Notes and corrections: 1) I will do another video about the Bob's when we get some more details and interviews. It's still clearly a very fluid situation. 2) Garner Holt is not the only manufacturer for Disney's animatronics (they do a lot of them but some are still done in house and elsewhere) 3) Gateway Ticketing does Disneyland's system, not Walt Disney World's Enjoy the video! ~Brayden
I was going to correct your Garner Holt statement but you beat me to it. Many of the designated robotic/hydraulic armatures and certain frame pieces come directly from them, and yes, they do have a very visible presence in each of the Disney parks, but many of the animatronics and components are still MAPO/WED in-house projects, too. Thanks for being accurate & transparent, Brayden…
Love the video - I do have a friendly constructive criticism though. I felt hyper aware of how often you would say "needless to say" during this video. I have no doubt that it's difficult to speak as much as you do so I can understand falling into repetitive filler statements, but I'd try to limit that one a bit. Thanks for the content!
Great video as usual. There's an army of vloggers making 10-minute videos gushing over a new cupcake in Magic Kingdom, but I love that this channel covers the behind-the-scenes issues at Disney, it's business structure and goals, etc. Especially that it's done without blindly praising everything out of Disney. Pure class.
I feel teh exact same way about all the vloggers that talk about Disney food and Disney merchandise. I do not give a rats behind about the next greatest dole whip. IT AINT DOING ME ONE BIT OF GOOD. WHEN THE TIME COMES WHERE YOU COULD LICK A COMPUTER SCREEN AND TASTE WHAT IS BEING DISPLAYED THEN WE COULD TALK. It is plain stupid to advertise Disney product so much. The only thing I could figure is the vloggers are getting a kickback of some sort from Disney or the food venues. I am more interested in the evolution of the parks what are they doing, what will they do. This is what will make me decide to go or not. No one is talking about Tron at WDW...... I would think that a weekly update on its progress would be a good vlog...... Last vlog images they were doing the landscaping... Did they finish the walkways?????? Is the lighting all done?????? is the WDW railroad about ready to start up again?????? This is more relevant than the holiday Christmas Cooking at tim buck two corner kiosk.... How about a realistic discussion on the Prices Disney is now charging????? Open discussion .... There is a point where the cost to do a park hopper is not practical. One person just has so much time. Now Disney tells you when you could park hop........... I am sure Walt would be blowing smoke out his ears at his parks today the decision that were made...... Universal is probably smiling at Disney's blunders...
Brayden, the smile during the live stream on your face last night was so genuine. It was fun to watch. We could tell you were having a great time! Thanks for continuing to bring the greatest Disney con tent on TH-cam! Here’s hoping for a great big beautiful tomorrow!
We’re DVC members and huge Disney fans. We never used to go to Universal. This past summer we gave Universal another chance after hating it when we were kids. We went to Universal because we liked what we were seeing on TH-cam in terms of guest experience and entertainment vs. what’s been going at WDW. Also, we live half way around the world and always come to WDW on the British ticket, which has always been 21 days long. Disney has cut that down to 14 days, leaving us with an extra week without park tickets. As the famous line goes “big mistake. Huge”. We spent four days out of that extra week at Universal and absolutely loved it. Really loved it and truly enjoyed our time spent there and would have liked to have more than four days. Universal will now be a staple of our summer vacations, and once Epic Universe opens we’ll dedicate an entire week to Universal. As a massive Disney fan it breaks my heart that Disney has gotten to this point, and I can only hope Epic Universe wakes them up with enough time for them to turn the ship around before it sinks.
I work as an engineer for a company in Orlando that is contracted by Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, etc. to manufacture and install a lot of stuff that is designed by these parks. While they definitely do a very good job of artistically designing stuff, its companies like ours that actually build half of these parks. We like to say it's as close as you can get to being an Imagineer without working for Disney and I really believe that to be true.
Wow, very cool! Any examples of Disney/Universal rides/props from the park you've worked on? For some reason I'd never considered who actually MADE those things.
@@thetwistedsamurai I’m not allowed to talk about a lot of it or get into specifics (even stuff that’s already done), but recently I’ve worked on a few things for the World celebration area in Epcot as well as a lot of stuff for Diagon Alley at Universal. Definitely a privilege I wish I could talk more about lol
You don’t come off as a cynic. So glad to have found your channel, it’s refreshingly objective and informative; was getting quite tired of vlogs that sugar coat everything.
I'm sure my comment will be lost, but I am one of the machinists at Peter Lynn kites in NZ who manufactured the kites for the Kiteman team. 100s of hours was put into these kites by our small team and I personally made all but one of the Zazu kites and was so happy to see him there and being appreciated. We were sad to hear of the wind down of the show and really hope that the kites will be seen again at some point in the future.
Really loved this video, thank you! We *were* always a huge Disney Family, and are Disney Vacation Club members. This year was finally the last straw. I loved how you talked about the earlier imagineers serving ice cream and starting at the bottom. The management today is so out of touch and completely IGNORANT with all their fancy degrees. We are planning on surprising our kids with a Universal Trip. We were never there! Disney lost our love, our dedication, and our business. What a shame.
