Disney cuts jobs from its largest and most popular live theme park shows

By similar I mean they refer to 9/11 and 2008 as examples because those two situations saw the loss of offerings and a reduction in staff. Also note that in this argument I am talking specifically about entertainment offerings and not overall park additions like rides. Of course the parks have been adding attractions in a way never really seen before, but very little entertainment has been added. More has actually been cut in the past 10 years when you compare to additions. Most are the small atmo type offerings like the Citizens of Main Street, the Giggle Gang, Banjo Brothers, Tomorrowland Dance Party, and 'Push' to name a few. All of those were cut with nothing to replace them. Even the Muppets didn't last that long. I know there are similar examples across the other parks but I am not as familiar with those (Mulch, Sweat, & Shears come to mind).

There was hope when they announced the new theater for Magic Kingdom but we saw what happened there. Diamond Horseshoe still sits empty, Fantasyland Theater is a push button show, Fantasyland Stage was torn down, Tomorrowland Amphitheater is now a parking lot, and the Main Street Theater is a meet & greet. Of course the WDW experience isn't less than it was, but if you look specifically at live entertainment, it's not exactly a huge resume. And with looking at the past, I absolutely believe the full return of post shutdown shows will not happen, even in the distant future.

I think you're leaving things out. They "cut" the Epcot bands and replaced them with other bands, and greatly expanded one concert series and added another. DHS added street acts with both new lands. AK added the street puppeteers, the DJ/dance party in the dino area and tried Rivers of Light and I believe two music acts in the Harambe area after they ended the parade. MK seems to have a hundred things in front of the castle now, but I don't think stage shows are really the thing for that crowd.

Entertainment is different, but I don't think it's less.

I guess in this situation I am not looking at it from a guest perspective because the concert series for example is something I don't consider in the lineup. Those bands are a form of entertainment sure, but they are not Disney entertainment. To a lesser degree I have the same thoughts for some of the musical acts around World Showcase. They are all contracted talent, no different than what you find at Disney Springs. No creative thought went into the creation of those offerings. They were just hired because they simply fit the description. So that is on me, it's just my way of thinking. But even then not all of those acts were replaced. Look at the performers in China and Japan.

DHS did add some atmo entertainment but at the expense of losing a large show like LMA (even though the argument could be made that it was removed for an entire new land. Yes but that's still huge gap in entertainment offerings). Since I am not 100% familiar with DAK I can't say much on that matter but they have done a lot to add some small things here and there but I think that was more to do with having later hours and needing to expand the offerings for the day. Magic Kingdom has exactly one show on the Castle stage so I am not sure what you are thinking about there. Are you referring to the seasonal offerings?

Editing to add that I guess when you are in the parks as a guests it's easy to always see something going on. Even I know this when I make my way around a park and constantly see something happening somewhere (obviously done on purpose). But I get the pleasure of seeing some of this stuff on paper or get to witness firsthand the cuts in contracts/staffing so it might be more obvious to me. Without listing it all out, what has been cut vs added, I don't think it will be clear just how much has been slowly cut over the years.

I know Off Kilter had a loyal following, myself included, but John Q. Guest does not materially see any difference between them and the band that's there now. LMA had run its course and the replacement is far better and relevant in every way. I don't know what's at the castle, but there's always something there when I walk by it. People stop to watch, so it must be something others care about.

Respectfully, I think you're reacting to change, not a net reduction in pixie dust. And to the original point, I don't believe for a second that they won't bring back this stuff when it's appropriate.

I agree. I’m a big fan of American Adventure’s Voices of Liberty, and also, consequently, Orlando (and national) a cappella favorites, Voctave. Every time I see them I see two types of audience members, those of us who know and those who don’t. I want an hour long show out of those amazing singers, and it’s always an extra treat for me when any particular performance includes cast members who are well-known veterans. Then there are those who want that preshow over with so they can get in to the movie and out of there.
Another thing a lot of people don’t recognize is how often performers in shows overlap into other gigs in the parks. Using VoL as an example, one of those guys, Jamey Ray, is writer/arranger and sings lead in Dapper Dans. They also might be pressed into doing voice overs in movies, parades, and animated rides. Kate Lott has an amazing range and I wouldn’t be surprised if she does voice overs for certain Disney princesses and heroines like Ariel. She’s got the chops.
It makes me wonder how cancellations and closures effect performers. They may easily slide into other venues or they may be canned all together.
If I understand completely, Off Kilter was an established band that made their way to Disney, but VoL was originally Disney then certain members made their way to Voctave, maybe in an effort to expand themselves or just get out from under the umbrella and restrictions of theme park work. (Voctave’s original name was simply “Voices”, so there ya go).

