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After reading all these threads discussing Matt Ouimet, I'd like to talk about what it is that makes Matt Ouimet so good for Disneyland. From what I can tell, he's a great middle-man. He works for Jay Rasulo, who is essentially the same animal as Paul Pressler. Rasulo ran DL Paris the same way Pressler ran Disneyland (cut costs and built a sad 2nd Gate). Ouimet knows how to find great people...Greg Emmer. Gerg Emmer is a meat-and-potatoes Orange County park ops guy and Rasulo is a New York MBA. Emmer and Rasulo are as different as night and day, but Ouimet understands what Emmer needs to run the park and speaks Rasulo's language (Ouimet is a CPA). Basically Ouimet does what many others (Dick Nunis, Jack Lindquist, Bob Mathison, Bill Sullivan, Ron Dominguez, etc.) couldn't make work. Ouimet is able to demonstrate to MBAs that good old fashioned park management (keep it clean, keep it a real fun place to be) really is a good business policy.
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I have to agree with what you are saying. While all those MBA's have done things to benifit Disney as a whole as well as specifically Disneyland; it is easy to see that many of them either didn't understand or disregarded the average consumer. Matt Ouimet can bring a more unique point of view to the park's management, as a man who used to be the average consumer and as a man who still acts like the average consumer. This is specifically evident in many other posts, especially this one:
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
He does what Guests wants rather than what his wallet wants. Harris and Pressler, attractions were only passed if and only if it fit the budget. Ouimet has nothing but good things to Disneyland, restoring Disneyland to it's glory, heck he was practically behind Space Mountain's earlt opening, I mean, it opened 4 months ahead of schedule!Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
Apparently, he's able to sell the positive ROI aspects of quality (good rides, good paint, good show), which Pressler et al didn't appreciate (and would not, therefore, buy or sell) ...... Matt "gets it" ....."She's taking everything. She's taking the house, she's taking the kid, she's taking the dog. IT'S NOT EVEN HER DOG. IT'S MY DOG! SHE'S TAKING . . . MY DOG!"
- Ron Livingston, "Band of Brothers"Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
Apparently pressler is doing great at gap. hopefully that disaster of a park across the esplanade can be fixed with new rides that are original, unique and fresh. Apparently the monsters inc ride has taxis when they should have done the doors. Oh well that can't be fixed.Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I agree. I just do not understand how MBA's can not understand customers. Don't they read cutomer complaints or anything?Originally posted by Ouimet's Rock!
I think Matt is good for Disney and I hope money doesn't corrupt him in time.Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I think what Matt Ouimet understands is that the rides are what bring in people. Most consumers don't come to the park simply to enjoy looking at a pretty lagoon or notice how pretty a park looks at night, it is mainly for the rides.
Now don't get me wrong, the beauty of the parks play a huge role in the clientel's enjoyment of the park but it isn't just one or the other. The beautiful park needs great rides, and the park could have great rides but not attract the people because it is falling apart. Now that I think about it, Matt Ouimet seems to understand the balance and finesse that is required to run a park like Disneyland.Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
Business analysis asides, the answer is quite simple: He walks through the park and uses his own two eyes to evaluate what is going on.Stalking is when two people go for a long romantic walk together but only one of them knows about it.
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
Exactly! Matt has proven to be a real visable hands-on kind of a manager. Most importantly, he understands that RIDES, RIDES, RIDES are the key to his parks' success, not stores and pin-trading meets.Originally posted by DLandFansAZComment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
Let's see...
It could be that he's doing a good job because he cares about the park.
OR
He's new at his position and wants to keep it.
Who knows?
I like what he's done so far. Let's see if he keeps it going after the current kudos wear off...
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I think Matt is definitely one of the best presidents of Disneyland, if not the best. He sets a great example: make people happy and make a bigger profit. See what happens when you paint, repair, and build new attractions, Pressler?
