John Lasseter?

[Herk]

I was wondering if any of you guys think we will get anything decent being built in his reign at WDW - I know hes trying to remake DCA and update Disneyland.

But he is overseeing the Nemo ride there - with an incredible level of detail, yet he hasn't even over seen the the Nemo ride being built in Epcot.

This exert is from a MiceAge.com article:

"As a lifelong Californian and former Disneyland Jungle Cruise Skipper, the Walt Disney World property doesn't interest John much on a personal or a professional level. He and his own family have very little interest in the sprawling compound and relatively crummy weather found out in Orlando, and John is one of those proud Californians who feel Walt Disney World has garnered more attention than it deserves in the last 20 years or so. That came as a shock to many folks up and down the WDI totem pole in Glendale when John made sure part of the Pixar deal included a dominant seat at the WDI decision making table, as it was widely assumed that John would be most interested in the bigger piece of Disney property out in Florida."

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al062006a.htm

 

[JCorduroy]

Personally, I don't know how much stock I put into that quote - seems to be very speculative.

I can, however, see John being more interested in the development of DL and DCA, since those are the the home base of the Walt Disney Company. I do not see him ignoring the WDW Resort area, as it's simply put a phenomenal tourist destination.

With his imagination and creativity, I think we're in for a renaissance of sorts as far as new attractions and quality of existing rides go at all parks, worldwide. Pixar, especially Mister Jobs and Mister Lasseter are just the shot in the arm that the company needs, from a creative and business standpoint.

 

[LilRoo714]

I really think that it would be a bad move for the company as a whole to ignore the WDW area. It is afterall, a giant money-maker and Lasseter is a good enough businessman to know that ignoring any one part of the company will do nothing to help its overall standing.

 

[CoffeeJedi]

That's just Al Lutz mouthing off; Lutz is notorious for hating WDW in comparison to Disneyland, i wouldn't put much stock in it. I got a bit worried when i read the article too, but John Lassetter would be stupid to actually take that position.

 

[Herk]

That's just Al Lutz mouthing off; Lutz is notorious for hating WDW in comparison to Disneyland, i wouldn't put much stock in it. I got a bit worried when i read the article too, but John Lassetter would be stupid to actually take that position.

Ok it just suprised me, but I think I read it about it irrationally - as the shareholders wouldn't allow him to just to prefer one resort over another.

Seen as he has to fix DCA, DS, AK, DS(paris), Magic Kindom(both Tokyo and Hong Kong).

 

[KevinPage]

Lutz is unable to make a nasty remark about something in any of his articles. Seems like a shame since he appears to have excellent sources, but his info is always buried beneath pot shots, digs & overly uneccesary sarcasm.

He also is reveling in the attention that DL is finally getting after being ignorned over the years, so of course he going to feed his own ego on DL.

 

[ImagineeratPlay]

If John Lasseter isn't that interested in WDW, the people who work sure don't seem to know it. Everyone I've talked to seems really excited about him and what he's going do for WDW and the Walt Disney Company as a whole.

 

[Tim G]

If John Lasseter isn't that interested in WDW, the people who work sure don't seem to know it. Everyone I've talked to seems really excited about him and what he's going do for WDW and the Walt Disney Company as a whole.

C'mon... What he is going to do with WDW??? NOTHING... except creating rides on PIXAR movies... inventive?... Not really...

 

[comics101]

C'mon... What he is going to do with WDW??? NOTHING... except creating rides on PIXAR movies... inventive?... Not really...

Was that sarcasm? If not, then wouldn't the board of directors be able to do something about it? C'mon is right, if i'm not mistaken, all four parks are somewhere in the top ten most visited theme parks in the world, or at least i'm pretty sure i read that somewhere.

 

[CTXRover]

If that is true, and that is a big IF, it would be incredibly short-sighted and irresponsible of Lasseter to assume such a role. Personally it is one thing to favor DL over WDW. Financially and business-wise, he won't make it very far in the WDC if he ignores WDW. It is not only the cash-cow of the theme park division, its resort hotels and overall size requires WDW to perform very well. Increasing DL resort's attendance (particularly DCA) is important to the division and the company as a whole, but not as important as keeping the rooms at WDW's hotels filled.

If Lasseter truly operates in this fashion professionally, he will lose some of my respect for him. His overarrogance with his promotion into such a prominent role at Disney following the Pixar purchase already had me a bit annoyed with him. However, I think he has exactly the right creative drive and motivation that WDFA and the animation dept. as a whole needed to get them out of their rut.

 

[mousermerf]

I don't think it's true.

Not sure what else to say besides that, because many of the current FL projects are very expensive.

