Staggs promoted to COO

[ford91exploder]

I'll never understand the hate for Iger, the previous presidents and CEO's gave us a lot of expansions but it was all done on the cheap.

Iger has overseen:

1) a redo that turned DCA into the 3rd best park in the US (IMHO)
2) the largest expansion in MK history
3) a complete renovation of DD into Disney Springs
4) the largest expansion in AK history
5) the largest expansion in HS history (most likely)
6) the acquisition of Pixar, Lucas Arts, and Marvel.
7) the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy
8) and incredible profits.

I don't agree with everything he's done and wish it would have taken 10 years instead of 20 for all this to happen but it's a pretty impressive list.

1 - Greenlit and funded by Eisner
2 - Square footage perhaps - there have been bigger projects at WDW
3 - True
4 - Not completed or opened can still be mothballed (AoA structures are an example)
5 - Fanboi speculation only as the only items greenlit are TSMM expansion and TSPL themed flat rides
6 - True
7 - True
8 - Profit margins expressed as a percentage of revenue still not as good as Eisner/Wells period.

 

[Ranch Dressing]

I'll never understand the hate for Iger, the previous presidents and CEO's gave us a lot of expansions but it was all done on the cheap.

Iger has overseen:

1) a redo that turned DCA into the 3rd best park in the US (IMHO)
2) the largest expansion in MK history
3) a complete renovation of DD into Disney Springs
4) the largest expansion in AK history
5) the largest expansion in HS history (most likely)
6) the acquisition of Pixar, Lucas Arts, and Marvel.
7) the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy
8) and incredible profits.

I don't agree with everything he's done and wish it would have taken 10 years instead of 20 for all this to happen but it's a pretty impressive list.

Anyone want to take a stab at what all that stuff cost and compare it to previous COO's spending?

 

[prberk]

It was indeed a huge project, but did it really expand anything? Mostly everything existing got changed, with new attractions replacing old attractions.

He's not talking about 1994...

That's what I was going to say. The Tomorrowland expansion that included new rides called Space Mountain and the PeopleMover and the Carousel of Progress and a complete renovation was quite sizable. Not quite as large as a meet-n-greet or magic wristbands would have been, but we took what we could get at that time in 1974....

 

[sjhym333]

I have been thinking about all this. My feelings are Rasulo will be gone in the near future. He is working without a contract and just got passed over. I think if Staggs can prove himself over the next couple of years he will be CEO. This board seems like an easy transition into big roles and if Staggs can perform I think the job will be his. I think that Meg saw the writing on the wall a while ago and I think her health has been so-so at times which is why she is retiring.

As for who will replace Staggs... I think if they decide to promote someone from inside the parks we can see Jim McPhee who is well liked and respected or George Kalogridis who has experience on both coasts move up. But I also wouldn't be surprised if someone outside the theme park division is moved into Staggs position. I think we may be surprised that it is a name of someone we don't know who has a financial background.

 

[JordanNite]

If Disney give Staggs the same contract as Iger he will do the exact same thing.

One good thing about the end of Iger's reign as he won't be responsible for the spending, he might be tempted to green light a few projects knowing full well he can enjoy the creative process but won't be around when the money has to be spent.

 

[asianway]

That's what I was going to say. The Tomorrowland expansion that included new rides called Space Mountain and the PeopleMover and the Carousel of Progress and a complete renovation was quite sizable. Not quite as large as a meet-n-greet or magic wristbands would have been, but we took what we could get at that time in 1974....

I think we are all quite pleased to this day at the largest expansion you detail out

 

[ford91exploder]

If Disney give Staggs the same contract as Iger he will do the exact same thing.

One good thing about the end of Iger's reign as he won't be responsible for the spending, he might be tempted to green light a few projects knowing full well he can enjoy the creative process but won't be around when the money has to be spent.

The only problem with this is Iger HAS no creativity, Eisner was worrying about this a couple years after Burke was passed over.

 

[michmousefan]

Another Staggs-friendly piece in the WSJ, mostly interesting for the point that Staggs "pushed to keep sophisticated audio-animatronic characters at the "Avatar" land when problems arose in their design." If so, then good on ya, Mr. Staggs.

Also a nice endorsement from Cameron in the article.

It's behind a paywall... unless you access it from a mobile browser.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/iger-clone-rises-in-disneys-ranks-1423872566

 

[ford91exploder]

I think we are all quite pleased to this day at the largest expansion you detail out

It was quite nice even though it did not include silly rubber bands or impossible to reserve restaurants and stroller parking.

 

[dhall]

That's what I was going to say. The Tomorrowland expansion that included new rides called Space Mountain and the PeopleMover and the Carousel of Progress and a complete renovation was quite sizable. Not quite as large as a meet-n-greet or magic wristbands would have been, but we took what we could get at that time in 1974....

You forgot StarJets, and If You Had Wings (which was free back when ride tickets were still a thing). What's the modern equivalent of a free attraction that's as good as most of the D & E tickets in the park?

 

[FigmentJedi]

4 - Not completed or opened can still be mothballed (AoA structures are an example)

You have no idea how hard I'd be grinning and cackling if that happened.

 

[PhotoDave219]

According to the Walt Disney World website it is.

