DisneyKidds
<font color=green>The TF thanks DisneyKidds for mo
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2001
- Messages
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Well, the first response to my 'Open Letter to Disney' has been received. I spoke this morning with someone in the WDW Executive Offices in Florida. She was very pleasant and appeared to genuinely care about the concerns I raised in the letter. For those of you who may not have read this letter, I updated it for the final version and it can be found here.....
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3366350#post3366350
She and I spoke for about 20 minutes or so. What she had to say didn't seem like a canned response. She did express that this was one of the best written letters she has seen, indicating that is was very different from the usual letters that they receive that are often individually focused. She seemed to appreciate that my letter expressed a genuine concern for both the Disney and it's guests, and wasn't just about me. That is what I had hoped to convey and I'm glad it came across that way. She said that she shared the letter with a number of people in her office, and it struck a nerve as it seemed to say what many of them have been feeling as well.
She did most of the talking, and the discussion seemed more about her expressing her appreciation for my taking the time to write the letter, and to indicate that she believes good things are coming that will address many of the concerns. She seemed to appreciate learning that there are guests who pay a lot of attention to the details of what is going on within the company. She sensed my frustration with the direction that Disney has been headed in, understood it, and agreed with it 100%, stating that there are a lot of people within the WDW Executive Offices who feel the same frustrations.
Now for a few of the details (although there was nothing earth shattering)..............
If any part of the conversation involved a canned Disney line, this was it.
She agreed that things like ABC (and other operations) have taken the focus off of the theme parks, particularly WDW. She indicated that with improvement in the economy there is a new focus on WDW operations. She indicated that soon to open and recently announced new attractions are just a first step in returning WDW to what it should be. She stated that they are currently putting a real focus on service, identifying what is wrong and what they can fix. She said that they are looking at many changes, and it will be a long hard process but change will happen. She indicated that changes in management (high level management) have been a key to what she sees as this new focus on restoring WDW to what is used to be, and should be. She said she really does think I will be impressed with some of the changes that are in the works.
She didn't so much give me a speech like this, but these thoughts came out during the course of a very natural conversation. Since I had her ear and she made a few statements that piqued my curiosity, I pressed a little on a few things.
As for her indicating level of frustration at the WDW Executive Offices and agreement with the concerns I raised , I commented on how I appreciated that they saw the same things down in Florida, but noted that it isn't always to get the folks in Burbank to see things the same way. That brought about one of those "I know what you mean" kind of laughs. For obvious reasons she wasn't inclined to elaborate on any frustrations that those in Florida might have in that regard - and I can't blame her.
Seeing as she commented on changes in upper level management being a key, I directly inquired as to whether Jay (Rasulo) was the one who has brought about the focus she talked about. She indicated that Jay is very much an advocate for change, and that she is very impressed with what she sees in him. She noted that he seems to be asking all the right questions, so much so that Micheal (Eisner) has taken a real notice. She said that Michael agrees with the shift in focus that she noted and that that is a very good thing (as when Michael says jump, people ask how high).
We talked a little about things like the Fairytale Package and attracting guests to WDW. I agreed that was a good thing, but we both agreed that getting those people to come back again is important and she said they are doing a lot to focus on the "return factor". In that regard, she indicated that the recent POR rehab is an actual rehab, and not an excuse for a temporary closure like the last time POR went down. She indicated that POR is being completely gutted in an attempt to return the resort to the quality is used to have.
We talked about how future offerings are a key to the "return factor", and when she mentioned Expedition Everest she talked about 2005. (While this is announced as a 2006 addition, I got the impression that at this point it is expected to be completed in 2005 - but we all know how schedules can change.) I also mentioned Philharmagic and the new MK fireworks that may be available this fall. She responded with an "I hope so". Im not sure if that means anything, but perhaps Philharmagic might not be open this fall? I had read rumors a while ago about a MK media event for October 9, and speculation was that might be for Philharmagic. Subsequently, I think October 9 has been put out there as the Official M:S grand opening date, so perhaps the original rumors regarding an October 9 media event had the right date but wrong park. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens with Philharmagic.
Anyway, that was the extent of the conversation. For what it is worth, I'm sure some of this is the company line, but not all of it. As I said, she seemed very sincere and I got the impression she was one of the folks who really does care and recognizes the need for change.
