News Phil Holmes Retiring in August

[Kman101]

See ya

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Disappointing to not make it to your 50th year with the company nor WDW's 50th anniversary. I know it's just a number and he'll have a nice pension no doubt either way, but it's still symbolic.

 

[aladdin2007]

Wasn't he responsible for shoehorning in the magic carpets in Adventureland?

 

[donsullivan]

Never in my career have I met a successful manager who did not have some people along the way who felt they had been slighted or treated poorly in some way by that manager. There is always more to these stories. People should be remembered and measured on the broad view of experiences and impact vs judged for any one individual who has a negative view.

That doesn't mean that individual didn't have what they perceived as a negative experience, only that it should not taint the overall impression of a person.

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

It’s about time he stepped down to let others in. I’ll echo and confirm that every interaction I’ve had with the man was just as sterile/cold as his portrait in Fantasyland.

 

[brb1006]

Apparently news of Phil Holmes' retirement is gaining a lot mixed feelings and reactions in this thread.

 

[BrowncatP]

He will always be present in the Magic Kingdom. Just go into the small Beauty and the Beast gift shop in Fantasyland and look at the portrait. When Enchanted Tales with Belle was having some problems and the line wasn't moving he answered my husbands question about why the line wasn't moving.

 

[asianway]

He will always be present in the Magic Kingdom. Just go into the small Beauty and the Beast gift shop in Fantasyland and look at the portrait. When Enchanted Tales with Belle was having some problems and the line wasn't moving he answered my husbands question about why the line wasn't moving.

That shop will be remodeled some day

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Wasn't he responsible for shoehorning in the magic carpets in Adventureland?

Wasn't he also responsible for slashing the budget/scope of Space Mountain's 2009 refurbishment that's still needed 10+ years later?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Your years of leadership have shaped what Disney World is today!

Yes, but maybe not for the best.

 

[asianway]

Wasn't he also responsible for slashing the budget/scope of Space Mountain's 2009 refurbishment that's still needed 10+ years later?

I don’t think a park VP has that kind of power

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I don’t think a park VP has that kind of power

He would have had the power to suggest things to the higher ups, especially given how close they were to tearing down the track.

I'm sure @marni1971 has the full story.

 

[DavidS1234]

As someone who worked an MK attraction during his tenure, where I and a few others said hi to him when he went into our attraction, he literally said the words, "You do not speak unless spoken to." He is directly responsible for lots of mismanagement throughout the park during his tenure that other area leaders that have come in after have had to clean up. If MK CM's had a positive opinion on him, he wouldn't have earned the nickname Skeletor throughout the parks.

That should say everything. (Fun fact: Chapek also did the same thing to CM's during the opening of the Skyliner. His wife, however, is much nicer.)

Heck ..I wish I had a cool moniker like Skeletor...

 

[No Name]

Skeletor is way too cool of a nickname for someone you don’t like.

When Enchanted Tales with Belle was having some problems and the line wasn't moving he answered my husbands question about why the line wasn't moving.

What a saint!

 

[t3techcom18]

He would have had the power to suggest things to the higher ups, especially given how close they were to tearing down the track.

I'm sure @marni1971 has the full story.

If the Operations area managers have power over Maintenance when it comes to a lot of factors when it should be vice versa, it's well within the realm of reason for a park VP to have that kind of power.

 

[celluloid]

When Enchanted Tales with Belle was having some problems and the line wasn't moving he answered my husbands question about why the line wasn't moving.

"Have you seen my portrait?"
Sir I asked why the line is not moving.
"My portrait is over there!"

 

[larryz]

Your years of leadership have shaped what Disney World is today!

I don't think I'd want that on MY tombstone!

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The portrait in Fantasyland was not something he designed or asked for.

Perhaps, but a portrait of that size in that prominent a location is not exactly installed against somebody's will...


If Holmes really didn't ask for it directly, the portrait becomes telling of not just managerial superiority complexes but also of a toxic rear end kissing culture in WDI.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Never in my career have I met a successful manager who did not have some people along the way who felt they had been slighted or treated poorly in some way by that manager. There is always more to these stories. People should be remembered and measured on the broad view of experiences and impact vs judged for any one individual who has a negative view.

That doesn't mean that individual didn't have what they perceived as a negative experience, only that it should not taint the overall impression of a person.

We are all complex characters, mixtures of some good, some bad. Indeed one judges the entirety of a person.

Nevertheless, I will judge a man's character based on how he treats the weakest, not the strongest. Holmes is deemed a pleasant character by higher-ups, and a cold curt one by hourly staff.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We are all complex characters, mixtures of some good, some bad. Indeed one judges the entirety of a person.

Nevertheless, I will judge a man's character based on how he treats the weakest, not the strongest. Holmes is deemed a pleasant character by higher-ups, and a cold curt one by hourly staff.

Wait...how did Paul pressler make his way in here?!?