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

[Disneyhead'71]

Boards of Directors don't hammer out budgets. The budget has been hammered. This is for them to look it over and say "yep, sounds good."

Along those lines, does anyone (maybe @WDW1974) know whether there's any dissent among the ranks on the Disney board, or are the all lined up in support of what Iger says?


Fingers crossed. Is that based on something you know, or just a gut feeling?

You're right. The Board does't hammer out the budget, they approve it. And as far as what I know about the budget. It will in fact be larger than DCA's redo when all is said and done. First they need to greatly increase the caring capacity of the park before they drop in Star Wars Land. You can't drop a major expansion for an IP like Star wars into a park with 5 rides.

 

[drew81]

Maybe they're in town for a private DEG character meet and greet with Joy and Sadness?!?!?!

 

[tribbleorlfl]

 

[Shaman]

While their are obviously cultural differences in how strictly such standards should be interpreted and enforced, these examples also reflect standards which most of us - to varying degrees - sincerely want to see at Walt Disney World. We want dress codes for finer restaurants, whether jacket or just a collared shirt, and flash pictures and food & beverages within shows and attractions are already things which shouldn't be happening. Disney in Florida, however, has a real problem with even enforcing rules which do exist - something they certainly need to be actively doing within the guidelines currently in place. If rules were even politely enforced there would be no need for mistaken solutions such as Rapid Fill.

Yes, there would be push back from some guests, but that is no reason to abandon (culturally) reasonable and appropriate standards of dress and conduct - from guests or cast members. You occasionally see men without shirts stroll into a restaurant with "No Shirt No Shoes No Service" signs. That is perfectly reasonable, and in fact probably appreciated by most fellow diners, and nobody has legitimate cause to complain when they are turned away. But, it becomes meaningless when those guests are served anyway.

We don't need police-state enforcement, but Walt Disney World does (and badly) need enforced standards.

They needed to install gates around pools to keep kids from drowning during off hours. In short...we're hopeless. There's no going back...next stop Idiocracy.

 

[asianway]

Until OLC managers tried to impose their traditional (Read: 1980's) behavioral standards on "Guests" and Cast Members alike. Then watch people here, paying visitors and WDW CM's, scream bloody murder that they were being held to a higher standard than they wanted to be held to while they were at work or on vacation.

Stuff the OLC requires of their "Guests" and actively police in Tokyo Disneyland parks and hotels, like... Visible tattoos not allowed at Disney hotel pools. Jackets required for men at fine dining restaurants. No sitting on the curb more than one hour before parade time. No chewing gum in attractions (a CM will take out a little pad of paper and tear off a sheet and require you to spit your gum out and wrap it up and put it in the trash before you are allowed to enter the queue/building). And when they are that serious about gum chewing, you can darn well bet you won't be bringing your Coke or popcorn into a queue or building either. No flash pictures, and no photography of stage shows, or you will be escorted out of the show or building politely yet firmly.

Stuff the OLC and Tokyo Disneyland management require of their CM's, like... Perfectly pressed and fitted uniforms, with perfectly coiffed hair. No facial hair of any kind for men. Shined leather shoes with a defined heel, no sneakers or athletic shoes. No CM sign-in privileges because the parks are already busy enough. (Tokyo CM's have an opportunity to buy a limited number of Tokyo tickets per year at a slight discount, but can't even get themselves into the parks for free). An extremely high standard for professionalism, courtesy, poise and polish, and proactive customer service where loafers and leaners and grumps are not allowed.

If the Oriental Land Company were to take over WDW or Disneyland Resort, and then actually impose their current management practices that impact both visitor expectations and employee standards, most 21st century Americans would absolutely lose their mind. Internet message boards would explode in rage from DVC'ers, AP's, and CM's alike.

I can just hear it now...

Hold me to a higher standard?!? Not allow me to display my trashy tattoos in public?!? Not let me into California Grill wearing my Jorts and Crocs?!? Not let me and my family into the parks for free as a CM 16 times per year?!? Forget the OLC, bring back George Kalogridis and Meg Crofton and their lower standards of theme park management!!!

If only

 

[asianway]

Boards of Directors don't hammer out budgets. The budget has been hammered. This is for them to look it over and say "yep, sounds good."

Along those lines, does anyone (maybe @WDW1974) know whether there's any dissent among the ranks on the Disney board, or are the all lined up in support of what Iger says?


Fingers crossed. Is that based on something you know, or just a gut feeling?

They would probably be given proposal A, B, and C, of which they will pick the cheapest.

 

[CDavid]

They would probably be given proposal A, B, and C, of which they will pick the cheapest.

Then please give them proposals with $7 and $5 billion dollar price tags, then the numbers for what you actually wanted to build...

 

[WDW1974]

Just edited the OP to include the following for those late to the party:

Just to confirm the BoD is indeed meeting at WDW. Top on the agenda is approving the financial outlay for the DHS rebuilding and rebranding.

 

[WDW1974]

They are actually at BoardWalk Club Level. Been fixing the rooms up since May to get them ready. Even tho recently refurbed, they had to get them even better.

