GF Christmas tree not quite so Grand this year

[Tagrel]

Lots of talk about the Grand Floridian Christmas tree, and the fact that its much smaller than previous years. I can't imagine why they would do this, but you can judge for yourself on the DIS.

GF Tree Comparison pictures (http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/GrandFloridian_xmas-tree.htm)

Its shorter, thinner, and those yellow lights (vs the bright white of past years) just don't do it for me. Disney cutbacks are the pits... :(

[BetsyAnn]

Hmmm -- That is quite a difference in tree shape and size. That must be a real tree!

I agree in the picture - the yellow lights kind of fad into the tree!

[Jimbolini1963]

not only shorter and thinner, but fewer lights, too. Doesn't look as cheerful or festive.

[Sheryl]

Wow, what a difference. The christmas tree in Linda C's (snickerdoodlesmommy) formal living room would fit in here beautifully.

Sheryl :minnie:

[MargaretJ]

On the positive side at least I can get all of the tree in my picture this year.

[AliciaG]

Ugh! What a difference. :? I hope this isn't a trend we'll be seeing throughout the parks and resorts. :(

[MissBianca]

I hope it won't be a trend either! But you know, it's only inferior when you put them side by side. I'm sure it's quite lovely when you're there. And we're almost there!!!

[Brer]

YUCK.....I am afraid that all the other trees may be as down sized and dimmed....Just keep it up Disney and I will be seeing USF and IOA in 2 weeks !

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

Well, I'm sorry to say, it's my fault! Disney called and asked when I would be available to get the GF tree up, and this year I was unavailable....
SO, they had to do it themselves this year! Now I feel bad....I shoulda said I would be right over. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

LindaClaus :sun:

[cshore]

Well, I'll have to admit, I like more lights!! There should have been plenty of lights laying around since Osborn Family Lights is a no go this year. I really hope that this is not a trend!!

[mickeefan]

I'm a little confused. When did they put up the 2003 tree. I was under the impression it did not go up until Thanksgiving.

And, I also agree, it is not as pretty or big as last year.

Wonder what WL will do.

[Ronski]

You know, the divine Miss B has a point. Instead of looking negatively, I'll just try to put a positive spin on it. I have no doubt the place will be positively beautiful no matter what. Of course I can't afford to stay there, so I can't feel so bad. Could it just be a case of being the same tree only decorated more sparsely?

[Tagrel]

I'm a little confused. When did they put up the 2003 tree. I was under the impression it did not go up until Thanksgiving.

And, I also agree, it is not as pretty or big as last year.

Wonder what WL will do.
Disney started decorating already, and has ALL the decorations up by Thanksgiving. They started doing this a couple years ago I believe...

I heard that the WL tree went up a few days back as well... No one was complaining about that one though... So hopefully its as beautiful as ever! :) I'm also thinking Disney is getting an earful over the GF tree change. People don't like it when you mess with an icon... especially when they see it as a change for the worse...

[Tagrel]

Could it just be a case of being the same tree only decorated more sparsely?

Look at the pictures again - its a MUCH smaller tree. Compare the width and height (use the chandelier as a height guide and the floor space as a width guide)

That alone might not be so bad, but switching to those dull yellow lights (see the trees in the background on the second floor with white lights) - no thank you.

We were there last Christmas. It was a magnificent tree. I'm sure its still very nice, but my problem comes in here: Disney sets a standard for excellence, and then continually chips away at that excellence while increasing cost and expecting to ride on past performance.

I'm sure a smaller tree is cheaper. I'm sure the yellow diode lights cost less to operate. But the effect is greatly diminished. Its just another example of Disney tarnishing its own image in favor of the bottom line. I find it hard to imagine they ran a poll on this one, and the outcome was - "that tree is too magnificent - Cut down the size by a third and save some money on electricity costs".

This is NOT a guest desired change for the better. Its another reduction of what guests have come to expect from Disney. I'm not complaining that they didn't give us something MORE, I was very happy with what was.

