Imagineering President Leaving, Avatar Land of Confusion at Disneyland

[@CLIFFLIX]

Disney...apologize to Joe Rhode, ask for forgiveness and get on your hands and knees and BEG him to return! While you are at it...apologize to Tony Baxter too!

[@jacobspodek4099]

Lol I saw your comment on Brayden’s video. I agree though, but. I doubt either would come back at this point

[@hphaunts]

@@jacobspodek4099lol I was gonna say this comment looked familiar, but fr this needs to happen

[@kikiandluca]

Good idea @clifflix ✌️🐶🐾

[@ReddOchober]

@@jacobspodek4099Baxter offered to come back to fix the Imagination pavilion, ball is in Disney’s court. Disney is run by yes men who answer to private equity shareholders.

[@jarrettc7215]

Wow would that be a dream come true

[@PaintedFrog2966]

"Oh you're getting a rant" 😂

[@myblujl7503]

When I see Tom rant, Im always reminded of the Simpons MEME of "Old man yells at clouds"

[@ChicagoPaul76]

"oh you're getting a rant" put that on a t-shirt.

[@UmmYeahOk]

Totally would buy that from the Carousel of Products!

[@QuatroAtYale]

I noticed the diabolical smile that Tom had before he started this. He knew it would be a two rant video! Good stuff. Oh. I bet it's a dark ride... where the vehicles don't really move.

[@TJ-Travler]

I do not want Real World when visiting Disney Parks! I visit the Parks and Resorts to escape from the ordinary every day experiences...

[@michaelsullivan3581]

True!

[@DocDoccus]

You know it's a great Tom Rant when Siri has to try to get a few words in too.

[@ZebraLens]

😂😂😂 Not even Siri understands what Iger and PR are trying to say 😅😅😅

[@EEvtg]

The Avatar "experience" is definitely just going to be Flight of Passage, surrounded by a smaller version of Pandora. There's no way they build Navi River Journey again lol.

[@jbachjr]

Rant… love it Tom and I agree. Yes Iger has been CEO too long and all the Disney issues are all under him. Chapek was just a temporary blip and Iger never really left the company and made him a scapegoat.

[@romanumeralz]

Sounds like Biden and Obama 🔥👹🔥

[@jimcampbell]

Iger may not be amazing but are you people seriously forgetting how utterly incompetent Chapek was??

[@jbachjr]

… you people…??? Chapel was incompetent, but so is Iger. He allowed Disney to fail with his ego and politics. I'm looking forward to epic universe!! Too many fan boys here thinking Disney can do no wrong.

[@jimcampbell]

i apologize. I think i was assuming more than one person was expressing the opinion that Iger is as bad as Chapek.Iger has made some bad choices. I'll admit Ive been disppointed by how little he has done since Chapek got the axe. He's a capitalist like the rest of them. The layoffs in TV and film production, the nickel and diming visitors. I guess that's just expected when the goal of a company is to please investors more than pleasing the customers. But chapek really was awful. He didnt even seem to understand the legacy and creative side of the company at all. At least Iger gives that stuff lip service.

[@jaymoore452]

Hire Joe Rhode to head imagineering

[@moonfacepondue2450]

I second this!

[@rickpontificates3406]

Joe is a WHITE MAN. WOKE LEFTIST DISNEY WILL NEVER RE-HIRE HIM. They HATE white people

[@boomka]

Is anyone asking for more Avatar?

[@michaelsullivan3581]

I suspect not!

[@ericgee198]

Disney, over-promise, under-deliver. Regarding Avatar "land" v "experience", it is whatever soundbite plays best for the investors and industry press at any given moment.

[@kentslocum]

Seems to me that Shanghai Disneyland is taking a page right out of Universal's playbook--and that's a good thing! Universal is famously tight-lipped about new projects, often announcing them only after construction is well underway. This accomplishes several important and admirable goals: it ensures that concept art and details are as accurate to the as-built plans as possible (thus reducing the chance for reality to not meet expectations), it shortens the time between project confirmation and project opening (thus creating a sense of excitement that doesn't have time to wear off), and it increases guest engagement as people speculate about the project. Disney, on the other hand, is learning the hard way that "loose lips sink ships." Disney releases concept art for projects that aren't even greenlit or finalized--no wonder people are often disap.ointed by the results!

