How WDW Co. spins ...

[ford91exploder]

The company I work for recently acquired a Chinese company and the list of issues we are dealing with is long (as to be expected). However, the weirdest one that caused the most headaches so far is that the computers all had counterfeit copies of Windows XP as their operating systems. Hundreds and hundreds of computers. Their management did not want to let us make any changes and didn't think it was an issue. We wound up having to send several guys over who hid legit software on HD cards inside digital cameras just to be able to get it through security. Purchasing anything, especially capital purchases, is also a huge headache. There is 1 guy onsite who has a web of people he buys everything from. No quotes, no research on pricing, just him historically overpaying for everything (then receiving a nice kickback) by calling someone and having it delivered. We hear a lot of 'haha, that is not how things work over here' when we try to institute proper protocols and practices to get the business in line with how the rest of our company works. Nothing has been a huge disaster for us (we have 120 plants spread throughout the globe so local norms aren't new) but we are definitely feeling the effects of working through accepted business practices inside of China and trying to institute a bit of a culture change in the employees. This plant is only a small percentage of the size of SDL so I can only imagine what is happening with a project the size of SDL with Disney having zero leverage and no ability to impose any type of penalties/sanctions on the companies doing the actual construction. Its like owning a house building company and building the world's pickiest person their dream home with the caveat that if they are dissatisfied in any way then you will tear down and rebuild the house as many times as is necessary until they are completely satisfied.

Well it sounds like you are experiencing the typical Chinese operating mode, The guy/or gal who orders everything on a handshake but in reality that's the way it works over there and I'd argue the Chinese way is more efficient. but it will never work for westerners as the 'network' your refer to has probably been built up over generations as your guy's grandfather probably dealt with the same 'network'. That web of trust is very strong and it has it's own rules which we westerners will never understand as its based on familial obligations.

What I've learned is to find a trusted Chinese advisor and let THEM do the talking and dealing while I stand by and watch, It works much better that way the key word is trusted though and in my case my father introduced me to his contacts when he was in shanghai in the 80's so once again the long time family relations come into play once again the fathers worked together and now the sons do.

 

[dupac]

Just to chime in off-topic...

in my home state of OK, the school district just gave you a lump of absences. 10. That was it. They didn't distinguish between "excused" and "unexcused," if you were gone for more than the 10 allowed days, you would have to appeal to the school district. There are special circumstances that are allowed of course, such as long term illness or family trauma/emergencies, but you have to work with the administration.

Of course, schools in OK can barely pay their teachers, so I'm not sure that they should be used as a comparison or standard for anything.

Also--more in line with the original topic-- family friends who I am friends with on Facebook have recently become WDW addicts, and I watch their visits and trip planning in horror. They're already planning a trip for October (after their trip a month ago) so they can go to MNSSHP. I haven't said anything... I'm not going to tell someone how they should vacation even if I can't understand it; but I can totally see them being the people who would buy into this new party.

 

[WildcatDen]

Try this one
http://www.manufacturingnews.com/news/11/0415/Fellowes1.html

Why would I try that one? I am perfectly happy with Brian Fellow and you should be too. After all, he is Brian Fellow and 'That's Crazy'. . . .

 

[n2hifi]

We pull our children out for one week every year for family vacation. We've never had an issue at all with the schools. Not all of us have the option of summer vacation or Christmas break.


We always inform the school two weeks before so that our children can get the work they need to get caught up. In most cases (at least here in Toronto), they don't really care anyway.

As I recall you are Canadian as such your education policy is rational, This discussion is about what happens in the US.

We do the same thing here (We live in Missouri). Nary a question, comment or discussion. They simply say "Thanks for letting us know."

 

[Cesar R M]

What is the deal with Universal closing so early? Seems like it would be a fun place to be at night.

I think because most of the attractions are outdoor type and the lightning is not as good?

I know the studios has good lightning on the City side, but on the pathways from Hollywood to Simpsons and then to Men in Black.. dark as carp.
Kinda similar to IOA, harry potter and some other areas are well lit.. all other areas are pretty dark.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I was led to believe Unis limited fireworks and early closings were more to do with NIMBY's who dont like noise moaning like . A bit like folk who by a house near a pub or an airport then complain about the local area.

 

[righttrack]

Maybe they have been consulting with this guy

 

[captainmoch]

I think because most of the attractions are outdoor type and the lightning is not as good?

I know the studios has good lightning on the City side, but on the pathways from Hollywood to Simpsons and then to Men in Black.. dark as carp.
Kinda similar to IOA, harry potter and some other areas are well lit.. all other areas are pretty dark.

I'm pretty sure Uni closes early often because they're very often rented out in the evenings.

 

[ford91exploder]

What eventually happened to Fellows? The article is five years old; Ever get their tooling back?

Not that I'm aware of, They ended up paying for a new set of tooling and competing against their OWN products, Those cheap no-name shredders are identical to fellowes products.

 

[flynnibus]

Ok, after scanning through 3 pages of people going back and forth about what THEY know about THEIR schools...

Newsflash... schools are operated at the state and lower levels. What YOU know may have no relevance on how another state or county operates. So who knows.. you all could be correct.. but.. more importantly.. unless its your own kids and your situation.. the rest of us don't care.

