Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Rich people were mentioned, not exclusively to executives.
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A Spirited Perfect Ten
- Thread starter WDW1974
- Start date
Nubs70
Well-Known Member
They could rename them the Bunga Bunga Bungalows with Silvio Berlisconi as the DVC pitchman.
Spirited Morsels on a (Rainy) Afternoon:
The individual who first told me about plans for TDR last year sent a note along with a lot of things I can't repeat (sorry, you do know how this goes!) but the one thing he/she told me that I can say is that I was told I'll ''pee my pants'' over the new Alice attraction (not the maze) for TDL.
I haven't come close to doing so for any new WDW attraction in about 20 years now (ToT would be the last)
I haven't done much commenting, but wanted to single out @englanddg for some amazing posts of late that I have read on the fly (sure, they're a bit wordy, but that's OK by me ...especially when the words have value). You did an amazing job of taking apart the Fast Company story, piece by piece. And you have had some great posts in my ''The Park Formerly Known as Disney's Hollywood Studios'' thread. So, you may not get the 'likes' but I'm giving you some Spirited love here.
I also was in touch with someone who is a bit closer to the Star Wars plans, and I am starting to fear that @PhotoDave219 might be right. They may well announce plans for Anaheim at D23, while simply teasing WDW (again, I very much believe you are looking at a 2021 debut of the completely -- but not really -- Disney-MGM Studios as something they can for WDW's 50th ... so they can literally wait years more to say anything and keep you on a leash while teasing you with a wiener that is just out of reach (yes, insert your own fanboi joke here) fans even longer.
One last thought, but I think the reason @Lee was able to snag such an amazing woman was that all he had to do was utter two words ''I do'' ... he's very good at that (as well as singing showtunes!) I wonder if he'll show her this post.
The individual who first told me about plans for TDR last year sent a note along with a lot of things I can't repeat (sorry, you do know how this goes!) but the one thing he/she told me that I can say is that I was told I'll ''pee my pants'' over the new Alice attraction (not the maze) for TDL.
I haven't come close to doing so for any new WDW attraction in about 20 years now (ToT would be the last)
I haven't done much commenting, but wanted to single out @englanddg for some amazing posts of late that I have read on the fly (sure, they're a bit wordy, but that's OK by me ...especially when the words have value). You did an amazing job of taking apart the Fast Company story, piece by piece. And you have had some great posts in my ''The Park Formerly Known as Disney's Hollywood Studios'' thread. So, you may not get the 'likes' but I'm giving you some Spirited love here.
I also was in touch with someone who is a bit closer to the Star Wars plans, and I am starting to fear that @PhotoDave219 might be right. They may well announce plans for Anaheim at D23, while simply teasing WDW (again, I very much believe you are looking at a 2021 debut of the completely -- but not really -- Disney-MGM Studios as something they can for WDW's 50th ... so they can literally wait years more to say anything and keep you on a leash while teasing you with a wiener that is just out of reach (yes, insert your own fanboi joke here) fans even longer.
One last thought, but I think the reason @Lee was able to snag such an amazing woman was that all he had to do was utter two words ''I do'' ... he's very good at that (as well as singing showtunes!) I wonder if he'll show her this post.
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RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
I was actually told that a well known Imagineer (and definitely not a personal favorite) put out a proposal for Star Wars that was rejected by the board because it wasn't ambitious enough. I fear that's where Imagineering is at right now. Those that have real creativity don't necessarily get their voices heard.
Also, "Preach!"
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
I can't fault them for that. I can fault them for still believing it on September 12th.
When talking about resort prices, I tend to look at quality and what you get for your money. I am sure that the average room in the USA today is somewhere between $115-130 a night. But what are you getting at WDW for the low-low discount rate of $107 plus tax as a FL resident? Not much at all.
And when you look at what can be booked in the O-Town market (simply within a 10-mile radius of WDW), the rates being charged are insane. From full houses (without the Olsen twins or John Stamos) to timeshares to true 4-star luxury hotels and then there's always Priceline.com's bidding service, I base my opinion on the market. Because I know if I am looking at a Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott or Hilton Garden Inn in AnyTown, USA (not a a top 15 metro area) that the nightly non-discounted rate will probably fall in that $115-130 rate category ... but with plenty of discounts also available if looked for. Orlando isn't some small town or city with 3,000 rooms total. There is a vast amount of accommodations available near/at Disney.
My Spirited Disclosure would be the following: I almost exclusively stay in O-Town now on DVC points, TM rates at UNI (yes, Portofino Bay is amazing at rack rate, but it is much better at $53 a night!), Pricelining 3.5/4/resort level hotels and staying with friends. It has gotten to the point with WDW where I won't even look at a room without a 50-60% CM discount.
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PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Spirited Morsels on a (Rainy) Afternoon:
The individual who first told me about plans for TDR last year sent a note along with a lot of things I can't repeat (sorry, you do know how this goes!) but the one thing he/she told me that I can say is that I was told I'll ''pee my pants'' over the new Alice attraction (not the maze) for TDL.
I haven't come close to doing so for any new WDW attraction in about 20 years now (ToT would be the last)
I haven't done much commenting, but wanted to single out @englanddg for some amazing posts of late that I have read on the fly (sure, they're a bit wordy, but that's OK by me ...especially when the words have value). You did an amazing job of taking apart the Fast Company story, piece by piece. And you have had some great posts in my ''The Park Formerly Knows as Disney's Hollywood Studios'' thread. So, you may not get the 'likes' but I'm giving you some Spirited love here.
