James Cameron, Joe Rohde, Tom Staggs and Disney executives touring Animal Kingdom

[WDW1974]

Ahhh yes...where are all the John Henchmen and Marc Davismen of today at WDI? They are sitting behind desks silenced. Their only voice, represented by their writing and drawing, being muffled by the sounds of political rumblings and egos.

I'm curious as to whether you really feel there is still plenty of talent at WDI ... because I hear from many insiders that the talent level is 'a fraction' of what was there even a decade ago.

Are there really many talents hidden away in cubicles where they do mindless work while much lesser talents spend billions of TWDC's money on poorly conceived and created projects?

I'd like to believe there's plenty of people employed by WDI that could create better than the Little Mermaid ... I'm just not all that sure.


~GFC~

 

[WDW1974]

That queue is just horribly obnoxious, noisy, and now thanks to its "interactivity" even slower moving than before.

Yep ... sure is. And after getting stuck in front of the kiddies where it seemed louder than a Quiet Riot concert from my youth, I decided it would be better to go take my 12th final ride on SWSA.

~GFC~

 

[JEANYLASER]

awesome!

 

[whylightbulb]

I'm curious as to whether you really feel there is still plenty of talent at WDI ... because I hear from many insiders that the talent level is 'a fraction' of what was there even a decade ago.

Are there really many talents hidden away in cubicles where they do mindless work while much lesser talents spend billions of TWDC's money on poorly conceived and created projects?

I'd like to believe there's plenty of people employed by WDI that could create better than the Little Mermaid ... I'm just not all that sure.


~GFC~

Yes I have seen a significant drop in the level of talent overall. Unfortunately I have to work with these people sometimes and it makes my job much more difficult. For example, I'm now thinking of a guy whom if I told you his name most on this message board would know who he was. This guy was turned down by Sally Corporation and several other companies after they looked at his portfolio and realized he wasn't that gifted (in the words of one company creative director). Disney snatched him right up for some reason and he moved up the ladder rather quickly.

On one recent project in order to make myself look good I had to make him look good. I practically had to pay for a mock-up myself to prove a concept that turned out to be the most popular so far for this particular project. He had been against it from the beginning. When it turned out that everybody loved it he of course took the credit. But I was put in the situation that if I didn't prove this I would have been the one to look bad because he would have blamed me.

I'm not sure if it's HR or what is happening but this is a common story. That being said I'd say in my experience about thirty percent of the people I run across at WDI these days deserve to have a job in this industry.

 

[menamechris]

I'm not sure if it's HR or what is happening but this is a common story. That being said I'd say in my experience about thirty percent of the people I run across at WDI these days deserve to have a job in this industry.

And here we have been blaming the bean counters.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Yes I have seen a significant drop in the level of talent overall.

Highly disappointing. I hope there is change afoot.

 

[WDW1974]

Yes I have seen a significant drop in the level of talent overall. Unfortunately I have to work with these people sometimes and it makes my job much more difficult. For example, I'm now thinking of a guy whom if I told you his name most on this message board would know who he was. This guy was turned down by Sally Corporation and several other companies after they looked at his portfolio and realized he wasn't that gifted (in the words of one company creative director). Disney snatched him right up for some reason and he moved up the ladder rather quickly.

On one recent project in order to make myself look good I had to make him look good. I practically had to pay for a mock-up myself to prove a concept that turned out to be the most popular so far for this particular project. He had been against it from the beginning. When it turned out that everybody loved it he of course took the credit. But I was put in the situation that if I didn't prove this I would have been the one to look bad because he would have blamed me.

I'm not sure if it's HR or what is happening but this is a common story. That being said I'd say in my experience about thirty percent of the people I run across at WDI these days deserve to have a job in this industry.

I can't say your tale is surprising. Or your take ...

That's pretty much what I've been told by others.

I can't help, but think part of it is the general tendency in American business/society today where people with lesser talents and skills move up for all the wrong reasons while crushing/burying those who should be given the chances ... but I also wonder how much is a braindrain. When I look at everyone who has left 1401 since the mid-90s, you could practically field an all-star design studio. Then add in people like Tony Baxter who have impressive titles and salaries, but are allowed to work on virtually nothing of substance and it just is all the more depressing.

In the past, WED/WDI took care of the future by one generation of greats training the next one. I think that effectively has ended and the results are what you see in the parks today.

BTW, while I was unimpressed with Mermaid largely, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the Star Tours redo in Anaheim ... so much so that I devoted a lot of time to head to TPFKaTD-MGMS over the past week so I could ride again. I'm still quite impressed and I am NOT a Star Wars geek at all (I'll take Trek over Wars anyday!) So, WDI can still pleasantly surprise me.

I just wish it wasn't a surprise now when they do something I like. Boy, have times changed (he says after just flipping through the 40th Anniversary issue of Eyes and Ears).

~GFC~

 

[The_CEO]

Honestly, I was surprised to find out that Disney planed to add James Cameron's Avatar to their pretty popular AK.... My feeling behind it stand strong in the quote.. " Well if it's done right, it could be a really great boost for attendance". Not really sure how or what they have planned for attractions, only hope they have at least one major E rated attraction, minus Yeti potential technicalities. I look forward to seeing what they whip up for the park!

 

[jt04]

Honestly, I was surprised to find out that Disney planed to add James Cameron's Avatar to their pretty popular AK.... My feeling behind it stand strong in the quote.. " Well if it's done right, it could be a really great boost for attendance". Not really sure how or what they have planned for attractions, only hope they have at least one major E rated attraction, minus Yeti potential technicalities. I look forward to seeing what they whip up for the park!

It will almost certainly have a signature attraction like RSR. I believe they stated it will also be like Carsland in that it will have several attractions and eateries. I really like these 'fully developed lands' strategy.

If we can judge by Carsland/DCA 2.0, Star Tours 2, the FLE and what we know of the new China park, then it should be awesome. WDI has really made a comeback since Iger became CEO. Add Cameron and his team and that creates some potent synergy IMO.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Call me whatever you wish...

I have a lot more hope for something revolutionary from an attraction standpoint with a dedicated and engaged James Cameron involved in the project.

It isnt that Fantasyland or HM queue or Star Tours isnt great... but the last true headliner we saw out of WDI was Everest. I would fear all we would see is several tried and true D ticket level additions as Pandora without his influence.

 

[SMRT-1]

not sure if it was posted or not but James Cameron and I believe Joe Rohde (could be another imagineer) spent time at TWWoHP.

edit - i see it has...nevermind!

 

[jt04]

not sure if it was posted or not but James Cameron and I believe Joe Rohde (could be another imagineer) spent time at TWWoHP.

Hopefully Spiderman too.

 

[SMRT-1]

Hopefully Spiderman too.

yea really..

 

[jt04]

Honestly, I was surprised to find out that Disney planed to add James Cameron's Avatar to their pretty popular AK.... My feeling behind it stand strong in the quote.. " Well if it's done right, it could be a really great boost for attendance".

I would think one of the primary goals is to balance attendance levels at all four parks moving forward. This would almost certainly enhance the overall guest experience. Just another reason Avatar makes sense at DAK.