Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[WDWDad13]

Everyone slips on the lift. Thats part of the fun.

You wouldn't have fallen out.

this must be what they were referring to?
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...p-ride-rockit-injury-20130801,0,7127139.story

 

[Eeyore]

This thread (and the others started by @WDW1974) are allowed to stay in WDW News and Rumors because they generally contain both. The "rules" were bent to include discussion of Universal, and the Disney corp as a whole. Even the Disney lifestylers - as long as it remains civil. Or pretty much anything related to Disney and even other theme parks and resorts.

But if it continues to be mostly chat, it will be moved to Chit Chat. The editing is done in an effort to keep it where the OP has requested. So please do not to go off on tangents, including discussions about how you think the thread should be moderated. If you have a question, and it has not been answered in this post, please contact the administrator or one of the moderators.

I'd also like to add that any additional political comments will be deleted. It has been a long standing respectful request that political topics be avoided. We don't request much and give quite a bit of leeway, so in return we expect the few requests we have to be respected. If any of you would like to debate the bill of rights, constitution, stand your ground laws etc. I'm sure there are plenty of forums out there that will fit that need for you. If our request to avoid political discussion continues to be ignored we may be forced to close this thread.

 

[TarzanRocked99-]

see I'm not disputing that... I agree with most you said... but I don't think Disney is done and will be closing the doors soon and Uni is going to be the greatest theme park in the world, etc. etc. There are lots of things coming in the future... from both parks.... that I think is a good thing


we also have to remember that Disney owns a lot more than the theme park division...and they are running a business (whether we like it or not haha)

I do not think anyone within their right mind thinks Disney is "done" or will be shutting their doors. The point being made about the losing of the theme park wars and point of no return is referencing that until just recently Disney could effectively capture the majority of Orlando vacationers full time and money. Due to their stagnation and the investments made by Universal we are now watching a shift in that formula. Disney vacations are shrinking while Universals are growing, the number of visitors to Central Florida is staying pretty much the same.

It's what these visitors are doing once here that is causing the shift. Most still stay at Disney, but are taking a few days out now to see what else is out there, which is exactly what Disney doesn't want them to do and in fact has built it's entire business model in Orlando around to prevent that from happening. If Disney had a lineup of new and exciting offerings coming up over the next few years then perhaps they could stop the bleeding, but they don't and guess who does??? That's right Uni. What's even scarier for Disney is that Universal is now addressing their lack of hotel inventory issue which could spell disaster for Disney. Because if the average vacationer can get a room at Uni for cheaper and enjoy their experiences and then perhaps hop over to Disney for a day or two then Universal has accomplished their goals.

The shift is happening, it's fascinating to watch. I partner with both companies and watched this shift happening since 2010 with WWOHP opening, and it's only grown since. The sad thing is that the Disney Managment that I work with refuse to acknowledge that anything is wrong and most haven't even stepped foot in Uni because its beneath them. Sentiments I believe are shared throughout the upper ranks of the mouse.

 

[truecoat]

Everyone slips on the lift. Thats part of the fun.

You wouldn't have fallen out.

My restraint was so tight, on the way down I couldn't breathe. I was gasping at the top of every hill for air then back down. Prob the last time I ride this one.

 

[Darth Sidious]

Sorry, Neo. Not ready go out out DL info just quite yet. But Iron Man is a no go.

Out of curiosity is Disney hesitant to build west coast Marvel attractions while having Uni on the east using the same IP? I would have to think it plays some role considering Disney loves complete control over their brands. The Marcel deal must drive them crazy considering they don't control lots of licenses.

 

[RyenDeckard]

The sad thing is that the Disney Managment that I work with refuse to acknowledge that anything is wrong and most haven't even stepped foot in Uni because its beneath them. Sentiments I believe are shared throughout the upper ranks of the mouse.

That's really funny, since there's a picture I saw about a year back (and can't find again, sorry) of Michael Eisner riding Ripsaw Falls after IOA's opening.

 

[rodmansju]

i will confess that my family are one of the ones that disney loves--we keep coming back every two years, as DVC members. kids love it, for the most part...but honestly i think some of it could be countered by just taking them to a disney store and skipping the drive down to Florida now.

earlier this summer, knowing we were going to WDW, the kids actually wanted to go to Hilton Head instead (thats our other every 2 yrs vacation). thats kinda huge to me--they are 7,7,7 and 2. even my nephew, who is 9, isn't really drawn to disney anymore.

but i show them the new and different things at UNI on youtube, and they want to go. i show them legoland, they want to go. Yes, some of it is because it's new and different....but...why can't that new and different be all over disney? ok, NFE, sure. but 2 things we'd want to try, still aren't ready (7DMT, and of course, for the daughter, the princess meet and greet).

within a month of our last trip to WDW, Avatar was announced. as uninterested as i was and am in the movies, it would be something new at AK, which is a fave of mine (tho, i may be the only one in the family...).

as others have stated, its the inaction, or appearance of inaction by extremely slow response times.

as a PM, if I was running a project that was announced two years ago that involved construction, and no construction had started, theres a better than good chance the project is killed off (not saying avatar has been, dont get hopes up). but as others have noted....this is our 3rd time in the last 6 years, and with a few exceptions...it will be the same vacation, just...different beds.

really hoping '74 is holding on to some really promising news....but i think i'd better not get my hopes up. i think if things keep up at this rate, a couple more trips down and the kids will be clamoring for more UNI and little disney. finally actually doing cars land and something big with star wars would go a long long way.