I also was in touch with someone who is a bit closer to the Star Wars plans, and I am starting to fear that @PhotoDave219 might be right. They may well announce plans for Anaheim at D23, while simply teasing WDW (again, I very much believe you are looking at a 2021 debut of the completely -- but not really -- Disney-MGM Studios as something they can ***** for WDW's 50th ... so they can literally wait years more to say anything and keep you on a leash while teasing you with a wiener that is just out of reach (yes, insert your own fanboi joke here) fans even longer.
One last thought, but I think the reason @Lee was able to snag such an amazing woman was that all he had to do was utter two words ''I do'' ... he's very good at that (as well as singing showtunes!) I wonder if he'll show her this post.
Gentlemen… I don't want to be right here. I don't like being the one to pour oil in the water or dash peoples hopes and dreams.
I'm just saying did Disney purchased A Golden Goose and is finding new and creative ways to screw it up
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Like I've said before… If someone is an imagineer & can't design an entire Star Wars land on the back of a cocktail napkin while having a bottle of wine… This is not the right business for them.
Edit: it does give me hope that the Board of Directors actually recognizes this for what it is. That if there is any property for investment Disney could ever make units parks with a limitless budget… This is clearly it. If the Board of Directors is suggesting that they will give us anything we want… It's hope. Then again that's my rose-colored glasses analysis…
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Multiple attractions for TDS and TDL. Multiple MAJOR attractions for the latter.
And with the current conversion rate it is killing me to not have a trip in the immediate pipeline for Tokyo.
$40 is low, but I could easily find quality higher end accommodations in the WDW area for the same (or less) than an All-Star room.
I recall booking a room a few years back to return to CBR for an AP rate of $99 a night (yes, it likely was more like 4-5 years ago now), but I went on PL.com bid for a hotel in LBV and paid $49 a night for the DD Hilton (which actually includes EMH benefits) and is walking distance to DD. There are deals aplenty in the cursed swamps, if you are interested and not addicted to staying at Disney properties.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
So I didn't say on property this last trip. Too expensive. The only thing available was a moderate. Even with the cast member rate? They wanted $500 for three nights.
(All of the value resorts were taken up by the cheerleading and dance competitions that were in town)
As someone who actually knew/knows Michael (no, we aren't best pals ... he isn't having me over to a BBQ this weekend), my experience with him is that he was very good at learning from both success and failure. With that in mind, I certainly believe he would have spent far more on WDW than what The Weatherman has. I'm also having a hard-time picturing MDE buying into the pitches for NGE at the cost given.
So, I think he likely would be somewhere in the middle of the three examples you provided.
A lot has been written and said about building parks 'on the cheap' late in his tenure and much is true. But I can say for a fact that he was quite aware of the DCA issues and looking into major rethinking of the park before he left. Of course, he also screwed the Chinese over (as did Pressler) by cutting 60% of HKDL before it ever was built too.
The one thing I can say with certainty is that Michael loved the parks and appreciated them. I do not believe Bob feels the same way.
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CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
My post will add zero value to this conversation other than to point out that referring to Eisner as MDE in a discussion about NGE is a bit confusing (per My Disney Experience).
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Tho I've get to see NGE referred to by anything other than NextGen.
I don't know that I'd ever say they have hate for their Guests. Their Guests make the company and its execs a blankload of $$$s.
I do think they have a profound lack of respect for both their Guests and their CMs. It may be just a small semantic difference, but I think it is a very important one.
Sped2424
Well-Known Member
GAH so I need to go given this info. Looks like I have a couple years to save up for this trip then. TDR for 2018 HERE I COME
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
He can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe @xdan0920 was more asking about Florida specifically, even within TWDC. Iger, Staggs, and Rasulo run the show in California and the cruise ships as well, both of those being lines of business that have not been met with the same criticism as WDW.
Not fundamentally.
I've seen in the last five years or so a great increase in folks online looking to rip Walt left and right, so as to justify decisions (many ones) that went against his basic philosophies.
Just a small example, but the Walt who one opening day at DL was quoted as saying ''They can buy Pepsi, but they can't pee in the streets.'' seemed to realize that certain Guest comforts weren't an optional thing -- in that case, toilets over water fountains.
I can't imagine he'd think it would be OK to purposely and with full knowledge of what they were doing, allow WDW management to turn up (and off) the AC in attraction buildings and restaurants to save money while the company was making record profits every quarter. You don't change that much.
I'll answer out of order since I saw this and you are online now. I have never been able to come up with a solid reason why things are so much worse here in the swamps than in Anaheim or on the cruise line (my advice: don't ever start a vacation with a DCL voyage and then go to WDW ... it will be as painful as jumping on a bicycle that doesn't have a seat!)
It always seems to come down to the fact that they, with a few exceptions, can get away with it in FL. It's not like they haven't tried in Anaheim. Everything from E-Ticket nights (during Georgie K's first tenure out there) to charging for Christmas (they have wanted to do this for years now and it will never happen) to staggered hours for attractions (always try, always fails) to the big one: DCA in 2001 (we all know how that played out!)
They can't do it out there because on most days, half the Guests are going to be what they consider locals (really a vast area from Baja north to Santa Barbara east to the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Indian Wells, Rancho MIrage area). Many of these people and their families have been visiting DL since it opened, many have grown up with the place. They have a sense of ownership and pride that you absolutely don't have at WDW (you did to a smaller extent from about 1971 until the early 90s when many longtime CMs retired and many locals grew tired of the traffic and tourists and fled from Central Florida). Disney just flat out can't get away with what it pulls in Florida. They've learned that and they really don't even try much anymore.
And DCL is still a small operation. Only four ships. Incredibly high margins for the business. A great many repeat travelers. They just don't wish to rock the boat, pun intended, by lowering the quality.
So, yes, you can have the same top management making decisions for DCL, DLR and WDW with vastly different methods.