Bruce Vaughn out as Head of Imagineering

[rteetz]

That's the 100% truth.

They used to follow through on finalized concept...no matter what.

There's a huge park with a 200 ft diameter golfball that's a living monument to that.

Now...as in "new fantasyland"...they are quick to line item downsize or cancel at the first sign of cost overruns. I think we can all
Agree that far more was spent on Infrastructure/ground work there than the attractions. That's how you get "under budget"

There's a park with a 200 ft unnecessary tree that is a testament to what modern accounting in the face of cost overruns looks like.

Which approach is correct?

Neither...you can't blow the whole wad nor slash things that take out the creative guts of a project. It has to be a balance.

Perhaps some have noticed that I am very harsh on a certain imagineering exec...
Why? Because he blows budgets which ultimately hamstrings parks and robs the fans. There is a definite cumulative effect when you spend public company's money.

You have to shoot for the middle of the uprights when you kick the ball...do things that make economic sense while still winning SOME of your artistic battles.

I'm sorry but I find the tree a lot better of a icon than a carousel that was the original idea. At least they made some use out of it and put a theater inside.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm sorry but I find the tree a lot better of a icon than a carousel that was the original idea. At least they made some use out of it and put a theater inside.

That's ok if you're concerned with "icons" to sell photopass and use in marketing materials...

I am not.

Even if you need one - a valid point - do you need 2,456 carved animals In it?

What did it COST? There has to be a cost/benefit analysis. MGM basically doesn't have one...the castle would have been built...but in today's world neither spaceship earth nor the tree get built in my opinion.

And I do like the tree...and I like the bug show...really like it. But you have topics your battles.

You know why artists are usually "starving?"...cause they're bankrupt.

 

[rteetz]

That's ok if you're concerned with "icons" to sell photopass and use in marketing materials...

I am not.

Even if you need one - a valid point - do you need 2,456 carved animals In it?

What did it COST? There has to be a cost/benefit analysis. MGM basically doesn't have one...the castle would have been built...but in today's world neither spaceship earth nor the tree get built in my opinion.

And I do like the tree...and I like the bug show...really like it. But you have topics your battles.

You know why artists are usually "starving?"...cause they're bankrupt.

I understand that it was costly but I'll take the tree any day over a carousel.

 

[rteetz]

That's ok if you're concerned with "icons" to sell photopass and use in marketing materials...

I am not.

Even if you need one - a valid point - do you need 2,456 carved animals In it?

What did it COST? There has to be a cost/benefit analysis. MGM basically doesn't have one...the castle would have been built...but in today's world neither spaceship earth nor the tree get built in my opinion.

And I do like the tree...and I like the bug show...really like it. But you have topics your battles.

You know why artists are usually "starving?"...cause they're bankrupt.

I understand that it was costly but I'll take the tree any day over a carousel.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I understand that it was costly but I'll take the tree any day over a carousel.

I'm not debating you on that...

I'm saying the goofy artiste of animal kingdom blew through so much cash that the damage is still being felt.

 

[OKW Lover]

What did it COST? There has to be a cost/benefit analysis. MGM basically doesn't have one...the castle would have been built...but in today's world neither spaceship earth nor the tree get built in my opinion.

Not everything that Disney does today comes down to cost. Disney is still in the entertainment business and it understands that it is selling much more than just standard carnival rides. They create a whole stage show and tell a story when they do things. Sometimes they use from common, or even old, technology but other times they create brand new ride systems. Same with the park icons. I can't agree that in today's world the ToL or SSE wouldn't be built.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Not everything that Disney does today comes down to cost. Disney is still in the entertainment business and it understands that it is selling much more than just standard carnival rides. They create a whole stage show and tell a story when they do things. Sometimes they use from common, or even old, technology but other times they create brand new ride systems. Same with the park icons. I can't agree that in today's world the ToL or SSE wouldn't be built.

I'm not sure where you're going with this...

In the past...much of what Disney did/built didn't come down to line item cost accounting...because they enjoyed being in entertainment...

Now...they have to absorb billions in debt in Paris to bail out a failed franchising experiment...half fund a Chinese development with the government that they knew they couldnt trust...and figure out how to account for the American public being liberated from the cable prison known as the ESPN subscription fees for 30
Years...

Aren't you backwards? Isn't that more the "Now" approach than the past?

Things changed after euro/animal kingdom...parks have gotten a little more love since 2009 but it isn't close to the cutting edge/creative drive that used to be poured into every concept.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure where you're going with this...

Where I'm going with that is simply disagreeing with your statement that the two park icons wouldn't be built today.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Where I'm going with that is simply disagreeing with your statement that the two park icons wouldn't be built today.

Oh...that?

Well...the tree probably gets built...though I bet "modified"

Epcot never gets built today...remember it was built by old men who were servicing the ideals of a dead guy.

None of the empty suits have the acorns to do that today.

 

[rteetz]

Oh...that?

Well...the tree probably gets built...though I bet "modified"

Epcot never gets built today...remember it was built by old men who were servicing the ideals of a dead guy.

None of the empty suits have the acorns to do that today.

I'd agree with this. I do think the tree would get built but SSE wouldn't get built today and if it did it would probably be much smaller and not have a ride in it.