So, who has led since Eisner....and do we like him/her?

[DVC-Landbaron]

WOW!! WDWFan4Life!! Just WOW!!!

I see that you have only 38 posts. And that you signed up in 2006. And that you were 6 years old in ’93. A mere baby!! (Lets see… In ’93 I was… I was… I was… Well… Let’s just say I was considerably older than 6!!!) And lastly, it says in your tagline that you are earning your ears.

Well! Let me tell you! You have earned your ears!!

Your post was perfect. Even the way you spelled The Evil One’s name. (Its fun isn’t it? I mean typing it that way. And it looks good in print too. You should have been here when Pressler was his right hand at Disneyland!! It was a ball! I would search for reasons to type his name. I would say something like:

“OK gang!! Ei$ner and Pre$$ler did it again!!”

Cool, isn’t it? Anyway, as I was saying…)

Your post was quite clear and very, very perceptive!!

To me it seems like his biggest objective was to rip out the soul of the company and just turn it into our average company that creates a product and sells it to consumers to earn a profit

The LandBaron rises and wildly cheers!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! Wonderfully said!!

So now follow the link in my signature and sign up!! And then change your tag line from “earning my ears” to:

A Proud Member of the Element!

And let me bid you WELCOME!!!!!!! It is evident from your most eloquent words that you “GET IT”!!!

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

A couple of loose ends!!​

I don't know about you but I really can't stand the title of this thread and seeing all the time. I don't know why. I just can't stand it. K Bye! GO Disney!!

Yes!! I understand! But have you read any of it!!!???

But are you his father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate?

Hmmmmmm. Yes. It could be! But doesn’t that only get us a seat on the Springer Show?

 

[DancingBear]

There's a false dichotomy between business and creative here. Nobody expected Eisner to have Menken and Ashman visiting his office and play the piano on Friday afternoons, as the Walt sometimes did with the Sherman brothers. What we're really talking about are bad business decisions for a company whose product relies on creativity.

We're talking about shutting down the Secret Lab instead of continuing to develop something that could rival Pixar. We're talking about the related decision to continue funding, but not owning Pixar, which over the short term was profitable but which ultimately cost a ton. We're talking about initially beefing up DFA but ultimately tearing it apart because not every movie had Lion King results.

We're talking about initially smartly taking advantage of the catalog, but ultimately over-exploiting it with too much plush and straight-to-video outsourced animation. We're talking about initially pursuing reasonably-budgeted movies with (at the time) B-list actors, but losing sight of that in favor of Armegeddon and Pearl Harbor.

We're talking about dismantling and outsourcing Imagineering. We're talking about going beyond outsourcing backoffice accounting to outsourcing folks who have some of the initial guest contact at WDW. We're talking about gutting Traditions because you see it as something quaint and nostalgic rather than part of the business plan, a way to distinguish yourselves from the competition for guests and for labor.

We're talking about moving from expanding development on-property at WDW, which could be defended as part of unlocking the value of the asset, to building lower-quality products like the value resorts and the Western Development, to even selling off property that is a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom.

 

[k5thbeatle]

There's a false dichotomy between business and creative here. Nobody expected Eisner to have Menken and Ashman visiting his office and play the piano on Friday afternoons, as the Walt sometimes did with the Sherman brothers. What we're really talking about are bad business decisions for a company whose product relies on creativity.

We're talking about shutting down the Secret Lab instead of continuing to develop something that could rival Pixar. We're talking about the related decision to continue funding, but not owning Pixar, which over the short term was profitable but which ultimately cost a ton. We're talking about initially beefing up DFA but ultimately tearing it apart because not every movie had Lion King results.

We're talking about initially smartly taking advantage of the catalog, but ultimately over-exploiting it with too much plush and straight-to-video outsourced animation. We're talking about initially pursuing reasonably-budgeted movies with (at the time) B-list actors, but losing sight of that in favor of Armegeddon and Pearl Harbor.

We're talking about dismantling and outsourcing Imagineering. We're talking about going beyond outsourcing backoffice accounting to outsourcing folks who have some of the initial guest contact at WDW. We're talking about gutting Traditions because you see it as something quaint and nostalgic rather than part of the business plan, a way to distinguish yourselves from the competition for guests and for labor.

We're talking about moving from expanding development on-property at WDW, which could be defended as part of unlocking the value of the asset, to building lower-quality products like the value resorts and the Western Development, to even selling off property that is a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom.

It will be interesting to see if the "profits" continue to be reaped into the future or if eventually these changes in philosophy come back to bite them? I guess only time will tell?

 

[YoHo]

They're already coming back to bite them.

 

[WDWFan4Life]

Your post was quite clear and very, very perceptive!!

