Magical Spin!

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

This really speaks for itself, but I'm sure you all will have comments anyway.

Enjoy, the best of WDW Press and Publicity ...

<<Frequently Asked Questions – please use these with your cast members and guests on a reactive basis

1. Why have you made changes to the plans you previously announced for Fantasyland?

To paraphrase Walt Disney, our theme parks will never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world. Any project – particularly one as big and important as Fantasyland – is going to evolve as part of the normal creative process. We constantly challenge ourselves creatively to ensure we deliver the best possible experiences for our guests.

2. With the changes to Fantasyland, do you think that princesses are losing appeal?

No. Our Disney princesses continue to be guest favorites and have an important role in the New Fantasyland. We’re excited about new experiences featuring Ariel and Belle, as well as our Princess Fairytale Hall.

3. Are you toning down the princess experiences in order to appeal more to boys?

No. Our focus is on providing the best experience possible for all our guests and the New Fantasyland will do just that.

4. Does this mean that Snow White’s Scary Adventures is going away? When will that happen?

Yes. As we considered adding another experience in Fantasyland, we looked for an opportunity to tell Snow White’s story in a fresh, new way. By adding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, we’re able to add another chapter to Snow White’s story, and give guests a new way to experience this beloved Disney character. No date has yet been set for the attraction’s closing.

5. Is the expansion of Fantasyland your way of responding to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

No. We always have and always will look for ways to give our guests the best possible experience and the Fantasyland expansion is a perfect example.

6. Are you concerned that Harry Potter is drawing more guests to Universal?

No. We welcome Harry Potter to Central Florida. Experience has shown that any new offering in this region helps draw additional visitors to our resort.

7. How are you progressing on the expansion? When do you expect the expansion to be complete?

Work is already well underway on many of the new experiences, most of which will open by 2013.

8. Does this signal a change from the course Jay Rasulo set for Parks and Resorts?

No. This speaks to the vitality of the creative process rather than any change of leadership. It is the way we do things here. Creativity and innovation have been the hallmark of this company since its beginning and they are vital to the company’s future.

9. With all the changes to Fantasyland, are there any other impacts to Magic Kingdom?

Certainly, our focus is on providing a great experience for all our guests. To make way for some of these projects, we shared earlier that Mickey’s Toontown Fair will close effective Feb. 12 and that we will have new locations for some of our character meet and greet experiences.

10. Will Fantasyland remain open during its expansion?

Yes. We are committed to keeping Fantasyland open during the construction and have carefully planned ways to maintain the guest experience through phasing of the work
>>

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

Bahahahahahahahaha!

I love how like 5 of the answers are the exact same thing.

And I think there needs to be some revisions.

5. Is the expansion of Fantasyland your way of responding to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

No. We know it can't, so why bother lying?

6. Are you concerned that Harry Potter is drawing more guests to Universal?

Wait...they're getting more guests. That stuff actually worked!?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

I think this thing rivals tonight's Modern Family for making me ROFLMAO the most ... what a magical night.

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>> This speaks to the vitality of the creative process rather than any change of leadership. It is the way we do things here. <<

You mean striving to underwhelm? You mean pretending that every change in the parks is groundbreaking, earth-shattering stuff?

>> Creativity and innovation have been the hallmark of this company since its beginning and they are vital to the company’s future. <<

...but not in Florida.

>> 10. Will Fantasyland remain open during its expansion? <<

I only care if the Quail restrooms remain open. Who cares about the rest of the land?

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

Hey Spirit, is that press release for management? Assuming it is since it says these are responses for "cast and guests"...

And how ironic that it says to use these answers "on a reactive basis" and then half the questions are related to Harry Potter.

Methinks Dr. Freud would have something to say about that.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Are there really that many guests concerned about the change in corporate leadership of P&R? I smell cover up (in addition to all the other hillarious questions).

>>3. Are you toning down the princess experiences in order to appeal more to boys?

No. Our focus is on providing the best experience possible for all our guests and the New Fantasyland will do just that.<<

So yes? Given that half of your guests are male, it seems like trying to appeal to them...you know proving a 'better' (I still won't consider it 'best') experience for those guests, as well as the girls who have already been sold on the idea. I love corporate speak for "oops, we really screwed this one up!"

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

The Walt Disney Co.

........ the masters of lies and spin.

For they spin so much .... It's a wonder they don't prick their fingers .. aka Sleeping Beauty and The Spindle!!

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

Does this mean they will be hiring more of those survey people to approach us as we enter the new improved F-land? Sure does not seem to appear Disney has any confidence at all!

 

Originally Posted By Manfried

Half the guests may be male, but unlike most of those who offer "Constructive" comments on this and other boards, many of those probably have families and their kids are 50 percent female.

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

Ah, thanks for the laugh Spirit.

Good stuff really.

The fact that they mention WWoHP should tell you everything you need to know.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Hey Spirit, is that press release for management? Assuming it is since it says these are responses for "cast and guests"...

And how ironic that it says to use these answers "on a reactive basis" and then half the questions are related to Harry Potter.

Methinks Dr. Freud would have something to say about that.>>


It is the 'official' line for either cast underlings and/or guests. And you can tell by the answers that it absolutely validates all many Spirits have been saying for quite a while.

