BryanPeek
01-17-2004, 10:57 PM
Here it is, tell me what ya think...
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Dear Board of Directors,
Hello, my name is Bryan Peek. I am sixteen years old and I love Disney, just like, I hope, most of you do too. As you are the Board of Directors of Disney, I’d imagine you all love Disney and enjoy the magic and the happiness that Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and the other parks bring to each individual. I’ve only been to Disneyland, but I’m sure the other parks hold the same magic and the same happiness that Disneyland holds. Although, quite frankly, I believe that Disneyland holds a much greater power in magic and happiness. When people walk through those magical gates, they get a feeling that no one can ever experience unless they go to Disneyland. All your problems are solved when you go there, all of your worries go away, even if you are sixteen, or you are sixty. It’s a place where a family can go, and experience a joyful time together. I hope you keep that in mind, and I hope that you don’t take that magic away from us…Your Guests. I hope you are still reading, because I believe that what I have to say is important to not only me, but others as well.
First off, I want to talk about California Adventure. I’ll be the first to say, I really enjoy the park, but there are some things that should have been done. For instance, why, when I’m at the Pacific Wharf, do I see California Screamin’? Take Disneyland for an example, when I’m on Main Street, do I see any of their big rides? No, unless I’m real close to them. Why is it that when I’m riding Grizzly River Run I see Anaheim? Why is it that when I’m literally walking around Paradise Pier I can see parts of the city? Look at Disneyland, I never once saw a piece of the city, not even when I’m going down the drop on Splash Mountain. Let’s move onto the entrance of DCA. There is absolutely nothing special about that entrance, whatsoever. There isn’t even a single dark ride in DCA. Everyone loves dark rides, look at Peter Pan. That ride is one of the best rides at Disneyland! Now, my biggest disappointment with DCA, though, is the fact that you, or Eisner, decided on putting in carnival games inside the park. When I saw that, I went into shock and panic. I thought I was in a totally different place; I thought I was at my local Puyallup Fair. Disney doesn’t need carnival rides or games. It was like you were just trying to make some cheap money. Well, you obviously did your job, because my step-dad spent at least thirty dollars on the basketball game. Even though it is a part of the boardwalk experience, I still think it’s sad you went to carnival games, just so you can make a cheap buck. I realize you had a budget for this park, but you really should’ve thought about that before you made the park “on the cheap.”
The next thing I want to talk about is the price of admission and merchandise. The admission cost is quite expensive. Wasn’t that the first thing Eisner did? Raise the cost? I believe so, and I also believe that he has raised it quite a few times since he started. Don’t you want everybody to experience the magic of Disney, or just those who can afford it? As for the merchandise cost, I’m mostly talking about the cost of sweatshirts, jackets, pants--the clothing department. The shirts are pretty reasonable, I guess, but I saw a jacket that cost eighty dollars! To me, and I’m sure to many, that is outrageous! Pants that cost fifty dollars, just because it has the Disney logo, sweatshirts that cost sixty dollars just because it has the Disney logo, I can’t remember the exact quote, but it was something like, let the customer leave with money. It looks as if you’ve changed that to, “take all the money you can.”
The food at Disneyland and DCA are great! You can’t beat the food there. There’s probably one restaurant that I don’t like, and that’s the one in Fantasyland, Village Haus, I believe it’s called? Anyway, to name some of the restaurants that I enjoy: Ariel’s Grotto (food is great, dessert is great, atmosphere is great, and you’re having dinner with the characters), Hungry Bear (you should make a similar restaurant replacing the DCA McDonald’s), Rancho Del Zocalo (whomever thought this place up is a genius—it is a wonderful Mexican restaurant), French Market (I love the chicken), and lastly, the Blue Bayou (for obvious reasons). I wanted to congratulate you on some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. So thank you for giving me something good to eat.
Now then, I want to talk about Disneyland. The Happiest Place on Earth, the Merriest Place on Earth. You are right; there is nothing like, or better than Disneyland. No theme park will ever beat Disneyland and no theme park will ever compare to Disneyland because of Walt Disney and Roy Disney. Of course, it was Walt Disney imagining this place and it was Roy doing the hard part, financing it. I can’t forget about the mouse that started it all, Mickey Mouse. There is nothing I’d like more then to see Walt Disney’s dream continue in Disneyland. No one better forget that Disneyland was Walt’s creation and that it shall never be ruined.
That brings up Tomorrowland. It seems as if you guys have been neglecting this land for quite some time now. Painting Space Mountain white is a good step to making it better, and I know you are making another attraction where Circle Vision used to be, but more needs to be done. Star Tours should have an updated video and you could make Innoventions into something even better, that building is huge. Instead of having a pizza joint, I recommend a space exploration ride, as that is futuristic.
