Mouse Extra

Disney has recently announced a huge increase in the rental prices for strollers. Single passenger strollers now cost $15 per day while double strollers cost $31 per day. For those guests who want to rent the strollers for the length of their stay, it costs $13 and $27 per day respectively. If you rent a stroller at Downtown Disney, you need to fork over a $100 credit card deposit. This represents a massive increase in the price of renting strollers. For example, prior to Sunday, a double stroller cost $18 per day to rent. In other words, Disney has issued a 42% increase in the cost. A family with 2 children staying 7 days will now pay $189 to rent the double stroller.

The question is why is Disney jacking up the prices so much overnight. The official Disney word is that prices have not increased in three years and so this is an appropriate adjustment in pricing. Others theorize (me included) that Disney very well may be sick of being in the stroller renting business and might be trying to force people to not use strollers. Those folks with kids on the cusp of not needing a stroller now may just forget the idea. Of course, this hurts people who really need the things and don’t want to bring their own from home (not that big of a deal) or who find bringing their own on the Disney bus system difficult and inconvinent (which it very much is).

It seems to me that if this was just another way of milking the consumer for all they have, the increases would have been much smaller but more frequent - like a $3 increase now, another $2 in 6 months, another $3 6 months after that, so on and so forth. Plus, Disney obviously wants to phase out the double stroller since it now for the first time costs more to get a double stroller than 2 single strollers. Anyway, those folks going to the World need to be aware of this in order to make an appopriate choice for their budget.

Today’s article is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

Today’s Suggestion Box entry is one that may be a bit unoriginal and somewhat boring for the thrill seekers.  But it is one that I have been thinking of ever since the first time I heard of the concept of Expedition Everest at the Animal Kingdom.  Wouldn’t it be cool to see some climbers ascending the Forbidden Mountain?

If you have ever been to Disneyland, or have even read about Walt’s original mountain the Matterhorn, then you know how famous it is for being scaled by some of the world’s most famous climbers.  The Sierra Club were the first to send climbers up this manufactured mountain and since then it has been conquered by Mickey Mouse, Goofy and more.  For the past few years, these climbs have been a regular part of Disneyland’s entertainment.  It’s funny, fitting of the mountain’s theme, and just a really cool idea. 

But even though climbers fit perfectly into the Matterhorn’s theme, no mountain in the world is more associated with climbing the Mount Everest.  Doesn’t it just make sense for the idea that has worked well and become so legendary in California to also be used on an attraction where it may just make even more sense and be an even better fit?  Would it not be really incredible, as you come around the corner into the parking lot of the Animal Kingdom, to get your first view of the Forbidden Mountain and see the Mouse making his way to the summit?

This could be a daily event, and kids one love it.  The only thing I can think of is that the exterior of the mountain can not physically hold people like the Matterhorn can.  Because this is an obvious idea and one that I can’t believe is not already a part of the day at the Animal Kingdom.

In today’s Suggestion Box I place an idea that is really more of a plea for help than just a suggestion.  I hope if Disney World management reads this they truly understand that distinction.

Dear Mouse,

I don’t just want today’s suggestion…I need it.  Please, in the name of all that is good in this world, can we have some decent coffee!!!

You’ve given us so much to do when we visit.  We are up at the crack of dawn for rope-drop so we can see the e-ticket attractions without waiting in an hour long line.  We spend all day walking miles and miles to great restaurants.  We stay out past the kid’s bedtimes for fireworks, and maybe the adult beverage if we have no kids.  We can squeeze in a few hours of incredibly sound sleep due to exhaustion, but it is never enough after all that activity.  We always wake up excited for a new day, but more and more tired as the vacation goes on.  A nice cup of coffee would make a huge difference.  But no, we can not find such a thing in our resort or even in the parks.

Instead, we buy our refillable mugs out of pure necessity and fill it with something that tastes like someone ran mulch and motor oil in a blender.  It even smells bad as it comes out of the machine.  All the sugar and half and half in the world can not successfully mask the pungent after-taste that stays with you until lunch. 

Isn’t there something we can do about this?  You have so much good food.  Why can’t we have good coffee too?  Can’t we find a good corporate sponsor to take over the coffee contract?  I don’t need Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.  I’m not being greedy.  All I need is something that is drinkable.  Is this really too much to ask?

Thank you,
An Exhausted Guest

Well, it appears at though Epcot’s new leader, Vice President Jim MacPhee, is opening the door to celebrating Epcot’s 25th Anniversary after all.  In a short blog posting released yesterday by the Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Powers, the man with the coolest job in newspapers, we find that Disney may be on the verge of reversing one of the least popular decisions in recent memory.

New Epcot Vice President Jim MacPhee is opening the door to possible public events, saying last week that the Oct. 1 anniversary would include “some surprises for our guests.”

So what can they do?  Let’s keep in mind the phrase “some surprises” probably does not mean anything big.  No new attractions or parades can be expected here, though another parade along the World Showcase promenade would be a good idea.  So think small when posting your suggestions. 

