News Driving Force Behind Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Leaves WDI for Gensler, Joining Former Chief Bob Weis

[HauntedPirate]

I know we're all going on at naseaum about something that's going to close but I was just in Vegas and if these random hotels can have pretty good themes, why in the world couldn't Disney have built a full sized star wars resort with all the bells and whistles, and then just add a small offshoot of the resort for the cosplay experience, which they could charge $$$$ for? How bad in business are they at this point that this slam dunk idea wasn't considered. Rant over

Why couldn't they? The simple answer - Burbank.

 

[FettFan]

A pretty solid architectural design firm. They've probably designed an office building you're familiar with. The old WDI head came from Gensler, which explains why so many recent builds look like they'd double well as office buildings lol.

Or a hospital complex.

 

[mightynine]

Or a hospital complex.

That's not a hospital complex, that's the next exciting Disney Resort Collection, right?

 

[denyuntilcaught]

That's not a hospital complex, that's the next exciting Disney Resort Collection, right?

I thought this was the latest Gensler commission for Waystar Royco?

 

[JIMINYCR]

Well she won’t be asked to build anything interesting where she’s going

It’s one part of her resume she may want to leave out. Or try playing down her part in the build.

 

[FigmentFan82]

I thought this was the latest Gensler commission for Waystar Royco?

Not now Roman!

 

[Bocabear]

Siobhan is now handling the Resorts division....

 

[DCLcruiser]

They should connect Starcruiser to DCL Star Wars sailings. Land/Sea combos. 2 nights on Starcruiser and 3 nights on DCL. DCL has the real Disney Whales (not me).

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I know we're all going on at naseaum about something that's going to close but I was just in Vegas and if these random hotels can have pretty good themes, why in the world couldn't Disney have built a full sized star wars resort with all the bells and whistles, and then just add a small offshoot of the resort for the cosplay experience, which they could charge $$$$ for? How bad in business are they at this point that this slam dunk idea wasn't considered. Rant over

I suggested that over a year maybe 2 years ago…I had said a moderate or even a POP value resort would probably have close to 100% bookings. In with you 100% even though I’m NOT a SW fan…it doesn’t take a genius (or even an imagineer to figure that out.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Siobhan is now handling the Resorts division....

The talent is bottoming out similar to the pressler/ovitz era

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I suggested that over a year maybe 2 years ago…I had said a moderate or even a POP value resort would probably have close to 100% bookings. In with you 100% even though I’m NOT a SW fan…it doesn’t take a genius (or even an imagineer to figure that out.

I sad that they should do half Star Wars/half tangled (or a collection)…

It would be booked solid…

The problem? All stars and pop would not be…and you’re paying for those too.

But beyond that…they abandoned the “value” and even “moderate” idea long ago…

That doesn’t mean people don’t think of them that way - However - as occupancy has bleed lower from just the deluxes

Wanna bet what the feedback is? My money is on “what am I paying this much for?”

Oh Bob

 

[Tha Realest]

The talent is bottoming out similar to the pressler/ovitz era

Even worse- it’s a revolving door to/from Gensler. It’s no wonder the recent Imagineering builds have been so soulless and bereft of charm and theme - people are building out their portfolio for their higher paying job.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Even worse- it’s a revolving door to/from Gensler. It’s no wonder the recent Imagineering builds have been so soulless and bereft of charm and theme - people are building out their portfolio for their higher paying job.

I just love that for 15 years people pumped bobs tires and said just how awful Eisner got (to make themselves feel better…I’ll never know why that was the trick?)…and we are probably objectively at a lower point across “the brand” now…

Unfolding cluster

 

[hopemax]

I know we're all going on at naseaum about something that's going to close but I was just in Vegas and if these random hotels can have pretty good themes, why in the world couldn't Disney have built a full sized star wars resort with all the bells and whistles, and then just add a small offshoot of the resort for the cosplay experience, which they could charge $$$$ for? How bad in business are they at this point that this slam dunk idea wasn't considered. Rant over

I suspect that park & resort operations have put their fingers on the scales. They don't want the ongoing maintenance costs associated with bells & whistles. It also requires labor that isn't available. Everything has to be simple to maintain and easy to replace.

 

[TP2000]

In case anyone isn't reading the article, it's Ann Morrow Johnson who is leaving. The same creative who was in that awful Galactic Starcruiser promo video.

Oh, her? I'm thrilled to see her leave start the next chapter in her career.

The word cringe doesn't even begin to describe the emotions she created for us.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Oh, her? I'm thrilled to see her leave start the next chapter in her career.

The word cringe doesn't even begin to describe the emotions she created for us.

Oh, do tell.

 

[ChrisFL]

I just love that for 15 years people pumped bobs tires and said just how awful Eisner got (to make themselves feel better…I’ll never know why that was the trick?)…and we are probably objectively at a lower point across “the brand” now…

Unfolding cluster

Yeah, it's tough because the Pressler era was really bad too. I feel like the difference is that they were cheap across the board back then (see DCA, Studios Paris, maintenance issues leading to accidents) and now it's cheap in some places and way overspending in others and no balance.

In other words, yes, there's some nice E-tickets but a lot of other stuff is just crap and the small touches that made Disney special compared to the competition is practically gone.

 

[SourcererMark79]

Even worse- it’s a revolving door to/from Gensler. It’s no wonder the recent Imagineering builds have been so soulless and bereft of charm and theme - people are building out their portfolio for their higher paying job.

Hold my beer.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yeah, it's tough because the Pressler era was really bad too. I feel like the difference is that they were cheap across the board back then (see DCA, Studios Paris, maintenance issues leading to accidents) and now it's cheap in some places and way overspending in others and no balance.

In other words, yes, there's some nice E-tickets but a lot of other stuff is just crap and the small touches that made Disney special compared to the competition is practically gone.

Well since I lived the pressler era…I’ll just throw out what the old memory can muster:

Pressler - which he actually admits today even on D+ documentaries - was chasing the consumer reality of the 90s (which was really from the 80s…retail is always a decade behind)…

Flawed and misguided…but alot of it did work.

The park decisions are misrepresented. DCA was a mistake because they didn’t have the land…Michael tried to do “mini wdw” and that didn’t work due to the scale reduction.

Paris they had no choice…euro was a boondoggle and they had to do the second or the whole thing probably goes under. Cheap was the only call.

Hong Kong was just ill advised. So was Shanghai. Those are just figureheads.

Dak was the “last” of the Disney parks…but everybody’s hero Joe was burning through cash to clip never really acknowledged.

At the end of the day…Michael was burnt and around too long. Hint hint

But his exit has now turned out to be less volatile/more gracious for the company than his little weasel.

Who had that on their bingo card?