The West Side of the Kingdom
Page 3 of 3

After nearly 35 years of Pirates of the Caribbean or even six years of The Indiana Jones Adventure, this Disney fan is insulted by the cheap attractions scattered throughout Disney’s California Adventure. Sure, there are some nice things about the new park; I am fair when it comes to giving credit where it’s due. However, at the same gate price as Disneyland Park, DCA is arrogance beyond Jerry Kobrin’s wildest dreams. I would have loved his take on the new park. It would have made all of my comments look like a love letter, I am sure.

Speaking of letters, I got an interesting one this week. Stick with me; I am going somewhere with this, I promise.

Out of the TPA post office box I pulled a letter from Disneyland Counsel at 1313 Harbor Boulevard. I asked myself, "Okay, now who did you upset and how?"

It was a letter sent to me personally (not a form letter at all) regarding an e-mail that I sent to Cynthia Harriss at Disneyland with some suggestions regarding a new Disney’s Electrical Parade CD. Rather than sending a nasty message about what a lame move this is, etc., I sent my suggestions along detailing what I think long-time fans of the MSEP would love to have on such a CD. Not only would it make them a small fortune, it would help smooth out the tension of bringing the Parade back to Anaheim at all. As Randy Thornton knows very well, a fantastic CD is a sure-fire way to make the masses very happy. It’s not rocket science, folks.

The letter went on with the typical legalities about not being able to take suggestions from outside sources, etc. It then sited several things that I wrote in the letter to Cynthia and basically said as an ex-Cast Member, I should know better. The letter ended with the statement that bearing all of this in mind, the letter was passed on to them by Cynthia’s office and that the e-mail has been deleted completely without anyone reading it.

So basically, they knew the contents of the e-mail because they used Madame Leota’s crystal ball.

It’s amazing that because of the way society is and all of the lawsuits launched against Disney for everything you can imagine, Ms. Harriss couldn’t have written back and said, Thanks, Rick! I really appreciate your input and assure you that we’re working on something that everyone will hopefully like. You know we can’t use your suggestion as someone from outside of the company, but I do thank you for your passion and idea."

Instead, I get a letter that was written almost in a condescending tone from Disneyland’s legal people admonishing me for even giving a rip about the company! Talk about sending the wrong thing to the wrong kind of journalist.

Disney is so wrapped up in budgets, legalities and being the biggest corporate giant it can be, it’s maddening to me as a fan than a simple, "Thanks, but no thanks" letter couldn’t even be sent via e-mail back to me. It took Disneyland more time and effort to send the e-mail to their lawyers and then have someone write a page-long letter to me personally and then put it in the mail. I wonder how much that cost them. It’s sad, really; what’s more disappointing is that I wasn’t surprised by the letter.

When it gets so bad that you can’t see the forest through the trees, it’s time to pull back and re-collect your thoughts and re-focus. Disney has been in dire need of this for several years now. Ask any angry shareholder; they’ll tell you in ways I cannot get away with here on LaughingPlace.com, I promise you!

So, in a long-winded way, this is what I am saying: The media dislikes Disney for many reasons. Some people just do it because it’s vogue and makes them a bundle of cash. Others simply are told by assignment editors to go get some dirt that will make for an interesting read. In my case, I am a fan that knows how the company works and how it used to be. A company’s success cannot be determined by its worth on Wall Street. That is the mistake that Michael and crew are making. Disneyland is not a "product". The attractions are not individual "products". The Main Street Electrical Parade is not merely an asset that should translate into dollars come July 4, 2001 at DCA; it’s not just a "product".

Disney has been built on emotion, unique experiences and unparalleled creativity. There is no unparalleled creativity in a Sun Wheel or un-themed roller coaster. If gate profits are the language that Eisner prefers to speak and understand, then the disaster at DCA should be keeping him up at night. To maintain your position as the industry leader, you need to spend big money, keep your creative force happier than the competition keeps theirs (hint: don’t fire everyone at Imagineering as your company is heading for the toilet, Michael) and you need to "GET IT" like others before you did.

I lash out at Disney because I care so much about the parks and the company as a whole. My stake in the company is not financial; in fact, I personally invest in some of their competitors, because I do not agree with or like the way the company is being run these days. I imagine I am not alone in this area. No, my stake in Disney is not based in its stock price. My stake in Disney as a whole is purely emotional. I think that rings true for most Disney fans. And when company executives prefer to rest on their laurels, accept second or third best as what their fans will accept from them because it’s in the boundaries of their set budgets, it’s time for people - not just the media - to say shame on you. Shame on you for betraying the spirit of Walt Disney, whether you like to think about that or not.

That is why I hate some of the things that Disney does. Most of their time, their reasons are lame and completely transparent. Other times, their "product" completely stinks. That is not what I am used to from Disney.

As a member of the media, that is my take on things in a nutshell. I will not accept second or third best from Disney in their theme parks, movies, stores or any aspect of their operations. It’s not cool with me or okay to sit back and take it all as Disney’s evolution. As a member of the media, I feel somewhat certain that if Eisner and gang continue to run the company the way it is now, I am parked in the perfect spot to document the downfall of The Walt Disney Company, including the sad departure of many of its creative people and company cornerstones.

I hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m sure all Mexicans out there will agree with me.

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-- Rick West (May 16, 2001)

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