Originally Posted By DlandDug >>For the first time ever Walt Disney Imagineering will be lead by a complete outsider.<< "Lead by?" Perhaps you didn't read the whole text of the original post in your breathless leap to hyperbole: >>At WDI, he'll be VP of Research and Development under Bruce Vaughn.<< Further, EVERYONE at WDI comes from the "outside." And they have hired many people who previously worked for the other design groups. And the other design groups are rife with WDi trained artists. Spiderman, for example, was co-developed by a WDI refugee.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<This is huge. Probably the biggest thing that's ever happened to WDI. For the first time ever Walt Disney Imagineering will be lead by a complete outsider. Scott is amazingly talented though. He will do great things for Disney.>> I don't understand the sense of jubilation here. If WDW has been deficient in quality of attractions lately, it could be for: A) Lack of creative ideas; or B) WDW's unwillingness to fund creative ideas. It seems to me that the complaints on this board about WDW's quality within the past few years has been about: (B) willingness to spend money. From new design execution to attraction maintenance to housekeeping, the complaint has been that Disney has been "cutting corners." But posters have pointed out that WDW could "do it right" when it was willing to put the money into it. Has there ever been an argument here that WDI doesn't have good ideas? or has the issue been that the ideas don't get supported and budgeted? Unless Trowbridge's hiring signals a new willingness to spend money, I don't see his inclusion on the team making a significant difference in the feel of the Parks. And, again... I believe that a wildly popular HarryPotterLand at Universal will only be good for WDW. It'll convince more young families from the eastern and central US to go to Florida instead of Chicago or New York or on a cruise. And as long as they're in Orlando, they'll go to WDW. Vegas was ailing when Wynn opened his much bally-hoo'd Mirage. Did its instant and incredible popularity hurt the city's existing anemic hotel/casinos? No. It brought them back to life.
Originally Posted By jonvn "Has there ever been an argument here that WDI doesn't have good ideas? " Well, from me. It appears to me that Disney has poured tons of money into attraction development and does not seem to ever get their money's worth out of it. I think a lot of "Disney didn't spend enough money" talk is really kind of crazy when they spend a hundred million dollars on something.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think Potterland will be a HUGE success the first year. I wouldn't be surprised if IOA that year gets more visitors than the Magic Kingdom. The quality of the attractions will determine if the first year success continues or tanks. I think Universal has a helluva franchise with Harry Potter and if handled right they could compete with Disney on a level playing field for the first time.
Originally Posted By cmash95 I for one hope this is the beginning of a new era for WDI at WDW. Yes Disney had been notorious for cutting budgets and doing things on the cheap but that was in the eisner regime. I hope that mr Iger and Mr. Lassitter (SP) and the other powers that be at the disney company see what treasures they have in these parks and work to improve upon what they have. I also hope we get original attractions at WDW not clones of DL or DLP or even TDL. there is so much they could do. Heck if a lowly housewife like myself can develope ideas then an imagineer should be able to. I have to admit it's too bad we can't have something as awsome as spiderman at WDW.
Originally Posted By Rosso11 So I was wondering does anyone knows if he was based out of Orlando or California. I would think Orlando since IOA is Universal's crown jewl of theme parks and Orlando gets all of the atention for Universal, but I don't know where Universal Creative is based out of. I ask this because I am wondering if he will be staying in Orlando under WDI or moving to California. With John Lasster being such a hudge force in Disneyland right now it would be nice to have someone representing the Florida Parks more. Maybe Spirit you might know?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<I think a lot of "Disney didn't spend enough money" talk is really kind of crazy when they spend a hundred million dollars on something.>> Yea, for rides that no one wants to go on like Mission Space despite attempts from many of their designers who warned that it may not be popular. Just because Disney may throw money at something doesn't mean its going to be successful. In order for a ride or attraction to be successful you first have to have a creative idea, then the money and resources to pull it off. Meanwhile "classic rides" like Pirates, the Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion continue to draw huge crowds. My point here is if you come up with a good concept that is timeless you upfront investment may be expensive but that expense is timeless. Real Estate in and around all the Disney parks are at premium. Disney can't afford to make too many errors when it comes to rides and attractions. They should attempt to get it right the first time around. People are requesting more E ticket rides and Disney seems to be giving us B ticket rides more often than not.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Perhaps the subject here should be the creation of rides and attractions that have sustainability. Disney has built plenty of rides who's popularity just not kept up.
