On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[marni1971]

Your throne?
View attachment 499091
Or mine?
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[lazyboy97o]

I guess that's where I differ. While Disney rides are impressive, they never really push the boundaries on new technology. Rise is just an upgrade from Ratatouille. For me the boundaries that they push with roller coasters are much more impressive. Who would have thought years ago that a wooden coaster could have inversions let alone multiple ones. Or 200 foot tall coaster have 9 inversions or break the 400 foot tall barrier. That to me is impressive. From everything I have heard the new Jurrasic Park coaster is going to one of most intense coasters in Orlando. I have said before theming is just added stuff to a ride. What would really impress me is if Disney made a high thrilling ride that was highly themed.

It’s been twenty years since Son of Beast opened and seventeen since Top Thrill Dragster.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It’s been twenty years since Son of Beast opened and seventeen since Top Thrill Dragster.

Well...we know that thrill is not the Disney market...it doesn’t make sense to make half hearted attempts at it.

But there is a Valid point that they’ve fallen “farther” behind in that category than they did 20 years ago in the Orlando market.

Disney is never gonna built a themed B&M ...they could and should...but that’s a different story...

But 20 years ago when Everest was planned, the lead “thrills” were kraken and hulk. Now sea world has a couple of more thrill examples in park and universal has one under construction and one planned.

Bigger void when you build mine train and 9 trackless IP showcases.

Definitely not the same audience...but less ability to crossover too.

 

[Jrb1979]

It’s been twenty years since Son of Beast opened and seventeen since Top Thrill Dragster.

Yes that's true but look what RMC has done to push the boundaries. They have pushed the boundaries and made some the most intense coasters in the world. To each their own but you have to admit what RMC has done for coasters is very impressive. I guess why the coaster thing bugs so much is that me being a coaster enthusiast, is how unimpressed GP are with coasters. Even in this thread, a few have said they have a park near them and have no interest in going. Where as I'm jealous how so many of you live near such amazing parks.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes that's true but look what RMC has done to push the boundaries. They have pushed the boundaries and made some the most intense coasters in the world. To each their own but you have to admit what RMC has done for coasters is very impressive. I guess why the coaster thing bugs so much is that me being a coaster enthusiast, is how unimpressed GP are with coasters. Even in this thread, a few have said they have a park near them and have no interest in going. Where as I'm jealous how so many of you live near such amazing parks.

This is a Disney site...

It’s not representative of the general US population...who attend the locals with far more frequency on average across all demographics. Here...we pound the Disneyparks as they continue to overcharge us for them. It’s a weird psychology...for sure.

I grew up at Kennywood...went to the 4 parks in Ohio frequently...have been several times to the southern/eastern AB parks (passholder actually...due to proximity to sesame place)...passholder at universal at times...a couple of the six flags. Carowinds, kings dominion...I sneak over to the cyclone when it permits if i’m Working near Brooklyn.

But my kids have practically grown up at WDW and Disneyland. I never had to “swear allegiance” to either concept. The world isn’t flat.

I come off as a “Disney hater” a lot. Not even close to accurate. But I have issues with this idea that it has to be only that and supported 100% of the time. It has lead to a place where the consumers don’t get value out of it. They just won’t stop with the doctrine and evaluate it like big boys and girls.

So sometimes Disney purists make the world flat.

 

[Jrb1979]

This is a Disney site...

It’s not representative of the general US population...who attend the locals with far more frequency on average across all demographics. Here...we pound the Disneyparks as they continue to overcharge us for them. It’s a weird psychology...for sure.

I grew up at Kennywood...went to the 4 parks in Ohio frequently...have been several times to the southern/eastern AB parks (passholder actually...due to proximity to sesame place)...passholder at universal at times...a couple of the six flags. Carowinds, kings dominion...I sneak over to the cyclone when it permits if i’m Working near Brooklyn.

But my kids have practically grown up at WDW and Disneyland. I never had to “swear allegiance” to either concept. The world isn’t flat.

I come off as a “Disney hater” a lot. Not even close to accurate. But I have issues with this idea that it has to be only that and supported 100% of the time. It has lead to a place where the consumers don’t get value out of it. They just won’t stop with the doctrine and evaluate it like big boys and girls.

So sometimes Disney purists make the world flat.

I know it's a Disney site. I also belong to a site that's geared to all amusement parks. Over there I never see the Disney elitist attitude like I see here and the other Disney site. Look no further then the Universal thread where Did twitter constantly knocks the Jurrasic Park coaster. It would be nice if Disney fans would stop taking jabs and looking down at other parks so much

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I know it's a Disney site. I also belong to a site that's geared to all amusement parks. Over there I never see the Disney elitist attitude like I see here and the other Disney site. Look no further then the Universal thread where Did twitter constantly knocks the Jurrasic Park coaster. It would be nice if Disney fans would stop taking jabs and looking down at other parks so much

Right...but I think I alone have answered why? 5 times on this thread. As have others...