Thank you!! I was hoping that I was being clear in what I wanted to say. I believe there is still much more that I need to learn, but have a pretty good understanding of the basics. I even used to spend all my money buying any movies that DTV sequels that Disney made, until I realized that it was just an attempt by Disney to squeeze as much money as they could out of these characters. I remember being excited when I heard about them making a Dumbo II many years ago and now I am glad it never happened and wish that the other sequels to Walt's classics never happened.

I love the Walt Disney Company so much that once I graduate from college I want to make a career working there in my major. I hope this doesn't turn people against me, but my major is Accounting, so I am hoping that I get a job at Disney in one of their Accounting departments. The thing I want to separate me from other accountants that work there however is my passion for the company and the desire to see it create remarkable attractions and movies for guests to enjoy for years to come.

I feel that as an accountant at the Walt Disney Company my job should be to tell the creative people how much something is going to cost and help them find ways to fund their projects. I also feel it is good to set a budget so there isn't overspending, but it shouldn't be allowable for the accountant to demand that certain things be cut from an attraction because they want to be able to run to the CEO and say they saved the company money.

 

[zulemara]

Thank you!! I was hoping that I was being clear in what I wanted to say. I believe there is still much more that I need to learn, but have a pretty good understanding of the basics. I even used to spend all my money buying any movies that DTV sequels that Disney made, until I realized that it was just an attempt by Disney to squeeze as much money as they could out of these characters. I remember being excited when I heard about them making a Dumbo II many years ago and now I am glad it never happened and wish that the other sequels to Walt's classics never happened.

I love the Walt Disney Company so much that once I graduate from college I want to make a career working there in my major. I hope this doesn't turn people against me, but my major is Accounting, so I am hoping that I get a job at Disney in one of their Accounting departments. The thing I want to separate me from other accountants that work there however is my passion for the company and the desire to see it create remarkable attractions and movies for guests to enjoy for years to come.

I feel that as an accountant at the Walt Disney Company my job should be to tell the creative people how much something is going to cost and help them find ways to fund their projects. I also feel it is good to set a budget so there isn't overspending, but it shouldn't be allowable for the accountant to demand that certain things be cut from an attraction because they want to be able to run to the CEO and say they saved the company money.

It seems you and I have the same goals. I am not an accounting major, but if this company is going to be changed, it needs to be changed from the bottom up. I say that because it's the frontline CMs that make the best of what they have to work with. If there were a bunch of Igers on the frontlines, NO ONE would come back. Thankfully there are those of us who care about the legacy and philosophy of the company. I'm an IT major which doesn't do me any good at Disney, but I hope to work my way into management of some kind somewhere within the company. The only way any magic is every going to be preserved is if it starts changing on the bottom and works up.

 

[WDWFan4Life]

It seems you and I have the same goals. I am not an accounting major, but if this company is going to be changed, it needs to be changed from the bottom up. I say that because it's the frontline CMs that make the best of what they have to work with. If there were a bunch of Igers on the frontlines, NO ONE would come back. Thankfully there are those of us who care about the legacy and philosophy of the company. I'm an IT major which doesn't do me any good at Disney, but I hope to work my way into management of some kind somewhere within the company. The only way any magic is every going to be preserved is if it starts changing on the bottom and works up.

There is so much that needs to be changed in the company. Many of the managers that work in the park need to be replaced with people that understand what it is like to work with the guests everyday. They know what the company policy is and how they are suppose to tell the frontline CMs to act, but I would be willing to bet that most of them don't understand the meaning behind these policies.

I know its a dream that won't happen, but I would love to either be CEO or President of the Walt Disney Company. I would not classify myself as a creative and claim that I would transform the company overnight, but I would gather up the most creative people from each division of the company and discuss with them what direction they would like to take their respective areas in creatively. I would also make sure that everyone in a high level position had extensive training on Walt's philosophy. Maybe I could even convince some of our very knowledgeable posters here into taking a job to help return the company to its glory days.

We need to get rid of the strip mall on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and remove all the bland merchandise from being in every store across property. The World of Disney store should be the only store to have a mix of products since it isn't in a park in a certain themed area. I hate getting off of Space Mountain and walking into the gift shop and seeing High School Musical and Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise there. This goes for all the other stores too.

There also needs to be an increased attention to the general upkeep of the attractions and areas around the park. They are better than many other theme park when it comes to keeping the park clean and looking pretty, but when it comes to the old Disney standards they don't measure up at least not in my opinion. I remember in August walking through the queue for Buzz and seeing all this chipped paint and wondering how they let it get like this. I would also love to station custodial cast members in a certain area and make it their job just to clean the queues, because there are some nasty guests that leave a lot of garbage behind. Once again though I feel like I am rambling and not sure if I am getting my point across, so I will stop here for now.

