Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Great, me too! I've tried to get EE to talk about it, but I think he's too sad about not getting invited. Poor kid is really heartbroken over it.<<< LOL! You know I have no interest in the floating hotels.... Besides, you texted me when I was biking.
Originally Posted By MousDad Translated version 1. Why have you made changes to the plans you previously announced for Fantasyland? Since we can’t publicly admit that we botched everything that we possibly could about the initial FLE expansion plans, we will simply spout a random, non-applicable Walt Disney quote to distract the recipient from the obvious answer. 2. With the changes to Fantasyland, do you think that princesses are losing appeal? Heck no. That is why we are shuttering one of our classic dark ride attractions to give them a new, permanent home. 3. Are you toning down the princess experiences in order to appeal more to boys? [See No. 2 for answer.] 4. Does this mean that Snow White’s Scary Adventures is going away? When will that happen? Heck yes. As soon as all that attraction space can be converted into extra queue space and the necessary powder rooms. 5. Is the expansion of Fantasyland your way of responding to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter? No. We have no desire to be the leader in the theme park industry. But Hey Howdy-Hey, we’ll give our customers the best we are able to. 6. Are you concerned that Harry Potter is drawing more guests to Universal? Concerned? No. Elated, overjoyed and ecstatic? Yes. There’s nothing better than filling up resort rooms while others develop, deliver and maintain the best entertainment. 7. How are you progressing on the expansion? When do you expect the expansion to be complete? Since it’s been a massive dirt pit for over a year now, there will definitely be something finished by 2013. 8. Does this signal a change from the course Jay Rasulo set for Parks and Resorts? Again, since the answer to this question is so obvious, it is better to evoke images of the great history and achievements of our company’s past. 9. With all the changes to Fantasyland, are there any other impacts to Magic Kingdom? Of course, there will be many inconveniences and closures to deal with during this time, but rest assured that all Meet and Greet locations will be reopened as soon as possible. 10. Will Fantasyland remain open during its expansion? Yes. While it was tempting to close the whole land down during construction to save a few greenbacks, we thought even our dumb guests would wonder why the existing attractions that are nowhere near the construction site would need to close. But then again, they will be dumb enough to ask this question, so hmmm….
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<AH-HA ... the exact discussion I want to have. You have no idea how this sickens me and how folks are blind to it.>> <<Great, me too! I've tried to get EE to talk about it, but I think he's too sad about not getting invited. Poor kid is really heartbroken over it.>> He shouldn't be. I've been to many Disney 'media events' as they used to be termed dating back to the summer of 1990 debut of the Dolphin resort and Disney-MGM enhancements -- BEFORE EE was even born! Sure, at first they can be fun. Free food and booze. Private time in the parks. Interesting folks to talk to. Sometimes amazing pyro (I will never forget the 100 Year of Magic show at MK). But there's a quid pro quo of being at these if you are invited as media (and unfortunately, all these bloggers now count as such). I now only attend these events as a guest of friends because I may be a whore, but my price is a whole lot higher than a Disney junket. The Mouse isn't giving freebies without expecting something worth much more in return. I know it's obvious, but ... it's still sickening to read a blogger tweet before leaving for WDW ''You'll get nothing but great comments from me''. The expectations are that there will be no tough questions. Do you think ONE blogger had the balls to ask a Disney exec or even an Imagineer like Jacobson a real question like 'Is this your answer to Potter? ... or 'How do you respond to comments that Disney is no longer the leader in themed attractions because it has nothing on the scale/magnitude of WWoHP going into WDW?' They won't ask those questions because they're largely timid by nature and overwhelmed to be in what they feel is an important and exclusive place ... as a Spirit who has been to many important and exclusive places, I'd just say that Disney media junkets can be quite nice, but they do not qualify. They also won't ask the questions because they know implicitly, that if they do, they won't be asked back. The Dream may be (I fully expect it to be) a wonderful ship. But is it worth multiples of what other lines charge for REAL Caribbean cruises just to go to the Bahamas? I understand people saying 'the ship is the destination', but if so why would people pay much more for short cruises than for REAL cruises on Disney's older ships? Disney is offering, right now, seven night cruises in Europe and to Mexico and Alaska on the Wonder at prices less than 3-4 nights on the Dream. Those virtual portholes and a water coaster at sea are not worth thousands of dollars for a family. The bloggers will claim they don't have to be fair and balanced because they are (warning in case you have anything in your mouth, either swallow or spit before reading the next word ... I'll leave some space) .... 