Disney Fans Unite!!!!

[Goofster]

Yeah, I think I will, too. But I'll be peaceful, and I'll write to WDI first to get my facts straight. Well, if Now Inc and anybody else with friends in WDI could keep us updated if they find out anything, that'd be great. Thanks you guys, and like Chad said, a letter won't hurt.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Jim Hill is the same guy who said Beastly Kingdom would never get built, and we now know that it will. He said Mission: SPACE would be crappy, but with all the hype we see, I don't see how it can be. I would not trust a WORD that comes out of his mouth. He is a sensationalist writer and just wants attention in case he ever actually gets a story right. Disney is not going to fire all the Imagineers--they are currently working on projects. Don't tell me disney is not putting out amazing attractions. They JUST built Animal Kingdom Lodge, and many of you say it's your favorite resort on property. Mission: Space looks amazing. They just opened Who Wants to Be a Millionaire--Play It!...a BIG hit. Between those and the 100 Years of Magic Celebration, I'm pretty damn impressed with what disney has done in the past year. Calm down and NEVER trust Jim Hill. It would be like trusting an article by me about Universal (I am NOT a Universal fan...at all).
Kyle

 

[NowInc]

...you guys think that IF they were going to get rid of WDI, they would tell the general publc? The only thing writing a letter will accomplish is a standardized reply telling you everything is OK...even if it really isnt...

This "rumor" has been circulating for over 3 years now, and so far there hasnt been anything solid to back it up..the layoffs are STANDARD (or so the trend has shown for the past few years)..and is not reason to panic or worry...

Lets also be realisitc....if something WAS going to happen to WDI..all the letters and calls in the world wouldnt be able to stop it...

 

[Fievel]

breathe in - breathe out - repeat

 

[thedisneyfan]

Originally posted by NowInc
..the layoffs are STANDARD (or so the trend has shown for the past few years)..and is not reason to panic or worry...

Lets also be realisitc....if something WAS going to happen to WDI..all the letters and calls in the world wouldnt be able to stop it...

As to the layoffs, if any company continues to layoff its workforce it eventually won't have a workforce. We also know that Disney has been outsourcing more and more of itd work in the past couple of years. You don't have to look any further than the Aladdin ride or Triceritops Spin or JIYI rehab to see the result of this slashing! Disney Imagineering was once a cut above the rest now it is just simply cut. Other than a skeleton WDI to oversee the outsourcing I think that WDI won't exist in its once great glory ever again. I hope that I am wrong on this but...the writing is clearly on the wall or should I say in their new attractions. And as for Mission Space I do think that it will probably be pheneomenal but...let's remember it's only a ride REPLACEMENT! There still hasn't been any major addition to their original parks.

As to all the letters and calls, you're probably right they won't make a difference but what will make a difference is the continuing decline in attendance due to the lack of reinvestments into the parks!

 

[Bdis86]

Disney almost never builds totally new things. Usually they are replacements. Look at Honey, I Shrunk..., Test Track, Mission Space, Winnie the Pooh, Big Thunder Mt. in CA, The Tiki Room, Mickey's ToonTown Fair, Sounds Dangerous, Walt, One Man's Dream, Legend of the Lion King... The List goes on and on.

 

[NowInc]

hmm...Tower of Terror...Rock N Rollercoaster...Din-o-rama (as much as i dislike it), and a few others i cant remember off the top of my head were all ADDITIONS and not replacemtns....

 

[Quentin Disney]

I really couldn't consider Hill "anti-Disney", he is just constructively criticizing the company for the actions it has taken reccently. I admit, I do enjoy Hill's articles. At times, they do seem to be stretching things a bit, but he does have interesting things to say about the company if they are true or not.

BTW, Hill is a huge fanboy of DCA. If anyone read his first DCACentral article about his opinions on those that lambast the ideal of the new park should re-think their theory of him being "anti-Disney". At times, yes he is hard hitting, but he does have some nice things to say often.

