“Do you even like Disney?”
I can’t even tell you how many comments I have seen that said this or something of the like over the years. WDWNT can be harsh and critical when we need to be, but we also dump fair amounts of praise on various Disney Parks projects worldwide. However, that hasn’t stopped internet discourse that we are “pure negativity”, instead of having an understanding that meticulous dissection of each new thing comes from a place of love and a nerdy need to completely cover every aspect of an attraction, show, hotel, or whatever at our favorite places on Earth. I have seen people have started referring to me as “Eeyore” online in response to my opinions and demeanor, a nickname to which I take no exception as he is, in fact, my favorite (and objectively the best) of the Pooh & friends family.
I was honestly stunned to see what I would call “raging negativity” on social media after the wrap-up of the D23 Expo on Sunday. I was stunned because I, one of the most jaded and outspoken Disney fans, walked out of the Anaheim Convention Center with a sense of optimism I had not in many years. It is no secret that I was not a fan of Bob Chapek’s reign over Disney Parks and Resorts, which was trademarked by cheap lands, budget-reductions which cut the legs out from underneath what could have been successful projects, and even more nickel-and-diming of customers.
When the control of the division is passed over to another executive, it does take some time to see the change that is coming. After Chapek replaced Tom Staggs in 2015, it took a good 3 years before we saw what the parks would look like under him, starting with Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. What’s funny is that now we are seeing a worldwide clean-up of the mistakes of Mr. Chapek (who deservingly was met with boos or silence from fans on last Friday), from additions to Toy Story Land and Avengers Campus, to the replacement of nighttime shows that came from his demands.
What Sunday said to me is that we, as Disney’s consumers, are heard.
“Yes, we know Dinoland is a mess right now and there’s a big fence and a dirt patch there.”
“Yes, we know you don’t like Harmonious and Disney Enchantment.”
“Yes, we know you love Figment.”
“Yes, we know the Magic Kingdom needs to spread out crowds.”
Josh D’Amaro stood on that stage and basically admitted that the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary was a disaster. What’s funny is I remember making a plea ahead of the event to install some sort of nostalgia into it, a post that was met with the usual berating from our most vocal detractors, simply thinking I write such things for attention. How did that 50th anniversary work out for you? I don’t write these things or do anything I do for attention. I do these things because I love Walt Disney World and all of these magical places. I owe so many memories, my most cherished friendships, and even my livelihood to the parks. It can be frustrating when continually putting my neck on the line to try to rally the fandom behind meaningful causes, sacrificing some followers, readers, and success in the process. My motives are often misconstrued and derided. However, so many do reach out in support of posts like those I made for the 50th anniversary, or more famously for The Country Bear Jamboree, and as always, I thank you deeply.
Back to the main topic though: How do you not see the positive direction we seem to be heading in? A Figment meet and greet is coming back to EPCOT! To me, this seems like a step in the right direction (and Tony Baxter seems to agree), that perhaps we are just one D23 Expo away from finally getting the announcement of a new ride with the beloved purple dragon, and maybe even our long-lost friend The Dreamfinder.
I still also believe that we will get the announcement that the PeopleMover is returning to Disneyland, it’s just too early for Disney to say it.
After so many complaints, they are throwing out Disney Enchantment and Harmonious, even after spending copious amounts of money on both of these shows. We have clearly been heard!
The Hatbox Ghost is coming to The Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World!
While “blue sky”, we have some sort of inclination that there will be large expansions at both Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.
Yes, we can’t escape the barrage of IPs and synergistic opportunities that are a necessity of Disney’s business today, but between all of that, it feels like there is a recommitment to quality and to what the most die-hard, and honestly, favorable guests are looking for.
We are not out of the woods yet as there are a number of problems still to be addressed at the parks (from that Reflections construction site eyesore, to the abandoned Play Pavilion and more), but you have to walk before you can run, and D23 Expo 2022 felt like a really positive first step. Certainly, things could go wrong, but I honestly think the management change in the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division is already showing its true colors. Yes, they are still going to pump out lands, attractions, and hotels laced with Disney IP, and yes, they are going to continue to raise prices, but it at least feels like we may get a quality product once more, one deserving of such a price tag.
