DHS Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[MisterPenguin]

The sooner you start something, the sooner it can get finished

The quicker you're into it, the quicker you're out of it. -Mary Poppins

 

[Ayla]

If you’re going to be snide to people who have expertise in certain areas and reject what they say out of hand - not debate it, just reject it - what is the point of discussion? You say you respect posters like Lazy and Peter but you absolutely don’t behave that way.

The fact that you have a podcast does make certain things make sense.

Did you ever tell us what quarter and year you expect the Muppets replacement to open?

Which is why I have said in the past, Disney bloggers should be required to identify themselves here.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Also FWIW - I discussed this topic with Scott Gustin on my podcast this evening and he also mentioned the demo accelerating now could be something boring like fiscal year spending.

That was a point I was trying to making earlier. There are more factors involved then just simply it takes 1 year to re-do a courtyard.

Marketing, Accountants, other projects can play a role into all of this.

I am not discounting their expertise, but it doesn’t mean I agree with their premise “Disney cut MV3D just to save operating costs.”

I don’t see how these two posts square. What should Scott’s statement be worth? He’s a media guy who follows Disney news. Your point was that you think I didn’t consider some basic factor. If you’re not convinced I know a thing or two about construction then just be forward and say that.

What makes this funny though is that this isn’t the first time you’ve ended up circling around to financial considerations. You tell us other teams could play a role, but reject that it could be financial and operational considerations in a way that has been done before.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I get that and respect expertise. But when educated guesses translate into fury or resentment for a company, suspecting nefarious or anti-customer policies (e.g., "unnecessarily" closing a show that some guests still like), it starts to come across as delusion. Now, if a WDI insider came out and said they saw a project plan or sat in a meeting where it was clear the timeline to close MV3D was suspect, that is different. But otherwise looking at a big coaster building vs. a courtyard renovation and assuming one has to be done first while the other is still open for months is not lending credence to the multitude of very plausible reasons why that could be a bad decision. And very few people in the world have the expertise in all of those fields (finance, safety, construction, project management, operations, marketing, etc.) to make some of these bold claims here. Remember, it was a team of people that informed this decision, not one person.

You do not in fact respect expertise if you then claim it does nothing to provide a more informed view. It’s not as much of an assumption if you’re familiar with those factors, which aren’t as special nor given equal weight as you try to claim.

 

[mattpeto]

I don’t see how these two posts square. What should Scott’s statement be worth? He’s a media guy who follows Disney news. Your point was that you think I didn’t consider some basic factor. If you’re not convinced I know a thing or two about construction then just be forward and say that.

What makes this funny though is that this isn’t the first time you’ve ended up circling around to financial considerations. You tell us other teams could play a role, but reject that it could be financial and operational considerations in a way that has been done before.

I never dismissed any of that. All I did was dismiss primary motivation behind the work.

There is more nuance to this is what I'm suggesting (and in my conversation with Scott - that's how the conversation went).

You keep dismissing that notion completely and that's your opinion unless you work at WDI and I missed it.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I get that and respect expertise. But when educated guesses translate into fury or resentment for a company, suspecting nefarious or anti-customer policies (e.g., "unnecessarily" closing a show that some guests still like), it starts to come across as delusion. Now, if a WDI insider came out and said they saw a project plan or sat in a meeting where it was clear the timeline to close MV3D was suspect, that is different. But otherwise looking at a big coaster building vs. a courtyard renovation and assuming one has to be done first while the other is still open for months is not lending credence to the multitude of very plausible reasons why that could be a bad decision. And very few people in the world have the expertise in all of those fields (finance, safety, construction, project management, operations, marketing, etc.) to make some of these bold claims here. Remember, it was a team of people that informed this decision, not one person.

Is maximizing profit at the expense of the customer experience “nefarious?” Is it something corporations never, ever, ever do - or is it in fact very, very common? What we’re seeing here is one of the most baffling aspects of modern America - almost every once respected expert is now disregarded at best and demonized at worst - doctors, professors, lawyers, teachers, bureaucrats, politicians, scientists, etc - except for corporate executives, who are increasingly seen as all-knowing and infallible.

As for the claim that corporate decisions are prompted by the wise deliberations of an informed team of insightful sages rather then by the momentary whims and biases of one powerful individual - have you read any business history? Or followed the news?

 

[mysto]

Why would Dis corp close MV3D sooner than they need to?

Preference.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

except for corporate executives, who are increasingly seen as all-knowing and infallible.

I’m completely baffled how everyone is just ok with the difference in pay. How does a Board of Directors agree that any CEO is worth that?

 

[DCBaker]

Aerial photos by bioreconstruct showing the demolition of Stage 1 Company Store:

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Aerial photo by bioreconstruct showing the demolition of Stage 1 Company Store:

View attachment 874274

It would have been awfully hard to keep MuppetVision open with that level of destruction taking place right next door.

 

[Agent H]

Aerial photo by bioreconstruct showing the demolition of Stage 1 Company Store:

View attachment 874274

It’s weird to see how the absence of one building makes the area look so different.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I never dismissed any of that. All I did was dismiss primary motivation behind the work.

There is more nuance to this is what I'm suggesting (and in my conversation with Scott - that's how the conversation went).

You keep dismissing that notion completely and that's your opinion unless you work at WDI and I missed it.

