News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stor

chapek put the final nail in the coffin. I think some of the stores should have closed, the mall is dying, BUT they could have saved a few more of the flagships. There should be more cast facing guest areas of the company other than the parks. With the closure of Disney stores and radioDisney they removed brand ambassadors in local communities that could talk up the company and its initiatives, maybe these venues weren’t making as much money as before, but they were still an important part of the puzzle. But why run your own business when you pay target run it into the ground.View attachment 680977View attachment 680978

There’s also the fact that back in its inception it wasn’t necessarily easy to get official Disney merchandise without visiting the resort.

Now a days with the EBays and Amazon’s of the world and the fact that people go in and buy 10’s of the same item just so they can list the product in these channels - the distribution landscape has changed a bit. Alternately, they can order from Disney directly online.

 

[brb1006]

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Disney was super cheap and tacky by the end of that period.

Hey Bambi II was good though!

 

[brb1006]

I wish for more wishes

Disney's got the perfect film on the topic of "Wishes".

 

[castlecake2.0]

There’s also the fact that back in its inception it wasn’t necessarily easy to get official Disney merchandise without visiting the resort.

Now a days with the EBays and Amazon’s of the world and the fact that people go in and buy 10’s of the same item just so they can list the product in these channels - the distribution landscape has changed a bit. Alternately, they can order from Disney directly online.

Totally agree with all of that, the store concept definitely needed some re imagining, and the sad part was it was getting so close to the right mix of merch again right before it closed. I don’t think every mall needs a Disney Store, but a a dozen or two flagships across the US and Canada could work. They could even sell Disney+ subscriptions at checkout

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Meg Crofton queen of the single ply TP?

…anyone who had the displeasure will break into sweats when you say Voldemort’s name

 

[castlecake2.0]

…anyone who had the displeasure will break into sweats when you say Voldemort’s name

But her hair and power suits were always so perfect

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Totally agree with all of that, the store concept definitely needed some re imagining, and the sad part was it was getting so close to the right mix of merch again right before it closed. I don’t think every mall needs a Disney Store, but a a dozen or two flagships across the US and Canada could work. They could even sell Disney+ subscriptions at checkout

I always thought that they needed to combine the concept. Possibly with DVC, Resorts, and/or Meeting and Conventions, - in short a small slice of the Disney bubble.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about a Disney resort in every major city. Rather, think Gaylord. Maybe 6-8 large strategically placed properties catering to the beforementioned audience, and throw in some exclusive dining options, entertainment, and merchandising.

Would work for the Corporate Travel audience, would work for those that lived close enough for a weekend (or three day weekend) getaway, and would work for those that were local. And it would also bring additional depth to the DVC offerings.

 

[castlecake2.0]

I always thought that they needed to combine the concept. Possibly with DVC, Resorts, and/or Meeting and Conventions, - in short a small slice of the Disney bubble.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about a Disney resort in every major city. Rather, think Gaylord. Maybe 6-8 large strategically placed properties catering to the beforementioned audience, and throw in some exclusive dining options, entertainment, and merchandising.

Would work for the Corporate Travel audience, would work for those that lived close enough for a weekend (or three day weekend) getaway, and would work for those that were local. And it would also bring additional depth to the DVC offerings.

I’d have to dig but I think something like this came close to being built in DC but then they sold off the land.

 

[SilentWindODoom]

They learned to build a good queue and they do spend on rockwork but as a whole it lacks what the rides that come before had. Its just an opinion but it does seem to have some traction

Rockwork, vegetation, interactivity (before a worldwide pandemic made touching things a bad idea). So many small touches. I suppose those are the things I would consider "heart". Some extra gravy. It's special. Something bright in a dark age.

Hey Bambi II was good though!

I'm partial to Mulan II myself.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I’d have to dig but I think something like this came close to being built in DC but then they sold off the land.

That was a DVC property like Aulani and the issues with that property killed the future of non-park related properties. Jay Rasulo did try to get Disney into Regional Entertainment Centers; a hotel, a World of Disney, maybe some attractions and entertainment. It was more a real estate development scheme (that being Rasulo’s thing) and died when he left Parks & Resorts.

 

[BobPar]

Totally agree with all of that, the store concept definitely needed some re imagining, and the sad part was it was getting so close to the right mix of merch again right before it closed. I don’t think every mall needs a Disney Store, but a a dozen or two flagships across the US and Canada could work. They could even sell Disney+ subscriptions at checkout

There is no reason why like you said Disney stores in major US cities could not exist and make money. Maybe if each one had a DVC kiosk they may rethink the decision

 

[Tom P.]

