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Matt Ouimet, Former Disneyland President, to run Cedar Fair Parks

The Paul Pressler/Cynthia Harriss era at Disneyland was controversial among park fans. Many saw it as an era of cuts and rollbacks to the park’s decades of magic. Matt Ouimet was moved over from the very successful Disney Cruise Lines to repair not just the damage years of neglect had done to the park, but also repair the parks reputation in time for its 50th anniversary.

Ouimet left Disneyland behind when the opportunity came to be CEO of a major hospitality company. Unfortunately that was not the right fit for Ouimet’s skillset. It is, however, well suited to running a themed entertainment company. So, I’m very happy to hear that Ouimet will be taking over as president of Cedar Fair.

Cedar Fair owns and operates 11 amusement parks, six outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels.  Amusement parks in the Company’s northern region include two in Ohio: Cedar Point and Kings Island; as well as Canada’s Wonderland, near Toronto; Dorney Park, PA; Valleyfair, MN; and Michigan’s Adventure, MI.  In the southern region are Kings Dominion, VA; Carowinds, NC; and Worlds of Fun, MO.  Western parks in California include: Knott’s Berry Farm; California’s Great America; and Gilroy Gardens, which is managed under contract.

The reality is that Americans are valuing their entertainment dollars more than ever these days. But a company that is built around attracting local business like Cedar Fair is, has the potential to flourish. That’s not to say I expect miracles from Ouiment at Cedar Fair, at least not immediately. He has to deal with a company that’s been teetering on the edge of profitability for a number of years to the point of shareholder revolt. This move is definitely an attempt to assuage those fears.

One of Ouimet’s first moves will likely be to reach back into his operations experience to implement some efficiencies and improve customer service. That will help put Cedar Fair on stronger financial footing and allow for more growth in the future. In any event, I wish him the best of luck. A stronger amusement park industry benefits everyone.

The full press release is below the jump:

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Harvard Business Review interviews Disney CEO Bob Iger

The latest Harvard Business Review Ideacast features excerpts from a wide ranging interview with Disney CEO Bob Iger. It’s very rare for Bob to drop his CEO personality, but there are a few moments in this interview where I felt we were seeing the real… Read More »Harvard Business Review interviews Disney CEO Bob Iger

2011 Disney Legend Class Announced

Among the class of 2011 to be inducted into the group of Disney Legends is a television host, puppeteer, a number of voice artists, and a hotelier. This group represents a diverse slice of Disney history and speaks to the large shoulders upon which the… Read More »2011 Disney Legend Class Announced

Happy Birthday Donald Duck

Today, June 9th, 1934, Donald Duck made his big screen debut in Walt Disney’s animated short “The Wise Little Hen.” Donald was a late comer to the group known as the “Fab Five” (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy & Pluto). He was so late, he was the only one to premiere in color.

Although his birthday is sometimes given as Friday the 13th in shorts and comics, today is the generally accepted date.

Donald helped fill a gap in the Fab Five. Mickey Mouse had started to lose his edge and become a more respected figure. Donald’s more wild attitude and quick temper gave Animators a lot to work with. Since then the wily duck has grown a huge fan base, sometimes rivaling Walt’s pal Mickey at the box office and in merchandise sales.

Update: A couple people commented wondering why I used an image of Donald Duck as a Nazi here. That images is from Der Fuehrer’s Face, a 1942 animated cartoon starring Donald Duck. It was directed by Jack Kinney and released on January 1, 1942 as an anti-Nazi propaganda movie for the American war effort. The film won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It was the only Donald Duck cartoon to win an Oscar. The short was voted #22 of “the 50 Greatest Cartoons” of all time by members of the animation field in a 1994 survey. So yeah, it was kind of an important moment in Donald Duck’s history.

Donald even has his own theme song:

Who’s got the sweetest disposition
One guess, guess who?
Who never never starts an argument
Who never shows a bit of temperament
Who’s never wrong but always right
Who’d never dream of starting a fight
Who gets stuck with all the bad luck
No one, but Donald Duck

So happy birthday Donald. Thank you for all the laughts you’ve provide the world.

One last thing: Here’s a bit of trivia for you. Donald Duck has a middle name. See if you can guess what it is before you click below the jump for the answer:

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Derek’s Disney Story Finds Reassurance Among the Parks

Don’t let anyone ever tell you that Disney theme parks are for empty heads or those who want to escape reality. Derek Flanzraich digs deep into his personal story of time with his brother enjoying Walt Disney’s magical themed realms and pulls out some touching… Read More »Derek’s Disney Story Finds Reassurance Among the Parks

Tony Baxter relays the untold history of Star Tours, the original

Tony Baxter, Senior VP Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, recently chatted with the ForceCast, one of the more respected Star Wars fan podcasts, about Star Tours. They discussed the new version a bit, but Baxter was really excited to explore some of the history of the original Star Tours attraction, including tidbits I’ve never heard before.

You can listen to it here, or I’ve included some of my notes below the jump:

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Gatorland To Open Screamin Gator Zipline, over 1,200 feet of thrills

Disclaimer: My wife is an employee of Gatorland, however we attended as part of the media for this story, and her employee status has not changed our editorial review of the attraction.

When visiting Orlando, don’t forget to schedule a day for some of the minor amusement attractions. Gatorland has just zipped out their newest attraction, which could move them to the top of many a traveler’s must do list. The Screamin’ Gator Zip Line is an exciting outdoor adventure that covers 1,200 feet of high flying thrills in an experience that lasts over two-hours. It opens officially June 16th, but is currently taking reservations based on availability starting this week.

“We spent a tremendous amount of time designing this incredible experience that combines the most modern safety features available in a zip line with the raw beauty and excitement of Gatorland’s natural exhibits and majestic animals,” says Mark McHugh, Gatorland’s president & CEO

The journey begins at the “Screamin’ Gator Adventure Depot” where participants receive their gear and meet their adventure guide for a short safety orientation. The “Gator Grunt Run” is an introductory zip line with speeds topping 15-mph. Named after the sound made by baby gators, this 247-ft. line launches from a 45-ft. platform and promises to provide participants with experience and confidence as they prepare for the thrills ahead.

Read about the whole experience below the jump:

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Signs you’re at Disney

Sometimes signs fail the spellcheck test. They say it is the details that make the magic (along with the cast members, designers, artists, etc… you get the picture). Among those details are thing things that tell people where to go, what to expect, and identify… Read More »Signs you’re at Disney