Originally Posted By jmuboy Al Lutz is reporting in his recent article that many WDW execs came to DL to tour DL and see how a quality MK park should be run (and we all know MK is declining with every passing year). It seems the toured PotC, Jungle Cruise, HM and Space Mountain. All of these rides have received extensive updates at DL in the last couple of years and have seen a huge boost in popularity as a result. Hopefully we'll see the mgmt at WDW make some RIGHT choices for the MK in the near future because their recent decisions making (Pooh's Junk Yard, Stitch's Great Mistake and this Laugh Floor mess in TL) makes me questions everyones judgment.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Would be a great example as remember not so long ago DL was not exactly the picture of health either -- they have done a really nice job bringing it back to where it belongs
Originally Posted By hopemax It's amazing how much Matt and DL were able to do in such a short period of time. And after experiencing all those improvements at DL, and now after spending 3 weeks in Florida and visiting WDW, WDW now seems to be playing the role of the red-headed, stepchild. The roughness of WDW's Space Mountain vs the smoothness of DL's. And after hearing from WDI people that half of DL's projectors weren't working when the rehab started, I can only wonder how many of WDW's effects have been missing without me realizing it. The added frustration from riding WDW's Buzz, because the guns are so hard to target, and no light up targets. The deplorable state of the Haunted Mansion. The sound system is barely functional, some cars it is so loud it will make you deaf, and others it has so much static and scratchyness you can barely figure out what they are saying. And it all ends up in a horrible cacophony that says cheap funhouse, instead of the greatest which is the Haunted Mansion. But at least WDW still has the original Country Bears show, which is still a hoot to watch (and people in the audience were SINGING along), it was great. And the Liberty Belle, looks BEAUTIFUL, so hopefully it will be a sign of things to come. We made sure to tell the managers we saw, how great she looked, and how much we missed her.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I just started a similar thread before reading this one. But, yeah, the MK is rundown or ghetto as a certain pal of mine is fond of saying. It speaks to the caliber of executives working in Orlando. Also, make NO mistake about it. Matt was run out of Anaheim by Jay Rasulo. Both sides can spin it any way they want, but insiders know what went down. Matt was a throwback to the Jack Lundquist, Dick Nunis, Jim Cora type of exec that truly cared about every aspect of providing a truly wonderful guest experience. There's no one I can think of that is in that mold at Disney in a high level exec position right now. Better for Jay to hold on to his job when he should be working for WalMart, CarMax or Darden.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>But, yeah, the MK is rundown or ghetto as a certain pal of mine is fond of saying.<< For a lack or meaner words NOT allowed by this board's standards. That is as sugar coated as your friend can get.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Speaking of RUN DOWN Magic Kingdoms... check TDLFAN's DLParis summer update photos and get the real meaning of "run down" under the Disney name. Go to LP's Paris section now.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I will do that. Lots of DLP was in dire need of repair when I went in the spring, but I know they're pulling a DL for the 50th deal to make the place look great for the 15th. But I have little faith that it will stay that way because of the cretins that run the park and were handpicked by Gepetto Rasulo.
Originally Posted By CMM1 Doesn't DL park have a bit of an advantage over WDW's MK in terms of (1) size and (2) weather that is not so severe year round as you find in Florida? The MK park is subject to lots of rain, lots of humidity and lots of sun whereas DL is in an area that has far less rain, far less humidity and a much milder summer. DL park is also something like 1/2 the size of the MK park, so there is far less to maintain in terms of areas visible to the public. A little investment in DL park can go a long way while the MK park would take a lot more effort to maintain in a similar manner. It may also be the case that given that there are 4 parks in WDW, the MK may not have to be up to the same standard as DL to still get their 16-17M guests a year - those guests may only visit the MK one day or maybe two during a week long stay. Is the MK simply a "cash cow" for WDW resort in that it has the most rides and is the East Coast version of Disneyland that is pretty much guarenteed a good attendance regardless of condition while the other parks in WDW must provide a bit more in terms of new attractions and/or a spiffy image? With DL park, is not Disney interested in perhaps drawing repeat business during the year from the large local SoCal population with a spiffy park that pretty much has to stand on its own?
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>With DL park, is not Disney interested in perhaps drawing repeat business during the year from the large local SoCal population with a spiffy park that pretty much has to stand on its own?<< This definitely true. But these people tend to be AP's of one sort or another, many have SoCal AP's that are extremely cheap. WDW on the other hand, relies more on tourists who are making a very large expenditure in visiting. It will be hard to lure some of these people back if they have a neagtive experience (what a dump! next time were going to Cancun, Europe, etc.). So its hard to say.