You hit the nail on the head regarding the “mentality” of management at Disney. I remember a high level manager when I warned her about morale being low in her division. Her response was unforgettable. She said as a leader, her job is not the morale of her people. To which my sarcastic response was, what else is there really to do but that as a leader and by her reaction, I could tell she was not used to anyone challenging her. I then asked her boss how she got to this position with that kind of attitude and in a matter of fact tone he said she got so high within the company because she keeps sleeping her way up the ladder.
Your description of the panel fits most businesses of all kinds today. MBAs and MBA programs have ruined the entire world. On a brighter note Happy No More Chapek Day!
Amen! Business meetings are soul-crushing. The leaders just pose, spout rehearsed jargon designed to communicate nothing and assume responsibility for even less like an audio-animatronic, and offer no actual insight, vision, leadership, or even straight answers. They're all politicians.
@@e.l.norton They have to be cause they are not for people like us. They are for individuals that holds stock or money that might be needed to fuel or fund projects. You, customers, gods (me), they don't care. We are walking wallets. get used to it.
@@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent No, they are for people like us. I was referencing my own experiences with having to endure in-house business meetings and "town halls". They're vomit-inducing experiences. For Disney though, you're probably right. And, I got used to it years ago. It's why my family went cold-turkey with Disney. It went from a love to a hate relationship. We have great memories from once upon a time. But, the experience became such that aside from it being of no value, it was became so heartbreaking and angering in contrast to what it once was. It made cutting that cord easy.
Great update from IAAPA Brayden. I really need to try to get out there one year and check it out myself. One thing I wanted to make a comment on is the hiring culture in WDI today versus in the past. What they are saying, in that they hiring externally vs mentoring internally is basically just the standard business practice these days, In general companies would much rather hire the talent for their immediate needs then train and mentor talent. People are basically expected to self learn, and or learn on the job then use those skills for a better job vs internal mobility. Beyond that, since companies are always recruiting top tier talent people get poached rather consistently, which causes companies to be even less interested in mentorship and promoting corporate loyalty. Modern work culture tends to be rather mercenary, the company is out to exploit you, and you need to exploit them in return as there is little loyalty on either side. It's sad sometimes to think about but it's very true in my experiences at least (Source, IT Professional for over 25 years).
I appreciate the valuable info on the way hiring works nowadays, thank you! The contention here isn't that we live in an imperfect world but that WDI should not be conforming to standard business practices, ESPECIALLY the way they sell themselves as an exceptional, premiere outfit. They should not be in the revolving door business and the business of ousting lifetime imagineers that don't want to participate in mandatory Zoom yoga classes or whatever the heck is happening over there. 🤣 Thanks for the kind words! ~Brayden
@@MickeyViews I completely agree. I think that style of business is very short sighted but very common. I think it's particularly harmful on creative endeavors where personal stakes in project often mean the difference in a masterpiece or a middling success. It's hard to pour heart and soul into a project when you feel like no one cares about what you are giving up for it.
You are the people's critic, and I LOVE it! You have absolutely hit the nail on the head and your honesty is refreshing. I genuinely hope Disney is listening to you, and their fans. Also, the smile on your breaking video was so wholesome and yet one so many of collectively shared in thr moment.
I am shocked you haven't been to Universal since 2014. I see you as a pretty knowledgeable guy and I would encourage you to take a trip not just perspective and appreciation for the place which I find amazing, but I just think for your channel it's important to have first hand experience what is going on at Walt Disney World's biggest competitor. Go take a trip if not for pleasure at least for educational purposes.
I have been to Cabana Bay, CityWalk, and Universal Studios Hollywood this year. Just not the Orlando parks because I have been avoiding the expense of admission
@@MickeyViews universal admission is heaps better based on my January trip. I'll spring for the season pass if we get the honest snark review. Universal was competitive before the brain drain talent drop coerced by cheapo.
@@MickeyViewsuniversal holywood is so different to the ones in Orlando. I recently went to universal Orlando and I had a way better time than at Disney. The shows are amazing!
I agree, you should dominate epic universe. Ever since I stopped loving Disney, I stopped watching you and many others because Disney sucks now. I thought I’d never ever say that but hey. Anyhow, if you started with epic universe. U can build a huge fan base, being one of the first. Cheering u on Brayden
It's sad to hear confirmation on how far imagineering has fallen into the corporate synergy cult. I appreciate your critical analysis of the panel, even if it provides a bleek outlook on the direction imagineering is going.
This was fascinating. Thank you Brayden. I always love your takes and insight into what people say vs what it really MEANS. Bummed I missed your livestream last night! Next time.
I think you are one of the most objective reporters covering Disney, and I see the pain that Disney is causing you, which is why I really enjoy your content. Keep it up, and maybe throw Universal a bone every now and then, as they seem to be more and more customer oriented as of late.
Your description of the EPCOT management meeting and the overuse of business jargon / lingo sounds like any large corporation I’ve ever worked at. But it’s surprising that a “company” with IMAGINE in its name seems to look down on creative-types.
Great job - and wow, what timing!!! You always give us the full scoop - thank you. We are those fans you talk about at the end - devoted Disney fans (& 25 year DVC owners) who go every year for a 10 day trip and never get to Universal (last time we went in 2011 for the opening of Potter was disappointing at best). Let's hope that Iger can turn things around so that the creativity and innovation become important again!
