What if Frank Wells never died?

[Elijah Abrams]

What do you think The Walt Disney Company would’ve been like if Frank Wells didn’t get killed in a helicopter crash in 1994? Would many of the failed "Disney Decade" projects have been able to go through, or would’ve there been a better plan B due to EuroDisney flopping?

 

[Comped]

What do you think The Walt Disney Company would’ve been like if Frank Wells didn’t get killed in a helicopter crash in 1994? Would many of the failed "Disney Decade" projects have been able to go through, or would’ve there been a better plan B due to EuroDisney flopping?

I have had a few discussions with folks who worked with Frank before he died. From waht I understand, there's very little reason to believe he wouldn't have spent another decade or more with the company - which could have increased how long Eisner was willing to stay on as well. It's likely we wouldn't have seen HK Disneyland, that much I know for sure, although I'm not as sure about other projects, parks-wise. People I've talked to differ to if Wells would have tried to expand DisneyQuest faster, or tried for another crack at fast food, or seen regional concepts for parks as a way to make money (much as Eisner tried post-Wells' death). Wells was a fan of Disney's America, so I figure he may have been able to try and figure a way for Disney to press on despite Robert Redford leading the opposition...

 

[Robbiem]

Good question

Some cost cutting at the parks was always going to happen post Euro Disney but with Wells around this could have been far less. Animal kingdom would probably have been built but maybe opening later with a fuller line up (river safari in Asia, beastly Kindgdom). Westcot may have been built in Some form so no DCA 1. Disney’s America was probably doomed to fail in Virginia and a revised Euro Disney deal could have left the resort with a single park for much longer so no DSP

A second Asian resort was always going to happen that market was too jucy toleave to OLC so Hong Kong may have been built but probably fuller than the original plan or maybe a resort in somewhere like south Korea or Thailand

Wells liked quality from what I read and was willing to pay more for quality so maybe things like the value resorts never get built and we could get something on the Venetian plot

If Wells lived Katzenberg may have stayed at Disney so potentially no Dreamworks which in turn means less of the animator poaching of the 90s and possibly a prolonged animationrenaissance.

With the old team in place Eisner might not have bought ABC so no Iger or ESPN. Without ESPN Disney may have gone further into sports maybe buying a NLF and / or NBA team.
Wells would probably be able to manage the relationship with Steve Jobs so Pixar remains separate but close to Disney. In general I think Wells was probably more likely to back new ventures over buying something else so maybe bigger pushes into the music industry or publishing. Maybe something new like a ski resort gets built or an entertainment complex in Burbank.
Overall I suspect Disney would be a smaller company but more like its old self than the corporate entity we have how

 

[networkpro]

If wishes and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

 

[SuddenStorm]

After Eisner's heart surgery- do we think Wells would have been given control of the company?

 

[TP2000]

There's so many "What ifs" and variables here, but it all makes for interesting reflection almost 30 years later.

I don't have too much to add, other than several people who have told me directly that Frank Wells bristled at the casual first name policy of the parks. He preferred to be called Mr. Wells, whether he was in the Burbank board room or touring a new ride in Tomorrowland on a field trip to Anaheim.

The trajectory of Disney theme parks likely would have been far different circa 1995-2005 if Frank Wells had not died so suddenly.

 

[Surfchef]

It would be much different had Frank not died. I had the opportunity to have dinner with him one night, after I received my Eagle Scout rank. I also was working at Disneyland at the time (worked there for 25 years before I left). There was one thing that I carry with me still to this day. I had asked Frank “what was the secret to make money?” He told me this:

1. In order to make money, you have to spend it. Don’t budget cut or cut corners and don’t nickel and dime anyone. If you do it right the first time, you’ll see the profits pour in!

2. Treat your employees like celebrities! You MUST show appreciation to them at all costs. Keep them happy no matter what! If you always have happy employees they will keep your customers happy! And what do happy customers do? They come back, and SPEND money! They tell their friends and family, and what do THEY do? They spend money as well.

If you can remember these two key things, you’ll be successful. If not, go ahead and put your company name on the Titanic, and you know what happened to that ship.

Once Frank died and Eisner moved on, things changed DRASTICALLY. Cast Members were treated like numbers. Benefits, like Medical, Dental and Vision were changed towards the cheap end for the Cast Members. They took away the private Christmas Party and turned it into “here’s your tickets and you can use them from November through March and you get to mingle with the Guests! There were a lot of other things that changed too.

Disneyland for example had one of the BEST training programs I have ever seen with any company I’ve worked for. From how to use a fire extinguisher, to sexual harassment and New Hire Training. And More! HOURS worth of training galore! Now, it’s basic and sad.

I left Disneyland because I overheard a top level executive say “we could care less about the Guest experience. Today we are more concerned with how much money we can suck out of them once the go through the turnstiles”. For me, the “hope” ran out. I hoped that things would have gotten better. But they didn’t.

So, if Frank hadn’t died, I know for sure I’d still be there today and it truly would be the happiest place on Earth.

 

[Comped]

several people who have told me directly that Frank Wells bristled at the casual first name policy of the parks. He preferred to be called Mr. Wells, whether he was in the Burbank board room or touring a new ride in Tomorrowland on a field trip to Anaheim.

Interesting. Not something I ever heard anyone I've met/known who worked with Frank mention that while talking about him.

 

[TP2000]

Interesting. Not something I ever heard anyone I've met/known who worked with Frank mention that while talking about him.

He apparently was a stickler for being called "Mr. Wells" by workplace underlings. At least in the 1980's.

Maybe he softened a bit before he passed away suddenly in 1994?

 

[Comped]

Yeah apparently was a stickler for being called "Mr. Wells" by workplace underlings. At least in the 1980's.

Maybe he softened a bit before he passed away suddenly in 1994?

Oh yeah that makes sense, all the stories I've heard came from people who were executive level folks, VPs and the like. Not cast members further down.

 

[TP2000]

Oh yeah that makes sense, all the stories I've heard came from people who were executive level folks, VPs and the like. Not cast members further down.

The folks who told me that Mr. Wells could be, um, prickly, were Anaheim and Parks folks. Salaried all of them, several at the executive level in TDA or Glendale, but definitely not Burbank C Suite people who generally thought (and still think!) the Parks were a dumping ground of working-class ride operators who luckily provided free cash flow to Burbank's coffers.

Frank Wells liked being called Mr. Wells when he was addressed by fellow employees. Even when he was visiting a site in the Parks Division where "First Name Basis!" was the official standard. He didn't like it, or think he was one of them.

Or so I've been told by people who would definitely know.