Great Huffington Post article on what Disney really needs in a new CEO

[DDLand]

I didn't bash MyMagic+ I really haven't ever I do say I like it.

The POTC refurb isn't confirmed and it doesn't have anything to do with staggs it's all Phil Holmes and Kaligridis. Holmes doesn't want the ride down more than 4 months when it really needs 6 or more. That shows you right there that Disney execs would rather sacrifice quality for quantity.

I didn't say neglect I said quality when it comes to merchandise.

Instead of acknowledging it for what it is, you said "many view it as unnecessary." (Like a trip to Walt Disney World) Who cares about what people said? You like it. That's all that matters. As a consumer stand up for what you like!

Staggs sets the tone on these things from Burbank. If he hires a bunch of executives that don't care about quality then expect low quality care. The care put into the 60th and POTC are starting to prove that that mindset is evaporating. Things are getting better because of Staggs managment. Of course park operations people don't want a ride down for a long time. The fewer bodies per hour the worse. That's natural. Walt was imfamous for his short construction time frames. That to doesn't bother me. Only if they get it down right.

Quality? Hmm, not really. Now variety I'll buy. The writing was on the wall...

 

[ChipnDale79]

Alright. We can leave it at this. I honestly don't see how it's gotten worse. 2004 was like the worst year ever. It improved since then. Of course everything changed when My Magic came out. I think guest experience has improved greatly since then.

We'll agree to disagree about My Magic. Though as I said before those two parks money wise are not broken by any means. It would be silly to pour money into assets already making returns when there is a different place they can devote the cash with better results. My Magic has boosted guest spending in a real way. They made the right decision.

He hasn't done anything great there, but he sure hasn't made it worse then his predecessor.

Ok one really last comment. I agree with you when you say it would be silly to pour money into assets that are already working. That's exactly what they did with Magic kingdom, it was the one park at WDW that didn't need the work, yet it's the one that got it.......

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm not going to jump into the two leaders debate. It's a little messy. What's often forgotten is perhaps one of Eisner's greatest failures Euro Disney took place when Wells was alive. Where was he? Though there's much evidence backing up what you're saying too. Messy.

Now to what you're saying about IP I think you're pretty spot on. I've written previously that I feel like the Walt Disney Company is healthiest when animation, the studios, and Imagineering are creating quality content. One or two of these working creatively is not enough to have WDC working at maximum effectiveness. Right now Animation and Studios are working effectively while Imagineering is dead. They still know how to bring people into a different world, but the story part is dead. Grizzly Gulch, a bear messes up our train ride. Cool... (Now Mystic Manner is reason to hope) Can any of us see them creating a brand new Pirates of the Carribean style ride without IP? Nope! That's scary and sad. At the same time they're sacrificing the story part, they're also focusing on more simulation type rides (Ratatouille Ride is the best example) giving up their lead in robotics illusion, robotics, and ride system.

You guys want to know what is bringing down Movie Theaters? Consumer electronics at home playing the same thing. If they continue the path of literally cutting and pasting from movies and playing them on a big screen with a car moving people are gonna start wondering why they should pay so much money for the same experience they can get at home. Especially with new Virtual Reality stuff coming. Disney can't compete with Apple, Microsoft, and Google. They can compete in their own sphere. Creating amazing original stories in the physical world.

For whatever reason they're to stubborn to do that. I don't blame that on Iger. Lasseter is the one I'm ticked at. He worked on Jungle Cruise for pete's sake!
You'd think he's understand original work but no...

Wells was the point man at euro... That's where he was.

There is nothing wrong with that park...it is perhaps the best "magic kingdom"...

They put it In the wrong place - eisners stubbornness.
They misread the culture and the appeal of specifically Florida and its climate to Europeans
They thought Europeans would "Americanize" and work low wage service jobs without their security blanket policies.

That's what happened there. Wells took the "problems" of euro to his grave... It consumed him for five years.

The reality is that bob Iger is not gonna be around forever - though I'm sure he will wear out his welcome...and he has none of the even reduced allegiance to the Disney ideal that his predecessor had.

If he guts the park experience - but nobody realizes it by the time he leaves... He'll have a big smile and be lauded as a visionary. Because if you measure it only by stock price, p/e, and dividend... That's what you can say. But in a company like Disney that had such a draw based on brand (there are very few...which is why wsj articles never get it)... The rules are different. And to deny that or support its abuse will result in a big rude awakening down the line...

Hey...there's always myrtle beach right?