 

[minnie61650]

There is so much that needs to be changed in the company. Many of the managers that work in the park need to be replaced with people that understand what it is like to work with the guests everyday. They know what the company policy is and how they are suppose to tell the frontline CMs to act, but I would be willing to bet that most of them don't understand the meaning behind these policies.

I know its a dream that won't happen, but I would love to either be CEO or President of the Walt Disney Company. I would not classify myself as a creative and claim that I would transform the company overnight, but I would gather up the most creative people from each division of the company and discuss with them what direction they would like to take their respective areas in creatively. I would also make sure that everyone in a high level position had extensive training on Walt's philosophy. Maybe I could even convince some of our very knowledgeable posters here into taking a job to help return the company to its glory days.

We need to get rid of the strip mall on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and remove all the bland merchandise from being in every store across property. The World of Disney store should be the only store to have a mix of products since it isn't in a park in a certain themed area. I hate getting off of Space Mountain and walking into the gift shop and seeing High School Musical and Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise there. This goes for all the other stores too.

There also needs to be an increased attention to the general upkeep of the attractions and areas around the park. They are better than many other theme park when it comes to keeping the park clean and looking pretty, but when it comes to the old Disney standards they don't measure up at least not in my opinion. I remember in August walking through the queue for Buzz and seeing all this chipped paint and wondering how they let it get like this. I would also love to station custodial cast members in a certain area and make it their job just to clean the queues, because there are some nasty guests that leave a lot of garbage behind. Once again though I feel like I am rambling and not sure if I am getting my point across, so I will stop here for now.

Very nice goals.
I would also like to see a lot of the old Disney standards brought back.

As for the chipped paint in the queue at Buzz... I think I can explain some of it.
Unfortuatly some of the turns in the queues are not really wide enough to handle the ECV's that are requried to be mainstreamed in many of the queues includding Buzz. Also some of the EVC drivers are inexpeienced and they crash into walls...thus chipping the paint.
The rental EVC's do not have bumppers on them and they can take quite a toll on the walls so even if the wall was painted 2 days before it could be chipped when you go through the queue.

A solution may be to put corregated aluminimum on the walls and bumppers along the baseboard.

WDW already has bumppers on their EVC's but they cannot require that rentals and privately owened scooters have them.



That is why when I see chipped paint on a wall in a queue or other public area at WDW I do not equate it with poor management of the parks.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[DancingBear]

That is why when I see chipped paint on a wall in a queue or other public area at WDW I do not equate it with poor management of the parks.

But certainly someone is responsible for the poor queue design and choice of materials, no?

 

[minnie61650]

But certainly someone is responsible for the poor queue design and choice of materials, no?

Well, to be perfectly honest most of the queues do have extra wide turn areas to handle ECV's. The real problem is with the other guests who are waiting in line ahead of the EVC. They often use those extra wide spaces to stand side by side getting in the way of the EVC driver who needs the extra area to make the turns.

Just a little FYI that most people do not know:

It takes at least a 5 foot square area to turn a wheelchair or ECV. So, any lines that are wheelchair accessible have to be that wide thru the line and especially thru the turns. People who are not experienced take more room.


Just my 2 cents.

 

[zulemara]

There is so much that needs to be changed in the company. Many of the managers that work in the park need to be replaced with people that understand what it is like to work with the guests everyday. They know what the company policy is and how they are suppose to tell the frontline CMs to act, but I would be willing to bet that most of them don't understand the meaning behind these policies.

I know its a dream that won't happen, but I would love to either be CEO or President of the Walt Disney Company. I would not classify myself as a creative and claim that I would transform the company overnight, but I would gather up the most creative people from each division of the company and discuss with them what direction they would like to take their respective areas in creatively. I would also make sure that everyone in a high level position had extensive training on Walt's philosophy. Maybe I could even convince some of our very knowledgeable posters here into taking a job to help return the company to its glory days.

We need to get rid of the strip mall on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and remove all the bland merchandise from being in every store across property. The World of Disney store should be the only store to have a mix of products since it isn't in a park in a certain themed area. I hate getting off of Space Mountain and walking into the gift shop and seeing High School Musical and Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise there. This goes for all the other stores too.

There also needs to be an increased attention to the general upkeep of the attractions and areas around the park. They are better than many other theme park when it comes to keeping the park clean and looking pretty, but when it comes to the old Disney standards they don't measure up at least not in my opinion. I remember in August walking through the queue for Buzz and seeing all this chipped paint and wondering how they let it get like this. I would also love to station custodial cast members in a certain area and make it their job just to clean the queues, because there are some nasty guests that leave a lot of garbage behind. Once again though I feel like I am rambling and not sure if I am getting my point across, so I will stop here for now.

agreed entirely, and I have the same dream

 

[zulemara]

well I just wrote a nasty letter to all execs at WDW and Iger for the closure of PI. It won't matter, but it makes me feel better