LOL! James Cameron just makes hits including Titanic, and Avatar. The stories were fantastic!!!
There are plenty of films in Hollywood that are "pretty" and don't sell like Cameron films. Thats because movies like Titanic and Avatar have great stories. I feel like your bias around this film runs deep within you.

Oh good grief. This forum is amazing sometimes. A person cannot dislike a movie without having an agenda now? Or is it possible that I might just have different tastes than you? I think Titanic and Avatar are both horrible, horrible films. And I have not the slightest desire to see any of Cameron's 27 planned Avatar sequels. Please tell me what agenda is driving that.

 

[fotofx]

I just made the mistake of starting to watch The Santa Clauses on D+...

The originals had that Disney magic... Even with Tim Allen, this has no magic. If they think Santa lost his magic they should watch this.. No wonder D+ is having issues.

 

[brb1006]

I just made the mistake of starting to watch The Santa Clauses on D+...

The originals had that Disney magic... Even with Tim Allen, this has no magic. If they think Santa lost his magic they should watch this rubbish.. No wonder D+ is having issues. Holy crap..

I actually enjoyed The Santa Clauses though...

 

[DCLcruiser]

I'm aware of its message, but I never noticed any controversy around it. The criticisms I saw were all focused on the movie being a generic bore and the characters bland as hell. Those are my problems with the film, not its "political agenda".

I wasn't awed by the movie either, but I do recall the message being criticized at the time. I am sure it will happen again.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Oh good grief. This forum is amazing sometimes. A person cannot dislike a movie without having an agenda now? Or is it possible that I might just have different tastes than you? I think Titanic and Avatar are both horrible, horrible films. And I have not the slightest desire to see any of Cameron's 27 planned Avatar sequels. Please tell me what agenda is driving that.

And on the flipside, I'm a right-winger who loves Avatar for the sheer spectacle of the thing. I have PLF 3D tickets pre-ordered for A2.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I always thought that they needed to combine the concept. Possibly with DVC, Resorts, and/or Meeting and Conventions, - in short a small slice of the Disney bubble.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about a Disney resort in every major city. Rather, think Gaylord. Maybe 6-8 large strategically placed properties catering to the beforementioned audience, and throw in some exclusive dining options, entertainment, and merchandising.

Would work for the Corporate Travel audience, would work for those that lived close enough for a weekend (or three day weekend) getaway, and would work for those that were local. And it would also bring additional depth to the DVC offerings.

I think Galactic Starcruiser was meant to be a proof-of-concept for this sort of thing, wasn't it?

 

[fotofx]

I actually enjoyed The Santa Clauses though...

Don't know, to me it is just missing something..

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I wasn't awed by the movie either, but I do recall the message being criticized at the time. I am sure it will happen again.

To me the message was good but I wasn’t a fan of how on the nose it was. Evil corporation who exploits the land and doesn’t care about anything stereotype, blockhead drill sergeant stereotype, blood thirsty mercenary stereotype, natives who love and protect the land stereotype… as if all people / jobs / corporations are 100% good or 100% evil, the real world doesn’t work that way but Michael Bay movies almost always do. He loves stereotypes and extremes, there’s no confusing who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy in his movies.

I enjoyed the movie but I think it would have been so much better if the characters were more complex and faced inner struggles (like the pilot and main character) rather than 99% simply being mindless generic stereotypes.

On the other hand sometime you just want to be entertained and his movies are always eye candy that rarely (if ever) require any thought, and he’s made billions on popcorn flicks, so it’s a winning formula.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

To me the message was good but I wasn’t a fan of how on the nose it was. Evil corporation who exploits the land and doesn’t care about anything stereotype, blockhead drill sergeant stereotype, blood thirsty mercenary stereotype, natives who love and protect the land stereotype… as if all people / jobs / corporations are 100% good or 100% evil, the real world doesn’t work that way but Michael Bay movies almost always do. He loves stereotypes and extremes, there’s no confusing who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy in his movies.

I enjoyed the movie but I think it would have been so much better if the character were more complex and faced inner struggles (like the pilot and main character) rather than 99% simply being mindless generic stereotypes.

I don't think they were stereotypes, I think they were archetypes. It was a myth.