John Lasseter as WDI's "Principal Creative Adviser"

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Some really good updates at "Mice Age":

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al020706b.htm

"While the prospect of a strike is an ongoing concern, the giddy mood that swept through Glendale and Burbank after the recent Pixar announcement has also arrived in Anaheim. When the big news back in January hit TDA about Disney buying Pixar and John Lasseter taking up a new spot in Glendale as WDI's "Principal Creative Adviser," the announcement was met with quiet intrigue by TDA execs. What followed within a few days was the decision to temporarily halt all major projects planned for Anaheim that haven't already begun.

As you've probably already guessed, that means the next phase of DCA's "Placemaking" project aimed at the park's main entrance is now under new scrutiny. The desire of John Lasseter to look at and approve any major project by WDI is good news, and it may only give the planned Placemaking projects a pause rather than derail the plans we'd told you about in earlier updates. As of this writing, a decision to completely can the Placemaking concept had not been made, and prep work was still going on in WDI offices.

There's already been a great deal of work put in behind the Placemaking initiative for DCA, and most of it is inline with Lasseter's belief that the park needs a major rethink if it ever stands a chance of succeeding in the marketplace. Last year the concept of changing the name of DCA was being seriously considered, and at one point the hipper than thou title of "Disney@California" was at the top of the list. Using the ampersand symbol, like an e-mail address, was thought to be very clever as they considered rebranding the park with a more modern and easier to say name.

But then that concept was shelved as a more historical and old fashioned concept of presenting California as Walt Disney would have seen it upon his arrival in the 20's and 30's won favor. A 1930's train station was planned for what is now the rather dreary Sun Plaza, and the Golden Dreams movie was to be moved to the front of the park as well. Then the train station idea was nixed, but Golden Dreams was still slated to be moved. And then even that concept was thrown out for a wilderness lodge type of feeling to the whole main entrance.

Whatever they decide, and whatever name they give the place, there's major work about to be done at DCA despite any executive changes. If anything, the arrival of Lasseter as a major player at WDI should move the most radical plans for DCA's makeover to the front burner in the next few months. Lasseter has made it no real secret to friends that he finds fault with DCA, and that he'd like to be a part of removing Paul Pressler and Barrry Braverman's stamp of mediocrity from that property. But Lasseter also feels that too much time has already been wasted with DCA in the last five years attempting cheap fixes and hokey stunts like Rockin' The Bay or the XGames fiasco".


There's also a really nice section about how Pixar's(mainly John Lasseter) realtionship with Disneyland. I think this proves John is the right guy for this job.

[Loomis]

Lasseter and WDI seem like a perfect fit to me. As Al Lutz puts it in his column, he has "Disneyland running in his veins". Nice to see a former Jungle Cruise operator now having creative input.

I think that his is exactly the kind of thinking that will put places like DCA on the map. He has shown respect for the park of old, is will definitely not touch the 'classic' stuff, while simultaneously providing a fresh perspective on DCA.

I don't like the Disney@California idea, as it is a little bit worn-out (using the ampersand, that is).

At any rate, 2006/2007 look like they will be very exciting for all park enthusiasts!

[GhostHost]

Maybe he will save the parks from some of their bland recent offerings.