O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

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BRWombat
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O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

Post by BRWombat » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:13 pm

[INDENT][font="Times New Roman"]O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations; Carter to lead Hollywood Studios

By Scott Powers
Orlando Sentinel
2/23/2008

Operations at Disneyland, the granddaddy and cornerstone of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, is being placed into the hands of Michael O'Grattan, currently vice president of Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Following a report earlier today on Chad Emerson's Theme Law blog, Disney officials confirmed that O'Grattan is returning to Disneyland, where his career began in 1972, to be the next head of operations there.

Also confirmed: that Rilous Carter, general manager of Epcot Food & Beverage, will succeed O'Grattan in running Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Carter began his Disney career in 1997 as a manager in food and beverage operations. He spent five years as resort general manager at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, as well as Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.

Earlier in his career Carter held a number of hotel management positions, most recently as an assistant general manager at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, a major downtown-Cleveland landmark hotel.

At Disneyland, O'Grattan replaces Greg Emmer, who was senior vice president of operations at Disneyland until he retired earlier this year.

O'Grattan's Disney career has focused largely on entertainment. In the past year he has overseen a makeover of the 19-year-old Orlando Disney studios park, which was renamed from Disney-MGM Studios. With the name change has come a slight change in the park's theme, broadening more into pop culture, with fresh entertainment, a new Toy Story Mania! dark ride due to open this spring, and a new American Idol! theme park show attraction set to open in the fall. [/font][/INDENT]
So... is this a good thing? And what ever happened to Ed Grier?


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Re: O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

Post by Big Wallaby » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:32 pm

Interesting.


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Re: O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

Post by Ms. Matterhorn » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:40 pm

Hmm.. why am I suddenly hungry for cheesy potatoes?


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Re: O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

Post by dancinghomer » Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:15 pm

Ms. Matterhorn wrote:Hmm.. why am I suddenly hungry for cheesy potatoes?
I'm glad I wasn't the only one getting hungry. My first thought when I saw the title was "hmm, potatoes are taking over Disney, this should be interesting."

Way to mislead us Wombat......just kidding. ;)


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Re: O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

Post by GRUMPY PIRATE » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:23 am

I was gonna say that he is no small potatos,
but decided not too!


OH....Wait........!!!


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Re: O'Grattan to take over Disneyland operations

Post by glendalais » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:55 am

Ed Grier is President of the entire resort. He oversees everything ranging from (apparently) selling POD to MK to how the Parks are marketed to the public.

O'Grattan is taking over as head of Park Operations, he'll be handling more the details of what makes the Theme Park tick (i.e., what food is served in the restaurants, how many Custodial CMs should be in FL, should Space finally get a nice was down for its roof).

I don't know what to respond to this, I didn't really pay that much attention to DHH during my visit to WDW (other than noting how similar it looked to home), so I can't really tell if it's well maintained vis-a-vis the other WDW Parks.



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