It is what it is. Disneyphiles see universal as a threat (though will never admit it) and it’s therapeutic to bash it at all times. Harry Potter and the development of resort hotels changed the dynamics...it wasn’t perceived as a threat at all prior to that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yes that's true but look what RMC has done to push the boundaries. They have pushed the boundaries and made some the most intense coasters in the world. To each their own but you have to admit what RMC has done for coasters is very impressive. I guess why the coaster thing bugs so much is that me being a coaster enthusiast, is how unimpressed GP are with coasters. Even in this thread, a few have said they have a park near them and have no interest in going. Where as I'm jealous how so many of you live near such amazing parks.

And there are people with no interest in wine living near great vineyards that wine enthusiasts would love to visit. There are people living in New York City with no interest in seeing a musical while someone elsewhere is saving for a trip just to see shows on Broadway. Roller coasters remain the default easy way for most amusement parks to add something big, so this idea that the “general public” is uninterested seems unfounded. They do have demographic limitations in their appeal but it is closely related to physical ability to comfortably ride.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Right...but I think I alone have answered why? 5 times on this thread. As have others...

It is what it is. Disneyphiles see universal as a threat (though will never admit it) and it’s therapeutic to bash it at all times. Harry Potter and the development of resort hotels changed the dynamics...it wasn’t perceived as a threat at all prior to that.

I did it for years. Part of it was due to my bafflement of the praise towards the Harry Potter film franchise. I felt Potterphiles and their beloved stories were being rather obnoxious and pretentious. Meanwhile, I was the obnoxious and pretentious one with the way I talked about theme parks that weren’t Disney.
Then, Universal announced a major expansion with a franchise I was quite fond of. Super Mario. I shut up. Oh what biases will do. Meanwhile, Disney is destroying my favourite attraction. The tune starts to change.

I’ll always prefer Disney parks, mainly for what they were, and the level of charm they will (hopefully) still retain...to some degree. But it’s fine to like other things as well. Disney isn’t always the best in every single category, and it’s okay to acknowledge that as a Disney fan.

 

[Ldno]

I completely forgot about this, if the travel industry goes completely under, the theme park industry as a whole will be hard to come out, they bring out good points, airlines depended on businesses accounts but everything stopped since zoom meetings took over, Disney is preparing for this since they are dumping all their merch online to make face of what’s come now! Can’t wait to shop for galaxy’s edge merch on the 28th of September!!!

US airlines facing âThelma and Louiseâ moment as government aid set to expire

Funding used to protect workers will expire on 30 September, and airlines have already announced huge layoffs

www.theguardian.com

 

[Brer Oswald]

So I was on my modest Twitter account and a “Meme” popped up, bashing Chapek for the constant injection of modern film franchises in the parks, in places that they don’t belong.
Anyone else find it strange that Chapek gets the brunt of the blame for an Iger mandate? Let’s be real, this stuff predates Chapek. Heck, you can argue it predates Iger, with the Pressler years.

Makes you wonder what Big Robert is offering these “influencers” to protect his “legacy”.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Disney fandom picks “heroes” and “villains” regardless of what actually is happening behind the scenes. We’ve seen it all before “Pressler bad”, “Ouimet good”, “Chapek bad”, “Josh good”.

The most ridiculous of them all was reinventing the ultimate “sharp pencil boy” Tom Staggs as a hero. As CFO, Tom was the key driver of the “we can do it cheaper and fans won’t care” during the Eisner/Pressler era.

This is why Josh plays the crowd like a fiddle (he learned from watching Cynthia Harris when he was at DL during that era) - take a fee selfies with the fans and you won’t be blamed for anything. Not criticizing, it’s brilliantly smart as they eat it up with a spoon.

He’s now in charge of the parks - same exact position Chapek had a fee months ago, so all blame for every bad parks decision should be put on him, but watch every time it will be “But, but, it’s his boss telling him what to do!! He gets it because he took a selfie with me and pretended to care about me and my opinion!!!’”

It’s truly hysterical to watch - never is Josh mentioned in a sentence with a terrible parks idea (or the opening of SWGE at DL).

You hit the nail on the head.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I completely forgot about this, if the travel industry goes completely under, the theme park industry as a whole will be hard to come out, they bring out good points, airlines depended on businesses accounts but everything stopped since zoom meetings took over, Disney is preparing for this since they are dumping all their merch online to make face of what’s come now! Can’t wait to shop for galaxy’s edge merch on the 28th of September!!!