 

[WDWDad13]

That's really funny, since there's a picture I saw about a year back (and can't find again, sorry) of Michael Eisner riding Ripsaw Falls after IOA's opening.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/multimedia/orl-oia20080418100805,0,184798.photo

 

[TarzanRocked99-]

That's really funny, since there's a picture I saw about a year back (and can't find again, sorry) of Michael Eisner riding Ripsaw Falls after IOA's opening.

Yes, but that's the difference. Eisner cared about the parks and was extremely competive. Quite similar to Stephen Burke actually and that's pretty telling as to what is occurring now.

 

[bhg469]

Yes, but that's the difference. Eisner cared about the parks and was extremely competive. Quite similar to Stephen Burke actually and that's pretty telling as to what is occurring now.

Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got til its gone. Pave paradise and put up a meet and greet.

I don't normally toot my own horn, but my post just made me think all nostalgic and now im really sad.

 

[The Mom]

this must be what they were referring to?
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...p-ride-rockit-injury-20130801,0,7127139.story

There is no evidence that she "slipped out." Perhaps there will be an update as to the circumstances surrounding her injury.

 

[WDWDad13]

There is no evidence that she "slipped out." Perhaps there will be an update as to the circumstances surrounding her injury.

yeah from the article it sounded like this was very minor (or they are keep more under wraps)

 

[BryceM]

That's really funny, since there's a picture I saw about a year back (and can't find again, sorry) of Michael Eisner riding Ripsaw Falls after IOA's opening.

I hope he rode other things as well... Ripsaw Falls is certainly not one of the better rides in the park.

 

[MattM]

No, they should be tagging me. I started the damn thread and am having trouble actually saying anything.

Well that's your fault. You teased a number of things in SNOT3

 

[Nemo14]

This thread (and the others started by @WDW1974) are allowed to stay in WDW News and Rumors because they generally contain both. The "rules" were bent to include discussion of Universal, and the Disney corp as a whole. Even the Disney lifestylers - as long as it remains civil. Or pretty much anything related to Disney and even other theme parks and resorts.

But if it continues to be mostly chat, it will be moved to Chit Chat. The editing is done in an effort to keep it where the OP has requested. So please do not to go off on tangents, including discussions about how you think the thread should be moderated. If you have a question, and it has not been answered in this post, please contact the administrator or one of the moderators.

I'd also like to add that any additional political comments will be deleted. It has been a long standing respectful request that political topics be avoided. We don't request much and give quite a bit of leeway, so in return we expect the few requests we have to be respected. If any of you would like to debate the bill of rights, constitution, stand your ground laws etc. I'm sure there are plenty of forums out there that will fit that need for you. If our request to avoid political discussion continues to be ignored we may be forced to close this thread.

As an early riser, I've had the opportunity to read some of these posts before they were deleted, and I must say, that Steve, Beth, and Marcia do a fantastic job of cleaning this place up every morning. There are posters out there whose sole agenda appears to be to derail and discredit - whatever their reasons, and we are all very fortunate that our mods are savvy enough to see through these shenanigans. We may not like it when some of our own posts get caught in the purge, but I think we owe them all a huge amount of gratitude and respect for what has become quite a daunting challenge in this thread.

 

[wdwmagic]

This thread (and the others started by @WDW1974) are allowed to stay in WDW News and Rumors because they generally contain both. The "rules" were bent to include discussion of Universal, and the Disney corp as a whole. Even the Disney lifestylers - as long as it remains civil. Or pretty much anything related to Disney and even other theme parks and resorts.

But if it continues to be mostly chat, it will be moved to Chit Chat. The editing is done in an effort to keep it where the OP has requested. So please do not to go off on tangents, including discussions about how you think the thread should be moderated. If you have a question, and it has not been answered in this post, please contact the administrator or one of the moderators.

Just want to further underline here what has been very clearly stated above.

This thread, and a couple of the others before it are really bordering on the line of Chit Chat or General Discussion. We don't just want to move/delete stuff for the heck of it, but some of you are really not doing us any favors. Each day the moderators have 10 or 20 reported posts coming from this thread, and I can tell you it is not much fun reading through petty arguments, accusations of trolls, and general name calling and insult throwing. This is not what the forum is about, and we are not going to continue like this.

Please read this and take it on board.

