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[Ginns1]

Maybe his lack of "conforming" is one of the things that makes me admire him so much.

So ... what 1 question would you ask him?

I would like to know what country that he has visited left the greatest impression on him.

[Dave Marx]

Originally Posted by Ginns1

So ... what 1 question would you ask him?

Narrowing anything down to "just one" is just plain impossible for me. "Favorite park?" "Favorite attraction?" "Favorite restaurant?" "Favorite child?" Nope, I'm just not wired that way (falling passionately for Jennifer was definitely not "normal" for me, but sometimes abnormal can be very, very good ).

For me, asking Joe questions would most likely happen at a media event interview "op." Fortunately, being limited to "one question" is something that happens at Presidential Press Conferences, or during the Q&A at a Disney Annual Shareholder Meeting. In Joe's case I'm sure I'd be able to squeeze a few questions in there, and they'd relate to whatever project was on the horizon at the time (that's the only reason folks like Joe are trotted out at media events). Otherwise, my questions probably would be wasted. It's amazing just how well-rehearsed (and well-handled) Disney's people are when the media is present. It's really hard to get them off-topic or off-message. So, a question like, "What's your favorite attraction, Joe?" will inevitably be answered with, "I'm really, really excited about this new one we've just announced, it's going to be..."

I was present at the media event for the 5th Anniversary of Disney's Animal Kingdom. It was a pretty small media crowd (we were gathered in the space where the path from The Oasis meets the path that encircles Discovery Island - right by the Tip Board). That's when Expedition: Everest was first announced, and Joe got to stand up and describe the Yeti to the public for the first time. Boy, was he impressive! (If I remember correctly, then-WDW President Al Weiss appeared on stage at that event dressed in a hooded, fur-trimmed parka).

I've spoken to Marty Sklar on at least four occasions I can recall, and he's always nice to talk to. With Marty it always feels like a personal conversation, never an interview. However, folks have to bear in mind that no matter how involved he was with the creative end of Imagineering over the years, his biggest role has been as a public spokesperson. Remember, he started out at Disneyland editing the Main Street newspaper. If the conversation has to do with anything Disney, he's "on message."

I remember Marty's reply to one question at a Disneyland symposium held a couple of years ago at Henry Ford Museum here in Michigan... Someone in the crowd asked him about Hidden Mickeys, and his response was cold and brief; they don't exist. That's the original "line" from Disney management - they weren't authorized by the company, so they don't exist. Of course, they are now recognized and authorized by the company in a dozen different ways, but maybe nobody told Marty it was OK to admit it. It seemed like, to him, it's still an embarassing, Imagineer's inside joke that got out of hand. Well, perhaps he was just teasing the audience, but considering how he dropped the question and moved on suggests otherwise.

At the official opening of Tower of Terror at DCA, I spent a good 10 minutes chatting in the queue with Marty, while we both waited to ride. Funny thing... when it was time to ride he and the other Disney officials with him were ushered over to ride in a separate "elevator" than the rest of us. Were they making sure the press wouldn't get to witness an unintended, unguarded moment? It hardly matters, though. They did display the photo of his ride. (I wonder if any other members of the press corps knew to look for it?) He had a big grin on his face. Was that the smile of an Imagineer who never grew up, or was he fully aware that he was on stage (and when the flash would go off)?

(Oh, by the way, I put "elevator" in quotations because another Imagineer at the event took pains to say that it isn't an elevator, it's an "amusement ride vehicle." Apparently, under California law, "elevators" aren't allowed to do that. )