Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[HMF]

Even as a fan of Michael's , I do not disagree with that at all.

That's when I start acting like the typical fanboi and blather on about what if Frank hadn't of died and what if Jeffrey let his ego go and ...

Everything there is to love or hate about today's Disney largely has ME's fingerprints all over it, something that bothers the ego .driven Weatherman every day of his life.

That's the thing that puzzles me. If Iger wants to avoid following Eisner's footsteps why the heck is he keeping the Strategic Planning Guys in power. It seems as though Iger is amplifying Eisner's mistakes and hurting the things Eisner actually got right though unlike Eisner he at least will have a much shorter reign but not short enough to minimize damages.

 

[HMF]

It is not dead. It just isn't going where it was proposed andcamethisclose to being built in 2008.

It can't even be duplicated simultaneously at DHS? I really don't understand it. certain people in TDO seem to be internally sabotaging their own resort and it requires a scolding from Burbank just to get the bare minimum? Even the dumbest exec in Burbank seems to be smarter than the vast majority of TDO. I know that NGE is a Burbank project and George K. can't do anything about it as dumb a business move as it appears to be. I really hope that he's doing something about the culture of apathy at TDO as I understand he largely gets it. I know he won't stand up to the people above him but most of the people below him seem to really not be suited for their jobs.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

A hundred pages late again:

 

[WDWDad13]

I have this theory: Disney is basically Microsoft circa 2007.

Remember when the first iPhone was released, and signaled a huge shift toward mobile devices and away from the PC market that Microsoft has dominated since forever? Remember how Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reacted? He laughed at it. He laughed and said that Microsoft was very happy with their mobile strategy, thank you very much. And then his company proceeded to merrily sit on their hands and do nothing while Apple, and then Google, proceeded to eat their lunch. Microsoft, with all its money and resources, was incapable of understanding that their industry was undergoing a major paradigm shift. And by the time they finally realized it, it was too late. The only company more clueless is Blackberry-they still think people want smartphones with tiny screens and physical keyboards.

Like Microsoft, Disney's corporate culture makes it unable to understand the threat that Universal's parks-and-resorts business poses to them. They're about to have their lunch eaten. And they won't even realize it until after it happens. If they ever do at all.

That's an interesting analogy but as with time apple and as we'll likely see with Uni down the road as well....the wow factor wears off. These things come and go in waves. Apple is already not the #1 cell phone provider anymore and the latest announcement of the new iPhones are falling flat. One could also use this analogy on avatar and how the wow factor will likely be off of it too (and that's another discussion altogether lol)

Disney will be just fine - they are redoing the foundation and technological infrastructure then we will see some major additions to the parks down the road. Not as quick as we all like sure but it will come

 

[Disneyhead'71]

So I just found out about those big "mega attractions" coming to Universal in the next few years:

-Jurassic park is basically gonna become Dinoland U.S.A. with new Carnival games and more food/merchandise carts where carnival hucksters can sell more crap to people. This is in addition to the random hair braiding stations and rock climbing wall that are junking up that area BTW. The big "e-ticket" will be a roller coaster thats themed to look like its racing through an amber mine. Universal is also considering adding a spinner to the land. What any of this has to do with the theme of a zoological theme park filled with Dinosaurs I have no idea. Forget any dreams that they would dig out lavish concepts like the Jeep adventure or Helicoptours or some new Dinosaur adventure.

-IOA will also be getitng a Lorax 3D movie in Suess Landing.


Seems like after Harry Potter Universal is gonna start following the Eisner/Iger model of doing business.

Did you actually read Jurassic Park?

 

[scout68]

I have this theory: Disney is basically Microsoft circa 2007.


Like Microsoft, Disney's corporate culture makes it unable to understand the threat that Universal's parks-and-resorts business poses to them. They're about to have their lunch eaten. And they won't even realize it until after it happens. If they ever do at all.

Maybe thats what it will take to make them hungry again.

 

[PorterRedkey]

A hundred pages late again:

That makes me want to play... and I'm only seven years old. Damn you Disney!

 

[novawildcat18]

Looks like the stage at DHS has been taken down. But they left some strange metal structure with some plants underneath it in the stage's spot.

 

[lazyboy97o]

A hundred pages late again:

MDI Entertainment will probably be announcing their Thor: The Dark World games soon.

 

[71jason]

I was talking with a senior level person last night and I hope he has the numbers to go to the bosses with.

How do you not make money on this? Every 18 - 45 year-old CM and AP in Orlando seemed to be in attendance, with a healthy out-of-state presence for this time of year. And they ate more burgers than you had and lined up 60 deep to buy $10 drinks. And that's without even trying to make a major merch push.

The interest is there. Competition with MNSSHP is no biggie--they only night they need to go head to head is 10/31, which sells out at MK a month early every year. The only problem seems to be hyperprotective moms who don't want their snowflake seeing a face character even scowl.

 

[ford91exploder]

Counting rides is red ocean. Creating a land that is an attraction onto itself, so that even the gift ships feel like "must see" stops--that's blue ocean.

Precisely - Disneyland and the 'Florida Project' were Blue Ocean, Iger and the rest of the 'Strategic Planning' gang think 'Blue Ocean' means IGNORING their competors, I'd really recommend that they start reading Sun Tzu's the 'Art of War' and Musashi's 'The Seven Rings', It certainly appears that UNI has read them and applied their lessons.

 

[ford91exploder]

I was talking with a senior level person last night and I hope he has the numbers to go to the bosses with.

It sucks that a creative person has to do a statistical analysis anytime they want to do anything cool. That's just messed up.

The internal politics and budgets ate killing the creative spirit of this company.

