A Stroll Through the Creations Shop, Oct 2021

So much has been written about the history of Mouse Gear I don’t think I could do one justice.   For this sake of this post, a very brief and high level summary would be that Mouse Gear opened in September 1999 in what was once Communicore East ^[1].  Twenty two years later, in September of 2021, the Creations Shop at Epcot would take Mouse Gear’s place.  Along with the Creations Shop, the former Communicore East building also houses the redesigned Club Cool (which we wrote about in a previous post: A Spin Through Club Cool)

From a 2021 Map, where Creations Shop is located

Since 2014, each time we visited Epcot we had to make a stop at Mouse Gear in the former Communicore East building. Valves on the pipes to nowhere gave me something to tinker with while my wife was looking for a new set of ears.  The walls above the merchandise were also decorated with a number of things that could capture my attention: such as shadows of Huey, Dewy, and Louie fighting with (who I’m assuming) is Donald in an office environment.  To my discredit, I didn’t take many photos of these things. But Yesterland has bunch of great Mouse Gear photos.  On January 4, 2020, Mouse Gear would relocate to a temporary location^[1] and it just wasn’t the Mouse Gear I grew to like since our first (re)visit in 2014. 

Partial view photo of the Mouse Gear sign I took on 2019 Visit 

On an October 2021 visit, we got a chance to visit the new Creations Shop.  It’s a great store.  It was well lit, vibrant, nicely spaced out, organized, and styled in the artistry that a Disney fan would love. However, that cartoonish playfulness of the old Mouse Gear is now gone.   It’s a great store.  But to me it seemed to have the experiential feel of a Nordstrom Rack or T.J. Maxx but for Disney merchandise.   We took a video of our stroll through the store in October (notice the Halloween merch). 

I like the store, I just miss the playfulness.  It may be that the redesigned Epcot will be more a bit more mature and serious; or it might be that guests are skewing older and want a shopping experience that is more adult.  Whatever the reason, there are 300 acres of Epcot to play around in.

Me, tinkering around at Mouse Gear in 2015

References:

[1] Mouse Gear Gifts with Real Character, Yesterland.com.  Accessed Dec 6, 2021

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Disney's Changing of The Guard May Be Having an Apple Moment

When the iconic (maybe that should read iConic) co-founder and CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, died in October of 2011 Tim Cook probably had the toughest job in corporate America … following in the footsteps of the visionary leader who resurrected Apple from the dead. In the year that followed, Cook’s criticisms piled up.  There was postulating that Steve Jobs would have fired Cook ^[1], insinuations that Jobs is “rolling over in his grave” with the changes that Cook had made^[2], and criticisms that Apple under Cook (and even Tim Cook himself) are just flat out boring ^[3].  So much so, even Marc Benioff (founder and CEO of Salesforce.com) Tweetstormed a number of criticisms including that he missed Steve Jobs as a result ^[4] .

Tim Cook's first product announcement as CEO of Apple

The story does get better in the next chapter.  In the years that followed, Apple would go on to release  the popular Apple Watch, introduce Air Pods, acquire Beats Electronics and Shazam, and launch the Apple TV+ streaming service which would go on to yield the award winning Ted Lasso series; to name a few.  The company would grow from $108 billion in annual revenues in 2011 to $365 billion in 2021; from a market capitalization of around $350 billion in 2011 to over $2.5 trillion in 2021. 

Bob Chapek and Bob Iger announcing the change in CEOs.

Currently, it seems that a similar drama is unfolding at the Walt Disney Company.   Bob Chapek, too, has a tough job following the charismatic Iger.  Under Iger's tutelage, The Walt Disney Company  the company acquired Pixar, Lucas Arts, Marvel Entertainment, and a large part of 21st Century Fox. Disney's market capitalization went from around $46 billion in 2005, the year Iger was named CEO, to approximately $257 billion in 2019.   In February 2020 Bob Iger announced he was stepping down as CEO of the company and become Executive Chairman; initiating long overdue plans to retire.  Iger postponed retiring in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019. He will leave the company at the end of 2021.  Bob Chapek was immediately named CEO; beginning his tenure just as COVID-19 started quickly unfold.  By mid-March, the WHO would declare it a pandemic and President Trump would declare it a National Emergency ^[5] 

Nov 21, 2021: Complaint about Genie+ on Twitter. 