And as long as customers are willing to pay the same, and expect less, the bean counters will continue to cut. When the consumer won't take it anymore (like with Early Entry for example), Disney rethinks the change, and does their best to correct an error. So, just accepting negative change without speaking your mind only hurts the consumer - you.

If enough people like the new tree, then their isn't a problem. If enough people complain then change is possible. Just the way it should be. :)

[BetsyAnn]

Well, I'm sorry to say, it's my fault! Disney called and asked when I would be available to get the GF tree up, and this year I was unavailable....
SO, they had to do it themselves this year! Now I feel bad....I shoulda said I would be right over. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

LindaClaus :sun:

:happytears: :rofl: Well at least we know who to blame! Linda! :rofl: :happytears:

Now you take those calls very seriously from now on! :rofl:

[Ronski]

Could it just be a case of being the same tree only decorated more sparsely?

Look at the pictures again - its a MUCH smaller tree. Compare the width and height (use the chandelier as a height guide and the floor space as a width guide)

That alone might not be so bad, but switching to those dull yellow lights (see the trees in the background on the second floor with white lights) - no thank you.

We were there last Christmas. It was a magnificent tree. I'm sure its still very nice, but my problem comes in here: Disney sets a standard for excellence, and then continually chips away at that excellence while increasing cost and expecting to ride on past performance.

I'm sure a smaller tree is cheaper. I'm sure the yellow diode lights cost less to operate. But the effect is greatly diminished. Its just another example of Disney tarnishing its own image in favor of the bottom line. I find it hard to imagine they ran a poll on this one, and the outcome was - "that tree is too magnificent - Cut down the size by a third and save some money on electricity costs".

This is NOT a guest desired change for the better. Its another reduction of what guests have come to expect from Disney. I'm not complaining that they didn't give us something MORE, I was very happy with what was.

And as long as customers are willing to pay the same, and expect less, the bean counters will continue to cut. When the consumer won't take it anymore (like with Early Entry for example), Disney rethinks the change, and does their best to correct an error. So, just accepting negative change without speaking your mind only hurts the consumer - you.

If enough people like the new tree, then their isn't a problem. If enough people complain then change is possible. Just the way it should be. :)whew. feel better? Next time give a warning before a vent 'k? :P I agree it is much smaller, but perhaps you are jumping to conclusions as to why? I can't see how using a new tree would be any less expensive than using an existing tree nor can I understand how attempting an obvious cost-cutting in a primo place like the GF could possibly be considered. Maybe there was a safety concern or a structural problem with the old one which necessitated replacement--a case of being too big perhaps? Maybe the big cherry picker lift broke down? :lol: Ohh, I know--the President's security detail deemed it a hazard to national security because the tree the First Lady picked out this year was smaller and ordered it reduced!!! :lol:

[AliciaG]

ROFL! :rofl: Sure...blame it on Bush. :lol:

LindaClause, you have got to post some pics of your world famous Christmas tree! :D

[MissBianca]

Hey, Tagrel, agree with you!

I think you may have mistaken the depth of my disappointment since I followed it with my Pollyannaism. I have had so many health problems this year that I really need to think I am going to just love my Disney trip to give me the energy I need to get there! I just hate the series of small things that Disney is doing away with because they are my favorite parts of the Disney experience.

If Disney turns Spaceship Earth into a rollercoaster, I will never go back. Everyone has their breaking point! And Disney should be told. They really need repeat visitors and they aren't behaving well enough to get them.

[Tagrel]

whew. feel better? Next time give a warning before a vent 'k? :P I agree it is much smaller, but perhaps you are jumping to conclusions as to why? I can't see how using a new tree would be any less expensive than using an existing tree nor can I understand how attempting an obvious cost-cutting in a primo place like the GF could possibly be considered. Maybe there was a safety concern or a structural problem with the old one which necessitated replacement--a case of being too big perhaps? Maybe the big cherry picker lift broke down? :lol: Ohh, I know--the President's security detail deemed it a hazard to national security because the tree the First Lady picked out this year was smaller and ordered it reduced!!! :lol:

Sorry Ronski - only the points about seeing the tree size differences were in response to your post. It just got me started on my dislike of Disney Cutbacks.

