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

[CaptainAmerica]

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.

On that, we agree. And I like that you used the term "attractions" in this post as opposed to "rides" in the prior one. Many people seem to exclude all the shows at DHS when they complain about how there's "nothing to do" or how it's a "half day park," but there's more to WDW than rides.

 

[SYRIK2000]

On that, we agree. And I like that you used the term "attractions" in this post as opposed to "rides" in the prior one. Many people seem to exclude all the shows at DHS when they complain about how there's "nothing to do" or how it's a "half day park," but there's more to WDW than rides.

They could swamp HS if they do it right.

 

[UpAllNight]

On that, we agree. And I like that you used the term "attractions" in this post as opposed to "rides" in the prior one. Many people seem to exclude all the shows at DHS when they complain about how there's "nothing to do" or how it's a "half day park," but there's more to WDW than rides.

Shows can be great...they make Seaworld one of my favourite places. I will say though that I watched Beauty and the Beast and Indiana Jones over a decade ago; it's time for a refresh in my opinion. The shows add to the feeling that the place is stale and I can barely be classed as a frequent visitor; not quite sure how people can visit regularly and watch these shows over and over maybe it's just me.

Still think Fantasmic is sublime though and that's similarly old.

 

[SYRIK2000]

So Spirit you don't think there will be any kind of announcement? Or maybe they leak it? Seems to me like a great opportunity to get Star Wars buzz out and going. Try to steal some JW thunder.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Shows can be great...they make Seaworld one of my favourite places. I will say though that I watched Beauty and the Beast and Indiana Jones over a decade ago; it's time for a refresh in my opinion. The shows add to the feeling that the place is stale and I can barely be classed as a frequent visitor; not quite sure how people can visit regularly and watch these shows over and over maybe it's just me.

Are you local or DVC by any chance? People on this board (generally) visit way more often than the average family. A family that comes once every five years has only seen Indiana Jones two or three times.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

They could swamp HS if they do it right.

Really, they could do that with all three parks. What they need to do is have a clear vision of what each park represents. DAK - animals and MK - fantasy ( geared toward younger kids ). Now, they tricky part is to figure out EPCOT and DHS. Should EPCOT be a full blown worlds fair with the wine and food festival going on 365 and make DHS more toward future world. Or EPCOT go back to what is was back in its hey day and DHS be Star Wars, Pixar, indiana jones with some other cool Disney Properties. They have one shot to do it right.

 

[WDW1974]

Since we are giving unsolicited advise...it is becoming frustrating coming to a Spirited thread and listening to you give umbridge over his writing style over and over. We get it, you do not care for his online persona or whatever. Are we hear to debate the merits of each person's prose as written in context to a online forum.

Personally, I enjoy the narrative as written but I also enjoy the matter-of-fact style of @Lee when he has information to provide. If you feel Spirit's writing style detracts from the information given, rest assured we are all now painfully aware of that fact.

So the advice, you can do the same as I do, when I see one of your posts with a 1000 word wall of text in response to a simple question, just scroll right past.

This is becoming the OCD poster's shtick and is likely to continue 18 hours a day unless @wdwmagic or @The Mom simply tell him ''We get it, already. Cool it.'' I think he wants to be Queen of the Kingdom here and pretty soon he can have it. We'll see if people tune in here to read his rantings of 1,000 words where he says pretty much nothing.

I have a serious illness in my family (I am sure some here believe I am making this up because they are mentally unstable/ill enough to do something like that themselves) and my beloved Angie will soon join me for a 'holiday' in the USA. I'll be gone from the forums for probably about two months unless something huge happens (two Horizon-loving fanbois attempt to kill Bob Iger or Tom Staggs at the BW or Disney announces it is building a $6.7 billion resort in Mumbai or .... etc ...) So, maybe that poster can start a thread of his own here that I am sure will have 1.4 million clicks in six months. Anyone can do this, right? He has so much to say, why not start his own thread? I'd love to not read his opinions on Disney and China and Disney and Marvel and Disney ...and pretty much everything else.

And while it's definitely fair to say I am very critical of Bob Iger, as any responsible shareholder should be (as during the last 5-6 years of Michael Eisner's tenure I was just as critical if not more so), there is a legitimacy to that. This OCD poster's overwhelmingly gushing, mancrush-tinged defenses for Bob Iger are completely out of place. If you heart Bob Iger that's fine, but one of my thread's isn't the place for that.

 

[UpAllNight]

Are you local or DVC by any chance? People on this board (generally) visit way more often than the average family. A family that comes once every five years has only seen Indiana Jones two or three times.

No I'm not I've visited this year for the first time in over a decade.

