Disney World’s Jeff Vahle Reflects on Growth, Change, and Reinvestment in Parks

[JD80]

These guys are business people. It is all about spin. They appeased the loyalists with words while mainly catering to new/first-time ticket sales to find growth. The problem is that the IP route will eventually run dry, especially given the number of sequels and live-action projects they have produced without a significant amount of new IP or original content. The current business model appears to be geared toward short-term gains, with limited future growth potential. I guess it makes sense, as Bob only cares about the next year or so, then he is gone. The beauty of building stories in the parks that are not connected to IP is that it gives them new avenues to expand on. Journey feels like an untapped story that could generate even more revenue in the parks, as well as across the rest of Disney's business. Pirates have done it for them. I see Haunted Mansion merchandise everywhere, not just in the parks.

I may be wrong about all this, but it honestly feels like the model Walt started with was always the right model for the parks. The original seemed to be a good blending of original stories specific to the parks with outside IP sprinkled in. Now it is the other way around. Again, I could be wrong, but the evidence states otherwise: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/disn...me-low-2025-visitors-report-ghost-towns-parks

You're mostly wrong about all this. Or at least your context in skewed.

 

[jah4955]

and the Dreamfinder.

Having ridden 1.0 numerous times, I, then and now, consider 1.0 as "timeless" as can be. I believe that if they bring it back, with the relatively small updates that would have organically happened if it had never closed (akin to many of the HM updates over the last 54 years), I believe they'll have a crowd-pleaser for perpetuity!

 

[HauntedPirate]

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Tony Baxter this past weekend, and of course the topic of the Imagination Pavilions current state came up into conversation.

Even he is questioning a big WHY.
“Why…? “
“Why are they just letting it sit there…?”

It is extremely frustrating for him as much as it is for all of us.
We are not alone.

He did say however that there ARE still people within the Company that remember and know what the REAL Imagination Attraction stood for…and “get it’.
Which makes it all the MORE frustrating knowing it could be done, and yet no one is taking the step forward to make it happen.

Seriously, what are they waiting for?

I personally am still convinced nothing will happen until certain individuals within the Company either retire, move on, or drop.
Politics is a awful thing within WDI.


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One word - Burbank.

Is he referring to Guests in the Park, or talking about people within the Company / WDI that ‘hate Figment’….?

Guests in general seem to like him.
Those Guests who experienced firsthand or are aware of the Original Imagination Attraction love him.

Some people working within the Company do not.
And there are a few within WDI that do indeed hate him, primarily because of what he represents in their personal view.

Merchandising LOvEs him, however….!

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A certain President of WDW has an intense dislike of him and his pavilion, if rumors are to be believed.

 

[Figments Friend]

Having ridden 1.0 numerous times, I, then and now, consider 1.0 as "timeless" as can be. I believe that if they bring it back, with the relatively small updates that would have organically happened if it had never closed (akin to many of the HM updates over the last 54 years), I believe they'll have a crowd-pleaser for perpetuity!

This.
100%.

I have said the same thing over the last 20+ years.
The Original was timeless and could have easily become a perpetual experience with light updates.
The fact is was completely desimated and every element gutted is a inexcusable tragedy.

There is a reason those of us who experienced it and heard its ‘message’ speak so passionately about it.
And why we remember it so clearly.

People are still talking about it all these years later.
It was a masterpiece.
And we will NEVER forgive those responsible for seeing it removed.
And are still adamant about seeing something truly imaginative return to the Pavillion.

Some day.

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[HauntedPirate]

Just a friendly reminder that Jeff is the real enemy of the people. I've said it in other threads but as bad as Bob and Josh are, NOTHING compares to Jeff. He is the reason for the insane penny pinching and general decline of the parks. He is the one that loves to destroy and replace. WDW will not get tangibly better until he's fired and replaced with someone who doesn't actively hate WDW and its history.

His comments reinforce my belief that there is some kind of "money-generation heat map" of the parks within TDO. Something isn't producing revenue? Replace it. An area of land isn't generating money? What can they build there.

 

[jah4955]

Just a friendly reminder that Jeff is the real enemy of the people. I've said it in other threads but as bad as Bob and Josh are, NOTHING compares to Jeff. He is the reason for the insane penny pinching and general decline of the parks. He is the one that loves to destroy and replace. WDW will not get tangibly better until he's fired and replaced with someone who doesn't actively hate WDW and its history.

Doesn't help things that they just made him "Top 50 Orlando Tourism List" #1 for seemingly making so much #2

 

[SamusAranX]

One word - Burbank.


A certain President of WDW has an intense dislike of him and his pavilion, if rumors are to be believed.

Can you blame him? That pavilion could have been Journey into the Imagination with Rapunzel and Friends if it wasn’t for all those silly park goers and their love for legacy attractions

 

[aladdin2007]

Ah yes reading between the lines we just want to greater monetize the land and areas we already deal with rather than offer true expansion. Not a fan of this dude

Agree

 

[James Alucobond]

His comments reinforce my belief that there is some kind of "money-generation heat map" of the parks within TDO. Something isn't producing revenue? Replace it. An area of land isn't generating money? What can they build there.

I mean ... why would that be surprising? They should certainly understand utilization and revenue in each and every corner of the parks. It's how they react to that information that can at times be troubling, not the fact that the data exists.