Tom Staggs at WDW

[Horizonsfan]

I don't have a crystal ball but this guy might have. Behold the future.....

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.04/mediasaurus_pr.html

I'm perpetually impressed in what you'll throw out there to defend your claims. Amusing if nothing else.

The parks at the end of the day use social media to give red meat to the base. It doesn't "replace" traditional media. It's just another branch.

 

[flynnibus]

Not sure who Bruce and Craig are, but what's the 5 year plan?

Bruce Vaughn http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/parks_resorts/exe_bios/brucevaughn.html

 

[jt04]

I'm perpetually impressed in what you'll throw out there to defend your claims. Amusing if nothing else.

The parks at the end of the day use social media to give red meat to the base. It doesn't "replace" traditional media. It's just another branch.

For now.

 

[WDW1974]

So much conjecture, from one guy walking around. Yep, Tom Staggs was here, and walked through quite a few areas (both on and off stage, in multiple parks). Bruce and Craig also had a townhall meeting (surely someone noticed the throngs of Imagineers slipping into Oddysey on Tuesday), laying out the five year plan. Guess which one of those events should make you more excited?

Unless Bruce and Craig had loads of blueprints and briefcases and shoulder bags filled with Disney Dollars, then I am not overly excited that they had a meeting at EPCOT. The fact they had it in a public area (even one currently closed) while a park was open pretty much tells me that very little of import was discussed. ... If it had been, then Raven would have been there and reported to all.

The WDW 5-year plan is a far different animal than say a DLR one or a TDR one. It basically is about adding to the real estate portfolio and doing as little as possible in the parks. I doubt that has changed any. The fact that WDW in 2012 feels so much like WDW of 2001 and WDW of 2004 and WDW of 2006 and WDW of 2008 and etc etc is a testament to the kind of leadership running the operation ... from Bob Iger down to the mid-level execs at TDO.

 

[WDW1974]

Do you ever actually read the stuff you write before hitting the button.

I always read my stuff, sometimes many times after I've posted it to admire my work.

You're confused. It's your stuff I tend to sniff around and often skip entirely.

I said such things as groundbreakings are done through social media now. That is how OrSen found out about Potter 2.0 work being underway. They are still not up to speed on Transformers.

Gee, I thought the Sentinel found out about Potter 2.0 by reading my posts here on MAGIC and then reading others as well. ... And when Jason Garcia's top sources in the real world tend to be social media folks like Kevin Yee and my good pal Merfie, I'd guess he's missing a great deal. Too bad no one has ever given him access to top people at Disney ... yeah, that must really suck.

Oh, when UNI deicides to unveil plans for Potter 2.0 and/or Transformers, which is really going up fast, they'll be sure to have real media out at the resort.

I clearly stated that when the land actually opens the old media would naturally be invited. It is almost in a patronizing way now. And more and more you will see Disney using social media and the mouse house blog for trial balloons and announcements. The future is here. The old media is withering away.

~CTX~

Disney is very good at patronizing attitudes toward media. They were back in the early 90s when I first started attending their events, when new media didn't exist in any form. ... And old media isn't going anywhere, whether it's newspapers, network TV or radio or theaters. It's the same line we've heard for 50 years as new forms joined the parade.

Twitter isn't the future, but I bet you have an account doncha?

 

[WDW1974]

You're going to be a hilarious old man.

Yeah, if the evildoers and fanbois don't get me first!

 

[WDW1974]

I still cant comprehend how some of these lifestylers afford it - some of the lower tier who arent getting the Lou package from Celebration Place and live outside of CA/FL. Some of them must be up to their eyeballs in credit card debt...

Well, they can always pass that debt onto ex-spouses and parents etc and government checks (especially the disability type) really help ... so long as they can live at WDW 5-6 days a week and claim they are working.

I am amazed by some of them, though. And how cheap they are when it's their money. Folks who are willing to take a Disney cruise when the company pays for it ... or dine at a top tier restaurant when it's on Mickey's Social Media Minions, but would never spend it themselves.

I recall one who almost was homeless and living in a car. There are some tales ... well, I'll leave them for a book.

I find them very sad in a way that truly would make a book a very compelling read ... no, it isn't normal to spend every day of the week at MK and EPCOT unless you work there -- and even then, that's too much.

 

[WDW1974]

You, sir, are officially my favorite poster here with that. I almost had to dry off my keyboard! Now, about that supposed groundbreaking...definitely didn't happen. Was at the park yesterday, and not a single change. They won't break ground until they've moved everything they want to keep out of the area.

I aim to educate, entertain, stimulate and hopefully encourage folks to eat as much corn as they can.

If I make someone smile, then my day is a success (although you could send me a check for my DLR trip fund ... yeah, I'm starting to sound like social media whores who whine in the Twitverse about how poor they have it, so maybe their 'followers' will toss money or gifts in their direction).

 

[WDW1974]

Are you saying Avatar broke ground yesterday and the news was announced via some obscure person on Twitter but wasn't covered by the Disney Parks Blog (the nerve center for Disney social media)?

As for the rest of your post, neither Potter 2.0 nor Transformers has even been announced yet, Avatarland has. Universal is going to time these announcements to maximize publicity and to try to keep attendance numbers up in the meantime.

I'm also not sure why you're differentiating between old and new media. Traditional media uses social media and certainly is informed of Disney PR news even if it's announced via the blog posts.

