Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>ORDDU: Thank goodness not everyone has your attitude, Goofyernmost, duckling. While I understand your reasoning, I don't agree with it. It's time Disney fans took a stand and didn't let Disney executives get by so easily with lies.<<< Well, ORDDU as much as I hate to tempt the caldron of wrath that may beset me it is not just my attitude. Having a different attitude when one can do absolutely nothing about it is just an exercise a lot like riding a broken broom stick. You don't get anywhere with it and you're liable to pick up splinters in the process. A corporate executive is not now or has not ever been required to answer questions that didn't envolve the breaking of a law. It is the way of all business, not just Disney. Any Q&A is just an opportunity to get exposure and if the executive is worth his weight in anything he will put a positive spin on it that will be received by the majority. WE are the small group that have studied the situation to the point of feeling that we are called upon to save something that doesn't need saving in managements minds. If we were to call for a meeting in the square and all of us showed up...there would still be enough room left in the square to put on a show. Disney executives know this and act accordingly.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 First, I want to quote TP2000 (even though he said the following on another MAGICal site and not here) because this was something that bothered me as well. So ... <<Well, at least he remembered to wear his nametag and lanyard. Although an undershirt would have been nice too, if not a necktie and jacket.>> My response to that followed: I was thinking of taking a shot at him for the way he looked, but glad someone else opted to bring it up first. The Disney Look was a huge part of Disney's image in being a classy, premium place for themed family entertainment. Bluntly, most CMs today (CPers and IPers excepted because they are generally attractive and care about their looks since they haven't given up on life -- yet!) look slovenly at best. Colglazier would have been sent home if not fired on the spot for his attire in the D-I-C-K Nunis days. He's a 'suit' and he should be wearing one. Instead, he looks like a low level slob that makes $12 an hour and is thrilled he's making that (and, no, he makes many times that). I saw this when looking at video of the Disney Dream launch and seeing CMs at the exec level dressing like they went to Walmart ... times may be tough, but they aren't that tough. You can get designer clothes at places like Macy's on sale year-round. And those freaking pin lanyards? Don't get me started ... don't even get me started ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You guys seem to mix up public servants from corporate executives. They are not required to "answer hard questions" and if you ask too many they will no longer grant interviews. There job is to put the best spin on the company that they can. No reporter will be able to force them to "fess up" and reveal any smoking gun. Mike Wallace doesn't do interviewing anymore and if he did he wouldn't spend much time on this type of report anyway.>> I am not mixing things up at all. I know the media industry, in many facets, quite well ... intimately really. I understand this was largely placed as a PR piece. But I also respect the reporter who did the interview (he's largely done a very good job of covering a VERY difficult company to work with when you don't use the words DREAMS, WISHES and MAGIC in every sentence) and feel like he could pushed a few things into the conversation as I stated in my OP. That he didn't makes you wonder if the piece was forced on him. He did write about Disco Yeti, which wasn't well received in the exec suites of TDO ... gee, who could have seen that coming? <<Time to join the reality world. If Jason's goal was to never be able to ask another question in WDW then all he had to do was make an attempt to embarrass or put Mr. Colglazier on the spot. Sad, fact of life, but true.>> It's never a reporter's job to make their subject feel all warm and fuzzy. Now, there's no reason to be adversarial either. There was a time when you could argue the Sentinel has a vested interest in keeping the Mouse happy, but I don't buy it. It isn't the 70s or 80s and this isn't a total one-horse town. It's not even the 1990s when Disney would supply everyone of its deluxe guests with daily copies of the O-Sentinel at the door -- NOT USA Today. I do think there was a bit of touchiness at play here, though as apparently asking a tough question of our new Gov (yes, he is a crminal ... yes, he intends to create jobs by cutting thousands of them ... yes, he bought the election) that put him and Disney execs in a situation they didn't wish to be in (gambling at the Dream launch) can get you spanked by editors. <<So was it a fluff piece? Of course it was and that is all you will ever get out of Disney unless they discover that one of the higher ups is a mass murderer or something. Fluff is the company business. >> That much is true. But they also are the largest employer in the state of Florida, a multi-billion dollar operation and you can't treat them like you're visiting 98-year-old Aunt Martha at the nursing home either.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I also think this is why bloggers are given free cruises. Disney has spent the last 10 years bigging up every little thing and dodging every tough question, that the legitimate media seem to be quite disinterested in the whole affair. Remember when A & B listers used to turn out to Disney events? THose days are long gone too.>> That is all true and then some ... you will never get a negative from these bloggers (well, except when they whine that other bloggers were treated better and got better swag etc) ... of course, there was a time when Disney didn't even need the legit press to give them coverage because the quality of the product was known worldwide by word of mouth. That seems like eons ago ... <<Disney went from being the Bloomingdales of entertainment to Penny's, and if they are not careful they could end up the Kmart.>> It's Walmart, buddy. WALMART. And they already are there in O-Town. Less so in other places.
Originally Posted By GOB Hey Spirit...Just wanted to stop in and say that I'm enjoying your sojourn back to Magic much more than I thought I would. I hope you stick around a bit longer, as I'm finding your posts very entertaining, informative, and most importantly, critical!
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>It's never a reporter's job to make their subject feel all warm and fuzzy.<<< If they are doing investigative reporting as assigned, true. But if it was only intended to be a fluff piece and he drew the short straw then what we saw was what he was assigned. I'm thinking that was what this was. No one was looking for a smoking gun. That's all I'm saying.
Originally Posted By MousDad Regarding post 21: When the CEO parades around in mock turtlenecks and GAP tees, what do you expect his underlings to do? (I'll withold judgment on the CCO's penchant for Hawaiian prints since he's a creative type.) So I agree with Spirit 1000% - Wear a suit and tie you slackers!!!
Originally Posted By standor The Magic kingdom is still operating during construction. Why couldn't they do that at Pleasure Island? The parks close early. We shouldn't have to go all over the property at night for entertainment. Some of the clubs should have stayed open and when new clubs opened then they could have closed the older ones. I hope when they open the new venue, they don't charge to get into the area.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost ^^^I'm not an expert in this area, or any for that matter, but, they are not just putting new stuff in Pleasure Island they are completely redoing it and it's purpose. What would be the sense of having just a handful of things open when no one was going when it was a full venue. I would be surprised if it ended up being anything more then new restaurants and shops. No clubs, just dining and shopping. They tried the night club route, didn't attract either the numbers or the desired clientele and now it is history. Could be worse though, it could be another rotting River Country.