1. Learn to ignore posts. If there is someone who is an obvious troll, report the post, and ignore the user. That way the problem is resolved as soon as possible and does not derail the thread. If you continue to back and forth with a troll, you are serving their purpose.

2. Remain on subject. This forum is not for discussing politics, law and religion. You all know that, and if it continues expect posts or the thread to be deleted.

Most of you have been here long enough to know how it works, and to know that we are very lenient with moderating. If you can abide by a few very simple rules, there is no problem.

 

[ShookieJones]

The issue is not competition. The issue is what WDW has become: a soulless shell of its former self.

Consider how The Walt Disney Company's (TWDC) heads approached their jobs throughout the history of the company:

Walt Disney: “I have an idea.”
Roy Disney: “It was Walt’s idea.”
Card Walker: “Would Walt have thought it was a good idea?”
Michael Eisner: “What’s your idea?”
Bob Iger: “What are the financials backing your idea?”

This is what I call the de-evolution of TWDC CEO.

Business history is replete with examples of successful ideas that made no sense financially when first imagined. Exceptional business leaders author innovative ideas. Strong business leaders recognize innovative ideas and nurture them.

Iger knows how to interpret a financial report.

Iger lacks the creative drive and instinct of Walt Disney and his successors. Iger's a highly effective administrator but his idea of creativity is to buy someone else's IP and replicate. It's why we're getting another Disneyland in the Far East, 2 more cruise ships, yet another batch of Marvel superhero movies, more Star Wars, and more Pixar. Under Iger's leadership, TWDC often misfires when it tries to get creative. The company's two most effective leaders, Walt and Eisner, had the creative instincts that Iger sorely lacks.

In the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and even into the 2000s, there was no better place for a theme park junkie to be than WDW. It was more than just a bunch of rides; it was an experience. Now, after thinking WDW was pretty much the best place in the world for the better part of 40 years (I missed a few of the early years), it hurts me to see what once was the world champion grow fat and lazy. It's a bit like watching a great sports athlete in their declining years. (How's Tiger Woods doing lately?) The difference is WDW doesn't have to age, doesn't have to decline, if TWDC had leadership with the right creative instincts.

The problem is Iger lacks the creative instinct to make the right decisions when it comes to the theme park business. The DLR redo was a success largely because Lassiter pushed it through, not because Iger particularly wanted it.

At WDW, there is no Lassiter championing change. They have no clue how to grow the business and so they look to nickel-and-dime their "guests" to figure out ways to squeeze another 7% each year, mostly through higher prices and quality cuts. Everything at WDW gets viewed primarily through the money lens. Money is important. Money makes a business successful. Money has to be managed. But money becomes worthless if it's invested badly. Right now, TWDC lacks the creative leadership to make the right investment at WDW.

TWDC spent half-a-billion to "fix" its most popular land at its most popular theme park while WDW suffers from 2 theme parks that are treated as half-day parks by most paying customers. Sorry but no company spends that kind of money just to solve capacity issues. Rest assured that they were expecting a big financial bump from that investment, a bump that never materialized.

That same leadership let the Harry Potter IP go to a theme park that was in an awful way. Uni promptly spent half of New Fantasyland's budget and completely turned around its fate. That was a wise investment, an investment that TWDC had the inside track on but let slip through their fingers because they lacked the leadership that was capable of making the right creative decision.

Now WDW is investing billions on a technology they can't get working, that even now they are realizing is not going to be the financial winner they once fooled themselves into thinking it would be. Meanwhile, Universal is sprucing up its parks, improving services, and building exciting new attractions that will keep guests coming for years to come.

At WDW, they're arguing over how much they can cut the DHS redo budget by.

Continuing your trend of intelligent,insightful and well thought out posts. Bravo!

 

[dreamfinder]

Yes. Fat Tire is immensely important.

That being said.... Disney Execs. You need to have New Belgium's Fat Tire served at all the bars/restaurants by Monday as it was released in Florida this week.

Well, it was listed at one of the Food & Wine booths. Is that perhaps an opening shot?

 

[IWant2GoNow]

A question early on that I'm still curious about...

@WDW1974, -Spirit, I know you've said over & over that things would get worse before they get better, but when will be able to set sail on the winds of "Spirited" change? Even the DHS/DAK rumors don't seem to be enough to turn it around unless they really & truly have kept this under a tight lid & will wow us soon with an unheard of "surprise" announcement. If NGE ends up being dialed back & essentially a failure from what they intended it to be, will they pony up & begin constructing attractions & improving quality? Or will they sink more & more money into it until it works correctly 5 years from now?

 

[stevehousse]

I love spirited threads and everyone's opinions, and they are just that, opinions, whether positive or negative. Thank you for taking away my first amendment of freedom of speech in a message board?!? The moderation of this board had become extremely obsessive as of late...and not in a good way...nothing I posted last night warranted my posts to be deleted in any way shape or form...