count on Disney to find another revenue stream.   Plus when we add on the good old Canadian exchange rate that $15.00 per person/per day becomes $20.00.  Just a great big ouch.  

This will be the first time to stay back at the Fort in 6 years and from everything we're seeing it may well be another 6 years.   

I will post whatever we discover.  

18 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

This is all so stupid.  Sorry, I know that's an illiterate response... but I'm just so sick of it.  I have my memories and I want the magic to stay.  

Stupid.

Not stupid at all and not illiterate.  

It's our memories that are the most important to us, they sustain us, and they become more so as we grow older.  The biggest disappointment we have about Disney now is how they have eroded that magic to the point you can't find it anymore.

Yes, the ugly price increases have priced us out of many of the things we used to do, like going to the Christmas Party and Halloween, and even staying on property, but I think the really really harsh part is the disappearance of the magic.  

The Disney emphasize on maximizing their profit at the expense of the guests/customer/client means that my grand-children will have no experience of the amazement and enchantment that was waiting around every corner for their parents when we took them.  That experience came from CMs who took it as their mission statement to make every GUESTS' experience special.  Because we were guests, and we were treated as quests, not as some kind of ATM.

Makes me sad more than mad I guess.

7 hours ago, Lou... said:

I said all along that working for the Disney company is a love hate relationship. Loved the actual work but hated how day to day things were managed.

I think that describes perfectly how every single CM we got to know over the years felt.  So many of the folks at the Fort who were there every winter we were down loved their work, loved meeting and catching up with the guests, but dreaded the looney-tunes management that didn't have a hot clue about what guests really wanted and needed and were constantly "improving" things.

The last time we dropped by the Fort to visit with those folks though all of them told us they were pulling the plug shortly and getting out.  I suspect that the next time we get there we won't recognize a single face.

12 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 Disney always wins.

TCD
 

 

in spades !

12 hours ago, mouseketab.....Carol said:

Hmmmm, stuff like this just makes me go into passive aggressive mode and play dumb old person. If and when I go back and have tickets, I'll just have to go to guest services and find out how to use this Genie+ thing without a smart phone. That's how we got RoR boarding passes.

I go into dumb old person on a regular basis and not just at WDW.   I am so with you on wanting to hold a damn menu, trying to order on line when I want to make a substitution or deletion of some ingredient, change my reservation time by 15 minutes, etc.  I am terrified of having to use the Genie+ thing to try and book SFA !!!!!   And the whole idea of a "virtual queue makes my head explode !

Eight of our family (including us) hope to be at the Fort together for the first time since COVID hit the planet.  For us to do this $15/day is $120.00.   Even if we only do it for each park once, that $480.00 US.  On top of our tickets and campground cost.   I sure hope the Canadian dollar takes a major jump before January !!!

3 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Lol. I love how they’re afraid to say what a Fastpass for a good ride will cost. Greedy b*stards. 

TCD

Blood suckers - this will be brutal for the average family for 4 - 

Now this is what I love about Fort Fiends - it starts off with a rumour about a new dining pavilion and winds up at MBYMPAC with cinnamon buns !!!! Thanks heavens - it compensates for all the money grabbing for fast passes at $15/day !!!

Thank you folks - you save my sanity 

I have only one word for this - OUCH !!!!

I can't begin to list the number of other experiences, several Disney ones, that I can have for that price tag and as much as the entire family loves Star Wars - this just ins't in the plans unless someone wins a big, big lottery !  There aren't enough "perks" to even bring me close to spending that kind for money for 2 nights.   Holy crap !!!

Sorry probably more than one word  - but OUCH !!!!

6 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Are they talking about opening the dang border?   We made it to Glacier this month, but Banff is really my end-game ❤️

Most of Canada is open now for internal travel except for a few isolated spots that are still restricted.  However there is speculation that June 22 is possible but more likely July 21.  I think they want to keep us all home until all the kiddos are out of school.  

However,  I can't see how the border can stay closed much longer, Manitoba is over 70% of 12 year's and up vaccinated at this point with at least 1 dose and the second doses are being given everywhere.  Both hubby and I have our second dose as do our kids.  Only the grandchildren haven't had their second dose.  There are a couple of provinces (Ontario & Newfoundland & Labrador that are a bit further behind but everyone else is doing well.  

So cross your fingers !!!

and if we can finally travel in December or January we will be able to see this - fingers crossed !

4 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

It’s always after hours at Mickey’s Backyard Massage Parlor and Casino. 

and more reasonably priced I am sure.

So Bob Chapek said the quiet part out loud according to an item on one of the Disney news boards.  Apparently the replacement for Annual Passes at Disneyland will be a "park loyalty" or "frequent visitor program".  As many on these boards have commented in the past we know it's all about how much is being spent in the parks and evidently the Disneyland Annal Passholders weren't spending enough and the Annual Pass program wasn't returning enough money to the shareholders. 

I have been increasingly irritated over the past 6-7 years about how Annual Passholders (and DVC Members) were continually having our so-called perks eroded and reduced and this item just pointed out to me that again, it's the bean counters, not the guest experience that always wins the day with the Disney management.  

I expect that we shall see this program introduced at WDW as a way of increase the returns from there as well.  

So depressing. 

2 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

Nobody said all FORT patrons are smart....

Actually the term "dumb as posts" comes to mind ! Given they can't read the signs on the posts they just passed!

Now this could be really exciting for us.  Assuming Canadians will finally be allowed to cross the border my daughter has booked a campsite for eight of us to actually go to the Fort in January 2022.  We have a new family member who has never been to WDW!   And we (hubby and I) haven't stayed at the Fort in over 4 years.  At this point all our fingers are crossed!!!  

17 hours ago, keith_h said:

It really doesn't matter what they are called as you will end up with too much both if you eat too many.

Yes but really what a wonderful weigh to go !!!!  

Absolutely their fault !!!!!!

2 hours ago, keith_h said:

I don't do Facebook. My social media is limited to this and several other forums and of those the majority are professional user groups. If Facebook became the primary communications vehicle unless it was mirrored here and visa versa I would likely stop not only posting but lurking too.  I'm not sure how many other members it would affect but I don't believe I am the only one who doesn't do Facebook. 

You are correct.  I do not do Facebook either.  I only follow three forums and this is one of them.  I would be very sorry to lose this one.  Even though I do not post very often I check it regularly just to follow the news of WDW and the Fort.  Although we haven't stayed at the Fort in years, largely due to the cost, we always do several visits there when we are in the area if only to chat to the CMs we have met over the years or catch a meal or visit with friends who might be staying there. 

I would be sorry to see this forum migrate to Facebook.

6 hours ago, Travisma said:

The bean counters would probably have them use the Pillsbury ones in a can!

Oh lordy you are probably right - I never even thought of that.  I was just being wistful.  And probably delusional too! LOL

It is probably a reflection of my age but an item about expanding the Main Street Confectionary caught my eye and I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, if they take over the hat shop, if it wouldn't be a lovely opportunity to bring back a certain cinnamon bun?  A small revival of the Main Street Bakery?   Perhaps in honour of the 50th

As I said, it's a probably a reflection of age but that WOULD be a reason to celebrate ! 

(PS I know a certain large corporation up the street would likely not be happy about that)