Kaleo was let go!

[flea1267]

There are scores and scores and scores of visitors to WDW who never once read these boards, or other like them. Guess what, they go to Disney, they have a FANTASTIC time, and they keep coming back.

We are a very small, yet seemingly very vocal, minority of WDW guests.

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I read somewhere that "we" are a very small minority like you said, the stat I saw was that "we" are only 1% or 2% of the total number of visitors. As TourGuide Mike says "we" are not "them" and man am I glad I'm an "us" and not "them" - we don't need too many "thems" so that we can get more done w/ less crowds of "them" LOL

 

[anthony2k7]

It's called cost-benefit analysis. When something produces more benefit than it does cost (like hidden mickeys, perhaps), than it is worth continuing. When something produces more cost than benefit (like Kaleo), it is worth discontinuing.

yes it is called that, and for most things in most companies they can be done relatively easily and accurately.

How on earth do you measure the level of magic produced by a combination of little details though? I'd guess that its pretty much impossible and Disney are basicly guessing at what they can get away with cutting.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

yes it is called that, and for most things in most companies they can be done relatively easily and accurately.

How on earth do you measure the level of magic produced by a combination of little details though? I'd guess that its pretty much impossible and Disney are basicly guessing at what they can get away with cutting.

Very easily. You measure it in dollars and cents. You take your givens: Disney pays Kaleo x number of dollars to perform on any given night and x number of people are benefiting from this expenditure. You plug those numbers into a carefully crafted formula. If the resulting product is a positive number than it's worth keeping him. If it's a negative product, you let him go.

 

[snowbunny]

You plug those numbers into a carefully crafted formula.

I didn't know Kaleo but please You are giving corporate bean counters -and I was on that side of business for many years before I found my sanity and left - waaay to much credit.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Is there an email address we can send our letter to? It's sad. I hope he reads these posts and see's just how loved and missed he is.

 

[notsogoofy]

Here's the email we were given in another thread.

<wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com>

PLEASE DO LET THEM KNOW!!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Before everyone starts writing their angry letters, did anyone actually bother to check the facts on this? Was he actually let go or was his contract simply not renewed or did he, in fact, retire?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

It's called cost-benefit analysis. When something produces more benefit than it does cost (like hidden mickeys, perhaps), than it is worth continuing. When something produces more cost than benefit (like Kaleo), it is worth discontinuing.

1) Absolutely correct.
2) In the financial world, corporate world, and the business world.
3) But, it should not be in the Disney world.

4) If you read the Disney books, Walt had several lean years.
5) But, he kept the "on-stage" activities for the guests.
6) He did not sacrifice the guest experience.
7) In the world of Ogre (I mean Iger), it is about the money and his bonuses.
8) Even during Eisner's lean years, the guest experience was maintained.

 

[notsogoofy]

If its a cost issue, maybe they could sell tickets to see the torch lighting?? Its like everything else in corporate america..making things universal. Whats true at Poly has to be true at POP, etc..Pop has nothing like this, and so neither will Poly. You just cant count your beans when one resort does something so unique. Corporations dont like stray hairs..no variables..A restaurant in Boise will sell the same items as a restaurant in Philly. That way, they can run all the stores the same. Big business THINKS you should see the same things and get the same experience no matter where you go. I completely understand the concept. Its how business 'circles the wagons' in tough times..

 

[notsogoofy]

Before everyone starts writing their angry letters, did anyone actually bother to check the facts on this? Was he actually let go or was his contract simply not renewed or did he, in fact, retire?

Would you care to provide proof for your speculations, before we all embarrass ourselves?

 

[GatorLady]

1) Absolutely correct.
2) In the financial world, corporate world, and the business world.
3) But, it should not be in the Disney world.

4) If you read the Disney books, Walt had several lean years.
5) But, he kept the "on-stage" activities for the guests.
6) He did not sacrifice the guest experience.
7) In the world of Ogre (I mean Iger), it is about the money and his bonuses.
8) Even during Eisner's lean years, the guest experience was maintained.

Well said. It's the homogenization of Disney. I happen to think Bob Iger is a very talented CEO, but because like you said Disney is different (legacy and all), I wish the parks/resorts division would be treated in a different way. I wonder how the Disney family is starting to feel?

So Bob, keep your mitts of the parks...

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

1) Absolutely correct.
2) In the financial world, corporate world, and the business world.
3) But, it should not be in the Disney world.

Disney is, first and foremost, a corporation. It is in the financial world and in the corporate world and in the business world. Those are the rules it plays by. Some people may think that Walt was more concerned about warm and fuzzies than he was money but I think that's dillusional. He was a businessman plan and simple. He was only concerned with warm and fuzzies in terms of selling them.

If its a cost issue, maybe they could sell tickets to see the torch lighting??

If hardly anyone showed up when it was free, why would people show up when they had to pay to see it?

Would you care to provide proof for your speculations, before we all embarrass ourselves?

I have no proof. But I'm not the one starting a crusade here. I just think that before you write angry letters, you should know for certain that the premise you are going on is true.

 

[GatorLady]

He was only concerned with warm and fuzzies in terms of selling them.

If it's delusional to think Walt was more concerned with the warm and fuzzies than the money, then maybe it a tad cynical to think he was "ONLY" concerned with the warm and fuzzies in terms of selling them.

