Tom Staggs visits Epcot

[WDW1974]

Sooo...if she did indeed leave this year (not holding my breath)... who would be the most logical replacement? It sounds as if she is planning to exit, so there must be at least a short list by this time...

I would only be guessing ... but Disney likes to replace from within (a HUGE problem over the last 10-15 years, if you ask me -- and even if you don't!) ... they also tend to like to replace a 'minority' candidate with a like.

Erin Wallace has basically run the resort for much of the last decade, so it would seem she is the obvious choice.

But Danny Cockerell has been the rising star of the WDW P&R ranks.

They could even go west and bring Georgie K home, although with him approaching 60, I think retirement is more likely.

~I'll take the job!~

 

[aladdin2007]

Whatever happened to Matt Ouimet? He was incredible for Disneyland a few years ago, please move east lol.

 

[WDW1974]

It does seem that Tom Staggs has been in the parks more already than Jay Rasulo ever was...?

Well, Tom not only doesn't hate the parks (unlike his predecessor), but actually appreciates them on some level ... which is a BIG step up.

~Maliboomer!~

 

[aladdin2007]

Well, Tom not only doesn't hate the parks (unlike his predecessor), but actually appreciates them on some level ... which is a BIG step up.

~Maliboomer!~

And he also has young children, which Im sure give him critiques/ideas of some sort.

 

[WDW1974]

Whatever happened to Matt Ouimet? He was incredible for Disneyland a few years ago, please move east lol.

And the DCL before that ...

What happened is he made no secret he didn't agree with his immediate boss's (Rasulo) way of doing business or that he coveted said position.

So, he was pushed out the door.

~And now he's helping that little chicken and pie stand in Buena Park~

 

[asianway]

I have heard this a few times now - but only from these boards. What health problems? She can't be that sick or disabled given the huge list of boards she is on in Orlando. She seems to have her hand in just about everything...

A hand in everything except what she is getting paid for...

 

[misterID]

I would only be guessing ... but Disney likes to replace from within (a HUGE problem over the last 10-15 years, if you ask me -- and even if you don't!) ... they also tend to like to replace a 'minority' candidate with a like.

Erin Wallace has basically run the resort for much of the last decade, so it would seem she is the obvious choice.

But Danny Cockerell has been the rising star of the WDW P&R ranks.

They could even go west and bring Georgie K home, although with him approaching 60, I think retirement is more likely.

~I'll take the job!~

What about Mary Niven? Isn't she well liked and good at her job?

 

[Horizonsfan]

I would only be guessing ... but Disney likes to replace from within (a HUGE problem over the last 10-15 years, if you ask me -- and even if you don't!) ... they also tend to like to replace a 'minority' candidate with a like.

Erin Wallace has basically run the resort for much of the last decade, so it would seem she is the obvious choice.

But Danny Cockerell has been the rising star of the WDW P&R ranks.

They could even go west and bring Georgie K home, although with him approaching 60, I think retirement is more likely.

~I'll take the job!~

Didn't someone a while back mention Rilous Carter and Jim McPhee as other strong contenders along with Dan? Though, I would guess McPhee's likelihood is contingent on how well NextGen performs (according to TDO, not us).

 

[Rose Marie]

I think that Mary Niven has done a wonderful job guiding DCA away from its status as the red-headed stepchild of the DLR, and she's not afraid of being in the park and overseeing all the expansion and improvement that has happened the past few years. There as a lot of trepidation when she was made VP but I think that she's shown that's she's capable of handling park management. This is all purely conjecture and what I've heard 3rd hand, so I'm not going to pretend I have any inside knowledge here.

By the way, George K is pushing 60? Guy doesn't look it.

 

[asianway]

Didn't someone a while back mention Rilous Carter and Jim McPhee as other strong contenders along with Dan? Though, I would guess McPhee's likelihood is contingent on how well NextGen performs (according to TDO, not us).

Yeah, that recent move for Rilous seemed odd-any insight on if the move was good or bad for him?

 

[misterID]

I think that Mary Niven has done a wonderful job guiding DCA away from its status as the red-headed stepchild of the DLR, and she's not afraid of being in the park and overseeing all the expansion and improvement that has happened the past few years. There as a lot of trepidation when she was made VP but I think that she's shown that's she's capable of handling park management. This is all purely conjecture and what I've heard 3rd hand, so I'm not going to pretend I have any inside knowledge here.

By the way, George K is pushing 60? Guy doesn't look it.

Yeah, I've heard nothing but raves about her and that she is very proactive about quality, down to the smallest detail. And seeing everything she's done over there, the decisions she's made that have been successful, that's why I'm wondering why her name hasn't been thrown around more.

