Disney(World) vs. Disney(land)?

[WDW1974]

I know of past (5years) plans that almost made it for DAK. I'm still in the camp of I'll believe Avland when I ride it.

Tbh I'd be happy with a cohesive safari, a fully working Dinosaur and the JTTCOTE derivative once planned.

Funny how when you say Avatar is no slam dunk for ever happening, no one gets on your British over it.
But if I say it or even ex-Imagineer Lee does, we get slammed.

I know you sir (happily) and you are no better than us!

 

[WDW1974]

If anybody was interesting in reading that article from DIS.

Several months ago, various posters on internet discussion boards starting putting a curious tag-line in their signatures. “Change is coming, BIG, SPIRITED change!” As the months have gone on, more details have come out regarding what kind of big change could be coming within the Walt Disney Company and the potential positive results it could bring to Walt Disney World. Continue after the break to find out why Iger might be on his away out sooner than anticipated and why the trickle down effect it creates for the Walt Disney World Resort could be a very good thing!




Details are understandably scarce and sometimes vague, but I’ve been able to gather various pieces of information and fit them together. First, it should be noted that Bob Iger, CEO and Chairman of the board of The Walt Disney Company, has already announced his intent to retire and move on to the next phase of his life, presumably as a politician (no, really, that’s what I’m hearing). By March 31st, 2015 an announcement of his successor will take place and the new CEO will take the reigns of the company.



So how could that timeline be accelerated? As discussed on the rumor segment of the DIS Unplugged, apparently Iger, affectionately referred to as “the weather man” by many in the fan community, has been in a feud with John Lasseter. John Lasseter is the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios as well as the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering. Lasseter was upset at the marketing plan for the film John Carter, which was directed by his friend Andrew Stanton. When the film flopped due to his perception of sabotage, he threw a huge fit to oust Walt Disney Studios Chairman Rich Ross. He went so far as to threaten to leave the company if Ross was not immediately replaced, and sure enough, shortly after John Carter was released and flopped, Disney announced Ross’ replacement, Alan Horn, an outsider with a wealth of film experience.



So what does this mean for the weather man before 2015? Lasseter has apparently also threatened to leave the company if he (Iger) is not replaced before the June 20th, 2013 release of Monsters Inc 2. This is not to be taken lightly, as a shake up of this caliber could have a rippling affect throughout the entire company. If this happens and Iger is removed from power, it is likely he will take either CFO Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Parks & Resorts Tom Staggs, or both with him. Depending on who he takes and who replaces him, others including Meg Crofton could be on the way out too, and there are many in the fan community who would jump for joy if it comes to fruition. I think the best way to describe the resort under current management is what some call “the Rizzo factor.” They’re tooooourists, what do they know? The next time you see empty buildings at Pleasure Island or the missing Lights of Winter, look around at all the people with 1st visit buttons on, completely oblivious to what once was, and you’ll see just how obvious the Rizzo factor really is. We can only hope that with a change at the top, the Rizzo factor will be significantly reduced.



I have to of course add that this is a rumor, and a big one at that considering the potential chain reaction it could have within the company and specifically on the parks. However, this comes from a source I consider to be reliable. Stay tuned on this one as well. It certainly will be interesting to see how it all plays out!



Lastly, in keeping with the big spirited change indicated by this blog’s title, more and more visible signs are appearing to indicate Disney might have something up its sleeve for WDW. As of today, Walt Disney Imagineering has completed a change in structure and Kathy Magnum, a 30-year veteran of Walt Disney Imagineering and a principle designer of the recently opened Cars Land at DCA has been assigned to Walt Disney World with the title of Executive Producer, Walt Disney World Portfolio. It certainly seems to be an interesting move and in my opinion, gives more credence to the rumor about Cars Land coming to DHS. This will be another development we watch closely!

In the real world that could be called plagiarism ... if you don't believe me, just ask my good pal Fareed Zakaria.

I'll just take it as the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[tirian]

Funny how when you say Avatar is no slam dunk for ever happening, no one gets on your British over it.
But if I say it or even ex-Imagineer Lee does, we get slammed.

I know you sir (happily) and you are no better than us!

He has access to better music; we have access to better food. It's a toss-up.

 

[WDW1974]

OK, why do I feel like am entertaining an entire board as they fill their faces and pound down shots?

If no one is out there ... well, I'll likely keep on posting because it is a rainy night in (expletive deleted) paradise and I'm enjoying myself.

