News Reflections of Earth confirmed to be replaced by Harmonious

[James Alucobond]

This x 100000% Disney is not putting out crooked surveys, why ask for feedback just to say “lol no”.

While I generally agree with this, leaders do occasionally ask for surveys to be designed to prove a point or make a specific business case. Hopefully, they have a good research team that designs their studies well and helps leadership understand what sorts of questions surveys can and cannot answer. However, I have been on teams in the past where the researchers aren't very good and just acquiesce to requests even if they don't follow best practices.

You obviously know absolutely nothing about surveys, why they are frowned upon as a means of evaluation, who requests them and who designs them.

An executive who wants something to be evaluated isn't going to be the person designing the survey...someone who works for him is. That someone likely knows the results that are hoped for...would you design a survey that would require you to tell your boss they're wrong?

I've been reading Disney surveys for years - the vast majority of them are inherently biased and the only purpose the vast majority of them serve is to prove someone in the company "right". The clues to all of this are very obvious if you analyze the questions and available responses.

Again, I think this relies on the quality of the research team and data/analytics folks. Good researchers help shape the kinds of questions asked and make clear that there are multiple ways of interpreting the data that will warrant further investigation after the survey is concluded. Additionally, while surveys are imperfect and obviously aren't a great fit for all types of research, there's a reason there are many industry standards constructed around them.

 

[montyz81]

@marni1971 Any insight on why they are asking the questions? (BTW: good to see your post, it seems like your posts don't show up as much as they used to.)

 

[marni1971]

I'm sure in the company they're wondering why they spent (and are spending) so much on a new show when the return is looking even if not worse then a "simple" show like EF. Regardless of my feelings of the show, I'd expect better ratings simply because it's new.

I can’t go into details but it’s been quite a cluster from start to finish, with both versions of Forever causing even more problems (for them, not for fans of quality)

 

[disneygeek90]

I half haphazardly watched Harmonious for the first time a few weeks ago. While admittedly not in a great view for prime judgment... I listened to the RoE score on the way home.

 

[montyz81]

rip it out put in World of Color done World of Color is by far the best theme park show Disney Has ever done period I was never move as much as the first time I saw it. And it was not the water jets it was the SCORE!

Please no. Epcot does not need WoC. It requires a successor to ROE. Harm is a successor to WoC. As of right now, there is no successor to RoE.
Rides, shows, restaurants all seem to tell a story in all of WDW. Neither WoC nor Harm tells a story. They simply advertise movies, so little kids will beg their parents to buy them merch and subscriptions to Disney+.

 

[Skibum1970]

I half haphazardly watched Harmonious for the first time a few weeks ago. While admittedly not in a great view for prime judgment... I listened to the RoE score on the way home.

The Reflections of Earth Prologue is one of my favorite Disney scores. I bought the cd when I was down there for business and ended up listening to it repeatedly at every opportunity.

 

[brettf22]

As it is, I think it's safe to say:

• Pre-schoolers probably like Harmonious much more than ROE.

My wife will be happy to know that Len’s data supports her initial take after seeing Harmonious in person.

At first, my wife was impressed by the show. But as we walked out of the park, she made a very adroit analogy. She liken Harmonious to one of those baby sensory stimulation videos, meant to distract, but not really provide anything substantial, and then be quickly forgotten. I have to agree.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I can’t go into details but it’s been quite a cluster from start to finish, with both versions of Forever causing even more problems (for them, not for fans of quality)

I like that - "Fans of quality". I may have to use that phrase more often going forward.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

While I generally agree with this, leaders do occasionally ask for surveys to be designed to prove a point or make a specific business case. Hopefully, they have a good research team that designs their studies well and helps leadership understand what sorts of questions surveys can and cannot answer. However, I have been on teams in the past where the researchers aren't very good and just acquiesce to requests even if they don't follow best practices.


Again, I think this relies on the quality of the research team and data/analytics folks. Good researchers help shape the kinds of questions asked and make clear that there are multiple ways of interpreting the data that will warrant further investigation after the survey is concluded. Additionally, while surveys are imperfect and obviously aren't a great fit for all types of research, there's a reason there are many industry standards constructed around them.

Surveys absolutely have their place...but Disney, specifically, habitually designs them with inherent bias to the point of absurdity.

 

[lentesta]

I can’t go into details but it’s been quite a cluster from start to finish, with both versions of Forever causing even more problems (for them, not for fans of quality)

I've got a roll of $20s and a case of scotch that says you can go into details.

 

[MisterPenguin]

You obviously know absolutely nothing about surveys, why they are frowned upon as a means of evaluation, who requests them and who designs them.

An executive who wants something to be evaluated isn't going to be the person designing the survey...someone who works for him is. That someone likely knows the results that are hoped for...would you design a survey that would require you to tell your boss they're wrong?

I've been reading Disney surveys for years - the vast majority of them are inherently biased and the only purpose the vast majority of them serve is to prove someone in the company "right". The clues to all of this are very obvious if you analyze the questions and available responses.

So, you claim that for decades and decades, Disney has been spending millions on surveys and the employment of statistical analysts only to have those analysts purposely cook the survey to get the results that they *think* their bosses wanted to hear? And again, they've been doing this for decades and spending millions on it, and it never bit them on the backside for that?

So, for example, after a cooked survey told the brass that an unpopular attraction was getting good ratings because that's secretly what the brass wanted to hear, and then it actually remained unpopular and failed, then no one in the company said, "Hey, why did our survey not show us how unpopular that attraction was?"?