I totally understand those upset that they may lose Dinosaur and Dinoland U.S.A., as I lost several attractions meaningful in my life (namely The Great Movie Ride), but I don’t think that is a reason to discount all the very positive announcements that came our way on Sunday. I am at least cautiously optimistic of what lies ahead with D’Amaro and team at the helm and I do believe they have the proper understanding of the division to do what is right for both everyday guests and us.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my optimistic view? I’d love to hear from you in the comments and have a conversation about it.
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I agree. Many who said they were unhappy or unimpressed with D23 are like many of us who are quick to judge Disney as we expect “perfection” of sorts. They have made mistakes, they will make mistakes. I was excited about the announcements made whether they were “what if’s” like the blue sky idea expansions, or the more concrete that Happily Ever After is coming back in some sort of fashion. I am optimistic of the future of the company as long as they continue to listen to us fans and fix mistakes along the way.
Honestly, only time will tell. The speculation game is a waste of time. We must evaluate Disney on what they do and not what they say. Over the years we’ve seen more concepts than Mickey can count on his two hands and eight fingers. Comcast is building with a zeal unseen in theme park history. They don’t talk, they just do and do quickly, so we’re never lead astray or disappointed. When Epic Universe is done, I look forward to evaluating it. When Disney finishes something (anything), I will do the same.
We should be happy bc mansion fans are getting hattie, blue sky what ifs and wdw never pan so lets not panic (though my son whose plans are copywritten want to know who heard his ideas and is hurt), the only things i am disapointed in is fantasmic return and bb opening were not there… plus why moana to dak arent the werid epcot rocks enough… did we forget raya be a fit so close to asia? Harmonious leaving is like getting rid of rivers 10 fickled fans whom do not get the artistic side of wdi/wdw complain the rest of us suffer (redo harmonious wo the horrid theme song or bring back epcot forever not something new to complain about). I am glad for mk it might not be wishes return but its good. Its like everyone including Walt knew you cannot please everyone. Josh is not only a park person but hes been there and in charge at wdw during rough times. He was huge for dvc! So i have more hope in him then chopek to get the job done whatever it is. Btw what if figment & dreamfinder is a test to see if there is real love out there before a reboot… hear my out but i will use Horizons as the example but except for uber fans whom want it back and signed petitions etc people do not care hence the epcot changes recent and why sse and figment sit. Maybe they believe heck some people ride it like that clunky and dead and figment is an icon only. Yes park people make up alot of the clientel but when have they truly did anything for us? Maybe Josh is testing things here just a thought.
I hope you are right. I love WDW and want to see it return to old Disney quality of attractions and theming.
Thanks for writing this. I’ve always thought that if you genuinely love something (or someone!) you’re able to step back, see the flaws, and love it anyway. You’re always able to do that, and so your opinion is the first one I seek when I come across any Disney news.
As such, I’m really glad to read that you think there’s hope. I was disappointment at the low volume of announcements from D23, but you’ve made some really good points here. I’ve been wondering if Josh D’Amaro would turn out to be just a version Bob Chapek who smiled more and could actually name the attractions. We’ll have to wait and see, but I’ll be following your analyses in the meantime.
Please keep it up — your readers appreciate what you do!
“My motives are often misconstrued and derided.”
Story of my life too, Tom…
I think I read the title and initially thought, “I hope that’s Tom writing that.” Glad to see I was right. That said, the statements reflected here are accurate, even from a pragmatic viewpoint.
My first time in Disney World was this past January when I began my College program. I had never gotten to experience the parks beforehand. So I never saw some of the old rides or shows. I remember before going down everyone was ripping enchantment, tho I did enjoy it. I did feel like it missed something. But, I am confused truthfully about the hate that Harmonious gets. That was the first show I ever saw in Disney world so I am bias and have a love for it but what does everyone not like about it so much? I think it adds a nice element to EPCOT. I do agree though that I think Dinoland should go. Again never being there when it was at its Peak, it looked sad, left behind and in ruins. Personally I’m happy that area will be going away
I like it, alot of people me included have been negative on you for so long. Hated how your nitpicking everything. But honestly your right, you should’ve been people[ no matter who they are ]need to be held to a high standard. I hated your cosmic rewind review at first but after re reading it and reading this. I think your just consistent in your vision for disney. And I think alot of people who are negative are just winy, but you just want the best. I hope your right on all of it. I don’t mind ip if there quality. People forget dinosaur is IP. I just want them to actually do it and not just sweep it under the rug. That’s my only reservation. I don’t think d23 was as negative as everyone says. I think if they go through with all of it blue sky included And keep listening to us like you said, they will be a forced to be reckoned with. Do you actually think villains will happen though? That would be pretty sick If it did.
