Iger............friend or foe

[rutgers1]

I have been enjoying the Eisner thread, as well as the Disney War book. Now that I can see the end of Disney War on the horizon, I am wondering about the Iger years. So far, in the book, Iger is being portrayed as a guy who rose up the corporate ladder because he didn't intimidate Eisner and because he struck gold with Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Here are my questions for all of our resident experts. Thanks in advance for answering:
1) How have the parks changed since he took over?
2) How have the television networks changed since he took over?
3) How have the hotels changed since he took over?
4) Any other changes, mergers, acquisitions of note?
5) Do we like him?

From my seat, it doesn't seem like much has changed at all over the past four years, aside from the announcement of some more DVC's and another attraction or two at various parks. I am really waiting for Disney's response to Harry Potter Land at Universal.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

FOE


Because he doesn't "GET IT"


'Nuff said!

 

[YoHo]

It's hard to think of somebody so woefully inadequate at there job as being a foe intentionally, but he is.

 

[minnie61650]

I do not think Igor as a FOE. I think he is trying and is taking small steps in the right direction.
He has not yet earned my respect so athough I do not think of him as a foe, I will not call him friend yet.


Parks.....
I think the parks have gotten a little more TLC since Igor took over. They are noticeably cleaner, rides and attractions have gotten more than just basic maintenance. Fur and/or clothing has been replaced on a lot of the AA's.
The HM and PotC have had new upgrades added. I feel those upgrades are superb!

Resorts.....
Since Igor has taken over most of the resorts have been refurbished.
In fact often more than one resort is being worked on the same time.

The Poly, CR, GF, AKL, WL,All Star Music, All Star Sports, have been completed .BWI, BC, & FW cabins have been or are almost completed. CBR has had their main pool refurbished with a pirate theme. The pool is larger and has a zero entry.
The resort is undergoing refurbishments of the all the rooms including new pirate themed rooms in one of their sections.

Here is a copy of the concept art:

At this time CSR is replacing all of the double beds with Queen Size beds in all their rooms.(expect those with King beds... Plus if what I read is true about 100 additional rooms are going to be King rooms.)

* Please note

This is the first time Queen size beds will be offered a Disney mod resort.


There are plans they are going to start refurbishing all the rooms in October and they are adding Business club level to a section of rooms.

Those are some pretty good changes and I feel they are some small steps in the right direction ....


-----------------------------------------------------------------

I posted this on post #125 of the Eisner thread:

This is what I posted on Nov.11 /2007

From this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21723050


While Bob Iger may not be as Pro Disney parks as some Park enthusiasts would wish he would be, I feel he has taken some baby steps in the right direction.
----------------------------------------------------------
In January 2006 Disney teamed up with Pixar.

House of Mouse is teamed up with Pixar in a $7.4 billion deal. As part of the deal, Jobs became a board member of Disney And John Lasseter, the highly respected creative director at Pixar who had previously worked for Disney, rejoined the House of Mouse as chief creative officer for the company's combined animated studios and is helping to oversee the design for new attractions at Disney theme parks
For story see this January 2006 link:
http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news...ey_Pixar_deal/

----------------------------------------------------------
Bob Iger also made a trade so Disney could get the rights back to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Press Release from Disney.com - February 9, 2006
WALT DISNEY'S 1927 ANIMATED STAR - OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT - RETURNS TO DISNEY

Quote:
Mickey Mouse's Predecessor Rejoins Disney's Family of Animated Characters through Agreement with NBC/Universal

Burbank, CA (February 9, 2006) – Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger announced today the return of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to The Walt Disney Company by agreement with NBC/Universal, the company that had previously owned the rights to Oswald since his theatrical debut in 1927.

"As the forerunner to Mickey Mouse and an important part of Walt Disney's creative legacy, the fun and mischievous Oswald is back where he belongs, at the home of his creator and among the stable of beloved characters created by Walt himself," said Iger.
"When Bob was named CEO, he told me he wanted to bring Oswald back to Disney, and I appreciate that he is a man of his word," said Walt Disney's daughter Diane Disney Miller. "Having Oswald around again is going to be a lot of fun."