I would expect some signage near each gate and throughout the park.  Whatever logo they use for those materials can be slapped onto pins, hats, and t-shirts as well.  I would also imagine we would see some additional creative merchandising concepts, especially of the limited edition variety.  Something like a limited addition watch or snow globe, a commemorative book or DVD, or even a big fig of Mickey in his famous astronaut outfit from the early days of Epcot would all be good ideas.  The only suggestion I would have is to use Figment as much as possible on these items.  He is, after all, the original Epcot character.

Also, we can go retro with some of the costumes Cast Members wear at Future World attractions, maybe going back to some of those lovely polyester 1980’s “get-ups of the future”.  (All of which have thankfully not become the norm 25 years later!)  This could be something fun for the CM’s and a nice little touch.  Also, I don’t know how easy this would be, but since I believe they want to do some work on the Illuminations globe already, how hard would it be to go back to the original fireworks show for the month of October?  Okay, that one may be a bit bigger than I was thinking.

But Epcot is not about nostalgia, it’s about looking toward the future.  As much as Epcot purists may get the warm and fuzzys thinking about Dreamfinder or the old 45 minute Exxon infomercial, that’s not what this park is about.  My suggestion would be to use the 25th as an opportunity to raise money for an international children’s charity of the Mouse’s choice.  Talk about how we can help our future generations, and come up with creative ways to raise this money.  Perhaps a portion of pin sales, or something along those lines, would be the most appropriate.  If Disney doesn’t want to do something big, how about they do something really good?

Have you been to the Wilderness Lodge to see part of Walt Disney’s own train collection?  Have you enjoyed a funnel cake along the boardwalk?  Did you ever try the Yachtsman’s Steakhouse?  Or rented a boat on the Sevens Seas Lagoon?  Have you experienced the amazing savannahs at the Animal Kingdom Lodge?  Or tired the “Kitchen Sink” at the Beach Club’s Beaches and Cream?

If the answer to these questions is no it is probably because you’ve never stayed at the resorts where you’ll find these amazing treasures of Disney World.  If you don’t stay there, it is incredibly inconvenient to go there from whatever on-property resort you are staying at.  Disney really needs to address this.

The resorts, especially the deluxe resorts, are attractions onto themselves.  They offer an amazing collection of restaurants and bars, as well as recreation and terrific ambience.  Anyone going to the Mouse, especially for a longer trip, is truly missing some of Imagineering’s finest designs if they don’t see these resorts.  But if you stay on property, and do not rent a car because the Magical Express brought you to the bubble, it is often an over hour long ordeal trying to get to these destinations.  You are forced to hop from bus to bus, and if you want to stay after park hours you may be forced into paying for a cab.  To me, this is silly and an opportunity missed.

Perhaps the biggest problem Disney guests encounter is the inability to find reservations at top restaurants.  But because of the inability to navigate around property, the restaurants at the resorts are often ignored by many guests.  Sure, Ohana and the California Grill are popular, but people often ignore places like Boma, the Yachtman’s Steakhouse, or Artists Point simply because they can’t get back to their own resorts without taking all night switching busses.  Marketing these destinations better and providing transportation to them and back will fill the seats and ease the anger guests have developed for the Disney Dining Plan.

This could be done by the existing bus system, but I understand the demand may not be that high.  So why can’t Disney operate smaller van-sized vehicles?  They could do this on an “on call’ basis, where guests can go the bell services desk before their meal and arrange a time to be picked up and taken back to their resort after they’ve eaten.  It doesn’t require many vehicles and the benefits to the resorts seem rather extensive.  I’ll even accept only doing this service after 6pm, as while the parks are filled in the afternoons this probably won’t be needed.

When guests have spent the day at a park that has closed early, they now have a world full of options to explore and enjoy.  Guests who could only afford a value or moderate resort can now experience the grandeur of the deluxe offerings, and Disney will reap the rewards.

I am a big fan of the Boardwalk. The theme is exceptionally well done and reminiscent of an old mid-Atlantic seaboard destination. It just may be my favorite place to stay at Walt Disney World. It has is all. A wooden walkway? yup. Funnel cakes? you betcha. An ice cream store and candy shop? both are covered. Street entertainers? every night. Midway games? check. Bars and restaurants? check and check. Rides? ummm…..no.

Lets face it, any boardwalk worth its salt has a pier with some fun rides, but at the Disney version. In order to be a truly accurate representation, I feel Disney needs to add this last element. Or, at the very least, one ride in particular. At one end of the Boardwalk, there is the Dance Hall. This is a colossal waste of prime real estate. For starters, its often empty. I say we put the space to better use and have Disney construct that classic boardwalk ride, the Ferris wheel.

A Ferris wheel at that spot would give incredible views of MGM and Epcot as both are in walking distance. How great would it be to watch parts of Fantasmic or Illuminations while taking a spin? I would like to see some of the more common rides the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Himalaya, or a swing ride, as well, but we’ll start with a good old fashioned Ferris wheel.

Today’s Suggestion Box is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra.