Brad Rex is out

[Enigma]

Or creating a ride to promote a TV show, like say Jungle Cruise?

??????

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

Eisner is appreciated by those that have a good head on their shoulders, and hated by those that don't.

Yes, not every move he made was golden.....but I can not think of anyone that never made a bad call...Walt included.

Thank you. I was beginning to feel very lonely

 

[Iakona]

??????

The insinuation from Xadllas seems to be that marketing is all of a sudden responsible for what rides get built. Reality is that the WDW and Disneyland were always prime examples of using rides to promote a show or use tv shows to promote the parks etc. Familiar characters have always been used to cross promote.

 

[Frank Stallone]

If by "firing" you mean taking a higher paying position with another company, I'd love to be "fired".

Stick to coming to the parks and enjoying yourselves, instead of thinking.

 

[wedway71]

Ok im confused here. Did he step down or get fired? Did he step down to a lower position and staying or no longer employed with WDW?

 

[WDWCPbrandon]

I still am waiting for a legitimate source that Brad is really gone. Managers I inquired with today seem to know nothing about it. Maybe this thread is for nothing at all.:lookaroun

Brad Rex is leaving the company. I do not believe that it is because he is forced out though. Brad is leaving to join Hilton Grand Vacations Company as their new Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer.

Brad's position will be backfilled by Jim MacPhee, who is currently VP of WDW Park Operations.

Just in case it hasn't been mention already. But it is true that Brad is leaving.
I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with Brad a few times and I have nothing but great things to say about him. He really is a down to earth person and really appreciated all the hard work frontline CM's did everyday. He is a great leader and will definitely be missed by many in the company.

 

[mousermerf]

Ok.. Jim who? What has he done? I'm lost

 

[WDWCPbrandon]

Ok.. Jim who? What has he done? I'm lost

each line of business ( Park Operations, Merchandise, Food & Beverage...so on) at WDW has a Vice President. Jim is the Vice President for the Park Operations Line of Business, he oversees the operational aspects of Attractions, Custodial, Ticketing, Guest Communications and Entertainment.

From what I know, he has been with the company since 1978 and began as an hourly working with Watercraft.

 

[tirian]

He really did care about his job. I'll miss him.

 

[mousermerf]

So... I think what you're trying to say is...

Jim = More watercraft on World Showcase lagoon?

 

[WDWCPbrandon]

He really did care about his job. I'll miss him.

I agree with you on that. My thoughts on some of the previous post about Brad and the comments of no big celebration for Epcot's 25th...I don't believe Brad had enough authority to say, "ok we are going to have a global celebration for Epcot's anniversary and that's final!". There are plenty of others above him that he has to report to.

I believe that Brad had a passion for the Guests, Casts and for Epcot.

 

[WDWCPbrandon]

So... I think what you're trying to say is...

Jim = More watercraft on World Showcase lagoon?

:lol: who knows?

 

[culturenthrills]

I think one of the reason for alot of the venom in this thread is that alot of us have been upset with the management of WDW for the last few years. I know many people who would love it if most of the upper management at WDW was shown the door. I don't think any of yes can argue that WDW has been getting new attractions almost every year but it is the upkeep and quality issues that bother most people. This is a company that used to point out how they would start painting at one end of main street and when they reached the other end they would start all over again. They used to replace light bulbs before they blew out. Now, we have seen stuff go unfixed for months or stuff that is just rotting. Kevin Yee's newest article really points out alot of that stuff http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky042607a.htm . I don't think the magic has left WDW. I see still see it everyday that i am there. It is just disappointing to see a place i grew up with lose alot of its greatness.

 

[Brian_B]

Apparently, Phil over at the MK may be next to leave. I could definitely do without him. We may see some good stuff come to Epcot in the future...like having it open later than 9 pm during peak seasons (having some of Future World close at 7 pm in July is laughable--Animal Kingdom is open later!) :lookaroun

I wonder who it is that is carrying out these firings (and, more importantly, who will determine replacements).

I will never in a million years forget when they FIRST started to do the whole "part of Epcot closes before the rest of it" trick. I was 11...we'd been going every year and it was so radical and strange...I wanted to take a picture of the shrinking machine over the entrance to honey I shrunk the audience, which, as you know, resides at JII. It was getting a little late in the day and I guess it was closed, because some CM came after me, running and screaming that I wasn't allowed to go wherever I was going. Needless to say my family and I were absolutely flabbergasted. As a young'un, I felt like an outlaw. This was back in 1994, btw.