Doppelmayr (company who manufactured Disney skyliner) was also there at IAAPA this year! This was my second year going and they had a booth there that was pretty cool to see. I got a chance to talk to them on Thursday and they were very nice to talk with and learn about the difference between working with a theme park as opposed to a ski resort or other companies. Highly recommend going to IAAPA if you get a chance. Especially if you are a theme park geek! 🤓
Shout out Doppelmayr, love your heated 6 person chair lifts. Your high speed chairlifts make skiing so much better. I’ve used your chairlift from my home in the Midwest, to all over the Rocky Mountains to NZ.
Mickey's Views, I see IAAPA awarded 2 International theme park awards to Disneyland Paris for it's 30th Anniversary Celebrations and Mickey's Christmas Parade. This park has really been hitting home runs this year. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Oh my goodness Brayden. First time eating dip and dots? I remember the first time I tried them, it was the early 2000s and I was at Morey's Peirs in Wildwood, NJ. It was the best thing I had every put my lips on. I have been obsessed ever since. The cream flavors are amazing, try banana split! Or mint chocolate if your a fan.
100% Accurate. I hadn't been to Universal in probably 15 years, until my last trip. I split my time from Disney. That wouldn't have happened if I didn't feel the pull to Universal and the push from Disney. Thanks for always keeping things 💯.
I love your take on things Braydon and I find it honest..not negative. If you look at Imagineers in general...they are a bit..'off'..and you need to be to think these things up...and how to build them. The original Imagineers that came up with all the iconic rides and experiences were mostly people that Walt picked because they stood out as having original thoughts. That is what is needed to do this type of work Thank you Braydon for all your work
I enjoy and your views on what is going on within. You have great insight and that is how I started to watch you. There are plenty who go in the parks to give us what is going on with rides and lines but I look for you to hear what is in the works. Thanks for the update. Now patiently waiting for more info on Chapek's departure (YAY).
Love your content, Brayden! I have really enjoyed the Universal content that Molly has released since leaving allears and starting her own company. It would be really interesting to me to get your take on the current state of universal parks.
You’re so on point. I admire you and how you know how things work, You know the game. What you are doing is right up your alley. Youre perfect to do what you’re doing. Best of luck to you
My life long dream has always been to be an Imagineer. I am currently in high school, but now I am rethinking my dream, and am not sure if I will be able to make a living being an Imagineer.
Don’t give up on your dream. Imagineering is more than just Disney (granted the they pinned the term). But there’s so many amusement companies like RMC, Zamperla, Intamin, ect… It’s not fun to let go of your dreams. I know from experience, so chase it as far as you can. And enjoy the ride.
As someone who’s currently in their masters degree for theme park design and also grew up dreaming of being an imagineer, the themed experience field is so massive ! There are tons of different companies and it is definitely a field that has money!
We always stay at Yacht & Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge once (8-9 nights). We start off our Orlando stay with 2 nights at Universal's Royal Pacific. Until things get better at Disney, we will go to Europe for our vacations.
It’s so sad watching the imagineering story and seeing all the effort, creativity, and ingenuity of the past only to have Bob Chapek hire Las Vegas engineers and designers to construct overpriced experiences that will never stand the test of time like Harmonious. I think it’s clear when things aren’t quality like they used to be, and Disneys now to scared to fail, and won’t ever have the creativity and risk to build experiences like the past
First video I've watched on this channel. I'll admit I was hesitant to click, with the channel name I thought this would be like a Disney fanboy thing. This coverage was super neat, and I've really enjoyed your perspective! As someone in Florida, I would looooove to see IAAPA one day!
I don't think you are being negative. You are speaking truth and sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. I would love to see IAPPA someday! Thanks for the great coverage!
This is so cool! I had no idea something like this existed but would love to go one day wow! It's so fascinating, I definitely was really interested in the whirley cups I had no idea that company existed and was so prevalent in the theme park experiences. Seems like a great convention and looks like you had a blast!
Brayden - I think you apologize too much for being honest and straightforward in your opinions. You have earned the right to state the facts without having to placate your subscribers by asking forgiveness.
I'll second that. I trust Braydens analysis and opinions because he keeps the bigger picture in mind. It's very refreshing, and 10 out of 10 times he's been proven right. Brayden is the embodiment of the phrase "sometimes the truth hurts".
Brayden - I have always been impressed with your insightful analysis and the breadth of knowledge that you have in the fundamentals of business in general which brings an intellectual level to the channel. You seemingly are conscientious of avoiding trite Disney fan lingo and capable of finding other expressive words in their stead. I’m sorry if people are giving you guff as coming off as cynical… just stay true to your “gut feeling” as it has served you well thus far.
I got to go to one of these YEARS ago and Would love to do it again .. I was part of a film crew who went in to do a few interviews.. And they let us roam afterwards :)
I love Walt's Disney. I grew up going to Disneyland every summer from birth through young teen and I always loved the magic. My heart is broken however because my kids (early teens) do not know the Disney I did. We spent Thanksgiving 2021 in WDW, and while there were some awesome moments that we loved, the stress of planning and booking ahead that you have to do to have anything other than a walk up dining or walk on ride experience was exhausting and so stressful it still makes my heart race. It also involved a lot of disappointment. Same trip, we did a bucket list item for me and stayed on property which was nice. We didn't change hotels but we did spend 2 days going to Universal to see the Harry Potter stuff we hadn't gotten to experience yet. For me, that was amazing and held the old Disney kind of emersiveness that I've missed. Not to discredit galaxy's edge which I do think is spectacular. But you hit on something in this video that I think needs addressing and that is why are creative and imagineers leaving Fisney for Universal? What are the elements lending to this shift where Disney die hards are exploring other places and options? Does it come from the management attitude? Can this be fixed? Will Disney leadership listen to fans and make changes to keep their devoted parkgoers? There's some essential stuff here that we can't overlook. Great video!
