Bruce Vaughn out as Head of Imagineering

[OKW Lover]

I wonder if Bob is any relation to Al.

 

[rteetz]

Hmm, shake-up at WDI?

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

I did already start a thread on this. Lots of changes being put in place. Is it alright is if I merge the two threads?

 

[rteetz]

It's being said that even more imagineering changes could be coming. Also avatar is way over budget apparently which may or may not have caused some moves.

 

[k5jm]

Feel free

 

[Eoghann]

It's being said that even more imagineering changes could be coming. Also avatar is way over budget apparently which may or may not have caused some moves.

So building floating mountains is expensive then? Who'd have guessed.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

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.

Time for my weekly "they don't really care about anniversaries in wdw" post.

It doesn't move the bar since the 90's there due to the clientele.

If they open it in 2021...it will be simple because they can't get it done sooner. Coincidence beyond that

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's being said that even more imagineering changes could be coming. Also avatar is way over budget apparently which may or may not have caused some moves.

And you know why that...and everything else would be over budget at animal kingdom?

Because they haven't fired the real problem yet...that's why.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

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.

That's the same problem again:

China is not going to yield what Disney had hoped/planned for...they're cable revenue is going to fall
Off a cliff...

Which makes parks the undisputed revenue champion moving forward.

And they can't do this the way they've handled it since the late 90's. This stuff can't be bad and take forever and expect to earn more piggy...

In a way...it's refreshing...in another it's predictable beyond belief and incredibly frustrating...because the customers had an obligation to each other to ask for this sooner.

 

[rteetz]

And you know why that...and everything else would be over budget at animal kingdom?

Because they haven't fired the real problem yet...that's why.

Well I think there is two problems with that project one being the guy you dislike who I don't have a problem with and the other is a successful film maker.

I have no doubt in my mind that this land will be visually stunning. We have yet to know about the rides of course but I have a lot of faith in Joe.

 

[rteetz]

That's the same problem again:

China is not going to yield what Disney had hoped/planned for...they're cable revenue is going to fall
Off a cliff...

Which makes parks the undisputed revenue champion moving forward.

And they can't do this the way they've handled it since the late 90's. This stuff can't be bad and take forever and expect to earn more piggy...

In a way...it's refreshing...in another it's predictable beyond belief and incredibly frustrating...because the customers had an obligation to each other to ask for this sooner.

Interestingly enough all of the announced rides for Shanghai likely won't be open on opening day because they are behind schedule. The park is already lacking in many areas due to costs.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

And everytime I say this...I'm gonna repeat the reasoning: he's not a damn artist...he's controlling a budget in a public traded company.

And until that is fixed...we all suffer (relatively speaking in this context )

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Interestingly enough all of the announced rides for Shanghai likely won't be open on opening day because they are behind schedule. The park is already lacking in many areas due to costs.

Yep...another softball

Because it was a bad idea in the first place?

 

[rteetz]

And everytime I say this...I'm gonna repeat the reasoning: he's not a damn artist...he's controlling a budget in a public traded company.

And until that is fixed...we all suffer (relatively speaking in this context )

I understand but without him does AK look like it does today? I don't think so. Animal Kingdom in my opinion is a visually stunning immersive park. Many treat it as a half day park, I don't. Like I said before I don't think this has all to do with him either you have James Cameron collaborating which isn't the easiest guy to work with.

 

[rteetz]

Yep...another softball

Because it was a bad idea in the first place

Bob just went in without knowing what was going to happen. This deal obviously is a lot different than Hong Kong. It has opened doors though. Everyone is watching how Disney has done their business and learning from their mistakes. Universal Beijing is one of those watchers.

 

[anthony2k7]

So building floating mountains is expensive then? Who'd have guessed.

floating mountains hey?

but will they actually float or whatever they're designed to do? or will they need some cheap lighting effects to simulate it after opening?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I understand but without him does AK look like it does today? I don't think so. Animal Kingdom in my opinion is a visually stunning immersive park. Many treat it as a half day park, I don't. Like I said before I don't think this has all to do with him either you have James Cameron collaborating which isn't the easiest guy to work with.

Honestly...at least bigger, more functional, and possibly better.

You have to have some sense of what's enough and this clown never did. Ask DVC about his paradise on Oahu...

But it's not even that some carvings on lampposts and in bathrooms at animal kingdom would have been skipped...

Its that it sucked so much money out off the coffers at wdw that it hurt the other parks.

The original budget was blown out of orbit...officially tag $800 mil...likely north of 2 bil. In the 90's.

Everest was destroyed as well...way too much goofiness/shenanigans...

And that represents the entire construction history.

You think that didn't hurt Epcot and studios?

Think again...futureworld itself suffered directly from it...thats my opinion but I have little doubt on it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

floating mountains hey?

but will they actually float or whatever they're designed to do? or will they need some cheap lighting effects to simulate it after opening?

Bingo...

Or will they be the most overpriced, underwhelming computer designed and fabricated steel and fiberglass facades ever?

Legitimate question.

Does anybody else think Cameron's on the hook for cost overruns?

 

[rteetz]

Honestly...at least bigger, more functional, and possibly better.

You have to have some sense of what's enough and this clown never did. Ask DVC about his paradise on Oahu...

But it's not even that some carvings on lampposts and in bathrooms at animal kingdom would have been skipped...

Its that it sucked so much money out off the coffers at wdw that it hurt the other parks.

The original budget was blown out of orbit...officially tag $800 mil...likely north of 2 bil. In the 90's.

Everest was destroyed as well...way too much goofiness/shenanigans...

And that represents the entire construction history.

You think that didn't hurt Epcot and studios?

Think again...futureworld itself suffered directly from it...thats my opinion but I have little doubt on it.

I think it's up in the air whether or not it would've been better because I think it's very good the way it is now and it's only improving. Yes it's lacking rides but there is so much more to AK than rides in my opinion.

As for Aulani, he was given the task to create a resort in Hawaii what do you expect him to do? It is highly regarded as the best Disney resort on the planet. It wins a ton of awards, and I've never heard a negative review of it. Yes the DVC sales may not have been good but who's to say if someone else was in charge of construction it would have. Vero Beach, and Hilton Head weren't designed by him and they aren't DVC success stories.

Yes AK was overbudget but what doesn't go overbudget these day. Look at MyMagic+ that's over a billion over budget.

 

[rteetz]

Bingo...

Or will they be the most overpriced, underwhelming computer designed and fabricated steel and fiberglass facades ever?

Legitimate question.

Does anybody else think Cameron's on the hook for cost overruns?

Have you seen the mountains yet? Pictures, anything? They aren't just fiberglass facades.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Have you seen the mountains yet? Pictures, anything? They aren't just fiberglass facades.

Yes...but you're falling for the webboard headfake that all we as fans need to worry about is the quality of the construction and Disney will be happy.

Many things matter...and it's not just "quality". Getting people there and spending cash in the giftshops are frankly a bigger deal. It's the only way more gets done.

AK has underachieved for almost 20 years...that's too long, frankly. It's caused a lot of damage.

And I like ak...I really do. But the flaws are pretty known.

Instead of people going for 15 years and staying 4 hours one day outta 7...they should have SKIPPED it like DCA and forced change. That's the Bottomline.