News EPCOT and Disney Springs Leadership Shakeup: New Vice Presidents Announced

[djkidkaz]

Some thing to remember is that the majority of these execs are not Disney fanatics. They don’t spend their days off in the parks or scrolling Disney message boards.

Honestly it’s surprising that some of those long rumored fan items like Monsters Inc door coaster or Villians Land even got approved since it’s so uncommon that anyone in a role to be able to Greenlight something would even be cognizant of such ideas.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Lifestyle center with admission might be the most coherent vision that Disney has had for Epcot in decades.

Also, are we finally at the point where people won’t freak out at the suggestion that Disney Springs is a lifestyle center?

 

[Comped]

Also…“Experience Optimization”? What is that, the play room where they put executives they can’t fire?

Kartika moved from head of EPCOT into a position that the previous person got promoted out of to head call centers.

It is, at least in my mind, a demotion. And a pretty curious one considering I thought she may have been of the fast track towards a higher office until they didn't give her the MK job in 2023. I had a chance to talk to her not long after she was originally appointed, and she seemed very ambitious in terms of moving up. But this is a big sign that she is no longer favored as much in the company, especially because call center VP was once seen as a position to get out of rather than go into - so the pathway of her predecessor really means that it is really several steps back for her.

In fact, I would argue of the four women that ended up leading the parks at once... Only perhaps half of them have actively been upwardly promoted instead of awkwardly moved sideways or demoted.

Some thing to remember is that the majority of these execs are not Disney fanatics. They don’t spend their days off in the parks or scrolling Disney message boards.

I would argue it hasn't been this way since Eisner was the one in charge... Back then, they also still had quite a bit more living links to Walt among the executive teams across every facet of business, so it was unavoidable. And there are still definitely executives at Disney that have worked there for decades and are fans of the company. Just not nearly as many as when I was a kid making his first trip nearly 21 years ago, let alone most of you older than me...

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Also…“Experience Optimization”? What is that, the play room where they put executives they can’t fire?

Which = $.

But not a working Yeti.

Because it’s not your experience they’re optimizing.

 

[JD80]

I have felt that way about Epcot for years. It's a park you pay admission to pay more money for festivals. IMO the attractions at Epcot are mostly an afterthought

When was the last time you were at EPCOT?

 

[monothingie]

It is, at least in my mind, a demotion. And a pretty curious one considering I thought she may have been of the fast track towards a higher office until they didn't give her the MK job in 2023. I had a chance to talk to her not long after she was originally appointed, and she seemed very ambitious in terms of moving up. But this is a big sign that she is no longer favored as much in the company, especially because call center VP was once seen as a position to get out of rather than go into - so the pathway of her predecessor really means that it is really several steps back for her.

In fact, I would argue of the four women that ended up leading the parks at once... Only perhaps half of them have actively been upwardly promoted instead of awkwardly moved sideways or demoted.

I would argue it hasn't been this way since Eisner was the one in charge... Back then, they also still had quite a bit more living links to Walt among the executive teams across every facet of business, so it was unavoidable. And there are still definitely executives at Disney that have worked there for decades and are fans of the company. Just not nearly as many as when I was a kid making his first trip nearly 21 years ago, let alone most of you older than me...

The structure and culture of TWDC makes it very difficult to hire qualified candidates for positions.

It’s not just the quality of top management, it’s mid and lower management that directly affects things.

This is not just with the experiences segment. It’s company wide and it’s why there’s so much failure everywhere.

 

[Jrb1979]

When was the last time you were at EPCOT?

Probably around mid 90s. Kidding

In all seriousness yes they have added Remy, Guardians Frozen and redoing Test Track. The main thing most hardcore fans talk about are the festivals.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

The structure and culture of TWDC makes it very difficult to hire qualified candidates for positions.

It’s not just the quality of top management, it’s mid and lower management that directly affects things.

This is not just with the experiences segment. It’s company wide and it’s why there’s so much failure everywhere.

A recent phenomenon I've experienced is when observing certain CMs.

There are some, I question how they ever managed to obtain employment. Not just at Disney, but anywhere. And it has nothing do with appearance.

They give off the "I don't even want to be here" and "why are you bothering me with questions? I really don't want to talk to you" vibes. Which does wonders for customer experience.

Not all. There are still some very good ones. But every time I go, I seem to run into more and more of the uninspired type. Maybe it's just me. But doubt it.

 

[monothingie]

A recent phenomenon I've experienced is when observing certain CMs.

There are some, I question how they ever managed to obtain employment. Not just at Disney, but anywhere. And it has nothing do with appearance.

They give off the "I don't even want to be here" and "why are you bothering me with questions? I really don't want to talk to you" vibes. Which does wonders for customer experience.

Not all. There are still some very good ones. But every time I go, I seem to run into more and more of the uninspired type. Maybe it's just me. But doubt it.

Well I think one of the responses from another poster stated that Kartika gave the appearance that all the position was to her was a stepping stone upwards. I think you see that a lot these days where people take jobs not because they want to do them, but because it serves only for career advancement.

Of course the obvious question is why did she get the job in the first place.

But...

Unfortunately, it turns out you actually then need to do a good job in order to advance...whoda thunk it??

But even that at Disney is debatable.

 

[Tha Realest]

I mean, the VPs seem to get shaken up quite often regardless. If the goal is for him to focus for a couple years on improving upkeep, ironing out whatever logistical issues prevent a summer festival from running, and programming exhibit spaces like CommuniCore properly while a few hopefully-already-in-the-hopper projects (SSE, Imagination) play out behind the scenes, I wouldn’t be especially mad.

But he comes from a principally retail background.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

A recent phenomenon I've experienced is when observing certain CMs.

There are some, I question how they ever managed to obtain employment. Not just at Disney, but anywhere. And it has nothing do with appearance.

They give off the "I don't even want to be here" and "why are you bothering me with questions? I really don't want to talk to you" vibes. Which does wonders for customer experience.

Not all. There are still some very good ones. But every time I go, I seem to run into more and more of the uninspired type. Maybe it's just me. But doubt it.

I bet it was Sam.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I bet it was Sam.

Why, what did Sam do?

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Why, what did Sam do?

Ruined Katiebug's vacation!

 

[Ayla]

Why, what did Sam do?

Nothing.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Why, what did Sam do?

 

[djkidkaz]

A recent phenomenon I've experienced is when observing certain CMs.

There are some, I question how they ever managed to obtain employment. Not just at Disney, but anywhere. And it has nothing do with appearance.

They give off the "I don't even want to be here" and "why are you bothering me with questions? I really don't want to talk to you" vibes. Which does wonders for customer experience.

Not all. There are still some very good ones. But every time I go, I seem to run into more and more of the uninspired type. Maybe it's just me. But doubt it.

I think people fail to realize that after the honeymoon period and continuing to live paycheck to paycheck, even Disney is just a job. If you are Joe Cast Member who works at the Emporium 40 hours a week, 5 days a week and then you go on your days off to buy groceries and eggs are $8 a dozen and your just barely scraping by, what motivation do you have to be all jolly and magical? You work for a company that has super high expectations of your daily performance and your living paycheck to paycheck.

I think this is why you will see more often that when you interact with the college kids who are their on a program for 6 months, they are more engaged and “magical” because they are just having fun for 6 months, hanging out in the parks, being away from home for the first time, etc. By the time they would get jaded it’s time to go back home.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Nothing.

lol. Even better!