Everytime Chapek was interviewed, the only thing he wanted to talk about was "the numbers"and "the profit". Never about the people, the great employees, just about the money. He was sucking the soul out of Disney. It will be a tough road for Iger, but I hope he can get the company back on track.
I totally agree with you about lack of covered seating is what made kite tales unpopular! I really liked the show but only was able to sit out in the sun if I had a dole whip with me.
Thank you great report.. yes now Chapek gone this is still the management and management attitude still there. It will take awhile for this to change...again thank you...
Excellent video. I also like TEA events, like one they recently had during U's HHN for only $35 including parking where the Horror Nights' leaders spoke then they took us through some mazes on a Wednesday (or another weekday when HHN wasn't open) night in 2022. You're getting better and better at these videos, I love that you speak quickly -- slow talkers bore me. Maybe try not to say, "Needless to say..."
As a Brit we did 2 weeks in July at WDW. It's the first time I had done just a Disney holiday (my family were more in to Universal parks), and also the first time we had stayed on property. As an adult with it being just my wife and I we could do what we wanted, which was great. But to be honest, there was not enough to do in the parks for 2 weeks. We managed to get on Guardians 4 times over the holiday which was great, but the last time it was all we went in to Epcot for. Personally if we were planning the holiday again we would have likely done a week at WDW and a week at Universal. I feel like there is a lot of nostalgia for certain parts of WDW that really is just accepting dated rides that are in need of a redo but WDC/WDW don't look like they want to make the investment. I don't know if it was just me as an adult that has worked in the entertainment industry noticing things, but there were lots of little things that I don't think in the past would have been a thing. For example the main sign as you entered property had the W lights out for the entire stay, multiple parts of It's a Small World had issues with the children and in the last scene there were a noticable number of lights out. Did we enjoy the holiday, yes. Could it have been better, yes. I know to an extent this was coming out of COVID (hence why I didnt mention we saw around 0 charecters in the parks) but Disney is meant to be magical. WDW especially used to take pride in providing the same high quality experiences everyday as you never knew who's first visit that day was.
We absolutely loved Kitetails and tried to catch their shows every time we were in AK. The show was doomed from the start though as there was little to no emphasis on the schedule of performances and the seats were unbearably hot in the Florida sun no matter what time of year.
Latest news.... after 100 years Mickey is stepping down. Donald will be taking over as Disney's mascot and leader. Many believe thsi is long coming and are very excited.🥳 No comment yet from Minnie.
Notes and corrections:
1) I will do another video about the Bob's when we get some more details and interviews. It's still clearly a very fluid situation.
2) Garner Holt is not the only manufacturer for Disney's animatronics (they do a lot of them but some are still done in house and elsewhere)
3) Gateway Ticketing does Disneyland's system, not Walt Disney World's
Enjoy the video! ~Brayden
Are you going to be in Hollywood studios tommrow ?
I was going to correct your Garner Holt statement but you beat me to it. Many of the designated robotic/hydraulic armatures and certain frame pieces come directly from them, and yes, they do have a very visible presence in each of the Disney parks, but many of the animatronics and components are still MAPO/WED in-house projects, too.
Thanks for being accurate & transparent, Brayden…
One more correction, Disney world actually did have a drone show in 2016 for the holidays, though it was in Disney springs
Love the video - I do have a friendly constructive criticism though. I felt hyper aware of how often you would say "needless to say" during this video. I have no doubt that it's difficult to speak as much as you do so I can understand falling into repetitive filler statements, but I'd try to limit that one a bit. Thanks for the content!
Great video as usual. There's an army of vloggers making 10-minute videos gushing over a new cupcake in Magic Kingdom, but I love that this channel covers the behind-the-scenes issues at Disney, it's business structure and goals, etc. Especially that it's done without blindly praising everything out of Disney.
Pure class.
You have to cover cupcakes when there is nothing else happening.
I feel teh exact same way about all the vloggers that talk about Disney food and Disney merchandise. I do not give a rats behind about the next greatest dole whip. IT AINT DOING ME ONE BIT OF GOOD. WHEN THE TIME COMES WHERE YOU COULD LICK A COMPUTER SCREEN AND TASTE WHAT IS BEING DISPLAYED THEN WE COULD TALK. It is plain stupid to advertise Disney product so much. The only thing I could figure is the vloggers are getting a kickback of some sort from Disney or the food venues. I am more interested in the evolution of the parks what are they doing, what will they do. This is what will make me decide to go or not.
No one is talking about Tron at WDW...... I would think that a weekly update on its progress would be a good vlog...... Last vlog images they were doing the landscaping... Did they finish the walkways?????? Is the lighting all done?????? is the WDW railroad about ready to start up again?????? This is more relevant than the holiday Christmas Cooking at tim buck two corner kiosk....
How about a realistic discussion on the Prices Disney is now charging????? Open discussion .... There is a point where the cost to do a park hopper is not practical. One person just has so much time. Now Disney tells you when you could park hop........... I am sure Walt would be blowing smoke out his ears at his parks today the decision that were made......