Your movie business isn’t doing as good as it used to be. After the big hits of Lion King and Beauty and The Beast, it just has been dwindling down, slowly. Where as the creativity gone? Where is the creativity that has been with Disneyland all these years gone to? Have your minds thought up nothing imaginative? If so, that is a very bad thing, and there needs to be a fresh mind stirring with ideas to save the movie business. Where are the live action movies? Movies like Old Yeller, or Treasure Island? Enough with the remakes and the sequels. Walt Disney said, "We are not trying to entertain the critics. I'll take my chances with the public." Where has that thought gone? Of course Jungle Book 2 would make a profit but why do the same thing twice? Isn’t that boring? There is no creativity there and creativity is something that you can’t lose when you’re trying to entertain families. Like most people, I want to see something fresh, something new, something imaginative, something creative--that’s all I’m asking for.
I realize that the chances of you, or whomever, reading this is slim to none. I’m sure you all are very busy men, looking to make some money, and that is wrong, especially when you are working for Disney. When it comes to Disney, it shouldn’t be about the money, it should be about putting a smile on people’s faces. That is what it should be about. Walt Disney created a place of beauty, a place of magic, a place of happiness, and a place that no one will ever forget. What Walt did is unbelievable; he created a place that everybody can enjoy, no matter the age. There’s a reason you have loyal Cast Members, and that’s because of where they are working. The ones working at Disneyland or Walt Disney World are working there because it’s a place where you can have fun while working. People can’t do that anywhere else. You should be thankful for having such a job. I know I’m thankful I get to go a lot, even though I live in Washington. I hope to go to college down there and work as a Cast Member. It’d be so fun for me; it’d be like a dream job.
From now on, and this is to all of the people who make the big decisions--when making a decision about Disney, before you make your decision, I want you to look deep inside your heart and listen to what your heart says. Listen to what your heart has to say and listen carefully because I hope that deep down inside you took your job based on the fact that you wanted to be a part of something as magical as the Walt Disney Co. I hope you ask yourself what Walt would’ve done, what he would’ve said. I truly believe in the Disney magic and that it still exists, but for it to exist you must do your part. You must make your decisions based on your heart and your true desire, not on how much money you might make or politics. Disney shouldn’t be based on politics. With that, I leave you with a Walt Disney quote you should all keep in mind:
"You reach a point where you don't work for money."
Sincerely,
Bryan Peek
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Dear Board of Directors,
Hello, my name is Bryan Peek. I am sixteen years old and I love Disney, just like, I hope, most of you do too. As you are the Board of Directors of Disney, I’d imagine you all love Disney and enjoy the magic and the happiness that Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and the other parks bring to each individual. I’ve only been to Disneyland, but I’m sure the other parks hold the same magic and the same happiness that Disneyland holds. Although, quite frankly, I believe that Disneyland holds a much greater power in magic and happiness. When people walk through those magical gates, they get a feeling that no one can ever experience unless they go to Disneyland. All your problems are solved when you go there, all of your worries go away, even if you are sixteen, or you are sixty. It’s a place where a family can go, and experience a joyful time together. I hope you keep that in mind, and I hope that you don’t take that magic away from us…Your Guests. I hope you are still reading, because I believe that what I have to say is important to not only me, but others as well.
First off, I want to talk about California Adventure. I’ll be the first to say, I really enjoy the park, but there are some things that should have been done. For instance, why, when I’m at the Pacific Wharf, do I see California Screamin’? Take Disneyland for an example, when I’m on Main Street, do I see any of their big rides? No, unless I’m real close to them. Why is it that when I’m riding Grizzly River Run I see Anaheim? Why is it that when I’m literally walking around Paradise Pier I can see parts of the city? Look at Disneyland, I never once saw a piece of the city, not even when I’m going down the drop on Splash Mountain. Let’s move onto the entrance of DCA. There is absolutely nothing special about that entrance, whatsoever. There isn’t even a single dark ride in DCA. Everyone loves dark rides, look at Peter Pan. That ride is one of the best rides at Disneyland! Now, my biggest disappointment with DCA, though, is the fact that you, or Eisner, decided on putting in carnival games inside the park. When I saw that, I went into shock and panic. I thought I was in a totally different place; I thought I was at my local Puyallup Fair. Disney doesn’t need carnival rides or games. It was like you were just trying to make some cheap money. Well, you obviously did your job, because my step-dad spent at least thirty dollars on the basketball game. Even though it is a part of the boardwalk experience, I still think it’s sad you went to carnival games, just so you can make a cheap buck. I realize you had a budget for this park, but you really should’ve thought about that before you made the park “on the cheap.”
