Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^^ I think the vision provided by Walt is alive and well in some people -- ( not all are with Disney ) -- and that his legacy is the fact that people like Lasseter want to emulate him and have some talent to try.
Originally Posted By Indigo As much as I'd like to be, I have not been privileged to the meetings and discussions between Disney executives over the direction the parks are headed. These executives very well may have a 'vision' for the future of WDW beyond meeting earnings projections for the upcoming quarter. But they certainly haven't shared it with anyone. One of the genius things Walt Disney did was to use every medium available to him to share his vision. You knew what his dreams were and why he was doing it (which was always "to put on a quality show for the family"). From Iger on down, they need to look in the mirror and ask themselves if the vision they've been discussing is one that would excite their customers when shared openly like Walt Disney used to do. If not, they need to refine it until it is and then share it. But then again, having vision is all fine and good, but it takes ability and will to truly execute vision. That is a much deeper and much more important question every stakeholder in the Walt Disney Company should be asking themselves right now.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<As much as I'd like to be, I have not been privileged to the meetings and discussions between Disney executives over the direction the parks are headed. These executives very well may have a 'vision' for the future of WDW beyond meeting earnings projections for the upcoming quarter. But they certainly haven't shared it with anyone. One of the genius things Walt Disney did was to use every medium available to him to share his vision. You knew what his dreams were and why he was doing it (which was always "to put on a quality show for the family"). From Iger on down, they need to look in the mirror and ask themselves if the vision they've been discussing is one that would excite their customers when shared openly like Walt Disney used to do. If not, they need to refine it until it is and then share it. But then again, having vision is all fine and good, but it takes ability and will to truly execute vision. That is a much deeper and much more important question every stakeholder in the Walt Disney Company should be asking themselves right now.>> Great post. I think you don't have to be in on exec level meetings at TWDC to see there isn't any vision at all when it comes to Parks and Resorts beyond the idea of globalization (and desperately trying to enter China), homogenizing the parks product as much as can be ... oh and building as many timeshares (mostly in Orlando) as can be (BTW, there was an interesting story in Friday's USA Today about how the market is dying and that 2009 will be the first year sans growth in the business in 20 years). But real vision? Does anyone in their right mind look at Jay Rasulo and say 'This guys gets it?' And I'm not talking about even in a Walt way ... but in a Dick Nunis, Jack Lindquist or Judson Green way. Sure, all the ass-kissing execs that Jay has placed around the globe will tell you he's wonderful ... as will all the consultants who pick up six and seven figure checks from him ... and even LP.com's own Leemac won't speak a bad word about him (at least until he leaves the company to spend more time with his family). But I dare you to find someone who works with the man, or under him who'll tell you he's got vision beyond numbers. There's no vision. There are no five-year and ten-year plans (although look how great the Disney Decade didn't work for Eisner!) ... everything is about what the next analyst will say on CNBC Monday. It's sad that a company that became such a great name 'brand' because it took chances has become more conservative then Sarah Palin's base. Disney is marginalizing itself. And sadly I don't believe Bob Iger is part of the solution any longer. When your biggest compliment is that you aren't Michael Eisner, one might say that TWDC needs better leadership from the top.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 The problem is that everything is done by committee which means that nothing ever gets done. Disney would be better served by giving each park a head Imagineer (like Joe R. at the AK) and let them be the visionary for that park and have them pitch ideas to the larger Imagineering group then to the corporate offices. You need a unified vision and you cant have that when so many levels of people are involved. And believe me when I say that Disney has more levels and departments than I could name in one sitting. Every week I meet someone who works for a dept that I didnt know existed that interfaces with my department. It's amazing
Originally Posted By -em >>And believe me when I say that Disney has more levels and departments than I could name in one sitting. << Agreed... Way to many chiefs and not enough indians
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Unfortunately vision for the parks needs to come from someone who actually loves the parks, not someone trying to just maximize profits. Remember that 1st car and how well you took care of it? I still have a car in the garage that is a treasure and is in great condition after 28 years because it is a labor of love. But my other cars? not so much. What I'm trying to illustrate is that the person in charge of the parks must be passionate about the parks and that success in other venues doesn't necessarily translate to the parks because they are so detail oriented. It has got to be one of the most difficult management positions because so many factors have to be considered in each decision and the results of those decisions is viewed by thousands of guests each day.
