With Disney World having experienced its best year ever, it’s being forced by Disney corporate to make considerable cuts, that rattle the brain of guests. Cuts are attributed to major cost overruns for the construction of Shanghai Disney. One cut seriously affects Hollywood Studios “Streetmosphere,” or Citizens of Hollywood while another affects a play area that has degraded over the years.
Streetmosphere
A large number of Citizens are being told that their contracts are not being renewed at Hollywood Studios. Reports have it in the 10-12 person range. Citizens of Hollywood have been a critical part of welcoming guests to the park with comedy, entertainment and whimsy just as you cross through the gates. I’m not sure exactly which exact characters are affected at this time. I’m sure they are devastated by the news that they’ve lost their jobs, while most have families to support. Some rumors say that some of their roles could be filled by new hires, therefore saving the company money.
We’ve had many hours of fun interacting with these comedic geniouses and wish them only the best in finding new roles or new employment. One of my daughter’s favorite memories is playing with Betty Shambles. Citizens of Hollywood characters you will be missed!
DisneyQuest hours being cut as well.
DisneyQuest is moving it’s operational hours from 11:30am to 10:00 or 11:00pm back down to beginning at some point in the afternoon until 9pm. DisneyQuest is a shadow of what it was 10 years ago. It’s filled with broken and degrading games of all kinds and was announced to close, supposedly to make way for an NBA themed attraction, but even that is said to be on hold. Many operations Cast Members will have to try to find hours among the many roles being scaled back. Many regular Cast Members are being scaled back to 30 hours per week.
Boggles the mind to see a place that has been so successful cutting entertainment options. One has to wonder when the usual 3 to 5 year round of Manager cuts will take place.
Oh, by the way, ticket prices are supposed to increase this weekend in some way.
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Axelskater
Tuesday 1st of March 2016
A Reuters article just came out today with some information on the Chinese national commodities and raw materials sectors, namely coal, steel, solar and a few others. The Chinese government will be laying off about 5 -6 million state workers over the next months, in a "retrenchment". They are desperately trying to prop up the failing economy and the so-called "zombie" factories. If anyone doubts that Shanghai Disney- at THIS time- is a colossal mistake, please read the article. It is very enlightening. But will the Disney decision-makers pay? The ones who thought the Asian money train would not end? Will there be admitted mistakes and firings? (not the little guy either!) The Chinese economy will reverberate into Hong Kong over the next 18-24 months. Any remember that awful, horribly-failed Madonna flop from the 80's...."Shanghai Surprise"?
Rob Stevens
Monday 29th of February 2016
So you're trying to tell us that 12 jobs (of which there are more streetmosphere characters, so it's not that they're cutting it entirely), and a single shift at DisneyQuest would move the needle on any amount of money lost at Shanghai large enough for Disney to even sweat about. The math just doesn't add up, and as you mentioned, the ticket price increase (which is an annual thing) would more than cover any of that.
What's more likely? That they're projecting a slower year due to all the construction happening (guest putting off trips to wait for Star Wars Land), so they're cutting back hours / roles where it won't impact the overall guest experience? Or that the ... oh, let's be generous and call it $1M saved by these moves are to somehow defray the over a BILLION dollar cost overrun on another continent, of which Disney only has to absorb a fraction of?
Let me be clear ... How Disney treats its employees is DEPLORABLE. It disgusts me to see them abusing hard working people, particularly my friends who were directly impacted by this H-1B bull. But by using Shanghai as a foil here, you're actually distracting from the issue. These particular job cuts are nothing compared to what Disney has done, and Shanghai likely has little, if anything, to do with it.
Keep the finger pointed in the right direction ... stop trying to make more of these things than they are and stay focused on getting Disney to stop abusing it's employees ... period. Shanghai isn't the reason they're doing this, and you shouldn't give them the excuse anyway.
Tracey Horn
Sunday 28th of February 2016
We are a family of 4 from Cairns in Australia, and we just visited Disneyland in Anaheim in September, and we loved it! I have already starting planning a trip to Disney World (unfortunately not until 2018, have to resave with the bad Aussie dollar). I have already been getting so excited, and am signed on to so many blogs for ideas...but all of these comments are making me sad, and wondering if I should be visiting WDW at all? I love all things Disney, and it's a helluva long way for us to travel, I only hope things get better and the comments get more positive, so I can keep being excited about planning a trip, and not wondering whether I should even bother to visit. It will be a once only visit for us, it's doubtful we will ever return, so we want it to be memorable for all the right reasons. PS, Kenny, love your blogs, if I lived anywhere near Disney I know I would be a regular visitor
Bobbi shipman
Sunday 28th of February 2016
Please don't let this stop you. I have been going to WDW for 26 years and while things have changed the magic is still there. We live over 1000 miles away but are annual Passholders because we still love the parks. You won't be disappointed. It is much larger that Disneyland. While I love Disneyland too the WDW complex will astound you. Enjoy.
kennythepirate
Sunday 28th of February 2016
I think it's worth it to visit WDW and when you arrive, many new things will be operating. Keep an eye out for when Star Wars Land should open too.
Becca
Saturday 27th of February 2016
I'm so upset I've been planning a Disney trip for 2018 and I have never been and have been excitedly planning but I just keep hearing about cut backs and I feel so heart broken. I'm never going to get to see citizens of Hollywood that everyone talks about and I just keep hearing of Disney slowly loosing their magic every day. I've been so excited but to hear that all these rides are shut down and that Lady Tremaine will no longer have her regular free visit in MK just breaks my heart. Then there's talk about closing A mans dream that I've been excited to see abd earn about the great Walt Disney who created all these characters I've come to know and love :'(
kennythepirate
Saturday 27th of February 2016
Citizens aren't leaving, just cut 10 or so of the veteran characters
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