After being here for a few years and reading countless threads, I seem to find a common theme that no one really likes TDO and how they manage the resort. So my question is, why and when did it start? Then, Why is DLR managed so differently?
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Why no love for TDO?
- Thread starter DisneyparkFreak
- Start date
When did it start? When Frank Wells died. That's when Creative lost any power it had to the Bean Counters.
Why is DLR managed differently? A combination of the fanbase revolting and the previous Bean Counter management botching DCA so bad that Disney had to move them out of TDA.
progroupie
Member
It's easy to critique someone elses job.
Especially when you pay a small fortune to employ them.
Optimus Mouse
New Member
Thrill Seeker
Well-Known Member
The big thing is that they seem to be willing to cut corners in order to make back the most money. Show is not considered as important as it use to be, which is why effects in many attractions have been disabled. The Yeti is a prime example of this.
Choodles
New Member
Well here's the short list.
FLE 1.0 they actually thought it was wright to do 1 ride and all those meet and greets.
WOL
SSE has no ending ok if Siemens wasn't going to pick up the bill they should have.
JII: Need I say more
20K only now are they using the land and not by there choice they were forced.
Terrible horrible upkeep of attractions for evidence of this see Dinosoaur, The collapsing cave scene from BTM and PPF.
The joke that was the SM refurb.
Thinking that all of this is ok if they slap some interactive queues on.
I could keep going all day!
FLE 1.0 they actually thought it was wright to do 1 ride and all those meet and greets.
WOL
SSE has no ending ok if Siemens wasn't going to pick up the bill they should have.
JII: Need I say more
20K only now are they using the land and not by there choice they were forced.
Terrible horrible upkeep of attractions for evidence of this see Dinosoaur, The collapsing cave scene from BTM and PPF.
The joke that was the SM refurb.
Thinking that all of this is ok if they slap some interactive queues on.
I could keep going all day!
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
While I might not agree with everything upper management does, we are a tiny minority of the people that go to Disney World. The large majority of people go to the parks, have a great time, and think that they are managed wonderfully. We have a tendency as fans to be overly critical and inspect things with a fine tooth comb. Our "fandom" also tends to create a number of emotional connections with things and we find that their removal or editing is a terrible move. While a lot of people won't agree with me, I find Horizons to be a perfect example. Was it a fun and creative ride...sure. However, do you think they ever would have removed it if people were still lining up for it and enjoying it? When managing any company you have tough choices to make and Disney is no exception to the rule. No matter how much we might not like it we are a small percentage of their guests, and they have to look more toward the average visitor and what will benefit them and their bottom line at the same time. The only thing that I do not find an excuse for is when they let maintenance and upkeep go by the wayside. There is never an excuse for that because it benefits everyone.
progroupie
Member
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
A bit dense?
Not to presume to speak on Martin's behalf, but I believe he was referring to the small fortune spent to frequent WDW.
He was. Only to see Holmes rip the Space Mountain schedule and budget up when it was ready to go.
progroupie
Member
I'm not being dense, I was just joking around because sometimes the criticisms of the Disney Company remind me of the way people talk about the government.
I understand consumers wanting the most for their money but at the same time when a company is as large as Disney it's easy to say, "Well I would do it this way..." because we're only seeing part of the story, we aren't privy to all the business details that lead to their decision making.
cheezbat
Well-Known Member
When comparing TDO to the other resorts, it's quite obvious its run by the bean counters. While it is a business, there is much expected since it's the DISNEY name brand. As others have said, the lack of upkeep in show lately is growing through the resort. It's not good. They tend to do things on the cheap. If not for Burbank's intervention, we would not have Star Tours II or the Fantasyland Expansion. The Orlando resort is also the resort with the most expensive parks anywhere...it's around ten dollars cheaper to visit the parks in Anaheim. In Anaheim you're also getting quality AND quantity. Look at how many attractions each of the parks in Cali have in comparison to the amount of attractions at the four parks in Orlando.
There is a loathing of TDO because it's all about the money...Doing things on the cheap...letting things go...and making the most money possible in the process. Easy for fans to learn to hate them. :lol:
drew81
Well-Known Member
I don't hate TDO but many of their decisions make you scratch your head. The first decision I question is Fantasmic's reduction. There were so many complaints that they stopped recording them. Thankfully, it looks like Fantasmic is coming back to a full schedule.
Another big thing is the recycled MK parades year after year and then they bring out a "new" parade and guests hate it. They won't spend the money on a new parades but will spend $30 million on The Memories, The Magic and You. That money could've went towards a new parade.
The people who work in TDO are just that-people. No one is perfect and it's easy to say what we would or wouldn't do in that position. I have found if you approach the TDO staff with respect and have a logical discussion with them they are more likely to listen to your concerns.
Another big thing is the recycled MK parades year after year and then they bring out a "new" parade and guests hate it. They won't spend the money on a new parades but will spend $30 million on The Memories, The Magic and You. That money could've went towards a new parade.
The people who work in TDO are just that-people. No one is perfect and it's easy to say what we would or wouldn't do in that position. I have found if you approach the TDO staff with respect and have a logical discussion with them they are more likely to listen to your concerns.
I doubt that they are all just sitting around saying "let's let maintenance go so that we can squeeze these guys for another $100 bucks per person". It's more complex than that.
I'm sure the people in TDO are well meaning. But with 4 parks, 2 water parks, DTD, 23 resorts, a large transporation system (busses, boats, monorail), and various other support systems, I expect it's no easy task to apportion resources wisely. The larger Disney corporation only has so much money to spread around, and so I expect that there are countless meetings where they ask "if I have a $100 million to spend, what gives us the biggest impact?" or "we need WDW to generate $500 million this year in profit so we can do X, what's your plan to do that?" Then the bean counters go off and say "do I do star tours 2 or shave 10% off my maintenance budget?".
Where I fault the Disney corporation (and not just TDO) is that they don't know how to navigate this classic problem in a way to preserve the Disney ideals. The perfect leader at the helm of TDO should be able to navigate this a bit more smoothly and not sacrifice things like maintenance". Of course, those leaders don't grow on trees. In the end it's much easier to find a good leader than a perfect leader.
Just my .02.
jakeman
Well-Known Member
Well we can forget the fans getting anything they want now...
drew81
Well-Known Member
:lol: Well, yeah that probably is true then.
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
That's very true... but it makes one wonder how Disneyland must deal with the exact same problems (maintenance vs. new attractions, etc.), and wonder how they are able to yield much better results - often getting both better maintenance and more new attractions. I personally suspect it's more a matter of management style and priorities (Disneyland's focus on the long-term investment vs. WDW's focus on quarterly results).