February 2022 will start Bob Chapek’s second year as CEO of the company and, like Cook early on, the criticisms are piling up; including a Change.org petition to have him fired.  Complaints about paid replacement for FastPass+ (Genie+ and the Lightning Lanes), food portions, and the pausing of the Walt Disney World Annual Passes are promulgating a number of social media spots.  The guest complaints seem to be largely centered on the parks, but that’s not stopping the criticisms from talent and high profile executives as well. Imagineering is unsettled about relocating to Florida, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings actor Simu Liu lashed out at Bob Chapek for the CEO’s use of the word “experiment” on an earnings call^[6], and Hollywood veteran and IAC Chairman Barry Diller noted in an interview on CNBC that Bob Iger was uncharitably pushed aside by his successor.   

"Iger now being pushed to the sidelines by his successor, not very nicely by the way. Certainly doesn't deserve it," says Barry Diller on future of $DIS. pic.twitter.com/nCOtzL8uBQ

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) May 21, 2021

Time has shown that Tim Cook was a good choice to succeed Steve Jobs. With COVID-19 forcing the way companies to change the way they operate and a newly installed Chief Executive shaking up a company; this can really unsettle many of a company’s stakeholders.  From the parks to movies, from the early company history to the daily headlines of today; as hokey as it sounds I just love the magic of Disney.  My personal hope is that Bob Chapek is the right choice for the job.  The picture is not currently very bright but time will tell.   Bob Chapek clearly has a pretty tough job ahead of him. But  Bob Iger even stated to give the guy a chance: "'He’s very different from me,' Iger says. 'That doesn’t mean he can’t do the job well. Give him time. It’s the only fair thing to do.'" ^[7]

… and I remember when Tim Cook had the toughest job in corporate America.

References:

[1] Pendola, Rocco (Oct 2, 2012). "If Steve Jobs Were Alive, He Would Fire Tim Cook" TheStreet.com.  Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[2] Diaz, Jesus (May 29, 2012) "10 Changes That Must Have Steve Jobs Rolling In His Grave" gizmodo.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[3 ] Brownlee, John (Sept 10, 2012) "Analyst: Tim Cook Is So Boring That Apple Will Have A Celebrity Intro The iPhone 5 Instead" CultOfMac.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[4 ] Yarow, Jay (May 7, 2012) "Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Was Ripping Apple During The New iPad Event" BusinessInsider.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[5 ] AJMC Staff (Jan 1, 2021) "A Timeline of COVID-19 Developments in 2020" AJMC.com. Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[6 ] Parker, Ryan (Aug 14, 2021) "‘Shang-Chi’ Star Simu Liu Fires Back at Disney CEO Over “Experiment” Comment" HollywoodReporter.com Accessed Nov 26, 2021

[7 ] Masters, Kim (Oct 6, 2021) "Bob Iger’s Long Goodbye" HollywoodReporter.com Accessed Nov 26, 2021

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A Spin Through Club Cool, Oct 2021

I’ve been to Epcot as a kid.  At the time, I can’t say I paid attention to the things around me. For the most part, all I remember is that I wanted to go on rides, view the countries’ exhibits, and see characters.  In 2014 my wife and I got to see Epcot for the first time in a very long time.  One of the places that we went to on that visit was Club Cool.  Standing in front of Club Cool felt vaguely familiar.   I could have been there on a prior visit decades ago; but I just didn’t remember.

Photo of the Club Cool sign taken on a 2016 visit. 

