Orlando Becoming East Coast Headquarters for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products

[Andrew25]

There’s already a sizable contingent working at Epcot. The trailer complex at Disney’s Animal Kingdom being built by Disney indicates it may stick around after Tropical Americas is complete.

Well aware, just think that Florida being "home" for the entire team makes far more sense from a strategic perspective. Not just 4 WDW parks, but also 3 Universal parks that can provide inspiration for them.

 

[el_super]

Well aware, just think that Florida being "home" for the entire team makes far more sense from a strategic perspective. Not just 4 WDW parks, but also 3 Universal parks that can provide inspiration for them.

What strategic sense is there?

I know there is this almost cliche notion at this point that if people (creatives? leaders?) could get into the parks and SEE what is going on, they would change their minds about the direction of the parks... but I really don't see that being true.

 

[Andrew25]

What strategic sense is there?

I know there is this almost cliche notion at this point that if people (creatives? leaders?) could get into the parks and SEE what is going on, they would change their minds about the direction of the parks... but I really don't see that being true.

I can be wrong, but Florida at the end of the day is their flagship resort that needs to see continued investing and having the majority of Imagineers closer to WDW sounds better to me.

And with Universal Creative home in Orlando, it'll be easier to poach them when it comes to attracting talent.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Florida at the end of the day is their flagship resort

I don’t think it is.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I don’t think it is.

WDW is indeed TWDCs flagship resort.

Iger hates that it is, but that does not change that it indeed is.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

WDW is indeed TWDCs flagship resort.

Iger hates that it is, but that does not change that it indeed is.

I guess I don’t think any of the resorts should be rated over another.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I guess I don’t think any of the resorts should be rated over another.

I was speaking of attendance and revenue generated.

WDW resort is king.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I was speaking of attendance and revenue generated.

WDW resort is king.

Right, top attendance is Magic Kingdom then Disneyland Park.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Right, top attendance is Magic Kingdom then Disneyland Park.

And revenue generated WDW resort wins also.

 

[Andrew25]

Disneyland is the far superior park, and the original, but MK is "the" Disney park unfortunately. WDW is the money maker for the parks division.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Disneyland is the far superior park, and the original, but MK is "the" Disney park. WDW is the money maker for the parks division.

FIFY

 

[lazyboy97o]

I can be wrong, but Florida at the end of the day is their flagship resort that needs to see continued investing and having the majority of Imagineers closer to WDW sounds better to me.

And with Universal Creative home in Orlando, it'll be easier to poach them when it comes to attracting talent.

Even Universal Creative still has a sizable workforce based at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Really it seems that the location of headquarters is going to matter less and less. Walt Disney Imagineering’s presence in Orlando has been growing for awhile now. A lot of vendors and third parties have also set up offices in Orlando. It seems more like we are headed towards the major concentrations being split between California and Florida while there is just a general shift towards project work happening more locally to the respective resort.

 

[el_super]

I can be wrong, but Florida at the end of the day is their flagship resort that needs to see continued investing and having the majority of Imagineers closer to WDW sounds better to me.

The decision to invest or not, doesn't really seem like it is one that would necessitate being on site though right? Maybe there is a certain bias you are thinking exists where executives would spend more on their home park? But to be honest, with most of the core exec team being in Burbank, the likelihood is that the people making the financial decisions visit both resorts pretty equally.

 

[DLR92]

Imagineers need to stay in Glendale. However they should invest another satellite office. It was a stupid move on Disney to force imagineers to move to Florida. Why not have two imagineer office? One for west coast and one for Florida.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Imagineers need to stay in Glendale. However they should invest another satellite office. It was a stupid move on Disney to force imagineers to move to Florida. Why not have two imagineer office? One for west coast and one for Florida.

There is already a sizable office in Florida. It’s at Epcot. They started moving beyond just handling small projects over a decade ago.

 

[JoeCamel]

There is already a sizable office in Florida. It’s at Epcot. They started moving beyond just handling small projects over a decade ago.

Are they responsible for what Epcot is today?

 

[Lilofan]

Are they responsible for what Epcot is today?

If they played a part of theming around Food and Wine it’s a money maker for the park and ever growing.

 

[JoeCamel]

If they played a part of theming around Food and Wine it’s a money maker for the park and ever growing.

The timeframe was 10 years, how long has F&W been happening??
Gee I wonder what started happening about 10 years ago? Hmmmmm

 

[Batman'sParents]

There is already a sizable office in Florida. It’s at Epcot. They started moving beyond just handling small projects over a decade ago.

And at Hollywood Studios.

 

[mkt]

And at Hollywood Studios.

The former Studio and Feature Animation offices?