Originally Posted By Manfried Gee Spirit, it's obvious your one of Al's bloggers. The real decision makes at Disney don't pay much attention to him at all. The ones that do are the middle managers trying to push their agendas. Or have someone else push it for them. And Disney management is now aware of that and is watching out. Yes, it's big brother. But it's also good business. People that break their non-disclosure agreements when its not about anything illegal should be fired.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Gee Spirit, it's obvious your one of Al's bloggers.>> No, I'm not. I don't even hold him in much personal regard. It does seem like you have some Al issues yourself, though. <<The real decision makes at Disney don't pay much attention to him at all. The ones that do are the middle managers trying to push their agendas. Or have someone else push it for them.>> I would agree that middle managers and lower level execs pay more attention (or regular attention) to him than the bigwigs ... but they are aware anytime he writes a column of what's in it, many read them themselves, others have underlings report what he said. <<And Disney management is now aware of that and is watching out. Yes, it's big brother. But it's also good business. People that break their non-disclosure agreements when its not about anything illegal should be fired.>> Disney is anal about leaking things unless they want them leaked ... and as an ex-Imagineer you should know that.
Originally Posted By Hista98 honestly spirit If disney held Al in that high of regard and followed his reports that closley he would probably work for disney. The fact that he doesn't I think sums up what disney thinks of him. It's like what Marty Sklar said about the ISAW changes. We know what we are doing back off Disney is not going to look at websites like his for tips on how to do their job. Honesty the fact that guests keep packing in the park tells me they are going to keep on doing what they are doing and not listen to bloggers for help they clearly don't need it.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>going to look at websites like his for tips on how to do their job.<<< Oh, but they do. Free gauge of opinion, demographics, everything. They have even admitted as much.
Originally Posted By Hista98 I think you are wrong Epcot Exploerer. We have already established the idea that disney dosen't look at websites like this for creative ideas to avoid being sued over creative consulting. Why would Al's site be any diffrent? In truth it isn't. Most disney management stays away from sites like his becuase if they see an idea they like and use it they can get sued for creative reasons. If they wanted to use his ideas they would just hire him to avoid the lawsuits. As long as disney keeps finishing on the top of most visted theme parks in the world they are going to keep at it. Once things start tanking then they may look to people like Al for tips. Until that time don't bet on them changing a thing.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> We have already established the idea that disney dosen't look at websites like this for creative ideas to avoid being sued over creative consulting<<< They don't for creative ideas, that is true. But thoughts on attractions? Managemrnt? Quality? They look.
Originally Posted By Hista98 As a CM I doubt that is true. No disrespect towards you but as long as they rake in the money they don't look and scrutinse each thing from a website. They use those bias guest surveys for that. Any guest feedback on a new ride is done through blind bias surveys set up by management.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<As a CM I doubt that is true. No disrespect towards you but as long as they rake in the money they don't look and scrutinse each thing from a website. They use those bias guest surveys for that. Any guest feedback on a new ride is done through blind bias surveys set up by management.>> They do use the surveys for most of their data, but they look on the sites.
Originally Posted By Hista98 Ya I guess my big point is that People like Al are wasting thier breath wining and complaining about how bad the park is now, becuase managment is just going to be like there are 1 million apers and thousands of other yearly visiotrs who disagree with you. and since they keep coming thats all we care about so you points are mute they would not directly change soemthing due to one guy on a post as was pointed out earlier.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Ya I guess my big point is that People like Al are wasting thier breath wining and complaining about how bad the park is now, becuase managment is just going to be like there are 1 million apers and thousands of other yearly visiotrs who disagree with you. and since they keep coming thats all we care about so you points are mute they would not directly change soemthing due to one guy on a post as was pointed out earlier.>> Al's a different story. He has the ability to get the DL faithful in a frenzy, which holds a lot of power on the West coast. But yes, it wouldn't work for WDW.
Originally Posted By Manfried Al gets his people in a frenzy, but as Disney knows for a fact, it does not translate to the bottom line in business or crowds. Al extorted his faithful to go see Lincoln. Well guess what, my reports from inside say that it is not as well attended as Al would want it to be. Why? It's boring. And don't tell me Mr. Baxter didn't leak stuff to get that attraction made.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Al gets his people in a frenzy, but as Disney knows for a fact, it does not translate to the bottom line in business or crowds.>> At Disneyland it does.
