Originally Posted By leemac <<I don't know Bob well enough to comment on his talent level. But since DCA is being turned into The Disney-MGM Studios meets Disney's America meets any/all classic Boardwalk projects Disney has considered since the early Eisner years, one can easily see why Bob would be perfect for DCA ... as for Shanghai ... yeah ... um ... ah ... I was a bit surprised.>> Oh he doesn't have any. A truly useless imagineer - one with a nasty temper too. He is the teacher's pet at the moment (particularly of Craig Russell as they started together at WDI within a few days if I recall correctly). Hence why we now have a second gate in Anaheim that is a hodgepodge of "themes".
Originally Posted By leemac <<Also, since he started in strategic planning - my memory might be wrong there, but I seem to remember that that group was considered to be rather "evil"? >> Strategic Planning were unquestionably the lunatics that took over the asylum in the end - which is why they were disbanded and pushed into the business units. However under the two Murphys (Larry and Peter - no relations) they did provide the spark of creativity needed to get into new areas - DCL was a pet project of Larry's (he adored the cruise industry).
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Also, since he started in strategic planning - my memory might be wrong there, but I seem to remember that that group was considered to be rather "evil"? - why are people suddenly expecting him to turn around and undo what Rasulo implemented? Wasn't he on board with Rasulo's decission as well in a way when he was CFO?<<<< Put in this light, it makes this whole deal seem even more just for effect. He's still one of Rasulo's guys, operating under his ideas, just made to look sperate from it. Is all this is about getting rid of Rasulo's image? Spirit? Lee? Thoughts?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer <<<<Strategic Planning were unquestionably the lunatics that took over the asylum in the end - which is why they were disbanded and pushed into the business units. However under the two Murphys (Larry and Peter - no relations) they did provide the spark of creativity needed to get into new areas - DCL was a pet project of Larry's (he adored the cruise industry).<<<<< And Rasulo and Staggs were a part of this?
Originally Posted By leemac <<And Rasulo and Staggs were a part of this? >> They weren't peers if that is whay you are after. Rasulo joined in 1986 (yup - he is approaching his 25th anniversary) at director level. He joined from Marriott like so many of Disney execs over the years (Don Goodman, Larry Murphy etc.). Staggs joined in 1990 as a manager in that group - so was several years later and at a more junior level. In the early nineties Rasulo moved off to Alliances and then the ill-fated Regional Entertainment division. There isn't any love lost between these two - they aren't friends or close.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Staggs joined in 1990 as a manager in that group - so was several years later and at a more junior level.<<< But it still seems that Rasulo and Staggs shared goals and work, didn't it? The way this is made to seem is that Staggs and Rasulo, though not too friendly are still out of the same mold and mindset. Not to be rude, Lee, but unless there's some big instance of Staggs doing something out of total step from Staggs, I really have no reason to believe that Staggs is here to change the world. (With Fuzzball, Hooter, and Major Domo) Also, what about the image question I posited in post 123?
Originally Posted By leemac <<The way this is made to seem is that Staggs and Rasulo, though not too friendly are still out of the same mold and mindset.>> Just because they joined the same unit of the Company doesn't make them of the "same mold and mindset" at all. That is oversimplifying to the extreme.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Is all this is about getting rid of Rasulo's image?>> I don't grasp what you are asking - you think that he got the CFO gig to improve his image? He got it because there needed to be a reshuffle to accommodate Tom. Paying Rasulo out of his contract would have been prohibitively expensive so they shuffled him off to the CFO suite.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Just because they joined the same unit of the Company doesn't make them of the "same mold and mindset" at all. That is oversimplifying to the extreme.<<< Well it certainly appears that way! What has Staggs done that would show that he's the better leader? Everything, thus far, has not been clear to Staggs' intents on the parks, quality, or power, seeing this thread is about Weiss.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I don't grasp what you are asking - you think that he got the CFO gig to improve his image?<<< No. DISNEY's image. From what you've painted, Rasulo isn't exactly the best face of the company for certain things. Seemingly, this indicates that Staggs being put to the front would give Disney a "kinder, gentler" face and way forward. ...though operations remain the same, and as we think, sub standard. To be over hyperbolic... smoke and mirrors to gain good will with fans, wall street, amongst CMs... while the same policies are executed.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>He got it because there needed to be a reshuffle to accommodate Tom. Paying Rasulo out of his contract would have been prohibitively expensive so they shuffled him off to the CFO suite.<<< Why does Tom need to be accommodated? Why does Rasulo need to be shuffled? Is there such a difference between the two, save for the obvious ones about disposition? The heart of the question here... is there really a policy change?
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Just because they joined the same unit of the Company doesn't make them of the "same mold and mindset" at all. That is oversimplifying to the extreme.>> I agree that this might be taking it a bit far. Thanks for answering my original comment with a lot of detailed information. The thing I was wondering about was whether they might not have been influenced by the same view on the company as a whole because they came through the same unit. If this was a unit which had a very special vision of TWDC this might be something that sticks with a person even after they leave that unit. Especially if that was their entry point into the company.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<The heart of the question here... is there really a policy change? >> That's exactly the question I have been wondering about as well...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I agree that this might be taking it a bit far.<<< Is it, though? I am still hard pressed to see what is so different about the two. >>>Thanks for answering my original comment with a lot of detailed information. The thing I was wondering about was whether they might not have been influenced by the same view on the company as a whole because they came through the same unit. If this was a unit which had a very special vision of TWDC this might be something that sticks with a person even after they leave that unit. Especially if that was their entry point into the company.<<< That is what I am suspect to as well. >>>That's exactly the question I have been wondering about as well...<<<<] The answer, IMO, could be very telling for this issue, and a certain few others floating around the Laughing Place, too...
Originally Posted By HMButler79 Spirit, i'm surprised you didn't menetion the main reason WDI will NEVER return to it's pre'95 glory or lead anymore. Who can forget the decimation of WDI R&D on the same month that Pressler said sayonara? That IS the main reason WDI will never come back from life support or wow us with anything again.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ Unless, you know, they actually do some smart hiring again, manage their money well, and design well. No offense, but I really dislike absolutist statements...
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>He is the teacher's pet at the moment (particularly of Craig Russell as they started together at WDI within a few days if I recall correctly).<< That is correct. Lee, I try to really judge your posts clearly, without prejudice, but have a hard time getting around to the idea that Bruce, Craig, Tony - VERY BAD, VERY NASTY and, then, Tom is a prince of princes. I'm on record just a few days ago saying that it's good for the organization to see them all ride off into the sunset, but man, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when those guys messed with the wrong Brit.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>However under the two Murphys (Larry and Peter - no relations) they did provide the spark of creativity needed to get into new areas - DCL was a pet project of Larry's (he adored the cruise industry). << Care to list how many of those new areas were utmost flops and cost the company millions? Wonder if DCL has repaid for its own investment PLUS all those other blunders.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>The way this is made to seem is that Staggs and Rasulo, though not too friendly are still out of the same mold and mindset.<< I would disagree.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>>The way this is made to seem is that Staggs and Rasulo, though not too friendly are still out of the same mold and mindset.<< I would disagree.<<<< Okay, that's fine. Why? Why is Staggs so different from Rasulo? Not being rude or petulant, but I would like something concrete to base this off of.
