Lee
Adventurer
That's way beneath Rohde's pay grade.
The new "C Mode" will require CMs to rotate through a new "Yeti" position every few hours. In the suit, of course...
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Disney announce plans for 15th anniversary of Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
The new "C Mode" will require CMs to rotate through a new "Yeti" position every few hours. In the suit, of course...
disneypearl
Well-Known Member
Yep. He wasn't exactly invited to the choosing party in the first place.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Wow, no Rohde is bigger news than the anniversary itself. 
No Disney park is as closely associated with a single imagineer as DAK is with Rohde. Surely, his agenda was known beforehand. I don't think he pulled out for being otherwise occupied.
Methinks Rohde couldn't in good faith stand there and smile at the celebration of a park (no, 'his' park) that was build on too tight a budget in the first place, where subsequently the essential additions were never build, and where instead every major ride is broken except Kali [should've read: Kilimanjaro] and the central icon can only be visited underneath construction site safety netting.
Either that, or there is friction about the future of Avatar or even Rohde's position at the company.
No Disney park is as closely associated with a single imagineer as DAK is with Rohde. Surely, his agenda was known beforehand. I don't think he pulled out for being otherwise occupied.
Methinks Rohde couldn't in good faith stand there and smile at the celebration of a park (no, 'his' park) that was build on too tight a budget in the first place, where subsequently the essential additions were never build, and where instead every major ride is broken except Kali [should've read: Kilimanjaro] and the central icon can only be visited underneath construction site safety netting.
Either that, or there is friction about the future of Avatar or even Rohde's position at the company.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
Sadly, Kali is broken too. DAK is one of my favorite parks, but it gets harder to love all the time.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
EPCOT makes $100k in an hour, every hour, from just tickets alone. Peanuts.
WDW simply did not see a good marketing opportunity in EPCOT's 25th. And yes, the main thing they learned is that fans are a sucker for anniversary milking. At the 30th, the lines for Mousegear were the most noteworthy event of the day. All fans the parks they deserve.
Edit: Well spotted, givemethemusic. Not Kali, but Kili.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
LOL - that does change things doesn't it! All dem funky names.
Lee
Adventurer
But they see it as a large paycheck going to a guy his late 50s. They could hire three ambitious young designers for what they pay him.
Ask Tony Baxter...
BlueSkyDriveBy
Well-Known Member
Tom
Beta Return
jt04
Well-Known Member
Wow, no Rohde is bigger news than the anniversary itself.
No Disney park is as closely associated with a single imagineer as DAK is with Rohde. Surely, his agenda was known beforehand. I don't think he pulled out for being otherwise occupied.
Methinks Rohde couldn't in good faith stand there and smile at the celebration of a park (no, 'his' park) that was build on too tight a budget in the first place, where subsequently the essential additions were never build, and where instead every major ride is broken except Kali [should've read: Kilimanjaro] and the central icon can only be visited underneath construction site safety netting.
Either that, or there is friction about the future of Avatar or even Rohde's position at the company.
I think you are right about all the above.
It likely puts him in a tough position by having DAK be known as his personal park whether he embraced that notion or not. If this is about his exit, I'd love to see him land at Uni or SW.
Expect more 'franchise' at DAK. Not that this is always a bad thing.
Lee
Adventurer
Is he?
I had him at 57-58 or so.
Either way, it's a sad statement on the current thinking at WDI.
Nmoody1
Well-Known Member
It's interesting.... Disney are so in touch with social media.... I think they pulled the plug on Joe being there as they realised he was going to be bombarded with avatar/yeti questions - they probably monitored social media sites like this one and got cold feet about fanboys attending. Pull the plug on the only aspect of this celebration that hardcore fans are interested in and this is another boring limited time magic event tha will be a 'nice' happening in the park that day. Disney are clearly playing this card to avoid any press talk about Avatar/broken attractions.
Despite what everyone on here wants to happen, rumblings in the park and Igers determination not to lose face, Avatar will happen.... Joe Rhode not in attendance may have us guessing.... My guess would be Avatar is reduced in budget, we're going to get some lame attractions and Rhode is not happy that the money is going elsewhere (the studios?)
Despite what everyone on here wants to happen, rumblings in the park and Igers determination not to lose face, Avatar will happen.... Joe Rhode not in attendance may have us guessing.... My guess would be Avatar is reduced in budget, we're going to get some lame attractions and Rhode is not happy that the money is going elsewhere (the studios?)
Genie of the Lamp
Well-Known Member
Press release/advisory statement from WDW: "due to unforeseen circumstances, Joe Rohde will not be able to be in attendance to celebrate [Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park's 15th Anniversary] with us." (Source: OPTN)
In addition to the Avatar project, isn't he also involved with the expansion of Aluani occuring now with a projected opening in mid 2013(new pool water features, 2 new qs restaurants, expanding Starlet Hui show to include new and larger lawn location)? Maybe they want him to be working on that/being at Aulani as opposed to being at a park anniversary? Just a thought.
In addition to the Avatar project, isn't he also involved with the expansion of Aluani occuring now with a projected opening in mid 2013(new pool water features, 2 new qs restaurants, expanding Starlet Hui show to include new and larger lawn location)? Maybe they want him to be working on that/being at Aulani as opposed to being at a park anniversary? Just a thought.
articos
Well-Known Member
Too much credit with that conversation. There isn't even a question. He'd just pick up the phone and call Craig and Eric, who'd call Kathy. Happens all the time. No one at WDI is indispensable, no matter well-loved by fans or not. I am not saying one way or the other whether I believe the rumors of anyone leaving are accurate, though, nor would I read into Joe's absence from the opening this morning.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
I wonder if Joe's doing this to send a message. As long as Bob is CEO, Avatar will happen. They may cut his pay, but I don't see them firing him until that project is deader than a door nail or completed.