I think you all may be interested in this...
When I was at DL earlier this week, while waiting in line for Indiana Jones, I overheard a woman talking with her group of friends about WDW. I introduced myself and told her that I couldn't help but overhear her conversation and told her I was from Florida. She told me she was from Orlando and works for TDO.
Later, while still in line, she continued talking to her group of friends. I listened in. She was bragging about how cost efficient TDO is compare to TDA. She talked about bloated and "unnecessary" spending at TDA, using Indiana Jones as one example. Using rides that I've been using as examples for why DLR is better than WDW in ride quality on a ride per ride basis (while talking to other people), she used as examples to brag about how TDO is brilliantly controlling operation costs and the wastefulness of TDA's operation costs.
I felt like interrupting and telling her that's nothing to brag about, as show quality is obviously much better at DLR, compared to its WDW equivalent. Even as we walked through the que area, she would point out show elements of the que and say things like "Totally unnecessary - high maintenance."
I guess it's a different mindset of corporate culture between the two Disney operations groups?
Wow.
I felt motivated to comment after reading about this experience.
While i am not at all surprised at her comments, it is still disheartening and disturbing to hear.
I have to chuckle at the irony of this scene taking place inside the Indiana Jones Adventure as well.
One of, if not THE, highest rated Attraction anywhere when it comes to quality, detail, and experience in the themed industry.
It would not have earned that title and respect without a lot of money and effort put into it*s development and build out.
The WDC of today would never build such an Attraction.
The comments from the woman encountered are a excellent example of what the thought processes are between the *business minded* and the *creative minded* camps.
There has always been that friction there between the two divisions, and when the system balanced itself it worked well.
I think it was Marty Sklar, if i am remembering correctly, who used to talk about how Walt actually preferred that slight contrast between those two areas of his company because he felt it produced the best possible solutions to a project.
Now however the scales are tipped....and there is too much intrusion from the business end of things.
The mentality has changed, and in some cases not for the better.
The creatives keep having their fingers slapped or see the purse closed to more ambitious projects being developed.
Marketing potential, synergy with current product tie-ins, and strict budget limits for development and building are *in*.
Unique Guest experiences, original concepts, and more open budgeting mentality is definitely *out*.
A sign of the times, indeed....but all is not lost.
Hidden away are several *good guys* working to try to put the balance back in order.
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