Originally Posted By ChiMike This is no surprise to me, as stated earlier on the Weiss thread and others. ..And if I was at DL I would be very worried. Look at who is getting promoted. It's not just Crofton that is at issue. Leslie has been in the executive circle through the Pressler days and Erin's rise through the ranks in Florida has coincided with the severe fall from grace in the resort. I have not shared Spirit's focus on Crofton, because up until now she was nothing more than a figurehead puppet under Weiss. This, now, is a concern if she will no longer be passive and now be one step up in the org chart over DL and DLP. It would be nice to see Lee share his thoughts since he earlier signaled a whole new mindset too in the Weiss thread. There sure is a whole lot of Pressler and Rasulo folks with 'expanded roles'
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I think the bigger question is what is Staggs up to? I think when changes like this are made it has to do with consolodating power. He obviously beieves that Meg will carry out his policies better than Al Weiss did<<< I agree. Thus far, we've seen nothing of Staggs save for FLE and reshuffling- in HIS benefit. What is he going to do with all this power?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It would be nice to see Lee share his thoughts since he earlier signaled a whole new mindset too in the Weiss thread. There sure is a whole lot of Pressler and Rasulo folks with 'expanded roles'<<< Seconded! Where are you, Lee!?
Originally Posted By ChiMike All of this has been blown out of proportion What hanky panky caused Al to leave? Really, I would like to know. Is a passive Meg better than a passive Al? Seriously. Why does it appear that Leslie now has Michael's old marketing gig, or am I reading that wrong? How is this Tom bringing in his OWN people when all you see are names like Karl, Erin, Lansberry?????????? This is simply more of the same. Just as the reshuffling of park VPs earlier in the month. People read into this way too much.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer So, Mike, I guess you DON'T think things will be changing for Disneyland? LOL
Originally Posted By ChiMike EE, that's my biggest concern, if any. In the last twenty years, anytime someone is put in between TDA and the CEO of TWDC it works out to DL's detriment. Even with the Chairman of WDP&R. The park was at it's best when the CEO of TWDC took an active interest in the growth of the park. The 50th believe it or not had a lot to do with the TDA tour (led by Matt) that Iger took as COO. The DCA makeover was on Iger's list as a new CEO. While I don't think you will ever see Tom short-circuited from the chain of command, since he is supposedly being groomed for COO, any layer between TDA and Tom, in this case, should be viewed as detrimental by default. Now that's the realistic answer, imo. The fun answer is that WDW is so out of it's league when it comes to park operations, CM standards, facility maintenance, show standards, entertainment, hotel operations, special events, etc. that the idea of WDW's president now overseeing DL, would be ironic if not so scary.
Originally Posted By Boardwalkbum >>SELL THEM ALL. SELL THEM NOW!<< Just want you to know your Apocalypse Now reference didn't go unnoticed Skinner....
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Allow me to take the position of most Disney fans and just shrug my shoulders.
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^ That's how we are in this mess. The customers just shrugging their shoulders. Reduced Hours. Shrug Half-operating attractions. Shrug
Originally Posted By vbdad55 IS reduced hours really a reality now ? It absolutely was for more than a few years- but hell--MK was open to 1 Am 2 Am and 3 AM in the same week when I was just there ( same last year)- the really stupid idea of showing Fantasmic 2 times a week seems to be quietly gone..it was shown twice a day for 5 of the 7 days I was there MK opened early one day 8 AM it was not supposed to ( a 3 AM closing day) due to anticipated attendance ? Ak was open to 8 PM every nite and for right now- really does it need to be open later ? This is in no way defending the moves that were made in the past - they sucked...but it appears - at least in peak seasons - amount of time park opens not an issue today. Someone that goes more than me can help here. Now, I will still get on the bandwagon that I think EPCOT - WS should be open to midnite at least a few nites a week -- but this was not a cut back per se... So I am asking for input more comprehensive than mine- is hours still an issue ?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I'm confused. Wasn't Al Weiss overseeing DLR before stepping down? You guys are making it sound as though Meg's role is different somehow. Am I missing something?