[@janalamarca8980]

I like the “let them cook” saying and t-shirt and would likely buy one from Carousel of Products if you created one. I just want to let you know that before Russel Wilson was traded from the Seahawks to Denver, there was a major slogan with t-shirts that said, “Let Russ cook”! That was in regards to the OC letting him improvise and develop plays, I always thought that you took the saying from that, but it works so well in this context, too! Love all of your content and can’t wait for Stage 89!

[@fifthrider]

I have no horse in the race re: Bouza but I've observed that at many employers ( corporate, government, anything large ) we're all suffering from bloated middle and upper management. This trend is nearing ( or over ) it's ellipse. Many organizations are finally recognizing that they have too many middle managers and not enough employees. I have no idea if this pertains to Bouza's position not being backfilled but it's possible that Disney just knows it's another senior management position that wasn't really needed. My own employer has started to figure this out and I know a few other friends with govt/corporate jobs that have been saying something similar. As Disney learns to tighten it's belt, let's hope they look at upper management cuts not cast members.

[@MatecaCorp]

I would wager that Iger wasn’t supposed to mention they were planning an Avatar “land” until after DisneylandForward had been approved. I expect that Avatar is planned as the first phase of future expansions but they want to avoid any sort of certainty so as not to cause a WESTCOT or Disney Decade type debacle.

[@maxickingdom]

17:13 Maybe Disney should get some new PR people at this point. But I also have my concerns about Josh D’Amaro…

[@AllFooNoLame]

"You're getting a rant". We wouldn't settle for anything less, Tom. Let er rip!

[@davidfitzsimmons2451]

"asaaj's first appearance was in the clone wars film..." It was actually the Genndy Tartovsky Clone Wars 2d animation mini series she made her debut in. George originally wanted her to appear in Episode 2 but cut her and had her moved to the Genndy Wars.

[@darakelian]

Why Iger is set on building an Avatar "experience" while Tomorrowland remains a junkyard of previous rides (including a dead ride track going down the center) is beyond me. Why not fix this land before building another?

[@troymacdonald8257]

Disney has the best food and drinks and rides. ❤❤❤❤

[@kiwikiwi2483]

If ya'll make a shirt that says "let them cook" I'll happily buy it 😂

[@justjohnny05]

I have a friend who used to be an Imagineer during the pandemic he and all the other Imagineer's were laid off

[@kimbeutler1911]

I am really pleased with the new way to check for dining reservations

[@genedilorenzo713]

Tom is very Knowledgeable about the Disney company, I enjoy is commentary or "rants."

[@TheBeesPajamas]

omfg the Cerveza Cristal can cracked me up

[@modemlooper]

When the CEO of the company says the unopened retheme is too boring then you better be worried

[@Wild_D]

Tom is my favorite!

[@Liz.R]

Siri putting her 2 cents in LOL LOL "New" turnstiles reminded me of DLP as soon as I saw them. I hope they help DL's system also.

[@Twiztedgoalie]

Publicly traded companies was a mistake. The minute you have to please shareholders over everything else is the minute you start cutting corners.

[@lonesoul663]

I don't want to see Avatar at Disneyland, CA. Do something different or original!

[@brookalvord1605]

Totally agree, too much respect for a dances with wolves remake.

[@td3053]

You act like Disney knows how to make anything original anymore. Nevertheless WDI after it's been gutted of all creativity. It's so sad how much of a joke this company is becoming.

[@ginadoyle4089]

Preach👏🏼👏🏼

[@Fortheloveofthethrill]

99% of comments about pandora in Disneyland are negative. Doesn’t Disney see this?!? No one wants it.

[@alextirrellRI]

My guess is that this Avatar thing is contingent on Disneyland Forward happening -- maybe there are different scales of plans depending on how that goes and Iger sorta jumped the gun in talking about Plan A. If DL Forward somehow falls through, PR would be preventing them from announcing something that's not at all happening.

[@dynamicmediacurations]

Your rant was so great you scared Siri 😂

[@eddieg6436]

Disneyland Forward was just APPROVED 5-1 in Anaheim, voting YES to expand the parks!! (Final voting in April). Hopefully this will all move FORWARD!!!