US airlines facing âThelma and Louiseâ moment as government aid set to expire

Funding used to protect workers will expire on 30 September, and airlines have already announced huge layoffs

www.theguardian.com

Yeah...

This has flown under the radar and is going to make things worse also:

Covid-19 Can Spread On Long Airline Flights, Per Two New Studies

New research reinforces the need for protections during air travel.

www.google.com

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney fandom picks “heroes” and “villains” regardless of what actually is happening behind the scenes. We’ve seen it all before “Pressler bad”, “Ouimet good”, “Chapek bad”, “Josh good”.

The most ridiculous of them all was reinventing the ultimate “sharp pencil boy” Tom Staggs as a hero. As CFO, Tom was the key driver of the “we can do it cheaper and fans won’t care” during the Eisner/Pressler era.

This is why Josh plays the crowd like a fiddle (he learned from watching Cynthia Harris when he was at DL during that era) - take a few selfies with the fans and you won’t be blamed for anything. Not criticizing, it’s brilliantly smart as they eat it up with a spoon.

He’s now in charge of the parks - same exact position Chapek had a few months ago, so all blame for every bad parks decision should be put on him, but watch every time it will be “But, but, it’s his boss telling him what to do!! He gets it because he took a selfie with me and pretended to care about me and my opinion!!!’”

If that was true, why did people blame Chapek and not Iger? Why? Josh pretends to like AP’s while Chapek is a crappy retail politician.

It’s truly hysterical to watch - never is Josh mentioned in a sentence with a terrible parks idea (or the disastrous opening of SWGE at DL).

I agree with everything here except one:

Pressler WAS BAD.

Like book of revelations bad.

Other than that...carry on

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Unless of course you want to give him credit for the largest investment in the Anaheim site since Walt. You can disagree with the creative, but he drove the expansion of the resort, DCA, Grand Californian, and all of the city, county, and state improvements that supported it including changes to the freeways that all fundamentally changed the single park into a “resort”.

If another president in the past 50 years has driven that level of expansion in the property, feel free to remind me.

That was a joke...not a discussion starter.

But since you brought it up...I’d like to point out that was in the Eisner: Supreme Emperor era.

 

[Miss Bella]

Yes that's true but look what RMC has done to push the boundaries. They have pushed the boundaries and made some the most intense coasters in the world. To each their own but you have to admit what RMC has done for coasters is very impressive. I guess why the coaster thing bugs so much is that me being a coaster enthusiast, is how unimpressed GP are with coasters. Even in this thread, a few have said they have a park near them and have no interest in going. Where as I'm jealous how so many of you live near such amazing parks.

Many people like WDW because it's not a coaster park. I myself being one of them. I enjoy Universal because my kids like it, but I have to pop a Dramamine about every three hours to get through it.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Ah, so let me understand. So Paul, who drove the entire project and who’s financial credibility with Staggs and the board was key to getting the funding does not get credit for the expansion, which he oversaw from start to finish.

That’s awesome. Thank your for perfectly illustrating my point.

Did you work with “Paul”, boss?

Just curious.

And I’m saying he was not a good leader overall...not commenting on a specific development that resulted in what is widely regarded as a disaster park. Ask the Gap

The truth is always a grey area...if that’s your point. I agree there.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Many people like WDW because it's not a coaster park. I myself being one of them. I enjoy Universal because my kids like it, but I have to pop a Dramamine about every three hours to get through it.

I think that’s the 3D...I have to admit that after about 2 days...my equilibrium is fried.

Coasters with 3D is a tad much.

 

[Miss Bella]

I think that’s the 3D...I have to admit that after about 2 days...my equilibrium is fried.

Coasters with 3D is a tad much.

I like coasters like Mummy. My inner ear does not like the upside down, twisty, turny stuff.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Unless of course you want to give him credit for the largest investment in the Anaheim site since Walt. You can disagree with the creative, but he drove the expansion of the resort, DCA, Grand Californian, and all of the city, county, and state improvements that supported it including changes to the freeways that all fundamentally changed the single park into a “resort”.

If another president in the past 50 years has driven that level of expansion in the property, feel free to remind me.

Ah, so let me understand. So Paul, who drove the entire project and who’s financial credibility with Staggs and the board was key to getting the funding does not get credit for the expansion, which he oversaw from start to finish.

That’s awesome. Thank your for perfectly illustrating my point.

He didn’t. Disney committed to the expansion while Pressler was still at the Disney Store and Staggs was at Strategic Planning.