I was at BWI in May, asked why rooms were closed, on the floor, and they said b/c every single WDW high up was coming for a meeting.

Are they staying there or simply meeting(which is what they usually do ... yes, in rooms, not meeting rooms) there? Been told that Iger, at least, is staying where he always does -- the Grand Flo.

Oh, and they always make things LOOK perfect when the upper management is around. They don't ever see reality. One thing I always liked about Michael Eisner was when he'd go off on his own and just show up somewhere and look around and talk to CMs and/or Guests. That just isn't in Bob Iger's nature.

 

[SYRIK2000]

I can't remember the threshold, maybe @ParentsOf4 or @Lee knows but in order to spend a capital expenditure over a certain amount, the board must give its blessing.

Though they schedule these things months in advance. Doing so at one of their many convention resorts around the country is also within normal behavior.

I don't believe this is anything special but given the location, the studios may be on the agenda.

I refuse to consider this significant other than "Holy Crap, they actually admitted Orlando exists more than just a line item on a spreadsheet!"

I'm thinking with them closing everything in sight they have to pull the trigger soon. At least need walls up so the public thinks they are building something.

 

[SYRIK2000]

I have it on good authority that the Board will be sampling three new varieties of beer to be rolled out in Wandering Oaken's to improve guest reviews of Frozen Ever After. The winner will be dubbed Bud Light Snow: Let [Your Inhibitions] Go!

Maybe they can match up a drink for the poop brownies.

 

[UpAllNight]

I don't hold high hopes. DCA expansion obviously sorted the park out, but how many actual rides were added? I honestly believe the studios are 10 rides short. And that isn't going to happen.

 

[SYRIK2000]

Just edited the OP to include the following for those late to the party:

Just to confirm the BoD is indeed meeting at WDW. Top on the agenda is approving the financial outlay for the DHS rebuilding and rebranding.

That is welcome news.

 

[WDW1974]

When was the last time Iger AND the BoD were at WDW at the same time? Are these meetings common? Can we expect any announcements or leaks soon? So many questions.

Let's see:

Not sure;
They are not uncommon, nor are they regular. They happen from time to time, usually when the BoD needs to actually see things in person;
No announcements ever come out, but things at D23 are VERY, VERY likely based on what goes down now.

BTW, maybe someone ought to Tweet up Soup & Salad Sandra. Not that she'd be like a real reporter and head over and stalk the BoD and Iger.

Now, you can't completely blame her because the way the game is played is you don't actually go after news and hunt it down and corner people when they aren't expecting you and start asking questions (real journalism, btw). If she actually did this, it's quite likely that Disney's top PR folks in O-Town (no, not Cupcake) would be calling to the publisher of the O-Sentinel. Then, she'd be banned from their property or, at the very least,not included in the typical PR coverage that Disney wants put out. She'd be blackballed and get no cooperation.

 

[WDW1974]

I'm sure you are right. BW is just a striking pick to me as it isn't commonly regarded as a stellar deluxe. I doubt Bob is taking the BoD out to dinner at the fabulous new Trattoria al Forno that all the cool cats out in SoCal have been raving about.

BW is regularly used to house the biggest execs and celebs and has since its opening. It is convenient to the major highways and entrances of the resort, upscale and secluded enough that you can hide in plain sight.

 

[twebber55]

Are they staying there or simply meeting(which is what they usually do ... yes, in rooms, not meeting rooms) there? Been told that Iger, at least, is staying where he always does -- the Grand Flo.

Oh, and they always make things LOOK perfect when the upper management is around. They don't ever see reality. One thing I always liked about Michael Eisner was when he'd go off on his own and just show up somewhere and look around and talk to CMs and/or Guests. That just isn't in Bob Iger's nature.

WHEN I was at the Boardwalk 3 weeks ago they were working the butt off on landscaping and painting

 

[WDW1974]

I'm never interested in sounding good .. Pretty concrete on the agenda actually, this visit was scheduled before the shareholders meeting..

You're right. It's much better to look good!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I honestly believe the studios are 10 rides short.

I can't figure that out. I've had days where I've spent open to close at DHS and not ridden a single ride. Wasn't bored the whole day.

 

[WDW1974]

It could be they are just doing their jobs and having a board meeting to review the WDW resort. They do work every once in awhile I am sure.

Sure it may be to review big plans but is that not the boards job?

Actually, when you are talking about spending hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, it IS the BoD's job. Bob Iger doesn't get to simply do what he wants. He doesn't own the company like a Rupert or a Sumner. He's simply the highest level manager.

 

[UpAllNight]

I can't figure that out. I've had days where I've spent open to close at DHS and not ridden a single ride. Wasn't bored the whole day.

Oh don't get me wrong I can do that at a park too. I also have days where I just want to go on rides and the queues at the Studios make that very difficult! New rides will increase attendance, so any gain in attractions will have to be even greater than the total pull of the new attractions (In order to improve wait times, which a I think is a major issue at the studios from what I saw)