[@jh1-o9o]

We love your long episodes Tom! The Disney Parks community as a whole is very lucky to have you; you have a very wonderful media presence. Congratulations again on your and WDWNT’s continued success this year! looking forward to all the Vlogs 🇯🇵 (also I just realized this isn’t this episode, but still😅)

[@chapmanenigma2873]

Where is Josh in all this announcement? Isn’t he in charge of Parks and etc etc etc? Josh should be able to clear up the “Land vs Experience” rant.

[@porcelainthunder2213]

Not even 4 years? Geez. Such a critical position should have come from within.

[@JDMACCC]

Tom yelling at Siri made me audibly chuckle

[@melvinlee9263]

Pandora in Florida is massive (I've been there) ....I cannot think where anywhere in the DL Resort foot print this will fit (though I would love it).

[@cheekywitch]

Anyone else a little annoyed that the "giant squid" is an octopus?

[@notsurprised79]

The Cerveza Cristal got me.

[@phillyguy199]

She leaves a legacy of de-themed hotels that are really banal. Is it too late for the Grand Floridian and its "greying?" I think she is responsible. Trust me, I know folks in the architecture profession and most truly hate anything traditional.

[@mondenkindqueen]

Gray? If I wanted to sleep in a gray bland box, I could find a refrigerator box on the side of the road to sleep in for way cheaper.

[@genappithy]

I loved DCA Tower of Terror. I miss the atmosphere. I still have fun on Mission Breakout. We soldier on. People really need to bring down the temperature on a ride theme

[@sergioc4633]

Crazy thought.. I bet Redwood Creek in DCA will be transformed into Avatar Land unfortunately. I think it would be smaller than here in Florida

[@PoppaSquat-et3qp]

Boozer? No wonder she was asked to leave. You’d have to be on the sauce to think the EPCOT office park was a good idea

[@davidnevolo4402]

Disney is always ashamed of its own product and talent. Bringing in consumer products people and movie people and random people instead of passionate and knowledgeable to design and run the parks. So sick of it

[@mondenkindqueen]

I get it to a point, you want visionary’s who can come up with new ideas and aren’t “too” beholden to the old…but it’s a delicate balance. You still need people who understand your brand and the aesthetic.

[@disneyguy3116]

Love Tom's rants! come on Disney get it together!

[@SBOutrich]

You say Tom has a rant, you have my undivided attention

[@occheermommy]

Can’t we just have a weekly video scheduled to “Tom Rants about …..” please???? That’s what I want for Christmas. I know I’m a little late but please?

[@Beverly-su4qg]

Tom, Mr Iger knows from NUMEROUS guests and comments from the Disneyland community that we do NOT want Avatar…we want our Tomorrowland redone!

[@weatheredseeker]

I'm sure there are people that want it. If they update Tomorrowland the same people will complain just like they have with everything else that's been updated

[@gregr3720]

The Shanghai Castle could have used a little bit of whimsy and magic. It looks like a library. Very stuffy.

[@sebastianzorzi]

moving Avatar land somewhere else instead coming to Disneyland.

[@silicondave2797]

Respect+ for your thoughts. Those Churros looked great!

[@jacobspodek4099]

My thoughts on the tianas ride are about the same as his opinion. I was bitterly angry in 2020, I totally disagree with why they got rid of it, but what’s done is done, and I do like princess and the frog, I’m willing to give it a chance

[@engima2913]

Attraction? Land? I guess we’ll have to wait until it’s built. Only then, will we truly be living with the land.

[@ginadoyle4089]

😂

[@fateagle4life]

Wonder if this has anything to do with Iger trying to look better in this proxy fight. She hasn’t been good with renovations at resorts and now it seems this mountain thing is going bad.

[@margarethanson8330]

Should "imagineering" and "real world" even be in the same category, much less an entire department devoted to imagination and creativity run by an executive whose strength is real world experience? I've been watching resort after resort being "updated" which means that each has been stripped of its identity and become generic, sterile, and boring...and the destruction of the front of EPCOT and its unique fountain, to be replace by a planter...ugh!

[@skellington15]

Was there any mentioned today or last episode about the remaster announcement of Epic Mickey? The whole Disneyland as a wasteland thing?

