Brad Rex V.P. of Epcot/Update

[marni1971]

The higher ups know how unpopular they are. Why should they care? The turnstyles keep turning, and they don`t have to spend money on removal.

Guests still know they are at a Disney park. Those still erm... less willing to be educated.... will still look for Back to the Future at Epcot, or think the MK IS WDW, icon or no icon. So long as they`re happy and keep paying, we can only keep praying. For a crack in the foundations.

 

[MickeyTigg]

I was a little surprised when the topic of the wand didn't come up. I don't know about others, but if I got to interview the VP of Epcot, I would definitely say "what's up with the wand anyway?"

Typically questions being asked are given out ahead of time....it may have been in the mix and it got nixed. Frankly...I don't mind the wand, but if it goes it wouldn't bother me either.

The whole wand discussion has gotten old and boring....time to move on people.

 

[Thurp]

Guests still know they are at a Disney park.

I was leaving IOA one night a few weeks ago and some guy next to me was talking on the cell phone and said "yeah! we just spent the day at Disneyland!"

 

[marni1971]

I was leaving IOA one night a few weeks ago and some guy next to me was talking on the cell phone and said "yeah! we just spent the day at Disneyland!"

Bless...

 

[SirNim]

I was leaving IOA one night a few weeks ago and some guy next to me was talking on the cell phone and said "yeah! we just spent the day at Disneyland!"

Ouch.

 

[Bravesfn1]

I don't mind they are not going to have a huge celebration in honor of Epcot's 25th, as long as they put out some cool merchandise and pins that celebrate attractions that are long gone. That would be cool, but it is probably wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Empress Room]

I was leaving IOA one night a few weeks ago and some guy next to me was talking on the cell phone and said "yeah! we just spent the day at Disneyland!"

Of course, it is theoretically possible that the gentleman had just gotten off his eastbound flight from California...and wanted to check out Universal's CityWalk to put a nightcap on his already extremely busy day!! : )

 

[polarboi]

The higher ups know how unpopular they are. Why should they care? The turnstyles keep turning, and they don`t have to spend money on removal.

Meh. I'm guessing that the percentage of people who are upset enough about the wand/hat that they would rather spend money to remove those rather than on updating/adding to existing and future attractions is relatively small. If they were really that unpopular with the average guest, I don't think they'd keep them around.

Now don't get me wrong, I agree that Spaceship Earth looked beautiful without the wand and that it has an unintentional effect of distorting the perception. But there are many other things I'd much rather change first, including Leave a Legacy (aka "did these people die here?"), WoL (aka "time hasn't been kind to the 80s"), the sadly deteriorating CoP (aka "you want a 'modern' bag car phone to go with that virtual reality game, grandma?"), the herky-jerky motion of Spaceship Earth, and much of MGM.

Oh, and Figment.

-p.b.

 

[v_misses_epcot]

-- Brad said that although 2007 marks Epcot's 25th anniversary, there was no big celebration planned, although there would be private observances behind-the-scenes for cast members.

Yay for behind the scenes stuff. <3 And for the new stuff being put up at Innoventions.

I really did wish they had a huge celebration though. It makes me sad U_U

 

[speck76]

I was leaving IOA one night a few weeks ago and some guy next to me was talking on the cell phone and said "yeah! we just spent the day at Disneyland!"

and members here think I am crazy when I say the average vistor to Orlando is an idiot....

 

[prberk]

The marketing emphases these days are becoming more and more global -- especially the new "Disney PARKS" theming.

They have decided that it is not even important to distinguish Disneyland from Walt Disney World anymore, to save money on advertising. Why in the world would we then think that they would care anymore to distinguish the WDW parks from one another -- not to mention the other resort activities?

This is a complete change of course from several years ago, when they wanted everyone to know about the diversity of offerings at the WDW "RESORT" (emphasis on "resort").

Now, forget the resort and just remember the parks -- and really only one --"the park where dreams come true."

They seem to have taken the business school idea of "branding extension" to a rediculous level, in my opinion. In doing so, they might as well have decided to just call WDW "Disney Parks in Florida." Because that is all you will see in any ads or promotion any more.... and the only thing to look for is a castle with princesses, pirates, and fairies.