I think a key reason for the negativity is executives unfortunately don’t talk like you do Tom. The don’t speak from the heart they don’t speak with integrity they speak from a “we never do any wrong” perspective. To some extent this is understandable because as soon as you admit you missed the mark or made a mistake the pitchforks come out and investors lose confidence etc.
If I were Disney I would get imagineers on stage more and get just a little more honesty in the script. Maybe have someone that isn’t an executive give these presentations.
Instead of claiming Enchantment and Harmonious were big successes then stating they are being replaced, state that we know there was some disappointment from the fan base and we are making corrections. Or something like we love these shows but we think we can do even better!
Bottom line major companies should respect the customer a little more if we ever have a hope of seeing the negativity go down. No fan wants to be talked to in corporate spin speak when we put so much passion time and money into something with as much magic and history behind it as Disney.
I also give wdi more credit for what they done all thwaw yrs continue to do vs blaming them when its the money who says do this… believe me watch story or behind attractions esp the batuu one you see there disappoint but they wrk through it to keep the parks alive. Many wdi folks whom are in charge now are the folks whom came in during epcot hayday plus the new class they grew up w that they do not want it going to heck! But people will blame em or give them blue sky ideas vs real plans its sad and thats all i had to add your pt.
I don’t agree the company is in need of new leadership.
I agree…we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel! You only speak truth and call Disney (Chapek) out on their “stuff” and it’s well deserved! My biggest complaint right now is no word about WDW getting a nighttime parade! 🤬. FYI…The Great Movie Ride was my favorite too 😩
I love this take – as someone who has been to the Disneyland resort 30+ times in the last year on my annual pass, I do a lot of complaining. I do it from a place of love. I want to see things change – if only because I recognize that things don’t always work, and it’s possible to make room in your heart to love more that Disney has to offer. I recently visited the WDW resort and found it extremely problematic and I truly hope that they’re able to breathe some new life into those parks over the next few years. It’s tough to expect Disney to come out of this pandemic era with booming announcements or huge projects right out of the gate. I think what they did announce was conservative, but none of the news was bad news. Things can only get better if we’re steering in this direction!
IMO the Hatbox Ghost and Figment character meet and greet aren’t “big additions” that needed to be announced at D23, if there were ANY plans to reimagine the Figment ride that should have been talked about. The future projects announced for AK & MK seem like they’re trying to give Disney fans hope while not committing to anything. I have no more excuses for Disney after seeing what Universal is accomplishing, while Disney sits on thousands of acres of already purchased land. I’m a 52 year old lifelong Disney fan that travels to WDW, I’m tired of corporate sucking the profits out of the FL parks and spending it elsewhere
I thought you were very positive in your Live video Sunday night. unlike every other so called vlogger who just went for the jugular “worst D23 ever, total disaster”. You had just a few negative comments about the expo, you were praising a lot of announcements to the point that you started getting live hate comments (i thought you handled that hilariously)
Disney produced a lackluster D23 expo. It seemed to me at least there was no direction other than throw ideas up and see what the audience reacts the best to. I want to get excited about announcements however the Bob Chapek cheap approach Disney maintenance and experience must end.
Hey there. It’s me. I just came to let you know that I am writing an email that is both an apology and an explanation for some of the things I said. Oh and we don’t know if Dinoland is going to be demolished or if the empty area in there will be made into a pathway to the new lands.
I agree that there’s hope. More than hope— I have a feeling that the 100 year Celebration will have its own announcements and Disney just wasn’t ready yet to spill the beans yet.
I felt the same way as you when I left the panel. I definitely left with optimism for the future of the parks after this panel. I loved the Blue Sky ideas, and adding something to both AK and MK would be amazing.