I remember how taken aback I was the first time I saw one of the Adventurer's Club actors doing a Citizens of Hollywood gig. After that, I started seeing such crossovers all. the. time.

There were a few who seemed to stick only to one role (or at least, I only saw them in one place), but that seemed like it might be the exception rather than the rule.

I'm probably in the minority, but the WDW street entertainment scene never really did anything for me after stopping to watch for 30 seconds and moving along. It still boggles my mind that people camp out for an hour for a prime spot to watch one of the parades. Yawn.

Off Kilter was probably one of the only acts that I actually hung out for a song or two (beer in hand), but even that had a low impact effect on my overall park experience.

Well, there is a day and night difference between the daytime and nighttime parades...no pun intended. Spectromagic still holds a place in my heart and I would sit and wait for it whether I had the kids in tow or not. I also like the energy of the singers moving down Main Street on the trolley.

Sitting and watching a set by Off Kilter is also something I thoroughly enjoy. I think live actors, singers and performers just add to the atmosphere and not having them around is noticeable.

I would love to take more advantage of the live entertainment at WDW, but I feel like whenever I'm down there my priority is rides and the major entertainment offerings like parades, fireworks, and huge stage shows. I've never been in a Disney pool either for exactly the same reason.

Well at least someone on this site is still a ride enthusiast.

Disney has some really epic pools. Love the Beach/Yacht Club, as well as the one at Coronado Springs.

We walked past Stormalong Bay on the path from DHS to Epcot one night. It looked nice, but no matter what you put around it, a pool is just water and water is the same everywhere. (I also don't like water parks...or fun).

At one point I had the view too. Told my kids if they wanted to spend time in a pool on vacation, we would stay in a hotel across town/state and save thousands of dollars per trip. They spent a lot of time in a pool at a condo in North Carolina that was 1000 feet from the ocean. Drove me batty.

Over time though I came to view pools differently. So we typically spend a couple hours during an afternoon or an evening at a pool. Kids have a lot of fun (especially my daughter) and it recharges everyone's batteries a little. And the Disney pools are some of the best around.

ApolloAndy said:

We walked past Stormalong Bay on the path from DHS to Epcot one night. It looked nice, but no matter what you put around it, a pool is just water and water is the same everywhere. (I also don't like water parks...or fun).

I've stayed at Beach/Yacht several times and spent some decent time at Stormalong Bay; mostly sipping on overpriced drinks.

While it's the best themed pool complex of all the WDW resorts, it's overrated and I agree. The waterslide is cool and there is a pseudo lazy river, but other than that, it's a themed pool complex like any other WDW resort. Water is water and lounge chairs are lounge chairs....

Not dogging it, it's certainly enjoyable and nice. But some WDW fans talk about it like it's the greatest thing in the world. Like I said, it's overrated in my mind.

Having a lazy river is generally better than not having one. I do recall the bar not being open very late, but I stayed there when there was still an off-season. I do prefer Coronado because it seemed less busy when I happened to go.

Stayed at a hotel in Key West where we had our own private "plunge pool". What I spent on that trip was ridiculous...but it was like getting a taste of 1st Class on an airplane. You don't want to go back to Coach after that.

I speak sometimes with the frontwoman of Raffy, one of the band that Disney contracts to play the Canada Mill Stage at Epcot. She was about to start a 6 weeks engagement, but Disney cancelled it with no replacement date.

Jeff said:

I do prefer Coronado because it seemed less busy when I happened to go.

All factors considered, including affordability/value, I think Coronado is the best resort on WDW property and I have probably stayed there more than any other resort.

All of the rooms have been recently renovated and the new room design is pretty cool. The pool complex is very nice with a huge hot tub.

Plus it's a convention resort so the kid to adult radio is better than other resorts if you don't like kids screaming and running all around the place all day.

If it doesn't have the Skyliner it's crap.