Originally Posted By sjhym33 True, but I think the HP shows Universal can build an area that equals and some say surpass anything that Disney is doing. If they keep going along those lines they can be very competative. The shame for Disney is that 10-15 years ago there was a strategic decision to bring in people from outside the company to run some of the theme park areas. Sending someone to 1 day of Traditions does not a CM make. Little by little they unDisney'd Disney. Now there are many parts of the Disney experience that look just like the other theme parks around theme. Instead of raising the bar, Disney has lowered its standards in the name of money. I don't begrudge Disney making a lot of money. I do think that too many lines have been crossed in the name of profits. Each day Disney becomes more like Universal and conversely Universal become more and more like Disney.
Originally Posted By WDW Imagineer Sad but true. Even if Disney brought something like WoC here to Orlando, we still probably wouldn't have the advertising, marketing, or popularity that Universal is getting right now. My only hope is that someone either in WDI or marketing has some kind of epiphany and realizes that we're on the wrong track and something needs to be done to bring guests back and put Disney on top, the way it's supposed to be
Originally Posted By sjhym33 My friends in WDI tell me they feel their hands are tied. WDI has become more of a provider of attractions ordered by the park rather than the creative center it once was.
Originally Posted By WDW Imagineer true, they aren't given the creative freedom they were given 10-20 years ago. So in this case, let's just hope management pulls through, because if they don't, we're going to be in trouble
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I still can't believe the way you screamed like a little girl and Mrs. Pierce had to save the day while you cowered in the closet. Way to go, tough guy! << But it was one of those Giant Vampire Bats like in the Indiana Jones movie!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Do you honestly not think FOX News is anti-Obama and basically a rightwing mouthpiece vs. say MSNBC being a leftwing one? << Exposing the flaws of an Administration does not equate to being anti-anything. Isn't it the job of responsible journalisim to do this? Aren't they suppose to be hard hitting, and aggressive in reporting the truth. Do you feel news reporters should get a tinglely feeling running up their leg when Obama speaks? I would say Fox commentators are definetly position to the right. However they have very balanced analist, and can anyone show me one instance of their news reporters being biased. MSNBC might as well confess their affiliation to Pravda Ru. >> I don't know know how anyone puts FOX (or MSNBC) on par with the old three network news divisions. << You are joking right. The major news media is so in bed with the administration it's almost embarrassing to watch. Past, and present anchors for all 3 major networks openly admit to being liberal. Are you telling me you don't see the open bias in the networks several large newspapers, and magazines.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Because people are human and eminentlty fallible ... and humans also wrote the book. << A fair assessment. However you left out the part about devine inspiration. A very important fact in theological studies. >> And after the (two) weeks I've had, I absolutely don't want to discuss religion, let alone here. << I certainly will grant your wish. As long as you don't bring up religion or politics I always remain silent on those issues.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Everything on FOX is filtered thru a prism of 'would someone with a brain believe this'? If the answer is 'no', then it's good for air. << You make statements like this all the time. Now tell me one thing that Fox News has lied about. Don't get into commentaries presented by analist or op ed features. I could give you a list of leftwing analist, and commentators a mile long that I have disagreed with on Fox. Mark Lamont Hill, Alan Colmes, Bob Beckle, Geraldo Rivera, Mara Liasson, Kristen Powers, I could go on, and on with analist with a leftwing view.Can you name any, and I mean any other news depart that has as many right wing analist as Fox has left? Lets just deal in news facts, and presentations from both sides. People that hate Fox are mostly leftwing Liberals that hate, I repeat HATE conservative commentators. They are not bright enough to distinguish between commentary, op ed, and news.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I bet EE was too excited to sleep ... spent the night clutching his Figment plush while wetting his bed and crying that he wants to leave now! << Do you think he'll fess up to it when he gets back?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Did you happen to notice an increase in duck on WDW's menus? << I did notice reduced prices $6.95 on all you can eat Peking Duck buffet at Nine Dragons. (I refuse to call it Bejing Duck)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo sjhym33 - you have very much articulated to me why the spell is now broken. We still have fun with the mouse. But the gap between what the house of mouse can do and other parks are narrowing, to where sometimes Disney no longer offer the same level of value.
