George K to Replace Meg Crofton as WDW head in early 2013

[HMF]

Also, realize George does fight for things. The Milennium Celebration was originally centered around the MK and he fought for it to be at EPCOT. He also fought for the money for a major addition, which turned out to be Mission Space, when the money was all but locked up for a new MK mountain.

Having the Millenium Celebration centered at MK would have made very little thematic sense. It was a perfect fit for Epcot thematically.

 

[G00fyDad]

This may seem petty to some (maybe most), but with Meg stepping aside is there a chance to see a greater resort specific merchandise than we have now? I remember days when you could go to your gift shop, no matter which resort you were at, and buy shirts, magnets, mugs, etc... that were specific to your resort. Not all that Disney Parks crap.

 

[HMF]

George has operational experience at all three resorts, but One Disney isn't exactly working as Burbank had hoped and there's been talk of scaling back.

Maybe someone in Burbank finally realized that they are two completely different resorts.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

George's time has been uneventful, not the park's.
Everything was already approved and underway when he took over.

Absoultely true, but I don't think most fans know that major capex projects, especially a super stretched out project like the DCA reboot, are a 4-6 year effort (Thanks WDI) . Most fans don't even know who Ed Grier is.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Yeah, Mission:Space was worth missing Fire Mountain for. Yeah, ok.

 

[HMF]

Absoultely true, but I don't think most fans know that major capex projects, especially a super stretched out project like the DCA reboot, are a 4-6 year effort (Thanks WDI) . Most fans don't even know who Ed Grier is.

You mean the guy who hid in his office and had security escort him to the front of queue lines.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I'll have to leave it to you insiders to tell me whether I should be excited about this or not. Hopefully, this is a good thing. Maybe, as a welcome gift, we should all mail him this picture of the hole-y polar bear cub from Maelstrom...

 

[DisneyDad1977]

This may seem petty to some (maybe most), but with Meg stepping aside is there a chance to see a greater resort specific merchandise than we have now? I remember days when you could go to your gift shop, no matter which resort you were at, and buy shirts, magnets, mugs, etc... that were specific to your resort. Not all that Disney Parks crap.

I sure hope so.I remember visiting resorts just to see what was in the gift shops. I can also remember when walking through the Main Street shops starting at Casey's and ending at the gates didn't feel like I was in the movie Groundhog Day. How many stores need to stock the same 33 hats anyway?

 

[Magenta Panther]

Yeah, Mission:Space was worth missing Fire Mountain for. Yeah, ok.

AWWWW! Really???

 

[cheezbat]

Also, realize George does fight for things. The Milennium Celebration was originally centered around the MK and he fought for it to be at EPCOT. He also fought for the money for a major addition, which turned out to be Mission Space, when the money was all but locked up for a new MK Mountain.

Um....can I trade Mission Space back in for Horizons and Fire Mountain?

Seriously...the MK needs an E-ticket added relatively soon. It's been way too long.

 

[spectrodanny]

i hope the other Rumored replacement for George isn't Phil H. I'd miss Hasunted Mansion Holiday if that were the case.

 

[HMF]

i hope the other Rumored replacement for George isn't Phil H. I'd miss Hasunted Mansion Holiday if that were the case.

I thought it was well established that Phil will be retiring in the near future.

 

[disreport]

I'll have to leave it to you insiders to tell me whether I should be excited about this or not. Hopefully, this is a good thing. Maybe, as a welcome gift, we should all mail him this picture of the hole-y polar bear cub from Maelstrom...

Already emailed Iger on this and actually got a response back from Epcot VP. I'll let you know what comes of it...

 

[Magenta Panther]

Already emailed Iger on this and actually got a response back from Epcot VP. I'll let you know what comes of it...

Whoa.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Already emailed Iger on this and actually got a response back from Epcot VP. I'll let you know what comes of it...

Good for you!! Certainly more productive than asking for them to bring back Horizons!!

 

[HMF]

Already emailed Iger on this and actually got a response back from Epcot VP. I'll let you know what comes of it...

I have to say where the heck did Erin Youngs come from. I know Rilous Carter was Epcot VP for all of a week and all of a sudden this relative unknown person takes over. It really does make you wonder how much actual power these VPs have rather than simply being the corporate-appointed person to blame.

 

[ScoutN]

Out of curiosity, was Disney ever interesting in poaching execs from Busch Gardens/Sea World?

LOL! From my understanding that has happened.... Exactly opposite of your scenario however.

 

[SeanC]

Guess Al Lutz will finally have a good source for WDW inside info...

 

[Alektronic]

S

I have to say where the heck did Erin Youngs come from. I know Rilous Carter was Epcot VP for all of a week and all of a sudden this relative unknown person takes over. It really does make you wonder how much actual power these VPs have rather than simply being the corporate-appointed person to blame.

She came from Finance, I guess they needed a bean counter in charge to get the budgets under control.

 

[HMF]

S


She came from Finance, I guess they needed a bean counter in charge to get the budgets under control.

I really have no strong opinion on her personally. She seems to like the park and care about it, unless she was just acting for the 30th Anniversary.