I sent this letter to Joe Rohde (email?), Tom Fitzgerald(email), Bob Chapek(snail mail), and George K (snail mail, I came up with this foursome after talking to various message board bigwigs). Each of them had a unique intro paragraph. For the record, e-mails (2) and phone calls (2) I got Saturday morning have all officially been on the behalf of Bob Chapek. First, here is the letter with the Tom Fitzgerald opening paragraph. I'm not sure if Joe Rohde ever got it. The typical firstname.lastname@disney.com e-mail address bounced. He had a personal website that made it very clear he didn't want Disney e-mails sent to that site. I eventually found an edu address for him. Email response and some interesting points from the phone conversation with the person in "Guest Experience Somehing or the other" to follow. The person I talked to was very good at her job.
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,
I have been impressed with your long career as a Disney imagineer. One small thing that stands out (and proves that I am a weirdo) is I understand you wrote the script for the Walter Cronkite version of Spaceship Earth, which I dearly loved. I am writing this letter (and sending it to several of your colleagues) as a fan who is concerned about a rumored change to what was once my favorite place to visit. Alas, other changes that have already happened have made that no longer the case. Still, I hope this letter is at least interesting for you to read. No response necessary. I know you are busy.
People have always loved Disney theme parks. People still love Disney theme parks. These two things are true. Yet, like many love affairs, the reasons for the emotional state of being often go unanalyzed. When I’m in a Disney theme park, I have been asked questions by many a survey taker. Yet they never ask me questions that get at the root of my love for Disney theme parks. Part of this is cultural, both at the company and societal level. Theme park analysis has never been considered an intellectual pursuit worthy of a thoughtful person and I have no idea whether or not those in the upper echelons of Disney are even aware these people (myself included) exist. However, certain aspects of Disney theme parks have made for a thoughtful class of highly educated theme park enthusiasts who enjoy the parks as an art form. I am concerned certain moves will make this a thing of the past.
Before I get into the specific reason for this particular missive, I would like to make a second point that I believe is not considered by many involved in long term theme park planning. Each and every Disney theme park is a heavily visited, intellectual property that has certain characteristics. Each and every park has its serious fans and detractors like every other artistic creation in history. An attempt to make an intellectual property appreciated by all will certainly backfire and dilute the original product to a point that it will be un-recognizable. Captain America making a guest appearance in Frozen 2 to draw in little boys may work on opening weekend, but it will certainly be viewed as completely ridiculous for the rest of time.
Now that I have prattled on in text fashion, let me come to my main point. Completely ditching a pavilion about energy and finally making use of a pavilion that was devoted to life and biology before it became a storage closet for the festivals that now seem to define EPCOT, for a super hero showcase is a terrible idea. I am sure that the ride and activities surrounding this idea will have some redeeming qualities, be initially popular, and will be enjoyed by many (probably even me since I like the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise). Nonetheless, it will be disastrous for the long term identity of EPCOT and the continued destruction of this identity will be bad for the long-term health of the park. I think this for several reasons.
Its serious fans will be completely abandoned and I think spending lots of time in a park that is naught but a half-baked version of (insert current branding word(s) here) Studios, Magic Kingdom, or (God Forbid) Islands of Adventure will be a hard long-term sell. What is especially disappointing about the fact this current rumor is being considered is that it doesn’t consider a) the identity of EPCOT as a park (never mind Future World as a distinct area within the park), b) even with the current expansions, the Studios park is still light with regards to attractions and Guardians would be a good fit there with an opportunity to build a “new” ride as opposed to doing an overlay on an already incredibly beloved attraction and c) it causes me to wonder why there is apparently no faith in designing a theme park pavilion(s) that isn’t (aren’t) tied in to an already popular intellectual property. I am also led to wonder why there is no faith in overarching ideas of the past. Energy is one of the most important issues facing mankind and an easy concept to be developed into something awe inspiring. Even the small things of the past are completely abandoned. Has no one ever considered the visual treat that HD projection mapping could create in conjunction with Radok blocks?
I have heard that ideas read on message boards and in letters are off limits to those in power. Also, I am loathe to subject you to my “armchair Imagineering” (Radok block comment aside). I am under no delusions that my ideas are great, but I can come up with several ideas for an energy pavilion that seem A-OK to me. I’m sure the imagineers can as well. I would even argue that coming up with an idea that fits into the existing theme/place making of a particular area is easier than say, coming up with a way to get a team of superheroes that is operating in the present day, to fit into an area where the pavilions are ostensibly dialogue with each other about the optimistic future of mankind. Disney used to be good at theme park design. Good doesn’t do it justice. You were the best. Back in the day, Disney was confident since it was known that any concept developed for a theme park would be popular since it would be done well. It would be a concept we, the public, didn’t even know we wanted. The concept would be appreciated and endure. Perhaps those days will never come back. We have all lost something special if that is the case.
For me, it is personal. I am sure that EPCOT will not as it is currently constituted, fill my children with awe and wonder that leads to a lifetime search for truth in nature as it did in my case. I am already deprived of the best dark ride ever built, Horizons. Long, whimsical conceptual explorations of transportation have been replaced by vehicles than whiz pointlessly in the neon void. Imagination is a rudderless salute to the senses. Mr. Ray misses an opportunity to introduce us to marine life, because we must find something that has been lost and found countless times. Instead of serving as an entry point to World Showcase, Soarin’ soars without an agricultural identity. I would consider a superhero pavilion overlay/addition/replacement of energy to be the final death knell of what was once my most beloved place.
