Mouse Extra

Like I said yesterday, I did not bring myself to see Disney World’s newest addition, the American Idol Experience, on my recently concluded trip to the Mouse.  But I did have a chance to “experience” the other major change at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the newly slashed show times for Fantasmic!.  And as I am sure you could have predicted, it was a total disaster.

Considering the potential for a mess, our party decided to book a Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose’s.  We had a good meal, good service, and were enjoying ourselves until our waiter at the end of our meal told us we should think about heading over to the theater as soon as we were finished…it was over 2 hours until show time!?!  Now that may be good advice, but the party included my 4 year old niece and 7 year old nephew.  I couldn’t imagine either one of them sitting on a bleacher for 2 hours even if Mickey Mouse himself was sitting next to them the entire time.

As we arrived 45 minutes early, they were already turning people away and telling them only limited standing room remained.  But they gave us a seat thanks only to the dinner package.  Folks, I can not emphasize enough how important this package is now if you don’t want to sit on a bleacher looking at a blank stage for over an hour.

I can only imagine how many people, who did not have the benefit of a well informed waiter or are not avid readers of various Disney related websites, did not get to see the show on their one and only shot to do so on their vacation.  How many guests made their way over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios specifically for Fantasmic only to be turned away at the entrance to the theater?  And this was a particularly slow week for attendance.  This problem will only get worse.

I hope all of those who did miss out registered their complaints with Guest Services.  This decision to cut costs by cutting down to only two showings per week what may be the most popular show on property was one of the worst Disney World officials have made in recent memory.  I understand the need to cut costs, but how about 4 times a week?  Why go from every night to only twice?

Thanks to this decision there really is no reason anymore to stay into the night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  It is now nothing more than a half-day park.  Get there early, hit the e-tickets, and you’ll be done by early afternoon.  Is that what Disney hoped to accomplish?