Originally Posted By ssWEDguy I've heard quotes from Walt that say he wanted his Disneyland to be "brand new" every morning. He wanted the place to look like it was just out of the box for each guest that came through the gates. Thus the high emphasis on maintenance, re-painting, overnight cleaning, and even pressure-washing the sidewalks. And lots of trash cans and custodial types in the parks all day long to keep it clean during the day. People even keeping the trash cans clean. This is a very expensive proposition. Money spent that could certainly have gone to new attractions. Or to the investors -- Walt had to deal with a board of directors and share holders too. I wonder now that the operation has grown so large and the times have changed -- would Walt himself have modified some of his "Brand new every morning" philosophy? What do you think?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Nope...he was hardcore old school!>> That's pretty easy to say when he's been dead for 40 years and there is no way to check. There are many questions you could ask... Would he have actually tried to build Epcot as he envisioned? Would it have been a massively costly failure? Would he have built moderate and value resorts or limited the on-site experience to those upper-middle class and above? Would he have extended the monorail to all parks and resorts at WDW? Would he have ever released at PG-13 movie under the Disney name? It is impossible to say what he would have done if he lived in today's times and faced today's realities. I think it would be safe to say though that he would operate today differently than he did in the 50's and 60's. Even if he didn't want to, Roy would have made him do it.
Originally Posted By ToEPCOTandBack Well, I hate to say, but I do beleive that alot of the the people who work for Disney, or atleast five years ago, do it for the money. And Walt did what he did to make people happy. Sure profit was part of it, but he still wanted the "Magic" part of it to be there. No, I dont think he would have changed the Brand new Everyday Philosophy. And me, I think it is a great way to make each and every trip to the parks even better that the last. ~Josh
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Nope...he was hardcore old school! << Walt did what he thought was the right thing, but he was also very business savvy. He went ahead and did things anyway when he felt he was right regardless of what anyone else said. But even he closed some attractions when it was clear that they weren't delivering.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden 50 years of "brand new every morning" every single day probably would have left Walt just a tad nutty. Resulting in his family sending him to a peaceful community home for theme park/movie moguls where he would have spent the remainder of his days following orderlies around with a dustpan and broom.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I think that where is no question that things at the Disney Company changed since Walt passed away. <<Would he have built moderate and value resorts or limited the on-site experience to those upper-middle class and above?>> I think Walt would have built moderate and value resorts. I think Walt recognized that WDW was to be a Destination Resort and not a park intended for people maybe an hour to two hours drive away.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 While I believe park wise , ride wise etc Walt would have changed as he saw fit with the times ( maybe not what we think he should have done) as he was innovative in 1955, why not now? However the aspect of cleanliness and new out of the box feel, that is a personality trait, not to be confused with business......it is the way he was...you never see pictures of Waalt looking dishevled, or out of sorts. I believe from what I see and read, that he was in many ways what would be called a perfectionist today ( and today's term it supposedly is a bad thing - but I don't think so) -- so the answer to tuning down park maintenance regardless of what his managers would tell him, I just don;t see that part changing -- IMHO
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I think Walt would have gotten bored with theme parks the same way he got bored with cartoons and filmaking. He probably would have created something entirely different to occupy his studio and artists if ever given the chance to live longer. When you look at the way some of the later Disney films tended to deteriorate after Disneyland was built and he lost interest in the animation unit, it leads me to believe that his fanatical interest in Disneyland would have faded, too -- after he immersed himself in EPCOT or his next great idea.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<However the aspect of cleanliness and new out of the box feel, that is a personality trait, not to be confused with business......it is the way he was...you never see pictures of Waalt looking dishevled>> That could just be a case of a man maintaining his public image. I don't think I've ever seen a picture of Michael Eisner looking disheveled either.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <That could just be a case of a man maintaining his public image. I don't think I've ever seen a picture of Michael Eisner looking disheveled either< how many pictures did you see of Mike walking the parks or creating anything ?
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney It isn't a matter of what Walt would have done, although I'm pretty sure 99.99% that he'd want his parks to sparkle and would be sickened by how dirty and unmaintained they often are. But it wasn't just Walt. It was a corporate mindset that creating a clean, sparking place encouraged people to be on their best behavior and have a good time. That mindset held firm for decades after his death. It wasn't until the mid-90s that cutbacks happened and standards dropped. Much of it due to Disney paying millions of dollars to consultants to tell them how to 'fix' (i.e. BREAK) their business culture. Disney's quality is a whole lot more than just the man who started it all.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Disney's quality is a whole lot more than just the man who started it all << Can't argue with you here. You're right. But it sure helps to have the/a visionary at the helm to help shepherd it. Can you imagine trying to be the leader after Walt left us? How can they POSSIBLY lead the way he did? Walts come along once in a blue moon. I'm thankful I was here when he was. I at least got to see him on TV. Never met him. >> But it wasn't just Walt. It was a corporate mindset that creating a clean, sparking place encouraged people to be on their best behavior and have a good time. << Agreed. Walt's world was run pretty much like he personally wanted it for a long time, by his first lieutenants. People he had worked with personally for many years. With the passage of time, we get fewer and fewer people who actually knew him, and what he wanted. "Traditions" is informational, not an indoctrination.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I hear the Cruise Ships are able to maintain that new everyday look and feel. Is that true?
Originally Posted By Skellington88 Walt Disney didnt have to deal with a board of directors or shareholders... and he would not ahve built "value" and "moderate" resorst..he would have only built themed delux resort and charged moderate prices to stay there.
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Originally Posted By leemac <<Walt Disney didnt have to deal with a board of directors or shareholders...>> Now that makes me smile...... I suggest you check your history books again Skellington88.
Originally Posted By Labuda Amazing the way you know what Walt would have done even though he died about 40 years ago, which I, for one, am ABSOLUTELY certain was LONG before you were ever born.
Originally Posted By Labuda he above was directed at Skellington88, if that's not obvious to anyone. Soprry, y'all! Forgot to quote!
