Golden Oak Neighborhood Walt Disney World (WDW) News Discuss Golden Oak Neighborhood in the News & Rumors forums; I 100% agree! Disney has been making it abundantly clear which class they are catering to over the past few years, and this is just icing on the cake...I am ...

[DopeyDancer87]

I 100% agree! Disney has been making it abundantly clear which class they are catering to over the past few years, and this is just icing on the cake...I am not happy about this one bit, not only does this stain their image as a "family oriented park" for "all who come to this happy place", but it ruins the Disney Magic seeing people who live there all year round just going about their daily business and such. Disney is really putting a Disney Vacation out of reach for so many.


I don't have any kids yet, but I feel as though when I do, the Disney I show them is going to be far from the Disney I was raised with, and that bothers me greatly.

[WDW4Ever]

Originally Posted by DopeyDancer87

I 100% agree! Disney has been making it abundantly clear which class they are catering to over the past few years, and this is just icing on the cake...I am not happy about this one bit, not only does this stain their image as a "family oriented park" for "all who come to this happy place", but it ruins the Disney Magic seeing people who live there all year round just going about their daily business and such. Disney is really putting a Disney Vacation out of reach for so many.


I don't have any kids yet, but I feel as though when I do, the Disney I show them is going to be far from the Disney I was raised with, and that bothers me greatly.

I know this of topic from my own topic, but I was going through the Disney Pin site to see what was coming up or if there was any I'd like to order, but even the pins don't seem to be quite as good as they were

[ohiodisneydad]

I think we can thank the influx of new people to the Disney Empire for this change. I was reading an article on the upcoming POTC sequel and there was a portion in there that spoke of problems b/w **** Cook and Robert Iger. Cook is a "traditionalist" and Iger wants a new business philosophy. My fear is the traditionalists will be replaced and Walt's dream will be a memory.

Granted I think you can still afford to go to Disney provided you budget and watch your expenditures but I think the Big Shots' attitudes are changing.

[DopeyDancer87]

Originally Posted by ohiodisneydad

I think we can thank the influx of new people to the Disney Empire for this change. I was reading an article on the upcoming POTC sequel and there was a portion in there that spoke of problems b/w **** Cook and Robert Iger. Cook is a "traditionalist" and Iger wants a new business philosophy. My fear is the traditionalists will be replaced and Walt's dream will be a memory.

Granted I think you can still afford to go to Disney provided you budget and watch your expenditures but I think the Big Shots' attitudes are changing.

Agreed, but for the amount of money a family spends on a WDW vacation, no one should be made to feel like the little man in a big guy's world just because of what they can and cannot afford

[ohiodisneydad]

True, and I think the CM's go out of their way to make certain that everyone feels special. For example, on our trip in 2008 my middle daughter was watching a little girl getting all done up at the BBB at DTD. I have three girls and they all want to do this but there's just no way we can afford it. From behind the curtain appears the Fairy Godmother and asks my daughter if she wanted sprinkled with Fairy Dust! My daughter was so excited. There is no way you can put a price on service like that. As long as Disney has employees that remember what Magic is, it will be hard for guys like Iger to ruin it.

[WDW4Ever]

So far I'd say Iger's doing a pretty good job. He's turned it around from what it was

[DopeyDancer87]

Originally Posted by WDW4Ever

So far I'd say Iger's doing a pretty good job. He's turned it around from what it was

I applaud Iger as well. Eisner started to run it into the ground a bit. My dad knows Bob Iger and sees him at least once a month at the WTC meetings in Manhattan, and he said the guy seems to have his head in the right spot and he is very hands on, offering to do a lot of work himself. I understand that you have to be business oriented and that his job is not all about pixie dust and fireworks, but this is probably the worst time to announce a grand plan like this that caters to people above and beyond what the average person can afford, in addition to the construction of a Four Seasons Resort and a Pet Hotel. Definately not helping the Disney image.

[doconeill]

Here is another thought...

This is a way for Disney Parks to raise some capital fairly quickly, that can then be spent elsewhere.

This project was announced in another form some time ago. However, back then it spoke of "fractional ownership" homes, and at least at the time it was thought to be under the Four Season umbrella. But like most of Disney's third-party projects of late, things may have fallen through and Disney took it on their own and made them full ownership homes.

[Disney's Folly]

Originally Posted by doconeill

This is a way for Disney Parks to raise some capital fairly quickly, that can then be spent elsewhere.

Not entirely sure this is the best way to raise capital, even if you take into consideration that the real estate market is in terrible shape. I mean this isn't like Disney is selling someone an $8 million widget. It's a house. They own the property and are selling that and the home to potential buyers. But won't those buyers now own that slice of the property and the house on top of it. Real estate is a confusing concept but it's not a cut-and-dry profit activity for the seller.