 

[GoofGoof]

Lately? All this stuff is new and doesn't apply to years ago. My neighbor hit the 10 day thrush hold and it doesn't matter if it was sick days or whatever, read the law. Clearly states "The first 10 absences may be lawful, unlawful, or a combination. Any absence in excess of 10 may cause the student to lose credit for the year." They are dead serious about this stuff.

There is probably a money aspect to all this since I get bombed with free lunch paper work every year. They want all my finance info and I don't care to let them know. I don't need some someone at the school to see my income and decide to terrorize my kids. None of their business what I make or anything else, I will give the minimum of info that is needed. Always do, I have never given out a SS number to a doctor or anyone else unless by law I have to. Why? Identity theft. Every last bit of info is what ever the minimum I have to give up legally or I just make up fake numbers. Schools hate that in their never ending drive to get more federal and state dollars, especially Federal money.

Yes. I have school age kids now. I've taken my kids out of school for travel. It's rather common here. Like I said from the beginning of this off topic discussion it's different in every state and even by districts within a lot of states.

Unless you have a letter from Mean, Nasty, Brutish and Short Esquires it's highly inadvisable to take your kids out of school for ANY reason up here ,

There was a huge kerfuffle up here with a kid in the hospital and the parents were being threatened with jail as the kid had exceeded the number of 'excused absence days' it took the TV station and the local papers mocking the school district to make them back off.

Well judging from the crowds at WDW during regular school times NH and @Corey P 's state might be the only ones enforcing these types of laws.

It's pretty ridiculous if they are harassing people for being sick. I hope that was just a miscommunication. If my kid is sick enough to be in the hospital and someone from the school shows up to threaten me they are likely going to end up in a bed in the same hospital

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Just to chime in off-topic...

in my home state of OK, the school district just gave you a lump of absences. 10. That was it. They didn't distinguish between "excused" and "unexcused," if you were gone for more than the 10 allowed days, you would have to appeal to the school district. There are special circumstances that are allowed of course, such as long term illness or family trauma/emergencies, but you have to work with the administration.

Of course, schools in OK can barely pay their teachers, so I'm not sure that they should be used as a comparison or standard for anything.

Also--more in line with the original topic-- family friends who I am friends with on Facebook have recently become WDW addicts, and I watch their visits and trip planning in horror. They're already planning a trip for October (after their trip a month ago) so they can go to MNSSHP. I haven't said anything... I'm not going to tell someone how they should vacation even if I can't understand it; but I can totally see them being the people who would buy into this new party.

I grew up in Michigan and IIRC, we got 10 excused absences a semester. If you were going to be gone an extended period of time for something like a vacation, you had to provide a note to the school and have each of your teachers sign a slip acknowledging it. We typically took or vacations during summer or spring break but we did go to WDW once in November with my dad's company. I don't remember the school making a fuss. I remember kids who did it every year. My parents also never felt bad about letting us play hookey to go see a major league baseball game in the spring or get a head start on a weekend family trip. Of course they thought education was important but they also knew there was more to life.

 

[Cesar R M]

I'm pretty sure Uni closes early often because they're very often rented out in the evenings.

As someone who attended one of these evening events.. I can imagine that.

I wonder.. apart from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. What other areas are popular for the events?

In the event I was, it was hogsmeade and the castle (and all the attractions in the zone)

 

[bhg469]

As someone who attended one of these evening events.. I can imagine that.

I wonder.. apart from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. What other areas are popular for the events?

In the event I was, it was hogsmeade and the castle (and all the attractions in the zone)

I was leaving the park one day and there was about two be one in the marvel section.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I'm surprised the Miceage of 2016 would even post such an openly negative article. I guess they won't be getting a booth at next year's D23.

I have been allowed to be very negative on MiceChat over the last few years. They have made me change one comment and not because it would offend Disney, but because it would offend overweight people. I echoed that comment on these forums and it was probably my most "liked" post.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I can wholeheartedly say that I'll never attend one of these "events."

 

[yellowrocket]

I have been allowed to be very negative on MiceChat over the last few years. They have made me change one comment and not because it would offend Disney, but because it would offend overweight people. I echoed that comment on these forums and it was probably my most "liked" post.

At least you didn't disagree with them. The minute you disagree with one of MiceAge's admins, they'll call you a troll and then ban you.

 

[Cesar R M]

At least you didn't disagree with them. The minute you disagree with one of MiceAge's admins, they'll call you a troll and then ban you.

hang on, so they can talk whatever they want in the forum as long you dont insult the fragile ego of some admins?

 

[Brad Bishop]

hang on, so they can talk whatever they want in the forum as long you dont insult the fragile ego of some admins?

I've been on forums (not related to WDW) where there's "the proper way to think" and anyone who opposes that gets shouted down (much like our PC society). Every one of those forums have died - and at one time they were quite alive before the shout downs started. Some attributed it to things moving to Facebook. No, it's because when you can't have an open exchange of ideas then people stop talking and just go away and you're left there alone with your "superior" ideas.

 

[UncleMike101]

I've been on forums (not related to WDW) where there's "the proper way to think" and anyone who opposes that gets shouted down (much like our PC society). Every one of those forums have died - and at one time they were quite alive before the shout downs started. Some attributed it to things moving to Facebook. No, it's because when you can't have an open exchange of ideas then people stop talking and just go away and you're left there alone with your "superior" ideas.

Yup.....
PC is nothing more than a polite term for intolerant censorship.