Very sad news about former Imagineer Marty Sklar! Legendary Disney Imagineer Marty Sklar Dies at 83 - The Walt Disney Company Disney Legend Marty Sklar Passes Away at 83 - LaughingPlace.com
Sad day. Although in recent years he got used a lot to justify a lot of questionable-at-best decisions in the parks (along with those same tired Walt quotes that they like to trot out at dubious times), he had a great career that had influence on many of Disney's most iconic park elements. It's hard to imagine what Epcot would look like if he weren't involved, or if it would even exist at all; he's definitely from the generation that wasn't afraid to dream big, and followed through with great success
Tony Baxter was justifying many bad decisions too when he was at DLP's 20th Anniversary celebrations. Since Tony and Marty are still associated with WDI, I guess they aren't allowed to say negative things.
True. Tony does occasionally push his boundaries (like at the Legends ceremony a few years ago, when he asked Iger when they were bringing Dreamfinder back to the parks), but he largely seems to stick to the company line. I don't know their exact job titles, but I think Marty's role was a little more involved than Tony's current retirement status, though I'm sure he was basically retired himself
Although Tony is retired, he still works for WDI in an advisory role. In the latest Season Pass Podcast he mentioned that he still comes once a week into the WDI office.
I was very happy to be able to see Marty in person and take photos of him at the 60th anniversary celebration on July 17. He was in front of the castle and I was only a few feet away. What a brilliant, wonderful man. I wish I could have met him. Thank you for everything, Marty. Say hi to Walt for us, and all the stars in heaven.
