Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the April 25 article: Kenversationsâ„¢ at <a href="News-ID111250.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID111250.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By covnut Very nice article! I truly feel sorry for Cynthia sometimes even though she may be doing some bad things for the company. No one seems to like her anymore... including her boss. Eisner's job must be terrible! So much criticism. There was nothing like this for Walt. Covnut
Originally Posted By MouseBear Salutations Ken, An excellent article, I think you pointed out what is truly important about running the Resort. I was also impressed with your reasoning as to why most of us have no right to criticize Ms. Harriss. Thanks for being positive, Lee
Originally Posted By usmclass I agree with Ken! Cynthia is not to blame for all the stuff that happens. I think she loves the park and does her best with what little she is given to work with. I wish that CORPORATE Disney would all set down and read the old book, IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE and the part about DISNEYLAND in particular. At that time DL was THE NUMBER ONE GUEST RELATIONS OUTFIT ONTHE PLANET! And the book explained, step by step, WHY and HOW they did that. They need to do that now! Cynthia, I hope that DO take a hint from here and make your position so that you could do like WALT did....... walk the parkm ride the jungle cruise and time it, see what the lowest CMs are experiencing and see what can be doe to improve the situation.....takl to the guests like Walt did...he talked to me and my family.... and I was only about 4 then, I have better ideas now! Oh, and Ken, I think you screw up Capt. Kirk's name every time just to see who is paying attention. T is for Tiberius.... not TAFT. A TYRANT, not a blowhard. every generation of the Krik family has had one son with the middle name of Tiberius. Watch Star Trek 6, the undiscoverd country, and you will hear it at JTK's trial.
Originally Posted By fabdisbabe Oh, and Ken, I think you screw up Capt. Kirk's name every time just to see who is paying attention. T is for Tiberius.... not TAFT. A TYRANT, not a blowhard. every generation of the Krik family has had one son with the middle name of Tiberius. Watch Star Trek 6, the undiscoverd country, and you will hear it at JTK's trial. >> Ya got another one, Ken. Great column, and one I don't think I could have gotten away with writing. Thanks for saying what so many of us are feeling and thinking. Fab
Originally Posted By EdisYoda I believe Khan also refers to Kirk as James Tiberius Kirk. I also recall in at least one episode of the TV series the reference... tho I can't remember which episode.
Originally Posted By SFH Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. I didn't meant to imply Cynthia can't be criticized at all. I just think we need to be realistic and fair in our criticisms. Ken "SFH" Pellman Kenversations[at]flash[dot]net
Originally Posted By JimG Very nice article, Ken. I too remember the "innocent days" of Disneyland and Walt Disney Productions. However, I probably remember days even more "innocent" than those you cite. I was a child in the late 1940's/1950's, and vividly recall things like the first Disney TV show ever(1950), the "Davy Crockett" craze(1955-56), the televised opening of Disneyland(1955), and the 1961 "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" TV show (RCA was the sponsor, hawking color TV sets). I saw "Alice in Wonderland" when it premiered at the local movie palace in 1951--- it was my first Disney animated feature experience and, probably for that reason, still my favorite. I avidly kept up with Disneyland via Walt's "Disneyland" TV show. At age 12 I even drew a large map of Disneyland-- I still have it and it's not *quite* up to Sam McKim standards but still decent enough for me to keep framed on my den wall. ( BTW I'm a graphics artist) Like you noted, in the earlier days of Disney (in my case, when Walt was still in charge), the company did not suffer from overexposure and we Disney fans savored each and every Disney experience, for it was always something special! The present management needs to attempt to put that same "specialness" back into Disney. This would mean being a leader again, rather than a follower, especially as it pertains to the animated films and the Parks. They should revive Walt's philosophy, that if you give the people what they want and _give quality first place_ then the profits will follow.
Originally Posted By HeartinDL Ken has a way of getting into our hearts. He says what we all think in regard to Disney sentimentality, which fosters that MAGIC we all love. How many times have we thought, "I wonder what Walt would say about this?" Yes, quality first. "Back in the day..... I remember when...." and on and on....Walt knew what nostalgia can mean to all of us (even more than thrill rides.) - I want to say I very much enjoyed your thoughts and opinions not only about The Park, but about Ms. Harris. As with President Bush, the wheels of operation work much smoother when the troops are behind the President!! Yep, criticism comes much too easily - Thanks for the reminder.