And yeah, I love the use of the term 'reactive'... especially considering that's how the weak-willed, conservative keepers of the kingdom have been acting in FLA for decades now.

~anyone up for dim sum?~

 

Originally Posted By Manfried

Classic PR speak. Just change the nouns and its the same spiel for any company and any situation.

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

Spirit, I would love to hear your commentary on the fanboi loveboat cruise that is currently taking place on the Dream. How much more obvious can Disney make it that they're paying these folks off for goodwill/turning a blind eye?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Are there really that many guests concerned about the change in corporate leadership of P&R? I smell cover up (in addition to all the other hillarious questions).>>

See, this is the danger in whoring yourself out to social media. I love how it is biting The Mouse on the buttocks as they are currently spending seven figures on the Dream debut and 'announcement' Tuesday night.

People in the know have been reporting just how much Tom Staggs has had issues with this project since he took over from JR. ... And it is widely known in the business that JR was knocked out of his safe perch because he was creating a fiefdom of his own in P&R. So, there is conflict and tension. And Staggs does have boys and does enjoy the parks and wasn't happy at spending absurd sums on nicely themed princess meet and greets with no capacity.

Social media insiders reported this.

And Disney just told the whole world it is all true with this pathetic attempt at spin.

>>3. Are you toning down the princess experiences in order to appeal more to boys?

No. Our focus is on providing the best experience possible for all our guests and the New Fantasyland will do just that.<<

<<So yes? Given that half of your guests are male, it seems like trying to appeal to them...you know proving a 'better' (I still won't consider it 'best') experience for those guests, as well as the girls who have already been sold on the idea. I love corporate speak for "oops, we really screwed this one up!">>

Disney is the absolute worst when it comes to spin. They lie lie LIE when they don't even need to. It's almost like watching a pathetic sloppy drunk try and get your attention at a bar near closing time ... just sad.

~Wonder if the O-Sentinel has seen this?~

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Does this mean they will be hiring more of those survey people to approach us as we enter the new improved F-land? Sure does not seem to appear Disney has any confidence at all!>>

Disney has no confidence in its product at all anymore. And should it?

Take away the pixie dusted blinders and look at the WDW PARKS (no resorts, timeshares or free dining plan talk) and ask yourself that (not you, MMC, everyone).

Worse, even the 'rubes' as some people call them have started to catch on. Disney discounts year-round ... and still can't make Wall Street happy.

They have such a mess on their hands. And repeating the words DREAMS, WISHES and MAGIC ad nauseum won't fool anyone. WDW has been in a state of decline for over a decade.

~No, we love our new princess meet and greet ... really, we think people will plan vacations just to see it and a kiddy SW coaster hybrid when IOA already will have Potter phase II up and a major pair of attractions coming to the UNI Studios park ... really ... no, no ... wait ... wait ... come back ...~

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Spirit, I would love to hear your commentary on the fanboi loveboat cruise that is currently taking place on the Dream. How much more obvious can Disney make it that they're paying these folks off for goodwill/turning a blind eye?>>

AH-HA ... the exact discussion I want to have. You have no idea how this sickens me and how folks are blind to it.

Social media is largely folly as is being proven more every day. Having housewives and fanbois and soccer moms with blogs that may get 100 hits a day (and that's after they link up thru others' sites) onboard may keep Disney from getting hit with any tough questions or comparisons. But the audience is so small and insignificant. But that hasn't stopped Disney from flying people in, putting them (and locals as well) up at resorts including the GF, Poly and WL, and the free cruise, which also includes plenty of swag. All for folks (not all, just a large group) who largely live in insigificance in the real world. These people have never been to an 'event'. They have never been allowed 'access' to creatives, execs and celebs ... even if it's just for 90 seconds where they stammer off a question that's really more like a statement of love for all things Disney. They suddenly feel important and empowered. Yet, they're very out of place. Like many families that show up at the California Grill for dinner due to free dining and are so obviously out of place ... oh, so much to say...

But I'm exhausted, so please check back tomorrow ... I do have plenty of thoughts as to what is going on and how it is biting Disney on the blank.

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

<<AH-HA ... the exact discussion I want to have. You have no idea how this sickens me and how folks are blind to it.>>

Great, me too! I've tried to get EE to talk about it, but I think he's too sad about not getting invited. Poor kid is really heartbroken over it.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

I also find it interesting that Kevin Yee is not invited to many of these events. Could it be because he is one of the few with a large enough readership that calls the mouse out?

 

Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1

"Spirit, I would love to hear your commentary on the fanboi loveboat cruise that is currently taking place on the Dream. How much more obvious can Disney make it that they're paying these folks off for goodwill/turning a blind eye?"


Is that the one the cloying and sucking up Lou "Give me a Mickey shaped ice cream bar and I am your lap dog for life" Mongello was harping about eighteen months ago?

I stopped listening to the WDW Radio Show podcast because his BLATANT and OBVIOUS sucking up to management was nauseating and made me feel dirty for listening to it. And I am NOT kidding here - you realize it's time to STOP experiencing something in your life when, after it's finished, you feel anger at the person.

I cannot say I have ever LOATHED a "personality" on the net as much as I did with him. He is the definition of the word "shill".

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>I don't see this as being anything telling... It's PR. They will deny what we know they know and think to the death.

Interesting about no SWSA closure yet. I'm thinking it might last well into this year<<<