Remember back in October of last year, when the Walt Disney Company announced that it would be spending over a billion dollars to redo California Adventure? The word coming out of Burbank then was that -- as soon as the Christmas decorations came down at the Disneyland Resort -- the bulldozers would then begin rolling.
But then January arrived and ... Well ... The story coming out of 1401 Flower Street changed. The official start of the DCA revamp project was pushed back to the Spring of 2008. Why For? Because the Imagineers were still supposedly plussing the designs of all of these new rides, shows and attractions that were going to be added to this troubled theme park.
But now it's May. And were you to ask any Imagineer about the current status of California Adventure's makeover, they'd then tell you that the start of construction has now been pushed back 'til autumn. More importantly, WDI will be starting small. Easing into this billion dollar redo. Taking a much more surgical approach to this project. Rather than shutting entire sections of the park so that they can then be reworked.
Which seems like a reasonable explanation. Except that it's not entirely true.
You see, the real reason that the redo of California Adventure is moving much slower than expected is that Walt Disney Imagineering finds itself facing a real manpower shortage. Or -- to be specific -- a talent shortage.
To explain : Back in the bad old days following the grand openings of Tokyo DisneySea, Disney's California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios, WDI went through a particularly brutal downsizing. When -- in order to contain costs -- dozens of Creatives were kicked to the curb. Leaving behind a cadre of suits who embraced the "OutSorcerer Mickey" plan. Which saw Imagineering not so much as a place that did projects in-house anymore. But -- rather -- as a company that now outsourced most of the works that was done for the Parks.
Which is all well and good. Just so long as no other project came along that would then suck up all of the freelance talent that worked in the themed entertainment business.
Unfortunately for WDI, just as the company was finally getting serious about redoing DCA, the Dubailand project was getting up out of the ground. This startling huge tourism & entertainment complex (five times the size of Manhattan) is being built on a stretch of desert located in Dubia, United Arab Emirates.
And Dubailand isn't going to have just one theme park. This $104 billion mega project is going to have multiple parks. These include Universal Studios Dubai, a DreamWorks Animation-themed park, Legoland Dubai and Six Flags Dubai. Not to mention the deal that Nakheel just cut with the Busch Entertainment Corporation. Which will allow this Dubai-based developer to build clones of SeaWorld, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens as part of the Palm Jebel Ali island project.
Copyright 2008 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved
And these are just the well-known American-based branded properties that I'm talking about. In addition to these projects, Dubailand will have dozens of other heavily themed amusement parks, hotels shops and dining facilities. And given someone actually has to design all of these very ambitious projects ... Well, UAE investors signed long-term contracts with outfits like Kirk Design, BRC, Thinkwell Design & Production and Gary Goddard Entertainment. The very same folks that WDI management was relying on help build & design the revamped DCA. Not to mention all of those new regional resorts & various international projects that Disney Parks & Resort Chairman Jay Rasulo currently has in the works.
And given that the themed entertainment talent pool seems to have suddenly gone dry ... Walt Disney Imagineering now finds itself in the rather awkward position of having to actively recruit talent. Where WDI was once where every Disney dweeb who dreamed of designing rides & shows dreamed of working ... Now there are lots of other opportunites out there in the world. Projects like Dubailand where money literally is no object. Where ride designers can spend as much as they want to create state-of-the-art attractions that are meant to be better than anything currently found at the Disney parks.
Now add to this hirable-freelancers-drought the concerns that Disney Company management has with those who are still in charge at WDI. This politically adept group of corporate infighters who (to be blunt) aren't getting any younger. The current worry is that these folks are far more interested in protecting their perks & pensions than they are in invigorating the Disney theme parks. Management's main concern these days is that this bunch is really out of touch with what the needs & wants of the next generation of theme-park-goers will be.
(L to R) Jay Rasulo, Bob Iger and Bob Weis examine the model of the new entrance area for Disney's California Adventure. Copyright 2007 Disney. All Right Reserved
This is why Bruce Vaughn -- formerly the head of R & D at WDI -- was made Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering last May. More important, why Peter McGrath -- formerly the head of Imagineering at the Disneyland Paris Resort -- was deliberately brought back stateside to become Vice President of Creative Development. It's hoped that these two WDI vets can avoid the pitfalls of the past. More importantly, transform Imagineering's far-too-personal-and-political corporate culture into something more positive and forward looking.
Of course, that's going to be a challenge. Given that Bruce & Peter's top priority right now has to be recruiting all of the bodies that WDI needs to actually design & construct all of these previously announced projects like DCA.
So if you've ever dreamed for working for Walt Disney Imagineering, now would be a really great time to buff up that resume. Because Outsourcer Mickey is definitely hiring these days.
Thanks for today's article Jim. I know someone who is interested in working at WDI. As for Saudia Arabia though, personally I wouldnt want to work in a country where possesion of the bible is a crime.
Just more excuses. Walt got the basic Anaheim park footprint up and running in a year, using an entire team with no theme park experience. Lucas, Speilberg, and Lassetter have all overseen major theme park projects without years of theme park design experience. The problem isn't the imagineers or finding anyone that works for the mouse that is creative. It would be feasible to blame the imagineers if it wasn't for that pesky Disney Seas in Tokyo. The problem is getting the accountants to release the money, then not having all the money sucked into administrative costs. The DCA makeover will probably just turn out to be another "Disney Decade" press release with minmal follow through.
