Al Lutz says Fantasyland Budget has been "Reduced"

[lebeau]

On the D23 Expo, Al says: "They will also be trying to showcase some WDW plans at the Expo; however the leaked blueprints for Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland and the smaller budget that project now is getting has left some Imagineers wishing they could just ignore Florida for the time being."

That's all he says on WDW, but you can read the full update here:

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al082509a.htm

I sure hope this isn't true!

 

[jt04]

On the D23 Expo, Al says: "They will also be trying to showcase some WDW plans at the Expo; however the leaked blueprints for Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland and the smaller budget that project now is getting has left some Imagineers wishing they could just ignore Florida for the time being."

That's all he says on WDW, but you can read the full update here:

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al082509a.htm

I sure hope this isn't true!

He's just bitter because it was just announced DL's third theme park is a.......................(drum roll)................parking lot! :ROFLOL:

 

[WDWFigment]

Hopefully the budget hasn't been cut again; I have to say, I will probably be satisfied with whatever comes as long as it includes the Little Mermaid dark ride. More would be great, but that attraction really looks cool.

 

[cdunbar]

Al doesn't strike me as a let's spread the love kinda guy. Disneyland is "his" park and he seems to have this disdain towards money being spent anywhere but there! But maybe that's just my opinion...:shrug:

 

[jt04]

Al doesn't strike me as a let's spread the love kinda guy. Disneyland is "his" park and he seems to have this disdain towards money being spent anywhere but there! But maybe that's just my opinion...:shrug:

I get the same impression. Over and over and over.

I read the article and found something very interesting in it. As part of the DCA expansion, they are adding offices for management including everyone from the VP down. Having the managers inside the park is a change and a brilliant idea IMO. It should be duplicated everywhere possible.

Tell me there's not a new sheriff in town! :lol:

 

[cdunbar]

I get the same impression. Over and over and over.

I read the article and found something very interesting in it. As part of the DCA expansion, they are adding offices for management including everyone from the VP down. Having the managers inside the park is a change and a brilliant idea IMO. It should be duplicated everywhere possible.

Tell me there's not a new sheriff in town! :lol:

I totally agree I mean can you imagine how different things would be if the manager of MK or EPCOT had to walk through the park on a daily basis saw what was lacking to make the park more sufficient and had the ability to change it in a rather short time period. Obviously I'm talking like chipped paint and other details that make disney disney not the multimillion dollar issues. O dear lord you and your sheriff, lol!:lol:

 

[SirGoofy]

Tell me there's not a new sheriff in town! :lol:

You're still going on about that?

Anyway, Al's insanity aside, from every account the budget has been slashed. I just hope it's not as much as we've heard.

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

I read the article and found something very interesting in it. As part of the DCA expansion, they are adding offices for management including everyone from the VP down. Having the managers inside the park is a change and a brilliant idea IMO. It should be duplicated everywhere possible.

That is a good idea.
In WDW, where are the execs offices?

 

[MousDad]

In trying to squeeze some positive news out of this, I am at least encouraged that there was an actual tease about some kind of WDW announcement at D23, for a change.

But seeing that it's come out that TWDC pretty much considers the D23 expo to be an "Anaheim event," (see the Iger article in yesterday's LA Times), I'm not surprised if there won't be all that much WDW hoopla.

 

[SirGoofy]

In trying to squeeze some positive news out of this, I am at least encouraged that there was an actual tease about some kind of WDW announcement at D23, for a change.

Yup. I just hope Mermaid comes out as good as John Lasseter says it will!:king:

 

[jt04]

You're still going on about that?

Anyway, Al's insanity aside, from every account the budget has been slashed. I just hope it's not as much as we've heard.

I agree with wdwfigment, I'll be happy with an LM announcement. These type expansions can be done with the future in mind and can be done in a way that allows for all aspects to be added over time. And for all we know the supposed "cuts" are being redirected to other projects such as the Jungle Cruise's phase 2 refurb or even the MI coaster at DHS. We will know more in less than 3 weeks.


The Sheriff Lives!

 

[SirGoofy]

I agree with wdwfigment, I'll be happy with an LM announcement. These type expansions can be done with the future in mind and can be done in a way that allows for all aspects to be added over time. And for all we know the supposed "cuts" are being redirected to other projects such as the Jungle Cruise's phase 2 refurb or even the MI coaster at DHS. We will know more in less than 3 weeks.

Sorry, jt. I can't be thrilled about getting one ride after we were supposed to get a TON of added capacity. Nor should you be. You were the one jumping up and down for joy when others were saying there wasn't enough attractions, and now your ecstatic that the funds "might" go to other projects.

