Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=76073" target="_blank"><b>Latest: OrSen: Disney to cut global development group</b></a> <p>According to the <i>Orlando Sentinel, </i>Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will cut 14 jobs from a 65-person global development team.</p>
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer And some of those jobs were responsible for Golden Oak and Flamingo Crossings. ...Can't we cut THOSE projects instead? Two wastes of time...
Originally Posted By fkurucz I guess that there are only so many people in this world who can afford a Disney vacation. At some point either the global Disney themepark expansion stops or they change the business model to cater to "guests" with less money.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I am not surprised by these moves considering the direction Disney is headed and the fact it feels that the domestic market (especially WDW) is tapped out largely (with the exception of timeshare, which they believe has an endless supply of buyers). "America can’t move forward until we once again believe...that everyone can enter Frontierland if they try hard enough, and that no one will be denied a dream because a private party has rented out Tomorrowland." Frank Rich, NY Times
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>>>Merry Christmas Cast Members...oh by the way...<< Sigh- So true<<< I am afraid that is the harsh reality of financial calendars. sadly this year I have been working with 3 large organisations to sort out their deficits. In order to try to balance the books, they have had to lay off about 10% of their workforce. In UK law, that necessetates a 3 month consultation before people can stop working, but of course they need to be notified if they are at risk before the redundancy. I tried to get my clients to make decisions wouckly so people would find out if they were at risk in October rather than closer to Christmas. But to tidy the process up financially, and because of late decisions being made, it meant the letters went out in December. And due to the snow and the resulting postal delays, I understand some staff got their letters on Christmas eve (just as a family member got a court summons on Christmas eve thanks to MBNA. Welcome to the modern world.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I am not surprised by these moves considering the direction Disney is headed and the fact it feels that the domestic market (especially WDW) is tapped out largely (with the exception of timeshare, which they believe has an endless supply of buyers).<<< And yet we still get exciting new projects like Hyperion Wharf...Yayyy...
Originally Posted By leemac <<I guess that there are only so many people in this world who can afford a Disney vacation. At some point either the global Disney themepark expansion stops or they change the business model to cater to "guests" with less money.>> That isn't the issue. There is still plenty of appetite globally for WDP&R product. The issue is that Nick Franklin's group in ten years have got virtually nothing off the drawing boards - pretty much their sole executed product is the disaster that is TDR's ZED Cirque du Soleil show. Hong Kong was finalized years before NBD (New Business Development) as this group was called previously). Every effort has failed to get anywhere from Singapore to Seoul to Sydney. The real estate development group run by Don Goodman has been significantly more successful in getting projects built. They should have remained at WDI rather than getting shunted into Global Development. It is a shame that some talented folks in WDW that have managed to get projects built are taking the brunt of the reorganization rather than the folks in Burbank that don't do diddly squat. I'm so glad I didn't take the opportunity to move to that group all those years ago. I wish Doug the best of luck though with an incredibly difficult brief.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The real estate development group run by Don Goodman<<< What else are they a part of? Just curious...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^^^ It wouldn't shock me, that's why I'm asking. But there are a TON of reasons why Shanghai is taking a year and a day. Mostly American based ones....
Originally Posted By Britain Really? All we ever hear in the rumor mill is "You know, those communists, taking forever to make decisions."
Originally Posted By leemac <<What else are they a part of? Just curious...>> Sorry EE I don't understand the question. Are you asking what the real estate group do? Basically it is similar to the old DDG that Peter Rummell put in place.
Originally Posted By leemac <<But there are a TON of reasons why Shanghai is taking a year and a day. Mostly American based ones....>> Don't believe everything you hear/read - dealing with Chinese bureaucracy is a nightmare - there are even 100% Chinese-backed theme park resort developments that are stuck in local and federal government committee approval quagmire. Obviously I'm not about to go into specifics but there are still issues to iron out.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Sorry EE I don't understand the question. Are you asking what the real estate group do? Basically it is similar to the old DDG that Peter Rummell put in place.<<< No, I meant what projects... DVC? Golden Oak? Cruise Line?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Don't believe everything you hear/read - dealing with Chinese bureaucracy is a nightmare - there are even 100% Chinese-backed theme park resort developments that are stuck in local and federal government committee approval quagmire. Obviously I'm not about to go into specifics but there are still issues to iron out.<<< Well, there's that, and of course all the problems Disney brings on themselves with cultural snafus and general idiocy. LOL.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Don't believe everything you hear/read - dealing with Chinese bureaucracy is a nightmare - there are even 100% Chinese-backed theme park resort developments that are stuck in local and federal government committee approval quagmire. Obviously I'm not about to go into specifics but there are still issues to iron out.>> True enough on the bureaucratic end. Sometimes I am shocked that things, big things, actually get done there. But I'd also point out there are many folks in the central government that are wary of dealing with TWDC (gee, after HKDL that's a shock!) and that not wanting to get burned twice deal has certainly slowed this project to a crawl over the years. But at least it will give Disney the time needed to stick Marvel characters (which clash greatly with any other Disney properties/characters/franchises) into a MK park. "America can’t move forward until we once again believe...that everyone can enter Frontierland if they try hard enough, and that no one will be denied a dream because a private party has rented out Tomorrowland." Frank Rich, NY Times
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>But at least it will give Disney the time needed to stick Marvel characters (which clash greatly with any other Disney properties/characters/franchises) into a MK park.<<< Yet other movie franchises fit riiiight in Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom of Disneyland... ... Leaves quietly.
