That's true. Although at the time Maelstrom could have been argued an E for 1988 standards. As could The Living Seas pavilion in 86. Horizons was the true last single E in October 1983, but with the mushroomed budget of EPCOT Center still pulling the company down plus the takeover threat and change of top brass it wasn't exactly the best time for the company, a company with very little free cash.
Credit to Eisner and Wells, a few months after they began they instigated the DMGM project and the long dormant Grand Floridian. As if a third gate wasn't enough, the additions to the MK and EPCOT Center that were started plus a whole other new multiple resort area on undeveloped land began an unprecedented period of growth from 1985-1990. 6 resorts under design and construction, infrastructure, two lakes and connecting canal system plus a third gate, 4 EPCOT Center pavilions, MK upgrades, Pleasure Island and a new Waterpark all under development virtually at once. Looking back it was stunning. Quite the opposite of Stagnant. Especially at a time the company was trying to rebuild its severely hit cash reserve. Unlike today.
It's fascinating to me when I read this stuff. I only know WDW for about 5 years now and in that time we have visited 7 separate times. We have transformed from a family (of 5) that stayed in a huge house offsite to a family that visits multiple times a year, stays on property in the deluxe resorts, and now owns DVC points at the VGF. We have the best vacations when there and do not see this stopping anytime soon (and with UNI doing what they are doing - we are Potter fans after all - it gives us even more to do).
It just amazes me to see how the WDW resort area as a whole was run at one time...so many new things being developed simultaneously, and not small things. I watched a WDW special on youtube that was taped back in the 80s/90s timeframe (not certain as to the date of the taping) and John Lithgow was the host. At the end of the show, there was a final segment talking about what was planned for WDW in the coming years: TOT, Roger Rabbit Toontown, I believe Sunset Blvd. did not exist yet, Muppets for DHS; a Space Pavilion, an outer ring of additions to WS with one being a bullet train ride in the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT. I mean the list was insane, and I don't even think that Animal Kingdom was mentioned (I could be wrong about that though).
What I don't understand is why the change? I don't know the history of the company like some do here, but from some of the posts, I gather that Eisner and Wells at one time seemed to be worshiped by some of the posters in these threads, but then something drastically changed during their tenure as company leaders. Suddenly, WDW did not spend anymore under Eisner and cost cutting became the strategy. Under present-day management, Iger doesn't seem to want to spend on new attractions in WDW. There certainly is spending going on - DVC expansions, Aulani, new busses and bus port at MK, DTD/Disney Springs transformation, FOF Parade, NFL expansion, hub redesign and MSUSA bypass, expansion of Harambe in DAK, as well as other minor expansions in DAK. Of course, there is also the oh so magical magic bands and all of the tech infrastructure changes/upgrades. All of these things, however, seem very much relegated to infrastructure improvements (aside from the parade). Beyond Avatar in 2017, there are no new rides/expansions anywhere else that are definite. And infrastructure is important to maintain, I know, but it's not new rides or experiences.
@marni1971, I always regard you as a very knowledgeable poster for obvious reasons. My question is why such a change in philosophy here? I mean WDW prints money. On our last trip we ate at Narcoossee's, and as we waited outside on the deck, I watched the ferryboats going back and forth, non-stop, filled with people (that's right, they even added another dock). It is ridiculous to think of the amount of money WDW makes with the MK alone. Everyone always complains that it is the 'pencil-pushers' fault, or that upper management doesn't know what they are doing, or the ubiquitous, evil Board of Directors don't want to spend money because the stock price has never been higher, blah blah blah and so on. I work in a large pharma company and you hear the same type of complaints there when things don't seem to be going well. I am not a business major so there is much about this type of industry that I don't understand. As a result, I can't pinpoint why a change occurred in how the business was/is being run in Orlando.
I have not spent the last 20-30 years going to WDW so the lack of change/expansion/whatever has simply not affected me like it has other people.
I just want to know why, during Eisner's years, did there seem to be a change in how WDW was developed as a business. And ever since then it has not reverted back. Is it because WDW is simply too large of an entity now? Has it become a thousand headed monster that is too difficult to control? I see people complain about maintenance issues and park cleanliness (this I don't necessarily agree with but that is just me) but if they staffed appropriately, wouldn't that demand increasing park ticket prices even higher than they are now? According to
@ParentsOf4, WDW needs to either lower resort room prices, or they need to expand in their parks to justify the exorbitant onsite resort prices. Would lowering room rates even be possible in this day and age? Some solutions just seem so simple but I wonder if they will ever be instituted. Also, WDW probably has the creativity and funds to fight back against UNI right now, as I have heard people describe WDW as a sleeping giant. I don't understand why WDW doesn't, unless TWDC feels that the resort has maxed out. Do you think that is possible? Is WDW simply too large: 4 parks, 2 water parks, resorts and DVCs too numerous to count. Over-saturation can occur, but I have never heard anyone suggest that. In fact, I continue to hear the opposite: MK is great but the other 3 parks are half day parks that need to expand. I read that all of the time on these threads.
My family loves WDW, and I consider our purchase of the VGF to be a good investment. To some of my rather admittedly rambling questions above, I would love to hear why other people think WDW is rather stagnant right now in terms of park expansion (beyond MK) or addition of new rides (such as in FW or DHS). There were apparently plans in place years ago for huge expansions at EPCOT and DHS but corporate strategy seems to have changed radically. I know DAK was built, but it still seems that aggressive expansion/additions to the major parks has slowed drastically and a new business strategy exists now. It is in stark contrast to what UNI is doing, and WDW seems to have no interest in directly responding in kind. It just puzzles me.
Sorry about the length of this post. Had to get that off my chest.
