Swinging into summer…

I’ve been a little slow in updating the blog log as of late.  As we slip into the summer months, things will probably only stay that way.

My life in some ways parallels the Disney organization as whole.  This blog is a part time hobby, done these days between chasing a 2 year old, trying to finish a master’s degree (my second), and helping run a large division of an engineering organization with over 200 people and over billion dollars in revenue.  Disney has me on scale, but then they have 60,000 people in Florida alone, so I don’t fell TOO bad for them!

The modern corporation is the master at timing and media management, and of course Bob Iger and crew are no different.  All of the talk about layoffs and downsizing has quietly faded into the background, no doubt on purpose.  That doesn’t mean the people who are out of work are any less out of work, just that the company has been happy for a while to be out of the spot light.  No doubt by design.  For the folks in Florida, the summer is as good as on autopilot:  let the chips fall where they may.

I was VERY interested today to learn that Disney has essentially all but announced their next off property hotel move in addition to the one in Hawaii as part of the DVC resort there.  The Washington Post reports today that Disney has acquired the 15 acres of the 300 acre National Harbor development just outside of our nation’s capital.  

So Jay Rasulo continues his move to broaden Disney venues and reach into places where families travel and where a name like Disney can be a trusted place to stay.  We can’t say he didn’t warn us, and for those of you who’ve wanted Jay’s head on a pike, I guess you’ll just have to get over it.

Likewise, Disney Gossip is reporting movement on the unfinished half of Pop Century, citing a rumor that says the new part will model after the family suites at Pop and be called Animation Inn. 

We’ve stayed at Pop a couple of times, as well as All Star Music and Movies a couple of times each as well.  Disney has always said that they’d build out the rest of the Pop resort when the market was ready.  I can’t help but wonder if they wish they’d done it sooner?  The current budget shoppers would have filled 2 Pop Century’s over I think. 

If you’ve tried getting a reservation at one of the Value resorts over a weekend in the next several months, you know what I mean!