The Fabulous Disney Babe
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So...what's new?
Yes, yes, I've heard. My phone started ringing early Thursday morning and didn't calm down until late this afternoon. Paul Pressler has left Disney to head up The Gap. I hope he has them put the theme back in Banana Republic so I'll want to shop there again. I miss going into the shop and missing the Adventurers' Club a mite less.
I had a column written about why this was good and why this was bad, but my ex-husband put up one on his site, so I'll just comment on a thing or two. Right now, I feel the most sorry for the people who think that Disney theme parks are going to return to their mid-eighties golden age splendor. It's not going to happen, and I'll tell you why: ABC is the top priority for the people who run Disney. According to news sources, the Disney Theme Park division will see even deeper cuts than before.
From the Orlando Sentinel, September 25, 2000 by Richard Verrier:
"While details of the much anticipated meeting
remained mostly under wraps, sources close to the board said Eisner and Disney President
Robert Iger presented a detailed plan to rejuvenate the company's divisions, including the
ABC television network. The executives outlined plans to develop shows beyond the current
season, a key concern of the board.
The current season that started this week is seen as something of a watershed for ABC and
Eisner's management. The network's primetime viewership plunged more than 20 percent last
season.
In addition, Disney executives presented a plan to broaden ongoing company-wide
cost-cutting efforts (italics mine) amid the soft economy that has especially hurt
Disney's theme park business. Disney has already squeezed $500 million in cost savings in
the last year."
I first met Paul on Main Street, USA at Walt Disney World. I didn't have access to the Internet then, but my pal Imagine printed up pages and pages of alt.disney and then rec.arts.disney.parks posts, then alt.disney.disneyland posts and mailed them to us. Jim and I would sit up after our baby daughter had gone to sleep and pore over and discuss the posts we'd read. When introduced to Paul, I, not thinking, remarked "Oh, you're that fella they talk about on the Internet!" He chuckled and admitted that, yes, that was him. I didn't meet him again until the opening of New Tomorrowland. "So, Michelle," he asked: "is this better than the one in Florida?" I was shocked that he'd remembered me. I said no, and he asked why. I said I missed Timekeeper and the other attractions. He said we'd have the robot, voiced by Nathan Lane, then went back to playing with his kids.
While I still love Walt Disney World's New Tomorrowland best, (especially those palm trees and Sonny Eclipse) there are definitely things I love about Disneyland's.
The return of the Moonliner, for example. And, look! A segue into the photos of my New Tomorrowland Coke Machine that I promised you ages ago! Here it is. Ooohhhh.
There's also a picture of Alice buying a drink, and details of the front panel.