That's just sad.  IT's really unfortunate that CMs are only trying to do their jobs, as determined by their employer, and getting abused for it.

On 2/17/2021 at 10:08 AM, Travisma said:

Last year, James Rosemergy at TouringPlans.com attempted to become a “Disney Cyborg” by having a chip meant to duplicate the functions of a MagicBand implanted in his arm. Though his experiment did not work, he did interview a guest who had a custom chip created from a pre-existing MagicBand surgically implanted in her arm and was successfully able to use it as a MagicBand. In response to these experiments, Disney has added a label to MagicBand boxes warning users not to do this.

The sticker on the inside of a MagicBand box reads “Not for internal or subdermal use.”

 

So how do you "foolproof" for Idiots ?

2 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

I once packed for 8 nights at Disney in a carry-on.  I'm pretty sure I can pull it off.  

What are the rules on washing out your clothes in the canals?  

Watch out for the 'gators?

That is too bad, there were some nice little restaurants in there.

23 hours ago, AuburnChris said:

Just my speculation here, I have no inside info, but I could imagine them applying a DVC-style points model for APs, where instead of blackout dates, you get a limited pool of "park points" that would allow you to enter the parks. Low-traffic days would be cheaper in "points" than high-traffic days, to encourage AP holders to come when crowds are lower. The most expensive new "Annual Pass" would provide you with enough points to attend 365 days if you wanted, but would be "if you have to ask" expensive, where cheaper APs would give you enough for maybe a few days a month, or a longer vacation once or twice a year.

That's just convoluted and confusing  enough to be something that the bean counters would come up with.  And since I'm in the "if you have to ask" category I shudder to think what it would cost.

I find this such a short-sighted move by Disney.  Not surprising given their penny pinching but really short-sighted. 

One of the main reasons we bought  into DVC was to be able to come down when we retired and stay at the Fort.  We would then book a DVC resort, have our kids fly in and join us on their one week break, and then we'd go back to the Fort until it was time to come home.  For the past 5 years, since we stopped staying at the Fort we've still done that.  Booked DVC, had the kids fly in, we'd park hop like crazy using EMH and they'd fly home. 

I suspect we aren't the only DVC members that bought specifically so we could take advantage of these two "perks".  I especially think the international DVC members will protest these changes and it will certainly discourage potential members.

LIke I said, short-sighted penny pinching. 

This makes me depressed - every time we went to Epcot we ate at either Spice Table or the Tangerine - and every year I brought home their spice mixtures to give a gifts and for myself.  I do hope Disney doesn't change everything but in keeping with everything else they have done they probably will.

It would be nice if this did a 50th Anniversary license plate frame as well.  That way people from other states/provinces could get one to use around our plates.  

2 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Yes more is on the way. Disney now will take advantage of the circumstances to gut the union workers. Dumping non-union employees first helps with the optics, but this is their chance to decimate the union and you can bet they will. More money for the executives and shareholders, and more castmembers kicked to the curb.

Walt Disney World as we knew it is gone for good.

TCD

Because destroying the union is a sure way to drive down the wages and leave "More money for the executives and shareholders,"

 -  as if 2020 hasn't been bad enough watching what is happening to all the cart members we've come to know over the years is so depressing 

2 hours ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Article in Orlando Sentinel this morning says 8,857 more cast let go.  They are part-time union cast members.  So that is over 15,000 employees from Disney World.  Now I guess the full time cast will get their cuts.  Disney will expect those workers who are still there to cover all the work the laid off/fired cast won't be there to do.  But at the same pay.

Of course because why would they ever bother compensating people for the work they do.- unless you're an executive !!!

2 minutes ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

There is a lot of bitterness among the fired/laid off cast, i don't think a lot of them will even want to go back to WDW.

I don't know if it is alright to post this here so, if not, take it down.

Some of the let go cast have created a face book page to support each other and to hopefully sell some of their wares/services.

The name of the group is "ear for each other".  It is a public page but only the fired cast are allowed to sell on it. Anyone can buy from it.  We all can comment and buy.   I believe there are cast from both coasts involved.

I will go and find it - thank you

3 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Remember how WDW cut and did not replace the MK night parade, added all those before and after hours events and dessert parties by taking away park hours and venues, and began charging hotel guests for parking?  Not to mention endless price increases and smaller food portions?  That money grubbing adds up to billions of profits that are sitting as billions of dollars of cash on the corporate books. 

All of it made possible by the blood, sweat and tears of their loyal castmembers.

Could they use some of that cash to help their paycheck to paycheck castmembers?  You know, the money they helped them make? Of course. But will they?  Hell no!  They are going to try and rake in a few more billion by charging more and delivering less for as long as they can get away with it. It’s worked for them in the past, and they’re betting it will again.  And it probably will.

Like I said. They’re just another money-grubbing heartless corporation. 

TCD

This has been building for a long time.  It started in subtle, quiet ways, just a little less service here or there at the Fort, not being able to resolve an issue/25 people on a site on weekends; fewer people behind the counter at the restaurants or clearing tables; a couple of staff less in the Emporium or World of Disney when you were shopping; more people getting fast passes than the system could handle; less gardening here or there; and higher prices for everything. As TCD notes; cut the parades, cut the fireworks, cut away anything they can.    All small things by themselves  but they have added up.  Now, with COVID 19 it is the perfect opportunity/excuse to really cut deeply across the board, to get rid of staff and entertainment, the student program, the foreign staff at Epcot,  DVC staff, DCL staff; all with the justification it is necessary now.

In a couple of years they will hire some folks for minimum wage who have no idea what being a Disney cast member should mean and there will be nobody left to teach them.  All the "old timers" will be gone and their collective memories vanished.  No-one will even know what "Kungaloosh" means never mind be able to mix a batch!  