And even tho many ex-employees spilled the beans on dodgy practices and corporate intrigue, that no ex-employee in charge of surveys came out and admitted it was all a sham?

I've been filling out Disney surveys, too, and even tho I was frustrated they didn't ask the question I wanted them to, I saw no unreliability in the questions asked. Because they didn't ask about the stuff I wanted to complain about, that doesn't mean the analysts told the brass that no one complained about it (because it wasn't asked).

There is zero evidence for this conspiracy theory.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

So, you claim that for decades and decades, Disney has been spending millions on surveys and the employment of statistical analysts only to have those analysts purposely cook the survey to get the results that they *think* their bosses wanted to hear? And again, they've been doing this for decades and spending millions on it, and it never bit them on the backside for that?

So, for example, after a cooked survey told the brass that an unpopular attraction was getting good ratings because that's secretly what the brass wanted to hear, and then it actually remained unpopular and failed, then no one in the company said, "Hey, why did our survey not show us how unpopular that attraction was?"?

And even tho many ex-employees spilled the beans on dodgy practices and corporate intrigue, that no ex-employee in charge of surveys came out and admitted it was all a sham?

I've been filling out Disney surveys, too, and even tho I was frustrated they didn't ask the question I wanted them to, I saw no unreliability in the questions asked. Because they didn't ask about the stuff I wanted to complain about, that doesn't mean the analysts told the brass that no one complained about it (because it wasn't asked).

There is zero evidence for this conspiracy theory.

A critical analysis of the language used and the specific questions and presented answer choices proves it out.

But sure...it's just a conspiracy theory. Because Disney executives aren't just looking out for themselves and care so much about what fans and guests think.

 

[trainplane3]

I can’t go into details but it’s been quite a cluster from start to finish, with both versions of Forever causing even more problems (for them, not for fans of quality)

Totally understand why you can't get too detailed about it. The parks felt like a cluster when I was there a few months ago, so it's par for the course. I'd think EF would've been the easier show to deal with since they could do maintenance backstage and not need a hilarious looking lift that has tie downs holding it in position on a awkward looking barge.

I'll probably stick to watching the only good nighttime spectacular in WDW, the SSE lights.

 

[aladdin2007]

They purposely ripped the heart out of this park from every angle. Killing story, theme, atmosphere, architecture, fireworks (they clearly wanted to get rid of fans) and now its coming back to bite them in their caboose. I am wondering now if third party dining locations are complaining about their numbers, they relied on Illuminations crowds which never failed over the years. Not only that but the park reservations requirement I think is holding people back as well, other parks ended theirs its just ridiculous how chapek and co. want so much control, but thats a different topic. Anwyay while illuminations needed updates and changes as any show should after so long, this just goes to show you go too far and it will have repercussions. But they still havent learned a lesson from the imagination fiasco over 20 years ago so.....this serves them right. I hope someone internally deep within is seeing the light and will force changes, but with particular individuals at the helm driving the ship, can't see it happening with them in place. Although m aybe things are just so bad they will have to. I know for me Epcot went from being my favorite beloved park to now I can hardly stand being there anymore...doesnt that tell you something Disney??

 

[ToTBellHop]

Harmonious barge themed popcorn buckets coming soon?

I’m already in line and they don’t release until April. Will live-stream.

 

[TikibirdLand]

We have someone famous here - the author of, "How to Make Friends and Influence People"!!

Do you honestly think anyone is going to engage you in a thoughtful manner when you blow into a thread like a bull in china shop and insult people?

I do find it curious that people say, "Well, after this next trip I have planned 6 months out, I'm not coming back!". Like that's really gonna show Disney anything. 2017 was our last trip. I'm trying to get the motivation to plan another. Certainly no incentives. Seems to be quite a number of people in my shoes. There's an article in The Hollywood Reporter discussing this with reddit readers buying stock in order to oust Chapek. I doubt they'll be successful. But, it may send a louder message than my withholding money from them.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I do find it curious that people say, "Well, after this next trip I have planned 6 months out, I'm not coming back!". Like that's really gonna show Disney anything. 2017 was our last trip. I'm trying to get the motivation to plan another. Certainly no incentives. Seems to be quite a number of people in my shoes. There's an article in The Hollywood Reporter discussing this with reddit readers buying stock in order to oust Chapek. I doubt they'll be successful. But, it may send a louder message than my withholding money from them.

Activist shareholders typically have more power than any group of consumers. Now if there was a loud and growing negative sentiment amongst park consumers that lead to a tangible negative effect in the form of falling attendance and spending, that would get noticed as well, but it will take far longer to have an effect.

 

[arich35]

How do I get one of these fancy surveys people speak of? Been three times and haven't seen one

 

[OG Runner]

How do I get one of these fancy surveys people speak of? Been three times and haven't seen one

I have found it to be a rare thing. I was actually even selected for a panel discussion of some upcoming
rides, but that was in 2004. That was the last time Disney asked for my opinion. Definitely not the last
time I have given it.

 

[danv3]

Activist shareholders typically have more power than any group of consumers. Now if there was a loud and growing negative sentiment amongst park consumers that lead to a tangible negative effect in the form of falling attendance and spending, that would get noticed as well, but it will take far longer to have an effect.

I voted my ~2 shares against Chapek's re-election to the Board and against the advisory vote to approve executive compensation.

Take that, Bob!