When Walt Disney opened his animation studio in 1923, he spent four years producing The Alice Comedies, a popular series of shorts featuring a live girl in a cartoon world. After four years, Walt created a new character – Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Walt produced 26 Oswald cartoons, which were distributed by Universal and well-received by audiences. However, on a trip to New York to renew his contract for Oswald, Walt discovered a clause in his contract that gave Universal ownership of his popular new character. On the train ride back to Hollywood, Walt was devastated but realized he needed to create a new character – one that he would own entirely – and during that long trip across the country, Mickey Mouse was born.

This transfer of ownership is part of an agreement permitting sportscaster Al Michaels to contract with NBC. In the transaction ESPN also acquired significant programming and promotional rights, including telecast rights to the live Friday coverage of four Ryder Cup golf championships through 2014, expanded video highlights for the Olympics through 2012, video promotion for ESPN's Monday Night Football during NBC's Sunday night football through 2011, and expanded highlight rights for other NBC Sports properties through 2011.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
In October 2007:

Trowbridge, who was vice president of Universal's Creative Studios, went to Walt Disney Imagineering -- Disney's worldwide attractions-design company -- as vice president for creative research and development.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Lassiter played a big role in the massive 5-year, $1.1 billion expansion and makeover of DCA park announced in Oct. 2007.

-------------------------------------------------------------

My point is even though Bob Iger may not really understand or love the Theme Parks division of Disney he has hired some very talented people who do care. A good team is important in a large company that has many divisions.The team needs to be made of people who represent and have top knowledge of each division. If Bob Iger continues to hire talented people who do want to improve the parks and if he and the board will follow through and put money back into the parks for improvements and upgrades then the Disney theme parks may once again make the Walt Disney Company proud.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[minnie61650]

FW campground.....

From this website:

http://moviedisney.com/fort-wilderness-resort-and-campground-to-get-major-overhaul.html

Changes are underway at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, the first such major improvements since this area opened 37 years ago.

Among the plans are a dog park, scaled down water park, internet access and cable TV throughout the campground, larger pads for today’s RV’s and an upgraded electric cart system. Also being addressed is the problem with proliferating plant species which are not indigenous to the area.

While Fort Wilderness does have three Wi-Fi hot spots as well as access from the Cabins, the same is not true for the campsites. The planned addition of both cable and internet access is being widely praised by those who camp at this resort.

The Meadows pool area will see a major overhaul with the addition of a a splash zone and water slide. Disney’s first water park, River Country, which has been closed, is adjacent to this area. While the plans do not include reopening that park, there is discussion to incorporate some of the more iconic elements of River Country into this new themed pool area. One such feature being looked at is River Country’s water tower.

The expanded campsites which are being built are expected to rent from $66 to $116 a night, varying by season and will also feature grills and picnic tables.

Jean Gallagher, General Manager of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness stated “The fort is a treasure at Walt Disney World. There really is so much history with the success of Walt Disney World that stems back to Fort Wilderness. And because of the nature of this property, and the theming, we really haven’t done a lot of changes. … We have not made a lot of investment from a site perspective in the 37 years we’ve been open. So this opportunity to meet what our guests are asking for, and how the industry has changed, this is more than we could expect.”

While the changes are being welcomed and are considered long overdue, Linda Profaizer, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds speculated that the campsite pad expansion may be happening at a time when the trend of oversize campers may be ending in response to current gas prices.

Disney’s CEO Bob Iger previously commented “We have a big RV park in Orlando, and I would think that they would be hit the hardest, because it’s pretty expensive to fill up a tank in one of those babies. Those parks have been completely full. And there’s demand going forward from a bookings perspective.”

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Iger will end up being worse than Eisner in the long run. Yes he will undertake little things like maintenance, refurbisments, etc. Things that admittedly should never have been let to slide but he will not ever take a creative chance that cannot be quantified by acountants and even if he were I will once again remind you of 'Caveman'...

At WDW he has Meg Crofton in charge, someone who clearly doesn't get "it" and she replaced Al Weiss, someone who clearly did!