The Club Cool storefront in 2021

The place opened in 1998 in what used to be CommuniCore West; used to be called Ice Station Cool until 2005 when it essentially became the Club Cool that I went into that day[1].  We’ve made a point of going there each time we went back to Walt Disney World.  The place was relocated to the former CommuniCore East side, redesigned, and reopened in September of 2021.  Of course, we had to visit the new Club Cool.

A 2015 map of Epcot (flipped to match the 2021 map).  Club Cool was located on the West Side.

2021 Epcot Map. Club Cool now located on East Side. Roughly where Mouse Gear used to be.

While the old Club Cool had a nostalgic factor, I did like the new Club Cool.  Perhaps it was due to advances in lighting technology; perhaps time had not yet taken its toll on the paint.  But the new store was better lit and the colors were more vibrant.   Additionally, we were told that the floor of the new Club Cool was made with old Coke bottles.  I thought that was pretty neat.

A brighter lit Club Cool in 2021

With this refurbishment, they changed up the drink flavors.  The only one from the old Club Cool that has remained was Beverly.   I suppose this was kept for those who still want to take participate in the “Beverly Challenge.”

The Club Cool Flavor line up from a 2016 visit

The Club Cool Flavor line up from a 2021 visit.  Only Beverly remains. 

As with most things that get rotated out of the Disney World parks, I’m going to miss the Old Club cool.  Even though it wasn’t a high tech attraction of the original Epcot Center, I am going to miss it because it was a reminder of my wife’s first trip to WDW and my first trip back to Epcot in decades.

 

Photo taken from the Monorail: On the left, remnants of CommuniCore West where Club Cool was located.   

I do wish I took more photos and video of the classic Club Cool.  We did take more video and pictures this time around and created a short video of the 2021 Club Cool.

 References:

[1] Wikipedia: Club Cool

 

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LuLa … Sorry Roe

I was aware of this Multi-Level Marketing company (or MLM) called LuLaRoe and that they sold leggings with funky patterns.  So, I perceived it to be like Avon, Mary Kay, Herbalife, or Amway.  

I started watching LuLaRich on Amazon’s Prime Video and what I didn’t anticipate is how cultish it is.  From the love of the products to the leadership rallies; it just seemed that everyone (at least at some point in their career at the company) had this irrepressible enthusiasm for the company.  I’ve never participated in an MLM; so other companies could very well be this way for all I know. 

According to this docuseries, the company gets its name from Mark and DeAnne Stidham’s eldest three granddaughters:  Lucy, Lola, and Monroe to form LuLaRoe.  As I watched this there hashtags; such as #LuLaLovliness or #LulaBelles; being shown on the screen.  Then the retailers (as they are called) start talking about being LuLaFamous and one even wanted to get her husband a vanity license plate that read LuLaBro.   

I started to feel sorry for the third granddaughter.  It started to become LuLa <something> - LuLa <anything> really.   Roe seemed to get pushed aside with some of the corporate messaging.    Of course, by the end of the series it is clear the company is receiving a lot of unwanted attention.  Maybe it’s a good thing for Roe to be left out of some of that messaging.   

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Walkthrough of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando Presidential Suite

In normal times, we could have never stayed at this place.  At the time, hotel occupancy rates were dropping and we were able to reserve the Presidential Suite at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando.   I’m not going to dig into a detailed review of the hotel.  But, despite a minor billing hiccup (which was easily and quickly resolved), we had a very positive stay.   I will say that we were very pleased with the cleanliness of the place, the care they took to clean and sanitize, and the friendliness and attention provided by the staff. 

This is my first time doing a walkthrough video.  So, please forgive the amateur narration and the even more amateur editing.

 If the video is too rough to get through, below are few photos of the Hotel and Room:

Waldorf Astoria Orlando at night

Loved the hotel lobby

View of pool from lobby

Photo of pool and hotel taken with a 360 camera

Presidential Suite: view of dining room and living room from the master bedroom

View of the two sinks and the whirlpool tub

View of makeup table and shower

The Waldorf Astoria had Ferragamo toiletries!

View of master bedroom 

Watching the huge TV and making a mess of the coffee table.

 

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