 

[Enigma]

I will never in a million years forget when they FIRST started to do the whole "part of Epcot closes before the rest of it" trick. I was 11...we'd been going every year and it was so radical and strange...I wanted to take a picture of the shrinking machine over the entrance to honey I shrunk the audience, which, as you know, resides at JII. It was getting a little late in the day and I guess it was closed, because some CM came after me, running and screaming that I wasn't allowed to go wherever I was going. Needless to say my family and I were absolutely flabbergasted. As a young'un, I felt like an outlaw. This was back in 1994, btw.

The whole "part of epcot closes before the rest" thing is really dumb. I find it funny that its Future World that closes early while World Showcase stays open...yet Future World is where all the rides are at! The whole park should stay open until closing.

 

[EpcotMark]

Brad Rex is leaving the company. I do not believe that it is because he is forced out though. Brad is leaving to join Hilton Grand Vacations Company as their new Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer.

Brad's position will be backfilled by Jim MacPhee, who is currently VP of WDW Park Operations.

Just in case it hasn't been mention already. But it is true that Brad is leaving.
I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with Brad a few times and I have nothing but great things to say about him. He really is a down to earth person and really appreciated all the hard work frontline CM's did everyday. He is a great leader and will definitely be missed by many in the company.

Thank you. Finally something that sounds right.

 

[speck76]

I think one of the reason for alot of the venom in this thread is that alot of us have been upset with the management of WDW for the last few years. I know many people who would love it if most of the upper management at WDW was shown the door. I don't think any of yes can argue that WDW has been getting new attractions almost every year but it is the upkeep and quality issues that bother most people. This is a company that used to point out how they would start painting at one end of main street and when they reached the other end they would start all over again. They used to replace light bulbs before they blew out. Now, we have seen stuff go unfixed for months or stuff that is just rotting. Kevin Yee's newest article really points out alot of that stuff http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky042607a.htm . I don't think the magic has left WDW. I see still see it everyday that i am there. It is just disappointing to see a place i grew up with lose alot of its greatness.

not to stray from the topic, but that article was one of the worst he has written.....

sure, River Country could be reopened, but it was a dated & bad park and there is no demand for 3 waterparks at WDW on a full-year basis.....

The Epcot facilities that are "closed" are not "closed"....they are designed and used for the many special events at the park....

Advland restaurant could be reopened, but again, there is not even demand to keep Tomorrowland Terrace open all year....perhaps the park was previously overbuilt with F&B outlets...

again....it is the fanboy attitude.....

 

[speck76]

The whole "part of epcot closes before the rest" thing is really dumb. I find it funny that its Future World that closes early while World Showcase stays open...yet Future World is where all the rides are at! The whole park should stay open until closing.

so WDW can waist money staffing attractions and outlets that get no business from 7-9pm???......

 

[culturenthrills]

not to stray from the topic, but that article was one of the worst he has written.....

sure, River Country could be reopened, but it was a dated & bad park and there is no demand for 3 waterparks at WDW on a full-year basis.....

The Epcot facilities that are "closed" are not "closed"....they are designed and used for the many special events at the park....

Advland restaurant could be reopened, but again, there is not even demand to keep Tomorrowland Terrace open all year....perhaps the park was previously overbuilt with F&B outlets...

again....it is the fanboy attitude.....

The problem is some things like Superstar Theater, the old reservations windows at Epcot and River Country are just sitting there doing nothing right in view of everyone.

As far as half of Future World closing early that was because of the drop in attendance after Sept. 11th, they also cut the entertainment back at the Magic Kingdom but even though attendance has gone back up they haven't changed the hours and entertainment in the MK is still not back the way it used to be.

 

[peter11435]

The problem is some things like Superstar Theater, the old reservations windows at Epcot and River Country are just sitting there doing nothing right in view of everyone.

As far as half of Future World closing early that was because of the drop in attendance after Sept. 11th, they also cut the entertainment back at the Magic Kingdom but even though attendance has gone back up they haven't changed the hours and entertainment in the MK is still not back the way it used to be.

Actually Future World closing at 7 was not a result of Sep 11th. I have maps from the early 90's that show FW closing at 7. After 9/11 FW started closing at 6 and WS did not open till noon. Once attendance went back up the times went back to normal.