I can't imagine that anyone would be surprised that Disney is a personality-driven company. I would have anticipated that if you are liked as an individual you are more likely to succeed. I guess I would be interested to know how he forged those relationships in the first place.
I'd be interested in a lot of that too. But Lee isn't one to talk about his personal life/dealings with anyone at Disney. I understand why.
The latest issue of the magazine has an extensive interview with Jay Rasulo of all people - and I've always been led to believe he had little time for any fansites at all. From what others have told me the interview is very insightful - completely different to any other Jay interview that my friend has encountered.
Yeah. I am well aware of the interview. When I called Lee on a few points regarding Disney's struggles to reach deals with Chinese officials on expansion of HKDL and the development of Shanghai DL (not to mention difficulties of other business units there largely due to the government's distrust of the Mouse and his minions) Lee was able to pull a quote from Jay out of his hat on an 'independent' fan site to try and refute what I had said. I couldn't help but think it was because I had hit a nerve and that Lee had a direct line to Jay.
Now ... maybe that is impressive to you, but I like my independent Disney fan sites to be just that. Not mouthpieces for the head of P&R, who is widely disliked throughout TWDC for the way he runs the parks and how little regard he actually has for them.
Don't you think it's a bit strange that Jay would allign himself with any fan site at all? And isn't that what giving an 'exclusive' interview to LP.com in fact does?
So I guess everyone from Jay down has faith and trust that Lee and the Tales team are able to convey their stories accurately. I googled some reviews of the magazine and it definitely seems to have a large fanbase - some have criticized the fact that it isn't critical of Disney in any way but I guess that is the whole point - it is supposed to celebrate the Disney product. The magazine doesn't seem to have many reviews of note which I guess gives them the freedom to allow the creative folks to tell their stories and allow others to reach their own conclusions.
Spreading it on just a bit thick, maybe?
I haven't seen any stories lauding the developement of DCA or DSP in Tales. I haven't seen any of the original artwork created for HKDL -- back before they cut one third of the park out of the opening day plans (just try and find one original park rendering!) I haven't seen stories that question the rampant cartooning of Disney parks and the watering down of the amazing work the original Imagineers did to begin with.
I'm not trying to take shots at Lee or Tales. I've raised many of the above points on his own site.
I wonder what most imagineers think of either this individual or the magazine. There is a big difference between someone "hanging around" and "pal-ing around" with someone else. The former can be just to be polite and the latter demonstrates clear friendships. I guess the company as a whole is either willing to tolerate or outright supports the magazine - that tone can only come from the top.
I can tell you for a fact that many in Imagineering enjoy the publication. Of course Disney long ago shut down the inhouse 'WD-Eye' publication that was great ... and often quite irreverent.
But just like Lee has people who love him in Glendale, he has people who feel the opposite.
And I am sure the publication is supported at the highest levels of Imagineering ...not to mention by Jay Rasulo himself.
Now whether that is something to be proud of is another matter.
No matter what Lee writes, in some circles he'll be viewed with suspicion because you can never be truly 'independent' when writing and reporting on a company that you need to keep happy to make the money that has you living a certain lifestyle.
And, believe it or not, I believe with Lee on far more than we disagree.
Although to be fair, since this is a WDW-focused website, he has a very disinterested 'tude about the resort in large part except DAK. He has said many times he doesn't care how stale the MK is because the money is better spent elsewhere. He also has justified much of the WalMarting at EPCOT because his pet Imagineers are behind those 'changes.'
Either way it seems that the magazine offers something that no-one else either inside or outside the company can do. It is just sad that Disney itself doesn't feel the need to have its own publication to champion their creative efforts.
Agreed.