'working' for Disney fan sites. So, comparing Disney's product and value to the other cruise lines isn't a factor. And, hell, how many of them have even taken a non-DCL cruise? And since they won't claim to be journalists, why do they have to ask tough questions? I do want to talk about the business implications, though, and will do so in another post.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Half the guests may be male, but unlike most of those who offer "Constructive" comments on this and other boards, many of those probably have families and their kids are 50 percent female*** If the denizens of such message boards are so beneath you, why not just go away? Oh, and nice violation of the community standards, by the way. <--is a family man.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I also find it interesting that Kevin Yee is not invited to many of these events. Could it be because he is one of the few with a large enough readership that calls the mouse out?>> I've talked to Kevin before and we've discussed this issue. But I'm going to leave that private. I will say that all you have to do is look at who gets invites and who doesn't and make your own judgments. Now, there is a legit place in today's media landscape for the social networking component to be represented to some extent at events such as Tuesday's as well the Dream launch. But not nearly to the extent that this week has shown. The question becomes (ethical concerns out the window right now) isn't having all of these folks around just like an echo chamber? They are all linked. They retweet and link to each other's 'coverage' to make it appear they have a much larger audience/network/voice than what they have. It's one voice. It sings the same song. The only thing that may change a bit is the key in which it is sung. One of the big things touted by consultants about social media is that it is micro-targeted. From a business standpoint, you get to control the message. But where's the upside? These folks are being wined, dined, bought and paid for by Disney's shareholders (you can be sure they all aren't happy about that) all for the same publicity the official Disney Blog guarantees anyway. This is preaching to the choir to an absurd and costly extent. ... Disney made the effort of bringing entire families along and giving some bloggers multiple free cabins and resort rooms. To what end? It could actually be self-defeating. First, you aren't going to be getting new business from their coverage (what used to be the whole purpose of these events and what is still the justification when they sit down and accoutaineer how much is being spent) because they're going out to the same audience you already pretty much own. Second, you are bringing many folks on who ... well, as a beloved Spirited mother said um ... well, I so want to put the comment here but it would be like Spirited &*%$ My Mother Says ... but the comment was dead on. The gist is when you bring fans onboard as invited guests of TWDC, they become less a fan and more a liability. In the entertainment industry, that's been known for years ... and that brings me to the next point: Third, Disney stratifies folks and 'casts' them into a 'caste' system. They've always done this, even with real media. Some folks will get free air travel, others won't. Some folks will get multiple park passes for family and friends and others won't. Some folks will get free meals at Disney's signature locales (even if they're booked completely and have been for months) while others will get a few QSR vouchers so they can grab something at the Liberty Inn or Pizzafari. Some folks will get shortchanged on some of the swag, while others will walk off with 6-7 of the same item ... and a Disney gift card to boot. Where this becomes an issue (and if you search the Twitterverse, you'll already find examples) is that in the past if you stuck one REAL reporter at the Pop Century and another was at the WL, the former may not have been happy, but they didn't pout to the world immediately. They may have pointedly commented to a publicist, but that would have been that. Not now. Not (I am now watching Univision from the Dream as I type this) with the instant world of social media. Folks have already been complaining as they've noticed that some bloggers are treated differenly (i.e. much better) than they are. So, you have folks whining about everything from the resort they were given for free to the cabins on the ship (category, location etc) to not being able to get meals at Remy and Palo, to having some folks allowed to bring a family and even extended families while others simply brought themselves. These people have never had the professional dealings with a giant media company like Disney. Several tweets I've read have had folks talking about crying when they received their Dream invites. Do you think real professionals cry over junkets? ... They don't understand that it isn't personal when they decide to place someone in much better accomodations or give better perqs to one blogger. And, if this week is any indication, they tend to fly off the handle and leave hissy fit tweets for the world to see. Now, they won't be asking Tom Staggs how Disney can justify the prices for cruises on the Dream when RCCL and NCL now offer extensive family options/entertainment to places other than the Bahamas for much lower cost. But they also won't be convincing anyone to take a DCL cruise that wouldn't have taken one anyhow. Now, how do you justify that to your shareholders and what's left of the real media in the States? Especially, when the bloggers return home and start whining about how they expected to be treated better by Disney. The Mouse may learn a valuable lesson this week ... namely, you don't take a ham sandwich to a buffet.