Disney has been fatally infected with MBA Disease, Which has as its core that all business operations can be reduced to numbers, It ignores the fact that SOMEONE needs to come up with products and services people want to buy. In the beginning the MBA was a good idea as it was designed as a tool so that engineers and others promoted to management roles could learn the language of accounting. Where it went wrong was it began to be promoted as a stand alone degree and you had hordes of young MBA's with NO BUSINESS EXPERIENCE placed in management roles immediately.

This is why European and Asian companies are eating American companies lunch as they do not immediately place college graduates into management roles, Sure they hire business school grads but they are immediately placed in the trenches and work on the business side of the company before they are even considered for promotion to a management role. In Japan even fresh new engineers are placed on the production floor so they can experience the product and it's production so when they finally graduate to design or management they THOROUGHLY understand their product at it's most basic level.

Disney's management does not even visit their parks and they hold their customers in contempt and it shows.

 

[pheneix]

But locals didn't have to be at wdw... They liked what was lured in front of them. Proven by people willing to wait hours in line and putting up with the crap just to get there.

If it was just 'nothing better to do...' They would not have to tolerance for the miserable waits and would have aborted.

There really was nothing better to do here and the weird "corporate town" culture that Orlando has that runs through guests and cast members alike made the Villains overcrowding fiasco predictable from miles away.

Seriously, give a bunch of cast members and APs with no lives and separate cars a reason to go to DHS for the night and they will make its parking lot cry. It's what Universal goes through with Halloween Horror Nights every night they operate it.

 

[ford91exploder]

That's an interesting analogy but as with time apple and as we'll likely see with Uni down the road as well....the wow factor wears off. These things come and go in waves. Apple is already not the #1 cell phone provider anymore and the latest announcement of the new iPhones are falling flat. One could also use this analogy on avatar and how the wow factor will likely be off of it too (and that's another discussion altogether lol)

Disney will be just fine - they are redoing the foundation and technological infrastructure then we will see some major additions to the parks down the road. Not as quick as we all like sure but it will come

I wish I had your faith, I think it will be more likely that the parks will be sold and operated under license as Disney seems to be much happier as a IP holding company than a creative organization these days.

 

[pheneix]

As to the media outlet getting the boot, I have heard that as well. I would love it if one of their people would join us over here and discuss it and social media in general. I have an inkling they already have at least one account here. They would have nothing to lose at this point and they'd be able to prove to the folks here who still do not get what Disney is doing, how if you are fair and unbiased with the mouse it gets you tossed out on your proverbial . I also think something else is at play with said media and the Mouse.

I'd be WAY more interested in the cast members, both front line and management, who have been pulled off duty and into meetings with rather scary types to discuss their activities on the portal and also their interactions in social media and online fan forums such as this one.

Don't say I didn't give a friendly warning to all the insiders out there. This business of spreading news and rumors around about the Walt Disney Company ain't as harmless as it used to be.

 

[RSoxNo1]

It was done by the same Wdi lead. Bob w

They revisited many of their ideas they had for MGM ... The building recreations... The trolly... Etc

No stealing... Same dudes!

I know you like to criticize every post, but this was sarcasm. It's ok to let one or two get past without contradicting it.

 

[ford91exploder]

I'd be WAY more interested in the cast members, both front line and management, who have been pulled off duty and into meetings with rather scary types to discuss their activities on the portal and also their interactions in social media and online fan forums such as this one.

Don't say I didn't give a friendly warning to all the insiders out there. This business of spreading news and rumors around about the Walt Disney Company ain't as harmless as it used to be.

Disney has really lost it in my humble opinion on many fronts and this type of behavior is usually only seen when a corporation is on the verge of a major change as in purchasing a competitor or selling off a major division, The announcement of major CAPEX reductions at P&R futher reinforces this speculation.

 

[RSoxNo1]

That's nothing. Disney blatantly built a dark boat ride copied after the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie. Don't they have a conscience?

Twitter exchange between me and the Hotel Del Coronado:
Me: The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego totally ripped off the Grand Floridian pic.twitter.com/DwSPE7BuMQ
Hotel Del Coronado: We were built first in 1888 .
Me: Just because you predated Disney by 100 years doesn't meant you didn't copy them

 

[pheneix]

Disney has really lost it in my humble opinion on many fronts and this type of behavior is usually only seen when a corporation is on the verge of a major change as in purchasing a competitor or selling off a major division, The announcement of major CAPEX reductions at P&R futher reinforces this speculation.

Yes. This is a very paranoid and scared administrative team that is acting out whenever they feel just a little more threatened than usual.

Fortunately, if you're in the upper echelon at TWDC, Disney just announced a stock buy back and your retirement and employee stock purchase options are singing.

But below that "protected class" of Disney executive? Pure fear and a corporate culture that is quickly resembling Orwell's 1984.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I have this theory: Disney is basically Microsoft circa 2007.

Remember when the first iPhone was released, and signaled a huge shift toward mobile devices and away from the PC market that Microsoft has dominated since forever? Remember how Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reacted? He laughed at it. He laughed and said that Microsoft was very happy with their mobile strategy, thank you very much. And then his company proceeded to merrily sit on their hands and do nothing while Apple, and then Google, proceeded to eat their lunch. Microsoft, with all its money and resources, was incapable of understanding that their industry was undergoing a major paradigm shift. And by the time they finally realized it, it was too late. The only company more clueless is Blackberry-they still think people want smartphones with tiny screens and physical keyboards.

Like Microsoft, Disney's corporate culture makes it unable to understand the threat that Universal's parks-and-resorts business poses to them. They're about to have their lunch eaten. And they won't even realize it until after it happens. If they ever do at all.

While I think this is a fantastic post, Disney probably thinks they're Apple in this situation because they're the one's doing the shifting and it's everyone else that's staying the course and Disney that's changing.