Al Lutz: "Management must stop bending over to pick up pennies as dollars fly over their heads"

[andre85]

Which is what? I forgot...

That Al only reported on the negatives of that issue and never recanted or updated his story despite things turning out far differently.

 

[WDW1974]

Just based on the number of times the word "Potter" is used on these forums alone, you would think Potter is quite popular.

Potter who?

 

[asianway]

I agree with you ... I was being sarcastic when I said (allegedly) because you know the Mongellions love to say there is "no proof!"

I got it - I would love to meet one of these simpletons. Although, I am contemplating running a twitter validation against him and several of his peers because I do have some faith in the human race that they arent that dumb

 

[wedenterprises]

At the time I believe Titanic was the highest grossing movie of all time. Years down the road, it is made fun of more than loved timelessly. I see Avatar following the same path.

Oh for sure, but I'd also argue that a full scale, and detailed, Titanic ship in a park would be a phenomenal draw.

 

[WDW1974]

Exactly.
WDW park attendance, WDW hotel occupancy and WDW guest spending.....all down.

Disneyland, on the other hand...up across the board.
Same at Universal Orlando.

No. 2 ... you have got to stop confusing folks with FACTS. Let alone newbies, who should always be taken with a grain of troll salt until proven otherwise.

 

[andre85]

No. 2 ... you have got to stop confusing folks with FACTS.

Tell me about it

 

[Lee]

That Al only reported on the negatives of that issue and never recanted or updated his story despite things turning out far differently.

I don't see what there was to recant...
He said that TDO backed out, but were subsequently ordered to go ahead with it, only they opted not to include some of the features that DL added to theirs.

What's to recant?

 

[Lee]

No. 2 ... you have got to stop confusing folks with FACTS. Let alone newbies, who should always be taken with a grain of troll salt until proven otherwise.

You know me...I'm all about the facts. Me and Jack Webb.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Be nice to the newbie. Anyone who cites The book of world records when talking attendance is obviously young and green. Don't worry, we will get him up to speed quickly.

 

[andre85]

I don't see what there was to recant...
He said that TDO backed out, but were subsequently ordered to go ahead with it, only they opted not to include some of the features that DL added to theirs.

What's to recant?

That's far from the only time he mentioned the "cost cutting" WDW version. Since he really drove that point home, I don't think it's too much to expect for him to update his audience when that ceased to be the case when it became clear the ride turned out far different than how he claimed it would.

 

[WDW1974]

According to WDW1974, he did say it. The fact that he seemingly didn't publicly state such supports my point.

The fact you can't find it (or refuse to look since you're so obsessed with a trivial matter) doesn't change reality.

That makes it no less strange. I don't think it's much to ask that you support your assertion with facts.

Yes. And I find it strange that you've been a member here for a decade and this is the first time I think I've known you existed and you're attempting to discredit Al (and myself) over something trivial. That's strange. Or typical.

He did not; even Lee seems to suggest that might be the case. He never once publicly went back on what he said, despite the myriad times that he stated the opposite. In the interest of fairness, one would hope that he would. That is my point.

I know Lee. I'm quote fond of ... Lee's wife. Lee knows a lot about Disney. Lee (just like me, just like every other human) is wrong from time to time. ... Al had no reason to go back. TDO didn't do right with Star Tours anymore than they decided to dust off a 10-year-old MK Fantasyland project, trim half of its budget and build what you now see. Burbank pulled all those strings.

Fair, shmair. That's simply reality, take it or leave it.

 

[WDW1974]

Because I'm not the one making the assertion; the burden of proof is on the one making the claim. And I've already stated I've read all of his columns and he never once said what WDW claims he did.

What claim do you think I'm making?

That Al said TDO did the right thing? because that's NOT what I'm saying.

That Al said that TDO wanted to take the budget axe to its version of ST? Because he did and he was right.

That Al didn't give TDO credit when Burbank stepped in, but said it was their doing? Again, he did and was right.

 

[WDW1974]

This is almost word for word what I said to you when we first met!

Yep.

Every once in a while I know of what I speak ... (I try not to be right all the time as Lee gets all whiney fanboi and passive aggressive with me when I am!)

 

[andre85]

The fact you can't find it (or refuse to look since you're so obsessed with a trivial matter) doesn't change reality.

The helll? Are you talking to me, or yourself? What's there for me to look up? How do I find what isn't there? You're the one claiming he did update the situation, and neither you nor Lee have provided proof of such yet.

I also don't know why you seem to be taking Al's issues so personally.

