Walts Vision...

[5thGenTexan]

Agreed.
I know I am the minority here but I personally HATE the Star Wars presence. I understand that change is good for companies and it will make Disney stronger, but when I think of Disney, I don't think Star Wars. I just hope it doesn't bleed over to MK ever.

You wouldn't like Disneyland Tomorrowland, perhaps over half of it is Star Wars, even Space Mountain.

 

[Wdw62114]

You wouldn't like Disneyland Tomorrowland, perhaps over half of it is Star Wars, even Space Mountain.

Thats just horrible! I wouldn't be surprised if that happens at some point in WDW. And even turn that God awful Tomorrowland dance party into dancing with SW characters.

 

[rob0519]

I think Walt's unrealistic approach to finances and Epcot would have bankrupted the company or he would have been ousted by the board of directors. WDW only exists today because of Roy's business accumen.

 

[bjlc57]

I think Walt's unrealistic approach to finances and Epcot would have bankrupted the company or he would have been ousted by the board of directors. WDW only exists today because of Roy's business accumen.

there is a place for you . deep under the castle.. in the money counting room.. where all there is , is money.. and no light of day.. and no Dreams.. and NO WISHES.. because in this world that you describe , Wishes CANNOT COME true.. and this is the reason why Disney is starting to fail today.. just for these THOUGHTS Exactly.. isn't there a place for you some where north of Disney in NEW YORK CITY... where money is a god.. and no dreams matter?

 

[bjlc57]

let me say this.. I am old school Disney.. I am going to be 60 and grew up on the Mickey Mouse Club.. its Wednesday.. isn't today Spin and Marty ? .. anyway.. I grew up in a home with an abusive father .. who was never abusive ONLY ON VACATION.. I have never had a bad day at Disney.. gotten hurt.. sick.. but never a bad day.. and I have struggled especially early in my marriage.. so for me.. to go to WDW and to LISTEN TO THE WORDS.. of When You Wish UPON A STAR.. .. see I believe in each and every one of THOSE WORDS.. They have given me HOPE. .and a second chance.. and new direction.. and belief.. even belief in ME.. and right now.. none of those words in THAT SONG are in any one of the power brokers that run DISNEY WORLD'S HEARTS.. and its all about the money.. which is the LAST THING that Walt wanted it to be about.. and he told us and taught us each and every day in the Mickey Mouse Club.. and in his words.. actions and writings..

 

[Bacon]

So idk if a thread was made like this, probably. If Walt was still alive today how do you think the parks would be? Would they be even close like they are today or would there be an entirely different approach/ culture behind Disney World?

Move this to the walt disney sub-fourm

 

[pax_65]

One of the things I loved about WDW in decades past when my kids were little: When you walked through the gate, you really felt like you were entering a magical place where all the things that divide us went away. It didn't matter how old you were, everyone could feel like a kid with no worries. It didn't matter what resort you came from - Grand Floridian or a motel on 192, you're a GUEST and treated like royalty. (Sure, I'm sure there were private tours for celebrities and such but it was downplayed, not promoted or flaunted.) Prices in the parks were such that everyone could enjoy, and as the responsible adult you didn't have to worry too much about how much money you were spending - you could just relax and have fun. "Your ticket is your key to the magic" - so just relax, you're inside the park now - just have fun! If you had special needs (autism, food allergies, a disability) Cast Members went out of their way to help you feel just like everyone else (and I think this still happens a lot today.)

I believe this came from Walt's vision to have a place where parents and kids could have fun together, although it was built upon by others to make the legendary Disney experience that so many of us fell in love with. Disney used to give business seminars about their success, about how they build unprecedented loyalty by treating their guests so well. We wanted to return because no other place made us feel so special (and so relaxed).

I could say that WDW has lost some of this, but it's more than that... it's no longer something they even WANT. In promoting paid special events and upcharge experiences they are intentionally dividing people for the sake of increased profit. I'm not bitter about it - I'm a DVC member and I've been fortunate to go to WDW nearly every year for the past 20 years or so. I can afford to pay for these experiences but it just doesn't feel right, it's not the same WDW I fell in love with. Instead of just relaxing and enjoying the time with my kids (and acting as much like a kid as they are), I find myself thinking about where my money is going and feeling a little defensive - as if my wallet is constantly under attack because let's face it... it is.

