Disneyland VP Harriss Promoted to Run Park
Walt Disney Co. on Thursday promoted retailing specialist Cynthia Harriss to run Disneyland, a move that comes at a critical time as the Anaheim theme park grapples with the death of a park guest and a billion-dollar expansion.
The 46-year-old Harriss is taking the reins from Paul Pressler, who presided over record attendance but who was criticized for emphasizing merchandise sales over the development of new rides and the park’s upkeep.
Pressler last month was promoted to the No. 2 job at Walt Disney Attractions, which operates all Disney parks.
Recently, the amusement park has come under scrutiny for its handling of accident-scene evidence in the Christmas Eve death of a visitor from Washington state, who was killed when a mooring line ripped a cleat from the bow of the sailing ship Columbia and catapulted it into a crowd.
In addition, the park is in the midst of a massive $1.4-billion addition of a second attraction, Disney’s California Adventure, which is set to open in 2001.
Harriss on Thursday declined to discuss the investigation into the accident or whether changes would be made in training, supervision or operations as a result of the death.
“Today’s not the day to talk about this,” Harriss said. “We’re all just feeling terrible about it.”
Harriss is the first woman to head the park since it opened in 1955. She joined Disneyland 17 months ago as vice president of operations and merchandise.
Harriss was named executive vice president, a title generally accorded the top executives at Disney parks. An exception had been made when Pressler, who had been president of the Disney Stores, joined Disneyland in November 1994, retaining the president’s title in his new role.
Asked if she planned any changes to the park, Harriss said: “That’s a little premature. I will say we’ve got a great foundation and a lot of momentum.”
Harriss, a native of Canton, Ill., and a graduate of St. Louis University, joined the Disney company in 1992. Before that, she had spent 19 years with the Paul Harris Stores, a Midwestern retailer where her jobs ranged from store manager to senior vice president.
The Disneyland empire that she will oversee includes the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, in addition to the theme park. As part of the expansion that includes the second Anaheim park, Disney also is adding a high-end hotel, the Grand Californian, and a large retail, dining and entertainment complex.
Pressler had been preceded by Ron Dominguez, who was executive vice president for a year, and Jack Lindquist, an original employee of the park who was president from 1990-1993.
