Originally Posted By leemac WDP&R was the focus of the trip and that is all I will say. Anything else was ancilliary to the parks.
Originally Posted By idleBrain ^^ With Grier on his way to Anaheim, it's fairly obvious now what the Tokyo aspect of his trip involved.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<WDP&R was the focus of the trip and that is all I will say. Anything else was ancilliary to the parks.>> Written like a WDC spokesman! I'm sure that's the reason the public is getting. But, privately, I think the Chinese have many things on their mind (as does Disney, which wants to exploit the huge market as any company would) and some of the powerbrokers in China don't have the faith in TWDC leadership that's expressed by some here. The Chinese are very mistrusting of American media in general. So to imply anything oherwise would be disingenuous. If Disney thought they had problems with the French, they ain't seen nothing yet!
Originally Posted By idleBrain And just to bring the thread back on topic somewhat... <<Also the rumors of the Imagination pavilion changes are definitely false. Nothing even in Blue Sky right now. Someone said the wrong thing at the wrong time and it was taken as gospel.>> Then this project must have set some kind of green light speed record, seeing as how Epcot CMs are now posting on other boards that very noisy construction work has begun in the old ImageWorks area upstairs. =8^0 Apparently the announcement about Imagination's rehab will occur either at the Dreamfinder and Figment statue event (original topic of this thread), or Nemo's Undersea Adventure opening, or Epcot's 24th anniversary on Oct 1, or the media whoring event for "Year of a Million Dreams" in the fall. Dreamfinder will be returning to the ride and a new 3-D film with Figment will replace HISTA. So... nothing in blue sky, huh?
Originally Posted By Skellington88 yea I was just at epcot today and there was construction work upstairs. What the heck are you trying to pull here leemac?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Then this project must have set some kind of green light speed record, seeing as how Epcot CMs are now posting on other boards that very noisy construction work has begun in the old ImageWorks area upstairs. =8^0 Apparently the announcement about Imagination's rehab will occur either at the Dreamfinder and Figment statue event (original topic of this thread), or Nemo's Undersea Adventure opening, or Epcot's 24th anniversary on Oct 1, or the media whoring event for "Year of a Million Dreams" in the fall. Dreamfinder will be returning to the ride and a new 3-D film with Figment will replace HISTA. So... nothing in blue sky, huh?>> Nah ... they're just building a new office suite for Brad Rex, that's all ;-)
Originally Posted By FerretAfros On the way into the queue for the ride, I seem to remember seeing an escalator and an elevator. I could just be mixing my memory with something completely different, but are those really there? And if so, what do they go to? It seems that they would have taken anything out that didn't need to be there when they were redoing the ride, as there was major construction going on. Also, they look to be very new and very well maintained. The elevator is glass, and in a glass surrounding, and the escalator is bright and colorful. What's with that?
