TheAdvocate: Old Mouse, New Tricks

Originally Posted By gadzuux

cstephens said -

>> (I've been accused of)having low standards for liking DCA.<<

You "may" be referring to something that I posted awhile back. I inadvertently stumbled into a hornets nest when trying to describe my unhappiness with PP. In my post I said something about me "holding disney to a higher standard" and WHAM! I get creamed with pro-DCA'ers immediately accusing me of insulting them, and implying that I feel their standards aren't high enough - or something similar.

Hence in my posting earlier on this thread, saying that I feel the need to tiptoe around the boards, because people infer things in my posts that just aren't there. We then went to and fro on that thread about the true meaning of "higher vs. lower standards", but I've got a hunch that a few people went away not satisfied with my explanation. They wanted a full "mea maxima culpa" and nothing else would do.

On another thread some time ago, I made a joke about people camping out in DL on the night before EP returns to DCA, and somebody took me to task for insulting him because he was one of the people who camped before the DCA opening.

These boards aren't all that rough `n tumble but you still have to watch out for the sensitive souls amoung us.

Also, a point relevant to "debating about debating" - one of the reasons that I enjoy this board so much, and continue to spend as much time and energy as I do here is the level of thoughtfulness, intelligence, literacy, and stimulating discussion that goes on. There's a lot of discussion boards on the web, and I honestly think this is one of the best ones I've ever come across. Granted, it's centered on a topic of personal interest to me, but the regulars seem to be an especially bright group. Maybe that says something about Doobie, or disney fans, or just people who enjoy writing for it's own sake, but for whatever reason, it's a really cool site, and I'm glad for it's existence. Ain't we just the swellest people we know!

 

Originally Posted By cstephens


gadzuux wrote:
> Also, a point relevant to "debating about debating" - one of the reasons that I enjoy this board so much, and continue to spend as much time and energy as I do here is the level of thoughtfulness, intelligence, literacy, and stimulating discussion that goes on. There's a lot of discussion boards on the web, and I honestly think this is one of the best ones I've ever come across. Granted, it's centered on a topic of personal interest to me, but the regulars seem to be an especially bright group. Maybe that says something about Doobie, or disney fans, or just people who enjoy writing for it's own sake, but for whatever reason, it's a really cool site, and I'm glad for it's existence.

On this point, we totally agree!



/cs

 

Originally Posted By magic19

Well, leaving the debate about the debate which is debated on and on....I just thought I would describe the nature of a conversation I had with an acquaintance at TDA yesterday.

Let me first say my friend is extending hard facts on DCA expansion plans (which he knows...but so does the whole world right now--the farm expansion, TOT, etc) into some additonal hypothesis.

Paul and Cynthia have made a choice to discount DCA rather than build "E" tickets or other expensive weenie's. This comes down to Paul's overriding principal......that the parks should be expanded with very cost-efficient additions. He has decided that discounting is a better strategy than continuing an indefinite and expensive capital program dedicated to major new attractions. In other words.....the DCA blueprint, per se, is still the guiding direction for all Disney Theme Parks. Industry available rides with Disney themeing added in is THE direction and Paul believes that holding fast to this strategy will eventually win. Other theme park operators will realize what Disney is doing....they will be relieved that they can reduce their capital spending since Disney is--and eventually the whole industry will consolidate itself around a few key ride technology providers.

My friend believes Paul is looking at DCA right now and arguing that this is a necessary and painful period, but keeping on their plan is of higher importantce for the long-run strategy if cost efficient operations are to be realized.

Which lead me to one question: Tower of Terror is on the way and its an expensive, not-off-the-shelf E ticket, so how can this be true?

His answer: TOT is on the way IF, AND ONLY IF, a sponsor is found. Full design work is clearly under way--and perhaps a sponsor will be found....but if one is not--TOT will not materialize.

And that is Paul's linchpin to beat the competition. If its on his dime....its off the shelf with Disney theming added in. If a sponsor can be found--then its possible for an E ticket or two to come to life (like Mission: Space). Disney is in the best position to get these sponsors so it can still occassionally do something very competetive and unique and still stay one up against the competition. Overall though, Disney will typically build affordably: so bumper cars, spinners, movies all that are the driving product of the future--even if its means DCA must fall on the sword for a while, so that this transition to a NEW Disney Theme Park experience can be accomplished.

 

Originally Posted By kakgurl85

My expectations of visiting DCA were not high because of rumors I have heard, but I loved it! I think DCA is so fun and
creative!

 

Originally Posted By disneywatcher

>> magic19: In other words.....the DCA blueprint, per se, is still the guiding direction for all Disney Theme Parks. Industry available rides with Disney themeing added in is THE direction and Paul believes that holding fast to this strategy will eventually win. <<

This would be a very important theory to acknowledge and understand if applicable to the people running the DisCo., now and in the future.

I will say that if DCA can attract enough business to be a somewhat profitable, and certainly a very profitable, operation, then a cost-conscious formula would appear to have the upper hand, and anyone who would promote it would have quite a bit of influence in the DisCo. However, my greater issue with DCA has nothing to do with the amount of money spent on it, as much as what I consider a lackluster creative vision from the people planning and developing it (and the best that all the creative minds at the Aspen conference could come up with was a one-of-50-U.S.-states theme, seemingly straight from a Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce committee?).

In another message on LP.com, I mentioned how the lithographers at the U.S. Treasury Department a few years ago preferred (and created) a certain kind of design for American currency that gives aspects of U.S. dollars the look of play or toy money. I would say their visual sense was to this nation's currency -- formerly very dignified and anything but toy-like -- what the planners of DCA are to Disney theme parks. In other words, we're not dealing so much with an issue of a tight budget (and I'm sure work on re-designing America's currency -- partly to make it less easily counterfeited -- was a well-funded project), as much as a matter of questionable creative decisionmaking.

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

"Other theme park operators will realize what Disney is doing....they will be relieved that they can reduce their capital spending since Disney is--and eventually the whole industry will consolidate itself around a few key ride technology providers."

If, and that's a big if, this is how they are currently thinking, then they are absolutely nuts. If I were a competitor, and saw the lead in my industry start to relax a bit in expectation that I would do the same, I would stomp on the accelerator and try to leave them in the dust.

This is simply not a reasonable thing to expect your competitors to do. It's interesting, because I saw a show on one of the cable channels the other day about Jimmy Carter. He kind of did this same thing. Thought if we reduced our military spending, the Soviets would do the same thing. Instead, they invaded Afghanistan, and we had a weakened military. Oops.

If it is true (and I don't know whether it is or not) that Mr. Pressler is looking at this current period as a painful one that will pass, then he's going to be kind of surprised. What he is going to end up doing is making his product indistinguishable from other companies products, and his competitors are going to take every advantage of this.