[@rodakscreens]

Regarding the Disneyland Avatar thing, I think Iger keeps pushing it to try and motivate the Orange County City Council to vote for Disneyland Forward, there's no actual plans drawn up for anything yet so he's just saying what he thinks will sweeten the deal. The company keeps attempting to walk back his promises just in case Disneyland Forward doesn't go through, following the last decade or so of tempering expectations after promising the world. It's nothing we haven't seen before, but it is funny that he's so adamant about it happening.

[@weatheredseeker]

It's funny how the expectations change everything. Universal built like 2 rides in orlando in the last decade but expectations were low so everyone is enamored. Disney has built 5 times that but expectations were high and they weren't transparent with key info so there's some disappointment around some great stuff

[@rodakscreens]

@@weatheredseeker hundred percent agreed. It all comes down to priorities. Disney has always been about the spectacle of anticipation while Universal is more concerned with not breaking guest trust, which is sensible considering one is the industry leader and the other has been desperate to match the industry leader for nearly 35 years.

[@tylersmith9528]

Information correction from a Star Wars mega nerd: That is NOT Asajj’s “reforged” hilt as stated in the video. She actually bought that hilt off the black market after losing her twin hilts in a duel with Barris Offee. Just for fun fact 😁

[@tulinfirenze1990]

No it doesn't sound psychotic, Tom. I heard it from a very famous once VP of WDI that he was considered unusual because he actually loved the company and its legacy. Likewise I had a friend who worked at DL when Splash Mountain was being built and he said the same thing - he loved the company and was proud to work at DL and was regularly made fun of by other CMs and management.

[@fabby0421]

Tom I’m Mexican and “Miguel’s EL DORADO cantina” is the right way to say it because El Dorado is a place/city (nombre propio) is like you wanting to take out “NEW” from “New York” if that makes more sense 🤷🏻‍♀️ Btw I love your channel

[@WDWNT]

Yeah but theme parks are full of silly pun names, that one would be easier to say. Make the proprietor’s name Miguel Dorado!

[@mholme17]

Were at the point we need to take bets on the ever changing Avatar land!

[@romanumeralz]

They need to get that in writing, so if/when Iger goes back on his word…the people of Anaheim will be able to fire back. That 100m toward the community was just to sweeten the deal. 🔥

[@tjpetrucce8156]

There hasn't been any imagination in Imagineering for quite a while.

[@TheMess1998]

If they put Pandora in DLR, I want Carsland in WDW.

[@DcBjørnson]

Based on previous projects, I’d expect an Avatar experience to be on the level of journey of water. Would love if they prove me wrong though and put an actual ride in.

[@pete_stumme]

Everyone is entitled to opinions and own thoughts on things. I appreciate your honesty Tom but I’m coming from a different perspective on Runaway Railway as I’m a parent with younger kids who don’t know Great Movie Ride. I knew it. I loved it!!! But I also love seeing my kids reactions on runaway and they love it. Sometimes you have to look at things through the lens of a 5 year old.

[@mondenkindqueen]

I’m of a practical mindset that GMR times was always limited. Sooner or later Disney was going to get tired of paying licensing fees. Just like with the one Twilight Zone Tower ride being turned into GotG. I’m not holding my breath for the other one lasting too much longer.

[@victorslab]

I don’t pay big dollars to walk past an attraction and feel angry. And yes The Great Movie Ride was the last straw for me. Unfortunately the Tianna retheme is hurting two parks, not just one. Also it’s an eyesore. I think I would have been more favorable if they kept the exterior basically the same. The kudzu mountain, they have now made is ugly. A real waste!

[@UmmYeahOk]

So the turnstiles only work with MagicBand+, or can older MagicBands work with them too?

[@toddw8396]

14:30 What in the Disneyland is happening here? Next they will say they meant to call it a “land experience” because it’s not onboard a ship 😂

[@jordanmiller4102]

Tom’s rant begs a version of “What’s This?”!

[@oldtimefreedom]

Whoever made your Stage89 spot should get a raise!

[@martinshackleton956]

It's a mini land it's a restaurant with a meet and great😂

[@cpt.walker6273]

Disney Forward is having issues with purchasing the road. I say Disney can use Walt's transportation system, The People Mover, to move guests from park to park over the road.

[@Floridapanthers2020]

Just got my stage 89 streaming ticket!!! Also it said I have to show ID I don’t understand

[@WDWNT]

That matches the name on the ticket?