"Upon completion, Fantasyland will nearly double in size—for the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom park."

I'm not sure cherry-picking marketing statements from their website is the best way about reinforcing your argument. Especially when the net gain of the number of rides is only one.

 

[JordanNite]

Such great parks - makes you so angry that ONE CEO can just ruin it by not investing a single thing into them. Tragic. So many possibilities, but full of rides that were out of date in the 80s

 

[prberk]

You forgot StarJets, and If You Had Wings (which was free back when ride tickets were still a thing). What's the modern equivalent of a free attraction that's as good as most of the D & E tickets in the park?

That's right. I used to love If You Had Wings. I can still remember the way the song echoed, "If you had wings, had wings, had wings...".

It was probably free because Eastern Airlines, its sponsor, wanted it to be free. It made a great commercial for them; and for a child as I was, it showed all kinds of places to go and dream about. It was kind of quaint. The was kind of like Peter Pan (ride track) meets the first part of Living with the Land, or the ride in the Mexico pavillion (whose name always escapes me).

Even in its quaintness it had the hope of the future that Tomorrowland and so much of WDW in general was supposed to engender.

I think if Mr. Staggs wants to do the best he can do, he should continue to get out to the parks, only sometimes without the VIP entrances, and just absorb what is going on. Ask himself if he is having fun or being inspired (which should always be a component). He will do it right if he does that.

I also think that they should get more exposure on TV again. I have said that over and over, but it is true. Walt Disney himself understood the power of using Disneyland as a backdrop or destination to be explored on TV. WDW could easily host a daily or weekly show or two from WDW, especially a Discovery-type of show live from Epcot, or (gasp) a return of The Wonderful World of Disney showcase program. If Staggs understands this and does it, he will do even better (not saying he should host it, but get the programs going in some fashion, with or without an exec as host -- host could be a movie star even). Anyway, more park exposure on TV that is not a cheesy ad or travelogue.

 

[dstrawn9889]

That's right. I used to love If You Had Wings. I can still remember the way the song echoed, "If you had wings, had wings, had wings...".

It was probably free because Eastern Airlines, its sponsor, wanted it to be free. It made a great commercial for them, for a child as I was, it showed all kinds of places to go and dream about. It was kind of quaint. The was kind of like Peter Pan (ride track) meets the first part of Living with the Land, or the ride in the Mexico pavillion (whose name always escapes me).

Even in its quaintness it had the hope of the future that Tomorrowland and so much of WDW in general was supposed to engender.

I think if Mr. Staggs wants to do the best he can do, he should continue to get out to the parks, only sometimes without the VIP entrances, and just absorb what is going on. Ask himself if he is having fun or being inspired (which should always be a component). He will do it right if he does that.

I also think that they should get more exposure on TV again. I have said that over and over, but it is true. Walt Disney himself understood the power of using Disneyland as a backdrop or destination to be explored on TV. WDW could easily host a daily or weekly show or two from WDW, especially a Discovery-type of show live from Epcot, or (gasp) a return of The Wonderful World of Disney showcase program. If Staggs understands this and does it, he will do even better (not saying he should host it, but get the programs going in some fashion, with or without an exec as host -- host could be a movie star even). Anyway, more park exposure on TV that is not a cheesy ad or travelogue.

El rio del tiempo

 

[landauh]

The only problem with this is Iger HAS no creativity, Eisner was worrying about this a couple years after Burke was passed over.

I have always believed that this is a major issue with Disney as a whole. Walt created a business that required one individual that had great creativity but not necessarily great business sense (Walt) and one that had great business sense with little to no creativity (Roy). When Walt died the company had trouble filling both set of shoes until Eisner/Wells showed up. Once Wells died the creativity side vanished and has never been replaced (Eisner tried but was lacking). Iger also tried to do both (bad at creativity and hates the public life, great at business) and once again proved that one person can't do both to keep up with what Walt started. Staggs and anyone else will be in the same boat unless they can find someone to help with the side that is lacking. Disney can't (at least the theme park side of the company) function or grow efficiently without two great minds ... one that excels in the creative world and one that excels in the business world (and can work together without strife).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have always believed that this is a major issue with Disney as a whole. Walt created a business that required one individual that had great creativity but not necessarily great business sense (Walt) and one that had great business sense with little to no creativity (Roy). When Walt died the company had trouble filling both set of shoes until Eisner/Wells showed up. Once Wells died the creativity side vanished and has never been replaced (Eisner tried but was lacking). Iger also tried to do both (bad at creativity and hates the public life, great at business) and once again proved that one person can't do both to keep up with what Walt started. Staggs and anyone else will be in the same boat unless they can find someone to help with the side that is lacking. Disney can't (at least the theme park side of the company) function or grow efficiently without two great minds ... one that excels in the creative world and one that excels in the business world (and can work together without strife).

Lasseter is the "Chief Creative Officer," so the position exists. It's a matter of how much weight it carries in the decision making.

 

[landauh]

Lasseter is the "Chief Creative Officer," so the position exists. It's a matter of how much weight it carries in the decision making.

I agree with you on this issue but Lasseter has never been given the "power" that Wells had. It is an interesting thought since Staggs and Lasseter seem to get along well.