Walt Disney World Resort - Becoming just another mall.

I have been, for years, an unabashed "Disney fan". I have been one of their most vocal supporters. I have defended their sometimes questionable decisions. I have helped people to plan trips and convinced people who weren't "amusement park people" to give Disney a chance. I kept visiting after they took away the Early Entry benefit for Disney Resort guests. I kept visiting as they dumbed down menus to accomodate the Dining Plan. I kept staying on Disney property, and encouraging others to do so, even when it cost far more than other lodging choices. I have repeated to anyone and everyone who would listen that Walt Disney World was more than just the parks, it was a resort destination with so much to do that no trip could be long enough to do it all. I kept visiting both with and without my child, because I chose to spend my vacation dollars supporting my favorite place in the World - the Adventurers Club. But no more.

I'm sad to say that Disney seems to have lost their creative vision, at least outside of the parks. They are closing a uniquely "Disney" entertainment spot to make way for "more shopping and dining". I only eat one meal each evening, and normally I stay awake for quite a while afterwards. According to the bean-counters who appear to be making the decisions at Disney these days I am apparently supposed to shop for the rest of the evening. And that might be okay for a day or two, but not every evening of a 10 day trip. The bean-counters that control Disney World these days seem to have hit on a new money making strategy - "Give the guests no choice but to shop and they'll HAVE to spend more money with us!" And while I do like shopping, I go to Disney World for the entertainment - something they are choosing not to offer anymore.

It's becoming increasingly obvious that Disney doesn't want my business if I want to do anything but shop and eat in the evenings. Those of us who prefer to spend our vacation dollars on experiences, not items, will be left with no choice but to spend our money elsewhere.

So, Disney bean-counters, here's what you'll be losing from my family if you continue along this path:

*Our purchase of three adult premium annual passes every year.
*Seven to ten days of lodging for at least one of our two family Disney trips each year.
*Four to seven days of lodging for each of our two adults-only trips each year.
*Our purchase of tickets to the Party for the Senses each year.
*Our purchase of all meals, snacks and beverages on each of our trips. (Normally including at least one full-service meal each day.)
*Our purchase of all of the beverages we buy at the Adventurers Club each night of our trips.
*The price of any souveniers we buy on premises, particularly at Downtown Disney. Of course, you've made that one easy for us. Thanks to the way you've homogenized the merchandise sold in Disney shops, if you've browsed one Disney owned shop you've browsed them all. And of course all our favorite non-Disney owned shops at Downtown Disney have locations elsewhere that we can and will choose to support.

That's at least $8000 to $10,000 a year. And that's not including the extended family that often travels with us, or the trips when we decide to really splurge.

Of course, for a company the size of yours I realize that we are small potatoes. But what you fail to consider is that there are thousands of other visitors like us (as well as many locals), who have spent their evenings -and dollars- in the clubs on Pleasure Island. And we are a very vocal minority. We have provided positive word of mouth for your company for years, and have been more effective than any advertising that money can buy. You might not mind losing our business, but I'm sure your Orlando area competitors such as Seaworld and Universal will appreciate gaining it. And you may suffer from our loss much more than you realize.

I urge you to reconsider closing all of the clubs on Pleasure Island. In a resort the size of Walt Disney World, surely there is a place for shopping and dining as well as after hours entertainment. The Adventurers Club, in particular, is unique not only on Disney property and in Orlando but everywhere else as well. It has a loyal following despite your lack of advertising and support. Imagine what it could be if you gave it the chance it so richly deserves. Many of us will be voting with our dollars based on your decision in this matter. I certainly hope you strongly consider the mistake you are about to make.