Originally Posted By ChiMike I would just like to add to the theme arising from the last 40 posts. That while they have vastly different reputations among fanboys, Matt Ouimet & Lee Cockerell are both very sharp guys. And when these two guys, who have a flawless track-record for hitching their wagon to the right stars, bail out ... it's even more apparent that big movements are coming; in this Disney case probably with good and bad results for us. In any industry, when talented execs like these guys move on it is an indicaton of the next step being the targeting of the low hanging fruit (studio & WDI layoffs), and next, proceed to reshape a new second-tier leadership team. --- And to further add.. The same voices who said that the studio would make less films, that Nina Jacobson wouldn't last, that firings on the scale of Bruce Gordon were GOOD things, that WDI NEEDED a full purge and needed to stop billing like a law firm, had also mentioned that JII was a candidate for a full makeover. So, I too, can't reconcile that with the fact that Tony Baxter and Don Goodman both have allegedly said to respected LP.com members that JII is simply an internet rumor.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<That while they have vastly different reputations among fanboys, Matt Ouimet & Lee Cockerell are both very sharp guys. And when these two guys, who have a flawless track-record for hitching their wagon to the right stars, bail out ... it's even more apparent that big movements are coming; in this Disney case probably with good and bad results for us. >> Good point, although I personally feel Cockerell was more of a rep deal than reality. A lot of CMs liked him because career development was his expertise. But in actual terms, the quality at WDW plummeted during his 13 years with the company. Matt is clearly a quality guy. He's one of the VERY few Disney execs I've ever met that no one who worked with/for him has ever had a bad word about. That's speaks volumes when coupled with the quality ships he ran with DCL and DL. <<So, I too, can't reconcile that with the fact that Tony Baxter and Don Goodman both have allegedly said to respected LP.com members that JII is simply an internet rumor.>> It isn't. It's simply talk designed to dispell anything until Disney decides to announce it. My very educated guess says Oct. 1st.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>although I personally feel Cockerell was more of a rep deal than reality. A lot of CMs liked him because career development was his expertise. But in actual terms, the quality at WDW plummeted during his 13 years with the company.<< I agree, things like his walking time memo still agitates me. However, (and actually like Paul Pressler) he's a nice guy who has a knack for positioning himself for easily attainable success. Like Matt. ... ... >>Matt is clearly a quality guy. He's one of the VERY few Disney execs I've ever met that no one who worked with/for him has ever had a bad word about. That's speaks volumes when coupled with the quality ships he ran with DCL and DL.<< Can't say anything bad about Matt. BUT, he shares the ability to tack on to circumstances/LOBs that are destined for high-profile success. DVC, DCL, DL. All groups at the point of time that were ripe for the picking. When long-tenured executives who share these traits leave a company, it is very often a tell-tale sign for (1st) layoffs and then (2nd) power-changes on the horizon. I use this as evidence that it isn't going to be business as usual at WDI and WDP&R. >>It isn't. It's simply talk designed to dispell anything until Disney decides to announce it. My very educated guess says Oct. 1st.<< I fear that you might have misunderstood me. I am in agreement with you. With my original post, I think the two denials mean little compared to the other source. According to LeeM, it wasn't an issue of something not receiving the greenlight yet, it was the absolute idea that nothing was even on the table. As I said, I can't reconcile with that notion.
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^ So, I was entering this thread again to basically say... '74 you're right on!
Originally Posted By idleBrain <<According to LeeM, it wasn't an issue of something not receiving the greenlight yet, it was the absolute idea that nothing was even on the table. As I said, I can't reconcile with that notion.>> Especially when WDW fans with proven connections are now posting that the Imagination rehab will be a major cornerstone for Epcot's 25th Anniversary celebration next year. To falsely answer a direct question is often a defensive reaction, to guard one's position by restricting information flow. But to volunteer false information when no initiating question prompted such action, is quite telling. That speaks to paranoia on a much deeper level. Which begs the question... just how paranoid are current WDI executives feeling these days?
Originally Posted By ChiMike Yeah I could be way off base, but a little bit of me wonders if it isn't just that with this rumor. A little bit of me wonders if there are still some bruised egos and some leftover egg stuck to foreheads in regards to the various JII rehabs. Maybe (once again WAG), some including your buddy do not want to add insult to injury and play-up the fact that this attraction needs SERIOUS work. That after the millions spent on this pavilion it is worse off than it was in 1983. That the JII projects are probably the BIGGEST representation of what is cancerous at WDI. Not a lack of funding but a lack of taste. Just a guess, and I'm reaching to conspiracy theory heights here, but I do think that this might be playing into why this additional redo, gimmie, mulligan, whatever you want to call it this time around, is an unpopular discussion topic.