All the announcements is exactly what people have been wanting from Hatbox Ghost to Figment meet-and-greet to the Nighttime shows.
Sometimes correcting course takes longer than a year to do if they’re trying to get investors to agree to an expensive expansion such as Cars Land vs Toy Story land. Cars Land cost $1.1 billion dollars vs the $80 million dollars it cost to build Toy Story Land.
My main thing is they have to be true what Walt, Roy & all of the original Imaginers created. Yes there can be changes but they still need to be well thought out and stay within the same kind of theme. Some of the changes on what Castmembers can say needs to go back to be what it used to be the Guests & little ones loved it. If everything is done right I am sure Walt & Roy would be smiling on them you can bank on it. They just need the guts to tell some folks no that would not be up to Walts standards!
My main thing is they have to be true what Walt, Roy & all of the original Imaginers created. Yes there can be changes but they still need to be well thought out and stay within the same kind of theme. Some of the changes on what Castmembers can say needs to go back to be what it used to be the Guests & little ones loved it. If everything is done right I am sure Walt & Roy would be smiling on them you can bank on it. They just need the guts to tell some folks no that would not be up to Walts standards! Gary
It’s hard to be optimistic right now when we see little to be happy about. If Disney had anything other then BS pie in the sky things to announce, they would have just announced them but they didn’t. What we have gotten is nickel and diming for things that were free, increased costs, crowded parks with zero intentions in any foreseeable future of increasing capacity, etc. In fact they plan to take two very high capacity, fan favorite rides off-line for over a year, rip out half the animatronics for cheaper screens, and when they are back online they do NOTHING to increase capacity. All that for tens of millions of $$$ for something no Disney guest is asking them to do. The resent resort adds at WDW have been bland, uninspiring. This, while we look overseas and see DisneySeas, new lands that are ACTUALLY being built, etc. I mean maybe next D23 they will do better but… adding a single animatronic to a ride that is already fantastic, adding back a character at EPCOT that never should have been removed, returning old shows because the replacements were so bad…. not exactly generating wows here.
I was definitely happy about many of the announcements about the parks, but will remain skeptical until Chapek’s eventual fall and replacement. As fun as these announcements were, it does nothing to repair the heavy damages done to fans and guest experiences in recent years.
Proof will be in the pudding if things actually get done or as Josh was saying during the presentation it’s in the blue sky which means it will never come to reality. Time will tell and I will hope for the best but the track record of the Disney Parks the last 2-3 years doesn’t provide me with a lot of optimism
One might argue that Disney has created their own mess. It has been with each D23 event they announced real E ticket attractions that a few years later brought in the guests, that paid higher prices that were increased during the new opening.
Now, Disney keeps charging higher prices but they don’t provide guests anything for that increase, they now take things away to charge more for. Why should I, as a guest, pay a higher price for an attraction that may or may not happen two, five or ten years from now. All the while the leadership of Disney is paying themselves more and more for just recycling ideas and not being innovative.
Now the runner ups in the theme park world are becoming the leaders as Disney continues to promote that they provide luxury. Not sure that the current Tomorrowland could be considered luxury and the experience one can buy.
So, no, I for one am not impressed nor do I have any hope for the near future. The leadership of Disney has discovered that they can cut corners, make up attractions that will never come to life and the guests will flock like sheep to lay down their passes that they are paying on installments.
I am visioning the finale of the Who rock opera Tommy when the fans have had too much.
We’re not going to take it
Going to break it
Going to shake it
Let’s forget it better still
I agree
Some of the “blue sky” ideas have me a bit puzzled (how do Coco and Encanto fit in with/transition from Frontierland?) but I do like knowing that they’re thinking about expanding the Magic Kingdom
For Disneyland, not announcing things that are a ways off is a wise move overall, though they should have confirmed what the treehouse is being themed to as it’s already in progress.
I mostly agree with you.
