For some of us, Martin, this rather nonchalant post of yours (seriously, it 's almost cruel to just drop something like this willy nilly!) is like a Doomsday clock countdown to Armageddon. Will RoE still be around in March 2018 (he asks selfishly)?
Now I admit that IllumiNations is long overdue for a proper refresh, but my goodness it's going to be hard to say goodbye to the current show. I don't know how anything in the pipeline could come close to matching the symbolism, meaning, and story of Reflections of Earth.
I can hear the new opening monologue now...
"Good evening. On behalf of Bob Iger, a man who's Scrooge McDuck-like dreams have come true, we welcome all of you to Epcot, our themed shopping mall with a $100 cover charge.
We're gathered here tonight, around the fire, as people of all lands have gathered, for thousands of years before us - to share the light, but not the wealth, and to share, a story. An amazing story, of how Bob Iger's vision has driven Disney's stock price through the roof, and how that's still not enough.
And though many of you may be tired of synergy and character overlays at our theme parks, Bob Iger believes that profit maximization truly emerges, when a company brings all of its franchises and properties together, as one.
We hope you enjoy our synergistic marketing advertisement tonight..."