Originally Posted By ChiMike And maybe Tony is actually staying quiet on this with direct orders from the Apple/Pixar culture of loose lips sink ships. What else is he supposed to say after just having been told to not say one word? I can't see any other response but a simple, dishonest, "That's crazy, NO." I'm sure it is not a sure thing; if it was everyone WOULD have more info by now... Count me in with agreeing with you, '74, and whoever else, this certainly was discussed as a potential action.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Which begs the question... just how paranoid are current WDI executives feeling these days?>> Figment, the Paranoia Bag is full ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<And maybe Tony is actually staying quiet on this with direct orders from the Apple/Pixar culture of loose lips sink ships. What else is he supposed to say after just having been told to not say one word? I can't see any other response but a simple, dishonest, "That's crazy, NO.">> That makes perfect sense. And Tony Baxter is no different than any other corporate bigwig at WDI (or anywhere else), he'd look you in the eyes in the lie if it meant protecting his butt. <<I'm sure it is not a sure thing; if it was everyone WOULD have more info by now... Count me in with agreeing with you, '74, and whoever else, this certainly was discussed as a potential action.>> Thanks. And sorry if I misunderstood you earlier.
Originally Posted By idleBrain <<And maybe Tony is actually staying quiet on this with direct orders from the Apple/Pixar culture of loose lips sink ships. What else is he supposed to say after just having been told to not say one word? I can't see any other response but a simple, dishonest, "That's crazy, NO.">> Let's refresh our memories from two months ago, regarding this issue. The following was posted by DlandDug on 5/22 in the "Interesting new Jim Hill article about DCA today" thread on another LP board: <begin> Against my better judgement, I am going to comment here. Last Friday, I attended the Sam McKim window ceremony, In attendance were a number of Imagineers, past and present. Afterward, I chatted with them in turn, eventually exchanging pleasantries with Tony Baxter. During the course of the conversation the subject of John Lassiter, inevitably, came up. I asked him if Lassiter was as involved as the internet would lead us to believe. Tony earnestly assured me that John was, indeed, going to be quite involved, but not to believe everything that was being said. Specifically, he said that there was a ludicrous rumor that Dreamfinder was coming back. I had heard nothing about this, and asked him what he was talking about. He said that someone on the internet had reported that Dreamfinder was being restored to the Imagination attraction. When I asked him if it was true, Tony said, quite decidedly, that there was nothing to it. Tony Baxter has never told me anything that later proved false. He further knows that I very seldom, if ever, report his off hand comments on line. (Most of them would be of no general interest, anyway, as they usually involve mutual friends or small talk.) It was only because Tony mentioned it in the course of a larger conversation that I went looking for the story on line. Lo and behold, it appears in one place, and one place only. In terms of veracity, my personal experience leads me trust Tony Baxter. <end> From the way that Doug described their conversation, it seems to me that Mr. Baxter went out of his way to dispel the Jim Hill article, a mere two days after it appeared online. Doug didn't bring up the subject of Dreamfinder; he admitted he had no prior knowledge of the rumor or Jim Hill article beforehand. This particular conversation between Doug and Tony is at the core of my original question: "Just how paranoid are current WDI executives feeling these days?" I believe the answer can be summed up with this post by DlandDug. He did not ask Mr. Baxter a direct question about the Dreamfinder rumor; that information was volunteered to Doug as an afterthought to his Lasseter inquiry. Obviously there was something about Jim Hill's story that put Tony's boxers in a bunch, enough so to purposely steer the conversation down the Dreamfinder path and claim Hill's information as false. Since Doug did not put Tony on the spot by asking about the Dreamfinder rumor in the first place, what was his motivation for bringing it up? For me, this is the telling sign of things to come in Glendale. Not what was said per se, which was obviously defensive in nature and designed to change opinion regarding yet another JII rehab possibility. But rather, why this information was even brought up in the first place, as if Mr. Baxter were using Doug as some kind of disinformation agent. From what I can tell, the current WDI executives are indeed paranoid, warding off pre-massacre anxiety by chanting the Pixar mantra, "Loose lips bring pink slips." Obviously any exec who wants to remain in the game and not be sent to the lockers around Labor Day is going to behave and play by the new kids' rules. Including Tony Baxter. And FWIW, my personal experiences with Mr. Baxter do not mirror Doug's observations: "Tony Baxter has never told me anything that later proved false." Definitely not true for me nor others whom I know personally.
