DCA, Future Expansion
Topic: Ratatouille Coaster

#	Author	Message
51	Sport Goofy Thu 10/11/2007 10:42a	<< I think the real issue is that both employees and Disney Geeks- like us- attach high value to "the way Walt did it." >> Disney Geeks only know the way Walt did it via highly scripted TV appearances. He was also not DL President and didn't have to perform the job functions of that position. He paid someone to do those functions, just like WDC pays managers in those roles today. The way Walt did it doesn't really apply to how these businessmen should accomplish the objectives they are being employed to achieve.
52	Hans Reinhardt Thu 10/11/2007 5:21p	"I think the real issue is that both employees and Disney Geeks- like us- attach high value to "the way Walt did it." Not saying it was right or perfect, but it is the way things were done, and following an icon is always next to impossible." Can you imagine what the criticisms the fans would have leveled on Walt had there been boards like this in his day?
53	jonvn Thu 10/11/2007 5:26p	I think he would have kicked people out of the park, and banned them. The company would have sued people, and all this would not exist.
54	2001DLFan Thu 10/11/2007 11:31p	<<Skellington88: Thank you Bean. I was extremly disheartened to hear that they weren't going to add anything to the Grizzly peak area but at least there still on the table. I hope the Little Mermaid ride by Tony Baxter gets greenlit though!>> This is just another example of outside forces trying to control what should be in the theme parks. When you have marketing, hotels, etc. telling Imagineers that they have to do this or they can't do that, then the parks will suffer. There are enough challenges in creating successful parks and attractions without having that kind of interference.
55	DlandDug Fri 10/12/2007 8:53a	I think the odd concern about Ed Grier's appearances in the park are based on recent history, as well as tradition. As others have well said here, whether the President of Disneyland is front-and-center or stays in an office is much less important than how the park is faring. When internet critics were on the rise, Paul Pressler was establishing a very button-down style that involved limited public appearances. Critics loved to point out that Walt was often seen in Disneyland. (Not just in the TV programs. There is much anecdotal history about how Walt was constantly touring the park, interacting with guests and cast members.) What was not taken into consideration was that the actual President of Disneyland (Walt was not President, but he was king of the place, so to speak) never was much of a public face. Cynthia Harriss, on the other hand, was very much a public face. Her appearances at special events, many highly visible visits with cast members, and involvement in fan based activities made her something of a celebrity. This was perfectly in keeping with the whole celebrity driven nature of internet reporting. Matt Ouimet more-or-less continued this by also being very visible. Bear in mind, though, this was already his established executive style. During his tenure on the Disney Cruise Line he was well known to (and highly regarded by) the Cruise cast and guests. There's a precedent for that in the cruise industry, where personalities have much to do with repeat business. So into this continuum steps Ed Grier. He obviously is not comfortable with the whole public aspect of this position. (I've seen him at several events.) He must be a competent executive, otherwise he wouldn't have been given the job. But because he doesn't fit the notions of some by being a highly visible celebrity, he is criticized. I will say that I believe that the President of Disneyland, and all the theme parks, should devote a certain amount of time to touring the park. I don't think they need to make regular public appearances. But a theme park is, essentially, a show. Anyone in charge of a show should have a good first-hand knowledge of how the show looks, and how it is running. If there are trusted lieutenants who can give an accurate picture to the one in charge, that's all well and good. But nothing compares with actually being there and seeing it up close and personal. And it does improve morale. NOW, more-or-less back on topic: >>The Mulholland Madness coaster reminded me of the coaster at Animal Kingdom in WDW - same basic ride?<< Not really. Primevil Whirl is a mad mouse type, but is markedly different from MM. It's a double track (twice the capacity). The cars spin as they glide over the track. And the vehicles aren't just painted to look like cars, they are actually pretty highly themed. Both are off-the-rack carny rides, though.
56	Dabob2 Fri 10/12/2007 9:00a	PW is marginally better themed than MM, but only marginally. The biggest difference is that MM is a standard wild mouse, while PW is a standard crazy mouse (spinning cars). That said, the Dino-rama area as a whole is even tackier than PP.
57	TDR_Fan Fri 10/12/2007 9:31a	<<That said, the Dino-rama area as a whole is even tackier than PP. >> By far. Paradise Pier at least looks somewhat appealing with the lagoon and even more so at night with all the colorful lighting. Dinorama is pure garbage and the ugliest thing ever built in a Disney park. A big eye sore in a park as wonderfully themed and detailed as Animal Kingdom.
58	Sweeper Fri 10/12/2007 4:12p	<<By far. Paradise Pier at least looks somewhat appealing with the lagoon and even more so at night with all the colorful lighting. Dinorama is pure garbage and the ugliest thing ever built in a Disney park. A big eye sore in a park as wonderfully themed and detailed as Animal Kingdom.>> I agree 100%. MM is part of that legacy of garbage.
59	TMICHAEL Fri 10/12/2007 4:59p	>>>That said, the Dino-rama area as a whole is even tackier than PP.<<< BIG HUGE DUH!!!! It's supposed to look tacky, I thought that horse was dead long ago. I understand that you either like it or you don't but give it its due. Dino-Rama is nicely themed to be pure tacky. Paradise Pier is just poorly themed and cheap looking.
60	Skellington88 Sat 10/13/2007 1:15a	>I think most people weren't even alive when Walt Disney was. Most people online don't even know what it was like before Eisner came along. What they really like is the way Eisner did it before EDL did its damage. That's what people like.<< This is true for me...although it wasnt just EDL that did the damage...it was the compound effect with the Death of Frank Wells and the departure of people like Katzenberg.

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