Universal is probably smiling at Disney's blunders...
Brayden, the smile during the live stream on your face last night was so genuine. It was fun to watch. We could tell you were having a great time! Thanks for continuing to bring the greatest Disney con tent on TH-cam! Here’s hoping for a great big beautiful tomorrow!
We’re DVC members and huge Disney fans. We never used to go to Universal. This past summer we gave Universal another chance after hating it when we were kids. We went to Universal because we liked what we were seeing on TH-cam in terms of guest experience and entertainment vs. what’s been going at WDW. Also, we live half way around the world and always come to WDW on the British ticket, which has always been 21 days long. Disney has cut that down to 14 days, leaving us with an extra week without park tickets. As the famous line goes “big mistake. Huge”. We spent four days out of that extra week at Universal and absolutely loved it. Really loved it and truly enjoyed our time spent there and would have liked to have more than four days. Universal will now be a staple of our summer vacations, and once Epic Universe opens we’ll dedicate an entire week to Universal. As a massive Disney fan it breaks my heart that Disney has gotten to this point, and I can only hope Epic Universe wakes them up with enough time for them to turn the ship around before it sinks.
I work as an engineer for a company in Orlando that is contracted by Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, etc. to manufacture and install a lot of stuff that is designed by these parks. While they definitely do a very good job of artistically designing stuff, its companies like ours that actually build half of these parks. We like to say it's as close as you can get to being an Imagineer without working for Disney and I really believe that to be true.
Wow, very cool! Any examples of Disney/Universal rides/props from the park you've worked on?
For some reason I'd never considered who actually MADE those things.
@@thetwistedsamurai I’m not allowed to talk about a lot of it or get into specifics (even stuff that’s already done), but recently I’ve worked on a few things for the World celebration area in Epcot as well as a lot of stuff for Diagon Alley at Universal. Definitely a privilege I wish I could talk more about lol
So you work for oceaneering lol
I imagine you’ve lent a hand for Horror Nights houses!
I am an engineer as well and work in the auto industry and it's the same thing. The OEMs only assembly the car everything else is outsourced
You don’t come off as a cynic. So glad to have found your channel, it’s refreshingly objective and informative; was getting quite tired of vlogs that sugar coat everything.
He definitely takes his job seriously
I'm sure my comment will be lost, but I am one of the machinists at Peter Lynn kites in NZ who manufactured the kites for the Kiteman team. 100s of hours was put into these kites by our small team and I personally made all but one of the Zazu kites and was so happy to see him there and being appreciated. We were sad to hear of the wind down of the show and really hope that the kites will be seen again at some point in the future.
I’m a first time viewer so I just wanted to say I really liked how honest your coverage is! It’s not cynical to address reality!!
Here’s to hoping for a better future for both the Disney parks and the company in general! Always great reporting, Brayden.
You have always been a facts reporter and we know it’s not always good news - doesn’t mean your negative at all! 👍 Thanks for all you do
Really loved this video, thank you!
We *were* always a huge Disney Family, and are Disney Vacation Club members. This year was finally the last straw. I loved how you talked about the earlier imagineers serving ice cream and starting at the bottom. The management today is so out of touch and completely IGNORANT with all their fancy degrees. We are planning on surprising our kids with a Universal Trip. We were never there! Disney lost our love, our dedication, and our business. What a shame.
You hit the nail on the head regarding the “mentality” of management at Disney. I remember a high level manager when I warned her about morale being low in her division. Her response was unforgettable. She said as a leader, her job is not the morale of her people. To which my sarcastic response was, what else is there really to do but that as a leader and by her reaction, I could tell she was not used to anyone challenging her. I then asked her boss how she got to this position with that kind of attitude and in a matter of fact tone he said she got so high within the company because she keeps sleeping her way up the ladder.
Brayden, I appreciate your honesty and levelness when talking to us. I love watching your videos.
Great work Brayden. You truly are a great journalist, which is so incredibly rare in today's world. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Your description of the panel fits most businesses of all kinds today. MBAs and MBA programs have ruined the entire world. On a brighter note Happy No More Chapek Day!
Amen! Business meetings are soul-crushing. The leaders just pose, spout rehearsed jargon designed to communicate nothing and assume responsibility for even less like an audio-animatronic, and offer no actual insight, vision, leadership, or even straight answers. They're all politicians.
@@e.l.norton and end the meeting three minutes early and “give us three minutes of our day back”.
@@e.l.norton They have to be cause they are not for people like us. They are for individuals that holds stock or money that might be needed to fuel or fund projects. You, customers, gods (me), they don't care. We are walking wallets. get used to it.
@@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent No, they are for people like us. I was referencing my own experiences with having to endure in-house business meetings and "town halls". They're vomit-inducing experiences. For Disney though, you're probably right. And, I got used to it years ago. It's why my family went cold-turkey with Disney. It went from a love to a hate relationship. We have great memories from once upon a time. But, the experience became such that aside from it being of no value, it was became so heartbreaking and angering in contrast to what it once was. It made cutting that cord easy.
Great update from IAAPA Brayden. I really need to try to get out there one year and check it out myself.
