November 27, 2024 • 11 mins
To Walt, ‘plus’ was a verb—an action word—signifying the delivery of more than what his customers paid for or expected to receive. He constantly challenged his Imagineers to see what was possible, and then take it a step further … and then a step beyond that.
On the show this week, Randy shares his thoughts on "plussing," and why Walt's belief in this this concept may be more important now than ever before as Disney continues to transform their parks.
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Randy, Dack, and Ryan
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello, the seatbelt check is around the corner. You actually were telling the truth
(00:04):
I do that quite a lot. Your people are always surprised. Welcome aboard
To those guests who've just joined us welcome
Hi folks Randy here bringing you an escape to the magic one-shot
(00:29):
I just wanted to share some of the thoughts that have been on my mind
Recently, we've talked about this on a number of our episodes over the last few weeks and months about many of the changes that are coming
To the Disney parks in the next few years. And in fact, some of these changes are coming sooner than we even think
There's a few things that I've been particularly salty about
(00:52):
I've been pretty vocal about the changes that were made to the country bears jamboree
Not to completely rehash it but
You know the concept was they took the country bears and they replaced the music and it was something they felt was more
Appropriate for today and really they took Disney IP songs from many of their favorite IPs
(01:13):
And they kind of put it in the country bear style
I've experienced it. I didn't love it. In fact, I hated it and I've been pretty vocal about that
You know, I've been pretty vocal about the upcoming changes to frontier land which includes
eliminating the rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island from Magic Kingdom Park and
Expanding frontier land to include a new cars attraction
(01:38):
Amongst other things and I've been pretty vocal about how I didn't think that was a good idea either
I've been pretty vocal about a lot of things and today some news came that kind of
Brought me down that path once again, which included
Eliminating Muppet Vision 3d so they could make their expansion for
Monsters land at Hollywood Studios in that same spot
(02:01):
and further than that
Aerosmith leaving rock and roller coaster to be replaced with the Muppets
And I've thought a little bit about the things that sometimes bother me about those announcements
Because I see so much potential so much opportunity in all of the Disney parks
We've talked about it on this show Dak Ryan and I have talked about sometimes what we call our magical scenarios
(02:26):
What would we do?
If we were an Imagineer for a day or for a minute even
What are some of the ideas that we could potentially put out there? Now? The reality is we're not
We're not the Imagineers. We don't we don't work for the Walt Disney Corporation
In fairness, I've never even written a letter or an email or even a post-it note and sent it to anybody
(02:46):
Who could do something with those ideas that we have other than we put them out there for the world to hear on this show
So in a sense, I feel a little bit guilty that I would be so critical of some of those things
The words of Walt Disney really is what drives me though sometimes in my criticism
And I think also as I reflect on Walt's own words going all the way back to
(03:11):
1956 when he was responding to a journalist Peter Martin about the
Potential for Disneyland in the future. I think about those words and and to a certain degree
I've used him a little bit as a as both sword and shield to defend my own
Personal opinions of the direction some of those parks are going
I just want to share him with you, you know 1956 the
(03:36):
Walt's asked about the future of Disneyland and what it means and how it's going to be and he said this quote the park means
A lot to me and that it's something that will never be finished
Something that I can keep developing keep plusing and adding to it's alive. It will be a live
Breathing thing that will need changes a picture is a thing that once you wrap it together
(03:56):
You're through snow white is a dead issue with me the last picture. I just finished the one
I just wrapped a few weeks ago. It's gone. I can't touch it. There's things in it. I don't like I can't do anything about it
I wanted something live something that could grow something I could keep plusing with ideas
You see the park is that not only can I add things but even the trees will keep growing the thing will get more beautiful
(04:20):
Every year and as I find what the public likes and when a picture is finished and I put it out I find out what they
Like or they don't like and I have to apply that to some other thing. I can't change that picture
So that's why I wanted that park close quote
I've thought about it and I've thought you know Walt as he talked about plussing the parks. He talked about
(04:41):
Expansion he talked about adding to it. He talked about making it better
and sometimes I've been lost a little bit in the thought that that meant that things couldn't change even
Some of the things that are really old and to me things that I like a lot
May not be those things that really get people motivated anymore
(05:02):
Perhaps that's the case with the country bears jamboree now
I'll contend that I've seen people attending parks and I've seen people go to the park and they're like
now I'll contend that I've seen people attending country bears for many years and and few times have I've been in there and
Not found a lot of other people I've never been to the country bears jamboree and been alone for instance
(05:25):
I can't say that about some of the other attractions that I've gone to there have been other shows and attractions
I've gone to or I was the only one there at a given time
But it never happened at the country bears jamboree, so I didn't understand the need to change
But I also think about the fact that it is really kind of old and maybe it didn't have a lot of relevance for some people anymore
And in order to bring it some new fresh perspective and relativism
(05:48):
Perhaps it needed an update and even if I don't like it
Maybe there's others now that really do and the same for Tom Sawyer Island, you know
I can't say I've ever been alone on Tom Sawyer Island
But I also can say that Tom Sawyer Island had a limited purpose
It was beautiful to look at perhaps from a distance
It was fun for a few minutes to be out there, but it had limited hours and limited availability
(06:13):
Maybe that wasn't the best use of that part of the park and maybe it was an opportunity to do something more.
