LIVE UPDATES: D23 Expo - WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS Presentation 6:30pm EDT

[backinaction]

As nice of a message this is, it's just a corporate way of saying shutup and enjoy what you have.

Agreed. Staggs let alot of Florida fans down at D23 this year. Now he basically comes out and says the HW project is dead and all were getting is "Something Silver" and the old version of the Tiki Room until 2012. DTD is a mess. Future World is a mess. Animal kingdom and Hollywood Studios are still arguably half day parks. Staggs had to give some type of response to the Florida fans because he knew that we got snubbed at the conference this year and we weren't happy about it.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Okay, I'll say this. I don't think he was talking about DTD specifically, as in that's what they're aiming to take care of. I think he was addressing WDW as a whole, meaning every park, and saying that it included DTD, too.

And I'm sure they went in knowing they weren't going to announce anything that was going to WOW anyone. A reason probably they were very tight lipped over D23.

What I appreciate is that Staggs responded, which says a lot because I can't see anyone else in his position, or part of Disney brass saying anything to the fans. It would have been a, "So what?" type of response of silence. Add to the fact that he actually publically aknowledged and addressed the negative comments and disappointment of WDW fans, which I haven't seen from Disney before.

Our insiders have said as much that there are some cool things planned. So, I'm holding out hope that it comes to fruition, not just some empty promises for attractions that end up just being some really nice blue sky artwork that ends up on someones coffee table.

Some cool things planned doesn't mean they will ever see the light of day... Imagineering ALWAYS has things planned... How many PLANNED attractions are collecting dust as mock up models or artist renderings, never to see the ligth of day... Until ground is broken and these awesome plans are actually built, I remain cautiously optimistic...

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I fear you will be waiting a long time for that, if it ever comes at all. This is not to say that WDI does not have some "wow" projects in the works, but the chances of the news breaking at D23 or any of the other myriad of Disney press conferences is next to zero. At best, conventions like D23 do nothing more than confirm and add a little detail to projects that have already been talked about online for some time. Expecting something groundbreaking at one of these things is just a guaranteed way to set yourself up for disappointment.

I also feel that we might be at the point where no matter what it is, the project will not WOW some people.

 

[Master Yoda]

I also feel that we might be at the point where no matter what it is, the project will not WOW some people.

That is also a factor. At this point I think it would take something along the lines on the purposed Mysterious Island expansion coming completely out of left field to at least initially "wow" the masses.

 

[aladdin2007]

Im impressed that he responded no matter what, he didnt have to. Rasulo never would have!!!!.

Im still willing to give the man a chance and I like to think he and his team are coming down on TDO a bit, but I dont know. His move with Meg Croften diminished my hopes some. But I dont think hes blind and is aware of things/issues at WDW. Maybe they are holding on to some minor things to announce around October 1st, like a new parade at least. I know thats not major news or anything or what many want to hear, but it is overdue and is something.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

That is also a factor. At this point I think it would take something along the lines on the purposed Mysterious Island expansion coming completely out of left field to at least initially "wow" the masses.

That's the problem...the Disney fan base has used technology it seems to become very critical. In certain times it definitely helps (maintenance and service issues). However, whenever there is talk of something new we tend to become very sensitive and critical. Take Magic, Memories, and You for example (even though it certainly isn't a big addition). That show was ripped to shreds five minutes after it was announced, and months before it debuted. However, after it started showing people realized they might have been wrong. There are still some dissenters but I feel that Disney realizes they're walking on egg shells all the time now and is going to be very careful about their announcement. I think FLE was the last very far ahead announcement you will see for a while. You get expectations up too high, and too early and give people the time to find flaws before they exist. If they shorten their announcement to opening schedule I think it will be better for everyone.

 

[janoimagine]

I give him credit for publicly coming out and addressing it. Was it what we wanted to hear??? Nope, but at least he did direct it to the community and in a public forum that we can all comment directly back to.

 

[lebeau]

That's the problem...the Disney fan base has used technology it seems to become very critical. In certain times it definitely helps (maintenance and service issues). However, whenever there is talk of something new we tend to become very sensitive and critical. Take Magic, Memories, and You for example (even though it certainly isn't a big addition). That show was ripped to shreds five minutes after it was announced, and months before it debuted. However, after it started showing people realized they might have been wrong. There are still some dissenters but I feel that Disney realizes they're walking on egg shells all the time now and is going to be very careful about their announcement. I think FLE was the last very far ahead announcement you will see for a while. You get expectations up too high, and too early and give people the time to find flaws before they exist. If they shorten their announcement to opening schedule I think it will be better for everyone.

A lot of good points. The problem with shortening the announcement schedule is that Disney becomes susceptible to info leaks. If they wait too long, the internet will steal their thunder as with the original FLE plans.