 

[DDLand]

I would say ratatouille is something imagineering should be proud of it uses a newly developed trackless ride system. Similar to mystic manor but still different. Yes it uses screens that's a downside but doesn't mean it can't be good. I would also say that the new animatronics in mine train are very well done. Imagineering is currently taking on the feat of floating mountains if they can make that work well I think we could see one of the best things to ever come out of that part of the company. I wouldnt say that it's dead just stagnant.

Look up Tokyo's Winnie the Pooh ride... They had that same sort of tech for a decade. I have mixed feelings about the animated eyes. Not my favorite. To each his own.

The floating mountains will be an example of Disney's rock work addiction. Something they are insanely amazing at. I'm planning to write a post on that...

 

[rteetz]

Instead of acknowledging it for what it is, you said "many view it as unnecessary." (Like a trip to Walt Disney World) Who cares about what people said? You like it. That's all that matters. As a consumer stand up for what you like!

Staggs sets the tone on these things from Burbank. If he hires a bunch of executives that don't care about quality then expect low quality care. The care put into the 60th and POTC are starting to prove that that mindset is evaporating. Things are getting better because of Staggs managment. Of course park operations people don't want a ride down for a long time. The fewer bodies per hour the worse. That's natural. Walt was imfamous for his short construction time frames. That to doesn't bother me. Only if they get it down right.

Quality? Hmm, not really. Now variety I'll buy. The writing was on the wall...

The 60th shouldn't even be brought into this discussion if they didn't do something for it Disneyland locals would go nuts. That's a whole other can of worms in Anaheim compared to WDW. Like I said POTC is not confirmed. Staggs would likely be the one to give final approval of a major refurb but Holmes is the one who wants to take short cuts. Holmes has been at WDW for as long as I can remember I don't think he was hired by staggs. You also can't compare this to Walt he is the one who started this all why we love it. Walt also had absolutely nothing to do with WDW besides the purchasing of the land. Walt did open disneyland with things not finished but that doesn't mean they didn't get finished. People went nuts when nothing was done for epcots 25th and really the 30th for that matter. We will have to wait and see what is done for the 50th. I have a feeling Kaligridis will be gone by then.

 

[rteetz]

Look up Tokyo's Winnie the Pooh ride... They had that same sort of tech for a decade. I have mixed feelings about the animated eyes. Not my favorite. To each his own.

The floating mountains will be an example of Disney's rock work addiction. Something they are insanely amazing at. I'm planning to write a post on that...

Yes I'm well aware of the pooh ride. They took that and made it better with ratatouille track less has been done before and it will be done again there are differences in every trackless ride.

The dwarfs have animated faces not just eyes. Watch out this tech is coming in the Disneyland refurbs.

Yes Disney loves their mountains and they are good at it. That's why its a theme park I'd rather look at that then a bunch of wrapped up steel at six flags. I'm also interested to see how this new boat ride through the bioluminescent forest will be. If that's done well and new e ticket banshee ride they could have a real winner with avatar.

 

[rteetz]

Wells was the point man at euro... That's where he was.

There is nothing wrong with that park...it is perhaps the best "magic kingdom"...

They put it In the wrong place - eisners stubbornness.
They misread the culture and the appeal of specifically Florida and its climate to Europeans
They thought Europeans would "Americanize" and work low wage service jobs without their security blanket policies.

That's what happened there. Wells took the "problems" of euro to his grave... It consumed him for five years.

The reality is that bob Iger is not gonna be around forever - though I'm sure he will wear out his welcome...and he has none of the even reduced allegiance to the Disney ideal that his predecessor had.

If he guts the park experience - but nobody realizes it by the time he leaves... He'll have a big smile and be lauded as a visionary. Because if you measure it only by stock price, p/e, and dividend... That's what you can say. But in a company like Disney that had such a draw based on brand (there are very few...which is why wsj articles never get it)... The rules are different. And to deny that or support its abuse will result in a big rude awakening down the line...

Hey...there's always myrtle beach right?

Completely agree. Iger seems more worried about stock prices and how much they bring in. Eisner was more into the product he didn't care how much he was making off of it in some cases that was really good some not so good.

 

[DDLand]

Wells was the point man at euro... That's where he was.

There is nothing wrong with that park...it is perhaps the best "magic kingdom"...

They put it In the wrong place - eisners stubbornness.
They misread the culture and the appeal of specifically Florida and its climate to Europeans
They thought Europeans would "Americanize" and work low wage service jobs without their security blanket policies.