Although, I hope they find a way to keep some of Dinoland and Dinosaur, which is based on a Disney IP, even if it’s never been the most popular. Dinosaurs and Disney go back to Walt, so taking out the only place in WDW featuring Dinosaurs seems short sighted to me. Especially when so much expansion space exists around Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Walt Disney World. Why can’t we have a Moana expansion, Zootopia ride, AND Dinoland? They managed to find space for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway in California, but cannot seem to find space for those IP’s in Florida? Seems off to me. Why not have both? Dinoland is not the problem, the fenced off area and a bit of its surroundings are. Fix just that and expand into new territory. Disney seems to have us settling for “We have no other options, but to replace a beloved ride”, when it’s so far away from the truth. Dinosaur needs some TLC, but it’s not a bad attraction, far from it. Just my two cents regarding that.
MK expansion has been ripped apart by some, I don’t mind it myself. Unless they rip apart TSI, it’s not like it’ll negatively impact the rest of the park. To the contrary actually, it might provide some relief to areas that are currently busy. It’s really an example of an expansion they should be doing at all four parks, instead of constantly reusing perfectly good building and attractions. There’s also still the hole that is the Stitch attraction, for something of potential.
Regarding Reflections, I think it’s still going to happen at some point. DVC will need something to push after Poly. At least River Country isn’t rotting anymore and we have a new horse stable.
Overall though, I agree. People had their expectations too high after Disney has been in recovery mode. Yes, things are starting to pick back up, Josh actually said that, but they’re still behind on projects they announced at the last D23 and that’s without getting to Spaceship Earth, Poppins, and Play, which are all still expected at some point. There’s also the Voyage of the Little Mermaid space in DHS, that Disney also has something up their sleave for. Heck, I say put the Moana ride at DHS, it could really use a water ride and more green space wouldn’t hurt either.
I love Figment! My late mom did and so did my later father-in-law. I think our daughter would love to meet Figment. Curious how it’s going to work as there is no Dream finder any more. Not too psyched about the hatbox ghost. Even our daughter, age 7, isn’t impressed. We’re WDW purists and don’t think what’s in one park should come to another. Still pissed they changed the music on COP. To me, it will always be “Now is the Time.”
Well put! I completely agree. I was floored when they announced they’d be going back to HEA and replacing Harmonious after how over-budget the latter became. It feels like they are listening!
Tom, you’re just basically critiquing all Disney parks. There’s nothing wrong with pointing out what needs to be improved. It’s true what they say about being stagnant, it can lead to death. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s much appreciated. We need more Disney fans that don’t blindly support everything. Keep up the good work!!
Ok, so this was my first D23 and while I didn’t love the *experience* of it, I did love the news that came out of it. Call it sour grapes but for what we spent on 3 day passes it would have been lovely to get just one of our panel choices. So we spent a lot of time in stand by lines. Still, very happy we went, and excited to see the end of Harmonious and return of Figment. I agree the IP is a necessary evil but Harmonious dripped with it and it didn’t feel connected to Epcot at all. Now all we need is the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade and the Rainbow Tunnel!
I want to believe in the beautiful lands we saw at the end of the parks presentation. I will continue to hope it will happen. Hope is cheap and I can have it. I am pleased at the figment meet and greet and I hope once again that they will fix and not ruin Imagination. It is one of my happy places. I want to believe but Disney is making it hard. I hope WDW gets the enhancements it deserves. At this point it is just a lot of hope. I can hold on for a while. I still love the parks but hope can only live in my heart for so long.
Great post. You continue to offer even-handed, well-reasoned opinions that I continuously look forward to. Thank you!
Tom-
Thank you for your video and this essay…I will still stick by my superchat of that evening saying I felt these announcements were very lackluster, especially for us on the West Coast…they had to have heard the cries of “Bring back the Peoplemover” for over 10 years now…I’ve been saying it since that HORRIBLE Jules Verne makeover! We are getting back a parade that had a run of two weeks, so that’s a given…we are getting a remake of Pacific Wharf, which IS positive…but the 100th fireworks? Sorry, that song was a bad folk music attempt…Oh, and the E ticket at Avengers Campus that we were promised originally? And as far as WDW, while I can hope for the things that were mentioned, I think 90% will go the way of Mary Poppins…but don’t stop being you Tom…keep a wary eye, keep them on their toes, because if we (the “super fans” as Chapek likes to call us) don’t, then all may be lost for Disney…
Visited countless Disney blogs, fan and news sites. WDW news is one of the few that you can depend on for an honest and objective view of the parks and its management. If you prefer fluff, there are plenty of other saccharine Disney sites out there with paid Disney shrills encouraging and defending the indefensible. This won’t be the site for you.
