Originally Posted By ChiMike While I have no way of knowing the politics of WDI, I do know that a major upheaval of UoE is no longer in the running for the time being. I too have assumed the rumored JII redo might have something to do with that. '74 >>Get rid of those expensive AA dinos and 35-minute ride and replace it with a 3-minute rolley coaster thru a warehouse?<< I honestly don't think WDI coupled with the Florida exec team is currently capable of much else. That is why I was glad to hear that UoE might be around a little longer. I think it would be in their best interest to keep the pavilion with the ride-thru and update the films keeping the tone of Ellen's. 30 years later the pavilion still presents an amazing sense of theme park technology and showmanship. In the past those in power positions at Disney manifested an agenda against these attractions because they were incapable of "getting them" and for the most part replicating their ambition. It sure looks like things are going to significantly improve; rumors of more shake-ups at WDI can only further the swing of the pendulum.
Originally Posted By idleHands <<I have no idea if the Figment event is being pushed back because of a possible Dreamy announcement at the annual media whoring bash.>> That would work wonders to restore my faith in these bozos. But seriously, this is whole event situation has transformed into a Twilight Zoneâ„¢ episode. Perhaps they should reconsider holding it at MGM instead of Epcot. The date on WDSE's web page is still listed as September 9. However, the clock is ticking and registration is still postponed. And to further cement their outstanding customer service relations, WDSE has recently added the following 'suggestion': "Please do not contact Walt Disney Event Services as there is no additional information to provide at this time." Oh yeah. They want my $350 real bad. I take back my previous observation. Cork is far more intelligent than this bunch.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>"Please do not contact Walt Disney Event Services as there is no additional information to provide at this time."<< That is a rediculous statement for Disney's standard of courtesy. Maybe they wouldn't have to say "Leave us alone" if they could coordinate better. What busch league.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 I would contact and spam the heck out of them just to teach them a lesson.
Originally Posted By idleHands <<I've heard that Rasulo is under a microscope right now (not easy for a guy of his girth).>> LOL! "Yes, the Wicked Witch has melted. But there is no cause for alarm. You are back on visual and returning to your normal incompetence. This has been one of many exciting adventures thru inner space cadets, in a never-ending search for new ways to rearrange org charts for the benefit of Imagineering kind."
Originally Posted By Skellington88 I dunno...Iger seems really pleased with Rasulo and that worries me. I am hoping Bob Iger has the good sense to know that Rasulo is doing massive damage to Imagineering and preventing any grand attractions from getting off the ground.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The date on WDSE's web page is still listed as September 9. However, the clock is ticking and registration is still postponed. And to further cement their outstanding customer service relations, WDSE has recently added the following 'suggestion': "Please do not contact Walt Disney Event Services as there is no additional information to provide at this time." Oh yeah. They want my $350 real bad. I take back my previous observation. Cork is far more intelligent than this bunch.>> This does not surprise me at all. Disney used to be the epitome of organization (not to mention quality and guest service) ... but now, more often than not, one part of the company simply doesn't know what the other is doing. That's why huge synergistic money-making opportunites are lost (Toy Story anyone? ... more recent you say, POC: Curse of the Black Pearl says I) while others are shoved down your throat until they exit your ... well, you know like pin-trading. C'mon it was fun for th geeks, but it's dead, stop pulling on the bloody udders. Disney often turns away opportunities to make hundreds ... or hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in order to save pennies (or at least that's what the mid-level execs and the overpaid clueless consultants tell it). Perhaps, Disney can just tick off enough people and then cancel the event altogether or move it to October when it may well have a captive media audience to announce Imagination 4.0.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I dunno...Iger seems really pleased with Rasulo and that worries me. I am hoping Bob Iger has the good sense to know that Rasulo is doing massive damage to Imagineering and preventing any grand attractions from getting off the ground. >> Bob isn't any too happy with Jay right now. Remember, it's what goes on in private that matters. Not in public. No company as much as Disney hates displaying its dirty laundry in public. Why Roy Disney didn't take more advantage of this fact, still astounds me. Jay isn't well-liked amongst the communist Chinese officials that Disney is negotiating with. And his foot soldiers even more so. They have zero cultural sensitivity. Not what you need when you are attempting to open the biggest untapped market in the world to the magic of Disney. And it's not something new either. Paris and Hong Kong both have suffered and continue to suffer from the same affliction. If the Chinese don't want to deal with Jay Rasulo, he'll simply disappear. No, he won't be tossed into a jail in some remote province ;-) He'll just take another position with Disney or leave to 'spend more time with my family.' Ultimately, my money is on that happening, sooner rather than later. You can't treat the royalty of China, who you are hoping to do billions and billions of dollars of business with, like you're back-slapping with a regional VP of Wal-Mart or Buick in dusty revival tent in middle-America. They don't seem to find it endearing. And it's not like Disney is the only huge media company that wants to exploit that market. The first lesson when negotiating with a Communist regime's members is when they ask for something, it isn't a request. Perhaps Disney will learn ...
Originally Posted By leemac <<Jay isn't well-liked amongst the communist Chinese officials that Disney is negotiating with. And his foot soldiers even more so. They have zero cultural sensitivity. Not what you need when you are attempting to open the biggest untapped market in the world to the magic of Disney.>> Where on earth have you heard that WDW1974? Jay hasn't even been directly involved with the negotations which is the same as what happened with HKDL. The Asia Pacific team have been dealing with this and as the most senior member of that delegation is Wing Chao who is a Chinese native I have no idea why another would suggest he has no cultural sensitivities.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Where on earth have you heard that WDW1974?>> WDW1974?!?! Now I feel like Lois Lane just knocked my glasses off. And let's just say, I have it on good authority. <<Jay hasn't even been directly involved with the negotations which is the same as what happened with HKDL.>> True. Do you know why? <<The Asia Pacific team have been dealing with this and as the most senior member of that delegation is Wing Chao who is a Chinese native I have no idea why another would suggest he has no cultural sensitivities.>> Poor Wing. He has to clean up the messes of other less worldly execs, you know the type -- WDW-bred. I wonder, frankly, if things would be moving along at all without him.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 The first time McDonalds moved into China they experienced some of the same boners - including a bag decorated with a symbol that was offensive.....sometimes the high paid consultants and management staff don't do as thorough a job as they should...
Originally Posted By leemac Well Paul was never keen to be involved in the negotiations over HKDL. He readily admitted he was out of his depth dealing with government relations.
Originally Posted By leemac <<And let's just say, I have it on good authority. >> Honestly take it from someone that has seen Wing in action on numerous occasions. There is no doubt who is running that show and has been for a decade plus now (actually going back to '87 when HKDL was first considered).
Originally Posted By idleHands So given that Disney's future growth is so heavily tied to the international markets... why keep someone as culturally insensitive as Rasulo at the head of Parks and Resorts? Seems like placing an executive with greater diplomatic skills in this role is a no-brainer.
Originally Posted By idleHands <<WDW1974?!?! Now I feel like Lois Lane just knocked my glasses off.>> Way to go, leemac. Class act all the way. Whatcha gonna do for an encore? Out a few closet queens at WDI?
Originally Posted By Labuda ^^ Huh? Seriously? We're giving Lee crap for calling 74 by his full former name?
Originally Posted By ChiMike jokingly Ann. Although the thought of who had a worse disguise did cause me to chuckle. I think Clark's disguise is still more obvious!
