Disneyland President Ed Grier Retires

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier plans to retire effective Friday after three years of leading a major theme-park expansion and weathering a stormy debate over housing near theme parks.

Grier today announced he would leave his job overseeing Orange County’s largest private employer with about 20,000 workers at two theme parks, three hotels and a retail-entertainment complex. A replacement has yet to be named, said Lisa Haines, vice president of Disneyland Resort communications.

“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,” Grier wrote in a memo to employees.

He declined interview requests today (To learn more abut Grier, click here for a short bio).

The Disneyland Resort job concludes a 28-career with the company, where he started as a senior auditor at Walt Disney World and ended up working in nearly every Disney theme park.

Grier, 54, stated that he has been considering the move for about a year in the memo. Haines said Grier has been discussing the possibility over the last few months with his superiors.

“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,” said Grier, who has three sons. “I have had a long and rewarding career with the Walt Disney Company, and am excited to explore what’s next.”

Grier plans to help his son, Michael, who is in film school at Chapman University, with a post-production company that he recently started in Orange.

During Grier’s 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. Grier also helped lead Disney’s fight against the Anaheim City Council, which was considering a major housing development near Disney property. The developer eventually backed out of the proposal.

Grier’s retirement comes at a time when Disneyland Resort’s theme parks have experienced a 10-percent hike in attendance in the most recent quarter compared to the prior year, faring better than other Disney parks. However, revenue at all parks has dropped, according to the company’s most-recent financial report.

Disneyland had about 14.7 million visitors last year — the second-highest at a theme park in the world, according to the Themed Entertainment Association.

Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, said he was surprised Grier is leaving, but that Grier made a major impact with the expansion efforts.

“Ed is a crucial guy to the city of Anaheim and the whole economic fabric,” Ahlers said. “Those are big projects with lots of money and lots of ramifications to the marketplace. He clearly was in a powerful position.”

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said Grier cooperated with the city on major issues, including transportation, housing and venue expansions, during his tenure.

“There have been a lot of critical points that we worked directly with Ed on. And he has been a very good partner in that whole process,” Pringle said.

Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ worldwide operations, lauded Grier for his efforts both at the park and in the community.

“Ed’s leadership style has facilitated a culture of collaboration that has earned him the respect of the community and the Cast,” Weiss stated in a memo to employees.

Disney’s Free Birthday Tickets Draw Millions

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

More than 3 million people have signed up for Disney’s free-on-your-birthday deal, but only about 30 percent of the registrants actually have gone to a theme park to celebrate so far.

This year, Disney is allowing guests to get free admission to a park on their birthdays. Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, discussed the popularity of the free birthday tickets as part of a conference call Tuesday about next year’s theme-park promotion: Volunteer for a day and get into a theme park for free.

Guests have taken advantage of the birthday program more heavily at the Disneyland Resort, compared to Walt Disney World in Florida, because the Anaheim parks have a larger, local clientele, Rasulo said.

The birthday promotion has helped drive up attendance at the two Anaheim parks — Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.

Disneyland Resort attendance jumped 10 percent in the most recent quarter ending in June compared to the same period the previous year, despite the lagging economy, according to Disney’s financial statements.

“Certainly, I think that a program that inspires people and is relevant always impacts our attendance,” Rasulo said.

The free birthday tickets are part of the “Celebrate!” theme underway at Disneyland, including decorations and a parade.

Rasulo said he was unsure how many more people are projected to take advantage of the birthday perk the rest of this year.

In this tough economy, Rasulo said that Disney has offered more promotions to help keep up volume. Walt Disney World has even more deals, such as extended free dining packages. He said he was unsure how the company would balance the promotions from here on out.

“Clearly this past year, with the state of the economy, we know where families are. We know the situation they are facing. And clearly, we responded with promotional programs,” Rasulo said.

Shawn Hutchison’s 9/18/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Continuing in our plethora of photo reports, Shawn Hutchison reports in with a quick look at Halloween decorations starting to pop up at Disneyland:

This display is up on the Mickey and Friends Tram route once again this year

The Halloween bunting on Main Street is up for the most part

A Halloween window display on Main Street

Today (September 20th) was the last performance of Magical for 2009. The new fireworks show, Halloween Screams, debuts this Friday, along with the rest of Halloween Time

Thanks for the report Shawn!

DLR Photo Report From The WDWNT Crew (9/9-9/14/09)

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I, along with Tom Corless, Kenny Siegel, Scott Smith, and Matt Paul spent plenty of time at Disneyland during the D23 Expo, and we got some pictures of new happenings around the Resort. Here is our shared photo report:


During the D23 Expo, Disney set up a special tram service running from across the street from the Anaheim Convention Center, to the old Lion King Tram loading area near Harbor Blvd.

Read More about DLR Photo Report From The WDWNT Crew (9/9-9/14/09)

Recap of Today’s Disneyland Half Marathon

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

It’s not everyday a runner does their warm up stretches to the dulcet tones of a barbershop quartet. On Saturday, though, 4,000 runners did.

This weekend is the Half Marathon Weekend at the Disneyland Resort. The Family Fun Run 5K and Kids’ Races took place Saturday. Themed as Mickey’s Main Street, U.S.A., the race kicked off with the Dapper Dans singing a medley of Disney tunes.

For an amateur runner like myself, who was running this year’s 5K in hopes of breaking a nine-minute mile pace, the festive atmosphere was welcomed.

This year marked the 4th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, and like always, the 5K course wound through the Disneyland Resort. The peppy spirit squad from the High School Musical Pep Rally cheered on runners near the beginning of the course. Near the first mile mark, runners raced through California Adventure, getting a glimpse of the future Cars Land as they ran around the park’s rim. Then, the course weaved in and out of Disneyland, from the capricious Toontown to the intriguing backstage area.

For the first year ever, the 5K race course ended inside Disneyland. Appropriately themed to conclude on Main Street, U.S.A., the whimsical finish left racers in high spirits. At least I felt that way. Or maybe that was just because I set a new personal record for myself at 23:40.

Either way, the Disneyland Family 5K Fun Run was a success. I, along with countless other runners, am looking forward to next year’s race.

More on 2009’s Disneyland Half Marathon can be found at www.ocregister.com/anaheim. Also, registration for 2010’s Half Marathon is now open! You can find more information on registering HERE.