First off to AV:
'Storming the Magic Kingdom' is extremely accurate.
I read it but wasnt sure of the accuracy. Thanks for verification!!!
Now, to my dear friend Mr. Scoop!!
An awful lot of what you say as to WHY? is very true, Scoop my man. And I wouldnt like it much if the same company that runs the parks did NOT own the animation division as well.
BUT given a choice of more Ei$ner (or one like him, i.e. someone who doesnt GET IT) and a bust up of the company, well
wrecking ball, here I come!!!
You do understand that I am primarily concerned with WDW (with a significant interest in
Disneyland, being the first)? If it comes to a choice between animation and a well run, albeit smaller company or division in charge of WDW, so be it!! A choice between the publishing company, cruise line WDW (the way it is) or a stand alone parks company or division (NOT supplying a conglomerate with unlimited funding) well, thats a no brainer, too!! Do you really think that whoever gets the parks will e-Bay the audio-animatronic characters individually and sell off the castle as condos?!?! Come on, Scoop!! Aint gonna happen!! The absolute worst that can happen is that we remain what we are today. A profit center and money machine for some other company who is very worried about selling plush toys instead of selling magic!!
Can you really think of any company that would run WDW better? If so, please share a name because I don't see any real "customer service first" companies out there anymore.
And I would agree
IF (and thats a pretty big if) Disney was still a real
customer service first company. However, they are clearly not!!
The company has changed over the past 18 years, my dear Scoop. Or hadnt you noticed? They are no longer a real
customer service first company. They are a profit oriented money machine (or at least thats what they want to be). You want the truth? (YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!!*
) How about the ridiculous, shortsighted, profit motivated (or at least cost savings) plan regarding CBR, the change in hours, elimination of EE, the capricious and almost random cancellation of various E-ticket nights, the utter lack of imaginative forms of transportation, the reduction of magical air conditioning, the early closings of specific rides and attractions, the elimination of attractions with no replacements, and even those damned vacuum cleaners all point to a company which is no longer as concerned with Guest Satisfaction as it is with the bottom line. Not only have they eliminated two days from the traditional Traditions, but the have tacitly, through their corporate culture, rewritten it. If theyre really being honest it should now read:
1- Safety
2- Courtesy
3-
Efficiency
4- Show
(And Im not even sure about the order of numbers two and three anymore!!)
WOW!! What a subtle and yet profound a change. Just the juxtaposition of the last two items have changed the entire mission of the company. Before that change, what they were selling was a SHOW. A magical time. A pixie dust experience. Now they sell commodities: plush toys, pop corn and pins. We used to purchase their wares with brand loyalty and return visits (which
naturally raked in the bucks). Now we purchase with cash only (Disney ® is just another business). An oh-so-slight difference, Scoop, but very, very significant one!!
So, I really dont understand all the fretting, worrying, hand wringing and gnashing of teeth. I dont see how we can be much worse off than someone who doesnt GET IT!! Maybe. Just maybe, well luck into someone who does!!!
Lets face it Scoop, as far as the parks are concerned, theyre at about as low as the tide will allow. THANK GOD FOR UNIVERSAL!! Can you imagine what it would be like if the only competition in the country were Coney Island types and local amusement parks!!
Maybe WalMart's Disney West Coast Village...Ugh!
Good Grief!! SCOOP!!! Wake up!! We have that now!!! Have you been to Downtown Disney lately?
* Sorry! I can never resist throwing in a good movie quote. And thats all that was. An opportunity to do my Jack Nicholson impression (pretty good, eh?) So, I know, deep down, that Scoop can handle the truth. Hed just rather hide from it!!!