Computer Magic
Well-Known Member
Roy would have to start another campaign and influence the Institutional & Mutual Fund Owners on his side again.
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New Titles and Positions Announced including Jim MacPhee
- Thread starter TURKEY
- Start date
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Uh ... ah ... positive direction?
Can you list five reasons why you feel the company is headed in a positive direction in terms of park developments?
Just curious as to how anyone could be optimistic right now ...
~Pass the Pixie Dust~
HMF
Well-Known Member
The only thing to be optimistic about these days is DCA.
Expo_Seeker40
Well-Known Member
*puts a sweatshirt on and sits down with a dole whip and watches this thread unfold*
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
OK ... so lemme get this straight -- and I love conspiracy theories as much as the next guy with a brain -- you believe Iger was placed in his position not by Eisner, the board and Wall Street but by Steve Jobs (who you obviously feel is evil incarnate).
Is that right or am I missing something?
So you feel Steve wants to or has the power to replace Disney with Pixar?
If so, that's just laughable. Even if Pixar has stood for and produced nothing but quality since 1995, while Disney has put out largely crap over the same period (and has a very mixed track record at best), Disney is one of the world's best known 'brands' ... Pixar isn't.
I don't want to say much more without hearing more from you because I want to make sure I am not misconstruing anything.
I wasn't aware Tomorrowland was being rebuilt in the last three years. And when I look at what's been added I see two pieces of crap attractions -- one based on Stitch (a 'pure' Disney franchise) and one based on Monsters Inc (a Disney-Pixar franchise).
And Pixar is Disney. Whether you or anyone likes it or not. I hate the 'tooning of the parks in general, but I can't ascribe negative feelings to Pixar, which is one of the only parts of TWDC that still consistently delivers a first-class product every time out.
MGM wanted out of the contract for years ... many. Part of it has to do with them being unhappy with the original contract terms ... part of it had to do with building its own park in South Korea ... and part of it was Disney not wanting another company's name on one of 'its' parks. Pixar had nothing to do with it. There was much talk about branding the park as the Disney-Pixar Studios ... the fact it didn't happen shows you that Jobs isn't pulling Iger's strings. FWIW, I'd have rather have seen the park branded with Pixar than a meaningless DHS moniker.
As to DAK ... again, where are all the Pixar attractions? They added one very high quality (since lowered naturally) stage show based on Nemo. Have I missed all the other Pixar attractions?
John is a creative genius who actually gives a damn about quality, unlike many who work for Disney today.
His track record at Pixar is a string of amazingly successful films that all have heart.
His love for the parks (mostly DLR) is well-noted ... when he was at the MK recently he was appalled by the fact there was no western merchandise being sold in Frontierland, but plenty of princess $hit tossed around. So he made it known that wasn't acceptable and they moved a western line back ... of course as soon as he left they buried the stuff in the back, but it is still there as I saw a few days ago.
Lasseter is no one's puppet. And he is the closest thing to a Walt that Disney has these days.
Whose ideas? I didn't realize Steve Jobs hung around Imagineering tossing out ideas to Pixar the Disney theme park empire. Glendale has always been a toxic mix of politics along with a gay ______ club culture. I don't see any change since the Pixar merger.
Marty Sklar went nowhere. Worse, he sold his soul over a decade ago when he refused to stand up and tell Eisner, Pressler and Co why DCA wouldn't work as planned. He's since become a public apologist for every bad decision made by Glendale.
I like the guy personally. And he presided over some amazing work at WED/WDI back in the day. But he should have left the company over a decade ago.
Yeah ... and we all know how well EE turned out. I don't disagree with your point that WDI is a mess. I just don't believe for one second that Steve Jobs and Pixar are to blame.
The blame lies with Iger, Rasulo and the boys club 'tude on Flower Street.
HMF
Well-Known Member
WOW!!!!! I never thought that would happen. Keep him around' Rasulo does'nt stand a chance.
Captain Chaos
Well-Known Member
It's Tough To Be A Bug is Pixar..... (A Bug's Life)
EpcotServo
Well-Known Member
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
You simply don't read my posts... (read all of them)
I was not talking about Rasulo... I was talking about the illusive trio...
so leave Eisner out of this...
You're still talking about what someone has done or does for Walt Disny World
What did Eisner for Walt Disney World...
Everything...
What have the illusive trio done???
Tell me... I'm not seeing progression... except pulling down Disney attractions and replacing them with Pixar attractions...
How about what Eisner really did for WDW (from someone who was a huge fan, has known the man and can see the good, bad and ugly sides) ...
He likely saved the place from being bought by another company.
He led it through a period of unprecedented growth.
Much of that growth was wise and wonderful ... from adding world class resorts to water parks ... from adding amazing dining options to new attractions in existing parks ... from upgrading existing resorts to adding new parks.
