Cutbacks slated for WDW

slylandro · Post by **slylandro** » Nov Sat 29, 2008 8:38 pm

Those big show are REALLY expensive to operate. Fantasmic, wishes, Illumination...they cost a LOT....the one that they want to keep is the main one and that is wishes...why...it is classical Disney to have a fireworks above the castle. So they have no other choice. they cut on the two other!

sad thing...but must be done I guess...can't say I am happy about it tho!

DIAC1987 · Post by **DIAC1987** » Nov Sun 30, 2008 6:38 pm

Hooray struggling economy.

There's a lot of fear amongst Americans in terms of the economy in the upcoming years. I guess Disney is now beginning to react to it.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Nov Sun 30, 2008 8:12 pm

slylandro wrote:Those big show are REALLY expensive to operate. Fantasmic, wishes, Illumination...they cost a LOT....the one that they want to keep is the main one and that is wishes...why...it is classical Disney to have a fireworks above the castle. So they have no other choice. they cut on the two other!

sad thing...but must be done I guess...can't say I am happy about it tho!

You've got a point. Every time I watch Illuminations or whatever they're calling the Magic Kingdom fireworks show that year, it occurs to me that Disney is basically setting fire to huge piles of money each night. Heck, what they spend on fireworks in one day could probably buy you a small island nation.

jcodirewolf · Post by **jcodirewolf** » Nov Sun 30, 2008 9:18 pm

It depends because if word gets out that Disney has cut back so far that it's no longer worth the premium to visit Disney, they are shooting themselves in the foot.

However, the parks with daily fireworks shows are something newish... I'm not sure when they became a everynight thing, but I know as late as 83 or 84 they wheren't doing fireworks EVERY night.

johno

annafab · Post by **annafab** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 1:39 am

Has anyone heard any rumors about hiring freezes? And if so, how do you think that would affect internships hirings in 2010? (I don't know much about business...)

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 9:42 am

I haven't heard any rumors about hiring freezes, but it wouldn't surprise me. Of course, I'm sure there's a fair amount of turnover in the minimum-wage jobs, so they'll always be accepting applications for those. However, I imagine that there probably aren't any new positions being created right now, especially since they've postponed some of the bigger attraction rehabs.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 10:07 am

From what I understand (both of my sisters have worked for the mouse), Disney isn't one to freeze hiring. They will layoff then hire anew at a lower wage. People will take jobs at whatever rate they can with unemployment as high as it currently is. Unfortunately, it is like the auto industry (or any major company) where the big dogs fly around in their private jets and it's the little people, the minimum-wagers who suffer.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 1:12 pm

annafab wrote:Has anyone heard any rumors about hiring freezes? And if so, how do you think that would affect internships hirings in 2010? (I don't know much about business...)

Internships and College programs usually don't get affected by these things. If you are in one you are cheap labor. They would love to have you stay longer at those prices but can't do to the laws that govern the programs.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 3:34 pm

agingerbugg wrote:From what I understand (both of my sisters have worked for the mouse), Disney isn't one to freeze hiring. They will layoff then hire anew at a lower wage. People will take jobs at whatever rate they can with unemployment as high as it currently is. Unfortunately, it is like the auto industry (or any major company) where the big dogs fly around in their private jets and it's the little people, the minimum-wagers who suffer.

When you wish upon a staaar
Makes no difference who you aaaare
Unless, of course, you're an executive helping to run the company into the ground
In which case you'll get a raise and a hefty bonus

Hey, in this tough economy, rhymes cost extra!

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 4:22 pm

Future Guy wrote:When you wish upon a staaar
Makes no difference who you aaaare
Unless, of course, you're an executive helping to run the company into the ground
In which case you'll get a raise and a hefty bonus

Hey, in this tough economy, rhymes cost extra!

Especially since, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, we have been in a recession since December 2007. Like we didn't know that already?

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 4:34 pm

Invest now

If you want to own Disney in some small way now's the time!

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 4:55 pm

I believe they arent hiring any new full-timers or promoting anyone to full-time. So their may be a hiring freeze for full-time jobs but Seasonal/Part-Time/CP i think they would still hire. Thats just my 2 cents though.

Donalds1Fan · Post by **Donalds1Fan** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 5:37 pm

slylandro wrote:Those big show are REALLY expensive to operate. Fantasmic, wishes, Illumination...they cost a LOT....the one that they want to keep is the main one and that is wishes...why...it is classical Disney to have a fireworks above the castle. So they have no other choice. they cut on the two other!

sad thing...but must be done I guess...can't say I am happy about it tho!

Are they really cutting back on Illuminations? From what I've seen looking at the calendars for our next trip, in terms of nighttime entertainment, it's just Fantasmic! and Spectromagic that are being drastically cut.

In the 8 nights we'll be there at the end of April, Fantasmic! is only being shown 2x and Spectro is only being shown 3x, and two of those three days are the same for both. Planning this trip is not going to be easy.

Magical Wonder · Post by **Magical Wonder** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 8:04 pm

I haven't heard about an Illuminations cut-back (yet). I am sad about the Fantasmic cut-back, but I do understand the reason.

And I think what packwingfn said is right (based upon what I've been hearing). I don't think that they're currently hiring full-timers and may in fact be cutting full timers hours back some. I think that you can still get some part time work and the college program should be fine because, as an ex-CP I will say - the CP is a huge cost saver for Disney.

I just checked Disney's job openings... and there's not much. Nothing for the parks, a few internships and a few professional jobs in that area. There's only 19 job listings for the Lake Buena Vista/Orlando right now. I don't think I've ever seen that few posted before.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Dec Tue 02, 2008 2:49 am

Donalds1Fan wrote:Are they really cutting back on Illuminations? From what I've seen looking at the calendars for our next trip, in terms of nighttime entertainment, it's just Fantasmic! and Spectromagic that are being drastically cut.

In the 8 nights we'll be there at the end of April, Fantasmic! is only being shown 2x and Spectro is only being shown 3x, and two of those three days are the same for both. Planning this trip is not going to be easy.

Spectro showings are usually low during the non-holiday seasons (including summer vacation as a holiday season, I guess). Or at least, they always used to be. I remember it only being offered some Saturday nights when we used to go in early September and, like, early May. Times when crowds are traditionally low.

As far as I understand it, it's only Fantasmic that's being reduced. I remember - back in the day - Illuminations was partly paid for by the host country's sponsors. I have no idea if that's the case with RoE, though. If it is, that might be one reason Disney doesn't feel the need to trim it back. That, and Epcot is one of the only parks routinely open past 8pm. If everything closes early, people have nowhere to go to spend money.