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael But what's in it for Disney, Spirit? Most of these rubes and sweatshirt moms kneel down to the Mouse before bed anyway. Why waste all of this money on this insignificant group of sell-outs? It seems to me like they could really boost CM morale by randomly giving away trips on the maiden voyage of the Dream. Heck, I would have been happy with an iTouch when I worked there. If they're going to waste the money, might as well waste it on people who matter: CMs. They're so tight with money and worrying about profits and under-performing attractions, yet they're essentially flushing millions down the Dream's toilets. The fact that these fanbois are making a "living" off of this is absurd to me when half the Cast (being generous) is barely getting by. If they really want to make the fan community happy, they should go back to the way they used to do business. Start adding things, and stop taking away and cutting things the fans appreciate. They did so much harm when they shuttered TSFKaPI. None of the clowns on that ship right now cared. That's the folks they should be trying to gain favour with. The ones who really care. The ones who have noticed and witnessed first-hand the decline in quality month after month, year after year. But I guess themed entertainment for adults, light bulbs that work, the ability to eat a reasonably priced, quality meal at Le Cellier without calling 6 months in advance, etc. is too much to ask for. It's easier to pacify Lou and his minions with iTouches, "sneak peaks" at FLE art, faux interviews with celebrity Imagineers, and cruises than doing what's right and what got you your reputation.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Is that the one the cloying and sucking up Lou "Give me a Mickey shaped ice cream bar and I am your lap dog for life" Mongello was harping about eighteen months ago? I stopped listening to the WDW Radio Show podcast because his BLATANT and OBVIOUS sucking up to management was nauseating and made me feel dirty for listening to it. And I am NOT kidding here - you realize it's time to STOP experiencing something in your life when, after it's finished, you feel anger at the person. I cannot say I have ever LOATHED a "personality" on the net as much as I did with him. He is the definition of the word "shill".>> I have heard the same about Lou. I don't know him. Never met him. Never listened to a podcast of his. But yeah, I have heard many people say the same. They all are though. I just listened to an 'interview' of Eric Jacobson (someone I do know) by Deb Wills. I have met Deb. She seems like a very nice lady. I LOVE her site (was looking at some menus on it last night). She's someone I honestly feel has a place on such a cruise. But she'll never say a bad thing about Disney, not that folks expect her to. And that's just the point. I'd put Lou and Deb at opposite ends of the spectrum. One has a a great site (15 years now) for Disney vacation planning and the other is Lou. But that's the problem as Disney has decided anyone (or almost) with a blog can be 'special'. Oh, the interesting thing about Deb's interview of Eric was she got a bit of a scoop when he let something slip out, yet she didn't realize it and let it sit ... I wonder if anyone will pick up on what Eric accidentally let drop.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<If they're going to waste the money, might as well waste it on people who matter: CMs.>> Just like Universal just did by giving out bonuses to Team Members after the success of WWoHP?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>>I don't see this as being anything telling... It's PR. They will deny what we know they know and think to the death. Interesting about no SWSA closure yet. I'm thinking it might last well into this year<<< It is VERY telling, EE. Disney is REACTING yet again ... and they're referencing everything from the Rasulo-Staggs change in outlooks to the fact that the F-land project WAS changed (and still IS changing) because it was too fem and the fact Potter is significant. (if it wasn't, then Disney wouldn't need any response and wouldn't acknowledge it exists).
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<Oh, the interesting thing about Deb's interview of Eric was she got a bit of a scoop when he let something slip out, yet she didn't realize it and let it sit ... I wonder if anyone will pick up on what Eric accidentally let drop.>> That Circusland is still largely up in the air (well, everything that isn't Dumbo?)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You know I have no interest in the floating hotels....>> You need to broaden your horizons beyond plush, pins and cying yourself to sleep while listening to the Wishes soundtrack. Much like your visit to IOA, you have no idea what you are missing. Life is all about new experiences and trying different things. Or you can be happy knowing you like chocolate ice cream and never trying another flavor ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<That Circusland is still largely up in the air (well, everything that isn't Dumbo?)>> Oh yeah. He is still talking about pitching things ... AND IT IS 20freaking11 already. This project has been gutted and put back together and then had pieces moved around and taken out again ... and they STILL do not know what the 'completed' version will be. Amazing. And (some) folks wonder why Shanghai is taking so long ... ;-)
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<That Circusland is still largely up in the air (well, everything that isn't Dumbo?)>> <<Oh yeah. He is still talking about pitching things ... AND IT IS 20freaking11 already. This project has been gutted and put back together and then had pieces moved around and taken out again ... and they STILL do not know what the 'completed' version will be. Amazing. And (some) folks wonder why Shanghai is taking so long ... ;-)>> I'm surprised more folks haven't caught on. It was pretty clear from the concept art that they really don't have a plan for Circusland North. There's nothing there! And Jacobson basically confirmed it. He didn't even know what was in the art they showed! At least it appears that they finally have the most important part of this expansion figured out with the coaster, Mermaid, and Belle. IMO, they should leave Circusland North undeveloped, and I think they would if there wasn't a retail location there.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<At least it appears that they finally have the most important part of this expansion figured out ...>> If only they did. It appears they are just as lost as before, while trying to appear like 'this is normal' ... Let's not forget the attraction that was pulled early ... an E-Ticket that Leemac called, I believe, Cartoon Corners that would have involved the classic Disney characters. And then there was Pixie Hollow ... which originally was supposed to house a pretty elaborate attraction and a fairy version of the Mater ride headed for DCA. They don't know what they want because they're busy juggling budgets and numbers and trying to figure how they can spread out some costs etc. And some folks in Burbank seem intent on getting folks to believe an E-Ticket attraction is headed to MK in 2015 as a clone of one going into Shanghai as well as an alleged 'Harry Potter killer' ... as the Disney 'world' turns ...
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Funny, by the time Disney gets a "Harry Potter Killer" built, there will be more Harry Potter to kill.
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael ^I was referring to the FLE-West. FLE-East aka Cirusland/Pixie Hallow/Toon Town/Starland/Birthdayland doesn't matter to me as it will always be a disappointment to me. The last time it was relevant was in 1991 and they had the Disney Afternoon foamhead show and Darkwing Duck was in it (and this spirit was 4 going on 5.)