That's what happened there. Wells took the "problems" of euro to his grave... It consumed him for five years.

The reality is that bob Iger is not gonna be around forever - though I'm sure he will wear out his welcome...and he has none of the even reduced allegiance to the Disney ideal that his predecessor had.

If he guts the park experience - but nobody realizes it by the time he leaves... He'll have a big smile and be lauded as a visionary. Because if you measure it only by stock price, p/e, and dividend... That's what you can say. But in a company like Disney that had such a draw based on brand (there are very few...which is why wsj articles never get it)... The rules are different. And to deny that or support its abuse will result in a big rude awakening down the line...

Hey...there's always myrtle beach right?

That's just the thing. If Disney had started trying to build Disneyland in a market that was hostile, had bad weather, and was clearly the worse of two options Roy would have shut him down in a flash. Wells just watched... It's just a little bit of a red flag to me.

I've never been there but it looks beautiful in all the photos I've seen.

For a while I though that's what Iger was up to. Create cheap IP attractions that will ultimately not keep a draw and destroy the long term money makers. He gets short term profits and glory and leaves right before it collapses. Devious plan right? Then Carsland came out and my perspective changed. I think he believes he's doing the right thing with the IP. He's putting his money where his mouth is; spending big. That's why I blame Lasster. He should be raising flags and pointing out that IP attractions don't keep crowds long term. (Universal anyone?) Instead he's rebuilt Imagineering in Pixar's own image. It's brought us awesome attractions like RSRs but it's not anyway to operate a theme park.

Furthermore I think Iger really believes this because he keeps extending his contract. If he thought things were going to turn south real soon he'd have bowed out. He expects the growth to continue into 2018 at the very least.

 

[DDLand]

Completely agree. Iger seems more worried about stock prices and how much they bring in. Eisner was more into the product he didn't care how much he was making off of it in some cases that was really good some not so good.

This guy was known to be paranoid about following stock prices in the last decade. You need to read some about Eisner, I'm serious.

 

[rteetz]

That's just the thing. If Disney had started trying to build Disneyland in a market that was hostile, had bad weather, and was clearly the worse of two options Roy would have shut him down in a flash. Wells just watched... It's just a little bit of a red flag to me.

I've never been there but it looks beautiful in all the photos I've seen.

For a while I though that's what Iger was up to. Create cheap IP attractions that will ultimately not keep a draw and destroy the long term money makers. He gets short term profits and glory and leaves right before it collapses. Devious plan right? Then Carsland came out and my perspective changed. I think he believes he's doing the right thing with the IP. He's putting his money where his mouth is; spending big. That's why I blame Lasster. He should be raising flags and pointing out that IP attractions don't keep crowds long term. (Universal anyone?) Instead he's rebuilt Imagineering in Pixar's own image. It's brought us awesome attractions like RSRs but it's not anyway to operate a theme park.

Furthermore I think Iger really believes this because he keeps extending his contract. If he thought things were going to turn south real soon he'd have bowed out. He expects the growth to continue into 2018 at the very least.

Universal anyone? They have been doing great since potter and they just keep building I don't see a problem there and it's all IP. Lasseter has no theme park say really he has an imagineering title but he much more focused on Pixar and the studios. Why would John raise red flags othe isn't wells. Kathy Magum was behind carsland. Yes John had input that's why we have floating tires because he couldn't live without it and Disney regrets it. Iger doesn't think things would turn south he's making millions and doesn't want to hurt his retirement check that's why he's still here. I also think he doesn't think staggs or rasulo are ready and maybe looking elsewhere for a replacement.

 

[rteetz]

This guy was known to be paranoid about following stock prices in the last decade. You need to read some about Eisner, I'm serious.

Eisner was a theme park nut he loved them heck he built a handful of them. Place Iger in any theme park without his lovely assistants and I don't think he gets around as nearly as well as Eisner. Eisner still goes to the parks.

 

[DDLand]

Yes I'm well aware of the pooh ride. They took that and made it better with ratatouille track less has been done before and it will be done again there are differences in every trackless ride.

The dwarfs have animated faces not just eyes. Watch out this tech is coming in the Disneyland refurbs.

Yes Disney loves their mountains and they are good at it. That's why its a theme park I'd rather look at that then a bunch of wrapped up steel at six flags. I'm also interested to see how this new boat ride through the bioluminescent forest will be. If that's done well and new e ticket banshee ride they could have a real winner with avatar.

