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Q and A with new Disneyland Resort president
October 12th, 2009, 4:30 pm · 8 Comments · posted by Sarah Tully
When George Kalogridis left his previous job in Anaheim, Disney’s California Adventure was barely a year old.
On Monday, Kalogridis, 55, toured a torn-up park undergoing a $1-billion renovation - and realized he’s now in charge.
Disney announced Monday that Kalogridis was named the new president of the Disneyland Resort, Orange County’s largest employer with 20,000 employees in two theme parks, three hotels and Downtown Disney.
Kalogridis took over after Ed Grier retired from the company on Friday.
From 2000 to 2002, Kalogridis was here as a vice president, to specifically oversee operations during the resort’s expansion - California Adventure, Downtown Disney and two hotels opened. Kalogridis most recently worked at Disneyland Paris.
On Monday, Kalogridis spoke to the Register in an exclusive interview.
Q. What do you plan to do in your new job?
A. I think in the first week, I’ll just try to make sure I reacquaint myself with the resort. I took a quick ride to Disney’s California Adventure, and I was able to see the new expansion in the works. That’s very exciting. Twenty thousand (employees are) a lot of people and that’s my focus.
Q. How much time do you plan to spend in the resort?
A. I suggest that if you spoke to cast members or guests that I have worked with … (you’ll find) I’m in the parks and hotels more than I’m not. I’m a visible person. I very much believe in, that’s how you operate best - if you are in the park and in the environment and understand what is important to cast members and your guests. My goal is to be very visible. And in my time with the company, that’s always proven to be something that’s doable.
Q. What is your first priority?
A. I think just making sure cast members can (put my) name and face together is really important to me. That will be priority No. 1.
Q. What have you learned from other resorts and your previous stint here that you can bring to the new job?
A. Probably, the one thing that’s most interesting is Disneyland Paris and Disneyland California are the two sites that are the most similar. Both have two theme parks, resort hotels and a retail-entertainment center. Both are in an urban environment. Secondly … in the last three years, I’ve opened a new major attraction each year in my time in Paris. So, I think I also have very recent experience opening a big new attraction. I see the same opportunity here.
Q. What lessons did you learn from the similarities of Disneyland and Disneyland Paris?
A. I think the dynamic of guest visitors and whether or not they choose to cross over to the other park and what makes them choose to do that. It’s an interesting dynamic. There’s no recipe for it. But it’s a big issue as to how you operate. I think we had some learning in Paris. For example, turning the direction of the parade made a big difference in terms of the crush exiting to get to the other park. Again, it’s not that it’s the right thing or the wrong thing here, but it’s learning. … I think the Paris site and this site are the only ones where guests can walk between two parks without a mode of transport.
Q. How do you see your role with guests?
A. I hope, first of all, to be able to meet many of them. … My job has to make sure everything is in place for everyone to take care of the guests and the product.
Q. As Orange County’s largest employer, how do you see your role in the community?
A. It’s obviously an important role. … I think my experience tells me that we’ve got great relationships with the government, the city and the county and I’m confident that they will continue in the future.
Read a previous post about Kalogridis HERE.
Previous Disneyland Resort posts:
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Wow! what timing.
While visiting the South coast plaza mall today, I had absolutely no pleasure today in meeting one of mickey’s friends working the booth.
I ask her a simple questing as she was closing up her booth and she acted like I was from a different planet. That’s too bad, I already pad for my family’s annual passes(family of six) otherwise I would have certainly not bought any after the fact.
I thought jobs were scarce but some people seem to believe they could still act rude or snotty because it’s the south coast thing to do.
I could be wrong, but I have a good feeling from the statements he made here. As a long time Disney fan and guest cast member (Contract musician 1998-2007) I am encouraged that the new president seems to have the Walt mentality. I hope my gut feeling s are right.
“For example, turning the direction of the parade made a big difference in terms of the crush exiting to get to the other park.”
I think, if there is going to be a new evening parade offered soon, they may want to tinker with this a bit. By forcing the parade to go southward it will force people out of the park. With World Of Color coming to California Adventure these people may then go over there to see that show. And it would also help to thin out the evening crowds in Disneyland.
I’m starting to like this guy.
Disneyland has been in the worst shape I’ve ever seen within the last 5-10 years so it’s I think this guy seems pro-active in fixing all the issues that hopefully include crowd control.
He should open up the Annual Passport blocking so natives aren’t resorted to only going on Sunday making the place a hell hole.
Congratulations!
This guy is so commited to Disney and really knows the needs to make every Disney Park to a truely magical place for all kinds of guests and also financial wise.
He is the “Obama” for Disney!
Dear Mr. Kalogridis,
I hope you stay true to your mission to start with the Cast Members and work from there. If they are having a bad day/shift/unmagical experience working for Disney in general, then out of town guests like my family and I are more inclined to not visit.
I hope you are not a jaded man. I hope you know that besides children, there are many adults out there like me who still “believe”.
I hope you empower the talented people who will be working under your leadership and let them work to their highest potential.
In this economy, allowing people their freedom to be their best selves will be crucial to the continued success of Disneyland and DCA.
It would be nice to see a return to the retro values of back in the day. Cast Members who are the highest of caliber, paid as well as possible, and are let go if they don’t get the principal of being “onstage” and an integral part of the magic we hope to find once we walk under those fabled arches.
Please, Mr. Kalogridis, don’t be a pompous suit. Be a real boy.
Thanks,
A devoted fan of Walt Disney and Disneyland
I hope he reads this paper!
We are all focusing our hope on him now!
The old main park needs help too..Tom Sawyer Island, the Peolpe Mover tracks, The Jungle Cruise..Aladins Show in Adventure land all just blank and in need of HELP!!!!
Sure DCA is getting help but what about the original…Just as we thought The original was getting influx on corp. support they are again shifting loads of $$$ to Walt Disney World again and loads of $$$ to over seas parks and leaving the original behind!
Don’t let Anaheim fall behind again!
HarleyJazz,
You hit the nail on the head! I feel that all Disney properties should be run by someone with the “Walt” mentality, he started it all and it should be run by someone who he would be confidant in and be proud to be taking care of his dream the same way he would.