Interesting... IF WDI is so actively looking for talent, one has to wonder why they aren't making use of folks who worked on past projects. I know of a number of people that have worked on projects (that any theme park fan would remember) dating back into the 80's who aren't being courted by WDI. And I know that these folks have updated their resumes only to be told, "We'll get back to you."
IF things are so dire, one has to wonder why folks like this aren't being asked back for more?
I agree. This doesn't wash. When it comes to design and thought, the core folks do it brilliantly if properly motivated (as in....has the gleam gone off the Mouseapple because of how badly they have been treated in past administrations? You can only lose your corporate reputation for being a good and nurturing employer of creatives ONCE) As for the folks who actually do the painting, plastering, primping, and production...hey, this is STILL Hollywood, the biggest pool of creative craftspeople on earth. No shortages, and in fact lots of 'em out of work thanks to strikes past and, perhaps, future. No, it sounds like excuse-making time for financial timidity in the executive suite to me, too.
All they have to do is ask.....and I will help em out.....WDI..call me..
http://www.raymation.net
I totally Agree. I dont think all the Imagineers are aging and just caring about the pensions I think the culture just needs to be changed . Alot of good things can come out of WDI. Granted if you go to teh Disney careers job site they list a bunch of imagineer openings thats expected anytime constructions going to begin on a new project.
I would have to respectfully disagree with Mr hill
The article says that the DCA revamp was pushed back until Autumn 2009, and then later postulates the question: why isn't any work getting done at DCA... Well, if the work has been pushed back until autum of 2009, then the work's not getting done because it's still spring 2008!
Also, about Dubailand <rolling eyes>... If Americans can't stand the thought of selling Dubai some of their seaports (remember the uproar?!), then why can they stomach selling them the rights to all of these theme park and entertainment franchises? Universal, Dreamworks, Six Flags and Busch, they've all sold out to a foreign government entity that has links to terrorism. How could there not be massive blow-back to these four companies stateside?
bonk!
Jim i think you have your dates confused.
the plans were not pushed to spring 2009 then to the fall.
some of the construction was pushed to spring from early winter but of 2008 then later pushed to fall of 2008.
a large amount of work is scheduled at the moment to start right after labor day.
Prep time for Carsland is due to start this summer
Hate to be picky...but Saudi Arabia isn't Dubai. Dubai is Dubai.
Cbarry...nothing picky about that. Nothing more upsetting than when one of my country men lives up to every stereotype about the uninformed self centered American. And what country DOESN'T have links to terrorism...its such a broad term that every single super power has ties to not so savory people.
I can see one possible solution out of this, following these steps:
1) fire about 2/3rds of the dead weight bureaucrats that stand between Lassiter and the "average" Imagineer (not that these guys are average by any standard, of course).
2) pick one of those design firms that have a good mixture of new talent and ex-Disney staff.
3) get Jobs and Iger to pony up some cash and stock incentive to convince the board to flat-out buy that firm (the recent 1st quarter results should be incentive enough to show Disney stock has value to the shareholders of the target firm)
4) have Iger and Lassiter PERSONALLY meet with that firm and tell them flat out that the mistakes of the Eisner-solo era will never happen again, just as Lassiter has already done to the rekindling animation team.
5) have Marty Sklar write on a chalkboard "I will use my position to defend my creative talent from the bureaucrats" 1000 times.
simple, right?
According to WIKI FEB'08 - looks like Dubai & western relationships aren't splitting up anytime soon.
Dubai is one of seven states inside the United Arab Emirates.
The United States has enjoyed friendly relations with the U.A.E. since 1971. Private commercial ties, especially in petroleum, have developed into friendly government-to-government ties which include security assistance. The breadth, depth, and quality of U.S.-U.A.E. relations increased dramatically as a result of the U.S.-led coalition's campaign to end the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. In 2002, the U.S. and the U.A.E. launched a strategic partnership dialogue covering virtually every aspect of the relationship. The U.A.E. has been a key partner in the War on Terror. U.A.E. ports host more U.S. Navy ships than any port outside the U.S. The United States was the third country to establish formal diplomatic relations with the U.A.E. and has had an ambassador resident in the U.A.E. since 1974.
Principal U.S. Officials include:
Ambassador--Michele J. Sison
Deputy Chief of Mission--Martin Quinn
Political Officer--Al Magleby
Economic Officer--Oliver John
Consular Officer--Robert Dolce
Public Affairs Officer--Steven Pike
Management Officer--Stewart Devine
Commercial Officer--Christian Reed
For Dubailand <rolling eyes> I wonder how the former Disney imagineers will theme, or "plus", the separate entrances and queueing areas that women and girls will be forced to use apart from male guests?
I sent Mr. Hill a private message about this, but I'm still going to say it again - if WDI needs Imagineers, where do I sign up? I mean really, I'm a year away from a BS in Computer/Electrical Engineering; yeah, planning on pursuing my PhD afterwards but I at least want to get my foot in the door.