One thing I wanted to make a comment on is the hiring culture in WDI today versus in the past. What they are saying, in that they hiring externally vs mentoring internally is basically just the standard business practice these days, In general companies would much rather hire the talent for their immediate needs then train and mentor talent. People are basically expected to self learn, and or learn on the job then use those skills for a better job vs internal mobility. Beyond that, since companies are always recruiting top tier talent people get poached rather consistently, which causes companies to be even less interested in mentorship and promoting corporate loyalty. Modern work culture tends to be rather mercenary, the company is out to exploit you, and you need to exploit them in return as there is little loyalty on either side. It's sad sometimes to think about but it's very true in my experiences at least (Source, IT Professional for over 25 years).
I appreciate the valuable info on the way hiring works nowadays, thank you! The contention here isn't that we live in an imperfect world but that WDI should not be conforming to standard business practices, ESPECIALLY the way they sell themselves as an exceptional, premiere outfit. They should not be in the revolving door business and the business of ousting lifetime imagineers that don't want to participate in mandatory Zoom yoga classes or whatever the heck is happening over there. 🤣 Thanks for the kind words! ~Brayden
@@MickeyViews I completely agree. I think that style of business is very short sighted but very common. I think it's particularly harmful on creative endeavors where personal stakes in project often mean the difference in a masterpiece or a middling success. It's hard to pour heart and soul into a project when you feel like no one cares about what you are giving up for it.
I love how happy you are about Chapek leaving! 😂❤
You are the people's critic, and I LOVE it! You have absolutely hit the nail on the head and your honesty is refreshing. I genuinely hope Disney is listening to you, and their fans.
Also, the smile on your breaking video was so wholesome and yet one so many of collectively shared in thr moment.
I am shocked you haven't been to Universal since 2014. I see you as a pretty knowledgeable guy and I would encourage you to take a trip not just perspective and appreciation for the place which I find amazing, but I just think for your channel it's important to have first hand experience what is going on at Walt Disney World's biggest competitor. Go take a trip if not for pleasure at least for educational purposes.
I have been to Cabana Bay, CityWalk, and Universal Studios Hollywood this year. Just not the Orlando parks because I have been avoiding the expense of admission
@@MickeyViews Universal Hollywood is not a really a good representation of UOR. Totally work admission IMO.
@@MickeyViews universal admission is heaps better based on my January trip. I'll spring for the season pass if we get the honest snark review. Universal was competitive before the brain drain talent drop coerced by cheapo.
@@MickeyViewsuniversal holywood is so different to the ones in Orlando. I recently went to universal Orlando and I had a way better time than at Disney. The shows are amazing!
I agree, you should dominate epic universe. Ever since I stopped loving Disney, I stopped watching you and many others because Disney sucks now. I thought I’d never ever say that but hey. Anyhow, if you started with epic universe. U can build a huge fan base, being one of the first. Cheering u on Brayden
What an excellent breakdown/coverage of this event. As always, your videos are pure gold.
It's sad to hear confirmation on how far imagineering has fallen into the corporate synergy cult. I appreciate your critical analysis of the panel, even if it provides a bleek outlook on the direction imagineering is going.
You and Poseiden Entertainment do the best Disney/Universal videos. Good work...again. And thanks.
Glad to see that you get to have tons of fun doing research for all of us to enjoy. Thanks.
This was fascinating. Thank you Brayden. I always love your takes and insight into what people say vs what it really MEANS. Bummed I missed your livestream last night! Next time.
“Needless to say” is your catch phrase!
Such a great video, Brayden! Loved the highlight and inside look about Kiteman. So cool!
My favorite dippin dots flavor is banana split.
I think you are one of the most objective reporters covering Disney, and I see the pain that Disney is causing you, which is why I really enjoy your content. Keep it up, and maybe throw Universal a bone every now and then, as they seem to be more and more customer oriented as of late.
Your description of the EPCOT management meeting and the overuse of business jargon / lingo sounds like any large corporation I’ve ever worked at. But it’s surprising that a “company” with IMAGINE in its name seems to look down on creative-types.
Great job - and wow, what timing!!! You always give us the full scoop - thank you. We are those fans you talk about at the end - devoted Disney fans (& 25 year DVC owners) who go every year for a 10 day trip and never get to Universal (last time we went in 2011 for the opening of Potter was disappointing at best). Let's hope that Iger can turn things around so that the creativity and innovation become important again!
You're almost at 150k subscribers - congrats
This was fascinating. Thank you for all the information.
Great Video Brother!!! Thank you for all the hard work you had to put into make it! ❤❤❤❤❤
"Needless to say" the information at IAAPA and "things of this nature" are very interesting!
Thank you for sharing.
Mickey Views ROCKS!! 😁
Doppelmayr (company who manufactured Disney skyliner) was also there at IAAPA this year! This was my second year going and they had a booth there that was pretty cool to see. I got a chance to talk to them on Thursday and they were very nice to talk with and learn about the difference between working with a theme park as opposed to a ski resort or other companies.
Highly recommend going to IAAPA if you get a chance. Especially if you are a theme park geek! 🤓
Shout out Doppelmayr, love your heated 6 person chair lifts. Your high speed chairlifts make skiing so much better. I’ve used your chairlift from my home in the Midwest, to all over the Rocky Mountains to NZ.
Brayden you are what Disney is lacking in every aspect of the company
Great job on every aspect of your reporting
Very interesting Brayden! Look’s like you really enjoyed yourself…thanks for sharing your experience! Always appreciate your insight 😊
Thanks for the Kiteman comments. Keep up the great work.
