Originally Posted By DramaMama07 Hello, my name is DramaMama07 and I am a Disney addict. There...I've said it. I love Disney world, but I can see where the quality is (let's be nice here) slipping...a little. Okay, a lot in some places. My question is at this point, what would it take to make the park as good as, nay, better than before? Besides a complete overhaul of the current business plan, a bigger budget, and a few new imagineers (or perhaps giving current ones a little more room?) what would you like to see done to bring our beloved WDW back to the glory it once knew?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Ok... kidding aside, I beleive the only thing that could effect very positive change at WDW right now is to have the right people in charge of the resort, and by that I mean those who really care for the brand and still believe in the legacy of the company, and who understand the principle of excellence over bottom lines and maximizing profits by sacrifycing such principles and legacies.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj TDLFAN has some nice thoughts about WDW, but not very realistic. I guess his fantasy business model comes from working in an industry that is operating in bankruptcy and can usually rely on a government bailout to keep the operation going. I don't think the theme park industry is one that the government is going to bail out if the business model changes from one that relies on profits to keep the cash flow positive to one that takes on debt every year to pay for the massive capital expenditures required just to keep the business running.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I honestly do not see the connection between airlines and theme parks but if you feel like using that as a cheap shot, then at least gimme the chance to criticize your line of work, whatever it may be. Trust me, it's no cakewalk being in the airline industry and the so-called goverment handouts you mention do little to make my life or paycheck any better. I don't wish my job on my worst enemy. As for my thoughts on WDW... they are not in the least based on the current state of the airline business (in fact, the silly comment you just made didn't even come to mind at all), but rather on the ways WDW used to be in the past and how it was operated, and for a resort that is raking in the money the way it is..don't you find it despicable of management to run it to the ground by at least not keeping in top shape and worthy of being the top tourist destination on Earth that it really is?? Call me a dreamer if that fits, but so was Walt.
Originally Posted By DramaMama07 I agree with you TDLFAN because I think that Disney could still be making money if they upheald their standards. The last time I was at the park I had to wonder if it simply hadn't crossed the mind of the person in charge that the choices they made had such an impact on the parks. To me ToT shows the Disney brand very well (even though it does have Twighlight Zone theming too). I love taking people who have never been to the parks on that ride because they are in awe of the theming down to the last detail. Then, I dissapoint them by taking them on RnRC. It is a good coaster (my favorite as far as looping coasters go) but the line is nothing less than annoying to wait in. Who thought that a simle back and forth line with chains was a good idea? It is the inconsistancy that bothers me.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>It is a good coaster (my favorite as far as looping coasters go) but the line is nothing less than annoying to wait in. Who thought that a simle back and forth line with chains was a good idea? It is the inconsistancy that bothers me.<< Me too. But in regards to the R&RC line... blame it on Fastpass. Before FP was placed on this ride, this line used to move rather fast due to the high capacity of the ride's trains. But since FP screwed the experience here (and all other rides it's offered) the R&RC line has become a boring waiting room where people just sit still for long whiles on end.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 New management with fresh ideas. And old WDW execs brought back in consulting/oversight roles. The current crop is as stale as the last loaf of bread on a 7-11 shelf.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 TDLFAN's ideas to me are also closer to what it would take to reach the goals the original poster set as the target, not just profits. As a corporate manager for 30 years I fully understand profits, I also understand CEO's that make 400 - 1000 times the average worker, I also understand the pressures of wall street to off shore every freakin job you have to a 3rd world country where you can pay someone $500 month to be a financial analyst, tax auditor and whatever other back office white collar job you want to name so that it can make another .2% on the balance sheet, but allows for multiple homes, paid for trips and other lavosh expenses for executives ( some of whom work there was what seems like only days and leave with millions of dollars if they got Esiner to agree to pay them) - etc... New management with the old vision is whatis needed. No one is asking them to run at a deficit, but make the cuts where they make the most difference to the bottom line, don't screw the CM's over for 50 cents more an hour. Don't make every menu look like the same place at your fantasttic restaurants, don't cheap out on things like taking honey butter for rolls away from places like Liberty Tree. People do notice...they are not stupid. Disney overall has many arms- and highly profitable ones like ESPN. Not every part of Disney HAS to be a profit leader ( and yes I know they can't be a loss leader for any period of time either). Now that Disney has finally comes to terms with they can;t be all thngs to all people, and has rid itself of some Net line businesses, run the two crown Jewels of Disney ( animation/movies & theme parks) with all the pride they once had that attracted people in the first place. just my 2 cents and yes Spirit - there are people still around from the glory days that could easily act as consultants ( real consultants - not just bean counting cost cutters) - and don't let their age fool you - they knew what they were doing and it will still sell. 2 more cents