The decisions like PI, Flamingo Crossings and the sale to 4 Seasons are clearly enough to tell in which direction he'll lead this Company. It may become a somewhat cleaner, brighter version but there will be no added glory outside of the typical Wal Mart mold philosophy.

JMO.

 

[minnie61650]

Iger will end up being worse than Eisner in the long run. Yes he will undertake little things like maintenance, refurbisments, etc. Things that admittedly should never have been let to slide but he will not ever take a creative chance that cannot be quantified by acountants and even if he were I will once again remind you of 'Caveman'.......

And can I remind you of EE & TSM.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

Peter my friend!!

Are you an "Element" want-to-be?

Welcome! It's about time!!!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Peter my friend!!

Are you an "Element" want-to-be?

Welcome! It's about time!!!

It seems evident that corner's been turned (for some time now) doesn't it? My tipping point was the Disney dining fiasco - trading very, very good, very unique dining experiences for bistro quality dining plans...

minnie, I'll give you that EE is a great ride but it wasn't groundbreaking. It wasn't particularily original. Any theme park could have done it. Don't get me wrong, I really like it but when the powers that be felt AK really needed something BIG to save it I have to say I'm a little disappointed that a roller coaster is the best they could do...

As for Iger, it takes more than two good WDW attractions done on his watch to make up for the total lack of judgement in greenliting 'Caveman'. Be serious, who could possibly see success in that???

 

[minnie61650]

....
As for Iger, it takes more than two good WDW attractions done on his watch to make up for the total lack of judgement in greenliting 'Caveman'. Be serious, who could possibly see success in that???

I agree greenlighting "Caveman" was a huge mistake. I can't even believe that show made it onto the drawing boards let alone into production. On the other hand two of ABC's new fall 2007 network shows Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money did very well in the fall 2007 ratings.

Pushing Daisies won 3 Emmy awards.

 

[Another Voice]

But now you're leaving off the other big disasters from last year's schedule:

'Big Shots'
'Carpoolers'
'Cashmere Mafia'
'Eli Stone'
'Miss/Guided'
'Oprah's Big Give'
'Private Practice'
'Samantha Who?'
'Women's Murder Club'

Nor do you talk about the the carriedover failures like 'Brothers and Sisters', 'Sam I Am' and 'Men in Trees' that died quick and painful deaths. Nor about those wonder midseason gems like 'Wipeout' and 'I Survived a Japanese Game Show'.

Two shows doesn't really stand up against that - especially when you consider that Iger HAS BEEN RUNNING ABC FOR 13 YEARS! How much more on-the-job-training is this guy going to have before people figure out he's not up to the job?

 

[minnie61650]

minnie, I'll give you that EE is a great ride but it wasn't groundbreaking. It wasn't particularily original. Any theme park could have done it. Don't get me wrong, I really like it but when the powers that be felt AK really needed something BIG to save it I have to say I'm a little disappointed that a roller coaster is the best they could do...

If it were not for Ei$ner and his budget cuts Beastlie Kingdome would have been built as a land in the AK.

In an article I read by Paul Torrigino, contributing writer (introduction by Mark Goldhaber)
Paul tells about how he worked on a project for the Animal kingdom.
He spent 2 years helping to plan the Dragon Tower ride. (a thrill ride)
It was going to be a suspended coaster ride inside a castle complete with bats and a dragon.

There was going to be a restaurant on a little lake with mythical sea creatures.
The Loch Ness monster was going to appear every so often. Bubbling would start up in the lake and then the monster would slowly appear.
Sounds so cool.
They were also going to have, Fantasia Gardens, a bridge called "Billy Goat Bridge",a Unicorn Maze, a Mother Goose's shop, etc., that all over the land.

He said, "I remember after they shelved it, I watched the guys crate up all the pieces, very sad. They probably still have it all in a warehouse somewhere."

I for one am still hoping they get some those concepts out of the warehouse and build BK.

-----------------------------------

One of the lands at AK was supposed to be Beastlie Kingdomme. Because of budget cuts (Ei$ner) Disney delayed the building of Beastly Kingdomme and built Camp Mickey and Minnie and put the show Lion King in that area to keep the area ready for Beastlie Kingdom.

