The rumors spreading around for some time are 100% true. Why else would top executives in all levels of TWDC be stepping down. When you replace a human with some cheap computer software, you take away what a consumer, guest, or just plain old real life human could offer. A program cannot calculate whether a movie will fail or flop or if adding this light fixture on a ride will hide that it's broken or just not thrilling enough.
At Disney I'm a legacy, my grandparents worked for Walt, my parents worked for the company and now I do. It's home, it's more than just brand loyalty or worshipping the mouse. TWDC is family, I grew up with so many great people from animators, to directors, to Disney Legends. These changes really do hurt. You cannot tell an Artist that they have to stop being an artist because Chappie Software 7.0 says it cost too much or a guest won't like it.
I admit, I often like to come onto these forums to see guest raw reactions, you can only see so much on Facebook, instagram, or twitter. You are all true Disney fans and guest. Not saying that I trust forums more than software but jeez, real humans beats a computer. I wasn't a fan of Iger, but Iger did grant us some freedom. It wasn't always about the shareholders. Albeit one of the reasons Joe ended up leaving WDI was his dislike of IP influencing every aspect of the future of WDI. If anyones watched Disney Plus he admits one of his least favorite projects was Pandora. He was the God of DAK, for him to publicly admit it wasn't his fondest project is one thing.
Imagineers work best when they love and are passionate about a project. IE why everyone of my generation wanted to work on Galaxies Edge because of our love for Star Wars. Relying on a computer to explain to us how to do our jobs or how to think, is like asking a member of the board who knows nothing about Disney, never been to Disney, how to engineer new graphics for a simulator or make a boring roller coaster into something totally unique to a theme park.
Computers cannot replace the human experience, not yet at least. Computers can't complain that paint is falling or an AA just doesn't look right the way it moves. That hurts, because people like me truly love our jobs, but to constantly be turned down in order to stay on budget, to reduce cost, to reduce the Four Keys, really really leaves many at all levels of TWDC uninspired to produce. Loosing some of my best friends who I would have never thought leave TWDC has pushed me past loyalty many times.
I want to wait things out, but if the ship sinks too far and there comes a point in which nothing I or my fellow teammates produce comes to fruition, either we will be laid off, or forced to quit. That is something I dread and hate to think about whilst getting ready for work. But that's the hard cold reality at every level, from Media to consumer to technology. You cannot push someone to enjoy or like a product no matter what the stupid computer software says. DATA IS NOT A REAL HUMAN! They cannot shed real tears as they watch their grandparents bring their grandchild and children to the same park their own parents brought them to when the parks first opened. Software can't explain why people are so amused at watching a tv series about homicidal children's games.
The Human Condition is something we as humans have attempted since the dawn of writing to bring into fruition and understand, but its not possible. Not even with the worlds most advanced computers, because no two people share or see the same product/media asset/ or attraction in the same way. Software can't understand why that 5 year old is crying of joy from hugging Mickey Mouse or why that 45 year old thinks a ride should be longer and more entertaining.
One can only attempt to control so much and honestly, as someone who's approaching 13 years with TWDC, it hurts. It hurts to see that my grandparents and parents retired from a company they loved and I still adore, but that I now realize may not be the place I can spend the rest of my useful career enjoying. In no way would I ever work for a competitor, no one feels that way, but moral has never ever felt this low, C-19 in no way is to blame for that. Yes it's pushed a lot of divisions to a brink, but poor corporate management can't be blamed on that virus, that's on them. I can only hope things get better over time, but infighting, stupid regulations, and making everything about data is not a sustainable future for a Global Empire that relies heavily on real human experience.
