Disneyland Resort president Ed Grier announces retirement

[Andrew]

In an email message to cast members, Disneyland Resort president Ed Grier announced his retirement. We received the following from Disneyland Media Relations:

Email message from Disneyland Resort president Ed Grier to cast members:

Dear Fellow Cast Members,

Here at the Disneyland Resort, I have had the pleasure of leading a talented and dedicated Cast. I have been humbled and honored during the past three years as I’ve watched your hard work create smiles and laughter, and delight our Guests. The power of Disney magic never ceases to amaze me, and your passion will always be a source of inspiration.

My decision to retire from the Walt Disney Company was not an easy decision; Disney has been my home for nearly three decades. As with any family, I’ve watched it grow and evolve. The past year also has been a time for growth and change in my own family.

One defining moment came when my wife and I moved our youngest son into his dorm at Stanford this fall. It was an opportunity to reflect on the past, and consider the next chapter of our own lives. I have had a long and rewarding career with the Walt Disney Company, and am excited to explore what’s next.

Disney has taken my family on an extraordinary ride around the world - from Orlando to Paris, Tokyo and Anaheim - and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

While I look forward to the opportunities ahead, I will greatly miss the many friends and Cast Members I have met along the way. Thank you for the enthusiasm, energy and encouragement you have always provided. It has been my pleasure and privilege to be part of your team.

Ed

Email message from Walt Disney Parks & Resorts president of worldwide operations Al Weiss to executives:

From: Al Weiss
Subject: WDP&R Organization Announcement


After careful consideration and many months of discussion with his family, Ed Grier, President, Disneyland Resort, has decided to retire from The Walt Disney Company. Along with other endeavors, Ed looks forward to working with his sons as they grow their recently established post-production studio in Orange, California.


Ed began his career nearly 28 years ago as a Senior Auditor at the Walt Disney World Resort. Over the years, he held various leadership roles at nearly all the Disney parks around the world, including the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort and the Disneyland Resort. He served as General Manager of EPCOT and Disney-MGM Studios. From 2004 to 2006, Ed was Executive Managing Director of Walt Disney Attractions Japan, where he oversaw Disney operations for the Tokyo Disney Resort and managed the day-to-day relationship with the Oriental Land Company. During this time, he played a key role in master planning the Tokyo Disney Resort and leading the Disney team that helped bring new attractions and entertainment spectaculars, as well as the Cirque du Soleil theatre and Tokyo Disneyland Hotel.


In 2006, Ed assumed his current role as President of the Disneyland Resort. Shortly after he arrived in Anaheim, Ed provided long-term protection for the Anaheim Resort Area, leading his team through a public debate that focused on maintaining the integrity of the Disney brand. Ed’s tenure as President was marked by significant growth and development with the expansions of Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the addition of the first Disney’s Vacation Club on the West Coast.


Ed has demonstrated a passionate commitment to the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim community through public appearances, service on boards and participation in initiatives covering economic recovery, travel and tourism, education and health. Ed’s leadership style has facilitated a culture of collaboration that has earned him the respect of the community and the Cast.


Please join me in thanking Ed for his many years of service and wishing him well as he moves on to new endeavors.


I will be announcing his replacement shortly.

[olegc]

Hallelujah! and i hope this means someone else above him will go soon too.

although, I doubt it. It's tough to tell right now whether Iger is pushing his weight around in the parks or is Jay going more the route of a centralized control. You'd think, though, that they need some form of "president" at each resort simply because of the global nature. It's also tough to determine whether he left because he did not do enough, or not what was wanted (more cuts? more changes?). he was so hidden you can't judge too much on what he was let go for because it seemed he was a yes man - and I thought that fit the bill with Jay.

[adriennek]

Who?

Adrienne

[Boo's Mommy]

Oh c'mon! I saw him at the park every time we visited the past year and a half! (visited about 5 times in that period) I even got a photo with him once right after the Jedi Training Academy!