While your excuses may turn out to be right on the money, I'll stick with the 'Disney wants to spend less money' theory for awhile. If the old tree needed replacement, then I'm pretty sure one that is 1/3 smaller was cheaper for Disney to have constructed. I'm also holding onto my theory that one of those designers off Trading Spaces got the contract, and screwed it up as usual! :mrgreen:

[Perla]

Don't tell me they have Donald's Uncle, Scrooge McDuck, handling the decorating budget for Christmas this year! We saw the GF tree in 2000. It took your breath away. True, if you've never seen the other one, you'll ooh and aah. But there is NO comparison. There's no way it's the same tree, just look at the border of the carpet, it misses it by 10 feet on each side. What a shame if this is the trend.

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

You are so right Becky! I promise to not mess up like that again next year. :oops:
I have been busy getting my own trees up this year while at the same time trying to convince the new neighbors we're not nuts! :shrug: (me thinks they know better though)

Occasionally, the trees get rotated to other areas, and it is possible this is what happened. Some clown probably got the tree half way up, noticed it was the wrong tree, and hoped no one would notice :rofl:

(good help is soososo hard to find.....)

lindaClaus :sun:

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

Alicia,

I will take pictures of all the trees tomorrow, and have DH post them for me tomorrow evening, late.
I have been meaning to do this for a few weeks now, but have been a little busy!!!

LindaClaus :sun:

[Lou-Ann]

Why would they go to the expense of buying a new tree??? With the money saved by using the old one they could have paid the light bill. LOL.
I was feeling soooo bad about not getting to see the trees this year....

[MikeS]

I agree with Tagrel's assessment.

This is tacked on to things like the absence of the Osbourne lights, the removal of Horizons, the last month of the Disney Club, the Sorcery in the Sky scheduled performances, and other changes over the years.

If you've never been down during Christmas than it won't make as much of a difference to you as others who have been down in previous years and have seen other trees.

MikeS

[Ursulinda]

I think one thing about the new tree is better - one can now walk around it instead of having to go outside the columns to get to the other end of the lobby.

[Carrousellover]

I think one thing about the new tree is better - one can now walk around it instead of having to go outside the columns to get to the other end of the lobby. You actually made me laugh out loud when I was in between feeling dejected and angry. Sigh...this tree and the decorations are one of the main reasons we selected GF this December. Big difference in 2002 to 2003. :cry: Kinda bummed. But putting on the positive spin - we will soon be going to Disney World!

p.s. thanks for the reminder of the end of the Disney Club MikeS, I was just starting to get over that one! :wink:

[MissBianca]

Why would they go to the expense of buying a new tree??....

I wondered that, too, Lou-Ann! The ornaments and everything seem new. One reason might be that those new diode lights use FAR less power than regular lights and emit far less heat too. So the light bill for this new tree will be quite small. :?

[DisneyPam]

I got some dirt on this from a CM who works at the GF....

Turns out the tree in the lobby is part of a tree that was there a few years back. Apparently this portion of the tree only took 2 hours to install with fewer people and less equipment. The tree last year took over 24 hours to put up. According to the CM it is a supposed money saving change made by the new management.

[MissBianca]

Thanks Pam! Part of a tree, huh? Sigh. I hope they don't mind if I pinch a few pennies in my souvenir purchases ;-)

[Lou-Ann]

I agree with Miss Bianca......I would expect a whole tree at the top end of the resorts. :wink:

[Lou-Ann]

I agree with Miss Bianca......I would expect a whole tree at the top end of the resorts. :wink:

[SuzyQ]

Grrrrr. . . I wonder if everything is as beautiful at WL this year?? Keeping my fingers crossed! I'm sure, as Mike said before, that since we haven't really been through the resorts at Christmas, they will all look beautiful none-the-less.

~Suzy

[cshore]

Who do you write to? Who handles complaints? Does anyone at Disney care??