Originally Posted By leemac <<<<Like Eddie Sotto?>> Nah. My gut says Eddie would jump back to Glendale in a mili-second if they'd have him. I think you have to want to be on your own vs. being on your own because it's your best/only option.>> I got told recently that Eddie had been posting on some fansite A LOT - no idea where or why. For all of his talent he is his own worst enemy which is why he hasn't been able to work his impressive resume into more fulfilling opportunities - which is a tremendous shame. Sometimes I wish these talented outside creatives would take a long hard look at themselves and recognize that there is room to improve their style and personality. <<sure, there are a few straight men and some women at WDI, but largely the place resembles West Hollywood only with nerds and geeks, who don't spend 12 hours a day working on how they look.>> Crikey - that is some statement! Although there are prominent gay and lesbian imagineers within WDI it certainly isn't "largely" homosexual. Granted in the creative development and creative entertainment divisions the percentage skews higher (which mirrors most of SoCal) but it isn't that way under any of the technical and delivery divisions. There are numerous imagineers of every discipline that are married with kids. It isn't some clique-y homosexual club.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>I picture a little EE jumping from his bed in his pajamas all night long. Running to his parents room, and asking if it's time to leave yet.<< >>I bet EE was too excited to sleep ... spent the night clutching his Figment plush while wetting his bed and crying that he wants to leave now!<< I got a text from EE on Friday before noon saying that they were en route. Since I suspect that he had been up, dressed and sitting in the car since about first light, it was no doubt a long morning for the little fella. Later, I got another one from him saying he was passing the “purple gates.” That was after 5pm. They appear to have stumbled into some sort of time warp somewhere on the turnpike (Likely near Yehaw), turning a three hour trip into just over five.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>My friends in WDI tell me they feel their hands are tied. WDI has become more of a provider of attractions ordered by the park rather than the creative center it once was.<< My favorite recent quote from a WDI source, which I fully intend to have put onto t-shirts: “Universal swings for the fence. Disney bunts.”
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>I got told recently that Eddie had been posting on some fansite A LOT - no idea where or why.<< Eh...he posts regularly, but I wouldn't say "a lot". Around 800 posts in just over a year. It's a good thread. Eddie is a welcome presence over there.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Eh...he posts regularly, but I wouldn't say "a lot". Around 800 posts in just over a year. It's a good thread. Eddie is a welcome presence over there. << But Lee that's post in only one thread. I must say I wish he posted here at LP. He definetly has some insight into WDI. Plus it gives all the imagineer wanttobes a chace to see how the creartive process works in that setting. It's just hard dragging you guys over here to LP to post. Look how long it took to get you Lee. Plus it gets harder to drag LeeMac into discusions. Especially with guzzling beer, watching football matches, and beating up Americans consuming so much of his time now. A interesting sidenote. Eddie Soto's thread was started by none other than Skellington88/Enigma/GhostBuster/and all the other monikers he used. That boy must have had 50 different screen names from all the times he's been ban from wdwmagic. He was going by another name here, I just can't seemed to remember what it was now. I guess Doobie ran him off from here too since I haven't seen him around lately. Although there is somebody here that has a similar posting style.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I got told recently that Eddie had been posting on some fansite A LOT - no idea where or why. << I would post all the time also if I had my own little fan club begging to praise me some more. Who could possibly resist posting in a thread where people are praising you left, and right. Disney geeks love hearing from an insider. That's why I fawn over every word you post Lee Mac. Here you go. A very interesting read. It shows 195 pages now with 15 post per page, <a href="http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=440383" target="_blank">http://forums.wdwmagic.com/sho...t=440383</a>
Originally Posted By MPierce >> There are numerous imagineers of every discipline that are married with kids. It isn't some clique-y homosexual club. << It plays better to the crowd though if you get them to picture WDI as scenes from the movie Cruising starring Al Pacino.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> For all of his talent he is his own worst enemy which is why he hasn't been able to work his impressive resume into more fulfilling opportunities - which is a tremendous shame. Sometimes I wish these talented outside creatives would take a long hard look at themselves and recognize that there is room to improve their style and personality. << With having worked with creative talent on a very limited bases I've found that to be the norm. I'm glad to be a simple loveable redneck.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Later, I got another one from him saying he was passing the “purple gates.” That was after 5pm. They appear to have stumbled into some sort of time warp somewhere on the turnpike (Likely near Yehaw), turning a three hour trip into just over five. << Can't you just picture the whole family pulled over on the side of the roade with a checkered table cloth spread out on the ground picnicing happily away on a bucket of Colonel Harland Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken?