You are dismissing all of that by saying I didn’t consider “nuances”. I am not dismissing the notion of nuance, I’ve considered more nuances and factors than you or anyone else has mentioned. That’s the benefit of knowledge and experience, you know what is involved, especially things that are fairly common and repeatedly occur.

The great irony is that you then toss the old “you don’t work at WDI” which only works if you ignore or don’t know the nuances of that statement. First, if I do work at Walt Disney Imagineering, it is not really something I’d be broadcasting. Second, these decisions are not made by Walt Disney Imagineering alone and include not only the parks themselves but also vendors like architects, engineers and contractors. Third, let’s say I post a Walt Disney Imagineering paycheck for you to see, that in and of itself is meaningless. Walt Disney Imagineering involves all sorts of disciplines and most are not directly related to construction as the bulk of facility design work is outsourced to third-party architects and engineers. Being an Imagineer could mean being a graphic designer or a show controls programmer or a writer or any number of other disciplines. A good creative director would have experience to know if they’re being played but would still defer to others. Even show set designers, the ones most connected to designing what guests see, and even document it in “blueprints”, stay away from getting into actual construction and fabrication as that work is handed off to various vendors.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The decision to close muppets earlier than necessary would not have been a decision made by imagineering.

If mermaid and Villians didn’t exist - muppets would still be open for now.

What is only speculation on my part - if mermaid didn’t exist would monsters be going into the animation plot. (Meaning if mermaid had continued to sit closed as an empty theatre).

 

[lazyboy97o]

It’s weird to see how the absence of one building makes the area look so different.

Because the area was designed as “space making objects” and not “objects in space”.

 

[lazyboy97o]

What is only speculation on my part - if mermaid didn’t exist would monsters be going into the animation plot. (Meaning if mermaid had continued to sit closed as an empty theatre).

They’re going to be doing work in Animation Courtyard fairly close to guests. It’s the Animation Building, and not really the theaters, that is blocking access to that larger area.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They’re going to be doing work in Animation Courtyard fairly close to guests. It’s the Animation Building, and not really the theaters, that is blocking access to that larger area.

Oh not because of the construction work - I meant if that theatre was still sitting empty, it could have been used for the monsters project.

 

[mattpeto]

You are dismissing all of that by saying I didn’t consider “nuances”. I am not dismissing the notion of nuance, I’ve considered more nuances and factors than you or anyone else has mentioned. That’s the benefit of knowledge and experience, you know what is involved, especially things that are fairly common and repeatedly occur.

The great irony is that you then toss the old “you don’t work at WDI” which only works if you ignore or don’t know the nuances of that statement. First, if I do work at Walt Disney Imagineering, it is not really something I’d be broadcasting. Second, these decisions are not made by Walt Disney Imagineering alone and include not only the parks themselves but also vendors like architects, engineers and contractors. Third, let’s say I post a Walt Disney Imagineering paycheck for you to see, that in and of itself is meaningless. Walt Disney Imagineering involves all sorts of disciplines and most are not directly related to construction as the bulk of facility design work is outsourced to third-party architects and engineers. Being an Imagineer could mean being a graphic designer or a show controls programmer or a writer or any number of other disciplines. A good creative director would have experience to know if they’re being played but would still defer to others. Even show set designers, the ones most connected to designing what guests see, and even document it in “blueprints”, stay away from getting into actual construction and fabrication as that work is handed off to various vendors.

All of those things do not equal motive. Your educated guess on motive is as good as anyone elses. The WDI line was an analogy of being an real insider behind all the decision making, not just someone who has experience with construction and projects.

There are others here who haven't chimed in a while that I consider insiders and said the same thing I did: they closed MV3D because construction was imminent.

At this point, I'm done with the back and forth on this. I clearly disagree with the motive here.

Pray to the gods of your "knowledge and experience" that the Monsters show (or land itself) doesn't open before the door coaster or I'll be back with vengeance.

Also, I'll add this caveat, if things start to move terribly slow in this space for 3 years, I'll come back and eat some crow.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Pray to the gods of your "knowledge and experience" that the Monsters show (or land itself) doesn't open before the door coaster or I'll be back with vegenance.

Also, I'll add this caveat, if things start to move terribly slow in this space for 3 years, I'll come back and eat some crow.

It’s bizarre how you seem more motivated by some sense of revenge. You are also again ignoring the nuances that have been explained to you repeatedly. The show opening first doesn’t disprove what has been said (and reinforces a lot of the points made about scope and scheduling). Nor does work slowing, and visible changes will absolutely slow as they do on every project, wouldn’t disprove anything you’re thrown out as an explanation.

 

[mattpeto]

It’s bizarre how you seem more motivated by some sense of revenge. You are also again ignoring the nuances that have been explained to you repeatedly.

I've also taken a beating for my opinion here.

 

[mattpeto]

It’s bizarre how you seem more motivated by some sense of revenge. You are also again ignoring the nuances that have been explained to you repeatedly. The show opening first doesn’t disprove what has been said (and reinforces a lot of the points made about scope and scheduling). Nor does work slowing, and visible changes will absolutely slow as they do on every project, wouldn’t disprove anything you’re thrown out as an explanation.

Please share a timeline then.

Otherwise, I'm done with this conversation.