[@Floridapanthers2020]

@@WDWNT it says when you come to the building to show valid ID but I am not going to celebration?

[@T09J2]

Yeah, at least it's a step in the right direction.

[@tomg9476]

Pretty good rant 8.2/10

[@gnease42]

Maybe as far as avatar is concerned… maybe they’re thinking, ya, let’s give wdwnt media again but let’s keep screwing with them. Let’s call it a land one day and an experience the next. Let’s see how long we can ping pong this fun!

[@janhenry9733]

I love you guys and value the news you bring! But does the event promotion package really have to run before every video, for months? It's clunky to skip it.

[@ginadoyle4089]

CANCEL PANDORA! It’s not an IP ANYONE is screaming to get more of.

[@mondenkindqueen]

How about they hit the breaks on new development until they get everything functional and clean? How much broken and dirty stuff are they going to ignore?

[@UmmYeahOk]

Wait. Barbara Bouza left Gensler to become head of WDI, replacing Bob Weis, who… …left WDI to go work for Gensler?!? Does that make any sense?

[@weatheredseeker]

Sus

[@gerthenriksen8818]

Actually, you has said that you liked the Mickey's Runaway railway in Anaheim.😀

[@KSCzap360]

Don’t you dare blame it on Chapek. he was a scapegoat for Iger and has his hands all over the honey pot. He is 100% as guilty as Pooh Bear!

[@jakeballentine]

I like “let them cook” kind of like what’s been going on in wwe

[@greatnarwhal9106]

cerveza cristal

[@storycharmedlife]

If you only knew the political shenanigans that transpire on the daily at Disney and particularly Imagineering. There is something terribly wrong with corporate America.

[@IzzosPlace]

Sorry Tom. Bob is blowing smoke trying to get past the proxy fight. Even if Peltz/Rasulo aren’t the right fit Bob and the board need to go before things will makes sense again. Tom C for DIS CEO!!

[@darkamusements1966]

She got canned (FIRED!) .. sorry, but the writing on the wall. She was an activist and nothing she did under iger,/Chapek or Iger again was good. Iger needs to go before all of Disney implodes. But at this point I have checked out of everything Disney. They need to clean house of activist and hire people that are talented and qualified, not check boxes on the DEI card. I think it is funny how Chapek is treated, he was just a figure head for Iger the entire time he was in position. Tom seems to spend a lot of time gaslighting lately!

[@robertlorah9514]

I know since Rocket Rods didn't work, they need to bring back PeopleMover. But I loved riding Rocket Rods!!!!!!

[@VelocicoasterFanboy]

Farewell president

[@DimitriyMykhaylovDisneyFan]

Farawell, Barbara Bouza!

[@SarahAyJay]

I’ve been a huge Disney Parks fan online for over a decade but never had the money to actually visit until I went to WDW earlier this year. I was very excited for Pandora but honestly I found it disappointing. While the land is absolutely beautiful, FOP underwhelmed me. It’s literally just if Soarin’ moved like Star Tours. It’s not a bad ride but I found it to be incredibly overrated. Why can’t they put something original in that space at Disneyland? Unless they have a new ride for Pandora, it’s probably going to be underwhelming

[@TheHomeDesigner123]

She ruined The Wilderness cabins, Boardwalk Resort, the Contemporary, the new Polynesian expansion and probably the Grand Floridian too, when it happens.

[@troymacdonald8257]

She did not ruined nothing stop the negatives. Positive vibes magical go Disney mickey mouse and Minnie mouse and company.

[@ttintagel]

I didn't realize WDI was in charge of the hotels.

[@imaginaryobserver]

Garbra was bought in … Is there some Freudian slip I’m unaware of?

[@m.mickeypayne9811]

Nothing wrong with a productive ' rant' . 😊

[@greengiant5092]

I agree with Tom on this one. TBA isn't enough for them to can her. It's that she was never a good fit for the job. I'm sure she'll do great elsewhere.

[@spiritimagineer]

Rocket Rods got its budget severely cut and we ended up with that mess! It is wrong to blame the RR crew for that disaster

[@KhurtKhave669]

Wrong! The didn’t even test the stability of the columns, which is why it closed so quickly

[@briansieve]

I think Tiana is a great theme for Splash. But what's needed are quality themed areas and NEW attractions