New Executive Structure?

[SeaCastle]

Under Meg's watch...

-Block Party Bash was replaced with Countdown to (no) Fun.

-Pleasure Island was closed, sitting and rotting away for years.

- Until the fan community and Jim MacPhee stepped in, she wasn't going to recognize Epcot's 25th Anniversary because that would date the park and "make it seem old."

- Look at what's happened to Splash Mountain.

- She took Space Mountain off-line for nearly a year and the refurb changed very little about the ride (especially when compared to the upgrades DL's Space Mountain got)

-Nothing has been done about the mish-mash that is Future World in Epcot right now.

- The fireworks shows have gotten less spectacular because they're too expensive (the perimeters are rarely used anymore).

-The American Idol Experience arrived about 3 years too late.

-She cut Fantasmic down to a limited schedule during all but the busiest times of year.

-She's run the same variation of the MK afternoon parade forever.

And that's just off the top of my head.

I also get the distinct impression the woman just doesn't seem to love her job or Disney all that much. She doesn't come across in interviews or anything else as someone very passionate about their work.

How much of this is Meg's direct responsibility? Do you know for sure, or are you just using her as a scapegoat? Were you aware that what you listed were decisions and circumstances made above and below her? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like a whole lot of passion and not a lot of fact to back up that she was responsible for everything bad at WDW for the past 17 years.

 

[NewfieFan]

So basically.... Meg is still in charge of WDW and NOW DL and DLP???

I hope she has some really good time management skills.

Yeah, really! I don't see how spreading someone's attention across three parks is a good thing! Frankly, I have no idea what she's like (except for what I read on here) but making the one person in charge of all three doesn't even make sense!?! :shrug:

 

[djkidkaz]

Al Lutz will spin it so that its not so bad for Disneyland, just watch. He will not concede that anything is going to go wrong at his beloved Disneyland. And I dont know the woman or anything she has done right or wrong, but if your going to make a list of the negative she has done, atleast be fair and make a list of the positive she has done also.

Hopefully Steve will jump in here and give some guidance to this thread that is going to derail very soon!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Maybe they promoted her knowing she will screw up and it will be an easy way of getting rid of her!

How much more failure do they want from her??? Lower Disneyland's attendance?? P'O the Disneyland passholders, their most loyal customers??? If this is the case, then Iger and Staggs are two complete idiots.... Bob should go back to doing the weather and Tom should hold the cue cards for Bob to read...

 

[menamechris]

They must be doing this because she doesn't have enough to do? Is being President of WDW that easy? Was she coming in late and leaving too early so they needed to pile on a couple more resorts? It's just crazy...

 

[devoy1701]

How much of this is Meg's direct responsibility? Do you know for sure, or are you just using her as a scapegoat? Were you aware that what you listed were decisions and circumstances made above and below her? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like a whole lot of passion and not a lot of fact to back up that she was responsible for everything bad at WDW for the past 17 years.

All of it SeaCastle...when you're the head cheese you are responsible, whether you were aware of the decision or not...whether you played a part in the decision or not. As President of the Resort she technically has the power to stop any decision that does not come "directly from Bob's Office"

I know what you're getting at....VPs of the Parks, Park Ops, Maintenance all play a part...but she is still has corporate responsibility for all decisions of those made under her. So while we can go around trying to find who is actually to blame for each decision, she is also to blame for all of them.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Al Lutz will spin it so that its not so bad for Disneyland, just watch. He will not concede that anything is going to go wrong at his beloved Disneyland. And I dont know the woman or anything she has done right or wrong, but if your going to make a list of the negative she has done, atleast be fair and make a list of the positive she has done also.

Hopefully Steve will jump in here and give some guidance to this thread that is going to derail very soon!

Maybe, but... I wanted to see what kind of ruckus was a-brewin' on Al's site. I haven't read the entire thread yet, but this was mod-edited to the OP with the Orlando Sentinel article:

ADMIN NOTE:
DISNEY FANS UNITE - Time for you to be vocal. The woman responsible for running Disney World into the ground is now in charge of all the US Disney parks (including Disneyland). Has Disney learned nothing from the Paul Pressler era (when they promoted the worst Disneyland President in history over all the parks)? As fans, we simply must make it clear that this is horrendous news and we will not stand for it. Speak up people and don't let up until this travesty is reversed. Time for Meg to go to the GAP! - Dusty

 

[Smiddimizer]

Where's your spirit now, Lee?

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Maybe, but... I wanted to see what kind of ruckus was a-brewin' on Al's site. I haven't read the entire thread yet, but this was mod-edited to the OP with the Orlando Sentinel article:

Oh, this is about to get good!!