[olegc]

Originally Posted by Boo's Mommy

Oh c'mon! I saw him at the park every time we visited the past year and a half! (visited about 5 times in that period) I even got a photo with him once right after the Jedi Training Academy!

were you wearing special x-ray specs that day?
this is 3 times more than me - and the only time I see him in person (with a visit roughly every 45 days or so) is when there is an opening, an event, or the big wheels are in town. otherwise it's like he was part of Ghost Galaxy...

[Bytebear]

I've seen him at the park a few times over the years, but it was rare, and it was always when a special event was going on.

[dznyphreak]

I'd like to take this opportunity to formally announce my candidacy for President of the Disneyland Resort. Voting will take place this Tuesday at City Hall, Main St. USA. Or you can find your absentee ballot in this week's Diamond Edition release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

My fellow Guests...as President, I would work to end our dependence on foreign dragon imports to prevent a repeat of this summer's horrible failures. I would also increase funding to find alternative sources of nighttime entertainment and encourage growth in the fireworks spectacular industry.

As you may know, our domestic Autopia cars have become less popular in recent years, so to boost sales, I would start a "Disney Dollars for Diesels" program which would allow Guests to turn in their old, environmentally-unfriendly Autopia cars for more fuel-efficient monorails (half-open windows extra). Skyway buckets and rocket rods would also be accepted under this program.

The most important part of my plan is first aid reform. Up until now, first aid has been available only to paying park guests. As President, I would make first aid available to everyone, including those whose employers do not provide adequate park admission and the Looney Tunes and Peanuts characters who immigrate from other parks without the proper admission media.

Please consider me for President of the Disneyland Resort as you go to the polls this Tuesday.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by dznyphreak

Please consider me for President of the Disneyland Resort as you go to the polls this Tuesday.

Can you produce a valid birth certificate?

[Boo's Mommy]

I thought it odd that we saw him several times, that's why I had to snap a photo! It was always one of those "that guy looks familiar" moments, and I have to get closer to read the name tag.

I don't recall any particular special events. They were always mid-week when we went. Like I said though, we only went 5 times in the last 12 months - 5 sightings.

[Bytebear]

Originally Posted by dznyphreak

Please consider me for President of the Disneyland Resort as you go to the polls this Tuesday.

Will you please build another parking structure somewhere? Preferably near the Gardenwalk with tram service and easy access to the 5 south.

[Karin]

Boy, the company seems to be bleeding the top execs recently...

[oregontraveler]

Originally Posted by olegc

Hallelujah! and i hope this means someone else above him will go soon too.

although, I doubt it. It's tough to tell right now whether Iger is pushing his weight around in the parks or is Jay going more the route of a centralized control. You'd think, though, that they need some form of "president" at each resort simply because of the global nature. It's also tough to determine whether he left because he did not do enough, or not what was wanted (more cuts? more changes?). he was so hidden you can't judge too much on what he was let go for because it seemed he was a yes man - and I thought that fit the bill with Jay.

IMHO, the reality of Ed's time as President and what he accomplished
plus his public presence in the park as viewed by many doesn't hold a candle
compared to what Matt Ouimet accomplished in his 3 years (allright...2 yrs
9 months)

[MamaBaer]

Ed Grier, Disneyland Resort President, resigned today with the obligatory e-mail mentioning "growth and change in my own family." Almost like clockwork, the average 3 year term of the past 4 Disneyland presidents expired for Ed this month, 3 years after he arrived. Mostly unseen/unheard for the majority of Anaheim Cast Members, this news isn't providing as much sorrow as when Matt Ouimet left in '06. A replacement is yet to be announced.

From Al Lutz

[cstephens]

Yep, there's a whole press release about it.

[Andrew]

Sarah Tully at the OC Register reports that Grier's last day will be this Friday.

[The old man]

Originally Posted by olegc

Hallelujah!

I was just going to type, "Hallelujah" but you beat me to it.