In a decade they translated the concept over from tea pots to rats. I mean I'm not a downer on trackless rides but they're also not really new. Sea World also has an example of the same technology at work too.

I checked. We were both wrong. They had physical noses. Yea, I'm aware. Mixed feelings. I watched videos on YouTube of Alice and didn't find it horrible. They went overboard SDMT in my opinion.

Yeah, like I said I'm planning a post...

 

[rteetz]

In a decade they translated the concept over from tea pots to rats. I mean I'm not a downer on trackless rides but they're also not really new. Sea World also has an example of the same technology at work too.

I checked. We were both wrong. They had physical noses. Yea, I'm aware. Mixed feelings. I watched videos on YouTube of Alice and didn't find it horrible. They went overboard SDMT in my opinion.

Yeah, like I said I'm planning a post...

I didn't say it was new just enhanced from project to project. They will continue to use this technology and put it in new rides.

Yes I know they had physical noses I have ridden it multiple times. The rest of the faces are animated. I like them I think they look sort of more real. Alice is supposed to be getting more of this as well as Pan.

 

[DDLand]

Eisner was a theme park nut he loved them heck he built a handful of them. Place Iger in any theme park without his lovely assistants and I don't think he gets around as nearly as well as Eisner. Eisner still goes to the parks.

You keep saying that. Do you have a source? I haven't seen any information on that. From what I remember Eisner would generally come a couple times a year on pre planned routes that were completely redone the days before to keep him happy. If he walked a couple feet in one direction or went on a ride he wasn't interested the park was a mess with wilting flowers and peeling paint. His underlings always made sure to keep him on the official route that was perfect just for him. Did he wait in lines or take the transportation? Nope! Always entered backstage.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Iger thinks far bigger than just enjoying a theme park. Iger gets the idea of brand and world growth. The 3 rules are spot on and working. Disney is doing so much new and expanding it is great.

Thanks for posting OP, but this article is just a trashy "opinion piece". And by opinion piece I mean a bunch of insulting gobbledegook from someone who doesn't know squat.

"Disney CFO Jay Rasulo, an often puckish glad-hander, and Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, an oddly waifish man of anemic personality..."

Yeah. Great writing. Wonderful author. I remember stuff like this from Junior High School.

 

[rteetz]

You keep saying that. Do you have a source? I haven't seen any information on that. From what I remember Eisner would generally come a couple times a year on pre planned routes that were completely redone the days before to keep him happy. If he walked a couple feet in one direction or went on a ride he wasn't interested the park was a mess with wilting flowers and peeling paint. His underlings always made sure to keep him on the official route that was perfect just for him. Did he wait in lines or take the transportation? Nope! Always entered backstage.

I could ask the same from you in many cases for a source. It was pretty obvious he built, DHS, AK, DCA, DLP, WDS, HK, he added several attractions to MK and Epcot as well. Well I don't think any CEO in todays day and age would not come without personal and highly doubt any exec would take the disney transportation I didn't expect him too. But just like you said he wasn't happy if something was wrong. He was just at WDW with his family last year stayed on property and ate several in park and in resort meals. I doubt Iger would do the same when was the last time he was spotted in a theme park for something other than an announcement.

 

[rteetz]

Iger thinks far bigger than just enjoying a theme park. Iger gets the idea of brand and world growth. The 3 rules are spot on and working. Disney is doing so much new and expanding it is great.

Thanks for posting OP, but this article is just a trashy "opinion piece". And by opinion piece I mean a bunch of insulting gobbledegook from someone who doesn't know squat.

"Disney CFO Jay Rasulo, an often puckish glad-hander, and Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, an oddly waifish man of anemic personality..."

Yeah. Great writing. Wonderful author. I remember stuff like this from Junior High School.

It wasn't intended not to be an opinion article we all write our opinions on here and many don't agree with you and I.

 

[DDLand]

The 60th shouldn't even be brought into this discussion if they didn't do something for it Disneyland locals would go nuts. That's a whole other can of worms in Anaheim compared to WDW. Like I said POTC is not confirmed. Staggs would likely be the one to give final approval of a major refurb but Holmes is the one who wants to take short cuts. Holmes has been at WDW for as long as I can remember I don't think he was hired by staggs. You also can't compare this to Walt he is the one who started this all why we love it. Walt also had absolutely nothing to do with WDW besides the purchasing of the land. Walt did open disneyland with things not finished but that doesn't mean they didn't get finished. People went nuts when nothing was done for epcots 25th and really the 30th for that matter. We will have to wait and see what is done for the 50th. I have a feeling Kaligridis will be gone by then.

