Walt Disney World General
Topic: Latest: Through Jim Hill Imagineer responds to fan criticisms

#	Author	Message
21	jpjobes Mon 5/5/2008 9:03a	">That's what I think your readers need to understand. When it comes to Walt Disney World, we're not out to please the annual passholders. Our goal here is service the tens of millions of other guests for whom a Disney World vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. < Not out to please the AP holders? Huh? Is there something I'm missing here? The thought process should be that if WDI pleases the AP holders, that the one time guest will automatically have a better experience." Why? The AP holders are a small fraction of the target audience, and they're not even close to the target audience profile. If AP holders made up more of the attendance numbers, they would have a larger voice. But if more than 80% of the people in the parks at any given time are once/year or once/lifetime visitors, then that's who they need to make the happiest. Regular visitors look at the attractions and their visits to WDW differently. Next time you go, try to remember your first visit - that's how 4 out 5 people around you are experiencing WDW at that moment. It just makes good business sense to appeal to the masses, and on the scale that Disney does things in this day and age, good business sense is the way they need to operate. And even while they're appealing to the masses, the extra 'Disney touch' helps to keep WDW as a target vacation destination.
22	Jim in Merced CA Mon 5/5/2008 9:37a	Wow, the Imagineer who wrote to Jim Hill comes across like a whiny little baby. I picture him with his arms folded across his chest, threatening to hold his breath until we like his new attraction. Get over yourself dude!
23	wahooskipper Mon 5/5/2008 10:08a	An attraction that was geared toward toddlers was built for toddlers and the toddlers enjoy it. And the problem is? I'm saying not every attraction needs to be a $100 million Everest. And, not every attraction Disney himself approved was as elaborate or detailed as Pirates. Every theme park in America has an Autopia. There isn't anything "special" about it but I don't hear people saying it should be removed. I agree that the Imagineer in question sounds bitter but I think he makes some valid points under his bitterness.
24	DlandDug Mon 5/5/2008 10:11a	A bit of perspective seems to be in order. This was NOT an Imagineering response to fan criticism. It as AN Imagineer responding to a legitimate complaint (ie: bad acoustics) from a cast member who had experienced the new TSMM in Florida. It was then addressed in broader terms by Mr. Hill. As in: >>It was at this point that I learned that many of the Imagineers who worked on "Toy Story Mania" were deliberately going out of their way to avoid reading the negative comments that had been posted on the Web about their attraction. To whit: " ... we're tired of the constant b-fest. The foamers who post on MiceChat, WDWMagic and your site. They never seem to like anything that WDI does anymore..."<<< (Note to Jim Hill: It's "To wit," not "To whit.") So where does he get, "I learned that many of the Imagineers who worked on "Toy Story Mania" were deliberately going out of their way to avoid reading the negative comments that had been posted on the Web," from the statement, "we're tired of the constant b-fest... They never seem to like anything that WDI does anymore?" I think that Mr. Hill has done a disservice by presenting a personal rant by a "friend" in WDI as some sort of statement. Hopefully the Imagineer in question consented to having these comments presented in such a highly public forum, as opposed to what they actually are: a few words between friends. I know if some of the things I have said about the Disney fan community regarding specific incidents were presented as the definitive LP point of view, people would be up in arms. There's also a comment near the end that does bear repeating: >>I wish that more of your readers could experience the parks the way those once-in-a-lifetime guests do. They're just there to have fun with their friends and their family. They're not actively going out of their way to always find things to complain about.<< Truer words were never spoken. In our zeal (and I do include myself), we too often focus only on what is wrong, and lose sight of the actual intent of the Disney theme parks. I try, from time to time, to go to the parks with people who are experiencing them for the first time, and catch that sense of delight and joy that first captured my imagination. I don't think that means that there's no room for legitimate complaint when things are poorly done. But I think that we make ourselves irrelevant when we get so worked up over every single thing that comes along. And that's the understandable sense of frustration I catch from this Imagineer.
25	leemac Mon 5/5/2008 10:11a	<<Wow, the Imagineer who wrote to Jim Hill comes across like a whiny little baby.>> Jim - you are assuming that said imagineer exists. I'd wager he is a figment of an overactive imagination that wants to spark some controversy his way. Maybe be felt aggrieved not to have either the Marty Sklar or Dave Smith letters about iasw.