There's some rides and shows in Orlando I could go on or see every day of the year....some of the things in the studio I done once ages ago, saw them again last month and was just 'meh'....muppets, mermaid, Indiana Jones, BOTB, to name a few. Just seemed very stale as I say. Maybe these feelings were compounded by the fact the only new attraction of interest (in 13 years!!) was Toy Story Mania. Had seen the motor stunt show in Paris once and thought I'd skip that one.

 

[WDW1974]

Was anyone giving some sort of conspiracy-laden, irrational explanation?

As others have mentioned, these meetings with the full BoD on property do happen from time to time.

I'm guessing the Spirit posted this info because he has it. It's relevant fodder for discussion here. We can speculate
all we want about things that may occur. Certainly Avatar, Studios, etc. From what I can see, no one was making any outlandish claims, or saying anything of the sort.

Passive aggressive BS shot on me because I know FOR A FACT and wrote about it years ago that the BoD met aat WDW to consider selling off a stake in P&R and even toured groups of foreign investors. ... That poster is one of a small minority of vocal critics of mine who can't quit me. So ... that's what he was actually attempting to put out.
Sometimes, you'd think he never got over his CP when he was Part of the MAGIC of The Walt Disney Company!

 

[WDW1974]

Does anyone remember how much money a CapEx has to be before it has to be brought before the Board for its approval?

I don't know that one has ever been publicized. My guess is it has to really be significant (i.e. the BoD doesn't approve a cheap Frozen attraction for EPCOT, but they do approve Pandora or a Studios Makeover/Rebranding).

 

[WDW1974]

Which is silly, because the BEST Summer movie so far is 'Tomorrowland'...!

Nope. sadly it's not. ... but you can discuss that over in the Perfect 10 thread.

 

[WDW1974]

Your post triggered me to go back and read this thread's original post (a couple of times). I have to say, I agree with you.

Besides not liking @WDW1974 's style, what exactly is the complaint?

Yes, this could have been summed up with a one sentence, "Iger is at WDW and the BoD might join him", but what's the fun with that?

After all, aren't most "news and rumors" threads 1% information and 99% comments and speculation?

I generally agree. The first post is all NEWS and some snarky Spirited commentary. And then the discussion begins.
People should be happy. This is FINALLY when the spending faucet is going to get turned on. ... Now, it may take 4-6 years to see this stuff get done, but once they approve the money, it will happen!

 

[Jahona]

This is FINALLY when the spending faucet is going to get turned on. ... Now, it may take 4-6 years to see this stuff get done, but once they approve the money, it will happen!

Takes a while to fill the bathtub once the faucet gets turned on. Well this is Disney it's a bit bigger than a bathtub. Ok so it takes a while to fill the pool once you turn the faucet on.

 

[WDW1974]

I can't wait to hear what they announce. While the parks do need some work it was a fantastically fun trip, and m so glad I haven't turned bitter about WDW.

Goody for you. I am bitter about many things in life, WDW's current state and management would be one.

But just understand something, I love the place (and have for far longer than the vast majority of people on this forum). That's why I'm bitter ... oh, and why I'm here. I do care ...likely too much!

 

[Mike S]

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.

A New Hope for WDW?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I'll only consider getting my hopes up when we have an idea of what the final budget will be, along with what sort of attractions are coming. It won't mean a thing if they only allot a couple hundred million and fill the place with carnival and spinner garbage like Toy Story Playland.

And unlike Avatar Land and Cars Land, there's the worry that there may not be any powerful creatives in charge to ensure they don't slash the budget to bits and value engineer everything.

 

[WDW1974]

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?

If you are speaking in general, then I think there is always some dissent. But by and large the BoD loves Bob. They don't ever want him to leave. But they just look at the bottom line, the stock, the numbers etc.

As to this project, I don't know about individuals not supporting plans for the dying Studios park. Again, it's safe to say that they aren't 100% in agreement on how to proceed with fixing it, but will also defer to Bob and he'll defer to the folks who have been sold on the plans (mostly Tom Staggs as well as TDO leadership). Chapie hasn't been around long enough to where his opinion makes any difference at all.

 

[andysol]

I'll only consider getting my hopes up when we have an idea of what the final budget will be, along with what sort of attractions are coming. It won't mean a thing if they only allot a couple hundred million and fill the place with carnival and spinner garbage like Toy Story Playland.

Iger and the BoD isn't at WDW to simply approve TSPL.

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

I am trying to temper any rising enthusiasm by reciting "be realistic, this is WDW" over and over in my head.

 

[WDW1974]

Exactly. This would be the normal meeting, just located near something they possibly cold be discussing.

Plus I'm trying to temper expectations accordingly.

While that is always wise, I'll tell you it isn't needed here. It's the real deal ... and just on the timing I predicted here last year (again, I just guess on all these things, yet no one wants to take me to Vegas to make them rich!)