So, don't look for anything that would call special attention to Future World, World Showcase, the Hollywood that Always Was and Yet Never Was, or Harambe ... or golf ... or boating ... or fine dining... or the Circle D Ranch.. or a luau.... or an authentic Western revue... or monorails... or anything else that is wonderfully unique about Walt Disney World... unless it has to do with pixie dust and Johnny Depp!

All of which just plays right into the hands of Universal, who asks in ads that you try them when you have "grown out of fairy tales." I would certainly consider it, if all I knew of "Disney Parks" in Florida was what I saw in their promotions these days.

Paul

 

[ToTBellHop]

MGM is "the Hollywood that never was and always will be"

What is interesting is that the latest YoaMD's commercial up here in Connecticut won't mention the different parks, but it will mention the free Fastpasses you can get. Fastpass is more memorable to the average American the the names/themes of the theme parks?

 

[EpcotMark]

If the man doesn't care about the park, he has no right to be leading it.

I dissent as well. Bad call Mousemerf. Very bad call.
Brad is a great guy. Don't perpetuate rumors about those you dont know.

 

[TP2000]

Too bad there will be absolutely no public recognition of Epcot's 25th Anniversary. I wanted to buy a retro 80's EPCOT t-shirt or something.

But then, when all of the marketing dollar's are being spent on YOAMD, why would we think they would dilute that with a specific park anniversary that begins right in the middle of the YOAMD? You can only "celebrate" one thing at a time, and Year Of A Million Dreams outranks Epcot.

 

[Scar Junior]

I've yet to chime in on this (due to a broken laptop), and chances are that I won't add anything riveting. Nevertheless, here goes:

- I think Brad Rex is doing a great job. Very few of us know the extent to which his decision making goes, so let's not put blame on people without knowing enough on the situation. Opinions are one thing, ignorance is another.

- I too was let down about the 25th anniversary. We shouldn't be surprised to read this. Chances are great one of us would have seen or heard something long ago had there been any recognition of the milestone. But life will go on, we'll still go spend money. We'll still work for them. We'll still have fun. Disney will still make money and people will still leave happy. They're the MBAs, they're the decision makers. We are just people who post news and opinions on the internet. So, in the grand scheme of things... it's just a small deal.

- I hope you guys don't think that management likes the wand or is keeping it up for a consious marketing purpose. I don't know what B-Rex thinks, but I'm going to assume that someone who has loved Disney as long as he has isn't a big supporter of the big wand. But like several of us have been saying in several threads... its a business decision. Is it worth the sum of money and logistical shuffle required to take it down? Not really. Can their budget be used more appropriately than worrying about the wand? Absolutely. Consider it the WDW equivalent to cosmetic surgery.

-Bradasaurus Tracy

 

[ToTBellHop]

Can we assume Rex doesn't like the wand? I consider myself a Disney fan and have for awhile, and I like the wand...I like them adding color to Epcot...maybe it looks a little cheap when you can see the supports during the day, but I love the look at night. I'd rather keep the wand and have money spent on the Blunders of Life

 

[MrNonacho]

Where are people seeing that there will be no 25th merchandise? I find it really hard to believe there won't be at least a few items.

 

[JimboJones123]

Typically questions being asked are given out ahead of time....it may have been in the mix and it got nixed. Frankly...I don't mind the wand, but if it goes it wouldn't bother me either.

The whole wand discussion has gotten old and boring....time to move on people.

This beats any pro/con wand post EVER MADE. Thank you. Now if we can get people to stop saying that Stich sucks. Yeah, we know 80% of WDWMAGIC members think so. Why keep posting the same thing over and over again. It doesn't have to be the joke reply to every post. Nor does talking funny about HP and the dozen or so other topics that people constantly use to "put down" WDW in general.

Sorry for the rant. Been gone for a week and hate to see the same crap. Just put it in your signature...unless the most important thing you really have to contribute to every conversation is "the wand ruins everything, it even causes world hunger".

 

[pheneix]

Thank you. Now if we can get people to stop saying that Stich sucks. Yeah, we know 80% of WDWMAGIC members think so.

So does about 85% of the general population.

Ignoring facts does not make them go away...

 

[ToTBellHop]

So does about 85% of the general population.

Ignoring facts does not make them go away...

85% of the general population hates Stitch?

Made up statistics are a waste of time. Ignoring made up facts does make them go away. I, for example, ignored the made up facts about WMDs in Iraq and they went away. Magic.