 

[Tim G]

Was that sarcasm? If not, then wouldn't the board of directors be able to do something about it? C'mon is right, if i'm not mistaken, all four parks are somewhere in the top ten most visited theme parks in the world, or at least i'm pretty sure i read that somewhere.

Nope... I meant every word... I don't like sarcasm...

 

[comics101]

Nope... I meant every word... I don't like sarcasm...

wow, ok um... I think I'll trust what you say because most members seem to but still, wow.

 

[Tim G]

If that is true, and that is a big IF, it would be incredibly short-sighted and irresponsible of Lasseter to assume such a role. Personally it is one thing to favor DL over WDW. Financially and business-wise, he won't make it very far in the WDC if he ignores WDW. It is not only the cash-cow of the theme park division, its resort hotels and overall size requires WDW to perform very well. Increasing DL resort's attendance (particularly DCA) is important to the division and the company as a whole, but not as important as keeping the rooms at WDW's hotels filled.

If Lasseter truly operates in this fashion professionally, he will lose some of my respect for him. His overarrogance with his promotion into such a prominent role at Disney following the Pixar purchase already had me a bit annoyed with him. However, I think he has exactly the right creative drive and motivation that WDFA and the animation dept. as a whole needed to get them out of their rut.

We all have to see what happens of course... but in the meanwhile he's going to release 300 employees... :lookaroun

 

[mousermerf]

Many of us have believed for a long time that the artistic departments at WDI and WDFA were full of "the wrong kind of people" with too much power in the wrong direction. So, who goes from those 300 is what's important, not that 300 people are going.

 

[CTXRover]

We all have to see what happens of course... but in the meanwhile he's going to release 300 employees... :lookaroun

If what you insinuate will happen within WDI is anything like what I believe the restructuring of the studio division is trying to accomplish, then it has the potential to be good as much as it is risky. Get rid of the excess and focus on fewer higher quality products. It all goes back to Iger's four or five main goals he outlined when he took the position of CEO. Perhaps what we are seeing is Iger's philosophies, along with giving each division the power to be responsible for themselves, forging a new direction in which the company will operate. For so long I have heard about how inefficiently things worked within each division at Disney under Eisner, specifically within WDI. It all depends if increasing efficiency equals higher quality productivity and a better overall product. Quality over quantity is more important than quantity. Obviously I don't have the inside sources to know too many specifics of the inner-workings of the company, but I like what I hear thus far of the studio's restructuring. So maybe I will like what will happen at WDI...?

As mousemerf said, it all depends on exactly on what people are released of their jobs. Not the simple fact that 300 or so could be released.

 

[mousermerf]

The most common complaint I heard from anyone who worked in WDI was that red tape and ego killed more good ideas than they should have.

 

[nelsonj3]

The quote in the original post is just speculation. Al Lutz hates WDW... plain and simple. His articles are informative, but his shots at WDW are unacceptable! I have appreciation for both parks, and I would never say anything bad about Disneyland. I'm not sure why he can't write an article without taking a stab at WDW, but he really can't.

I read an article about Lasseter in Money Magazine a couple of weeks ago. From what I read, it really sounds like he and Iger are on the right track. Also, I wonder if Lasseter is helping to get rid of some of the people in the animation department who helped get rid of him several years ago.

Overall, I'm optimistic about Lasseter's leadership.

 

[Scar Junior]

It's a good thing that I am not a politician (yet), because every argument I've read on this thread has swayed me toward one opinion. Then again, perhaps an open mind is exactly what politicians lack most. Regardless, here are my thoughts:

1. It should be noted that I have the utmost respect for John Lasseter from an occupational standpoint. His career makes him my idol, what with his success in writing, producing, directing and WDI. Those are the fields I am pursuing.

2. Al Lutz: Though I should be lucky to have the sources he has (at least claims to have), I find it difficult to read his articles. Yes, I read this one and find it similar to his others. He makes it clear where his alliances lie.

3. 300 employees: Keep in mind this is the issue I know least about. Though the number is very high, perhaps it could be a good thing. I love Iger's philosophy of quality over quantitiy. It keeps the division from being stretched thin. Like Disney Pictures, WDI might fare better with this adjustment. Note: the thought does scare me somewhat, but the few WDI contacts I have imply the red tape is (at times) overbearing. If anyone knows any specifics, can you share them with me?

4. The thought of negating WDW strikes us in the heart. Regardless, even if it is true and the only "good" attractions are built for DL and DCA, who is to say they won't be carbon copied to DS or AK.

 

[mousermerf]

I don't think it's us being wishful thinkers or offended and thus not taking him seriously.

People with better contacts and authority than Lutz have said nothing of the sort, and these people also have nothing "for" WDW either. It's all in his head, per usual.