mb425 Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 From The LA Times. Matt Ouimet will leave his position at the Disneyland Resort to run the hotel operations of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Ouimet, 47, will be replaced by Ed Grier, a 25-year Walt Disney Co. veteran who most recently headed Tokyo Disney Resort. Grier's portfolio will include Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the resort's three hotels. In a letter to the Disneyland staff, Ouimet wrote: "From my office window, I can clearly see the Matterhorn, Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror — and I am certain my new office will have a much less compelling view. In a three-minute walk I can enter Toontown and wander the park. Most of the time I'm just enjoying our guests and our cast ... and that is what I will miss most of all."
Electerik Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 Wasn't Ouimet supposed to be the Great White Hope for Disneyland? The guy that recognized the problems and was willing to spend the money to fix them? Maybe his bosses weren't quite as willing, eh? Interesting news, regardless. Thanks for posting it.
socalMAN123 Posted July 28, 2006 Posted July 28, 2006 NO! Ouimet said after Nemo was done, he was going to work on putting the Peoplemover back in! Let's hope Ed will think the same. I want the Peoplemover back! ---Brent
arrowfanman Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Wasn't Ouimet supposed to be the Great White Hope for Disneyland? The guy that recognized the problems and was willing to spend the money to fix them? Maybe his bosses weren't quite as willing, eh? Interesting news, regardless. Thanks for posting it. Ouimet did a lot of good for Disneyland. He not only stopped a lot of the BS caked on by previous management, but was able to reverse and revive a lot of Disneyland. He oversaw the 50th celebration (the largest marketing success in, well, the history of theme parks), and while he didn't quite ensure a successful future, he put the resort on track to ensure a successful future. His decision to leave is probably more on a level which any of us would look for a job on--how will the job better him and his family. I'm sure he'll be making more money, and that he will like the location of his new job more (I hear he didn't really like it in California). As for Mr. Grier...I was very pleased to hear we will be getting Mr. Grier! I have heard nothing but positive comments about, not merely TDLR's parks, but their operations too. And there's no doubt that, while DLR has tremedous CM's, they could always use a little TLC and some elbow grease. And hopefully this guy could squeeze us some more funds too...I'm sure he's used to working on a larger budget. -Jahan
Jew Posted July 29, 2006 Posted July 29, 2006 Ouimet was over rated. He did change the culture of the DLR for the better, but he fell short in the one area that really makes or breaks a park: employee relations. DLR's turnover rate is at a historic high, staffing levels are probably close to a historic low. Why is that? He basically tried to cut costs at the expense of the unions. First he took advantage of a loophole in the food service union contract (granted it is their fault for approving that contract, but still...the manner in which is was sprung on the employees left a bad taste in everyones mouth) to f*ck them over, then did everything he could to shaft the attractions/park services/costuming/a few other departments new contract as well. Not to mention breakrooms/employee cafeterias in bad shape (while everything in TDA is nice), non-competitive wages/benefits, etc...Add all that up and you get an understaffed park because it is so hard to find/retain quality people! Oh, and he didn't do anything to fix the awful main gate department either!
hifalling Posted August 1, 2006 Posted August 1, 2006 WOW...^Was that Joey!? He is very right. Alot of changes in the resort have caused some bad blood in the Cast Members and upper management. I dont think it was all Ouimet's fault. I know in attractions we have been struggling to keep good CM's, even not so good ones (but all cm's are good!), and we have one of the better contracts in the park. chuck
arrowfanman Posted August 1, 2006 Posted August 1, 2006 Well, I'm not trying to justify his actions in any way...rather finding excuses... ...but you have to remember, Ouimet came from the Disney Cruise Line. He had a different relationship with the workers there than the workers here. Why? Because the majority of cruiseline employees are international labor. And, they treat a "job" much differently than Americans would. Makes it easier for management to take advantage of workers. It was that transition that he didn't quite make, successfully. -Jahan
Jew Posted August 1, 2006 Posted August 1, 2006 ^So in other words...he wasn't the right man for the job in the first place.
arrowfanman Posted August 1, 2006 Posted August 1, 2006 Depends on what you think "the job" was. Because as far as the people above him are concerned, he made money. Money is good. Look Joey, I'm not saying he made all the right moves. He clearly didn't. He pulled the rug out from beneath the group who would make the least noise as they fall...the castmembers. And yes, he's overrated, but then again...what in Disney isn't. All I'm saying is I think he had a good run. So no need to persist Mr. Super-visor. -Jahan
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