Part of that problem is that it is pure conjecture that MM+ is a debacle. We simply do not know. It did some things that we didn't like so therefore it was a failure. Meanwhile, crowds continue to show up at the gates paying big bucks to get in. That is the true test of failure, not that we wish it were. Concerning Spectro, again we are forgetting that they may have wanted to trash that parade for whatever reasons they might have, we do not know that. Once again, I have to question what harm came from not doing anything with Pleasure Island. Seems like they have now taken that opportunity, planned or otherwise, to do much more then what was originally thought.
The only thing that I see as unadulterated stupidity is letting attraction buildings stay empty and giving the appearance of a ghost town in the parks. That is something that registers subtly in the minds of people without them even being aware of it consciously. It shows up both in Epcot and DHS, but as a real target for concern is DHS. It is a park without a focus. I don't think that they really know what to do with it.
Even if you discount the specific examples cited - and they should not be so casually explained away - there still seems to be plenty of blame to go around, in completely avoidable mistakes and problems for which the powers that be have not been held responsible. Indeed, you are absolutely correct about the numbers of shuttered buildings and structures in the parks, which Disney seems perfectly content to leave empty. Sometimes this just defies explanation; Quick-service restaurants at the Magic Kingdom can be absolutely mobbed, with long lines, a lack of tables, and rushed service - yet at least the Adventureland Veranda and (often) Tortuga Tavern remain closed.
I think pheneix has a very good point about considering Imagineerings role in some of the company's half-baked, lame decisions which defy all rationale explanation (Frozen in Norway, for one), but there certainly seems to be more than sufficient blame to be placed at the executives' feet.
Still, we know for a fact that MyMagic+/NGE has serious problems. The rollout has been late and anything but smooth, it is hilariously over budget, and does not appear (at this point) that it can ever drive the promised 11% increase in guest spending. It is that spending level, and not that "crowds continue to show up at the gates paying big bucks to get in" which will more determine the success of the program. The crowds would pretty much have came anyway, but it is beyond my comprehension how something so expensive could be botched so badly and yet the persons responsible not be held accountable.
For SpectroMagic, we are talking about the loss of a multi-million dollar investment. Perhaps you are correct and someone, somewhere with an agenda (or a budget target to meet) did want the parade gone, but you don't have to let it rot to accomplish that (remember the Lights of Winter?). It is difficult to believe the person(s) responsible for killing the parade would not face the consequences.
Finally, the real problem with a shuttered Pleasure Island was that it was in the center of the shopping complex, and guests had to walk through a largely closed area from the (popular) Marketplace to reach the West Side. However, an open Pleasure Island previously had shops and restaurants open during the day, and it was obvious that the buildings were not empty and abandoned - the clubs were there and would open in the evening. That is very different than the actually shuttered club buildings and largely abandoned island guests later had to walk past.
Pleasure Island was a place that only a tiny percentage of WDW guest ever went to (probably why it closed down). It affected very few people
Again, a (largely) closed island stood in the way of people getting around Downtown Disney, and in that sense if affected many guests (discouraging many from visiting the West Side at all).
MM+ will only be judged a success if, and only if, it can be proven that it has organically increases income by 11% without price increases and other forms of financial obfuscation.
I don't see any possible way that will happen, and therefore MM+ will indeed be seen as a failure. They might well get the thing running like clockwork, but all that money was spent to make money, not improve the guest experience. For wasting $2 billion+ of company money, I am expecting more fall guys.
We don't do the judging, they do. If it isn't exactly what they planned, they will adjust their goals. It's good to be King!
This is a Disney discussion board, where we discuss - and yes, judge - the merits and failings of many facets of The Walt Disney Company. It's not like Disney is ever going to admit such a failure publicly regardless of what they admit within the executive ranks. All we have are our own best judgments (best guesses, much of the time) and observations as how it has affected the guest experience.
