Remember the Parks
I just returned from my fifth visit to Walt Disney World in Florida, but it was the first time I took my kids. I have always enjoyed going to Disney World, but it's an entirely different experience when you take your children; it's even better. Seeing my son's face when we rode Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios (Great ride, by the way) will forever be in my memory. Or my daughter's when she got to meet a life-sized Olaf or how they both hugged Goofy at the character breakfast. All fantastic memories which I won't forget. I hope to make more in the inevitable return trip.
All of this is to say that the Walt Disney Company needs to remember the parks. The trip was fantastic, and I had a blast, but it had its issues. Several of the rides broke down while we were there. Granted, some, like Space Mountain, have been around since the open, so they will have their issues, but Rise of the Resistance is barely a couple of years old, and it broke down several times while we were there, including while my son and I were standing in line. The Genie Plus system is a tad annoying and pricey, and it doesn't make sense to have Genie Plus and Lightning Lane separate. It feels like price gauging and is unnecessarily confusing. Despite the cold snap that hit this past weekend, the parks were crowded the entire time we were there, which means Disney has created something that all families do, almost as a right of passage despite the headaches. However, the past couple of years has seen some cracks in that loyalty.
Bob Chapek's tenure atop the House of Mouse became so rocky because it seemed he was exploiting the parks to pay the content budget for Disney Plus and the studio. That may or may not have been the case, but it certainly seemed that way to all the die-hard Disney fans who are the lifeblood of the parks' success. As most of you know, Nelson Peltz, a partner at Trian Fund Management, is mounting a proxy fight with Disney over a board seat. He has made relatively obvious claims, such as there needs to be a focus on cost control, and Disney has aggressively pushed back on most of his claims, but he is correct in that Disney has somewhat lost focus.
A fellow traveler on a trip to Disney this past week asked me what I would do if I were running the company, and I said that I would focus on the employees and getting the parks right. Yes, streaming and content production are essential, but they have been given top priority at the expense of other business areas. Burning cash on a division with no real profitability plan while ignoring your cash cow is not a good business strategy. The parks have been overlooked, given the nonstop breakdowns of rides. The employees have also been through the wringer the last few years, and I can tell you this, the experience at WDW solely relies on those employees to keep the guests happy, so they must be a priority. Now, since Iger's return, it's clear that Disney realizes that adjustments are necessary. The company has already made some changes to the park experience to ease the backlash, but they can't take their eyes off the prize.
Whether theaters survive or streaming becomes the wave of the future, the one thing that will always remain will be the trip to Disney. It's one of few things that is truly an American experience that reaches across generations. Whether you love it or hate it, you will never forget the feeling when you first walked into the Magic Kingdom and saw that castle. A feeling you will relish sharing with your children for the first time. Disney needs to be reminded of that and keep it top of mind.
A Note on the Globes
The Golden Globes returned to primetime television after a publicist imposed exile. I only caught bits and pieces as my wife hates watching the awards shows, so I see bits and pieces between commercial breaks of our regular nightly viewing. A few thoughts: Jerrod Carmichael was barely there other than the awkward monologue, but Jennifer Coolidge was hilarious, and she reminded me of what makes the Globes so unique. For me, I love trying to find the executives and what tables they're sitting at or checking out who's mingling with whom during the commercial break. These are the things that make the Globes so unique. However, the viewership numbers could have been better. A total of around 6.3 million viewers watched. Granted, the show was on a Tuesday instead of its usual Sunday, so that may have played a part, but it's not an encouraging sign.
The Globes had nominated movies and shows that are and were, for the most part, very popular. The Oscars have gotten a ton of grief for not nominating popular films, and many have suggested that a Top Gun: Maverick nomination may be the answer to their viewer woes, but the Globes results don't bode well for the Academy. The fact is that awards shows in their current format are dead. A radical reinvention is needed, and the Globes are in the perfect position to make such a move. They will always be distinct simply because they combine TV and Film and big stars show up even if they don't know if they will win. Plus, there is always a chance for a bit of goofiness that prevents the "Oh so Serious" vibe that the Oscars often try and fail to hide. As our Ankler friend, Richard Rushfield, often notes, we are in the entertainment industry, yet we are incapable of producing an entertaining awards show. If these shows want to remain relevant, they need to showcase they can entertain and provide an experience their audience can't miss. Otherwise, they can turn off the cameras, keep the ballroom, and award away. One wonders how small the attendance would be if that were the case.
Pages from the Commonplace Book
This week, we bring Mark Twain, aka Samuel Clemens, into the Commonplace Book. Author William Faulkner called the Adventures of Tom Sawyer author "the father of American Literature." Well, let's see what Mr. Twain has to offer us this week:
"Continous improvement is better than delayed perfection."
As is often the case with the Commonplace Book, the authors often provide simple yet profound advice. The Board at the Walt Disney Company and Bob Iger can take Mr. Twain's advice to heart, as we all should.
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