Much of that growth also set the stage for the disaster that has followed as he brought in MBAs and consultants who saw 'fat' everywhere except their six and seven figure checks ... the growth came with no comprehensive development or transportation plans so traffic became an issue and greenbelts shrunk as WDW took on an urban/resort sprawl type feeling ... he greedily led a campaign to nab every guest that came to Central Florida resulting in over 30,000 resort rooms and timeshares that cost a bundle to operate and while they practically print money in good times, they drag the resort down in bad times (like now for instance) ... he shuttered an animation studio (that he green lit to begin with) that did nothing but create box office magic in central Florida and was responsible for the creation of characters and franchises that have added billions to the Disney coffers ... when other facets of the company struggled under his leadership he simply took the money that WDW was bringing in and redirected the capital away from the resort, so it grew stale and infrastructure crumbled ... the new management style/business model of the mid 90s allowed countless old guard Disney CMs who cared to walk away to be replaced by people not quite so attatched to the Disney way of doing things.
Eisner's tenure was definitely a mixed bag when it came to WDW, no doubt.
The jury is still out on Iger and Co ... but do remember that it was under Michael that Jay was placed in charge of P&R and that many of the cost-cutting, quality-cutting edicts were first put in place.
I liked Michael as a person. I don't know Bob and considering the absurd amount of security he travels with I have no idea if we'll ever have a face to face ... but he sure seems to lack any knowledge or caring about what's going on at WDW.
As to Lasseter, he can't be expected to do it all ... his priorities and responsibilities in the company are Pixar followed by WDFA followed by DL/DCA followed by anything else.
But personally, having spoken with John one on one more than once, I wish he did take more of an active role at WDW. If he did, I do believe things would be better for fans, guests, cast and shareholders.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
The only Disney job Matt would return for would be Jay's ... it was widely known that he coveted it while at TWDC and it's why he was run out of the company.
I believe he'd do a great job at it ... the proof is in the jobs he did at DCL and DL, putting aside all the fanboi drool.
But it ain't happening.
~Pass the Pixie Dust~
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
you're missing a LeeCar...:lol:
And you think they'll still talk to me???
Even though I'm still available for them in consulting (still 5 years to go)...
Lasseter won't talk to me... he'll lose any debate with me...
the guy can't think for himself... he needs the right buttons to be pushed by the puppet master...
Even if he could dream it, I already made it...
The only one who sometimes has "clear" moments (when Jobs is not looking) is Robert Iger... His intentions are good, but he really doesn't know what he's talking about... he's only the named CEO...
A nice and friendly guy... But that's it...
Sorry Tim ... I know people around these parts or some of them seem to think you walk on water (we all know only George Bush did that) ... but if you really believe Iger isn't running TWDC or that Steve Jobs (Apple, illness and all) is pulling his strings I believe that's delusional.
~Pass the Pxie Dust~
You can say that again :ROFLOL:
I wish I had that pic from Thriller of Michael Jackson munching on popcorn with a big grin on his face.
Computer Magic
Well-Known Member
Interesting you give Eisner a lot of credit of saving WDW, but no metion of Frank Wells. It was that team that made WDW so great. Just like the Walt brothers as a team made Disney great.
Captain Chaos
Well-Known Member
Got my popcorn, sitting back, ready to watch the fireworks...
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Of course he doesn't.
Roy, despite all his accomplishments and family name ... and the fact he is amazingly down to earth in person as well, has no such power.
If Roy had run his campaign better and made his issues public sooner, he may have saved the company a lot of hardship and sent Michael on his way sooner. He didn't because he is a businessman first and foremost.
And Roy was as thrilled as anyone when Iger made peace with Lasseter and then officially made Pixar part of the Disney family.
I don't know his feelings on Iger right now. But even if he wanted Iger out, he'd largely be laughed at as inconsequential.
~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Disneyfanman
Well-Known Member
Wow. This is the best thread that I have read in ages! I take a couple of days away and Tums sales are way up.
Popcorn indeed.
PS......I like the Finding Nemo Subs very much.
Popcorn indeed.
PS......I like the Finding Nemo Subs very much.
tirian
Well-Known Member
I raise you two tubs of popcorn and a Coke.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Forget it.
I'm watching my weight. I didn't even binge on desserts at WDW ... much!
(I could drop in here that I was pleasantly surprised by Idol as well as Kim Possible, but I'd rather not because this thread looks like it may be fun!)
~Pass the Pixie Dust~
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Very good point.
I didn't purposely leave Frank out. He was a wonderful executive ... and more importanly a wonderful man who died way too soon.
It's just the discussion was about Eisner and as the No. 1, he was who the comparison to Iger should be made.
I often wonder if Frank had lived how different TWDC might be today ... I somehow think Michael and Frank would still be at the helm (they worked so well together and Frank didn't have the ego to want to be top dog) ... I think many, many things would have gone down differently ... too bad we'll never know.
~Pass the Pixie Dust~