I think a little bit about now what's going to come here to Muppet Vision 3D and the replacement of that particular area in the park at Hollywood Studios
You know again Muppet Vision 3D is one that I've never been to all by myself
(06:34):
But it was a really big theater and rarely had I ever seen that theater completely full
In fact, I can't ever recall having been in there when it's been completely full
So maybe it's time to see if there is a more useful purpose for that part of the park
There's shops that used to be open in that area that aren't open anymore
(06:55):
There's got to be a reason for that
I think we've talked about even some of the dining options over there how they're not the most favorite
Perhaps it's time to do something a little bit different
And even if I would have perhaps maybe put this in a different place in Hollywood Studios
Maybe the Star Wars launch bay which I think is probably the most underutilized real estate in the park perhaps
(07:17):
Maybe if I would have done that doesn't mean that it's not okay to do what the Imagineers are now proposing and put it over at Muppet Vision
You know I struggle with removing Aerosmith from Rock and Roller Coaster
I feel like that's what made the identity of that attraction and now it's going to have a new identity with the Muppets
I'm not sure how that's going to work
(07:39):
I can't say that I love the idea but what I can say is this
What's a dead issue really?
When Walt says Snow White's a dead issue with him
He's talking about he's done it and there's not a change to come to it to fix it or make it better
But his vision of plussing meant that that would never ever be the case with his parks
(08:01):
That there was always an opportunity to improve or add upon or do something different
And perhaps this is the opportunity that Rock and Roller Coaster
An attraction that's been plagued with mechanical problems now for years and has experienced extended downtime at different times and opportunities
Maybe a complete refresh of it with a different theme is just exactly what the doctor ordered in order to make it better
(08:27):
Some things work and some things don't
But my experience visiting the Disney parks has always been that I'll give everything a chance
You know as a father of four sons
I can't say that attending the Frozen Sing-Along was ever going to be at the top of my list
But I can tell you after I went I was hooked
(08:50):
Because there's something that Imagineers do better than everybody
They figure out a way to bring the magic to everyone who wants to be in the show
Because once you walk through the gates and once you walk through the doors you're in the show of Disney
It's a live living breathing thing just like Walt had to say
(09:13):
I'll give it a chance, I'll give anything a chance to see if it can bring a little bit of extra magic to my life
The thing that I've talked about on this show more than anything has always been about managing your expectations when you're at the park
That includes me, I've got to learn to manage those expectations from times
And I might be salty today about losing some of the things that I have loved the most
(09:39):
The things that I've been most nostalgic about from my visits to the park
But maybe part of managing my expectations includes giving it a chance
And realizing frankly if it doesn't work for me like the new Country Bears Jamboree
That's okay because there's plenty of other things that I can do
And regardless of how they change something from how it used to be
(10:00):
From how I used to enjoy it will never ever take away the memories that I've made along the way
In fact if anything it makes those memories all the sweeter
Knowing that I've been able to experience something that meant something to me that others now won't be able to experience the same way
That adds to my life, that pluses it
(10:22):
And I really think that's what Walt was talking about all along
Anyways those are some thoughts I wanted to share as we wrap it up
And just do a little bit of an Escape to the Magic one shot here
Just an opportunity to share some of the things that have been on my mind, on my heart
With each of you our listeners
Thanks for listening
(10:43):
Be sure to give us a like, a follow, share it with your friends
Drop us a comment, tell us what you think
We'd love to hear it
Take care
Hello, the seatbelt check is around the corner. You actually were telling the truth
(00:04):
I do that quite a lot. Your people are always surprised. Welcome aboard
To those guests who've just joined us welcome
Hi folks Randy here bringing you an escape to the magic one-shot
(00:29):
I just wanted to share some of the thoughts that have been on my mind
Recently, we've talked about this on a number of our episodes over the last few weeks and months about many of the changes that are coming
To the Disney parks in the next few years. And in fact, some of these changes are coming sooner than we even think
There's a few things that I've been particularly salty about
(00:52):
I've been pretty vocal about the changes that were made to the country bears jamboree
Not to completely rehash it but
You know the concept was they took the country bears and they replaced the music and it was something they felt was more
