Retail Specialist Named to Top Disneyland Post

Walt Disney Co. on Thursday promoted retailing specialist Cynthia Harriss to run Disneyland, a move that comes at a critical time as the world-famous theme park grapples with the death of a park guest and a billion-dollar expansion.

The 46-year-old Harriss is taking the reins of Orange County’s most visible business from Paul Pressler, who presided over record-breaking attendance but who was criticized for emphasizing merchandise sales over the development of new rides and the park’s upkeep.

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 Anaheim theme park since it opened in 1955. She joined Disneyland 17 months ago as vice president of operations and merchandise.

She succeeds Pressler, who last month was promoted to the No. 2 job at Walt Disney Attractions, which operates all of Disney’s parks.

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 or its operations, 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 Disney 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.

After joining Disneyland in 1997, she moved from Santa Monica to Laguna Beach, where she enjoys the ocean view from her home.

“I feel lucky,” she said. “Things look a lot different than they did back in Illinois and Missouri.”

The Disneyland empire that she will oversee in Anaheim includes the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, in addition to the theme park.

As part of a $1.4-billion 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 between the two parks.

Harriss will have responsibility for them all.

Like Pressler, Harriss came to Disneyland via the Disney Stores. She said their team has refocused employees’ attention on creating special experiences for visitors to the park.

Part of that effort has been to add more souvenir and food carts throughout the park--a feature that some guests enjoy but others, including some highly vocal annual pass holders, describe as intrusive on the park’s traditional atmosphere.

Jeffrey Mandel of Los Angeles, a fan of the park for decades, said he disliked how an original handful of popcorn and soda carts has multiplied into a plethora pushing cotton candy, beef jerky, churros, slushies, T-shirts and Beanie Babies.

“Everything is cheap trinkets and glow-in-the-dark plastic things,” said Mandel, who said Disneyland is his favorite summer destination when he can’t get to Santa Catalina Island.

“It used to really feel like a world apart,” he said. “Now it feels like CityWalk,” the mall outside Disney rival Universal Studios Hollywood. “You’re assailed on all sides with merchandise.”

But Harriss said the park’s surveys show guests are pleased by special decorations, parades and special shows, last year’s update of Tomorrowland and the extension of park hours past the traditional 6 p.m. closing this winter.

She said attendance over the past quarter was at record levels for that time of year.

Pressler described Harriss as an astute businesswoman who “will complete the current expansion and see us become a destination resort.”

Pressler was 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 to 1993.

* STANCE ON LEGISLATION: Disneyland says it would consider supporting a safety law. B1