Originally Posted By jmuboy MPIERCE SAID: "I would much prefer some executives to come out of their sleep walk, and fall in love with WDW like so many of their CM.s, and fans on these forums are. Sadly that's not how corporate America acts nowdays." I AGREE 100% - I firmly believe that part of the reason why DL is getting the royal treatment now is because of John Lasseter. He LOVES DL. Grew up going there, was a CM there, etc. WDW needs an exec at WDW that loves the place for what is, not just for being a cash cow.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Greed does funny things to executives in high places. Slow consistent growth while maintaining the quality of your product seems to be a trait that has eroded at WDW slowly over time.>> As it has in most of Corporate America. The sharp pencil boys in Wall St. do not value "slow consistent growth". They want profits to grow at unnatural rates, and if that means firing long term quality employees (because they are "expensive") or letting quality suffer, so be it. Of course the unnatural growth is unsustainable, whether it be double digit real estate appreciation or corporate profit growth. So in the end corporations are left with stale me-too products that cannot command premium prices.
Originally Posted By fkurucz << I firmly believe that part of the reason why DL is getting the royal treatment now is because of John Lasseter. He LOVES DL.>> He is an anomaly in Corporate America: he has a true passion for the product. Most execs are only passionate about the number of zeros on their bonus checks.
Originally Posted By dshyates All you folks going to the parks this year, please take 15 mins to stare to the Bay Lake Tower. Thats the DisCo.'s new E-Ticket. Wheeeee!!!! it helps if you raise your hands in jubilation while staring at the condos. Pardon, while I book my vacation now. YeeHaw, more condos. And just think I will have to book a 2nd trip to see the new hotels at Flamingo Crossings. With all this cool new stuff, who has time to get to the parks. WhaHooo!!!! I really hope they get a Denny's at Flamingo Crossing that would really put WDW over the top.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <And I have no desire to ever read let alone post in WE.< aw c'mon - one week and you'd understand why some likelyresponded so emotionally to your posts -- I have been in and out of W/E over the years - ready to leave again....it takes an emotional toll on ya, I can tell you that- which is why some people likely snappily responded ( I know I have beendoing it lately) - <Now back to the thread ... and it's move toward DVC all I will say is what should be obvious to all -- WDW has way too many timeshares and hotels already. And while they are great revenue generators when the economy is good, what happens when it isn't? You know ... like now. 30,000 rooms can become a huge weight tied to your feet when you get pushed off the bridge in an economic downturn ...< remember those rooms are pretty much 'booked' all the time since they sellevery minute of them. They collect maintenance fees whether people attend or not. Yes they are far more profitable when filled with guests with checkbooks in hand - but they are NOT like empty hotel roonms. I am willing to bet that 'occupancy' targets are way lower than hotel rooms. And if no DVC'ers there and someone else rents them - even more $. Do I think they have enough - yep. Do I understand why- especially right now they are looking to find more immediate revenue sources - - yep. btw- I understand the Contemporary resort is selling very well. I know at least 6 people who have 'added' to their DVC points to have some there. ( nope- I haven't) --
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < Let's make LP a place where a lot of good people want to hang out. No one leave please everyone is welcome here. Please try to put past rifts behind you, and work towards a Community that debates, and discussesd the issues of WDW not a Community that attacks one another, PLEASE. < actually one of the reasons I would vote to remove W/E from LP. The 'spillover' - especially at election time is awful
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^^I too have had my fill of the hate, anger and vitriol that has become standard fare in W/E. I have been mostly lurking there lately, but am having trouble even with just that.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <. The only DVC being sold at this time are for AKL only< they are selling the contemporary DVC also - I know members who have purchased points . Some over the phone thru their guides and others at the DVC sales store " Doorway to Dreams " in WoodfieldMall- Schaumburg IL
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Now, look at WDW in the last 15 years. How many attractions that have opened do you see being around in 40 years? I see exactly two (and I won't list them because I'm curious as to which two you'd think I'd pick) and neither is MILF or SGE. << You know when you put it that way it's really kind of sad. There are some really little things that I love, but truly can't be considered classics. If it had to come down to rides I definetly see Kilimanjaro Safari being one. They can constantly tweak it to keep it fresh, plus I think it is the true centerpiece of AK. The only other one I think falls in the category would be Expedition Everest. Mainly because of it's queue, and overall story line. However there is an asterisk beside it. They really need to make sure all the features that were intended to function in this ride actually do. There are several other rides that I do enjoy, and several I haven't experienced yet that I know I will enjoy, but I really can't consider them classics. A perfect example would be Monsters Midway Mania or what ever it's name is. I really do want to ride this, and a lot of people seem to find it very enjoyable. It is definetly a very welcome attraction to DHS/DS/MGM. The same could be said for Soaring. A welcome addition to Epcot. A lot of people really like it. It can be constantly updated (even though we all know they won't spend the money). However are these classic? I just don't think so.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^ the question is, is the era of Classic Attractions over ? Various reasons I ask. 1/ Many of those who created these attractions are sadly no longer with us,nor is their vision 2/ in today's world - with kids with an attention span of how long it takes to go from level to level on the latest viseo game before putting it in a drawer and moving on. 3/ teen/adult attention spans last from one text message to the next....... If a 'pirates' themed ride had not been in place before and came out now- wouldit be similarly received ? I don't know the answer to that. I look at the 'themes' from when I was a kid - exciting adventures from pirates and haunted mansions,andouter space and the wild west drove a lot of the attractions. The wild west seems to already be so passe to kids it has disappeared -- hard for space stuff to keep up with even reality. The world itself has changed - and like most generations before me, I don'think for the better. Doesn't make me right ( doesn't make me wrong either ) -- Maybe this should be it's own thread - but I am fearful the 'fantasy' and naivete that drove much of what builtDL and WDW is a thing of the past. Kids these days are bombarded with sexuality - and war and drugs and politics at such a young age...not sure they have timeto secure their childhood dreams like the ones many my age still hold on to. We know they're not real - but they are a nice escape from reality for a week or so- here and there.