Bob Iger at WDW now ... BoD to Follow?

[AEfx]

Regardless, it doesn't make a difference. It's still a fact that Pepsi hated the attraction from day one.

Well, it makes a difference because you said I was wrong, LOL.

And in any case, if they "liked" the theme of attraction or not is irrelevant and simply a matter of personal taste - they certainly enjoyed the publicity that it garnered for their company - in the form of photographs like this which appeared in newspapers worldwide - which is the entire point of sponsorship to begin with.

 

[AEfx]

I sincerely doubt how else the show writers could easily and quickly explain the sudden appearance of Frozen characters in Old Hollywood...

They are "movie stars" - same as the schtick that Mickey, etc. has used since the inception of the park.

 

[The Mom]

Here's a photo of the ticket booth at the 1964 World's Fair at IASW. If you enlarge the photo you'll see the admission price was $0.95 for adults and $0.60 for children.

And in whimsical fashion it was called a "Passport Booth".

Thank you for the correction. Just goes to show how our memories of attractions - anywhere- can be faulty. Must have been really good if my dad didn't complain about wasting money.

And to another poster - yes, people did dress up for this. I do remember getting blisters because I wore my "Sunday" shoes.

I think we have had enough off topic discussion. I'll go sit in the corner now because I contributed to the derailing of the thread..

 

[ford91exploder]

Man nice response it is sad that people like to go off on such far fetch conspiracy theories on this site.

Really, Look at the spending PATTERNS of failed companies especially those which went from industry titan to bankrupt 'overnight',

For better or worse Disney is following those patterns ie cutting capital expenditures far below historical norms for the company, huge 'cost cutting' initiatives, large reductions in product quality and finally doing everything and anything to increase cash flow even if it has adverse affects on long term customers.

 

[Matt_Black]

Really, Look at the spending PATTERNS of failed companies especially those which went from industry titan to bankrupt 'overnight',

For better or worse Disney is following those patterns ie cutting capital expenditures far below historical norms for the company, huge 'cost cutting' initiatives, large reductions in product quality and finally doing everything and anything to increase cash flow even if it has adverse affects on long term customers.

Except we're not seeing "large reductions in product quality" across the board. WDAS, Pixar, and Marvel are all doing very well, Disney's television animation is getting rave reviews (particularly the programs on Disney XD), ABC has numerous long-running highly acclaimed series, etc. So it's a little early to start "The sky is falling" rhetoric.

 

[ford91exploder]

The ship in no means is going under disney has over 100 billion dollars in assets. Its just certain divisions that are becoming a little red flagish. The only reason why the media threw out the IT stuff was because of outsourcing and the highly controversial work visas. But there are countless layoffs at ESPN a few at ABC Television Studios and oddly about 100 at Consumer products. Try asking questions and you get dirty looks from the supervisors. I get that this is corporate america and i did have to do layoff scenarios in collegw for my degree, but when a company is doing great at some of these divisions it doesnt make sense why people would be fired for the Corporate heads bad decisions. Remeber when John Carter flopped how many people were fired at the WDS. Yet the CEO had a safe chair. I understand that money making is important but firing people during the holiday seasons is never fun. Its a shame reading some of my fellow collegues LinkedIn postings to move elsewhere in the greater LA region. Restructuring may be healthy but its ot healthy for the heads of this company to get higher wages while they keep firing honest hard workibg american men and women. Thats what disillusions me and a few of the greenhorns around here.

It's the stuff that DOES NOT make the national news that worries me about TWDC, ESPN example ESPN + P&R is the profit engine which pulls the TWDC train so why the cost cuts and removal of 'on air' talent remember people don't watch/listen to ESPN because of the BRAND (regardless of what the BoD thinks) they listen because of the TALENT.

 

[ford91exploder]

Except we're not seeing "large reductions in product quality" across the board. WDAS, Pixar, and Marvel are all doing very well, Disney's television animation is getting rave reviews (particularly the programs on Disney XD), ABC has numerous long-running highly acclaimed series, etc. So it's a little early to start "The sky is falling" rhetoric.

Really, I guess I imagined the reductions in food quality, the filthy restrooms at MK the use of low quality plastic and paperware at the parks, the broken appliances in a so called 'Deluxe' Villa.

 

[Matt_Black]

Really, I guess I imagined the reductions in food quality, the filthy restrooms at MK the use of low quality plastic and paperware at the parks, the broken appliances in a so called 'Deluxe' Villa.

So, you were referring to TDO and WDW specifically. You might want to say that next time.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Really, I guess I imagined the reductions in food quality, the filthy restrooms at MK the use of low quality plastic and paperware at the parks, the broken appliances in a so called 'Deluxe' Villa.

Just stop. A urinal in Tomorrowland is 0.000001% of The Walt Disney Company (and even that is probably high).

 

[Steel City Magic]

With a budget like $3B, could the door coaster (EDIT: OR RATATOUILLE) be back on the table for pixar place?
PS I'd like to see a broader land for pixar place than cars land or toy story. Ex: walle, monsters inc, hell even up... with the library pixar has been building and the studios theme, there's no reason we can't have 5 different pixar IP in a 'Pixar Land'...