Warm Regards,
Dr. George PoopyPants (full name partly redacted, this wasn't in the letter, you guys are a bunch of weirdos for thinking I put PoopyPants in the letter), Ph.D. (1997, Physical Chemistry, Florida State)
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,
I have been impressed with your long career as a Disney imagineer. One small thing that stands out (and proves that I am a weirdo) is I understand you wrote the script for the Walter Cronkite version of Spaceship Earth, which I dearly loved. I am writing this letter (and sending it to several of your colleagues) as a fan who is concerned about a rumored change to what was once my favorite place to visit. Alas, other changes that have already happened have made that no longer the case. Still, I hope this letter is at least interesting for you to read. No response necessary. I know you are busy.
People have always loved Disney theme parks. People still love Disney theme parks. These two things are true. Yet, like many love affairs, the reasons for the emotional state of being often go unanalyzed. When I’m in a Disney theme park, I have been asked questions by many a survey taker. Yet they never ask me questions that get at the root of my love for Disney theme parks. Part of this is cultural, both at the company and societal level. Theme park analysis has never been considered an intellectual pursuit worthy of a thoughtful person and I have no idea whether or not those in the upper echelons of Disney are even aware these people (myself included) exist. However, certain aspects of Disney theme parks have made for a thoughtful class of highly educated theme park enthusiasts who enjoy the parks as an art form. I am concerned certain moves will make this a thing of the past.
Before I get into the specific reason for this particular missive, I would like to make a second point that I believe is not considered by many involved in long term theme park planning. Each and every Disney theme park is a heavily visited, intellectual property that has certain characteristics. Each and every park has its serious fans and detractors like every other artistic creation in history. An attempt to make an intellectual property appreciated by all will certainly backfire and dilute the original product to a point that it will be un-recognizable. Captain America making a guest appearance in Frozen 2 to draw in little boys may work on opening weekend, but it will certainly be viewed as completely ridiculous for the rest of time.
Now that I have prattled on in text fashion, let me come to my main point. Completely ditching a pavilion about energy and finally making use of a pavilion that was devoted to life and biology before it became a storage closet for the festivals that now seem to define EPCOT, for a super hero showcase is a terrible idea. I am sure that the ride and activities surrounding this idea will have some redeeming qualities, be initially popular, and will be enjoyed by many (probably even me since I like the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise). Nonetheless, it will be disastrous for the long term identity of EPCOT and the continued destruction of this identity will be bad for the long-term health of the park. I think this for several reasons.
Its serious fans will be completely abandoned and I think spending lots of time in a park that is naught but a half-baked version of (insert current branding word(s) here) Studios, Magic Kingdom, or (God Forbid) Islands of Adventure will be a hard long-term sell. What is especially disappointing about the fact this current rumor is being considered is that it doesn’t consider a) the identity of EPCOT as a park (never mind Future World as a distinct area within the park), b) even with the current expansions, the Studios park is still light with regards to attractions and Guardians would be a good fit there with an opportunity to build a “new” ride as opposed to doing an overlay on an already incredibly beloved attraction and c) it causes me to wonder why there is apparently no faith in designing a theme park pavilion(s) that isn’t (aren’t) tied in to an already popular intellectual property. I am also led to wonder why there is no faith in overarching ideas of the past. Energy is one of the most important issues facing mankind and an easy concept to be developed into something awe inspiring. Even the small things of the past are completely abandoned. Has no one ever considered the visual treat that HD projection mapping could create in conjunction with Radok blocks?
I have heard that ideas read on message boards and in letters are off limits to those in power. Also, I am loathe to subject you to my “armchair Imagineering” (Radok block comment aside). I am under no delusions that my ideas are great, but I can come up with several ideas for an energy pavilion that seem A-OK to me. I’m sure the imagineers can as well. I would even argue that coming up with an idea that fits into the existing theme/place making of a particular area is easier than say, coming up with a way to get a team of superheroes that is operating in the present day, to fit into an area where the pavilions are ostensibly dialogue with each other about the optimistic future of mankind. Disney used to be good at theme park design. Good doesn’t do it justice. You were the best. Back in the day, Disney was confident since it was known that any concept developed for a theme park would be popular since it would be done well. It would be a concept we, the public, didn’t even know we wanted. The concept would be appreciated and endure. Perhaps those days will never come back. We have all lost something special if that is the case.
For me, it is personal. I am sure that EPCOT will not as it is currently constituted, fill my children with awe and wonder that leads to a lifetime search for truth in nature as it did in my case. I am already deprived of the best dark ride ever built, Horizons. Long, whimsical conceptual explorations of transportation have been replaced by vehicles than whiz pointlessly in the neon void. Imagination is a rudderless salute to the senses. Mr. Ray misses an opportunity to introduce us to marine life, because we must find something that has been lost and found countless times. Instead of serving as an entry point to World Showcase, Soarin’ soars without an agricultural identity. I would consider a superhero pavilion overlay/addition/replacement of energy to be the final death knell of what was once my most beloved place.
Warm Regards,
Dr. George PoopyPants (full name partly redacted, this wasn't in the letter, you guys are a bunch of weirdos for thinking I put PoopyPants in the letter), Ph.D. (1997, Physical Chemistry, Florida State)