Appropriate for today and really they took Disney IP songs from many of their favorite IPs
(01:13):
And they kind of put it in the country bear style
I've experienced it. I didn't love it. In fact, I hated it and I've been pretty vocal about that
You know, I've been pretty vocal about the upcoming changes to frontier land which includes
eliminating the rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island from Magic Kingdom Park and
Expanding frontier land to include a new cars attraction
(01:38):
Amongst other things and I've been pretty vocal about how I didn't think that was a good idea either
I've been pretty vocal about a lot of things and today some news came that kind of
Brought me down that path once again, which included
Eliminating Muppet Vision 3d so they could make their expansion for
Monsters land at Hollywood Studios in that same spot
(02:01):
and further than that
Aerosmith leaving rock and roller coaster to be replaced with the Muppets
And I've thought a little bit about the things that sometimes bother me about those announcements
Because I see so much potential so much opportunity in all of the Disney parks
We've talked about it on this show Dak Ryan and I have talked about sometimes what we call our magical scenarios
(02:26):
What would we do?
If we were an Imagineer for a day or for a minute even
What are some of the ideas that we could potentially put out there? Now? The reality is we're not
We're not the Imagineers. We don't we don't work for the Walt Disney Corporation
In fairness, I've never even written a letter or an email or even a post-it note and sent it to anybody
(02:46):
Who could do something with those ideas that we have other than we put them out there for the world to hear on this show
So in a sense, I feel a little bit guilty that I would be so critical of some of those things
The words of Walt Disney really is what drives me though sometimes in my criticism
And I think also as I reflect on Walt's own words going all the way back to
(03:11):
1956 when he was responding to a journalist Peter Martin about the
Potential for Disneyland in the future. I think about those words and and to a certain degree
I've used him a little bit as a as both sword and shield to defend my own
Personal opinions of the direction some of those parks are going
I just want to share him with you, you know 1956 the
(03:36):
Walt's asked about the future of Disneyland and what it means and how it's going to be and he said this quote the park means
A lot to me and that it's something that will never be finished
Something that I can keep developing keep plusing and adding to it's alive. It will be a live
Breathing thing that will need changes a picture is a thing that once you wrap it together
(03:56):
You're through snow white is a dead issue with me the last picture. I just finished the one
I just wrapped a few weeks ago. It's gone. I can't touch it. There's things in it. I don't like I can't do anything about it
I wanted something live something that could grow something I could keep plusing with ideas
You see the park is that not only can I add things but even the trees will keep growing the thing will get more beautiful
(04:20):
Every year and as I find what the public likes and when a picture is finished and I put it out I find out what they
Like or they don't like and I have to apply that to some other thing. I can't change that picture
So that's why I wanted that park close quote
I've thought about it and I've thought you know Walt as he talked about plussing the parks. He talked about
(04:41):
Expansion he talked about adding to it. He talked about making it better
and sometimes I've been lost a little bit in the thought that that meant that things couldn't change even
Some of the things that are really old and to me things that I like a lot
May not be those things that really get people motivated anymore
(05:02):
Perhaps that's the case with the country bears jamboree now
I'll contend that I've seen people attending parks and I've seen people go to the park and they're like
now I'll contend that I've seen people attending country bears for many years and and few times have I've been in there and
Not found a lot of other people I've never been to the country bears jamboree and been alone for instance
(05:25):
I can't say that about some of the other attractions that I've gone to there have been other shows and attractions
I've gone to or I was the only one there at a given time
But it never happened at the country bears jamboree, so I didn't understand the need to change
But I also think about the fact that it is really kind of old and maybe it didn't have a lot of relevance for some people anymore
And in order to bring it some new fresh perspective and relativism
(05:48):
Perhaps it needed an update and even if I don't like it
Maybe there's others now that really do and the same for Tom Sawyer Island, you know
I can't say I've ever been alone on Tom Sawyer Island
But I also can say that Tom Sawyer Island had a limited purpose
It was beautiful to look at perhaps from a distance
It was fun for a few minutes to be out there, but it had limited hours and limited availability
(06:13):
Maybe that wasn't the best use of that part of the park and maybe it was an opportunity to do something more.
