Rilous Carter New VP of Epcot; Dan Cockerell New VP of Hollywood Studios

[devoy1701]

Lee did some great things for the resort in his homogenizing things. Is there really a need for 14 different cuts of french fries anyway? Improvements to housekeeping, linens, etc (I don't remember them all and my book is out on loan) made some pretty impressive operating budget reductions that anyone could and shoud be proud of. It would have been great to see some of these reductions be reinvested into the parks though.

The problem is once that routine started it continues and blossomed to every area of the resort. Ordering ingredients and limiting the # of distrubitors used for restaurants is one thing, that doesn't mean however that every quick service menu or liquor menu needs to be the same. Distributors do offer variety, and moving from a dozen distributors to 5 or 6 would have had a very positive effect on the bottom line as well. I also doubt that Lee would have carried his operating methods down to the merchandise available at the different parks and resorts and his own background with Marriott makes it clear that each resort should strive to stand out for itself. I blame the farther homogenizing (which by the way has seemed to grow leaps and bounds since Lee's departure) on current managment.

His management style though was very impressive and inspiring for anyone in the business world and the way I read it, he created a very open forum for CMs of all levels to voice opinions and offer suggests both anonomously and with credit. If Dan takes after his father, I think we're in pretty good hands.

 

[menamechris]

I don't mind certain things being more uniform and/or consistent throughout the resort. However, certain aspects of it have gone too far. For example, I find it tacky that the exact same cocktail menu is at every single bar on property.

 

[EpcotFanForever]

Maybe it's just me, but Rilous Carter sounds like the name of a character from a Disney movie - like Darby O'Gill.

 

[FlaMel]

Rilous used to be the GM of food operations at Epcot, before he was promoted to VP of DHS, so Epcot's food is in good hands. Someone asked about DAK VP, that's Michael Colglazier (sp?), In his previous roles he drove the implementation of InnoVentions after that he lead the team that created PhotoPass.

 

[docandsix]

A Curious Response

That's a huge positive for me. It makes it so much easier to get something I know I want without having to go to an individual shop.
Say There was something I wanted in a store in the MK, I haven't been to the MK in 6 years so I would be very happy to find it in DTD or elsewhere.

Philosophically, this is called begging the question. (Begging the question (or petitio principii, "assuming the initial point") is a logical fallacy in which the proposition to be proved is assumed implicitly or explicitly in the premise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question) You're assuming from the outset that the current arrangement leaves you with something, anything, you actually want to buy. However, it is also possible--in fact, I would argue that it is likely--that the resulting decrease in the variety of available merchandise may mean that there are fewer individual items which appeal to you in the first place. This is certainly true for me.

Your assertion is very similar to, "I sure am glad that all of the SmashBurgers, Burger Kings, Red Robins, Ruby Tuesdays, and Wendy's restaurants in my town were bought up and reopened as McDonald's restaurants. That way, if I want a Big Mac, I can go anywhere, instead of having to look for a specific location."

That argument works only if:
1. You like Big Macs in the first place.
2. You never get tired of Big Macs.
3. You never have a taste for anything other than a Big Mac.

My guess is that even the most fervent Ronald McDonald fan wouldn't be willing to concede all of those points.

To me, the entire Walt Disney World experience is only enhanced by the variety (sometimes even the obscurity) of merchandise. Searching for it and finding it is half the adventure!

 

[sarajo]

I've had the opportunity to meet Mr. Carter at DHS a couple of times- very nice person and very good with the guests. He seems to be more in touch with the guests than previous VP's, as far as interacting and mingling with the people visiting the parks.

As far as the Osborne Lights... if they are discontinued, it won't be because of Disney. Mr. Osborne has been very ill for some time now, and this past year was the end of a contract term. No word, yet, as to whether or not the contract was renewed after the holidays in January. Hopefully, the lights will stay alive... but don't blame the VP's if the lights are discontinued.

 

[officeboy]

I find it interesting that the subject personnel changes at EC and DHS came down not long before the Al Weiss announcement. Any clues if the changes are somehow related? I don't know the players or the topography here so no clue if the question is relevant.