I got news for you, jt. They won't.

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

Sorry, jt. I can't be thrilled about getting one ride after we were supposed to get a TON of added capacity. Nor should you be. You were the one jumping up and down for joy when others were saying there wasn't enough attractions, and now your ecstatic that the funds "might" go to other projects.

I got news for you, jt. They won't.

Didnt you know, budget cuts is one of the signs of a new sheriff!

 

[jt04]

Sorry, jt. I can't be thrilled about getting one ride after we were supposed to get a TON of added capacity. Nor should you be. You were the one jumping up and down for joy when others were saying there wasn't enough attractions, and now your ecstatic that the funds "might" go to other projects.

I got news for you, jt. They won't.

Didnt you know, budget cuts is one of the signs of a new sheriff!

Umm, like I said we don't know if there are cuts or funds are being reallocated at all. Remember we were told just 2 months ago that nothing new is coming to the MK for at least 5 years by a supposed insider. Sorry but some folks have long since lost their credibility with me. I'll take the "wait and see" approach thanks.

And it's Al Lutz discussing WDW :ROFLOL:

 

[lebeau]

I had not heard that the FL budget had been slashed. Sad news. Any idea how severe the budget cuts might be?

If all we get is LM, I'll be disappointed. Sure, I'll be glad to get what looks like a great new attraction. But it's just a sign of the times that so many WDW fans are overjoyed to piggyback on DL's latest developments.

MK needs more than one new ride. I thought the entire point was to add capacity.

 

[lebeau]

And it's Al Lutz discussing WDW :ROFLOL:

Granted, Al likes to take potshots at WDW. That's about the only time he ever mentions Florida. But still, his info tends to be accurate even when he puts his snarky spin on it.

 

[Captain Hank]

I totally agree I mean can you imagine how different things would be if the manager of MK or EPCOT had to walk through the park on a daily basis saw what was lacking to make the park more sufficient and had the ability to change it in a rather short time period. Obviously I'm talking like chipped paint and other details that make disney disney not the multimillion dollar issues. O dear lord you and your sheriff, lol!:lol:

As far as I know, all WDW park VP's and their staff already have their offices located in the park that they run. I know for sure where Epcot's is--I've been in it--and I'm pretty sure where MK's and DAK's are. I'm a bit fuzzy on where DHS' executive offices are, though--the old Animation building, probably.

 

[jt04]

I had not heard that the FL budget had been slashed. Sad news. Any idea how severe the budget cuts might be?

If all we get is LM, I'll be disappointed. Sure, I'll be glad to get what looks like a great new attraction. But it's just a sign of the times that so many WDW fans are overjoyed to piggyback on DL's latest developments.

MK needs more than one new ride. I thought the entire point was to add capacity.

It's probably not true. At least not the way Lutz presents it. :lol:

WDW is probably getting DL's third theme park budget for the 40th. The irony.

 

[WDWFigment]

Sorry, jt. I can't be thrilled about getting one ride after we were supposed to get a TON of added capacity. Nor should you be. You were the one jumping up and down for joy when others were saying there wasn't enough attractions, and now your ecstatic that the funds "might" go to other projects.

I got news for you, jt. They won't.

I think "supposed to" is a pretty loose term here. I doubt many people here have any idea when the budget for this project was cut. Was it before the leaked plans were drafted? After? I think some people have this sense of entitlement because plans were leaked, and we have no idea as to the veracity of those plans. The planned project, even at the time the plans were leaked, may have looked nothing like those plans. Maybe Disney would have been smart to intentionally leak some plans with only the Little Mermaid dark ride, then build the project with more. It seems that would be the only way to make people happy (although I'm sure people would still complain that the things they wanted weren't built. "Why wasn't the money spent on moving Stitch instead?!?!")

Should we get up in arms everytime a blue-sky project for the Magic Kingdom is scrapped? I'm sure awesome projects are scrapped all the time because of constraints that the reality of a business imposes. If the cuts were made at the blue sky stage, would you all be so upset? How do you know that's not when they were made? Those plans could be really old. I'm not advocating slashing budgets for projects in any way, but it just seems that those leaked plans have made people think certain things about the Fantasyland expansion, when in reality, no one knows what's to come. If MK is getting a $200m-$750m project, regardless of what end of that wide spectrum the actual number is, I don't see how fans can't be excited. Sure, it's a little late, but it seems there is no way to make some people happy. At least progress is being made.

 

[MousDad]

If there was a slash of the budget, the key question would be "slashed by whom?"

This is the one that puzzles me, unless the rumor that the FL expansion plan came from above Rasulo's head is not true.