I think a little bit about now what's going to come here to Muppet Vision 3D and the replacement of that particular area in the park at Hollywood Studios
You know again Muppet Vision 3D is one that I've never been to all by myself
(06:34):
But it was a really big theater and rarely had I ever seen that theater completely full
In fact, I can't ever recall having been in there when it's been completely full
So maybe it's time to see if there is a more useful purpose for that part of the park
There's shops that used to be open in that area that aren't open anymore
(06:55):
There's got to be a reason for that
I think we've talked about even some of the dining options over there how they're not the most favorite
Perhaps it's time to do something a little bit different
And even if I would have perhaps maybe put this in a different place in Hollywood Studios
Maybe the Star Wars launch bay which I think is probably the most underutilized real estate in the park perhaps
(07:17):
Maybe if I would have done that doesn't mean that it's not okay to do what the Imagineers are now proposing and put it over at Muppet Vision
You know I struggle with removing Aerosmith from Rock and Roller Coaster
I feel like that's what made the identity of that attraction and now it's going to have a new identity with the Muppets
I'm not sure how that's going to work
(07:39):
I can't say that I love the idea but what I can say is this
What's a dead issue really?
When Walt says Snow White's a dead issue with him
He's talking about he's done it and there's not a change to come to it to fix it or make it better
But his vision of plussing meant that that would never ever be the case with his parks
(08:01):
That there was always an opportunity to improve or add upon or do something different
And perhaps this is the opportunity that Rock and Roller Coaster
An attraction that's been plagued with mechanical problems now for years and has experienced extended downtime at different times and opportunities
Maybe a complete refresh of it with a different theme is just exactly what the doctor ordered in order to make it better
(08:27):
Some things work and some things don't
But my experience visiting the Disney parks has always been that I'll give everything a chance
You know as a father of four sons
I can't say that attending the Frozen Sing-Along was ever going to be at the top of my list
But I can tell you after I went I was hooked
(08:50):
Because there's something that Imagineers do better than everybody
They figure out a way to bring the magic to everyone who wants to be in the show
Because once you walk through the gates and once you walk through the doors you're in the show of Disney
It's a live living breathing thing just like Walt had to say
(09:13):
I'll give it a chance, I'll give anything a chance to see if it can bring a little bit of extra magic to my life
The thing that I've talked about on this show more than anything has always been about managing your expectations when you're at the park
That includes me, I've got to learn to manage those expectations from times
And I might be salty today about losing some of the things that I have loved the most
(09:39):
The things that I've been most nostalgic about from my visits to the park
But maybe part of managing my expectations includes giving it a chance
And realizing frankly if it doesn't work for me like the new Country Bears Jamboree
That's okay because there's plenty of other things that I can do
And regardless of how they change something from how it used to be
(10:00):
From how I used to enjoy it will never ever take away the memories that I've made along the way
In fact if anything it makes those memories all the sweeter
Knowing that I've been able to experience something that meant something to me that others now won't be able to experience the same way
That adds to my life, that pluses it
(10:22):
And I really think that's what Walt was talking about all along
Anyways those are some thoughts I wanted to share as we wrap it up
And just do a little bit of an Escape to the Magic one shot here
Just an opportunity to share some of the things that have been on my mind, on my heart
With each of you our listeners
Thanks for listening
(10:43):
Be sure to give us a like, a follow, share it with your friends
Drop us a comment, tell us what you think
We'd love to hear it
Take care
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