Mickey's Views, I see IAAPA awarded 2 International theme park awards to Disneyland Paris for it's 30th Anniversary Celebrations and Mickey's Christmas Parade. This park has really been hitting home runs this year. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Oh my goodness Brayden. First time eating dip and dots? I remember the first time I tried them, it was the early 2000s and I was at Morey's Peirs in Wildwood, NJ. It was the best thing I had every put my lips on. I have been obsessed ever since. The cream flavors are amazing, try banana split! Or mint chocolate if your a fan.
Thanks for bringing this to us Brayden. As always, you've got a finger on the pulse! ❤️
We saw the Surprise In The Skies show at Epcot back in the early 90s. It was really cool.
100% Accurate. I hadn't been to Universal in probably 15 years, until my last trip. I split my time from Disney. That wouldn't have happened if I didn't feel the pull to Universal and the push from Disney. Thanks for always keeping things 💯.
Brayden cleans up nicely.
I love your take on things Braydon and I find it honest..not negative.
If you look at Imagineers in general...they are a bit..'off'..and you need to be to think these things up...and how to build them. The original Imagineers that came up with all the iconic rides and experiences were mostly people that Walt picked because they stood out as having original thoughts.
That is what is needed to do this type of work
Thank you Braydon for all your work
I enjoy and your views on what is going on within. You have great insight and that is how I started to watch you. There are plenty who go in the parks to give us what is going on with rides and lines but I look for you to hear what is in the works. Thanks for the update. Now patiently waiting for more info on Chapek's departure (YAY).
I like your videos, the way you break things down and make them easier to understand is cool. 👍
I enjoy watching your reporting. I have to check out that expo next year. Thank you. Have a good and safe Thanksgiving Bradon.
Brayden, thank you for your honesty and being real, we need more of that. So glad Bob Iger is back and Chapek is out.
Love your content, Brayden! I have really enjoyed the Universal content that Molly has released since leaving allears and starting her own company. It would be really interesting to me to get your take on the current state of universal parks.
You’re so on point. I admire you and how you know how things work, You know the game. What you are doing is right up your alley. Youre perfect to do what you’re doing. Best of luck to you
I loved kite tails. It was pure joy and happiness.
Thank you so much for featuring the incredible companies that work on Disney projects but so often don't get credit.
This was an awesome video. Great job 👏 Great reporting, I really enjoyed it
Thank you brayden for your honest take on the situation. No I do not think your overly negative... Just honest and impartial. Keep it up ! 👍
I could not stop smiling while watching KiteTails with my family. We even got to see the puppeteer cast members before that part got cut.
My life long dream has always been to be an Imagineer. I am currently in high school, but now I am rethinking my dream, and am not sure if I will be able to make a living being an Imagineer.
Don’t give up on your dream. Imagineering is more than just Disney (granted the they pinned the term). But there’s so many amusement companies like RMC, Zamperla, Intamin, ect…
It’s not fun to let go of your dreams. I know from experience, so chase it as far as you can. And enjoy the ride.
As someone who’s currently in their masters degree for theme park design and also grew up dreaming of being an imagineer, the themed experience field is so massive ! There are tons of different companies and it is definitely a field that has money!
Brayden! What's up? Great news for Disney's Views.
We always stay at Yacht & Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge once (8-9 nights). We start off our Orlando stay with 2 nights at Universal's Royal Pacific. Until things get better at Disney, we will go to Europe for our vacations.
Went to DLP this summer I promise you no video does justice to how cool their drone show is
We believe in you, Brayden! You bring us reality and truth.
Great video Brayden. Thanks for your insight.
It’s so sad watching the imagineering story and seeing all the effort, creativity, and ingenuity of the past only to have Bob Chapek hire Las Vegas engineers and designers to construct overpriced experiences that will never stand the test of time like Harmonious. I think it’s clear when things aren’t quality like they used to be, and Disneys now to scared to fail, and won’t ever have the creativity and risk to build experiences like the past
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
You got so many things right! wow. Good job.
First video I've watched on this channel. I'll admit I was hesitant to click, with the channel name I thought this would be like a Disney fanboy thing.
This coverage was super neat, and I've really enjoyed your perspective! As someone in Florida, I would looooove to see IAAPA one day!
Definitely a Disney girl myself. BUT I do have a 12 day trip planned next year at Universal. Much cheaper than my 8 day trip at Disney back in 2019.
I don't think you are being negative. You are speaking truth and sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. I would love to see IAPPA someday! Thanks for the great coverage!
Hey, Brayden. Great energy… “needless to say!” 😂👍😁
I was looking for this comment 😂
Good job dude!
This is so cool! I had no idea something like this existed but would love to go one day wow! It's so fascinating, I definitely was really interested in the whirley cups I had no idea that company existed and was so prevalent in the theme park experiences. Seems like a great convention and looks like you had a blast!
How have you not been to Universal/IOA in that long?! Go ride Hagrids ASAP!
Brayden - I think you apologize too much for being honest and straightforward in your opinions. You have earned the right to state the facts without having to placate your subscribers by asking forgiveness.
I'll second that. I trust Braydens analysis and opinions because he keeps the bigger picture in mind. It's very refreshing, and 10 out of 10 times he's been proven right. Brayden is the embodiment of the phrase "sometimes the truth hurts".
