Phil Holmes

Originally Posted By GOB

Anyone know how much longer Mr. Holmes has until he's asked to spend more time with family or forced to retire? I was musing today on how stagnant the Magic Kingdom is, given his refurb blockade and the anything-but-stellar maintenance (which he is ultimately responsible for).

Is there anyone promising who can replace him (or whoever's the veep of DAK now?)

 

Originally Posted By Manfried

They probably told him to stop spending money to pay for the expansion. But man, with all the rain and humidity, the place cannot stand this. Time to deal with it, or its going to rust away.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

Hopefully it's not long until he's out.

I wonder how many things will change once we have a new illustrious king of the kingdom...

...my optimism tells me that, yes, a lot will, but realistically, just another name from TDO will find himself in the position.

 

Originally Posted By disney pete

I will take over his job heck i'd even get a paint brush and lightbulbs myself where do i sign up

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

I'd join you. I'll take care of the DHS Hat and Leave a Legacy for free....

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

I would guess the position is Phil's for as long as he wants it ... and by his age, he likely has a good 3-5 years left before they start looking at retirement.

And it's not like he's moving up the ladder at this point. This should be his last position in TWDC.

As to whether there are quality people who could do the job, the answer is 'there always are' ... management at any company doesn't really care whether someone will do a good job at that level ... people are placed in positions for all sorts of reasons.

For Phil it may be his bright smile and zip-a-dee-doo-dah disposition. Or it could be his park keeps pulling in numbers, regardless of the quality of product ...

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

^ Right, there's tons of "yes men" (And women! Can't forget Meggy! ) to replace one that leaves.

...The question is... Could there be a chance of greater quality and management under a new VP?

 

Originally Posted By GOB

>>Could there be a chance of greater quality and management under a new VP?<<

I'm curious about this as well. It seems part of the problem with TDO is that there is mediocrity and incompetence on all levels, from (my favorite example) maintenance guys sleeping in ride cars at EPCOT to upper management vetoing any new additions to the P&R head instituting "Disney Parks".

Whether a Veep would have the gusto to enact such sweeping changes, I don't know. Some things just simply aren't in their power, but obviously have enough power to cut refurb budgets (i.e. Phil Holmes' Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbeam, Jungle Cruise) and be held responsible for maintenance (i.e. Epcot's stellar-compared-to-Florida-standards maintenance, in part due to Dan Cockerell.)

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

^ Right. Exactly.

The thing is... Who needs to be changed out that's starts reversing some of these less than admirable practices?

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

Jim MacPhee appeared to have done a good job in spite of TDO. Sadly, he was quickly removed.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

^ He's still there as "Vice President, Next Generation Experience and Walt Disney World Parks"

"Jim MacPhee (former VP of Epcot and 30 years with the Company) has been promoted to take on the new role of 'Vice President, Next Generation Experience and Walt Disney World Parks'. This means that Jim will now lead the Walt Disney World Park Operations team. Phil Holmes (VP MK), Dan Cockerell (VP Epcot), Rilous Carter (VP DHS) and Kevin Lansberry (VP AK) will all report to Jim MacPhee. Jim will report to Meg Crofton."

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

Yeah, they moved him to a figurehead role where he can no longer make a positive impact.

I'd rather him be VP of EPCOT...

 

Originally Posted By MousDad

They "promoted" him to get him away from all those nasty fanbois. lol.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>Yeah, they moved him to a figurehead role where he can no longer make a positive impact.<<

I don't know about that... He does have quite a bit of power.

But yeah, I want him in EPCOT, too. Or MK.

 

Originally Posted By GOB

I think '74 brought it up before, but the reality is that MOST fanboys who worship MacPhee have no idea what he had done besides EPCOT's25th anniversary, or that he's a nice guy.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym333

I know both Phil and Jim personally. I have worked both with and for each of them at different times of my career when I was at Disney. They are both nice guys. I think Jim is more personable in some ways and he has always been more of a bud than a co-worker or a boss.

I think the difference between them is that Jim has always gotten the Disney thing, while Phil has always been very much a business type of guy. I think Jim has a creative streak that serves him well and he has a great ability to be both charming and well liked, as well as being able to navigate the politics of the company. Phil on the other hand, who can also be fun and charming, is much more a numbers type of guy. I have never found him very creative and I think over the years has survived by being a person who doesn't create waves. I think he takes the path of least resistance...and by that I mean he makes decisions that are simple and easiest but not always the best in terms of the Disney show. The disappointing thing about Phil is that he has been around long enough to know better. What is also interesting is that both Phil and Jim have grown up together at WDW. Amazing that two people can be so different though they have similar Disney backgrounds.

Lastly, I am not sure what the future will bring for Phil. I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to "retire" in the next couple of years or more likely he moves to a different position in the not too distant future. I dont have any inside info but more of a gut feeling.

 

Originally Posted By skinnerbox

<<I dont have any inside info but more of a gut feeling.>>

Yeah, a gut feeling.

From drinking one million butterbeers.

8^D

 

Originally Posted By sjhym333

Naw, had butterbeer when HP first opened and found it too sweet for my taste. But I also dont drink soda. I know people love it. For me it was ok but not something I would drink again.

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

All this talk of butterbeer makes me thirsty.

 

Originally Posted By skinnerbox

Seriously... Holmes must be sweating blood now.

WDW is losing a solid chunk of their piece of the O-Town vacation pie to Potter. WDW is rapidly aging with no new "gotta see!" offerings. MK, as usual, is the most stagnant of the bunch, save for the new FLE that will open to lackluster fanfare, since the target audience is not quite the same as Potter's.

Disney totally blew it on this one. They should have been updating MK (and EPCOT) to attract the one demographic that's eluded them for eons, which is now going to IoA in droves. They should have put something in the works long before now, given the buzz on Potter before it opened. It was a complete no-brainer that Uni hit one out of the park with Potter, but Disney didn't want to acknowledge it. Now those one million butterbeers are being forced down Meg's and Phil's throats. I hope they choke on 'em.

WDW used to be one of my favorite vacation spots. Not any longer. I haven't been for three years and I have no plans to return, anytime soon. MK is my least favorite park in the resort, and I put much of that blame on Phil. He's the worst thing to happen to MK since it opened almost forty years ago. The sooner Disney dumps him, the better.