 

[Orangelake555]

Either way, a large attraction with a PP expansion could use that as a decent supportive attraction, correct?

that sounds vaguely dirty

 

[WDW1974]

Let me be the first to call shenanigans. Prove me wrong though and get Jason Garcia to pick this up so it can go national.

I will be here waiting patiently.

Jason Garcia has proven what type of reporter he is.

He has been handed information and sources of great value and he chooses to blog and use sources like Merfie (someone go run over and tell him now or else this isn't the game some of you mistake it to be) and Kevin Yee and Mrs. Bricker's Lesser Half (hey, no shots on any of them ... just I know what he has been supplied with and what he chooses to do with it) instead.

I can't recall the last story of importance that he really did. His stuff is light on substance and high on passing through the prism of the WDW media relations staff. Does Thomas Smith, Duncan Wardle or Rick Sylvain really scare him?

And just because a story is newsworthy to the O-Sentinel, doesn't make it a national story (although it's safe to say that the LA Times would run his stuff as would the Sun Sentinel and Chicago Trib likely).

 

[alissafalco]

You aren't even including the infrastructure that is rotting or the fact they basically have had no real transport plan in 15 years beyond 'let's buy another 25 buses' ... but that's just the thing, you have execs that really don't seem to care figuring the mess is so massive and pricey that they'll be long gone with their multi-million retirement packages to give two (expletives) what happens. ... And they aren't getting pushed by either their fans or a voice in the community (like Lutz in Anaheim) and the local media recycles press releases and calls it 'news'.

That's just terrible.. I know adding more monorail seems to be out of the question (according to what I read here), but have they considered a train instead? Maybe have it shaped as a monorail car? I don't know, I just thought of that off the top of my head. Has a transport plan even been discussed at all?? Ugh! So depressing

 

[ChrisFL]

That's just terrible.. I know adding more monorail seems to be out of the question (according to what I read here), but have they considered a train instead? Maybe have it shaped as a monorail car? I don't know, I just thought of that off the top of my head. Has a transport plan even been discussed at all?? Ugh! So depressing

Replacing monorails are the most important thing right now, IMO

 

[WDW1974]

TWDC is the largest media company on the planet. Iger and Lasseter are celebrities in their own right. If they are truly feuding and there is all this drama behind the scenes it is HUGE news. It impacts everything from the stock market to Hollywood's boardrooms.

JT, you know nothing about major media. Feuding happens at the highest levels of all the companies, almost non-stop. That's just reality, bud.

And Iger and Lasseter had a fairly cordial relationship until the last 18 months or so. They don't anymore. They fake it when they have to because they realize it is in everyone's best interest to do so ... sorta like you and I do here when we can't stand each other. They do what's best for Disney ... and it IS being talked about all over the industry. See, I knows this because I am in the same business and my roots go very deep.

Stick to talking about prefurbs and the Sheriff having plans for Hyp..Plea...whatever the hell they're calling that giant dead zone at DD and why Disney didn't have to take UNI seriously five years ago, but has to take Legoland seriously now. In other words, the usual.

And I am calling shenanigans.

I always wanted to name my yacht ... or one of them Shenanigans!

This story would be the stuff of pulitzers if true. Jason Garcia could make a career off of it. The media would be all over it and yet not a hint of a feud anywhere. Time will tell.

Pulitzer?!?!? Puh-lease. I don't think Jason has ever uttered that word before, unless his editor's name is Fred Anders Pulitzer III. ... The story wouldn't be a career-maker for the young cub reporter, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

Thing is, I doubt either Iger or Lasseter would grant him an interview ... or one without a team of publicists in the room. And I doubt either of them knows who he is. ... Other Spirits are not quite so anonymous!

 

[WDW1974]

I can't WAIT until '74 sees this...

See what?

Did I miss something?

I need to get my eyes checked.

(better than needing my head examined!)

 

[WDW1974]

How much can we hope though when those making the few positive changes are the very same ones who made and continue to make so many negative changes? This question applies not only to Walt Disney World, but also the executive leadership of The Walt Disney Company.

THIS is what worried me.

THIS is what the concern has been for a decade now as they've shifted the deck chairs and the band played on.

What makes THIS time different is that management is going to be changing in the next few years and the changes are going to be significant. Just look at the ages of the typical WDW Co exec and you'll see that they would have very little time left if everything was peachy. It isn't.

And can we please get the WDW fanbois to stop the inane worship of the Orange Bird ... it's creeping me out, man.

 

[Taylor]

74 do you think RSR (if it happens) will be apart of a larger Pixar expansion or will that be the only thing for Pixar and they will focus on the rest of DHS

 

[flynnibus]

You are correct. I have not. Are interactive ques and themed fountains considered nextgen? If they are,, then Disney has more problems than just falling behind Uni as some indicate.