Tom tells it as it is, and there are many of us who appreciate this. Even if we don’t necessarily comment, people would continue to support and visit his site. He holds Park management to account for their bankruptcy of innovation, cutting park maintenance and CM standards while packing the parks like canned sardines, even as they continue to increase charges every year.
This type of behavior suggests a certain amount of contempt for their customers, and a lack of respect for your hard earned dollar. If you are happy with that, then I would again refer you to the aforementioned saccharine sites or better yet, a head scan.
These practices were not responsible for Disney turning into the legendary brand that people love to support today, it is the very opposite in fact, and erodes their reputation. Counting on fan addiction while abusing goodwill is detrimental to both parties in the long term.
So thank you Tom for diligence and being an unofficial custodian of the parks, we need more true fans like you. Your site is the only one that I’ve actually registered and commented on, and I would recommend others to do the same. Keep up the good work.
Great post Tom. I’m 46 and a lifelong fan of Disney Parks & Resorts – I wanted to be an Imagineer when I was a kid. What I’ve seen over the years is a constant cycle of Disney fans falling in love with the parks, becoming super enthusiasts, then losing perspective and falling out of love when they become too fixated on their own personal nostalgia — they start to hate change of any sort. It happened to me – I joined the Collage Program in ’95, which really burned off my “pixie dust”. Hourly service jobs oftentimes dealing with the worst of humanity are a longways from blue-sky design positions at Imagineering. But I recovered and still love the parks through all the ups and downs and various management teams. Eventually, the long-term fans (which you definitely are!) find an equilibrium and a more balanced long-term view. I think Josh D’Amaro is genuinely a Parks fan – but he is still a senior executive at a cut-throat Hollywood media conglomerate. My theory is that he put up all that “blue sky” content to “put a shot across the bow” of the other division leaders at Disney, basically telling them “CAPEX in the parks will deliver THIS…what will cash invested in YOUR divisions do???”
As for your comments on WDWNT – personally I LOVE your site and have been a daily reader for so many years. I think your commentary is generally fair and balanced.
If there is one constructive criticism I could offer – please stop covering all the awful, trashy behavior of guests. People can be total scumbags – always have been, always will be – but now that everyone has a camera on all the time, stupid little incidents become covered in live video and become headline news. It just brings a trashy “Jerry Springer” feeling to WDWNT to see posts on fights, arguments, abuse, etc. Cast Members really have no control over such behavior, so why highlight that?
I was not at D23. I only followed from afar.
I came away from the coverage saying…I will believe it when I see it.
There was nothing in the presentations that got me excited for something ‘new’. Things that were announced were either small (hatbox ghost), rehashes of things we already have (figment), or so Blue Sky as not to be believed (AK, MK).
I mean, I get your “You have to walk before you can run” position. But WDW has been standing still (at best) for so long, while reaping greater and more undeserved financial benefits, that I find it very hard to cheer baby steps. I find it even harder to believe the lure of easy profits (and the demand for greater ones) won’t cut down or eliminate the announced plans entirely.
WDW not only needs New, and not only More, and not only Better, but it needs Faster. Nothing they announced indicated a fast track to me. The folks up the street may well open their entire new theme park in the time the Tiana refurb takes, given Disney’s timetables of late. There is a lot of work to be done to make any of these things happen, and there needs to be a concerted effort to get it done more quickly.
So. I’m not pessimistic so much as I’m ambivalent. And will be quite pleased to be proven wrong.
Tom, don’t ever stop doing what you do! You pretty much are the only honest voice out here on the web. And I agree we didn’t get the info we wanted, but at least Disney World seems to going in the right direction. (we hope). I mean Disney really don’t have to do any of these projects for their “White Whale” guests, but anyone who loves the parks should be thrilled that some of these projects will happen. I’m a passholder, and live about an hour away. But when we come on our semi-monthly trips, we do spend a good chunk. We stay on property, we eat on property, and do buy merch.. But even if 1/2 of the projects come true we’ll be happy for something new. I am so tired of wal-cot, Lol.
