Eddie Sotto's take on the current state of the parks

[jt04]

Seems like a good idea for a thread. Why don't you start it?

"Disney Nature" seems like a good new niche that could embrace the less branded aspects of a park. Is Nature timeless?

It would be nice if Disney would commission the "Planet Earth" folks to do an exclusive film for "The Land" pavilion's Soarin' ride in Epcot's Future World. People would love that.

Heck, I'd love that and I'm not even a greenie, although I am a conservationist.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

It would be nice if Disney would commission the "Planet Earth" folks to do an exclusive film for "The Land" pavilion's Soarin' ride in Epcot's Future World. People would love that.

Heck, I'd love that and I'm not even a greenie, although I am a conservationist.

It's like these movies were made for TL in EPCOT and DAK...:lol:

 

[The Conundrum]

That's funny coming from Tony. He's very good at spending money (not that I usually find fault with his results!)

Sadly, I don't get the idea Tony will be doing very much at DL before he winds up being pushed into retirement. I have heard he has lot of 'plans' for T-Land in Anaheim but I just don't see any rush to spend money on any parks that aren't abbreviated with DCA or owned by another company.

BTW, anyone know who has been heading the design work on Shanghai?

I thought it was joe rhode

 

[WDW1974]

Like my phone call experience, and your visit to WDI, rejection hurts no matter how you slice it. But it hurts worse when you spend years on ideas that don't happen (I've spent 30). Tony gave us all some sound advice that judging by the room full of ideas like "Discovery Bay", he as had more than his own share of rejection. But the models still stand ready, waiting patiently for the right need, or they get sucked into other projects (Discoveryland in DLP has many elements from Discovery Bay and so does TDS, the fated DLP MS El Train is there too!). Tony NEVER gives up and makes getting something funded an art in itself even if it takes a decade. Filling needs with the resources you're given is much tougher and sometimes gets mixed results, but we're usually better off for it. That's what makes him Tony, he loves it all too much to jump the ship (like I did), and we have that to be very thankful for.

If there is one thing Disney does a great job of it's recycling ... concepts, ideas, sometimes just a name and basic theme ... but some things never die even if they also never appear in the original form or context.

And since we were talking about Nature what is better for the future than recycling anyway?

 

[jt04]

It's like these movies were made for TL in EPCOT and DAK...:lol:

Quite a coincidence isn't it? :zipit::lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Quite a coincidence isn't it? :zipit::lol:

If your thinking what I'm thinking...I love it.:lol:

 

[whylightbulb]

Ouch. That's what Tony said? Sadly that's where we're at now, with practically every new ride tied to Disney characters.

Yea it did hurt at the time. I'm glad he snapped me into reality though because I immediately began using my creativity toward more productive efforts and it is paying off to this day.

whylightbulb, may I ask if you can share with us what you worked on when you were at WDI?

I don't want to give too much away since I still work in the industry and I enjoy the aninimity on these boards. I will tell you I worked on Indy for Anaheim and Tough to Be A Bug.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Yea it did hurt at the time. I'm glad he snapped me into reality though because I immediately began using my creativity toward more productive efforts and it is paying off to this day.

I don't want to give too much away since I still work in the industry and I enjoy the aninimity on these boards. I will tell you I worked on Indy for Anaheim and Tough to Be A Bug.

Wow! Didn't know you were still a active Imagineer too!:sohappy:

Thanks for posting, and thanks for those attractions.

 

[jt04]

They have added the 4th part of his interview on theme park review. He does understand the product IMO. Intresting also that litigation is a major stumbling block for cutting edge new designs which holds WDI back.

I agree with him 100% on the DVC's.

Great read!

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Thx.

Great read!

Thanks. Glad you liked the interviews. ;-) Someone asked who is running Shanghai. I'm not sure, but I think it may be Bob Weis.

 

[WDW1974]

Thanks. Glad you liked the interviews. ;-) Someone asked who is running Shanghai. I'm not sure, but I think it may be Bob Weis.

I'll have to read your last installment tonight.

I asked about Shanghai as they seem to be operating in a 'cone of silence' except when they want to leak something to the WSJ.

If it is Bob, that's a big shock considering the Extreme Makeover: Theme Park Edition he is heading in Anaheim.

I assumed it was either Tom Morris or Joe L. ... someone already working Asia.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Not to go off topic, but with regards to asthetics...I'm (still) waiting for a response from Mann's Theatres, but it appears that there was no legality problems with the Chinese Theatre; and the Hat blocking it for legal reasons is an internet legend, correct? :shrug:

I also have to wonder, once the Carthay Circle Theatre facade is built at DCA...if it will become the icon of DCA, replacing Grizzly Peak (another one of those icons not at the center of the park)

 

[HMF]

No it's not, but you'd never know it, given all the Imagineering Alumni I run into out there. It's pretty fun to have so many friends come out and see us (Recent sightings of Michael Eisner, Marty Sklar, Tim Delaney, Eric Jacobson, Tom Morris, and Bob Weis to name a few) At times the bar can be quite fun with Tequila infused blue sky sessions. Some nights it has looked like a WDI hangout.