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 <<^ That's how we are in this mess. The customers just shrugging their shoulders. Reduced Hours. Shrug Half-operating attractions. Shrug>> I'm referring to the news about Meg Crofton being named. When most people go on any vacation they focus on when they can go, how long they can go and how much it will cost. They don't care about who's running the place because prior to that's not high on their list.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Edit feature Should be: They don't care about who's running the place because that's not high on their list.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I agree it is very important who is running the show-- but the average person is not going to know one horse from antoher. Also as with most major corp's- usually it's just chair shuffling ( as is at least some of the case this time with DIsney also) - and the same group of 'leaders' get new assignments- roles and power. It takes quite a shift to make a real difference, and usually ( not always) would involve someone from outside to move into a significant position of power
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>So I am asking for input more comprehensive than mine- is hours still an issue ?<< Yes. Compare them to DL. Compare MGM and AK's to DCA. And don't count Extra Hours. And don't count peak of summer season either. All might be well and good for you VB, because you travel in season, but some of the hours for the other three seasons are downright sad. Especially considering Disney has done a good job of making sure there is no off-season with their discounting. They haven't allowed the hours to meet the new loads of the off-season And I won't even start on the reduced operating schedules of the attractions, shops, and dining facilities. So, yes, when you went, I am sure you didn't feel the issues that the same crowds feel in mid-February.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Wasn't Al Weiss overseeing DLR before stepping down?<< Yes. >>You guys are making it sound as though Meg's role is different somehow. Am I missing something?<< It is different. Al was overseeing consolidation initiatives across the entire WDP&R operation including Asia. He was no longer, supposedly, strictly overseeing Orlando. Meg will continue in her role in Orlando while also overseeing TDA and Paris. She does not pick up on Al's duties 1:1. Some of Al's supposed duties are going away. Some of Al's duties are now being taken up by the others with the 'expanded roles' listed in the release. And for the most part, I question how much Al really even did. How much Al covered something like DL. So, in my mind, this isn't just a swap. In my mind, anything happening Stateside now is under Meg. It's a changing role. I wouldn't have made the same generic assertation, anything happening Stateside now is under Al. Does this clear up where, I am at least, coming from Hans?
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>They don't care about who's running the place because prior to that's not high on their list.<< And that's my point. It does matter who is running the place. It matters if Walt is walking through the POTC model, or Ron Miller thinks Star Wars should be in the parks, or Michael Eisner thinks factory tours are theme park attractions, or Bob Iger likes to book a reservation at Chef Mickey's 9 months out on his IPhone. It matters. Fans/Guests who want to think clearly about why they like something or don't benefit from understanding why things occur and why they don't. It's not a requirement in order to wear a fanboy badge, but knowing it sure helps.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>It takes quite a shift to make a real difference, and usually ( not always) would involve someone from outside to move into a significant position of power<< Very astute. That is exactly what it takes. And in history, the only thing that truly changed the trajectory that DIS was on. Iger and the current board are nothing but an INTENDED continuation of Eisner's tenure. ...And not the good part! That was the hope of SaveDisney, however misguided. To fumigate, and repeat 1984 getting a new leadership team in place. This current executive press release is nothing but a greatest hits compilation of Eisner/Pressler era executives.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Sorry guys, I just finished reading Spirit's thread and it seemed everything I raised has all been pretty much said yesterday. Well, I guess I am part of the echo chamber!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>In the last twenty years, anytime someone is put in between TDA and the CEO of TWDC it works out to DL's detriment. Even with the Chairman of WDP&R. <<< So I fail to see why you aren't worried about this. ...Or are you? I would hope and think, that if these changes and new WDW policies are brought to Disneyland, they'd spark some dissent from the DL Fan base and hopefully garner change for all of us.
