What Did Paul Pressler Do To Disneyland?

[Micoofy Duck]

Someone on here mentioned that ice cream had not been cleaned off Paul Pressler's thing on the ground. So I wondered who this Paul Pressler was.

I did a search on MiceChat but all I'm getting is that he used to work for Disneyland, left, went to Gap, and I guess resigned. All I read in most of the threads is insults and angry posts written in regards to this Paul Pressler.

What is his story and why do the Micechat members, oh I don't know, hate him so much.

Give me the details, the dirt, the everything. I actually think he's kinda cute, you know in his business suit and caked on man makeup.

I just read an interview with Paul on another Disney inspired website and I see he was here during the time of DCA.

And did he do anything good?

[Mathius]

Someone on here mentioned that ice cream had not been cleaned off Paul Pressler's thing on the ground. So I wondered who this Paul Pressler was.

I did a search on MiceChat but all I'm getting is that he used to work for Disneyland, left, went to Gap, and I guess resigned. All I read in most of the threads is insults and angry posts written in regards to this Paul Pressler.

What is his story and why do the Micechat members, oh I don't know, hate him so much.

Give me the details, the dirt, the everything. I actually think he's kinda cute, you know in his business suit and caked on man makeup.

I just read an interview with Paul on another Disney inspired website and I see he was here during the time of DCA.

And did he do anything good?

Well, essentially from what I heard. He really let Disneyland's maintenance slip, badly, even causing the deaths of guests. The maintenance got so bad that the roof on the Tiki Room actually collapsed, ToonTown slowly and gradually deteriorated, Frontierland had never seen any paint, Tomorrowland 1998 was done half-assed (from what people say) and they didn't bother to give Tomorrowland any upkeep after that, the Haunted Mansion looked awful, King Arthur's Carousel literally was a mess. This total neglect eventually led to many rides having to be closed during busy summer seasons in 2002-2003.

[hollywood1939]

He put more money aside for stores and restaurants in DCA than attractions. I mean honestly with how much attractions cost?

[MissChristine]

Disneyland turned from family park to a mall with a couple neglected rides thrown in.

Thankfully, it's turning around.

[Koutesu]

Someone on here mentioned that ice cream had not been cleaned off Paul Pressler's thing on the ground. So I wondered who this Paul Pressler was.

I did a search on MiceChat but all I'm getting is that he used to work for Disneyland, left, went to Gap, and I guess resigned. All I read in most of the threads is insults and angry posts written in regards to this Paul Pressler.

What is his story and why do the Micechat members, oh I don't know, hate him so much.

Give me the details, the dirt, the everything. I actually think he's kinda cute, you know in his business suit and caked on man makeup.

I just read an interview with Paul on another Disney inspired website and I see he was here during the time of DCA.

And did he do anything good?

The only good things to come from his time are it's a small world holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Everyone hates him for being cheap on the attractions. He wanted to ride the rides to failure. Some attractions were closed (like the PeopleMover). Tomorrowland '98 was the result of cutbacks on the budget, giving us a tomorrow with a certain, high speed adventure on the tracks above being built on the cheap.

Poor maintenance was another issue. Paint was peeling everywhere. Things were left neglected. Poor maintenance was the culprit of the Thunder Mounain accident (poor man lost his life).

Retail was his thing. He wanted to turn Disneyland into a mall full of food carts.

The park is better off without him

His successor, Cynthia Harriss, was similar. The two things she's credited for is keeping the canoes and having more lavish shows.

You've probably heard a lot about Matt Ouimet. He is well liked for Disneyland's turn around, as well as the fact that regulars saw him walking the park, name badge on. If it was his day off, he didn't line jump. He waited in line with the general public.

[Disneyland RR Guy]

Basically everyone here would agree with me that Matt Ouimet fixed what Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harriss broke. Even the subs Pressler didnt care for them but Matt wanted them back. Thats why some people think Matt was like Walt. Sometimes even known as a god.

[Koutesu]

Basically everyone here would agree with me that Matt Ouimet fixed what Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harriss broke. Even the subs Pressler didnt care for them but Matt wanted them back. Thats why some people think Matt was like Walt. Sometimes even known as a god.

Even Walt waited in lines at Disneyland. He didn't put himself above the common man.

[Micoofy Duck]

Oh gawd, I just came across this huge list of what he did and what he took away.