But Tom and WDW news, keep up the good work giving us an honest OPINION of what’s going on, THANKS!
Tom, I think (and hope) you’re right. I’m always asking myself “why didn’t they just do that?” when something seems obvious to me. But Disney is a huge organization and things get done by committee. It seems Josh is trying to move things, but it takes a long time to change course and cultures. Keep hammering at them when they’re wrong, and praising when they’re right. We need to be heard and you’re the guy to do it.
Tom, while I agree with you mostly, my Disney light is still dimming. What we get at D23 is nothing set in stone. “Hey look we are going to add this, hey we are going to add that” and what happens, “this” aka Play Pavilion not happening, “that” aka Mary Poppins in UK Pavilion is not happening. The Epcot redo is a disaster. The 50th Anniversary was a bust. It was a merchandise and food grab bag. Then you get to this year, “Hey we are adding Moana and Zootopia to the Animal Kingdom replacing Dinoland USA.” Hey we are getting rid of the Rivers of America and giving you Encanto, Coco, and Villains.” “But hey, I’m not going to give you any detail at all.” I don’t think Chapek and Josh had any plan going in. Just redoing ways to take more money from their guests. I think they rushed some ideas to an artist to provide a presentation slide. Ridiculous. Walt Disney World better watch out as Universal is coming on strong. EPIC Universe in a few years with another Harry Potter area. They are building a theme park in the amount of time Tron is being built. Chapek is more worried about how big is annual bonus will be. Jaded, right now yes. But I can be persuaded to drink the kool-aid again as I have for the last 50 years at WDW.
Well said. I dont agree with much you write, but people need to calm down and let Josh work.
While I appreciate the support, you may want to read more of it. I think we get an unfair and sensationalized wrap from DisTwitter.
I agree long term. That said, I’m not particularly optimistic about the time frame of long term given their lightening of funding for the parks.
In the short term, as someone going early next year, I was really expecting at least a date for Fantasmic. As much as I’d love to say Tron should be opening in October, that’s fine, but they should have at least finished the JoW in EPCOT because those walls need to come down. I go about every 3-4 years and many of those walls will have been up for 2 visits at that point. And it feels like the reasoning is somewhat arbitrary.
I will agree with you if they restore perks and rid themselves of Genie+………….Until then, I think the parks stink and wont be back
Tom,
I truly believe that there is a difference between being “negative” and being a realist. I’ve been a reader/consumer of WDWNT for years, and I believe that your voice (and the editorial voice of your teammates/writers) is needed. We get a perspective that is outside the pure-fandom, Pollyanna view we get from nearly every other source of WDW media.
These places are like home for so many people. When some people feel like their home is attacked, they take it poorly and lash out. Others see the criticism for what it is – the embodiment of the idea that WDW and TWDC leadership can be better, and should be.
Some of us have literal investment in this organization and want it to do well financially. Some of us think of WDW as our home. Some of us fall into both camps. But no matter what our approaches are, or our self-interest, we’re here to get another side of the story. That’s important, vital even, to the health of these places we know and love.
If Disney is our home, then D23 is the state of the union. The state of the union, sad to say, isn’t strong. But that doesn’t mean WDW and the TWDC can’t live up to those ideals and be better.
Keep on being a clear-eyed realist about what’s happening at WDW and TWDC.