Originally Posted By friendofdd Thanks Ken! I didn't get to enjoy DL as a child. I was 17 when it opened, so all my memories are adult memories. I still thoroughly enjoy the magic and have made only two official complaints in all these years. 1. When they went PC in the Pirate chase scene and 2. when a favorite variety show at the Golden Horseshoe, The Rhythm Bros. with Terry Robinson, was closed. I guess i just enjoy myself too much too complain. I've never met Cynthia, but I've always liked what she has said in LP interviews. Based on those, I'd be willing to let her try to do what we fans want to have done. I really appreciate you voice of reason. Keep up the excellent work.
Originally Posted By refurbmike Ken, I also noticed the *wrong middle name* thing as well. How could you screw it up? It's the same middle name as Woody Allen, come on! In all seriousness, it was awesome article. Thanks for bringing to light what so many may not see otherwise.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper This is a problem that is not exclusive to Disney. I have worked for three theme park companies includind Disney and I can tell you with no hesitation that working for them all did not live up to the hype of dreaming of working for them all. The reasons for this are complex. Yes, people used to line up to work for Disneyland but they also used to line up to work for Cedar Point and Six Flags parks. The work ethic has changed and there are a lot more jobs out there that pay competitive wages (competitive to other low paying jobs for kids). Another aspect is that there is a much bigger market for kids entertainment than there was in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I don't think I could name more than two companies that were big competitors of Disney and even the amusement parks back then were catering to the teens and older. You didn't find entire "lands" of parks devoted to children other than at Disney. There wasn't the scrutiny of companies back then nor was there a contingent of shareholders demanding more and more. Prior to the 80's and 90's people were happy to get a modest return on their investment...then greed set in. (And it isn't just greed on the part of the company, it is greed amongst the companies multitude of stockholders.) Back in the 70's, themeparks weren't building new attractions every single year. Prior to Big Thunder Mountain I couldn't name the previous significant attraction at Disneyland. In Orlando in the 70's who was Disney competing against? Now you have Cedar Point building a $25 million ride (Disneyland didn't cost that much in its entirety) a year after they built a $7 million ride. If Disney is expected to keep pace, but with the over-the-top Disney attractions we all expect, how are they supposed to do it? Splash Mountain was a $100 million dollar ride and no sooner had the paint dried than everyone was speculating on the next big E-ticket. Times are changing and I too long for some of the innocence of yesterday but, those days are gone.
Originally Posted By moviela The company needs to return to the days of ole, when safety was number one, guests were number two, and "the show" was number three. Notice that guests are more important than the peeling paint of Small World visible from the train. When a submarine "sank" in the 70's guests were taken to wardrobe and given clothes to wear while their wet ones were driven by a wardrobe staffer to Perth (dry cleaners)for fast service. The quests were given four books of five "courtesy" tickets valid on any ride, and a park admission ticket. They were then invited in the most polite manner to the Horseshoe with their other family members for food on the house, and the PR man explained in minute detail what happened, and answered questions without evasion. Everyone the guests met first apologised, then asked what would make them comfortable. I don't think Dick (Nunis) knew of the broken porthole until the next day when there were several nice messages from people who called say thanks for their treatment. He was very happy that low level supervisors and ride operators had the ability to "Protect the Brand." Today you are lucky if they peel off a fastpass if you are evacuated from an attraction. I wonder if Cynthia has ever been deluged (intentional pun) with compliments arising from an incident?
Originally Posted By Brer Rabbit Well written article Ken, as usual. However I must say that as I grew up (during the early 90's) I got exactly the same feeling about going to Disneyland as you described in your article. The same experience having trouble sleeping, then finally falling asleep to dreams about the next day's trip. The same goofy innocence and untempered joy at the thought of a visit. I think I even planned out a couple of trips as a young kid myself, just as you did. Maybe I'm just an oddball, but it almost seems to me that despite the changing of times and the way that the Disney Company apparently has been approaching business over the last decade or so, that the same wonder can still be found on the faces of small children today in the parks. Perhaps the loss of the feeling of "the old days" isn't something that has been felt of recent years, but is something that is and will always be felt and has to do with growing up..? I dunno, whattaya think? -nico
Originally Posted By SFH Growing up certainly changes it. Working as a cast member also changes it. The magic is still there, to be sure. It is just different. SFH