 

[yeti]

No update on the Disney Parks Blog?


Hmm.....that's fishy...where'd we get this news from again? Jason Garcia feeding the fire?



Just sayin'....

 

[MKCP 1985]

So Disney World was run into the ground? :lookaroun

With all the happy times spent there over the past 5 years (while Meg Crofton was in charge) I hadn't noticed.

If a person had a mind to do so, he or she could make a case for some very nice new things that have been offered up to us at Walt Disney World despite the worst U.S.A. recession in our lifetimes. :wave:

But those who would commit Hari-Kari over this announcement, well . . . you might want to step away from the kool-aid and take a reality check.

Maybe even read some of the forum members' trip reports - seems like people are still having happy times at Walt Disney World.

 

[SeaCastle]

No update on the Disney Parks Blog?


Hmm.....that's fishy...where'd we get this news from again?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-executive-changes-20110705,0,6941221.story

 

[Gracy_hm]

Well

I still stand by my previous comment I really like Meg Crofton! She is super nice and now reporting directly to Staggs the structure will work. This is a calculated move I don't know if its a good move or not. Lets hold judgement until we see how it turns out. Still that has to be exciting news for Meg! she is by no means a Pressler or a Harris!

Kyle

 

[Pioneer Hall]

In reference to this;

ADMIN NOTE:
DISNEY FANS UNITE - Time for you to be vocal. The woman responsible for running Disney World into the ground is now in charge of all the US Disney parks (including Disneyland). Has Disney learned nothing from the Paul Pressler era (when they promoted the worst Disneyland President in history over all the parks)? As fans, we simply must make it clear that this is horrendous news and we will not stand for it. Speak up people and don't let up until this travesty is reversed. Time for Meg to go to the GAP! - Dusty


Now we may not all agree with how Meg has done things, but there is no one who can justify saying that she ran the parks into the ground. Last time I checked I still like to go to the parks and at their core I still have a great time with my friends and family when I do. Running the parks into the ground equates to destroying them and bringing them to a point of no return. You might not like things, but no one can tell me that those still aren't Disney parks out there. When the Magic Kingdom looks like Six Flags (and I used to go to a Six Flags all the time) then you can tell me how the place was run into the ground.

 

[Lee]

Where's your spirit now, Lee?

The Spirit haunts other realms than these...

My thoughts...are incomplete as yet. Good to know someone can climb from HR to such a high position. (Note: that's probably the only positive thing I have to contribute.)

The generic, bland, identity-killing virus known as "Disney Parks" is spreading.

 

[aladdin2007]

Get ready Disneyland your golden decade is about to come to an end, WDW will just continue to get worse. Think its bad already?
Now with that said, I am sure she is a really nice person and all, but I havent seen any evidence of something positive from her at WDW. Its been cut back after cutback and more and more staleness. No 40th? You can thank her among so many other things. :shrug: but will see what happens down the road.

 

[yeti]

All right, I'll play the nutty conspiracy theorist. Isn't it odd that the Orlando Sentinel is the only one to find out about this?


When I'm wrong, I'll be wrong. But for now....pass the salt.

 

[Gracy_hm]

DISNEY PARKS:We are Disney Parks you will be assimilated.
P.S There are THREE LIGHTS WdW

 

[Computer Magic]

I can't speak on Meg, but I see more synergies between the parks, like a typical business would do for economy of scale. This is good for shareholder to maximize shareholder wealth. I'm not so sure it's good for those of us guests that grew up on Disney creativity. One thing is for sure, changes are coming.

 

[IlikeDW]

The Spirit haunts other realms than these...

My thoughts...are incomplete as yet. Good to know someone can climb from HR to such a high position. (Note: that's probably the only positive thing I have to contribute.)

The generic, bland, identity-killing virus known as "Disney Parks" is spreading.

I do so hope you are mistaken on this one(I would not bet against you though)

What I hope is that in that in this new role each park VP will be required to take more personal responsibility and report to Meg C. since she obviously will not have time to get involved in the day to day of each park.

My other hope is she experience something that happened to me a few years back. I was doing what I though was a pretty good job, my director was replaced from one day to the next and I had a new boss I directly reported to. What I found out is that I was doing a good job of meeting the expectations set for me but those expectations were not that high and tainted by previous boss. We were not aspiring to offer the best. We were content to protect our territory. My new boss was proactive, he does not care who broke, why it broke or who should pay for it. in his view if it is broken it needs to be fixed because that is why we exist. It completely changed my perception of my job and actually reignited my passion. I do not know much about Tom Staggs but I can only pray he can effect this type of change - end of wishful thinking.