The shareholder price will increase, the executives will continue to get their exorbitant pay cheques and bonuses.  

People like us will be sad, weep a little, and say "remember when" whenever we do visit but we are a dying group and frankly I don't think Disney gives a hot damn about any of us.   

Walt is  spinning in his grave. 

11 minutes ago, h2odivers...Ray said:

I’m on hold with WDW, agian, to find out what my refund would be if I canceled our APs. 
just curious has anyone canceled their passes?

if so, what was the refund?

Does anyone know how they are figuring refunds?

just in case you’re curious I’ve now been waiting 55 minutes for someone to pick up. 
On a happy note I am enjoying the music they’re playing. Lol. 

I was close to 90 minutes on hold yesterday - killed the battery in two of the handsfree phones before I finally got through.  I cancelled our APs but they were not able to tell me how much the refund would be, or how they would be calculated, or even when we would receive them.

We really debated what to do about this because our passes would have been good until May 2, 2021.  However we live in Canada and a trip down is not cheap, even though we haven't stayed on property for 5 years because of how much the Fort costs now.  That didn't mean we didn't spend a bundle, between meals, snacks, souvenirs, drinks at the various bars when we resort hopped and everything else.  Our trips down are usually for at least two months, sometime from the middle to end of December to mid-March give or take.

However our rationale for finally cancelling was essential focused on COVID.  The border between Canada and the US is currently closed and expected to remain closed to non-commercial traffic until at least the end of December if not longer.  Travel is not recommended to many countries, including the US, and that doesn't look likely to change; and while we would try and create a "safe bubble" in the Orlando area we have to travel through a lot of states to get there.   All travel agents are also making recommendations with a pointed reminder to bump up on an extra health care premium to ensure we are adequately covered for COVID emergencies.   

So that was the final call, to cancel and just "let it go" for this year.  

I will post as soon as I know how much we get back. 

By the way - the music was ok for the first five or six replays, but boy after I counted it for the 23rd time I was seriously weary of it. 

5 minutes ago, kadancer said:

The comment in red is totally not us - we spend much more on all but the first trip on our pass.  Once the ticket expense is covered it allows us much more room in the budget for both dining and specially events like tours.  Additionally, if we buy tickets each trip, we get one a year - with an annual pass we go, at minimum, four times.  I don't know if we are typical, but from my point of view, this is a miscalculation.

I agree - Disney indulges is "fuzzy math" when it suits them.

On 7/24/2020 at 6:13 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

I agree. Check out these shots of the beach taken from the boat dock:

Weeds and grass are already covering the sand. I can’t imagine that any manager will authorize spending money to restore and reopen the beach. Such a shame.

TCD

Oh dear - that is just so sad to look at.  

The idea of a massive new resort was bad enough to begin with and now just leaving everything is one big mess is so depressing.  Just another reason to not go back, more of Disney management's style now. 

Thank you TCD

4 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

OMG can you imagine floating around your local lake on that??

And wouldn't you love the looks on peoples faces!!!

Nope - no need for a party barge, but I'd love the globe !!!!!

I wonder if that is because England has some kind of strange maritime law that allows seafarers not to pay taxes on their income?   I remember being told about it on a Royal Carribean cruise once by a crew member.

16 hours ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

Disney Parks Donates 150,000 Rain Ponchos to Hospitals and Medical Professionals Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

from Yahoo

 

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/disney-parks-donates-150-000-130041585.html

I find this both nice, but incredibly sad!   It's terrific of Disney, and all the other companies to do these things.      

HOWEVER, I find the simple fact that the hospital workers, doctors, nurses, EMS folks need to rely on rain ponchos for protection, literally around the world, is unbearably depressing.

On 10/22/2019 at 10:10 PM, Travisma said:

This Thursday, Oct. 24, neighbors and Resort Guests near Magic Kingdom may hear us testing fireworks around 6:15 a.m. as we make final preparations for an all-new holiday show. Once it begins, the test should take about 30 minutes. We understand the early morning noise impacts may not be ideal and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your morning routine. For those of you who may already be awake… we invite you to grab a cup of coffee, turn on some holiday music and enjoy the show!

I would so be up for that - I used to love watching sunrise from the beach.

We loved that excursion when we did it a couple of years ago - absolutely wonderful..  So glad you enjoyed it.

12 hours ago, ImDownWithDisney said:

https://wdwnt.com/2019/08/pricing-revealed-for-immersive-multi-day-star-wars-galactic-journeys-hotel-experience-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

I hope someone makes a youtube video of it for my kids to watch.

Never mind my kids the only way I will see this is on video.  

There is ZERO chance of us ever, ever, in a million years of dreams ever doing this.  

Translated to Cdn $$ that is $10K - never going to happen.  

3 hours ago, ftwildernessguy said:

Well I can at least enjoy a coffee at the Writers Stop.  They’ll never take that away 

This one bugs me a lot - gone with the wind!!!  Everything I loved the most just keeps disappearing

7 hours ago, BradyBzLyn...Mo said:

Yeah, they could.  But that's nowhere near as cool as a movable, floating barrel bridge.  

Nope I agree - or a swinging rope bridge like they have for the Animal Kingdom backstage tours over the alligators.

7 hours ago, Travisma said:

That would have to be pretty high, and to make it easy enough to push a stroller/wheelchair, they would have to make it really long with a gradual rise if the grade.

I think the grade over by Boardwalk is pretty good, but yes it would need to be a really long run.

They could just do a bridge like the one from Boardwalk over to the International Gateway. It would have to be higher to allow for the floats but that might be the cheapest solution.