WDWFigment
Obsolete Technology
Walt Disney World Resort
Epcot
Future World
The Lights of Winter
That is what the Disney Parks Blog called the Lights of Winter at EPCOT in its confirmation that they wouldn't be displayed this year. Obsolete technology? There were probably meetings held yesterday to come up with an official line for this, and yet this is the best that could be mustered up? Give me a break.
Although it won't affect me directly this year, this really grinds my gears, and is yet another example of cuts that have occurred around the holiday season for no apparent reason (Country Bear Christmas, Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas, live bands in the Christmas parade, free pictures at the Christmas parties, shows in the Diamond Horseshoe, free buttons and shopping discounts for the Candlelight Dining package, etc.). Some have said these cuts have been made due to cost-savings, but I don't find that to be a compelling rationale. While no one could have expected these things to last forever (Disney is not a museum), the argument that these items have all been replaced by better holiday offerings is unpersuasive. Show me what replaced Country Bear Christmas? Nothing. Twas the Night Before Christmas? Totally Tomorrowland Christmas (need I say more?). Free picture? PhotoPass discounts. Freebies for Candlelight dining packages? Price increases to the dining packages.
I really don't think this is a cut stemming from anything but laziness. To me, this illustrates that Disney does not perform its due diligence before making decisions and/or tailors its research to suit its pre-determined decisions. The Lights of Winter have installation/removal, maintenance, and electricity costs. If updated to LED lights (I'm no expert, but something tells me if WDI can make Expedition Everest, converting the Lights of Winter would be no problem, and could be done in like a day), the savings in electricity would probably offset the update costs. Despite these costs, the Lights of Winter are probably profitable. Several PhotoPass photographers are stationed in the area. Additionally, the lights are a huge holiday draw to Walt Disney World. While you'll find few people who will cancel their trip this year because they won't be up, you will see a minute decrease in bookings next year. The reason for that is two-fold: disappointed guests who remember them from the past, but feel 'cheated' that the holiday offerings are being reduced, and new guests who the parks fail to capture (these guests would be 'captured' after seeing pictures of the lights on Facebook, Flickr, etc., and reading/hearing accounts of the gorgeous display--if said lights are not displayed, these new guests cannot be captured). Finally and most importantly, there is a loss in goodwill that is nearly irreparable. There is a reason there is a Disney difference that separates it from parks such as Cedar Point (Cory's favorite). At some point, if Disney continues to trim what it perceives to be 'fat' on its offerings to increase profits, it will start to cut bone.
Then again, maybe Disney is waiting for the LED lights to be 90% off at Wal-Mart after Christmas...
Check out this article on my blog if you're interested in tips for visiting Walt Disney World at Christmas or seeing tons more Christmas photos!
View my Disney Photo Gallery for thousands of Disney photos that aren't on Flickr!
DisneyTouristBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Photo Gallery | Google+ | ISO 5571 - Podcast
Obsolete Technology
Walt Disney World Resort
Epcot
Future World
The Lights of Winter
That is what the Disney Parks Blog called the Lights of Winter at EPCOT in its confirmation that they wouldn't be displayed this year. Obsolete technology? There were probably meetings held yesterday to come up with an official line for this, and yet this is the best that could be mustered up? Give me a break.
Although it won't affect me directly this year, this really grinds my gears, and is yet another example of cuts that have occurred around the holiday season for no apparent reason (Country Bear Christmas, Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas, live bands in the Christmas parade, free pictures at the Christmas parties, shows in the Diamond Horseshoe, free buttons and shopping discounts for the Candlelight Dining package, etc.). Some have said these cuts have been made due to cost-savings, but I don't find that to be a compelling rationale. While no one could have expected these things to last forever (Disney is not a museum), the argument that these items have all been replaced by better holiday offerings is unpersuasive. Show me what replaced Country Bear Christmas? Nothing. Twas the Night Before Christmas? Totally Tomorrowland Christmas (need I say more?). Free picture? PhotoPass discounts. Freebies for Candlelight dining packages? Price increases to the dining packages.
I really don't think this is a cut stemming from anything but laziness. To me, this illustrates that Disney does not perform its due diligence before making decisions and/or tailors its research to suit its pre-determined decisions. The Lights of Winter have installation/removal, maintenance, and electricity costs. If updated to LED lights (I'm no expert, but something tells me if WDI can make Expedition Everest, converting the Lights of Winter would be no problem, and could be done in like a day), the savings in electricity would probably offset the update costs. Despite these costs, the Lights of Winter are probably profitable. Several PhotoPass photographers are stationed in the area. Additionally, the lights are a huge holiday draw to Walt Disney World. While you'll find few people who will cancel their trip this year because they won't be up, you will see a minute decrease in bookings next year. The reason for that is two-fold: disappointed guests who remember them from the past, but feel 'cheated' that the holiday offerings are being reduced, and new guests who the parks fail to capture (these guests would be 'captured' after seeing pictures of the lights on Facebook, Flickr, etc., and reading/hearing accounts of the gorgeous display--if said lights are not displayed, these new guests cannot be captured). Finally and most importantly, there is a loss in goodwill that is nearly irreparable. There is a reason there is a Disney difference that separates it from parks such as Cedar Point (Cory's favorite). At some point, if Disney continues to trim what it perceives to be 'fat' on its offerings to increase profits, it will start to cut bone.
Then again, maybe Disney is waiting for the LED lights to be 90% off at Wal-Mart after Christmas...
Check out this article on my blog if you're interested in tips for visiting Walt Disney World at Christmas or seeing tons more Christmas photos!
View my Disney Photo Gallery for thousands of Disney photos that aren't on Flickr!
DisneyTouristBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Photo Gallery | Google+ | ISO 5571 - Podcast