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
MBAs and suits don't tend to see the customers perspective. They are too far removed from them and have no contact with or empathy for. They see their goal as the monitary bottom line; they don't get that happy customers make happy bottom lines.Originally posted by Disney Wrassler
Companies with good customer service often require middle and upper management (MUM) to spend some time in the ranks so they can get that perspective, good and bad. Some MUM don't have to be told, they're smart enough to moniter their company's lifeblood, like Matt. They understand that feedback from the lower ranks and their customers is the best intel there is.
Don't forget Matt came up through the old Disney; he worked his way up the ranks pre-Harris and Pressler. I don't believe this is just a job to him.
I was willing to cut him a break when he started because of that and I've learned to trust his judgement. I may not agree with everything he's done, but I believe every thing he's done is for the good of the park from where he stands. So count me squarely in Matt's corner.A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well.
In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil. :evil:Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I've talked with Matt before while he's walking around in the Park. VERY personable and very open to hear what you think. However, I wouldn't try to pass him any hair-brained ideas, but he does need to hear that he's doing a good job.
From a Cast Member that worked through the Pressler, Harriss, and now Ouimet years... Matt is definately handling his duties the best. I love the way he just wanders around in the Park, talking with Cast Members and Guests alike, and seems geniunely interested in getting feedback from them.
Generally, I just think he just "gets it"... gets what Guests actually come to the Resort for... and that's mainly the attractions and entertainment (and no, not Anne Hamburger's butchering of entertainment), something that Pressler and Harriss didn't seem to pay very much attention to or just didn't get. Everything else just adds to the overall experience... not saying that they are important in their own rights, but overall from a general Guest standpoint, most folks care the most about the attraction and entertainment options more then anything. Yes... $$$ is important, but it doesn't seem to be regarded as the be-all-end-all like Pressler and Harriss thought it was. Matt just seems to realize that you gotta spend money to make money.
I think it also helps that he came from the Disney Cruise Lines and his background there.Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I've talked with Matt before while he's walking around in the Park. VERY personable and very open to hear what you think. However, I wouldn't try to pass him any hair-brained ideas, but he does need to hear that he's doing a good job.
From a Cast Member that worked through the Pressler, Harriss, and now Ouimet years... Matt is definately handling his duties the best. I love the way he just wanders around in the Park, talking with Cast Members and Guests alike, and seems geniunely interested in getting feedback from them.
Generally, I just think he just "gets it"... gets what Guests actually come to the Resort for... and that's mainly the attractions and entertainment (and no, not Anne Hamburger's butchering of entertainment), something that Pressler and Harriss didn't seem to pay very much attention to or just didn't get. Everything else just adds to the overall experience... not saying that they aren't important in their own rights (which they are on an operational standpoint), but overall from a general Guest standpoint, most folks care the most about the attraction and entertainment options more then anything. Yes... $$$ is important, but it doesn't seem to be regarded as the be-all-end-all like Pressler and Harriss thought it was. Matt just seems to realize that you gotta spend money to make money.
I think it also helps that he came from the Disney Cruise Lines and his background there.Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
One of the best yes, but the best would have to go to Walt Disney. Without Walt Disney, Disneyland wouldn't exist.Originally posted by EvanI think Matt is definitely one of the best presidents of Disneyland, if not the best. He sets a great example: make people happy and make a bigger profit. See what happens when you paint, repair, and build new attractions, Pressler?Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
I've heard that during the Pressler-Harris era that complaints never got past front line dept.heads. The upper managers didn't want to hear them, or be bothered by them. They seldom if ever walked the park during operating hours, so they didn't see first hand what was going on. All they were concerned about was how much they could reduce operating expenses, so they could get their bonuses.Comment
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Re: What Matt Ouimet Does that is so unique.
Well, DUH! Besides, I've never thought of Walt as the President of Disney; while he was alive he was Disney. I have thought of him at varying times as creator, genius or heart and soulOriginally posted by inavA bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well.
In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil. :evil:Comment
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