According to MiceChat they're beautifying the park for no reason other then they want to wow guests. That's a good thing if you ask me! The 60th is incredibly relevant. It could be completed with a parade. Instead they're updating existing attractions that don't need to be updated because they just feel like it! Awesome. POTC hasn't been confirmed. At least they're talking about it. That's how things get started.

Culture comes from the top. Staggs has put or kept individuals in positions that want to improve guest experience. Great!


Wow. I hit a nerve for some reason. I know what Walt did and did not do. Walt's work involved sight selection, land acquisition, land management, and leading the Epcot team. The team tasked with designing and constructing the Resort Area was actually led by Roy, interestingly even before Walt's death. Perhaps Walt's greatest legacy has to do with the way it was set up. The Resort District at the End of World Drive, then Epcot, and eventually I4. Just replace Epcot with Epcot, replace world drive (there would have been another road in the same place for residents and support vehicles) with a monorail terminating at an airport of the future and transportation center, and add of course an office park. The rough design can still be seen and his brilliance still shines through. Of course non of this is really relevant to what we were talking about...

Which was trying to shorten the length of an attraction refurb. Using historical precedent by the guy who wrote the book I said "Walt was imfamous for his short construction time frames. That doesn't bother me. Only if they get it down right." It has nothing to do with Florida or California. It's just the way he operated. Period.

Yeah a plethora of celebrations doesn't really matter. I was saying their interest in going above an beyond is of note.

 

[DDLand]

I could ask the same from you in many cases for a source. It was pretty obvious he built, DHS, AK, DCA, DLP, WDS, HK, he added several attractions to MK and Epcot as well. Well I don't think any CEO in todays day and age would not come without personal and highly doubt any exec would take the disney transportation I didn't expect him too. But just like you said he wasn't happy if something was wrong. He was just at WDW with his family last year stayed on property and ate several in park and in resort meals. I doubt Iger would do the same when was the last time he was spotted in a theme park for something other than an announcement.

Cool. If you want to know ask any other poster or me if for historical precedent. Have you noticed a single long time poster disagree with what I'm saying? Nope.

I suggest Disney War, Jim Hill Media, and any other archived article from that time.

You were just saying how horrible it was that Iger was surrounded by personal telling him where to go when Eisner did the very same thing.

It's nice that he still goes, I just couldn't tell by his years of crappy theme park management and poor attraction quality.

 

[rteetz]

According to MiceChat they're beautifying the park for no reason other then they want to wow guests. That's a good thing if you ask me! The 60th is incredibly relevant. It could be completed with a parade. Instead they're updating existing attractions that don't need to be updated because they just feel like it! Awesome. POTC hasn't been confirmed. At least they're talking about it. That's how things get started.

Culture comes from the top. Staggs has put or kept individuals in positions that want to improve guest experience. Great!


Wow. I hit a nerve for some reason. I know what Walt did and did not do. Walt's work involved sight selection, land acquisition, land management, and leading the Epcot team. The team tasked with designing and constructing the Resort Area was actually led by Roy, interestingly even before Walt's death. Perhaps Walt's greatest legacy has to do with the way it was set up. The Resort District at the End of World Drive, then Epcot, and eventually I4. Just replace Epcot with Epcot, replace world drive (there would have been another road in the same place for residents and support vehicles) with a monorail terminating at an airport of the future and transportation center, and add of course an office park. The rough design can still be seen and his brilliance still shines through. Of course non of this is really relevant to what we were talking about...

Which was trying to shorten the length of an attraction refurb. Using historical precedent by the guy who wrote the book I said "Walt was imfamous for his short construction time frames. That doesn't bother me. Only if they get it down right." It has nothing to do with Florida or California. It's just the way he operated. Period.

Yeah a plethora of celebrations doesn't really matter. I was saying their interest in going above an beyond is of note.

I didn't say that wasn't a good thing but if they didn't do something for the 60th their would be outrage from the disneyland locals. Disneyland can't remove a tree without the locals going crazy. They have over a millions AP holders.

WDW management is about the once in a life time vacationer and getting as much money from them simple as that. Why do you think there are so many dessert parties and hard ticket add ons.

Walt's Epcot is nothing like the Epcot today. Even opening day Epcot center is a lot different from what it is today and I never got to experience that.

I'm not against doing things right in short time periods. While POTC needs a good amount of work if they can successfully do it in 4 months great. But when I keep hearing sources say they need 6 or more I have my doubts.