Disney COO Thomas Staggs Steps Down

[Eoghann]

But what if they'd laid the park out well and added plenty to do? The concept would have been fine.

Honestly I doubt it. I think the original concept was too limiting, particularly with an actual production studio built in.

The only real difference if they'd added more to do over the years is they'd have made this pivot sooner. The most popular stuff in that park isn't about behind the scenes stuff or shows, it's Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roller Coaster and Star Tours.

The inescapable reality is that if you want to get lots and lots of guests you build a park like the Magic Kingdom. Every variation people have tried (animals, education, movies, whales!) has been less popular. And in each case, adding things that make them more MK like has increased their popularity.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

"right now"...sounds like he's leaving his options open

"right now" sounds like a negotiation tactic to me

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Honestly I doubt it. I think the original concept was too limiting, particularly with an actual production studio built in.

The only real difference if they'd added more to do over the years is they'd have made this pivot sooner. The most popular stuff in that park isn't about behind the scenes stuff or shows, it's Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roller Coaster and Star Tours.

The inescapable reality is that if you want to get lots and lots of guests you build a park like the Magic Kingdom. Every variation people have tried (animals, education, movies, whales!) has been less popular. And in each case, adding things that make them more MK like has increased their popularity.

I'm middle of the road on your take...

There are strong arguments to both vindicate and bury the Eisner regime based on the "complimentary" 3 parks in Florida...
But here's what I'm sure of: they are better positioned with them than without them. On a variety of angles.

 

[Eoghann]

I'm middle of the road on your take...

There are strong arguments to both vindicate and bury the Eisner regime based on the "complimentary" 3 parks in Florida...
But here's what I'm sure of: they are better positioned with them than without them. On a variety of angles.

There are advantages to having distinct parks yes, but those advantages don't extend towards massive crowds like the Magic Kingdom can draw. And Disney is very obviously playing a numbers game. They're interested in volume not variety. The changes they are making in Animal Kingdom, DHS and Epcot all reflect a move towards the Magic Kingdom style of park.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There are advantages to having distinct parks yes, but those advantages don't extend towards massive crowds like the Magic Kingdom can draw. And Disney is very obviously playing a numbers game. They're interested in volume not variety. The changes they are making in Animal Kingdom, DHS and Epcot all reflect a move towards the Magic Kingdom style of park.

See...the failure with the "other" parks...is that the gave up on them (failure being relative)

Magic kingdom was complete...for its time.

Epcot was going to require vigilance. There was never any doubt.

They gave up.

MGM was Eisner/wells dabbling in new construction after the crisis period of Disney. It was low scope/risk. But they gave up.

Animal kingdom was quit on before it opened. It's still waiting to be "completed" and may never be.

Magic kingdom has the Natural advantage of history and characters which gives it an advantage...but it wouldn't be what it is now with anykind of neglect Like the others.

Disneyland in the late 90's is proof.

 

[PBB]

Now the Bob Iger retirement postponement talk starts..........

http://fortune.com/2016/04/06/disney-bob-iger-postpone-retirement/

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Now the Bob Iger retirement postponement talk starts..........

http://fortune.com/2016/04/06/disney-bob-iger-postpone-retirement/

Right on queue

What's funny is that Iger has shown very limited ability to develop solutions to growing problems the last few years...and that's putting it kindly.

So it would be the board saying "save us, Bob!...from you"

 

[ADollarADay]

I think Iger will probably want to oversee Shanghai's Park to profitability, Star Wars Land, and new cruise ships. Also wouldn't surprise me if he has a big acquisition or two he wants to oversee prior to retiring for good.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think Iger will probably want to oversee Shanghai's Park to profitability, Star Wars Land, and new cruise ships. Also wouldn't surprise me if he has a big acquisition or two he wants to oversee prior to retiring for good.

Oh good god...that's like 10+ years of things to check off...