After Ei$ner nixed the plan for Beastlie Kingdom a lot of Imagineers lost heart and some went to work for Universal. They designed Dueling Dragons for IOA.

Here is an article about some Disney attractions that were designed but never built. The Dragon Tower attraction was originally slated for Beastlie Kingdomme land planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Florida. This article gives one a virtual walk-through of Beastlie Kingdomme and the ride Dragon Tower.
http://www.mouseplanet.com/mark/mg041027.htm

 

[minnie61650]

But now you're leaving off the other big disasters from last year's schedule:

'Big Shots'
'Carpoolers'
'Cashmere Mafia'
'Eli Stone'
'Miss/Guided'
'Oprah's Big Give'
'Private Practice'
'Samantha Who?'
'Women's Murder Club'

Nor do you talk about the the carriedover failures like 'Brothers and Sisters', 'Sam I Am' and 'Men in Trees' that died quick and painful deaths. Nor about those wonder midseason gems like 'Wipeout' and 'I Survived a Japanese Game Show'.

Two shows doesn't really stand up against that -

I really cannot comment on the shows you listed since I have only seen parts of 1 or 2 episodes of 'Private Practice' and part of 1 episode of 'Samatha Who' but I did watch 'Pushing Daisies' and 'Dirty Sexy Money' each week last fall.

Other than the news I only watch aboult 7-8 hours of Television a week so I choose carefully.

The shows I usually watch are as follows:

CSI (Vegas)
NCIS
Lost
Pushing Daisies
Dirty Sexy Money
House ( sometimes)
Closure (sometimes)
Office(when my son is visiting)
*Note
Bob loves Office and I do enjoy watching it with him as he gets such a big kick from it I have to laugh also.

 

[Another Voice]

And did you know that 'CSI' was actually developed for Disney/ABC, but that Iger turned it down? And that 'Lost' (along with 'Desperate Housewives') got on the schedule because people underneath Iger went over his head to Eisner (Iger didn't want either series).

Based on your own viewing habits, how can you say Iger is a good programmer for ABC?

And if that wasn't enough, remember that Iger was the one who cancelled 'The Wonderful World of Disney' so he could move 'America's Funniest Home Videos' into the slot. How's that for 'taking care of the brand'.

 

[minnie61650]

And did you know that 'CSI' was actually developed for Disney/ABC, but that Iger turned it down? And that 'Lost' (along with 'Desperate Housewives') got on the schedule because people underneath Iger went over his head to Eisner (Iger didn't want either series).

Based on your own viewing habits, how can you say Iger is a good programmer for ABC?

And if that wasn't enough, remember that Iger was the one who cancelled 'The Wonderful World of Disney' so he could move 'America's Funniest Home Videos' into the slot. How's that for 'taking care of the brand'.

No I did not know that CSI was delveloped for Disney but I do know that 2 of the new fall of 2007 ABC shows has been added to my short list.

Thank you for that info.

Plus I think you are forgetting I never said that Igor is a good programmer for ABC.

I only stated that "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money " did well in the fall ratings and that I (someone who watches very little TV )
have added those 2 ABC shows to my short list of "must sees".

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

In his defence for him not focusing his attention on WDW, DCA is taking up a lot of resourses right now. DCA is getting the most expensive ride EVER built in pny park ride and is being called the "first Super E-Ticket ride". It's 200 million dollars, and that 200 million is a part of phase 1 of the 1.2 billion makeover at DCA.

TSM and EE are great starts, and if the fantasyland makeover happens like it's suppose to, he will make up for everything Esiner did wrong. He is fixing DCA, adding a 3rd gate in 2016-2020 in DLR. He has amazing plans for the future of MK, Epcot and DHS. Animal Kingdom is still in limbo, but at least the other 3 will get big updates in the next 4 years.

 

[Another Voice]

Wow - when did you sneak into his office and find all these amazing plans?

Yea, it's nice to prance about all the rumors that have been planted on the internet (but haven't even been announced by the company), but at the moment it's all just fanwanking.