The next thing I want to talk about is the price of admission and merchandise. The admission cost is quite expensive. Wasn’t that the first thing Eisner did? Raise the cost? I believe so, and I also believe that he has raised it quite a few times since he started. Don’t you want everybody to experience the magic of Disney, or just those who can afford it? As for the merchandise cost, I’m mostly talking about the cost of sweatshirts, jackets, pants--the clothing department. The shirts are pretty reasonable, I guess, but I saw a jacket that cost eighty dollars! To me, and I’m sure to many, that is outrageous! Pants that cost fifty dollars, just because it has the Disney logo, sweatshirts that cost sixty dollars just because it has the Disney logo, I can’t remember the exact quote, but it was something like, let the customer leave with money. It looks as if you’ve changed that to, “take all the money you can.”
The food at Disneyland and DCA are great! You can’t beat the food there. There’s probably one restaurant that I don’t like, and that’s the one in Fantasyland, Village Haus, I believe it’s called? Anyway, to name some of the restaurants that I enjoy: Ariel’s Grotto (food is great, dessert is great, atmosphere is great, and you’re having dinner with the characters), Hungry Bear (you should make a similar restaurant replacing the DCA McDonald’s), Rancho Del Zocalo (whomever thought this place up is a genius—it is a wonderful Mexican restaurant), French Market (I love the chicken), and lastly, the Blue Bayou (for obvious reasons). I wanted to congratulate you on some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. So thank you for giving me something good to eat.
Now then, I want to talk about Disneyland. The Happiest Place on Earth, the Merriest Place on Earth. You are right; there is nothing like, or better than Disneyland. No theme park will ever beat Disneyland and no theme park will ever compare to Disneyland because of Walt Disney and Roy Disney. Of course, it was Walt Disney imagining this place and it was Roy doing the hard part, financing it. I can’t forget about the mouse that started it all, Mickey Mouse. There is nothing I’d like more then to see Walt Disney’s dream continue in Disneyland. No one better forget that Disneyland was Walt’s creation and that it shall never be ruined.
That brings up Tomorrowland. It seems as if you guys have been neglecting this land for quite some time now. Painting Space Mountain white is a good step to making it better, and I know you are making another attraction where Circle Vision used to be, but more needs to be done. Star Tours should have an updated video and you could make Innoventions into something even better, that building is huge. Instead of having a pizza joint, I recommend a space exploration ride, as that is futuristic.
Your movie business isn’t doing as good as it used to be. After the big hits of Lion King and Beauty and The Beast, it just has been dwindling down, slowly. Where as the creativity gone? Where is the creativity that has been with Disneyland all these years gone to? Have your minds thought up nothing imaginative? If so, that is a very bad thing, and there needs to be a fresh mind stirring with ideas to save the movie business. Where are the live action movies? Movies like Old Yeller, or Treasure Island? Enough with the remakes and the sequels. Walt Disney said, "We are not trying to entertain the critics. I'll take my chances with the public." Where has that thought gone? Of course Jungle Book 2 would make a profit but why do the same thing twice? Isn’t that boring? There is no creativity there and creativity is something that you can’t lose when you’re trying to entertain families. Like most people, I want to see something fresh, something new, something imaginative, something creative--that’s all I’m asking for.
I realize that the chances of you, or whomever, reading this is slim to none. I’m sure you all are very busy men, looking to make some money, and that is wrong, especially when you are working for Disney. When it comes to Disney, it shouldn’t be about the money, it should be about putting a smile on people’s faces. That is what it should be about. Walt Disney created a place of beauty, a place of magic, a place of happiness, and a place that no one will ever forget. What Walt did is unbelievable; he created a place that everybody can enjoy, no matter the age. There’s a reason you have loyal Cast Members, and that’s because of where they are working. The ones working at Disneyland or Walt Disney World are working there because it’s a place where you can have fun while working. People can’t do that anywhere else. You should be thankful for having such a job. I know I’m thankful I get to go a lot, even though I live in Washington. I hope to go to college down there and work as a Cast Member. It’d be so fun for me; it’d be like a dream job.
From now on, and this is to all of the people who make the big decisions--when making a decision about Disney, before you make your decision, I want you to look deep inside your heart and listen to what your heart says. Listen to what your heart has to say and listen carefully because I hope that deep down inside you took your job based on the fact that you wanted to be a part of something as magical as the Walt Disney Co. I hope you ask yourself what Walt would’ve done, what he would’ve said. I truly believe in the Disney magic and that it still exists, but for it to exist you must do your part. You must make your decisions based on your heart and your true desire, not on how much money you might make or politics. Disney shouldn’t be based on politics. With that, I leave you with a Walt Disney quote you should all keep in mind:
"You reach a point where you don't work for money."
Sincerely,
Bryan Peek