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While much of what you're saying is true, there are a lot of other, fundamental problems with the way the Walt Disney Company has been run in recent years that are finally showing up thanks to the recent downturn in tourism.
Tourism has been hurting all summer long, with many local parks seeing increased attendance as a result of families deciding to stay away from destination resorts such as Walt Disney World. This was happening before September 11, like you mentioned.
Disney's theme parks are the cash-cow of the company. For the past several years, that have all but neglected this arm of the company, leaving things as they were. This created little incentive for families to return, as there weren't any really new attractions to speak of. Couple this with the fact that Disney uses the revenue generated by it's theme parks as a lifesaver for all of it's other divisions that are not performing well (virtually all of them) and you've got a recipe for disaster.
But, big Mike E. is so hell-bent on making things like ABC, Fox Family, The Mighty Ducks and bad live-action movies stay afloat that he isn't willing to sacrifice one of those divisions for the theme parks' sake.
Before Disney ever really drastically cuts their prices, they'll do anything else that they can to save money in the parks. This includes the dismissal of huge numbers of full and part time staff, the end of the Magic Mornings Early Entry program, delayed attraction and hotel openings (Pop Century), and closing the entire Port Orleans: French Quarter hotel. Only when that doesn't work, will prices plummet.
If team advisors are really interested in booking outside of FIRST, try calling Disney's Central Reservations Office every few days to see how things are going. It'll take some poking and prodding on your part to get the cheapest rates, but there are deals to be had out there.
But, all in all, Torchin is pretty head-on about this. Now, and the coming months, are the time to book. Maybe, this'll finally get Disney to start putting money into the parks again. It's a bit pathetic that the next real attraction to open in the parks has been under construction since before 2001 Nats and will not open until after 2003 Nats.
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--Madison--
...down at the Ozdust!
Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time. And for a brief moment, we have been among its many passengers.
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