Seriously - they told the world about this wonder giant mega-magical Hawai'i DVC development...and so far as anyone knows not a single palm tree has been cut down yet. How am I supposed to fall for the "he will make up for everything Esiner did wrong" fertilizer?

But hey, that's just me. If people are going to cough up twenty grand for a DVC "membership" because they just know that Shadowlands and Night Kingdom or 'Cars - the Mega E Ticket' is going to happen, then some marketing company is earning their pay.

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

Wow - when did you sneak into his office and find all these amazing plans?

Yea, it's nice to prance about all the rumors that have been planted on the internet (but haven't even been announced by the company), but at the moment it's all just fan wanking.

Seriously - they told the world about this wonder giant mega-magical Hawai'i DVC development...and so far as anyone knows not a single palm tree has been cut down yet. How am I supposed to fall for the "he will make up for everything Esiner did wrong" fertilizer?

But hey, that's just me. If people are going to cough up twenty grand for a DVC "membership" because they just know that Shadowlands and Night Kingdom or 'Cars - the Mega E Ticket' is going to happen, then some marketing company is earning their pay.

The Cars ride is not a rumor. It was announced at the same time as The Little Mermaid Dark Ride, Mickey/Sun switch, New Gate, Paradise Pier re-themeing, new water show with stadium and the rest of Carsland.

The rethemeing of Paradise Pier is near complete with the excepting of the removal of Maliboomer and the rethemeing of the a few rides (but they pushed that stage back to 2011 because of all the current construction). Toy Story Mania was a major part of this, later in phase 1 the rides will be rethemed and renamed.

Golden Dreams closed month and construction on TLM dark ride in underway starting with building the showcase.

This month the walls went up to start the construction of "Walt Disney Plaza".

In 2 years the major construction of the front end of the park will end and they will finish details on Paradise Pier (mickey/sun switch, removal on Maliboomer and Goofy's Flight School).

In 2010-2011 Carsland will start construction and in with completion of the rest of the park's phase 1 it will take all the focus, and possible be done in a year and a half.

This was announced by DISNEY last October and they so far have been very truthful about their plans. To think that this is a rumor is being paranoid and untrusting. Iger said that he wont work on the much needed 3rd gate in Disneyland until the 2nd one can stand on it's own 2 feet. All the major focus right now is on the park in the US that needs it the most, DCA. They are making that happen, with the addition of 5 new rides, 2 new lands and an all new water show.

John Lassater is running Disney Imagineering now, Iger has publicly expressed that he trusts his judgment. All Iger does is write the checks.

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/17/business/fi-disney17

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/02/disneys_caiforn.php

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/disneyland-luigi-rid-1003/

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/orange-stinger-2059/#more-2059 (on the future on the Orange Stinger, it will get a rethemeing, but it's not confirmed what yet)

 

[Another Voice]

"Rob Doughty, a Disneyland spokesman, declined to comment on the plans"
"Imagineering officials declined to elaborate on the new “Disney theme.”
"The Blue Sky Disney fan site reported the Orange Stinger will be redubbed…… "
"...said a person familiar with the plan who asked not to be identified. "
" 'Disney is clearly trying to sway voters', Hernandez said. 'It’s so obvious to those who don’t have pixie dust in our eyes,' he said."


Thank you for proving my point. Right now we have nothing real from the company - just a bunch of vague hints with questionable purposes and heaps of guesses, 'rumors' and fanboy wishes from people on Internet websites.

There's that old marketing line about selling the sizzle instead of the steak. Fake rumors, bogus plans and bouncing icon happy plants on the Internet are enough to still keep selling annual passes and DVC memberships.

However rational people aren't going to praise Bob Iger's management until something good actually happens.

 

[WDWFan4Life]

I personally think that Iger seems like a nice guy and is much less egotistical than Ei$ner, however that does not qualify him to be the CEO of Disney. I believe if a creative was made CEO and Iger allowed to remain just as President the company may be heading in a better direction. From a lot of the things I have read he is a very personable guy and many people seem to like him. So if we had a really creative CEO he could use Iger to talk to potential partners. As the CEO though he is just driving Disney further and further away from the principles that Walt founded his company on and trying to create a business that just cares about its ROI (return on investment).