Originally Posted By twirlnhurl "I think Potterland will be a HUGE success the first year. I wouldn't be surprised if IOA that year gets more visitors than the Magic Kingdom." I don't think that is possible, for several reasons. Firstly, IoA is a smaller park then MK (acreage wise, they are similar, but MK doesn't have a giant lagoon or paths that narrow). Secondly, If a family does a florida trip, they are very likely to spend at least one day at WDW. If they spend one day at WDW, they spend it at MK. Finally, I think that a single new franchise at a park will increase attendance, but not by 300%.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 "Has there ever been an argument here that WDI doesn't have good ideas? " <<Well, from me. It appears to me that Disney has poured tons of money into attraction development and does not seem to ever get their money's worth out of it. I think a lot of "Disney didn't spend enough money" talk is really kind of crazy when they spend a hundred million dollars on something. >> There have been three major problems with Disney corporate, WDI and how they spend money/reinvest in their parks. They either spend too little, spend too much or (this really is the biggie) spend unwisely on creatively bereft concepts that are never popular or lose their popularity way too soon. Too many people at WDI have forgotten why people go to Disney parks and what kind of experiences they expect. That's why rides like Mansion, PoC, Small World, Peter Pan, BTMRR etc ... consistently pack the guests in while things like Stitch's Great Escape and MILF don't.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Well, I think you are correct in that anyone going to Orlando will at least go to the Magic Kingdom in addition to IOA, so any increase at IOA would also be reflected by an increase at the MK. I do think it could make a significant difference though. It is not like IOA is just adding a new attraction. They are adding a themed land that will draw a whole new demographic to IOA who would have never even considered going there before.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<So I was wondering does anyone knows if he was based out of Orlando or California. I would think Orlando since IOA is Universal's crown jewl of theme parks and Orlando gets all of the atention for Universal, but I don't know where Universal Creative is based out of. I ask this because I am wondering if he will be staying in Orlando under WDI or moving to California. With John Lasster being such a hudge force in Disneyland right now it would be nice to have someone representing the Florida Parks more. Maybe Spirit you might know?>> My guess is that Scott will be devoting more energies to the Florida parks because he is more familiar with the Orlando market ... and he also knows what Disney will face with Harry Potter. Tony and Bob are pretty much in control of DL and DCA, respectively, and that's how John likes it.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Perhaps the subject here should be the creation of rides and attractions that have sustainability. Disney has built plenty of rides who's popularity just not kept up.>> Yep ... I think I should have read your posts before answering myself Tom, because I think we're on the same page.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom We certainly are Spirit! Its a little more complicated that just throwing around money. Look at DCA for example. I'm at WDW now and sunday my party was waiting in que for Soarin over at EPCOT. Immediatley behind us in line was a young couple from Reno, Nevada.... they have been to DL many times ( its their home park ) and were shocked to hear that Soarin was in DLR. They asked Kennesaw Joe and I were it was located at DLR and oh course we responded its in DCA. Their responce was, "oh that explains it". Since they have never been in DCA and have no intention of going in DCA. My point here is that Disney has thrown a lot of money at DCA but there are certainly many west coasters for whom DCA has no appeal. We spent the greater part of today in DAK and I kept saying to myself why didn't Disney built a much smaller version of DAK instead of DCA.
Originally Posted By dshyates I'm not sure the major draw to potterland will be the robocoaster. I believe it will be the fully "interactive" castle. This MagiQuest technoloy is fun and addictive. Some of the quests will be easy and some you will have to be very familiar with the books and where to find things. Like spells in books and potions ingredients. Some of the targets you have to zap with your wand will be strung through Hogsmead and even in Hagrids hut which will be in the queue for the flying hippogrif and queue for dueling dragons . This will be like hidden mickeys on steroids. There is even discussion about Wizarding suites in their new budget hotel where you can turn on lights, light a fire, turn on the tv, etc. with your wand. And you can check your proress on the HP find and zap things in the parks game on your in room tv. They will make it to where it will take many multiday visits to complete the quests. And of course when you complete, and only when you complete a quest will you recieve a special enamal pin. No trading. The Potter geeks will wear them like Boy Scout badges. You have to buy a wand at $14.00. There is a $9.99 a day activation fee for your wand (works for free in the suites). You get the quest books for free like park maps. They have the quests detailed and hints at what your looking for. And $9.99 cheat books for HP fans who only saw the movies as they will be handicapped. There is no doubt that this will be popular and exhausting.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Everytime I hear about this Harry Potter thing at Universal and how great it will be, I think about The Mummy ride and everything that was promised...The execution of the ride left alot to be imagined from the initial reports. Universal usually under delivers when it comes to huge attractions, I don't thik it will be all that people think it will be.
Originally Posted By Mr X I'd agree with that William, with the exception of SpiderMan which I honestly feel is close to the best theme park attraction ever (frankly, number one in my mind). However, the Hogwarts thing is a MONSTER project I think...I'm not sure how cool they could really manage to pull it off. I could imagine some potential if it were a mixed, giant attraction like Star Trek in Vegas (that "beaming" effect would be perfect for apparating, and you'd need some live "students", and maybe a fly through simulator on "brooms" (ET meets Star Tours combo). There sure is potential there, but if it's just some "walk around" where you wave a lame magic wand...meh.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I also think the first year will be huge, and another day away from Disney for many British tourists. Denise