Hopefully this won't be the only response I get to this letter. She noted the list of notables within the company that I copied on the letter, and hoped that more people would see it. I'll keep you posted.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3366350#post3366350
She and I spoke for about 20 minutes or so. What she had to say didn't seem like a canned response. She did express that this was one of the best written letters she has seen, indicating that is was very different from the usual letters that they receive that are often individually focused. She seemed to appreciate that my letter expressed a genuine concern for both the Disney and it's guests, and wasn't just about me. That is what I had hoped to convey and I'm glad it came across that way. She said that she shared the letter with a number of people in her office, and it struck a nerve as it seemed to say what many of them have been feeling as well.
She did most of the talking, and the discussion seemed more about her expressing her appreciation for my taking the time to write the letter, and to indicate that she believes good things are coming that will address many of the concerns. She seemed to appreciate learning that there are guests who pay a lot of attention to the details of what is going on within the company. She sensed my frustration with the direction that Disney has been headed in, understood it, and agreed with it 100%, stating that there are a lot of people within the WDW Executive Offices who feel the same frustrations.
Now for a few of the details (although there was nothing earth shattering)..............
If any part of the conversation involved a canned Disney line, this was it.
She agreed that things like ABC (and other operations) have taken the focus off of the theme parks, particularly WDW. She indicated that with improvement in the economy there is a new focus on WDW operations. She indicated that soon to open and recently announced new attractions are just a first step in returning WDW to what it should be. She stated that they are currently putting a real focus on service, identifying what is wrong and what they can fix. She said that they are looking at many changes, and it will be a long hard process but change will happen. She indicated that changes in management (high level management) have been a key to what she sees as this new focus on restoring WDW to what is used to be, and should be. She said she really does think I will be impressed with some of the changes that are in the works.
She didn't so much give me a speech like this, but these thoughts came out during the course of a very natural conversation. Since I had her ear and she made a few statements that piqued my curiosity, I pressed a little on a few things.
As for her indicating level of frustration at the WDW Executive Offices and agreement with the concerns I raised , I commented on how I appreciated that they saw the same things down in Florida, but noted that it isn't always to get the folks in Burbank to see things the same way. That brought about one of those "I know what you mean" kind of laughs. For obvious reasons she wasn't inclined to elaborate on any frustrations that those in Florida might have in that regard - and I can't blame her.
Seeing as she commented on changes in upper level management being a key, I directly inquired as to whether Jay (Rasulo) was the one who has brought about the focus she talked about. She indicated that Jay is very much an advocate for change, and that she is very impressed with what she sees in him. She noted that he seems to be asking all the right questions, so much so that Micheal (Eisner) has taken a real notice. She said that Michael agrees with the shift in focus that she noted and that that is a very good thing (as when Michael says jump, people ask how high).
We talked a little about things like the Fairytale Package and attracting guests to WDW. I agreed that was a good thing, but we both agreed that getting those people to come back again is important and she said they are doing a lot to focus on the "return factor". In that regard, she indicated that the recent POR rehab is an actual rehab, and not an excuse for a temporary closure like the last time POR went down. She indicated that POR is being completely gutted in an attempt to return the resort to the quality is used to have.
We talked about how future offerings are a key to the "return factor", and when she mentioned Expedition Everest she talked about 2005. (While this is announced as a 2006 addition, I got the impression that at this point it is expected to be completed in 2005 - but we all know how schedules can change.) I also mentioned Philharmagic and the new MK fireworks that may be available this fall. She responded with an "I hope so". Im not sure if that means anything, but perhaps Philharmagic might not be open this fall? I had read rumors a while ago about a MK media event for October 9, and speculation was that might be for Philharmagic. Subsequently, I think October 9 has been put out there as the Official M:S grand opening date, so perhaps the original rumors regarding an October 9 media event had the right date but wrong park. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens with Philharmagic.
Anyway, that was the extent of the conversation. For what it is worth, I'm sure some of this is the company line, but not all of it. As I said, she seemed very sincere and I got the impression she was one of the folks who really does care and recognizes the need for change.
Hopefully this won't be the only response I get to this letter. She noted the list of notables within the company that I copied on the letter, and hoped that more people would see it. I'll keep you posted.
Good sign in itself.
).
. Contrary to what you think Bank One is not being very generous with giving the card out. Seems strange to me having a bank deiced who your loyal customers are going to be. My wife and I won't apply for the card on principle alone.