[Disney's Folly]

Originally Posted by ohiodisneydad

I think we can thank the influx of new people to the Disney Empire for this change. I was reading an article on the upcoming POTC sequel and there was a portion in there that spoke of problems b/w **** Cook and Robert Iger. Cook is a "traditionalist" and Iger wants a new business philosophy. My fear is the traditionalists will be replaced and Walt's dream will be a memory.

Granted I think you can still afford to go to Disney provided you budget and watch your expenditures but I think the Big Shots' attitudes are changing.

I find it funny that Cook's first name got censored in your post!

I do agree about having concern about the "traditionalists". I don't know how Iger and Co. could pin cinematic issues with Cook alone. Hasn't the man lorded over a bonanza for Disney the last 10 years (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, National Treasure, The Proposal). If you want to go ahead and list their mistakes, then you can take a look around Hollywood to see the same ones being made elsewhere.

Iger has improved things quite a bit but there are still some issues with how things are currently being run. Both in film and in the parks. The theme parks need to tow the line appropriately between tradition and innovation. By no means should things get stale just because of tradition. But there have been times recently where respecting the tradition would go a long way towards improving the value of what's in the parks, instead of turning every park into a wild and wacky thrill-ride park.

And as the case is with a lot of the increasing costs of certain things as well as this elitist Golden Oaks snobborhood, also the fear of rejecting tradition AND innovation in the best interests of cold hard cash.

[doconeill]

Originally Posted by Disney's Folly

Not entirely sure this is the best way to raise capital, even if you take into consideration that the real estate market is in terrible shape. I mean this isn't like Disney is selling someone an $8 million widget. It's a house. They own the property and are selling that and the home to potential buyers. But won't those buyers now own that slice of the property and the house on top of it. Real estate is a confusing concept but it's not a cut-and-dry profit activity for the seller.

They are only starting with 30 lots. They are controlling supply vs. demand. They could probably sell 30 of them fairly easily, and assuming a 10% margin make between $4.5-24 million.

They are giving up the property. They had already de-annexed it with the intent of selling, and they may have felt that the particular tract of land wasn't usable for a better purpose at this time or for the foreseeable future. They do have plenty of land still - this was border land, and at least the Four Seasons project fulfills a niche that Disney has not been able to fill on their own.

[BarnicleBaron]

I've been waiting for this thread to start just so I could see what others had to say. I have to say that I was REALLY disappointed to hear about the Golden Oaks Neighborhood for so many reasons (many that have already been expressed). The timing, the "product", the use of Disney property...just scratches the surface. I went to the Golden Oaks Website & even just glancing through, you are profoundly hit with words/phrases like "Privilege", "Elite" & "Reserved for just a fortunate few". You get feeling that "typical" family is no longer enough or spends enough.

[WDW4Ever]

I've noticed just now as more people have commented on the Disney Parks Blog that there's an overwhelming opposition to Golden Oak. Golden Oak Luxury Residential Resort Community at Walt Disney World Disney Parks Blog

The main screen at the Golden Oak website says "Welcome to a World of Privilege and Access"
"To call Golden Oak home is to enjoy elite concierge services and privileges at Walt Disney World Resort and to step into a realm reserved for just a fortunate few."

• Private VIP transportation
• A suite of in-park benefits
• Access to select special-event tickets
• Community-hosted activities throughout the year

One of the few things, I will say, that I do at least appreciate about Golden Oak are the neighborhood names. Those being Carolwood (as in the Carolwood Pacific Railroad), Silverbrook (if anyone has any information as to how this ties in to Disney let me know. I have no idea), and Kimball Trace (as in Ward Kimball)

Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort

[Disney's Folly]

Originally Posted by doconeill

They could probably sell 30 of them fairly easily, and assuming a 10% margin make between $4.5-24 million.

I just don't see how Disney would see this is a way to make capital for other projects (as someone suggested on the thread). That margin is very inexact and the low end is too low to get much done. Plus this is a company that has the resources to introduce and innovate concepts that would bring in a much higher profit margin, whether that be from a product more universally purchased OR a product/concept that increases attendance at theme parks over an extended period of time.

[diswish]

I am new to the wdw radio blogosphere so, hello to everyone first.

Secondly.. my wife and I have been really upset over Golden Oaks. We are long time Disneyphiles. I've been lucky enough to go every year since 1971. I've been lucky to meet my mate and propose to her and marry her at WDW. We just bought into DVC after years of trying to afford it. We have been trying to move to Florida for years and even applied at WDW 2 years ago but they started a hiring freeze at the time. Our house is neatly arranged with Disney collectables and framed lithographs and our Disney movie collection is complete. Its almost too Disney, if there is a thing.

And now after we read about Golden Oaks and went to the Golden Oaks web site...
dare I say my wife and I actually talked about selling our DVC and giving up on Disney!!?? We are so appalled we don't know what to do. And since we feel like that... there has to be others... is Disney willing to sacrifice it's core visitors for a quick buck? I have plenty more to say but I'm at work...LOL.