And how is the Disney blog being used for trial balloons? All I see there is new merchandise that I don't want, special events I'm not going to pay to attend, and construction pictures...

Where's the trial balloon or the genuine dialogue with readers of the blog?

This IS JT. You're better off discussing the new MAGICal Fantasyland restrooms then attempting a rational discussion of media. ... Hey, you think I should get the Sheriff's autograph for JT if I see him next month?

 

[WDW1974]

The five year plan is exactly what it sounds like.

It's a list of things they'd like to look at for improvement or actually change over the course of five years. Plan of action, if you will. Doesn't really make anything concrete.

WDW's five year plans were super exciting back in the 90s...now...not so much. Granted I don't know what this plan contains. One thing is for certain- DVC is on there.

I'm drawing a blank on last names right now. But I'm pretty sure Craig and Bruce are WDI planners.

Bruce Vaughn and Craig Russell are the heads of WDI. The big bosses. The ones all the Imagineers report to and the dudes who report to Tom Staggs who reports to Bob Iger, JaY Rasulo and the BoD.

I haven't seen a WDW 5-year plan that ever meant anything significant since the early 90s. Basically, I'm sure they were discussing hotel, timeshare and real estate plans for the resort largely.

Look at WDW since 2000 and try and make a case the place has changed all that much and in substantially positive ways when it comes to the parks product. Go ahead ... I'll read it tomorrow!

I had to talk to Lee tonight and that man is blander than a day-old biscuit at a church picnic.

 

[WDW1974]

Don't think you have sidetracked me from wdw74's comments above. Heh.

Hey, JT, ... I refuse to acknowledge anything here in red typeface.

why don't you post in normal black like the rest of us MAGICal members?

 

[misterID]

This IS JT. You're better off discussing the new MAGICal Fantasyland restrooms then attempting a rational discussion of media. ... Hey, you think I should get the Sheriff's autograph for JT if I see him next month?

And this posts gets you to 666 likes.

....And with how depressed I am reading this thread, I'm waiting for the BIG, SPIRITED change to kick in.

 

[WDW1974]

And this posts gets you to 666 likes.

....And with how depressed I am reading this thread, I'm waiting for the BIG, SPIRITED change to kick in.

Oh, I like 666 ... like that new show on ABC this fall with the great Terry O'Quinn.

... I am depressed as well. Change is coming, but boy can it take time ... and I am one damn restless Spirit.

 

[Brewmaster]

The future is here. The old media is withering away.

~CTX~

But you are wrong in that assessment..... Ground breaking ceremonies are still relevant, and do exist

 

[WED Purist]

Unless Bruce and Craig had loads of blueprints and briefcases and shoulder bags filled with Disney Dollars, then I am not overly excited that they had a meeting at EPCOT. The fact they had it in a public area (even one currently closed) while a park was open pretty much tells me that very little of import was discussed. ... If it had been, then Raven would have been there and reported to all.

The WDW 5-year plan is a far different animal than say a DLR one or a TDR one. It basically is about adding to the real estate portfolio and doing as little as possible in the parks. I doubt that has changed any. The fact that WDW in 2012 feels so much like WDW of 2001 and WDW of 2004 and WDW of 2006 and WDW of 2008 and etc etc is a testament to the kind of leadership running the operation ... from Bob Iger down to the mid-level execs at TDO.

The five year lookahead was for all of the parks, worldwide. The message stateside is that now that Carsland is open and DCA is stable, much love and focus will be heading east. A little bit in every park, a lot in a couple, but it's going to get busier around here.

 

[cbconglom]

The five year lookahead was for all of the parks, worldwide. The message stateside is that now that Carsland is open and DCA is stable, much love and focus will be heading east. A little bit in every park, a lot in a couple, but it's going to get busier around here.

When might the busier-ness start/be announced? D23?

 

[jt04]

Twitter isn't the future, but I bet you have an account doncha?

Wrong again. But that is just being repetitive.

~CTX~

 

[jt04]

But you are wrong in that assessment..... Ground breaking ceremonies are still relevant, and do exist

My entire point was (to those that actually read posts) how groundbreaking ceremonies are covered (along with other events) is radically changing. Hence we know days and sometimes weeks beforehand information that eventually finds its way into old media.

~CTX~

 

[jt04]

Hey, JT, that is Mr. JT to you as much as I love, love, love the Godless, pinko, evil, red commies no you only crave power ... I refuse to acknowledge anything here in red typeface.Good I will make sure I keep using it!

why don't you post in normal black like the rest of us MAGICal members? I never follow the crowd. Where is the fun in that?!

Some members so take me out of context and/or twist my words that going in in detail to make corrections becomes necessary. When I break out the red type it is necessary.

Bolded, undelined, italisized and fonted to annoy a certain spirit.

 

[Brewmaster]

My entire point was (to those that actually read posts) how groundbreaking ceremonies are covered (along with other events) is radically changing. Hence we know days and sometimes weeks beforehand information that eventually finds its way into old media.

~CTX~

I just want to be clear on your position, are you stating that The Disney company is " changing how groundbreaking ceremonies and other events are covered"', or that all people (corporations are people too!) are retooling the way they announce major additions/ new construction projects?

For the record, I was able to pull up 10 Stories on various groundbreaking events that were covered using "old media" techniques.