100%. Own the content, Chief. We are behind you all the way, buddy.
Your stream last night was hilarious!
Very interesting 👍😯😃 Thanks for sharing 😊❤️
Excellent reporting Brayden!
Brayden - I have always been impressed with your insightful analysis and the breadth of knowledge that you have in the fundamentals of business in general which brings an intellectual level to the channel. You seemingly are conscientious of avoiding trite Disney fan lingo and capable of finding other expressive words in their stead. I’m sorry if people are giving you guff as coming off as cynical… just stay true to your “gut feeling” as it has served you well thus far.
I got to go to one of these YEARS ago and Would love to do it again .. I was part of a film crew who went in to do a few interviews.. And they let us roam afterwards :)
THANK YOU! I was looking forward to your IAPPA recap, particularly the EPCOT panel with Bob Weis and company. 🤩
Thanks Brayden, honesty is NOT negativity! You rock!
That explains a lot. Once people start using that corporate babblespeak nonsense, you can expect nothing worthwhile from them.
I love Walt's Disney. I grew up going to Disneyland every summer from birth through young teen and I always loved the magic. My heart is broken however because my kids (early teens) do not know the Disney I did. We spent Thanksgiving 2021 in WDW, and while there were some awesome moments that we loved, the stress of planning and booking ahead that you have to do to have anything other than a walk up dining or walk on ride experience was exhausting and so stressful it still makes my heart race. It also involved a lot of disappointment. Same trip, we did a bucket list item for me and stayed on property which was nice. We didn't change hotels but we did spend 2 days going to Universal to see the Harry Potter stuff we hadn't gotten to experience yet. For me, that was amazing and held the old Disney kind of emersiveness that I've missed. Not to discredit galaxy's edge which I do think is spectacular.
But you hit on something in this video that I think needs addressing and that is why are creative and imagineers leaving Fisney for Universal? What are the elements lending to this shift where Disney die hards are exploring other places and options? Does it come from the management attitude? Can this be fixed? Will Disney leadership listen to fans and make changes to keep their devoted parkgoers? There's some essential stuff here that we can't overlook. Great video!
Everytime Chapek was interviewed, the only thing he wanted to talk about was "the numbers"and "the profit". Never about the people, the great employees, just about the money. He was sucking the soul out of Disney. It will be a tough road for Iger, but I hope he can get the company back on track.
I loved KiteTails but I also loved the nighttime show too.
Great vid Brayden :) looks like an amazing place to visit :)
Brilliant comments and analysis
Ah, I was at IAAPA too! Wish I would’ve seen you !!
Brayden, you are so wonderful and knowledgeable! Love your videos! I did learn alot! Thank you! I always have a magical day! 🌠
I totally agree with you about lack of covered seating is what made kite tales unpopular! I really liked the show but only was able to sit out in the sun if I had a dole whip with me.
Thank you great report.. yes now Chapek gone this is still the management and management attitude still there. It will take awhile for this to change...again thank you...
Wow, those animatronics were awesome! I want that Baby Yoda. 😅 Great reporting as usual. Total class act Brayden, way to go!
Excellent video. I also like TEA events, like one they recently had during U's HHN for only $35 including parking where the Horror Nights' leaders spoke then they took us through some mazes on a Wednesday (or another weekday when HHN wasn't open) night in 2022.
You're getting better and better at these videos, I love that you speak quickly -- slow talkers bore me. Maybe try not to say, "Needless to say..."
As a Brit we did 2 weeks in July at WDW. It's the first time I had done just a Disney holiday (my family were more in to Universal parks), and also the first time we had stayed on property. As an adult with it being just my wife and I we could do what we wanted, which was great. But to be honest, there was not enough to do in the parks for 2 weeks. We managed to get on Guardians 4 times over the holiday which was great, but the last time it was all we went in to Epcot for.
Personally if we were planning the holiday again we would have likely done a week at WDW and a week at Universal. I feel like there is a lot of nostalgia for certain parts of WDW that really is just accepting dated rides that are in need of a redo but WDC/WDW don't look like they want to make the investment.
I don't know if it was just me as an adult that has worked in the entertainment industry noticing things, but there were lots of little things that I don't think in the past would have been a thing. For example the main sign as you entered property had the W lights out for the entire stay, multiple parts of It's a Small World had issues with the children and in the last scene there were a noticable number of lights out.
Did we enjoy the holiday, yes. Could it have been better, yes. I know to an extent this was coming out of COVID (hence why I didnt mention we saw around 0 charecters in the parks) but Disney is meant to be magical. WDW especially used to take pride in providing the same high quality experiences everyday as you never knew who's first visit that day was.
Great video Brayden! Always love the content on Imagineering
@12:00 How hard is it to put up a canopy?
Yes, Imagineering needs access to the best and brightest to make the future of kiddy splash pads.
We absolutely loved Kitetails and tried to catch their shows every time we were in AK. The show was doomed from the start though as there was little to no emphasis on the schedule of performances and the seats were unbearably hot in the Florida sun no matter what time of year.
I wonder who she’s talking about when she says “bad culture fit”?
That attitude sums up one of the major reasons why we are turning away from Disney,
Latest news.... after 100 years Mickey is stepping down. Donald will be taking over as Disney's mascot and leader. Many believe thsi is long coming and are very excited.🥳
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