[Question] Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

[DoctorQ9]

The New York Times did an article recently about the "New Fantasyland" at WDW. Here is an excerpt:

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From my previous postings regarding the Grand Canyon Diorama and the Autopia, some of my fellow MiceChatters have gotten the impression that I want all of the older attractions to either 1) be drastically revamped or 2) be removed and replaced with newer attractions. In brief, they think that I have no respect for Disneyland nostalgia.

However, I believe that my position is closer to that of Tom Staggs himself -- it cannot be just about nostalgia. Older attractions (or older elements within that attraction) should make way for newer attractions if the newer attractions would make the entire Disney experience better.

Is my position a reasonable one? Do you agree with Tom Stagg's statement?

[PiecesOfEight]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Do you agree with Tom Stagg's statement?

Of course.

[ssaamm]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Do you agree with Tom Stagg's statement?

Mostly, but taking out a ride for a meet and greet I do not agree with

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Do you agree with Tom Stagg's statement?

Tom Staggs? Which Tom Staggs?

Tom "Michael Eisner's Chief Financial Officer" Staggs? Tom "Strategic Planning Superhoncho" Staggs? That Tom Staggs?

Maybe they're referring to Tom "One Disney" Staggs? Tom "Disney Parks Merchandise In Every Store" Staggs? Tom "Brands, Brands and More Brands" Staggs?

No matter, Tom "Biggest Beancounter in Burbank" Staggs weighing in on the subject of nostalgia has to be the worst joke of 2012.

[lazyboy97O]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Staggs is trying to scapegoat what set Disney apart by framing it as something outdated an antiquated.

[DoctorQ9]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Mostly, but taking out a ride for a meet and greet I do not agree with

I wholeheartedly agree. Meet & Greets or Playgrounds do not count as true attractions in my book...

[SoCalbma]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Agreed!!!

I think the removal of Snow White ride for Meet and Greet is Stupid!

[Disneytwins]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

It can't be just about nostalgia. I agree.

[Coheteboy]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

If it's JUST about nostalgia, then nothing will change. So in that mindset, Staggs is correct. But it cannot just be about change for the sake of change.

See: 1998 Tomorrowland

[almandot]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

If it can't just be about nostalgia, we didn't need to create attractions based on The Little Mermaid(1989), Beauty and the Beast(1991), and Snow White(1937). I understand he's talking more about the whole "parks not being a museum" concept, but let's not misplace the fact that the majority of the disney park experience is a product of nostalgia. :P

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

If it's JUST about nostalgia, then nothing will change. So in that mindset, Staggs is correct. But it cannot just be about change for the sake of change.

See: 1998 Tomorrowland

Exactly right. And yes, Disney theme parks certainly should not be just about nostalgia.

But the thing that makes Staggs' statement such a laughable example of Disney's self-serving PR spin is how it dodges the reality of what he and his cronies believe Disney theme parks are about, namely, their mentor Michael's decree that it's "all about turning movies into rides."

Staggs should let the other shoe drop and come clean on the truth: he and his corporate beancounters see Disney parks as just about brands.

[Buster Keaton]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

I would agree that it can't be all about nostalgia, but at the same time nostalgia is a crucial element. Walt Disney himself did say "I love the nostalgic myself. I hope we never lose some of the things of the past." So, Disneyland needs to have one foot firmly set in the past and the other foot set firmly in the future. How does that work out in real life? That's where the controversy resides. Taking out an attraction for a "Meet and Greet the Princesses" site doesn't serve either nostalgia or progress in my opinion. In a world of ipods and texting, I think it's great that there's a place where I can take my kids (if I had any that is) to see fully working steam powered trains, a steamboat, an idealized turn of the century "Main Street", and other "nostalgic" things. It's sort of a sly way of educating people when you think about it. I hope Disney never loses sight of that.

[LordVader]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Isn't Staggs next in line to be CEO once Iger resigns? If so, then I dread the day he comes into office.

[Disneymike]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Isn't Staggs next in line to be CEO once Iger resigns? If so, then I dread the day he comes into office.

Yep.....

[MrsMonroe]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

I agree with him but although i dont think closing the park signature attractions is a good idea, see peoplemover lol

[MrLiver]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Mostly, but taking out a ride for a meet and greet I do not agree with

You may not agree with it personally, but that doesn't mean it didn't make good sense. There are many times when the lines for the meet n greets exceed 30 to 40 minutes in length, and times that you basically have to beg people to ride Snow White and Pinocchio.

It isn't about nostalgia and it's not about changing things for the sake of change. It is trying to make people (the most amount of people) happy.

[Druggas]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

You may not agree with it personally, but that doesn't mean it didn't make good sense. There are many times when the lines for the meet n greets exceed 30 to 40 minutes in length, and times that you basically have to beg people to ride Snow White and Pinocchio.

It isn't about nostalgia and it's not about changing things for the sake of change. It is trying to make people (the most amount of people) happy.

Nope. It's always about money.

[thedude76]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Only if the new is better than the old. And I'm not entirely convinced that Disney has the talent in house to make better new. Of course, the DCA turnaround makes more optimistic than pessimistic.

If you go over the Universal, a lot of old nostalgic rides disappeared: Back to the Future, Jaws, Hitchcock. In some cases, the new was far better, and some cases the new was worse such as the Shrek movie that replaced Hitchcock. But Disney has to attempt to innovate or be left behind. Now, if I had to set a site in DL to try new stuff, I would target Tomorrowland and make it follow the theme, rather than looking like Yesterland.

[MrLiver]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Nope. It's always about money.

Unless they are suffering from some kind of neurosis, people only spend money when they're happy.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Tom Staggs Says -- "It Can't Just Be About Nostalgia"

Unless they are suffering from some kind of neurosis, people only spend money when they're happy.

People only spend money when they're happy, unless they're neurotic? A curious view of people... and money.

It would seem, then, that there are a lot of people in the world suffering from the "neurosis" of spending money to pay bills, buy insurance, pay taxes, pay fines, pay medical costs and the uncounted other reasons people spend money when they're not happy.

A curious view indeed. One which I don't doubt is shared by many in Disney management: "Get 'em slap-happy on the magic and watch 'em spend, spend, spend."