Originally Posted By Lewis Goofy << the MK is rundown or ghetto << The Magic Kingdom is far from run down and to use the word ghetto to describe it is really offensive. It is after all the most visited theme park in the world. If it was that bad guest would not return. <<There's no one I can think of that is in that mold at Disney in a high level exec position right now.<< Please stop....there are several execs at Disney right now that hold that high standard. Robert Iger, Lee Cockerell, Phil Holmes, Meg Crofton and Al Weiss to name just a few. Also Disney was voted number one as The Best Place To Launch A Career by BusinessWeek. Mostely for its high standards and its training and promotion from within. Fortune Magazine named Disney number one as Americas Most Admired Companies. The criteria that was used to rank these companies was People Management, Quality of Management, Social responsibility, and Quality of Products/Services ect. Fortune named Disney number one...that speaks volumes about the managment that is in place at the Disney Co. You can bad mouth the execs all you want but if you look at the people who know business they always rank Disney at the top. The execs must be top notch to get that kind of recognition from thier peers.
Originally Posted By jmuboy Is Lewis Goofy one of these marketing drones that Disney plants in this forum to be a company apologist?
Originally Posted By danyoung TDLFAN, bite me! jmuboy, Lewis Goofy does seem like an apologist (actually, he IS an apologist). But over many months of reading his posts I've come to believe that HE believes what he's writing. It's an opinion - you don't have to totally buy it to allow it. And TDLFAN - did I mention BITE ME???
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The Magic Kingdom is far from run down and to use the word ghetto to describe it is really offensive. It is after all the most visited theme park in the world. If it was that bad guest would not return.>> Ah, hitting close to home so the 'plant' comes back. Nice to see you, Goof, hope all is well on the homefront. And I will use whatever words I chose to describe the MK. Why do you take it so personally? Oh yeah, because you know they're true. Even during uncrowded days, it is impossible to visit the MK and not find dirty, stained walkways ... rust and woodrot ... trash on the ground or in the waterways ... attractions with effects not working etc ... The MK is a shell of the park it once was, buddy, and there are plenty of 'regular' folks who barely know sites like this even exist that notice. I know. I talk to them every time I visit. <<There's no one I can think of that is in that mold at Disney in a high level exec position right now.<< <<Please stop....there are several execs at Disney right now that hold that high standard. Robert Iger, Lee Cockerell, Phil Holmes, Meg Crofton and Al Weiss to name just a few. >> The jury is out on Bob Iger. But his honeymoon is over. I want to see results AND I want my stock higher. And Lee 'I am not a motivational speaker or Amway salesman' Cockerell retired from Disney this past summer. You should know that. Or maybe you're just 'playing' with me. Phil Holmes is an embarrassment. For someone who started his career as an hourly CM on Mansion to allow the attraction to fall into decay is unforgiveable. He is a small, insignificant puppet. Meg? I wouldn't be able to pick her out of a lineup. She had absolutely zero park ops experience when she was 'placed' into her current position by two guys (Jay and Al) who are interested in getting as many puppets as possible in positions of power to implement ill-conceived marketing campaigns like the one about to start. <<Also Disney was voted number one as The Best Place To Launch A Career by BusinessWeek. Mostely for its high standards and its training and promotion from within.>> Big deal. TWDC has been living on reputation for decades now. Some might say since Walt himself walked the earth. And Disney does promote from within a lot, no doubt. But it doesn't promote the true creative minds. <<Fortune Magazine named Disney number one as Americas Most Admired Companies. The criteria that was used to rank these companies was People Management, Quality of Management, Social responsibility, and Quality of Products/Services ect. Fortune named Disney number one...that speaks volumes about the managment that is in place at the Disney Co. You can bad mouth the execs all you want but if you look at the people who know business they always rank Disney at the top. The execs must be top notch to get that kind of recognition from thier peers.>> I honestly have no idea who named Disney what. And I don't care. I don't know whether you are spouting BS, corporate spin or the truth. It doesn't matter how many popularity contests Disney wins. I am trying to figure out who you work for Goof ... is it one of my pals in Orlando (could be execs, marketing, press and publicity) ... or are you totally faking it and working out in Burbank? Because there's no one, even Iger himself, that would agree with all your statements. But it's good to have you back.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<jmuboy, Lewis Goofy does seem like an apologist (actually, he IS an apologist). But over many months of reading his posts I've come to believe that HE believes what he's writing. It's an opinion - you don't have to totally buy it to allow it.>> Danny, you know despite all my jabs at you that I have a great deal of respect for you, right? Because when it comes to the Goofball, I just find it amazingly naive that anyone (YOU included) would take anything he says as his true beliefs and not an agenda.
Originally Posted By jmuboy The MK is in SAD SAD Shape and anyone who can't see it either has rose colored glasses on or works for TWDC and is paid to ignore the problems!
Originally Posted By danyoung Spirit, if you take any of the individual posts that Goof has made, well yeah, it's pretty hard to believe that he's not a company spook. But I tend to give folks the benefit of the doubt. He's been directly challenged on this in the past, and he's stated clearly that he is in no way tied to the Disney company, so I'll treat him that way. I won't say that I totally believe his stand - it's just too over the top to be real. But whether he is or isn't a plant makes no big difference to me. He's a contributor, just like you and me and the small brained TDLFAN, and has the same rights to say stuff that most of us don't agree with.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <The jury is out on Bob Iger. But his honeymoon is over. I want to see results AND I want my stock higher.< I just want to see my kids stock back to the level I bought it at almot 8 years ago...still $6 a share under that ( was $109 before 3:1 split = 36+ )