 

[PhotoDave219]

With a budget like $3B, could the door coaster be back on the table for pixar place?
PS I'd like to see a broader land for pixar place than cars land or toy story. Ex: walle, monsters inc, hell even up... with the library pixar has been building and the studios theme, there's no reason we can't have 5 different pixar IP in a 'Pixar Land'...

We/I haven't heard specifics yet.

I'm not ruling it out but I'm not ruling it in either.

 

[Nemo14]

With a budget like $3B, could the door coaster be back on the table for pixar place?
PS I'd like to see a broader land for pixar place than cars land or toy story. Ex: walle, monsters inc, hell even up... with the library pixar has been building and the studios theme, there's no reason we can't have 5 different pixar IP in a 'Pixar Land'...

'74 said a while back that it's not likely. Here's the quote:

Once a budget is allotted the money is there. Things do still get cut due to overspending and unanticipated costs as well. Very, very rarely do budgets get pushed up (RSRs at DCA got pushed way up due to John Lasseter, which made it the priciest theme park attraction ever built anywhere ... oh, he also had money added to the Nemo Subs redo at DL as well. On a park basis, TDS took funds that some -- talk to Eddie Sotto -- had earmarked for a new Tomorrowland at TDL and reallocated them.

But the economy, which should be in free fall (someone will have to explain what talking heads mean as a 'Post Wages' economy because I think it means that if you can't find a job or career that you just live off your wits like a zombie apocalypse or go on a shooting spree ... not really sure!) already since jobs are NEVER replaced in our alleged 'recoveries', won't impact this project. Once the money is allocated, it's a done deal (I keep saying that here so people don't say I always bear bad news!)

Indeed, I've been told that if the BoD waited just another 4-6 months to approve the DCA Extreme Makeover that it would NEVER have been approved based on our economy tanking and taking the rest of the world along for the E-Ticket ride!

Oh, and since you brought up the Monsters Coaster, I have heard nothing to indicate it being likely for the park. Part of me thinks it will be one of those attractions that are talked about for decades (see: WRE) that never happened.

 

[Phil12]

Well, it makes a difference because you said I was wrong, LOL.

And in any case, if they "liked" the theme of attraction or not is irrelevant and simply a matter of personal taste - they certainly enjoyed the publicity that it garnered for their company - in the form of photographs like this which appeared in newspapers worldwide - which is the entire point of sponsorship to begin with.

I am in full agreement with you. It was all about the Benjamins for UNICEF, Pepsi (in the form of good publicity) and Walt Disney!

 

[dumboflyer]

I know this has been referenced before in some terms, but I'm not sure I've ever seen the actual numbers.
Disclaimer: these are just my cartographic observations, I make no claims to inside knowledge of current or future plans. I visit 2-3 times a year but have lived 1500 miles away for more than a decade now, so my list of WDW contacts has been thinning for a long time now.

In terms of expansion of the park, it's probably never going outside of the boundaries of Buena Vista Drive to the North, Victory Way to the East, Osceola Parkway to the South, and World Drive to the West. In theory, Osceola Parkway and/or World Drive could be re-routed a bit to allow for more space, but that seems unlikely.

So assuming those are fixed boundaries, I took a look at the actual space available in there. Right now, the Studios with all of the backstage areas takes up around 120 acres. The parking lot is another 67 acres or so. The remainder of the space inside those 4 roads, minus space for some existing infrastructure in the southeast and southwest corners, is around 250 acres.

So all things considered, allowing for some tree buffer between road and park/parking lot, and allowing for a new entrance from Victory Way, and assuming the same efficiency of parking lot space and ratio of backstage to onstage for the park itself, there's roughly enough space to double the Studios' existing footprint.

Apologies to those of you who already knew this. I hadn't seen it posted, and found it interesting. It's a bit more space than I thought.

A quick glance around the World shows that, aside from Epcot, which is mostly penned in, any of the other parks has lots of expansion space, if ever needed.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Just thinking more about One Man's Dream and it occurred to me...has there ever been an animatronic of Walt Disney himself?

Bet they could make a really awesome animatronic with the tech they have now. internal digital projection face (think mine train dwarfs) and more advanced fluid body motions. Would seem really lifelike.

 

[SYRIK2000]

It's the stuff that DOES NOT make the national news that worries me about TWDC, ESPN example ESPN + P&R is the profit engine which pulls the TWDC train so why the cost cuts and removal of 'on air' talent remember people don't watch/listen to ESPN because of the BRAND (regardless of what the BoD thinks) they listen because of the TALENT.

Like the stuff that springs from your imagination?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Like the stuff that springs from your imagination?

 

[RSoxNo1]

Interesting to note that the new merchandise for Tower of Terror includes a poster which indicates the location of the Tower of Terror being in "Hollywoodland, CA":
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...of-2015-tower-of-terror-merchandise/24581.htm

That's the section of the park it's in at DCA.

 

[Cesar R M]

Can we get back on topic here and take the childish arguing elsewhere?

Thanks.

but dave.. that would mean you wont be able to participate anymore.
I mean.. your judge doom comments...

 

[Wikkler]

Frankly, I don't really like most of the attractions at any of the Disney parks.

Why are you on this board, then?