AS a Disneyland fan who, honestly was not impressed on their first trip to WDW in 2017 (still jaded that I didn’t get to experience Great Movie Ride as it closed 2 days before we got there), this was one of the best D23 Parks presentations ever. Over on the West (best) Coast we are getting:
-Mandalorian and Grogu in Galaxy’s Edge (I’ll never understand why DL is breaking the timeline nonsense but WDW refuses to)
-Hulk meet and greet in Avengers Campus
-New Avengers Multiverse attraction for Avengers Campus
-San Fransokyo overlay of Pacific Wharf with a Baymax meet and greet (maybe another project exo? costume)
-return of RunDisney events (I honestly thought we would never see those over here again)
-return of Magic Happens early 2023 (yet radio silence on Fantasmic at WDW)
-New Fireworks show and World of Color for Disney100
-Pixar retheme of Paradise Pier Hotel (though I do hope that will include a Pixar character dining restaurant in it because I’m still sour that Lamplight Lounge isn’t a character restaurant when it replaced one)
-a few exciting restaurants for Downtown Disney
-Runaway Railway early 2023 featuring additional scenes and a completely different queue from the WDW version
-Renovated Toon Town (which was needed but completely unexpected since Disney hadn’t done much to the area in decades)
-Eudora’s Chic Boutique opening later this month in New Orleans Square (iirc)
-Tiana’s Palace restaurant coming to New Orleans Square (not mentioned during panel, but apparently imagineers told some media people about this during the Thursday night preview of the pavilion), said to be a retheme of an existing restaurant, my bet is on French Market, even though Hungry Bear is a lot closer to the ride. I’m hoping it will be DL’s answer to WDW’s Be Our Guest in that Tiana and Naveen will be there during certain times of day (like how Beast is at Be Our Guest).
BTW, as much as I’m someone who wants both DL and WDW to have as many completely unique attractions as possible to encourage people to visit BOTH resorts, IF MK is getting a Coco attraction, we need that for Pixar Pier too, there is a huge Latin population in California so we really need a permanent attraction featuring their characters too. There is room for a decent sized Dark ride behind the Boardwalk Games area, and out of all the Pixar movies that don’t yet have a ride in DCA (or DL), I think Coco would be the most culturally relevant option to use.
Good article, Tom. As always, thoughtful and well meaning. I always appreciate your POV and the time you put into WDWNT content. However, my personal sentiments about D23, particularly the parks, are different from yours. Chapek is a lost cause, but I was disappointed in D’Amaro. The failure to address the many, many things near and dear to fans was a huge miss – namely, MK attractions we are waiting such as TRON, WDW Railroad, Ralph, and Splash Mountain closure, as well as a Mary Poppins attraction, the return of Fantasmic, the Play pavilion…and the list goes on. However, do I agree with you on one thing, which is significant – the quality of Disney attractions and experiences. I think Disney has learned their lesson with cheap experiences (Guests can tell), such as TS land and Kite Tails, to name a slim few. I join you in the optimism that these experience will increase in quality and value over the years. I just wish Disney would get their head out of their butt and simply deliver what their fans actually want and make it timely. Read and respect the fans, and hire real Imagineering talent. Anyway, here’s to the future!
Stop blaming wdi its people like you whom are wrong! Chapek does it too hes the only one to blame the money sadly has the say not WDI… They create what they are told! We are talking folks in charge are old school epcot and the young folks (hopefully my nephew 1 day) grew up with learning from the old guard or grew up with OG wdw they want it back not for it to fail! You think they want to build half this stuff or leave fans disapointed no they are fans themselves cut them some slack. Its why as a manager i respect Josh doing what he can for the fans bc he is one! As much as Tom for these articles and his staff. But we all know sadly money talks alot more at the parks.
I agree that the announcements that were made display that they are listening to the fans, but you can’t possibly believe that the presentation they made at D23 lives up to the precedent set in previous D23 Parks Panels??
I spent the better part of this year planning my trip to D23. Being an out-of-state, non-AP holder, a trip to any park is a major life expense, and this year I chose to go to D23 for the first time. I wanted to be there in person for the big announcements they famously make there. (Not to mention historic moments like Dick Van Dyke showing up at the Mary Poppins announcement).
The fact that they didn’t announce much more other than updates to already announced attractions, was a huge letdown. If they didn’t have HUGE news to break, they should have skipped this D23 altogether and just picked back up in 2023.
I enjoyed my time, attending some of the Archives panels, getting to see people like Bob Gurr and the Muppets live in person… but the parks panel was my main reason for attending. I wanted to be SURPRISED with something BIG!!
At the start of the Legends presentation, Chapek promised that this would be the biggest and best D23 ever. I don’t believe that the Parks and Studios panels lived up to that promise.
There was a D23 Expo where they announced a Princess meet and greet and that was it, so… yes, I can believe what I wrote lol
Tom, I could not agree with you more!!!!! That is all I’m going to say :)