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Maybe this should be it's own thread - but I am fearful the 'fantasy' and naivete that drove much of what builtDL and WDW is a thing of the past. Kids these days are bombarded with sexuality - and war and drugs and politics at such a young age...not sure they have timeto secure their childhood dreams like the ones many my age still hold on to. We know they're not real - but they are a nice escape from reality for a week or so- here and there << Excellent idea vbdad, why don't you start one. I think that would be a very interesting topic. I am withholding a response here just incase you decide to start a new thread. I certainly hope you do. I am curious to your response to Spirits question, which 2 attractions does he consider classics that were built within the last 15 years?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Now, look at WDW in the last 15 years. How many attractions that have opened do you see being around in 40 years? I see exactly two (and I won't list them because I'm curious as to which two you'd think I'd pick) and neither is MILF or SGE. << <<You know when you put it that way it's really kind of sad.>> Isn't it though? That's what I thought when I started trying to figure out the problem with WDW's attractions of late. It's simple ... they aren't timeless, most don't tell a story let alone a compelling one and most resort to a gimmick of technology or an effect to impress guests. I doubt WED was thinking that "that Pirate ride will be wowing guests in four parks around the world in four decades' but they also likely weren't thinking they were building something to sell management on a technology or guests on merchandise. << There are some really little things that I love, but truly can't be considered classics. If it had to come down to rides I definetly see Kilimanjaro Safari being one. They can constantly tweak it to keep it fresh, plus I think it is the true centerpiece of AK.>> OK. You nailed one of them, you know me so well ... ;-) Actually, not only is KS amazing as an attraction, it can and will always change based upon the animals included. Hell, it could even be expanded if new species were added. Even with the lame poaching storyline (which has been partially dumped) the attraction is timeless. <<The only other one I think falls in the category would be Expedition Everest. Mainly because of it's queue, and overall story line. However there is an asterisk beside it. They really need to make sure all the features that were intended to function in this ride actually do.>> Nope. At least not in its current form. I don't see Everest lasting four decades. I could be wrong, though. I could see it being the generation's version of the Matterhorn. But it doesn't qualify as a classic for me at all. Just one of Disney's better attempts in recent memory. So ... you got one ... wanna try harder for No. 2? <<There are several other rides that I do enjoy, and several I haven't experienced yet that I know I will enjoy, but I really can't consider them classics. A perfect example would be Monsters Midway Mania or what ever it's name is. I really do want to ride this, and a lot of people seem to find it very enjoyable. It is definetly a very welcome attraction to DHS/DS/MGM. The same could be said for Soaring. A welcome addition to Epcot. A lot of people really like it. It can be constantly updated (even though we all know they won't spend the money). However are these classic? I just don't think so.>> Toy Story Midway Mania is the new attraction's name. And it is fun, but it isn't anything special. And no, neither it nor Soarin do I see entertaining guests in 2048.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The world itself has changed - and like most generations before me, I don'think for the better. Doesn't make me right ( doesn't make me wrong either ) -->> No, you're right. When I see kids at the library looking at near porn pics of their pals from school (I am talking 10-14 year olds here) on all those networking sites and then taking out cell phones, PDAs and I-pods, I realize the world has changed fundamentally. <<Maybe this should be it's own thread - but I am fearful the 'fantasy' and naivete that drove much of what builtDL and WDW is a thing of the past. Kids these days are bombarded with sexuality - and war and drugs and politics at such a young age...not sure they have timeto secure their childhood dreams like the ones many my age still hold on to. We know they're not real - but they are a nice escape from reality for a week or so- here and there.>> Yet those same kids mentioned above still seem to feel a pull to things like Mansion and PoC and Peter Pan and SPlash Mountain etc ... one wonders if those WED guys were really geniuses. Very few things stand the test of time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Excellent idea vbdad, why don't you start one. I think that would be a very interesting topic. I am withholding a response here just incase you decide to start a new thread. I certainly hope you do. I am curious to your response to Spirits question, which 2 attractions does he consider classics that were built within the last 15 years?>> Oops, I didn't read my own thread before posting on the tiara-wearing Chi-town dude's ... sorry. But they sure play off the theme of each other!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < one wonders if those WED guys were really geniuses. < I believe for what they did - they were
Originally Posted By dshyates 40 years? American Idol, Primevil Whirl, and Spectromagic will still be going strong.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> tower of terror will likely be around for a while too. << I agree, but I thought it was outside the 15 year window. What do I know though.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Nope. At least not in its current form. I don't see Everest lasting four decades. I could be wrong, though. I could see it being the generation's version of the Matterhorn. << I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment on this one Spirit. I think EE is the Matterhorn of AK. It definetly has some maintainence issues, and the inside needs some work. However I think it will be around a very long time.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> So ... you got one ... wanna try harder for No. 2? << I am trying very hard because it's an interesting question. I agreed with magnet that ToT is a classic. I just didn't know when it was built. What is most bothersome is that I am stuggeling so hard with the question you posed. I just can't think of another one besides the three that were mentioned. Let me ponder it awhile longer.