There is also the concepts for personalized experiences in the attractions themselves.

 

[Todd H]

OK, why do I feel like am entertaining an entire board as they fill their faces and pound down shots?

If no one is out there ... well, I'll likely keep on posting because it is a rainy night in (expletive) deleted paradise and I'm enjoying myself.

Still here...

 

[WDW1974]

Or Kevin Yee for that matter.

I like Kevin (I always feel I need to say that because it happens to be true and it usually is followed up by a criticism) ... but if he is the WDW 'guy' for Miceage, then ultimately he should be coming out with info on things like this and not Al Lutz (who likely leaves his one-bedroom West Hollywood walkup only when trekking down to Anaheim ... now, that was a Spirited SHOT!)

I always feel with Kevin that he focuses on the trees and loses focus on the forest. And then I feel guilty for saying it because he's as nice as someone you'll ever meet in this effed up fan community and he has a REAL career outside of Disney and two lovely boys who are a handful, so he's not the typical no-lifer blogger than can be arguing about paint shades at EPCOT or whether a shop really was open on Main Street until 5 a.m. nightly (or daily?)

I guess Kevin needs an exec assistant ... and I'm more than willing to do so, but the Spirit don't come cheap.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Disagree with you 100%.... Our family enjoyed the movie quite a lot...seems like a lot of people locally here that have mentioned the movie enjoyed it too....in SPITE of the horrible marketing it was a great movie.

I, somewhat unfortunately, read the books once I first heard that Disney was making a mega-blockbuster about them. I loved them and it turned me against the story changes that they made for the movie. I really am glad you guys liked it, though! I'll have to watch it again... it'll probably show up on Netflix streaming any day now...

 

[scpergj]

That's just terrible.. I know adding more monorail seems to be out of the question (according to what I read here), but have they considered a train instead? Maybe have it shaped as a monorail car? I don't know, I just thought of that off the top of my head. Has a transport plan even been discussed at all?? Ugh! So depressing

I've thought that same sort of thing occasionally. What might work pretty well is an inter-urban type of system that could even have stations at every resort not on the monorail beam - those resorts could take the monorail to the TTC then transfer to a 'train' (trolly?) to go to the other parks. This type of system could be fairly easily implemented (compared, that is, to a longer monorail) by running between (and over) the existing highways; would be easier to deal with breakdowns, cost a bunch less than additional monorails, and could be themed to look really interesting.

 

[WDW1974]

Or you could try visiting Disneyland, which would have many more new things for you to experience than WDW since 2009. If you've never been there, it could be ENTIRELY new to you. You might actually like it.

They have better pixie dust to sniff, IMO.

Oh, do I need a dose of said Pixie Dust badly.

This week I hope to finally get my trip affairs in order.

But, seriously, (since I am trying to have about 54 different conversations at once) what is wrong with fans who think they are Disney fans, but have been to WDW 27 times since 1998 (all staying on property) and NEVER have gone to DL or taken a DCL voyage or tried one of the international resorts?

Is it fear of change? Something new? The 'I love vanilla ice cream so why should I ever try anything else syndrome?''

 

[xdan0920]

OK, why do I feel like am entertaining an entire board as they fill their faces and pound down shots?

If no one is out there ... well, I'll likely keep on posting because it is a rainy night in (expletive) deleted paradise and I'm enjoying myself.

I'm here, enjoying a nice Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin whilst digesting all of this. Spent the entire day demo-ing my kitchen, and unwinding now. Keep up the excellent work my friend.

 

[WDW1974]

Or the cruise, and best of all, Tokyo-but I do understand a lot of people don't feel comfortable flying internationally

Many Americans are flat out bred to fear leaving and believe everything here is better than anywhere else. I can tell you without one bit of doubt that sure as (blank) not true with Disney theme parks.

And having spent almost six glorious (well, except for the cruise ... have I said don't EVER take a Celebrity Cruise yet?) weeks abroad this spring (sometime at DLP included!), I don't get that at all.

I don't care if it's going up to Canada or down to Costa Rica, there are so many places Americans should open themselves up to. They'll realize what's great about the USA and what isn't so great, by getting out of their comfort zones.

If someone had told me even a decade ago that I would travel to China often and work there for months at a time, I probably wouldn't have been fond of the idea. But now after not being there for over a year, I miss it tremendously.

You may get your 'hit' of Dust at WDW by visiting for every vacation, but you sure don't get smarter, more cultured and well-rounded by doing so.