A Whole New World...

George is taking the grand tour...

The rumors have been spreading for weeks...

Meg Crofton isn't the most beloved person at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts by far.  She's proof that not everyone Iger hires is up to the job.  Rich Ross is the glowing example of an experiment gone awry.  But even that had a silver lining with the hiring of Alan Horn, one of the best people in the entertainment industry and a gem of a man, a great person to run the studios.  So with the unhappiness with Meg, perhaps her possible departure could mean having someone take her job that is more in tune with what Disney is?

Now, I haven't confirmed this with many of my Bothans; most of them happen to be very busy working on projects in the Far East/West and I haven't talked to them much lately.  But I did send a secret message to a couple of them, and I'm waiting to hear if they know anything about this.  I've been getting some very in-the-know people telling me about this over the last couple of weeks.  What am I talking about?

Well, it's rumored that George Kalogridis, Disneyland's president might be moving on to bigger things in Florida.

Meg isn't known for her warmth and care, and she's not beloved by the Disney fan community for sure.  Her being put in charge of the One Disney project is an example of someone not liked, putting in to place something no one wants.  I can tell you that the Cast Members in Anaheim HATE the One Disney mantra.  They arbour being forced to do everything that Florida does, just because it's Florida.  After all, would you make all your children act and dress alike?

George is very well liked across the Disneyland Resort.  He's talented, very personable and extremely caring.  I do know that there has been talk around the Resort of him moving on.  And the job he's done has impressed Iger and Staggs.  If WDW is to get him to take over for Meg, then you can expect the quality of that Resort to increase dramatically.  He would be a refreshing replacement for a part of the Disney Empire that has had Suits that just don't "get" it.  Disneyland Suits aren't perfect, but most "get" it.  My hope is that should he get the position, he'll clean house and get rid of many of those around him that were connected to Meg.  The Orlando Suits are continually clueless when it comes to many of the quality issues that are commonplace here in Anaheim.

Now, should he go then that means that the Disneyland Resort will have to find someone to take his place.  I've already heard of a couple people that are being talked about for that position.  One of them is very well known by the Disney community and would be well received.  The other one I am not sure about.  But within the next few months you'll start to hear some changes coming the the Disney world.  Not just in Florida.  But it'll be interesting seeing who is put in place in all these positions before Iger makes his exit in a couple years.  He'll leave the company in a more powerful, solid position than his predecessor, but will Walt Disney World be better?

Time will tell...

Dark Clouds, Half Full...

I know that times are tough and the Walt Disney Company is looking where it can cut, but...

That genius of an executive, Jay Rasulo has a marvelous Recession/Depression/Concession plan to consolidate all of Walt Disney World and the Disney Resort's marketing/business and job cutting plan together into one Disney that's known as... One Disney. Get it?

And I have to say...

It might not be all bad. Some of it has been needed for a long time. The company's executives in TeamDisney Anaheim and TeamDisney Orlando have been bloated for far too long. Particularly in Orlando. And it appears the bad news in the economy may wind up doing what has been needed, but avoided or put off with excuses and explanations. I hate bureaucracy. I always have. I hate it when you have four people doing jobs that one person could do. It's inefficient, wasteful and diverts money that could be used for other things.

Orlando's Walt Disney World bureaucracy is known to be like quicksand when dealing with issues. There have been many more problems with the Suits in Florida than California with some treating their areas as their own little kingdoms. The bureaucracy you have to deal with trying to get through a simple idea rivals that of Washington D.C. in red tape. Cutting through all these layers will get rid of a lot of driftwood.

Now some of the negative aspects could be the homogenization of merchandising which has happened partially before. I like many of you hate seeing all the same merchandise at the parks. Having said that, it's a lot easier to change that plan over the long run than it is to get rid of these executives. This is one of those opportunities that comes along as blessing in disguise. It doesn't mean that there are things about it I don't like. But one of the ways you get the change you want is to be vocal. Make your voice known that you want different and unique merchandise. Or anything else for that matter. Let them know at City Hall. Send e-mails. Don't just whine on a chat board. There's power in your voices if you use them properly and wisely(don't be rude or use fowl language).

Change won't happen overnight, but it will happen. In the meantime, I look upon this reorganization as way to rid ourselves of most of the remainder of Eisner's bean counting, soulless Suits.

If only Jay Rasulo would surprise us and add his name to the list, that would be the best news of all...