Originally Posted By leobloom >>> What is the great emotional innerd twist when it comes to Mr. Toad? Talk about your neon painted plywood. Can you really tell me that Toad was a higher quality attraction then Pooh? (which I also hate, btw). How about the plywood overlay that happens to HM in DL. I thought that was as cheap and cheesy as possible, yet so many people want that cheap crap in WDW. And it's not the one timer that is calling for it, it's the highly refined tastes of the all knowing regulars. Make up your minds. High quality or cardboard <<< Part of the nostalgia for old attractions derives from the feeling that the new attractions don't measure up. Given the choice between Alien Encounter and Stitch, I'll take the former. If they could've closed Alien Encounter and opened something new and impressive, I would've gladly parted with it. But you see how that turned out.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Well, you know us boomers...the brain has started to go, no real ability to have any judgment...so I would just ignore us. As you say, we will all be dead soon. Why waste time on a dying breed. And Spirt...No I was not kidding about anything that I said. I believe that is the way it is because I am out here in it, not hobnobbing (great old timer word) with Disney insiders. The real world and it's priorities are much different than the relatively few dedicated Disney fans. Disney is, in fact, different then it was years ago. For one thing...Walt is indeed dead and in spite of the power of his influence which is still hanging in there to some degree this many years later, even he would not have been able to ignore the differences of the outside world. I am one of the few that believes that, had he lived, the chances are very good that Disney would have been bankrupt from his EPCOT dream. Nice dream, but just a dream. I believe Disney has changed, yes, but only to the degree that the world has changed. Nothing stays stagnant and not everything is possible like it used to be. For example if Disney could have made money selling the diversity of items that it once did in the parks you can bet whatever body part you like that it would still be in the stores for sale. However, no one was buying it so, welcome to Walmarts Stuffed Doll section. The way of the world.
Originally Posted By Manfried WDW takes a lot of money to run day to day, and I doubt the ROI is all that good any more. It is probably time for Disney to take a serious look at cashing out of the place but there is one issue still hanging out there with regard to any kind of sale or divestiture, the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<I would trust Lassetter or Jobs far more than any elected politician in Illinois- and based on the last 50 years here no one should question why.>> You obviously don't have friends who've worked at Pixar since Point Richmond days. If you did, you'd take this statement back in a heartbeat ----- you obviously don't know Illinois politics -- 3 /4 last four governors doing/did jail time - we rank 49th in the country in finances yet have the highest sales tax - 10.5% in Cook COunty / some of the highest proeprty taxes- the highest gas prices in the country outside of Hawaii, the highest electric rates --got a 66 2/3 % increase in our state income tax this January - most major arteries are toll roads that were supposed to be gone 40 years ago.. etc. there are likely more ghost payrollers than actual state workers- yet one party has controlled all of Chicago and stategovernment since the days of Al Capone.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Granted, I don't expect them to give us details, that would be poor business, but some information could come in the guise of the news, a statements... anything? ---- oh yeah - stock makret speculators would love that - you're not going to hear anything
Originally Posted By vbdad55 But, hey, buddy .... things are at least looking up in the VBDAD household. When you croak, the daughters will still have how many years of free DVC stays? That's the power of the Baby Boomer generation! ;-) ---- ahem, I have every intention of outliving my DVC end year hahaha
Originally Posted By vbdad55 How about ... Baby Boomers, a significant but graying population, without a next generation that has anywhere near the emotional attachment and the spending clout they do. Generations X (that's mine), Y and the Millennials will all have a lower (I believe much lower unless they leave for China) standard of living. Little if any stability and no real BRAND loyalty. ---- agreed...we're taking the money with us my friend
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I believe Disney has changed, yes, but only to the degree that the world has changed ---- exactly Goof-- and I would argue to a lesser degree actually-- especially until maybe the last 5 years
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Garcia has a puff piece about DAK Lodge that went up this afternoon.<<< Great article, I agreed a lot with what he said... ...but in the face of this news being out there? Ridiculous.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<you obviously don't know Illinois politics>> Yes I do, because that information is publicly available. But the type of info I've learned from my friends at Pixar regarding how it's changed since the acquisition, for the most part, is not publicly available. It's not the same studio. It's not the same execs. Pixar under Disney is no longer Pixar. I wouldn't trust Lasseter as far as I could throw him. Scratch that. I'd trust him even less.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I wouldn't trust Lasseter as far as I could throw him. Scratch that. I'd trust him even less.<<<< Same here! What else has that man done for the parks besides his little likes and projects. Ugh.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<I wouldn't trust Lasseter as far as I could throw him. Scratch that. I'd trust him even less.>> I agree with this. Everything he has done since his promotion rubs me the wrong way.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Yes I do, because that information is publicly available ---- I worked for the 'ruling party' for a very powerful alderman back in the day-- trust me what's available to the public via news is only the 1% tip of the iceberg after someone's been identified to be ousted - the rest is very very private except for those 'inside' much like the info you can get from friends about inside Pixar..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 btw- I absolutely agree Lasseter has been a major disappoinment from what I expected of him.. I was hoping he'd be the Disney quality link with the family uninvolved now..
Originally Posted By Manfried Oh the Lasseter haters. Even though the films his company have done have generally been excellent. The last time I was at Disneyland (last year) the park looked better than it had in years. Was that all a Lasseter influence? No, but I am sure the money was at least improved so they could look better. Y'all are jealous.
Originally Posted By GOB You all do realize that Lassetter was just a creative consultant for WDI, not chief of parks and resorts or a TDO/TDA executive, right? Everyone was just fine with the guy until Cars 2 came out and the Carsland fiasco got leaked. Yet Jim MacPhee, a figure just as lauded by fanboys, has been in his position for several years and no one in the community has heard a peep from him, but he still manages to get worshipped for no reason other than Celebration 25.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The last time I was at Disneyland (last year) the park looked better than it had in years. Was that all a Lasseter influence? No, but I am sure the money was at least improved so they could look better.<<< And where's all this in WDW? Yeah, he fails.
Originally Posted By dagobert Assuming TWDC is going to sell WD P&R, would they keep WDI? I can imagine that Disney still wants to be in control what's going to be built at Disney Parks. I think TWDC would also have to keep the assetts in ED SCA, because if I'm not mistaken they binded by a contract with the French government to keep a certain amount of stakes until 2030. I'm not sure if the government would approve a new party as their contractor. What about Shanghai? Why would they announce a new resort just to sell it even before it opened.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Granted, I don't expect them to give us details, that would be poor business, but some information could come in the guise of the news, a statements... anything?>> I am not sure about how things work in the US, but here in Germany a public company would be required to publish certain information which would influence the share price within a certain amount of time to avoid insider trading. You can't just go around and hint at stuff. Either it is still not decided and therefore not made public, but once a decision is reached, it needs to be out in the public. And selling a division of your company (or part of that division) definitely would be something that can affect share prices. In the light of this, Spirit's theory about the timing of the meeting does make a lot of sense.