To finally answer your question... WDI is in Glendale and "Rivera" is in downtown Los Angeles in an new entertainment district called South Park across From Nokia Theater, Staples Center, and the Convention Center. (Not to be confused with the TV show). FYI- When we were doing Walt's Restaurant at DLP, I wanted it's MS address to be "1401 Flower" so it would be the same as Imagineering and guests could say they've been to 1401 Flower. I love that Rivera is a WDI "home away from home" and on Flower too (1050). Good call! You don't miss a thing!

Is Tim Delaney still in WDI? another irony' A district called "South Park"

 

[HMF]

Too funny. I had a very similar experience before starting at WDI. A friend of mine set up a meeting with Tony Baxter at Disneyland. I was fresh out of high school and I was going to impress him with my ideas (I think this was just before all the legal issues manifested...way after the 60s though). He actually invited me to WDI the next week to meet him and pitch my ideas. He and his assistant sat there with the biggest grin on their faces as I poured my heart out. Tony took me aside and led me to the huge room full of models, illustrations and scripts. He told me that anything I could come up with had already been stored in this room somewhere. He said ideas were a dime a dozen and that if I wanted to get into WDI I should start thinking about things that would save money. I should come up with methods and concepts that were inexpensive and/or revenue generating ideas.

I never forgot that day and although I was crushed at the time, that advice prepared me to be truly successfull in this business.

My respect for Tony Baxter has been diminishing recently. I used to think he was the best and in my opinion should be in charge of WDI but recently he's jumped on the "Relevance" Marketing (IASW) bandwagon. I still like him but I think he may be losing his creativity.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Tom Morris?

I have no hard info on any of that, just a hunch, given that DCA rehab looks like it's well into production. They probably don;t even know yet themselves. The logical choice is Tom Morris, as he did a great job on HKDL and has working experience in that country.

BTW- Tom really knows his Disney and did lots more behind the scenes in the design of your favorite attractions that he lets on. Tony's "go to guy" for years. Throughout Imagination, DLP and Indy early on tom was called on to help sell and figure out those shows. He is the best ride layout guy I have ever known and that is an art. When I was working on Pooh, he was the first person I wanted a critique from when it came to how to get the free ranging pots to go from room to room. His color sense is amazing too. An underrated super talent who developed into someone who can deliver an entire Park or two (or three?). Few can claim that. IMO he knows what he's doing.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Tim Delaney

Is Tim Delaney still in WDI? another irony' A district called "South Park"

Yes he is and thank heaven! Tim is one of those rare talents that does everything. He can take an idea from a napkin sketch right into the field and direct the vendors into a finished vision. "He walks the walk" and loves what he does and it shows. There are lots of people pitching things that cannot be built, but Tim is respected as an Imagineer who can deliver on what he designs and literally paints the paintings then drives the execution of his own ideas. I was always impressed how in some ways he was a great project manager as well as an artist. VERY RARE indeed. He treats the budget like it was his own money and respects it. He'd go find the sources to make something better and for the budget, so he'd have more cash to use in other areas. If you look at how much art that guy cranks out, it is stunning. When he gets fired up about an idea, Tim generates a flurry of images, some you could practically build from, and I'm sure he'll tell you that they did just that.
Disney and more blog has lots of his great designs to look at. WDI needs more talent with that versatility and that makes Tim IMHO very valuable. I can only hope the mentorship program is alive and well. Last time I checked, you can't build from "sales pitches".

Should we have done the Restaurant on Melrose Place?

 

[The Conundrum]

Eddie I wanted to ask you something about Star Tours if I could. Were there always plans since day one to make a new ride film eventually? and what were some of the ideas for destinations and storys that were tossed around? Any info would be cool to hear.

Also, and im not sure if you would know this. But what became of the other America Sings Audio Animatronics that weren't used in Splash Mountain like Uncle Sam and the owl? (minus the 2 geese that made it to Star Tours) Did they try to fit uncle sam in splash or did they decide right off the bat to not use him?

Oh and your Soap Box racers ride at Knott's was one of me and my sister's favorite rides growing up. It was just a really really fun ride and I was so ed when they bulldozed it.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I too have a question for Eddie (if it is not too formal to ask, and if he knows the answer) how did the team for DLRP for example go about the process of creating the area music loops in the park (later used for other Magic Kingdoms)?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I have no hard info on any of that, just a hunch, given that DCA rehab looks like it's well into production. They probably don;t even know yet themselves. The logical choice is Tom Morris, as he did a great job on HKDL and has working experience in that country.

BTW- Tom really knows his Disney and did lots more behind the scenes in the design of your favorite attractions that he lets on. Tony's "go to guy" for years. Throughout Imagination, DLP and Indy early on tom was called on to help sell and figure out those shows. He is the best ride layout guy I have ever known and that is an art. When I was working on Pooh, he was the first person I wanted a critique from when it came to how to get the free ranging pots to go from room to room. His color sense is amazing too. An underrated super talent who developed into someone who can deliver an entire Park or two (or three?). Few can claim that. IMO he knows what he's doing.

So...Can we, like, steal these guys and make them only work in WDW?:lookaroun:lol:

Selfish, I know, but why does DCA get all the fun?:lol:

 

[Lee]

I'm in a similar situation with my own creative enterprise and it is very tough to pitch these days ... you're afraid that your idea/concept will get stolen, but if you don't pitch it, then it ain't gonna happen. Lucky I at least know a few honorable people ...

Ooohhh....tell me it's movies!
I've got a concept that'll make a studio drool....
Quick! Get me in a room with Abrams or Lindelof!

:lookaroun