I think they have a balancing act. If they want this stuff to be a surprise, they either need to announce it relatively early or run the risk of leaks. So far, I don't think they have the best track record with preventing leaks.

 

[Master Yoda]

That's the problem...the Disney fan base has used technology it seems to become very critical. In certain times it definitely helps (maintenance and service issues). However, whenever there is talk of something new we tend to become very sensitive and critical. Take Magic, Memories, and You for example (even though it certainly isn't a big addition). That show was ripped to shreds five minutes after it was announced, and months before it debuted. However, after it started showing people realized they might have been wrong. There are still some dissenters but I feel that Disney realizes they're walking on egg shells all the time now and is going to be very careful about their announcement. I think FLE was the last very far ahead announcement you will see for a while. You get expectations up too high, and too early and give people the time to find flaws before they exist. If they shorten their announcement to opening schedule I think it will be better for everyone.

All quite true and the inspiration for the following picture.

I think Disney fans have become their own worst enemy. What incentive does Disney have to announce new projects to the the obsessed fans if all we do is unfairly rip it to shreds before the first shovel of dirt ever gets turned.? The criticism deployed online goes so far past anything that could even remotely considered constructive. I can certainly understand Disney have a "what is the point" attitude regarding announcement of new projects.

 

[lebeau]

All quite true and the inspiration for the following picture.

I think Disney fans have become their own worst enemy. What incentive does Disney have to announce new projects to the the obsessed fans if all we do is unfairly rip it to shreds before the first shovel of dirt ever gets turned.? The criticism deployed online goes so far past anything that could even remotely considered constructive. I can certainly understand Disney have a "what is the point" attitude regarding announcement of new projects.

AIE is the poster boy for this sort of thing!

 

[Thrill]

Good for Staggs. He proved to be the mature adult so deserving of his position, and shoved a much-needed pacifier in the pie-holes of the WDW cry-babies.

Waaah! Boo-hoo! Why didn't we get a $1.5 billion overhaul of Epcot announcement?
Waaah! Boo-hoo! Bring back my beloved Adventurer's Club!
:hammer:Waaah! Boo-hoo! Why won't they spend $50 million on the Imagination Pavilion and usher back the golden age of Figment for the 651 people who actually like him?

Whether or not the complaints are as irrational as you paint them to be, consumers are exercising their right, no, their duty, to push producers for higher quality.

I respect Staggs for responding to the complaints. He was very professional and did something that I don't think many executives would do. Now let's see if he can be even more mature and take steps to correct them.

Once again, allow me to educate everyone. Disney is currently spending a collective $5 billion+ on parks all around the world. Just because they're not spending it in one location, your preferred location, doesn't mean they've failed or that they're doing anything wrong. It just means you have tunnel vision, and on behalf of all the adults in the world, thankfully, none of you militant armchair Imagineers are in charge of anything important. That business would surely fail inside of a week. Disney knows what they're doing, and when they're ready to tell you they'll wake you up from your nap. Now, hush little babies... :snore:

Just because they're spending billions of the Chinese government's money in Shanghai doesn't mean that WDW gets limited to a measly $300 million. Not when you have 2 out of 4 parks that are widely considered half day parks.

I might be too much of a "Spend, spend, spend!" guy in that I long for unrealistically large expansions, but it doesn't take much to realize that Disney is doing less work with more money. Wizarding World of Harry Potter is estimated to have cost Universal $200 million or so. By comparison, what appears to be, at best, an equal expansion (in reality, I can't see it matching WWoHP, but we'll give it the benefit of the doubt for now), clocking in at $300 million.

You see the same issue in the studio division. Pirates At World's End may have grossed a billion dollars, but it cost $300 million. Meanwhile, The Dark Knight, a superior movie in terms of quality which edged out Pirates at the box office, was made for a mere $180 million.

Disney's problems appear to be that they are over-cautious with investments (I mean, is it really that unclear that even a couple C-Tickets at Animal Kingdom would make a world of a difference?) and reckless spending. Fix the accounting problem, and they will be able to get a lot more bang for their buck.

The issues are a whole lot more complicated to address than I make it sound like, but if the Disney executives are really that great, they should be able to do something.

 

[dreamscometrue]

I also feel that we might be at the point where no matter what it is, the project will not WOW some people.

Absolutely!

There are people who are so incredibly negative, and who never seem to be satisfied with anything, that they will never be 'Wowed'! And even if they are, it'll be very temporary and they'll start complaining about the thing that just 'Wowed' them, or start looking for the next big thing. I just think that's how they are wired. We all know negative people like that...never satisfied, constant complainers.

