Bruce Vaughn out as Head of Imagineering

[rteetz]

its being reported that Bruce Vaughn Is out as head of imagineering and Bob Weis lead of the Shanghai project will be taking his place.

This will be interesting to watch Vaughn wasn't old by any means.

 

[rteetz]

Vaughn is leaving the company but will help Bob Weiss transition into the new position

http://m.ocregister.com/articles/disney-700099-company-walt.html

 

[Eoghann]

Gone to "pursue new opportunities". Well that could mean just about anything couldn't it?

 

[rteetz]

Gone to "pursue new opportunities". Well that could mean just about anything couldn't it?

That it does.

I'm just going to throw out there that Bruce is the one that said "no one can touch us" in terms of theme parks. Meaning universal couldn't possibly do anything as good as Disney. We all know that may not be true now.

Bob Weiss has been involved in some of Disneys best projects I'm really interested to see what this means for imagineering. Hopefully they are finally going in the right direction.

 

[HopperFan]

Very excited.

 

[mesaverdefan]

Could Bruce Vaughn eventually end up at Universal?

 

[tstidm1]

Hopeful, but I don't think we see much progress on quicker completions until 2018 or 19 when we see if Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land is open. I think Toy Story land is ready in 2018 and Star Wars Land isn't ready until the 50th in 2021.

 

[rteetz]

Could Bruce Vaughn eventually end up at Universal?

I doubt it. He's always been very arrogant and Disney is the best I don't know if he would leave Disney to go to universal. I also don't know what his credentials are for where else he could end up. He's probably looking for a high up role like COO.

Universal creative also seems to be doing very good as is.

 

[rteetz]

Hopeful, but I don't think we see much progress on quicker completions until 2018 or 19 when we see if Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land is open. I think Toy Story land is ready in 2018 and Star Wars Land isn't ready until the 50th in 2021.

It's very possible toy story could be ready for late 2017.

I also really don't think Star Wars takes that long if they start this year. That is projected at a 2019 opening.

 

[rteetz]

Apparently Bruce Vaughn is known for working on SSE 94' and the Pirates ride thing at Disney Quest. Nothing else worth noting. Interesting that he didn't work on anything bigger.

 

[rteetz]

Also don't know if anyone noticed Kathy Magnum who is the lead Imagineer for the WDW resort is now going to be a lead Imagineer for DCL and DLP. She is one busy woman.

 

[soniam]

It's very possible toy story could be ready for late 2017.

I also really don't think Star Wars takes that long if they start this year. That is projected at a 2019 opening.

I forget, when is the DLR Star Wars Land opening?

 

[Eoghann]

That it does.

I'm just going to throw out there that Bruce is the one that said "no one can touch us" in terms of theme parks. Meaning universal couldn't possibly do anything as good as Disney. We all know that may not be true now.

Bob Weiss has been involved in some of Disneys best projects I'm really interested to see what this means for imagineering. Hopefully they are finally going in the right direction.

Yeah it's definitely the sort of phrasing that is used when a company decides to let go of an employee rather than an employee leaving. Though there are many possible reasons for that.

Whether this really makes any difference is up for debate. I don't think the problem for Disney Parks has really been Imagineering, it's been the lack of political backing for things to get done.

 

[Eoghann]

Also don't know if anyone noticed Kathy Magnum who is the lead Imagineer for the WDW resort is now going to be a lead Imagineer for DCL and DLP. She is one busy woman.

Magnum's track record is quite impressive, Cars Land being the most obvious. But she's also reportedly had some significant influence on the direction of the Frozen ride at Epcot and how it has a Norwegian look outside (please let's not do that discussion again) and there has been talk she was pushing for the Star Wars theming to be taken very seriously and not done in a jokey style.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I also saw it noted that Vaughn was leading development of World of Avatar. I wonder if moving him out and the man who led/oversaw the DCA expansion means they weren't satisfied with how World of Avatar was progressing

 

[rteetz]

I forget, when is the DLR Star Wars Land opening?

No official date but rumors say 2019

 

[rteetz]

I also saw it noted that Vaughn was leading development of World of Avatar. I wonder if moving him out and the man who led/oversaw the DCA expansion means they weren't satisfied with how World of Avatar was progressing

Being the head of imagineering he reall oversaw everything. Joe Rohde and James Cameron are really the two most involved in avatar not Bruce.

 

[rteetz]

Magnum's track record is quite impressive, Cars Land being the most obvious. But she's also reportedly had some significant influence on the direction of the Frozen ride at Epcot and how it has a Norwegian look outside (please let's not do that discussion again) and there has been talk she was pushing for the Star Wars theming to be taken very seriously and not done in a jokey style.

Yes I am a magnum fan everything she has done has been done well.

 

[rteetz]

Interestingly enough many thought Bob Chapek the head of parks of resorts has been the one who has been overseeing these changes. He wants them and wants to see things get done. Based on what has happened so far I'm starting to like this Chapek guy even if he came from the merchandising part of Disney.

 

[k5jm]

Hmm, shake-up at WDI?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/bob-weis-named-president-of-walt-disney-imagineering/