Matt Ouimet leaving DL for Starwood Hotels?

[Andrew]

I spoke to him briefly on the 17th (at which time I suppose he'd already given notice? Or certainly knew about the new job) and thanked him for two years (almost) of excellent work at the park.

[RStar]

Same here, but at the Red Carpet. A bit strange, as he must have known. Not that he was about to start spilling his guts around the park that day.....

[flippyshark]

I can at least vouch for Ed Grier as a personality. When he was Vice President at Disney-MGM Studios, he was personable, approachable, and very well liked by the cast members there. I really don't know what his priorities wlil be for Disneyland. I can only say that, if you meet him, you will probably like him. I'm going to go with cautious optimism for the time being.

(Side note - I got to work with Matt Ouimet on some Disney Cruise Line related projects years ago, and I had a very high opinion of him as a personality as well.)

[Disneyphile]

I find this to be a real shame though. He has done a LOT of good for that park. He did more in just his short run than Pressler/Harriss did in a decade.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

wow. that was unexpected!

CP- i love the new bride

[CoasterMatt]

It's about time they name a president that I know!

Maybe he'll bring the cool flavored popcorns to Disneyland, and more Chip And Dale merchandise...

[Alex]

Black pepper popcorn would be a very pleasant addition.

[Isaac]

What concerns me about Matt's departure is the timing. Usually people leave at the end/beginning of Disney's fiscal year (October). That's when Paul Pressler, Cynthia Harris, and Michael Eisner all left the company. Matt's departure is at the beginning of Disney's 4th quarter. It seems like an odd time to leave. I'm waiting to hear from 'certain people' why he really left. I'm not sure what to think of the new guy so I won't comment on him. I think Matt Ouimet did a great job. I'm grateful that he helped fight to get the Buzz Lightyear ride built, reopen Space Mtn before July 17th, brought back the original Disneyland font to the resort logo, and such. Can't say he was perfect. He DID approve of the bride inside HM and the cheesy movie overlay inside of Pirates. Still I appreciate him giving an effort to try to give his audience something new. For now I'm crossing my fingers and hoping Ed Grier (like Matt Ouimet) understands that people come to Disneyland to go on rides & not to shop for pins (like Cynthia Harris believed).

[Alex]

He was also, so I understand, the driving force behind getting the Lilly Belle back on the tracks (and it seemed like he spent almost as much time at the Monster, Inc., premiere party talking about that as the new ride).

I wonder if there is really much backstory on the departure. Perhaps he was just made an offer he couldn't refuse by Starwood. Obviously this wasn't a surprise to Disney and in contentious departures someone usually leaks it.

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, bah.


Actually, looking at how things turned out .... Ouimet was, in my view, meant to save the 50th and nothing more. I don't think lightly of that. It was an important mission and, now that he is leaving right afterwards, it's clear to me that it was his singular mission. He accomplished it well.

There was a year of wonderfulness that began on May 5, 2005 ... and expired not unlike a fairygodmother's spell at the year's end. I thank Matt Ouimet for that wonderul year.



Everything is cyclical. The Bride and the Pirates overlay say, to me in the minority, that the party's over. Knowing nothing about Grier, I have hopes that Lassister will keep things from getting too stagnant. I no longer have any hope about the current crop of imagineers ... but we'll see what we will see.

The 50th Year was a smashing success. Matt Ouimet is aces in my book, and I'm sad to see him go.


None of my business, but I think he's making a big mistake.

Perhaps he's looking for better schools(?WTF), a better social standing for his wife (apparently, their income did not put the couple near the top of Orange County social strata, and she was reportedly not happy about it), or - sigh - money (and being a bigger fish in a smaller pond). Nonetheless, Master of All Hotels is simply far less sexy than Commander of Disneyland. But, feh, his life.



Thanks for the 50th, Matt.


Now, get out.





(I'm sorry .... please get out)





Sorry for the quote, but I thought it was the most appropriate goodbye under the circumstances.