Laura's Dad
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2000
- Messages
- 2,483
Is this post about Bob Jackson (who happens to be a Disney Legend)? It's not about where else that you want to go...........
Than being said: Our family has has a love affair with Bob Jackson and the Port Orleans resorts for over 20 years. We have probably seen his show 20-30 times over the years, always with a smile on our faces. We have always tried to plan a night to see Bob on all of our many WDW trips. I can remember the first time that we stayed at Dixie Landings (oops, PO-Riverside) and just happened on his show. What a blast!!!! We fell in love immediately.
Then, on 9/11/2001 some idiots decided to drive planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Travel went to a standstill. Many of the WDW Resorts laid off workers (including Bob). Port Orleans was closed for some time. Gradually, things got better and an email petition drive was successfully organized to get Bob back to Port Orleans. I remember this as I was one of the email backers that helped him get his job back.
Bob returned after awhile and continued his show. He was honored as a Disney Legend. We continued to see him on our annual, some times semi-annual, vacations.
My last WDW trip was this past December and I made my pilgrimage to the River Roost, It was on a Thursday night and I closed the place down. We were staying at Old Key West on a point rental and I had an uneasy feeling about Bob's show. It all seemed so Disney-fied, as if he was trying to satisfy the powers that be. He used to play a whole lot of more oldie/sing along songs mixed in with some Disney songs. Now I'm not basing Disney songs (my 30 year old daughter grew up on them and we still listen to 6 hours worth on our trips from Atlanta to Orlando on our trips), but it seemed to me that 80% of the show was Disney songs, where it used to be about 50%. I hate to say it, but I left somewhat disappointed. I loved talking to Bob (as usual) and he thanked us for visiting with him for all of the many shows. I am so happy that I decided to stick around that night with about 4 other people and see the show to it's end.
When I heard about the Grand Floridian orchestra's demise the other day, I was very fearful that Bob would suffer the same fate. When I read about it this morning, I was PISSED.
I am a 60+ year old high-school basketball coach and teacher that is coming to the end of his career. We have had a love affair with WDW ever since we first went with our daughter in 1998. We are sad when Disney closes some things (Horizons/Mr. Toad/The Great Movie Ride) and are elated when some thing are added (Star Wars Galaxy's Edge/Pandora). I can understand that the theme parks need to be as safe as possible and that they have to reduce capacity (including the hotels) to make them safe. I can also understand from personal experience that time passes and that change is inevitable. It is with a heavy heart that I can understand why things have happened the way that they have.
My wife and I have gone to Port Orleans the past three years for Mardi Gras. That will not be happening this year as it looks like PO will still not be opened. We hope to go the year after if things rebound. WE would also love to see Bob if he gets his job back at the River Roost. Even if Disney doesn't rehire him, he deserves to play there at his perch one last time. He deserves it.
I subscribe to Bob's mailing list via his website. The first thing that I did this morning was to send him an email thanking him for all of the great entertainment that he has provided for myself and my family over the years. I hope and pray that he gets to come back, but if he doesn't I would like to publicly thank him for all of the memories. They are priceless.
Than being said: Our family has has a love affair with Bob Jackson and the Port Orleans resorts for over 20 years. We have probably seen his show 20-30 times over the years, always with a smile on our faces. We have always tried to plan a night to see Bob on all of our many WDW trips. I can remember the first time that we stayed at Dixie Landings (oops, PO-Riverside) and just happened on his show. What a blast!!!! We fell in love immediately.
Then, on 9/11/2001 some idiots decided to drive planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Travel went to a standstill. Many of the WDW Resorts laid off workers (including Bob). Port Orleans was closed for some time. Gradually, things got better and an email petition drive was successfully organized to get Bob back to Port Orleans. I remember this as I was one of the email backers that helped him get his job back.
Bob returned after awhile and continued his show. He was honored as a Disney Legend. We continued to see him on our annual, some times semi-annual, vacations.
My last WDW trip was this past December and I made my pilgrimage to the River Roost, It was on a Thursday night and I closed the place down. We were staying at Old Key West on a point rental and I had an uneasy feeling about Bob's show. It all seemed so Disney-fied, as if he was trying to satisfy the powers that be. He used to play a whole lot of more oldie/sing along songs mixed in with some Disney songs. Now I'm not basing Disney songs (my 30 year old daughter grew up on them and we still listen to 6 hours worth on our trips from Atlanta to Orlando on our trips), but it seemed to me that 80% of the show was Disney songs, where it used to be about 50%. I hate to say it, but I left somewhat disappointed. I loved talking to Bob (as usual) and he thanked us for visiting with him for all of the many shows. I am so happy that I decided to stick around that night with about 4 other people and see the show to it's end.
When I heard about the Grand Floridian orchestra's demise the other day, I was very fearful that Bob would suffer the same fate. When I read about it this morning, I was PISSED.
I am a 60+ year old high-school basketball coach and teacher that is coming to the end of his career. We have had a love affair with WDW ever since we first went with our daughter in 1998. We are sad when Disney closes some things (Horizons/Mr. Toad/The Great Movie Ride) and are elated when some thing are added (Star Wars Galaxy's Edge/Pandora). I can understand that the theme parks need to be as safe as possible and that they have to reduce capacity (including the hotels) to make them safe. I can also understand from personal experience that time passes and that change is inevitable. It is with a heavy heart that I can understand why things have happened the way that they have.
My wife and I have gone to Port Orleans the past three years for Mardi Gras. That will not be happening this year as it looks like PO will still not be opened. We hope to go the year after if things rebound. WE would also love to see Bob if he gets his job back at the River Roost. Even if Disney doesn't rehire him, he deserves to play there at his perch one last time. He deserves it.
I subscribe to Bob's mailing list via his website. The first thing that I did this morning was to send him an email thanking him for all of the great entertainment that he has provided for myself and my family over the years. I hope and pray that he gets to come back, but if he doesn't I would like to publicly thank him for all of the memories. They are priceless.