The thing to remember is that the internet perception distorts our reality. A doctor friend of mine was saying that even the most rare disaeses, if Googled, appear to be rampant...the 'Google' effect. ("Omg, there's 100s of cases of this...it's everywhere. No, that's 100s of cases out of billions of people.").

I think that is exactly what happens on this site. Milllions of people visit WDW each year, several thousand of those fans are on wdwmagic, a small percentage of those post regularly, and a small percentage of those regular posters are negative and never satisfied. I know we all gripe to some extent, but I mean the people who always seem to see the glass as 'half empty'. It might seem like there are quite a few of them, but that's just internet skewing reality. They really represent a very, very small percentage of wdw fans. Always consider the source on here when reading the negative.

 

[misterID]

All quite true and the inspiration for the following picture.

I think Disney fans have become their own worst enemy. What incentive does Disney have to announce new projects to the the obsessed fans if all we do is unfairly rip it to shreds before the first shovel of dirt ever gets turned.? The criticism deployed online goes so far past anything that could even remotely considered constructive. I can certainly understand Disney have a "what is the point" attitude regarding announcement of new projects.

I disagree. When the FLE was announced and it was heavy on the princess theme the fanbase were up in arms and tore it to shreds (we were called whiners and complainers, too). Whether that had anything to do with Disney changing it I don't know, but I do know that it was changed, specifially the areas that were complained about by the fanbase. When they changed it the vast majority of people who hated it, totally turned around and embraced the FLE, which included the addition of the SDMT ride.

I think Disney fans demand perfection. And they should, shouldn't they? That's the big complaints over the last few years is that WDW isn't meeting expectations from a company who prided itself on setting the bar ridiculously high. Especially considering that other Disney parks ARE getting those big WOW projects. If the MI/BK project was announced for AK at the last D23 along with Carsland, there would be no complaining right now if all this D23 did was show updates, show pieces and new artwork. And it does seem that Disney is trying or at least attempting to try to address the issues the fanbase has and has had as of late. Demanding better and not being satisfied with just what they give you seems to work pretty well.

 

[jt04]

I agree with most here that it is good that they acknowledged WDW. It still appears to me that they deliberately are witholding WDW news and there are many reasons why that may be. That he was not more specific could indicate they do not want to tip their hand to the competition. By narrowing a hint down to a specific park it might do just that. Just another possibility to add to the list.

I am encouraged that he specifically mentioned DTD. I now have no doubt that when Disney announced they are working on plans to improve the HW concept they really are. Possibly even giving it a new name or even something none of has guessed at yet.

It is possible they ran in to difficulties with the state due to the location next to the lake. Regulations over water management in Florida have become much more controlling. The area is the headwaters for the Kissimmee river and eventually the everglades. So it is possible they have been delayed by permitting issues and are using that delay to fine tune what will happen to the former PI. It might also explain why they stopped demolition. It is probably much easier to rehab existing structures than get permits to rebuild from the ground up.

Of course this is all just theory but they did stop the demolition process for some reason.

Ultimately I think everyone should be encouraged that they are aware expectations are high for WDW's future.

 

[Captain Neo]

I appreciate the fact that he responded to the complaints and the disappointed fans. He gets a lot of respect from me for that.

 

[Lee]

Kudos to Tom for making the statement. It may not have much substance, but at least he was aware of the complaints. Good man.

Also, all the necessary permits for the work on PI were approved. The stoppage was by choice, not because they had to.

 

[djkidkaz]

Kudos to Tom for making the statement. It may not have much substance, but at least he was aware of the complaints. Good man.

Also, all the necessary permits for the work on PI were approved. The stoppage was by choice, not because they had to.

Any hint as to what we could be seeing out of DTD? Are they still referring to it as HW? Are we gonna be blown away by the changes they are making since the last HW concept art?

 

[Lee]

I am entirely clueless about what they are doing at DTD, and not because of a lack of trying.

As for HW...I don't think that name is still being used...
At least I haven't heard it in months.:shrug:

 

[djkidkaz]

I am entirely clueless about what they are doing at DTD, and not because of a lack of trying.

As for HW...I don't think that name is still being used...
At least I haven't heard it in months.:shrug:

Can I just come out and ask what you believe is the most likely project to get announced next? If you were a betting man and had to play it all on one attraction, what would it be? Brazil? Monsters Inc coaster? Imagination? something for AK or MK? Something that hasn't been revealed to us?

Oh and parades, refurbs and DTD dont count! :ROFLOL:

 

[dreamscometrue]

Are we gonna be blown away by the changes they are making since the last HW concept art?

I think that's an impossible task, even for Lee, Raven, Steve or anyone else on here to answer this question. No matter what is announced, it will not blow some people on these boards away.