26	WilliamK99 Mon 5/5/2008 10:13a	LOL, I love it whenever an Imagineer gives a statement it comes across as a whiny little baby but OC Dean says comments that sound even whinier and he is speaking the truth.... This is hilarious to watch....
27	danyoung Mon 5/5/2008 10:21a	>Jim - you are assuming that said imagineer exists. I'd wager he is a figment of an overactive imagination that wants to spark some controversy his way.< My take exactly. Take a look at the article - at both the cm's comments and the Imagineer's letter. Both of them use classic Jim Hill style - partial sentence structure, starting sentences with "which", etc. It's my opinion that both comments were written by Mr. Hill himself. It's why I don't read his site at all any more, and completely discount any rumors coming out of there as very very suspect.
28	Mr X Mon 5/5/2008 10:21a	***An attraction that was geared toward toddlers was built for toddlers and the toddlers enjoy it. And the problem is?*** Whatever happened to the "fun for the whole family" stuff? Who the heck wants a ride that's only geared towards toddlers? Yuck!
29	Kar2oonMan Mon 5/5/2008 10:31a	>>And that's the understandable sense of frustration I catch from this Imagineer.<< No distinction was made in the comments posted on Jim Hill's site by this fellow that he understands the difference between griping vs. constructive criticism. In other words, I think there's a difference between judging an attraction based on the ideals the company trained all us fans to expect over the decades since 1955 vs. complaining for complaining's sake. Through weekly TV programming, we were told that the aim was to always be top notch. To not run a grungy place where the rides fall into disrepair or look shop-worn. Remember the "Evening Magazine" shows that revealed how every light bulb at Disneyland was on a roation that saw it replaced before it burned out? I do. And how many times have we read stories about how the original designers of DL were storytellers and movie people, and that's why the experiences are so different from standard amusement park fare? So, because of that history of success and attention to detail, they have created a "monster" -- the theme park geek who actually appreciates those high standards and likes to discuss them with fellow geeks. We geeks aren't better or superior to any other Disney theme park guest. The only difference is we might be more conscious of the little details that the casual observer might not see. I think people are aware of these things peripherally, as they add to making an attraction immersive, but they robably haven't spent much time worrying about how to articulate that to a survey taker. So when a guest says this attraction or that isn't "Disney" enough, WDI ought to understand that they mean it isn't "different" or "immersive". Sadly, they seem to interpret those comments to mean "WE LOVE THOSE CHARACTERS ON EVERYTHING!" Just because online geeks (and I include myself in that by the way) want to hold them to a higher standard, well, I'm sorry if that makes some of them weary and uncomfortable. Disney parks are supposed to be the best of the best. If Imagineers find themselves thinking stuff is ever good enough, they ought to explore their options at lesser parks.
30	wahooskipper Mon 5/5/2008 10:33a	There are many, many rides that a toddler can't go on for one reason or another. Let me think of some scenarios. The older kids want to go into Philharmagic with dad but mom is worried that the sound or lighting effects might scare the 2-3 year old. Mom can let the little one burn off some energy on the Pooh Playground while the rest of the family is in the attraction. The only thing worse than walking up 138 steps of joy that is the Treehouse? Doing it with a toddler in your arms. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a little area dad can wait in with the rugrat while everyone else is ascending the stairway to heaven? I think some folks have an issue with the idea that Pooh Playground replaced 20K Leagues. Hey, I'm sorry they haven't done anything with 20K but as the dad of a a couple of young kids I can say I have made use of Pooh's Playground several times.

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:	1-10	11-20	21-30	31-40	41-50
	51-60	61-70	71-80	81-90	91-100
	101-110	111-120	121-128

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Disneyland Attraction Posters at
The LaughingPlace Store
The LaughingPlace Store now carries a Disneyland Attraction Posters from Sanders CC Gallery

What's on
The Latest
LP Guide to Bolt updated
Bolt Across America Cross-Country Journey Culminates at Red Carpet Premiere of "Bolt" 16 week tour visits 32 cities, raising awareness for the movie and for the ASPCA
Beauty and the Beast to be released in 3D in 2010
Disney's New Five-Picture Deal With IMAX to Begin With 'A Christmas Carol'
Buffalo International Film Festival presents a film benefit celebrating Mickey's 80th birthday December 13th
Disney's Hawai'i Project Begins with Ground Blessing
The Lion King to perform as part of 2008 Royal Variety Performance and BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night
Walt Disney Imagineering Earns Four Thea Awards
Travel Industry Honors Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo
The Walt Disney Company Grants $1.5 Million to Reforest Fire-Ravaged Areas in Southern California

Click here for The Latest