Shanghai won't turn any profit for quite some time...that's how parks work

 

[Planogirl]

There are advantages to having distinct parks yes, but those advantages don't extend towards massive crowds like the Magic Kingdom can draw. And Disney is very obviously playing a numbers game. They're interested in volume not variety. The changes they are making in Animal Kingdom, DHS and Epcot all reflect a move towards the Magic Kingdom style of park.

I just wonder if having four Magic Kingdoms is such a good idea. Epcot drew pretty well back in the day and attendance still stays pretty high thanks to World Showcase, The other two parks have never been full parks which has to have hurt them. We'll never really know though.

 

[rteetz]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/b...purged-a-favorite-son.html?partner=IFTTT&_r=0

 

[lockedoutlogic]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/b...purged-a-favorite-son.html?partner=IFTTT&_r=0

An excellent read...
I must admit - I never knew about Eisner's move against Barry diller.

Diller was - of course - eisners mentor at paramount and abc.

Iger is not NEARLY as good as he thinks he is - that is for sure.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

"Staggs, who was seen as a successor to Chief Executive Bob Iger, will remain employed by Disney as a special adviser to Iger through the company's fiscal year."

"Special Advisor..." Sounds like Pete's "gone to live and run free on a farm upstate"

 

[Nezumi Fan]

An update ... with more information

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/business/media/thomas-staggs-walt-disney-company.html

All, if you haven't read the NYT article posted here (thanks for the link), take a moment and read it now. This successor business isn't about "new blood" or changing creative direction -- it's cutthroat corporate politics intended to keep Iger indispensable.

"Mr. Staggs’s contract provides for a six-month period as a consultant. He will not be present on June 16 for the gala opening of the Shanghai Disneyland Resort in China, his signature achievement during his tenure at Disney."

When you play the Game of Mouse, you live or you die.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

Iger is not NEARLY as good as he thinks he is - that is for sure.

Not sure I can agree. The way this "raise him up just to cut him down" business was handled -- that's some next-level Petyr Baelish right there

 

[Nezumi Fan]

Lasseter loves both the studios as well as the parks, but I don't see him in that position. Some people have said that whenever a project is not of his liking he reacts by firing the director.

I think he's doing a great job supervising both animation studios, and perhaps it's better to keep it that way. Ed Catmull would probably fit better in that position, for that matter.

Agreed, I think we'd see Lasseter taking over Ghibli before he'd take over at Disney.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

Please tell me you two are kidding!


Translation: He was terminated and to prevent a lawsuit, he will be paid his full salary and bonus while he looks for a new position elsewhere.

Yup. "Special Advisor" tells you all you need to know.

 

[adam.adbe]

Epcot was going to require vigilance. There was never any doubt.

They gave up.

I was watching the Cosmos (the deGrasse Tyson series) with my daughter, and all I could think was how that show would be a slam dunk as the basis of an attraction in Future World. So I mentioned in passing to my daughter that I thought a Ship of the Imagination ride would be pretty cool, and she about flipped her lid.

I get the risk of science based exhibits (Ellen's is a testament to how quickly they can date), but a screen based ride can be updated very cheaply in comparison to an animatronics ride. For some reason though, Disney seem to have concluded that science and education aren't a draw for kids, and thus Future World is left to decay.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

"Special Advisor..." Sounds like Pete's "gone to live and run free on a farm upstate"

That's exactly what it is...

It was built into his contract for "stock confidence"

He's golfing...or more likely tanning/Botox right now

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I was watching the Cosmos (the deGrasse Tyson series) with my daughter, and all I could think was how that show would be a slam dunk as the basis of an attraction in Future World. So I mentioned in passing to my daughter that I thought a Ship of the Imagination ride would be pretty cool, and she about flipped her lid.

I get the risk of science based exhibits (Ellen's is a testament to how quickly they can date), but a screen based ride can be updated very cheaply in comparison to an animatronics ride. For some reason though, Disney seem to have concluded that science and education aren't a draw for kids, and thus Future World is left to decay.

I think they more decided they weren't going to put any of their own money into it so it was left to decay. If a sponsor wanted to build something they would have jumped all over it.