Originally Posted By SSE I have so many personal feelings about Disney and its overall approach to WDW that if I wrote everything I think it would turn into a novel so I'm not going to write much, but I think Disney quality has fallen horribly over the last decade and I am probably a pessimist but I worry that it will never be as good as it once was. I am 23 so I don't have the memories of WDW back in the 70s and 80s, but from my first trip in the 90s to now I can tell that so much has changed. Management seems completely uninterested now and just look at how they can make more and more money. All the presentations I see with Bob Iger or other Disney execs seem to be lacking in genuine appreciation for the parks and to me feel overly rehearsed and scripted to the point that I don't feel they care at all. I do hope that one day though that these execs are forced to retire and that we can get some new leadership that loves the parks and loves the Disney company enough to try to bring it back to its former glory.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 great post SSE - and it makes me feel good there are those watching over who will continue to demand quality that are much younger than people like myself that have memories that go back much further but one day will not be the demographic those execs you mention will be after. --I have a lot of hope for people like Lassiter as time marches on.I look at the quality of the PIXAR offerings..( TS3 being marvelous) - and hope that will carry over to the parks
Originally Posted By SSE I hope that there are more people like John Lasseter that begin to work for the company one day and can bring quality back. Sometimes I wish the company didn't bear Walt's name because they use his image and his quotes and spend so much time referencing what he considered to be great storytelling and then they come out with "and this new innovative ride/show/attraction/whatever continues our rich history of great storytelling" and then you see it and it is utter junk. I hate the Disney Parks blog because nothing I ever comment on gets posted since I don't respond saying OMG I need to have those Disney Bandz!! When did the Company stop being a leader in the industry and start trying to keep up with the newest fad that will last a year if that.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<honestly spirit If disney held Al in that high of regard and followed his reports that closley he would probably work for disney. The fact that he doesn't I think sums up what disney thinks of him.>> Honestly, HISTA98, I know from reading your posts on the DL board that you got Al issues. But you are way off on your conclusions ... I'd tell you that you're clueless, but I'm such a well-mannered Spirit that I'll just think it. Al isn't angling for a Disney job. And them hiring him for anything would almost be akin to the Obama administration hiring Rush Limbaugh. But it certainly doesn't mean they aren't paying attention to every word the man writes. I don't want to put you down here, but you come off very simplistic in the way you view things. <<It's like what Marty Sklar said about the ISAW changes. We know what we are doing back off Disney is not going to look at websites like his for tips on how to do their job.>> Disney isn't looking at Al for tips on running their parks. It is looking to see what's leaking out ... what the pulse of the fan community is (it largely will follow his opinions) ... what 'issues' fans may have etc. <<Honesty the fact that guests keep packing in the park tells me they are going to keep on doing what they are doing and not listen to bloggers for help they clearly don't need it. >> Al isn't blogging to give Disney free consulting advice (you do realize they pay millions of dollars a year for outside consultants, right?) ... Al wants DLR to be the best it can be, obviously with his own biases. That's it. And when Disney does something that is fan unfriendly or when things aren't done what he feels is the 'Disney Way' , he calls TDA's feet to the fire.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>>going to look at websites like his for tips on how to do their job.<<< <<Oh, but they do. Free gauge of opinion, demographics, everything. They have even admitted as much. >> You are wasting your breath on this one, EE. Think JT04!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Al gets his people in a frenzy, but as Disney knows for a fact, it does not translate to the bottom line in business or crowds.>> I dunno. I often wonder if his constant pre-opening bashing of DCA played a factor, however small, in the park's disasterous start. Of course, screwing over APers by Cynthia and George (how quickly folks forget) didn't help either. <<Al extorted his faithful to go see Lincoln. Well guess what, my reports from inside say that it is not as well attended as Al would want it to be. Why? It's boring.>> I don't know whether it is or isn't. Some folks think the AA is boring too. I think its one of the greatest theme park presentations ever. But if not Lincoln, with that location and that budget, what would YOU have installed? Another pin shop? <<And don't tell me Mr. Baxter didn't leak stuff to get that attraction made.>> Of course he did, Mr. Non Disclosure! One of the Best Kept Non Secrets of the Disney world is that Tony has been directly and indirectly one of Al's top sources for years. Many years. But when Tony retires, likely pushed out sooner rather than later so Tom Fitzgerald can have control of all of DLR with Bob Weis off to Shanghai, I doubt anyone will cite him blabbing company dirt to Al Lutz as a reason why!
Originally Posted By Hista98 you pointed out another reason why I don't like Al spirit. He pushes his own opinions on to everyone else, which is just stupid. I think peope should have their own educated and informed opinions. Like the DCA thing for instance I'm sorry he didn't like it. BOO WHO!!! GET OVER IT!!! I thought it was stupid how he was going around getting everyone else to not like it too? really what are you like 12? It's like grade school when you go around making everyone else not like the kid you don't just to feel big. grow freakin up!! Basically if stuff doesn't agree with Al then he has to make everoyne agree with him? WTF!!! I went into DCA with an open mind and based my view on it after what I Thought and you know what I like it. Yes parts were under done, but overall I like most of it, and liked how it was a niche park. I don't get Al. I really don't. I guess he feels that his views on the park are the only ones so he goes around getting everyone to agree with him. Get your own opinn's people its like a cult with the Al Followers.
