Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-77920.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Disney World Vice-Presidents Switching Places</b></a> <p>figgy999 writes on Twitter that Rilous Carter, the Vice President at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Dan Cockrell, the Vice President at Epcot will be switching places.</p>
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Seriously? What the hell is the point of that? Unless they think Danny boy is doing a bad job of running the park.
Originally Posted By dshyates Actually, I think the move is to put Dan in charge of the park that needs the most TLC. While some of the changes to Epcot aren't my taste, Dan has done a pretty good job of breathing life back into what was a pretty stale Epcot. And we all know DHS needs a bit of freshening.
Originally Posted By ChiMike What has he REALLY done to help EPCOT though? At times I think these guys can't really effect a lot on a grand scale, on the other hand I heard that Dan might have been one of the reasons why F! went daily for the summer. So who knows?! I certainly don't anymore. I would be interested to hear your opinion on what you think Dan specifically improved in his latest stint at EPCOT.
Originally Posted By hopemax This is one of those things where I don't know what to think. Before Dan was a VP, he worked in merchandise in Frontierland, when my Mom was there. He would often eat lunch with her and her lunch mates, ask them questions and such. He will wave and say hi, so my Mom thinks he's great. But I don't know how that translates into management acumen.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Actually, I think the move is to put Dan in charge of the park that needs the most TLC. While some of the changes to Epcot aren't my taste, Dan has done a pretty good job of breathing life back into what was a pretty stale Epcot. And we all know DHS needs a bit of freshening.>> But see, I don't see that at all. Aside from Fantasmic, the park is constantly the cleanest, most well-run park at WDW.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<But see, I don't see that at all. Aside from Fantasmic, the park is constantly the cleanest, most well-run park at WDW.>> I agree completely. It is. Rilous and Ray have done a great job as 1-2 there. I hadn't heard this before, but I'm guessing this Figgy999 (I love Twitter, like being stuck in the eyes with cocktail forks!) is reputable or Doobie wouldn't have put this out. On the one hand, this is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. On the other, Disney is clearly grooming one of these men for a higher profile position (hint: it's the one whose Daddy was a big time exec for WDW) ... and if this person was ... I dunno ... going to become the Sr. VP of Ops for the entire resort, it would seem likely that they'd want him to oversee as many different parts before taking over the whole. That said, I really like Rilous both personally and professionally, but he can only do as much as the folks above allow. He was not behind Fantasmic's reduced schedule and the park's extreme cutback in hours the past two years. And he isn't the reason why Fantasmic is the mess it is.
Originally Posted By Indigo I think this is a good move on Disney's part. It gives both gentlemen more valuable experience and allows fresh eyeballs to consider theme parks that have been improving, in general, but still have a ways to go. Carter's food experience will serve EPCOT well as it has a large dependence on food (dining along the WS and the F&W Festival). Cockerell's team building and operations skills will help tidy up some of the dusty corners of DHS and, hopefully, prepare it for expansion.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Cockerell's team building and operations skills will help tidy up some of the dusty corners of DHS and, hopefully, prepare it for expansion. >> But there are no dusty corners of DHS. It's easily the park that's the cleanest and in the best shape every year.
Originally Posted By Indigo I meant metaphorically. Fantasmic needs updating, there's the un-announced attraction coming to Pixar Place, the backlot tour needs energizing (or to be put out of its misery), the food choices at DHS have been lacking in excitement. Then, I'm told that DHS will be the next park to get some Next-Gen elements added in. Cockerell has been involved tangentially in that project, so his presence there will be helpful. Finally, DHS's festival could use some improvement (along revenue generation lines among other things), Cockerell can bring his EPCOT Festival experience to bear there.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Fantasmic needs updating, there's the un-announced attraction coming to Pixar Place, the backlot tour needs energizing (or to be put out of its misery),>> See but all that stuff is basically out of the VP's hands. A new VP isn't going to change any of that. <<the food choices at DHS have been lacking in excitement. >> See, I can't agree there. DHS has the second best food behind Epcot, IMO.
Originally Posted By dshyates Clean and well maintained, yes (GMR not included). But parts of DHS are a total mess. Like the tram tour and animation exhibit. And the whole area back by LMA is stark and ugly. Also I like some of the dining changes Dan brought to Epcot (La Casa de Tequila, Via Napoli) and would mind seeing similar in DHS.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<lean and well maintained, yes (GMR not included). But parts of DHS are a total mess. Like the tram tour and animation exhibit. And the whole area back by LMA is stark and ugly.>> Right. But that's WDI and Crofton and CO. Not the VPs.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Okay back to sleep my eyes/mind/brain just interpreted that as: Presidents switching places in MK Hall of Presidents.. Bizarro World...
Originally Posted By Bolna <<I agree completely. It is. Rilous and Ray have done a great job as 1-2 there.>> If you have something positive to say about a WDW manager, he must be really good. Why isn't he the one being groomed for higher positions?
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Okay back to sleep my eyes/mind/brain just interpreted that as: Presidents switching places in MK Hall of Presidents..>> Lol, it would be very crowded in there if they added all of the vice presidents as well!