 

[rob0519]

there is a place for you . deep under the castle.. in the money counting room.. where all there is , is money.. and no light of day.. and no Dreams.. and NO WISHES.. because in this world that you describe , Wishes CANNOT COME true.. and this is the reason why Disney is starting to fail today.. just for these THOUGHTS Exactly.. isn't there a place for you some where north of Disney in NEW YORK CITY... where money is a god.. and no dreams matter?

My family and I have been fortunate enough to go to WDW more than 30 times. It is without a doubt our favorite place to spend our time and yes, our MONEY. If you're going to get personal, yes, I do live north of Disney, but not New York City. Additionally, I'm not a fan of Wall Street and what it's done to shape the management philosophy of all corporations in America, including Disney.

However, without those people in the counting room paying the bills there would be no dreams or wishes or castle for you or anyone else to enjoy.

The world was different, socially, culturally and financially 60 years ago. Go to your grocery store and say you want to pay for your food with dreams. Go to your bank and tell them you want to pay for your house with your dreams. Heck, go to Disney and tell them your dream is to visit the resort, but can't afford it, so it should be free to you.

Wishes can come true, but it our society it takes money. Behind every visionary there is a person or team behind them telling them what parts of their dreams are realistic and what parts are not. Without Walt to dream it up and without Roy to figure out how to get the money to build it, there would be no WDW. It takes both the dreamer and the realist to make something of this magnitude come to life.

 

[rob0519]

well you can get some true insight in reading the BOOK.. Be Like WALT... that he was for the average guy and not the ultra rich.. he picked up in the park... just like the the cleaning crew.. He stated that there will "always be dime coffee at Disney" .. He had a never quit attitude and wasn't about money, in the sense that he wasn't going to let MONEY STOP HIS DREAM.. Nor its TIMELINESS.. no that was His brother.. whom he battled with to get from here to there in the park and future parks.. if Walt had a dream to build it.. HE WAS GOING TO.. if Walt needed an idea, anyone..from the garbage man on up was on equal footing.. and he wasn't afraid to fail.. instead of going for the sure thing.. and record profit, Walt believed in himself and his dreams.. even though he failed numerous time at cartooning before hitting on Mickey Mouse.. Snow White was as far out on a limb as a guy could go.. but He believed. and he didn't quit.. He begged,borrowed , and sold what ever he could to get Disney Land up and running.. He was HANDS ON.. and didn't cowtow to the corporate greed... or naysayers . it was all the things that DISNEY TRIES REAL HARD TO SELL US.. but that the DON"T BELIEVE THEMSELVES anymore.. all the things that Wishes is about.. that stuff that the DISNEY POWER BOARD WANTS US TO PAY UP TO $150 per day or night for.. but wouldn't know how to start to believe it or apply it to the parks.. The stuff they are selling us and laughing for believing this giant AMOUNT OF BS.. as they crank the money counting machines.. and say "WHAT OTHER TYPE OF STUFF CAN WE MAKE UP and LIE TO THE RUBES.. Oh this Main street.. Mom and Apple pie crap.. that will get them to OPEN THEIR WALLETS.. None of that IS WALT DISNEY Nor his vision.. NONE OF IT.. because just like some preachers I hear, their voice says one thing .. but their hearts and their actions say something totally different.. Make a place where EVERY ONE can be happy.. in fact lets call it the Happiest Place on Earth.. ..That's Walt Disney's vision.. and for you to say ' it can't exist at this time ' they have a place for you in the bowels deep under the castle . churning that Money counting machine.. because deep in your heart, that's the only thing you believe in.. can you be like Walt.. Yes you can each and every day.. Can Disney be like Walt.. yes they can.. but the first thing they need to do.. is get rid of those money counters..those dark evil souls.. and HIRE DREAMERS>. and Disney World can be restored..

Read "Dream it, Do it" and "One Little Spark" by Marty Sklar and you will see that Disney has hired the best dreamers in the world for their Imagineering Team. However, all that dreaming has to be paid for with highly expensive research and development.