Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier resigns

[sir clinksalot]

Breaking News!!! Ed Grier has announced his resignation today.

Below is the email that was sent to Cast Members today:

"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."

Also confirmed by MiceAge's Al Lutz

Originally Posted by Al Lutz

Editor's Note 10/5: 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.

Now being reported by the OC register:

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...irement/20729/

Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier — who has headed local theme parks, hotels and stores for three years– today announced his retirement from the company.
Grier, who led the Tokyo theme park until 2006, has worked for the company for about 28 years.
During his tenure, the resort began a $1-billion expansion of Disney’s California Adventure and constructed the company’s first West Coast timeshare units at the Grand Californian Hotel, which opened last month.
Once more news is released about potential replacements, we will have that for you as well.

[Westsider]

So long Ed, we hardly knew ya.

No really, we hardly knew ya. It wouldn't hurt to wander out into the park once every six months or so. Maybe even go real big and go into the park without a photographer from Cast Communications with you to capture the event for future issues of the Disneyland Line and other propaganda that will then try to play it off like you are in the park all the time.

I still miss Matt Ouimet.

I wonder who Ed's replacement will be?

[DisneyIPresume]

You just have to love how Disney is running the parks into the ground. They hire someone who knows near to nothing about Disneyland and as soon as they gain enough experience and knowledge of the park they find a way to ensure that person is no longer there. Then they hire another person who has the same amount of knowledge or less and the process repeats itself. So much for progress.

Hopefully they'll find a new babysitter -- oops I meant to say President -- very soon.

[Timekeeper]

Very Bizarre...(I wonder who the replacement is?)

Timekeeper.

[Quacky4Donald]

I'm up for the challenge. Vote me in and each MiceChat member will get one free Dole Whip (Float) or churro a month!

<Joe>

[Trekkie Dad]

I'm available. I just retired a few months ago. They wouldn't have to pay a HUGE amount, since I already get a lifetime pension.

And I know Disneyland pretty well for someone who doesn't live nearby. I've been visiting just about every year since 1955.

[Wotan]

Well, Matt recently left Starwood...anyone for a comeback tour?

As far as Ed Grier goes, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: No one is every completely worthless. They can always serve as a bad example.

[Orcatime]

Thank you, Ed, for continuing in your drive to remove the unneeded from the park. You had giant shoes to fill without enough socks to help.

[Disneykin Kid]

Ed's first Disney job was senior auditor at WDW, that should tell you something, shouldn't it? I don't know if business/financial experience makes a better exec, but it doesn't seem to be a plus on the creative vision side. I'm not sure if Iger is that creative, or at least he doesn't show it off, but at least he allows the creative people to do their thing. Here's hoping to get Matt Ouimet (who was a financial person) or someone like him. Even better to replace Rasulo with Ouimet. Then we'll be in Disney heaven!

[ollieflying]

It's amusing, yet interesting to me, how easily you folks criticize people like Ed Grier. I could be wrong, but I doubt most of you have executive leadership experience in running a major theme park/resort. There is far more to it than walking around, with the goal of being spotted by Guests and DLR fans. Besides, why would you, especially when you have several very capable senior level folks who are tasked with the day to day operations of DLR.

I really enjoy your "outside looking in assessments" of the industry including Disney Parks and Resorts. Don't get me wrong, I and many of my colleagues gain much from your comments. It helps us to design, develop and implement better ways to operate our parks and delight our Guests.

I think it's pretty cool that Ed can walk away from this and say, "Hey, I was President of the Disneyland Resort." There are only a handful of folks who can.

Happy Retirement Ed!

[ryno1986]

Originally Posted by ollieflying

It's amusing, yet interesting to me, how easily you folks criticize people like Ed Grier. I could be wrong, but I doubt most of you have executive leadership experience in running a major theme park/resort. There is far more to it than walking around, with the goal of being spotted by Guests and DLR fans. Besides, why would you, especially when you have several very capable senior level folks who are tasked with the day to day operations of DLR.

I really enjoy your "outside looking in assessments" of the industry including Disney Parks and Resorts. Don't get me wrong, I and many of my colleagues gain much from your comments. It helps us to design, develop and implement better ways to operate our parks and delight our Guests.

I think it's pretty cool that Ed can walk away from this and say, "Hey, I was President of the Disneyland Resort." There are only a handful of folks who can.

Happy Retirement Ed!

Awesome post. Some people on this site like to oversimplify things, and to them apparently the only role of the Disneyland Presidency is to personally meet them on every visit (as if he doesn't have an office backstage, which if I'm not mistaken, is where real work is done).

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by ollieflying

It's amusing, yet interesting to me, how easily you folks criticize people like Ed Grier. I could be wrong, but I doubt most of you have executive leadership experience in running a major theme park/resort.

Nah. We're just the customers.

We're only here to make your cash registers go ker-ching, and provide you TDAers with amusement by posting our silly notions of how Disneyland should be run.

Pay no attention -- these aren't the droids you want.

[Eagleman]

2 points**
*I Glad that Ed Grier is leaving.........
He did not want to come to "DISNELAND" any way for he was more happy in Japan!
(TDLR)
for that alone he should never came to Disneyland!
I like see a "DREAMER" for president at Disneyland ,like
a Man that Walt Disney was.....
(no not one, that looks at wallet and see how mush bigger it gets!)
Ed was not a people person,and again he was un-happy being at Disneyland)

**Now the next one that needs to go is
"JAY Rasulo" !
This man have not help the Disney Parks but hurt them all....
The Time is NOW!
I do not care were he came from ,nor were he goes!
I just want him out of Disney Parks and the Disney CO.!
or Disneyland will in up with just another babysitter............
“What Will You Celebrate?”

[The T]

Originally Posted by Eagleman

2 points**
*I Glad that Ed Grier is leaving.........
He did not want to come to "DISNELAND" any way for he was more happy in Japan!
(TDLR)
for that alone he should never came to Disneyland!
I like see a "DREAMER" for president at Disneyland ,like
a Man that Walt Disney was.....
(no not one, that looks at wallet and see how mush bigger it gets!)
Ed was not a people person,and again he was un-happy being at Disneyland)

**Now the next one that needs to go is
"JAY Rasulo" !
This man have not help the Disney Parks but hurt them all....
The Time is NOW!
I do not care were he came from ,nor were he goes!
I just want him out of Disney Parks and the Disney CO.!
or Disneyland will in up with just another babysitter............
“What Will You Celebrate?”

Dude calm down it is not that big of a deal.

[Eagleman]

Originally Posted by The T

Dude calm down it is not that big of a deal.

Do not be rude! -DUDE