[darph nader]

I'll throw my hat in the ring also as a write in candidate. Remember that's darph nader, little d,little arf,little n,little der.

[mkraemer]

Originally Posted by dznyphreak

I'd like to take this opportunity to formally announce my candidacy for President of the Disneyland Resort.

[most hilarious posting snipped, but if you didn't read it originally, scroll back and do so because it is so worthwhile.]

Based on sheer chutzpah and clever ideas for a platform, I think dznyphreak's candidacy is worthy for a three-year stint.

As long as he produces the valid birth certificate and promises to restore Walt's office space at the opera house *and* has WDW return Walt's office furnishings to DL, he's got my vote.*

*Until my daughter, the official Future President of Disneyland, decides to take the reins.

[Mrs Mouse]

Originally Posted by mkraemer

Based on sheer chutzpah and clever ideas for a platform, I think dznyphreak's candidacy is worthy for a three-year stint.

As long as he produces the valid birth certificate and promises to restore Walt's office space at the opera house *and* has WDW return Walt's office furnishings to DL, he's got my vote.*

I agree. dznyphreak has my vote, providing he ammends his platform to include year-round availability of the wonderful gingerbread Mickey cookies. WDW has them all year, how about DL? I'm all about equal representation.

[dznyphreak]

Thank you all for your support. Don't forget to join my "1 Million Strong" Facebook group and invite your entire friends list.

Originally Posted by Mrs Mouse

I agree. dznyphreak has my vote, providing he ammends his platform to include year-round availability of the wonderful gingerbread Mickey cookies. WDW has them all year, how about DL? I'm all about equal representation.

Mrs Mouse, I have carefully considered your request and have decided that not only would Mickey gingerbread cookies be available year-round if I were to take office, but they would be $.75 cheaper than at WDW. That, my friends, is change we can believe in.

[KarenW2]

The D23 Expo (otherwise known as the largest ever paid advertisement for all things Disney!) was just a few weeks back and now the execs seem to be dropping like flies!

Is it coincidence? Or just bad timing of the Expo, highlighting their execs like they did?

[olegc]

Originally Posted by KarenW2

The D23 Expo (otherwise known as the largest ever paid advertisement for all things Disney!) was just a few weeks back and now the execs seem to be dropping like flies!

Is it coincidence? Or just bad timing of the Expo, highlighting their execs like they did?

i don't know if it was hilighting the execs - it was simply the execs discussion their divisions. Note that Jay Rasulo covered Parks and Resorts, not Ed Grier.. I wonder if the retirement was also timed with the Richard Ross announcement for the Disney Studios - so the majority of the push for Wall Street would be on the Studios info and not on Disneyland.

The fact that Universal also dumped their top two execs now makes the idea about the economy and ideas being bad, and not some personal issue between Iger and others, a lot more palatable..

Still - it's a smart business decision to let people go after a big event, and not before, to make sure the focus is on the event.

[daveywest]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Can you produce a valid birth certificate?

... that shows you are a native born citizen of Disneyland?

[Ish68]

HAHa, ED Grier was like one of those rare walk around rubberhead characters that you see out and about once in a while followed by escorts and a photographers.

when he was out people were so excited to see him he spent most his time taking pictures. I am almost surprised we did not see a meet and greet area for him and a merchandise cart.


All kidding aside though, i am sure he accomplished quite a few necessary things for the resort. He was involved quite a bit with the suncal incident

[ladodgerjon]

The most telling part of the announcement -- in terms of summing-up Ed's abilities -- is the fact that he has just opened a post production facility in Orange.

I've worked in televiosion for over twenty years, and I can tell you that ANYONE entering into the post business is -- simply put -- CRAZY. this is a dying branch of the business. Most post needs (online, mix, color correction, etc., etc) are now handled in-house by the various production companies (the cost and complexity of the gear are now reduced and accessible by most).

Ed didn't "get" the parks... and he apparently doesn't get most aspects of the "biz" in general.

Good luck... and good riddence, Ed.