Yes. And I find it strange that you've been a member here for a decade and this is the first time I think I've known you existed and you're attempting to discredit Al (and myself) over something trivial. That's strange. Or typical.

I'm not trying to "discredit" Al. I'm attempting to show that he, like most, has biases, and is influenced by them to some degree. And I'm not trying to discredit you either, unless you consider being asked for a single cite as such, which is a very strange opinion to hold. I merely think you're mis-remembering what he posted on the website; there is nothing more to it than that.

I also don't know why you find it strange that a long-time member is capable of not posting on the boards ever day (or why you're seemingly trying to "discredit" me in the same way.)

Al had no reason to go back. TDO didn't do right with Star Tours anymore than they decided to dust off a 10-year-old MK Fantasyland project, trim half of its budget and build what you now see. Burbank pulled all those strings.

And you don't think he should have updated his readers on that? (Well, apparently you do since you claimed he did, even though he didn't).

 

[Captain Chaos]

Fair, shmair. That's simply reality, take it or leave it.

Reality? You want Disney fans, people who worship an animated talking mouse, to live in reality? People who names their kids after Disney characters when that is usually how people name their pets... people who think tarps over a queue is great plussing... people who think broken AAs are the norm... people who think hills are mountains and kiddie coasters become e-tickets simply because the car may swing... You want these people to face reality????????

74, are you sure you don't live in a fantasy world where people understand, comprehend and learn FACTS??? Cause that sure isn't the case around these parks, um parts anymore LOL....

 

[andre85]

What claim do you think I'm making?

That Al said TDO did the right thing? because that's NOT what I'm saying.

That Al said that TDO wanted to take the budget axe to its version of ST? Because he did and he was right.

That Al didn't give TDO credit when Burbank stepped in, but said it was their doing? Again, he did and was right.

None of the above. You seem very confused by this as it's really not even about you. You stated that he said that Burbank stepped in at some point. I'm saying he didn't. He only posted about Star Tours WDW when it was negative and never updated his story when the situation changed.

 

[flynnibus]

Here, lets put this Al Lutz thing to bed...

• Al hates Florida Execs... it is what it is.
• Al is happy to hang anything and everything on 'One Disney' regardless of how close or far the truth is..
• Al never prints corrections or will even acknowledge if his previous posts don't come to be. He simply posts 'new information' pointing in a new direction. He never faces if his old post was 'wrong' or if things simply have 'changed' since he posted. That's just the way he rolls...

Inconsistencies... inaccuracies... they don't exist in Al's scope. He takes the 'look forward..not backward' method pretty seriously.. in large because of the self-serving benefit
And I'm pretty confident that's why Al has always resisted making his posts easy to index or review historically.

 

[WDW1974]

Agreed.

It's also relevant that the Internet has changed. In 1997, when Al started his site, there were VERY few places of substance online about Disneyland (lots of smaller fan-driven stuff, but little that could be considered comprehensive). When it became the mouse-site in 1999, it was even more high-profile. That, combined with Al's inside sources, made it must-read stuff for anyone who cared about Disneyland. A groundswell was not only possible, you could even say it was inevitable.

In 2012, the Walt Disney World community is splintered, not just across many very comprehensive fan sites and communities, but also across Social Media. One of the things DisCo is doing by involving so much social media at the press events is to out-shout and overwhelm the critical voices, and by and large, it's working.

Absolutely the case, Kevin.

I think the change hasn't been gradual, either. Most of it has been in the past 5-6 years and has happened while some of us were busy with life. I didn't have a clue how much the social media blogger and podcaster and web master brigade had grown until I started that thread on LP.com in the summer of '11. I learned more than I ever wanted to.

But it is absolutely the goal of WDW Social Media to shout down the critics ... simply YouTube that Duncan Wardle video where he talks of an 18-to-1 positive to negative ration of 'net comments.

It's insidious really, all this wonderful new tech that we take for granted has allowed Disney to use propaganda and disinformation instead of actually providing the product they are supposed to, the one they promote, advertise, market.

Oh well, time to actually get some work done!

 

[Lee]

Potter who?

I'm pretty sure it's old man Potter from It's a Wonderful Life...
(Smooth, huh? Clever and seasonal.)

As for Al and the Star Tours thing, I thought the dispute was about whether or not he (rightly) criticized TDO. Not whether or not he ever (wrongly) recanted, which he shouldn't do because he was right all along.

Time to move on before I get a headache.

 

[wiigirl]

Potter who?

lol