 

[MichWolv]

Reading Skaggs bio on the disney investor site, it is apparent that his strengths have been purely financial. He doesn't seem to have the emotional attachment that say a John Lasseter has to the parks. It would be interesting to see what rides he's actually been on and if he has a favorite.

I am a financial guy (actually, a super accounting geek), and Tom's resume doesn't read to me like just a financial guy. Yes, he made his money investing in businesses, but his resume reads as the guy who was able to evaluate and pick the investments -- i.e., to understand the businesses and pick which ones have the potential to be nurtured into something more than they are. That takes a lot more than understanding the financial stuff, trust me. If it didn't, I'd be doing it, but I don't have that knack for identifying the concepts with promise and potential. That doesn't necessarily mean he is "emotional" about the parks or any of the other businesses he's been involved with, but he isn't purely a financial guy either.

 

[MarkTwain]

Whatever happened to Matt Ouimet? He was incredible for Disneyland a few years ago, please move east lol.

I am a financial guy (actually, a super accounting geek), and Tom's resume doesn't read to me like just a financial guy. Yes, he made his money investing in businesses, but his resume reads as the guy who was able to evaluate and pick the investments -- i.e., to understand the businesses and pick which ones have the potential to be nurtured into something more than they are. That takes a lot more than understanding the financial stuff, trust me. If it didn't, I'd be doing it, but I don't have that knack for identifying the concepts with promise and potential. That doesn't necessarily mean he is "emotional" about the parks or any of the other businesses he's been involved with, but he isn't purely a financial guy either.

That was actually the quality which made Michael Eisner so appealing to the Disney board back in the 1980s. During his Paramount days, he became famous for his "golden touch" at identifying which movies would have big box office potential - perhaps most famously, his backing of Indiana Jones. It was that quality which Disney hoped he would bring to the company, and to a large degree, he succeeded in doing.

 

[HMF]

That was actually the quality which made Michael Eisner so appealing to the Disney board back in the 1980s. During his Paramount days, he became famous for his "golden touch" at identifying which movies would have big box office potential - perhaps most famously, his backing of Indiana Jones. It was that quality which Disney hoped he would bring to the company, and to a large degree, he succeeded in doing.

for the first 10 years.

 

[MickeyMind]

God if I was head of parks and resorts I would take advantage of it sooo much. I would be living in the parks!

 

[Walt 1901]

If I was in charge of the wdw property I would be in a one park each day of the week and Fridays I would meet with my staff to brief them on what I found. The sad part is the wdw resort makes so much money that I'm sure the company feels that if it ain't broke don't fix it. Sad thing is that a lot of things are broke but if you only visit once every 2 to 3 years you may not notice .

 

[Gregoryp73]

I am a financial guy (actually, a super accounting geek), and Tom's resume doesn't read to me like just a financial guy. Yes, he made his money investing in businesses, but his resume reads as the guy who was able to evaluate and pick the investments -- i.e., to understand the businesses and pick which ones have the potential to be nurtured into something more than they are. That takes a lot more than understanding the financial stuff, trust me. If it didn't, I'd be doing it, but I don't have that knack for identifying the concepts with promise and potential. That doesn't necessarily mean he is "emotional" about the parks or any of the other businesses he's been involved with, but he isn't purely a financial guy either.

Yeah, I'm sure he's not devoid of emotion....Roy Disney was a financial guy too and protected Walt's legacy after he was gone. Disney was a different company back then as well...besides any man that's been with the company 22 years has to have some type of connection with it. I think Tom will make Disney very profitable and he will be very successful.

But, when comparing him to a J. Rohde or J. Lassetter, who you can see in videos light up when talking about or being near the parks (or riding the rides)...that's the type of emotion i'm talking about. I was more or less asking the boards about the history of this man and if they have seen that little kid within Mr. Skaggs...It may give us an insight on whether the parks will flourish or tread water. Or if the legacy will be protected in existing parks, or just replicated in other countries to open new markets.

 

[jumblue]

It would be interesting to see what rides he's actually been on and if he has a favorite.

I hear he's looking forward to seeing the Harry Potter thing they built, but every time he asks a cast member where it is, they just stare...

 

[Mouse Detective]

I hear he's looking forward to seeing the Harry Potter thing they built, but every time he asks a cast member where it is, they just stare...

LOL, hilarious!
Are Disney CM's restricted from mentioning any of their competitors? I ask because I'm reminded of a line a TM in the Horror Makeup Show at Universal uses while scolding a child who supposedly threw a rock onto the stage. He says, "This isn't Disney World, I don't have to be nice to you!" Universal TM's can't speak negative of the competition but they're not restricted from mentioning them, especially if someone asks them. Just wondering if Disney has any restrictions.

 

[celluloid]

Could someone tell the guy that EPCOT has not gotten a new major attraction since Mission Space? Ya know, around a eight years or so?