Additions:

1. Indiana Jones Adventure (attraction design & construction largely done before Paul takes over Disneyland)

2. Spirit of Pocahontas (show, later removed)

3. Toy Story Funhouse (imported from the El Capitan Theater, later removed)

4. Festival of Fools (show, later removed)

5. Festival of Foods (rename of Big Thunder BBQ Restaurant; later removed)

6. Light Magic (show/parade, later removed)

7. Hercules Victory Parade (later removed)

8. Triton's Garden (character meet and greet area formerly known as Alpine Gardens)

9. Cruisin' the Kingdom Cavalcade (character parade later removed)

10. "it's a small world" Holiday (holiday ride redress)

11. Toon-Up Treats in ToonTown (food stand, usually closed)

12. Redd Rockett's Pizza Port

13. Innoventions (exhibit)

14. "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" (attraction)

15. Astro-Orbitor (replaces Rocket Jets)

16. American Space Experience (shop area converted into exhibit)

17. Autopia redesign (replaces TL Autopia)

18. Autopia Winner's Circle (shop)

19. Rocket Rods (replaces PeopleMover, later removed)

20. Cosmic Waves (fountain area, later mostly removed)

21. Animazement, the Musical (later removed)

22. Mulan Parade (later removed)

23. La Boutique de Noel (replaces kitchen shop)

24. L'Ornament Magique (replaces baroque shop)

25. Conestoga Fries (McDonalds)

26. Woody's Roundup (later removed)

27. Tarzan's Treehouse (replaces Swiss Family Treehouse)

28. FASTPASS (ride reservation system)

29. Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante (replaces and expands Casa Mexicana)

30. 45th Anniversary Parade (now named Parade of the Stars)

31. "Believe... There's Magic in the Stars" (replaces Fantasy in the Sky fireworks)

32. "Believe... in Holiday Magic" (holiday fireworks)

33. Haunted Mansion Holiday (holiday ride redress)

34. Mickey's Detective School (seasonal)

35. Minnie's Christmas Party (seasonal)

Removals:

1. Mlle. Antoinette's Parfumerie (re-opened as Jewel of Orleans)

2. Skyway

3. PeopleMover (replaced by Rocket Rods)

4. Aladdin's Oasis (dining show)

5. Big Thunder Ranch (restaurant)

6. One of a Kind Shop

7. Circle-Vision (replaced by Rocket Rods queue, then shuttered)

8. Main Street Electrical Parade (later re-opened in DCA)

9. Carnation Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street (later re-opened in diminished capacity)

10. Rocket Jets (replaced by Astro-Orbitor)

11. Captain EO (replaced by "Honey I Shrunk the Audience)

12. Chip 'n Dale Tree Slide and Acorn Crawl

13. Lion King Celebration

14. Fantasyland Autopia (combined with Tomorrowland Autopia)

15. Mike Fink Keelboats

16. Submarine Voyage

17. Plaza Pavilion (restaurant)

18. Big Thunder BBQ (restaurant)

19. Carnation Plaza Gardens (restaurant)

20. Casa Mexicana (restaurant)

21. Cascade Peak (scenery, plus river filtration system)

22. Great American Pastimes (sports shop, later re-opened as 20th Century Music Company)

23. Swiss Family Treehouse (later re-opened as Tarzan's Treehouse)

24. Harbour Galley (later re-opened with only McDonalds french fries on menu)

25. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthru (closed for security concerns)

26. La Petite Patisserie (food stand)

27. Country Bear Vacation Hoedown (replaced by new Pooh attraction)

28. Brer Bar (replaced by new Pooh shop)

29. Tom Sawyer Island interactive activities

wow!

I'm shocked! Remember I'm still a newbie at loving and looking at Disney theme parks as something much more than a one time visit vacation. AGain I'm Shocked!

[Disneyland RR Guy]

Even Walt waited in lines at Disneyland. He didn't put himself above the common man.

Thats right and that was the same with Matt

[matterhornmaniac]

was it pressler or harris that flooded the walkways with churro carts and those humongous lemonade booths? i remember there being a major influx of them in the late 90's early 00's. didn't ouimet get rid of most of them? and reversed some of the uneeded fastpass that pressler or harris put in?


as you can see, its hard for me to tell the difference between the two

[hollywood1939]

was it pressler or harris that flooded the walkways with churro carts and those humongous lemonade booths? i remember there being a major influx of them in the late 90's early 00's. didn't ouimet get rid of most of them? and reversed some of the uneeded fastpass that pressler or harris put in?


as you can see, its hard for me to tell the difference between the two

I think it was Harris that did the carts. But really, I can't tell the difference between the two either.

[Mathius]

I would guess that Pressler did the churro carts if it were in the late 90's. Seems more like him to do that.

[Alchimedes]

was it pressler or harris that flooded the walkways with churro carts and those humongous lemonade booths? i remember there being a major influx of them in the late 90's early 00's. didn't ouimet get rid of most of them? and reversed some of the uneeded fastpass that pressler or harris put in?


as you can see, its hard for me to tell the difference between the two

ODV(OutDoor Vendor)carts were everywhere. I still think there are way too many. Pressler ran the greatest park nearly into the ground. Maintenance schedules I have read about online and and seen posted, were pushed back. So "un-Disney"

[Disneyland RR Guy]

I would guess that Pressler did the churro carts if it were in the late 90's. Seems more like him to do that.

I think your right churro carts really got going around the time he was there.

[Mathius]

Just thought I'd post some great times from the Pressler era.


http://www.mouseplanet.com/archive/update41.htm


Beautiful ain't it?