I'm glad to pay for my warm and fuzzies, that's why we go to Disney in the first place. But because of the way things are going, I just not thrilled with paying warm and fuzzie prices without the warm and fuzzies.

 

[snowbunny]

Of course it's business but those who don't think the intangibles add up to something far more than Six Flags - and THAT is what Walt was selling - are missing the forest for the trees

 

[notsogoofy]

Attention crusaders: Please dont write angry letters. Please write to tell Disney how much you appreciated Kaleo, and let them know if you'd like him back..

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Some people may think that Walt was more concerned about warm and fuzzies than he was money but I think that's dillusional. He was a businessman plan and simple. He was only concerned with warm and fuzzies in terms of selling them.

Completely disagree. He might have been as much concerned with money as he was warm and fuzzies, but not more. It's kind a moot point for this discussion anyway seeing as Walt died in 1966 and we're talking about something that happened in 2008.

Look - Walt Disney World built its reputation on having those little "warm and fuzzy" touches that made things extra special or extra authentic or extra magical. You start cutting those things because your balance sheet isn't where you think it should be and I've got news for you - your balance sheet isn't going to start improving much. I for one won't be stopping off for a cocktail after dinner at Kona Cafe anymore. So there's $20 less right there. I bet we won't be the only ones.

Anyway, getting back on topic. Kaleo, you will be missed. We're so glad we stopped to hear you on our last two trips. We enjoyed meeting you during our November trip. Mahalo nui loa for the fond memories.

 

[Planecrazy4dis]

“You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” Walt Disney

Like the Great One once said: “people…make the dream a reality”. So how Polynesian is the Poly without Polynesian people to share their culture, language, music & cuisine?

One of the things I love about Disney is that it’s not just a ride but it’s an experience. It’s the only place where you can star in your own personal movie/adventure, as it were. I have always felt the same about the resorts. I viewed the Poly as if it was a country in Epcot. The same with Animal Kingdom Lodge too. That’s why DW and I love to spend time resort hopping. Our last trip for our 15th wedding anniversary, we didn’t even step foot in a park. We go so many times that we were delighted to stop and smell the roses (or should I say hibiscus) at the resorts like the Poly. We go for the hidden Mickey’s, we go for the live Hawaiian music. Yes we go for the little details. Like someone said before, once Disney removes the details/magic, what make these hotels different than all the rest in Orlando? Letting good people go like Kaleo, is removing the soul from the Poly.

For those of us, like myself, who can’t get to Polynesia, this may be the only chance to experience their beautiful culture.

If it wasn’t for the Poly back in the day when it was Polynesian Village, my family and I would have never been inspired to travel to the Hawaii. It was the little magical details in the Poly that maid it so special and authentic. And because of that, I love Hawaiian culture. So I can’t help but feel that Kaleo truly contributed to the magic.

And for those Debby Downers out there that have negative things to say about him, why don’t you take it elsewhere. This thread is a TRIBUTE to Kaleo. I want him to see how much he was loved and will be missed.

I would like to thank everyone for the loving comments and experiences. Please share more with us. Maybe even some pictures, if you have any.

Here's the email we were given in another thread.

<wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com>

PLEASE DO LET THEM KNOW!!

notsogoofy - Thanks for the e-mail address and I agree with you about writing a respectful e-mail about how we miss Kaleo.

Who knows, maybe Disney will here are cries and bring him back. It can’t hurt, right? For those Poly lovers out there, did you know they took Tonga Toast off the menu back in the 80’s? Well it caused such a backlash with upset TT fans that they had to bring it back. Thanks to them, I continue to enjoy TT as part of my WDW tradition. Again, please let them know how you feel.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I am still curious as to why Kaleo was let go or if he was, in fact, let go at all. It would be nice to know that.

As far as being a "Debbie Downer", I don't think I or too many others were saying negative things about Kaleo. We were just discussing the topic at hand. I didn't think only people who agreed with the OP were allowed to contribute.

You start cutting those things because your balance sheet isn't where you think it should be and I've got news for you - your balance sheet isn't going to start improving much. I for one won't be stopping off for a cocktail after dinner at Kona Cafe anymore. So there's $20 less right there. I bet we won't be the only ones.

You are absolutely right that there has to be enough of a magical experience offered for people to shell out the money for a WDW vacation. However, I think Disney is quite aware of that and strikes that balance well.

And you might not be spending your $20 at the Poly any more but that's just 20 extra dollars for you to spend on something else at Disney.

 

[Traveliz]

I am still curious as to why Kaleo was let go or if he was, in fact, let go at all. It would be nice to know that.

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Well Disney wouldn't tell you why they let him go - its really not your business so the only story we will get is through second hand sources or his side of the story if he chooses to relay it.

Liz

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Well Disney wouldn't tell you why they let him go - its really not your business so the only story we will get is through second hand sources or his side of the story if he chooses to relay it.

Well, if it's not any of my business, why is it anyone else's business on this therad? What an odd thing to say.

We often find out fairly quickly why people are let go. If they are fired, that story usually breaks quickly. If a contract isn't renewed, the performer him/herself will usually let fans know.

So, even though you think it's known of my business, if anyone does know what went down, some of us would like to know.