Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Recently, the prince went on a PR campaign to reshape his image as a proponent of more Western-like change in the stuck in the Stone Age Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While he is a lover of 1950s era American media and the Disney image cultivated under the 'Myth of Walt', Al-Waleed Bin Talal has long been rumored to be a frontman for others in the Middle East who are not able to invest here because of links to certain organizations and individuals.<<<< And what does that mean for the quality and content he puts in his parks?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>No, visit sometime the 12-17 and bring EE and Lee hisownwhateverthehellhescallinghimself and we can have a big o'le party.<<<< Well, now that it's out there... LOL
Originally Posted By Pentacat I'm a long time lurker that had to surface on this thread. The great 2011 O-Town Bob Iger Hunt has me on the edge of my seat. But when a certain Saudi Prince was mentioned in this thread a giant lightbulb went off in my brain. I had searched Twitter on day one of "The Hunt" and found a tweet from a local Orlando photographer that claimed he was taking pictures of "...the Prince of Saudi Arabia and Bob Iger." If true, that seems like an insane coincidence to me... I'll leave the prognostications to others, check it out for yourself. https://twitter.com/#!/samlink
Originally Posted By dshyates Interesting stuff Pentacat. And welcoe to LP. Maybe the prince wants to kick the tires and check under the hood.
Originally Posted By Archimedes Report >>>Still, two potentially interested 'parties' came to mind when I came to terms with the reality that TWDC has indeed shopped P&R. Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. And the People's Republic of China.<<< People's Republic of China? That's unbelievable. And I mean that in a very literal sense. It is so far removed from the realm of reality that it's laughable. But the logic-gymnastics required to reach that conclusion are astounding. The dexterity is worthy of applause. >>>...China? As i n Oriental Land? YES PLEASE...<<< What? No. China as in China.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<People's Republic of China? That's unbelievable. And I mean that in a very literal sense. It is so far removed from the realm of reality that it's laughable. >> Well, China is at the moment buying lots of companies, their foreign direct investment has grown considerably over the last few years. And supposedly they are keen on expanding even further and are planning on acquiring bigger targets than they have so far. It is the strategy that the central government has put out for the companies in China to follow. However, so far their targets have mainly been manufacturing industries. But in the end I consider this more of a theoretical discussion of what can happen than a likely outcome (for various reasons). But it is not totally unbelievable either.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>Well, China is at the moment buying lots of companies, their foreign direct investment has grown considerably over the last few years. And supposedly they are keen on expanding even further and are planning on acquiring bigger targets than they have so far. It is the strategy that the central government has put out for the companies in China to follow. However, so far their targets have mainly been manufacturing industries. << China just solved Hungary's financial problems and in my opinion that's really bad for the European Union that a country gets heplp from the outside, especially from China. I still think that Disney should not build SHDL.
Originally Posted By leemac <<China just solved Hungary's financial problems and in my opinion that's really bad for the European Union that a country gets heplp from the outside, especially from China.>> Hopefully they will buy Greece next so we don't have to fund any more bailouts....
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Hopefully they will buy Greece next so we don't have to fund any more bailouts....>> Lol, but I think so far it is mainly dagobert and me paying for the Greek bailout since we live in the eurozone.
Originally Posted By njDizfan Now for the next episode of "the hunt for Bob Iger": There are photos but they cannot be released yet, due to personal property rights. Iger and Staggs have been seen wearing matching blue and white gingham button down shirts, while dining. Too funny if true.
Originally Posted By MousDad So the question now becomes - Why the multi-day trips to O-town so veiled in secrecy that only 1 second hand report and a couple veiled posts in the Twitterverse report on it? (Someone else in the Twitterverse posted about a photo with some Saudi Prince. That could have been a joke, but only adds to the weirdness.) It's either fanbois dream come true (execs who show up at the parks without fanfare and public spectacle, aka just to show a working interest in the product), or something else at play for which Iger & Co. don't want a lot of press.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The great 2011 O-Town Bob Iger Hunt has me on the edge of my seat. But when a certain Saudi Prince was mentioned in this thread a giant lightbulb went off in my brain. I had searched Twitter on day one of "The Hunt" and found a tweet from a local Orlando photographer that claimed he was taking pictures of "...the Prince of Saudi Arabia and Bob Iger." If true, that seems like an insane coincidence to me...<<<< OK, this is wild. Bizarre.
Originally Posted By Pentacat It gets even more bizarre. Found yet another Orlando local (music producer/promoter) that tweeted he "...just met Bob Igor, Steve Jobs & Tom Staggs [in real life]" Why would the supposedly very ill but largest Disney share holder be in Orlando with Iger, Staggs AND potentially the Saudi Prince? Given Steve Jobs's health IF he was in fact in Orlando then I would have to assume that it was pretty important. Side note: Twitter your search is a joke, the results are so inconsistent.
Originally Posted By MousDad I can think of no other reason for Iger, Staggs, Jobs being in Orlando, sans press, meeting with the Saudis, other than what has been discussed in this thread. Spirit, what have you done??!!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper So, this has gone from questionable rumor to head scratching insanity. I sure hope something like this is happening when I'm there!
Originally Posted By GOB I tend to believe "where there's smoke, there's fire" sort of things, but given the circumstances that Disney's in and the fact that no one has come forward with any proof except some comments made by various high-standing members in the community, doesn't it seem like a plant? I respect Steve and WDWFigment tremendously, but when you say you have a picture sent by a friend of Bob Iger and Tom Staggs at Via Napoli but don't have permission to post it....does anyone else think that's a bit sketchy?
Originally Posted By dshyates If it was taken during operating hours in a public space Disney can't legally keep them from posting it. UNLESS Disney hired them to photograph the event. If that is the case then Disney owns the photos. I do wonder if either of the "professional" photographers work for Disney's Photopass? And were just wrangled in for a few shots. I know a lot of local Photogs supplement their income with a photopass gig.
Originally Posted By GOB Also, besides one person on Twitter, who can confirm that the Saudi prince is in WDW? I'm thinking somebody may have put two and three together but they still want to come up with four. Some basic questions need to be answered: How could a contingent of Disney executives (and Saudi businessmen) visit the parks without more than one person spotting them and getting a picture? Why would they visit on such short notice? Why would company executives be in the dark about the visit, but well-connected fans and low level CMs are?
Originally Posted By njDizfan To clarify a little, WDWFigment said he saw the picture, which was taken by his friend. He does not want to post since it is not his property. I don't think Disney told him not to post.