I wish Disney fans would stop thinking with rose-colored glassess, 'cause their are problems internally in the company.

 

[ToTBellHop]

my optimism can only equalize everyone else's negativity. Sheesh...RIDES GET REPLACED. We've discussed this. Walt did it himself. Disney has never replaced a vastly popular ride (I know there are MANY Horizons fans, but I never saw a line for this or World of Motion). Instead of complaining after they knock down a ride, get more people to ride the attractions you like while they are open so they don't HAVE to knock them down. It's disney's prerogative what they keep and what they don't. Just don't act like you don't see ride closures coming. Go around the parks and see which rides have wait times of zero, and consider those attractions somewhere on the "hitlist". Consider anything with any substantial wait (or anything with Fastpass) permanent. I'm pretty sure Walt was a fan of both expansion and change. They still do both today. Magic Carpets of Aladdin replaced a walkway...Who Wants to Be a Millionaire replaced studios making bad movies(e.g. Mortal Kombat...)...Pooh replaced the no-wait Toad...Buzz replaced the no-wait DreamFlight...Mission: Space will replace the chronically closed Horizons (I have not been on Horizons in 10 years. Because I didn't like it? No. Because it was always closed when I went). This goes on and on...you are behind the boat with your complaints. I highly doubt Disney will miraculously rebuild a scale version of Horizons...it's change, and it has to happen. What you need to do is pick which current attractions you would like to keep and round up some fans before they dissappear ~cough~ Snow White ~cough~

 

[Goofster]

Ok I'm sorry for creating panic, I never should have read the article, or maybe I should have kept it to myself. Still, even if WDI does make cut backs, I won't be worried as long as amazing rides keep coming out. It seems to me they are, with the upcoming Mission: Space and Mickey's Philharmagic. Hopefully After that, Beastly Kingdom!

 

[Tink]

After reading the article, I feel that the optimists (you know who you are...) are on the right track. The article mentions that WDI were going to bring people on staff on a "per-project" basis. This is happening in other industries - not just in Imagineering. It is especially common in IT. Labor economists liken this method to the making of a major motion picture. Studios assemble teams based upon their needs for the project and the budget established. Once the project is complete, the team disbands. Who does this benefit? I think everyone does. The studios get a motion picture made without the overhead of keeping all of these expensive individuals on the payroll. The movie making team can bargain their rates on a per-project basis (which means that they have more control than if they were part of a stable of workers) and also have the flexibility to choose and decline projects as they see fit. And ultimately, the movie going public benefits by having the opportunity to view (hopefully) a quality film.

 

[ToTBellHop]

exactly. And every project in the works looks to be amazing. I know you are all mad about DinoRama, but
A) It didn't replace anything
B) You don't have to go through there if you won't
C) The coaster may actually be fun--I'll let you know, as it opens the week I go
Realize this, too. Disney is not pushing DinoRama AT ALL. You hardly EVER hear about it from them unless you are "in the know". So they know it's not the best they can do, which is why they choose to hype Mission: Space to levels we have never seen before. They know this will be a good attraction. Interesting that Eisner specifically stated that the Tower of Terror is coming to Cali Adventure in the "next few years". And he said something about an It's Tough to Be a Bug! area opening in the fall. I know this isn't the forum to discuss this, but regardless, I think all of the upcoming additions are definitely cause for enthusiasm.
Kyle

 

[General Grizz]

Hey...many people have DREAMS of becoming imagineers....

I think Disney should think of the Dyanistic Cycle/Mandate of Heaven...like they did in 1984 when they made Eisner CEO..

 

[NowInc]

It takes more than a dream to be an imagineer..the Dream is the first step....the long road after that involves prooving to them you are worth their time...if they lay you off..its for a reason...if they hire you..its for a reason...things havnt changed....It is just like any other job out there...

 

[General Grizz]

Yep..."MAN HAS A DREAM...AND THAT'S THE START!"