Disneyland President Potrock Talks Reopening
412-Days Later, The New Disneyland President Spoke to The OCR
Photo: Disney
Certainly, Ken Potrock understood that taking over the reins at Disneyland presented an opportunity for triumph and tribulations.
However, before he began as the President of Disneyland, he probably couldn’t have even fathomed he wouldn’t run an “open” park until 412 days into his tenure.
Potrock: Glass Half Full
Magic returns to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Guests can once again experience unforgettable attractions, see beloved Disney friends, shop for the latest merchandise, savor the world-famous food and drinks and cherish special magical moments at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. For the most current information, guests should visit Disneyland.com often. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
Even still, in a fascinating interview with The Orange County Register’s Brady MacDonald, the new prez sounded like a “glass half full” kinda guy.
“The importance of this to the people in this state and really the people throughout the country became much more than just getting a business open… It became really symbolic of bringing hope back to so many,” he said.
The gates opened this week. Image: Disneyland.
Loss? What Loss?
And, in the face of a fair question about Disneyland’s $4.3 billion loss, Potrock was upbeat.
“Today is day one of what we are calling our ‘legendary comeback,’” Potrock said.
Bob Chapek, Walt Disney Company CEO, addresses Cast Members at a ceremony celebrating the reopening of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on Friday, April 30, 2021. Mr. Chapek stands in the same location in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. as Walt Disney himself when Disneyland was dedicated on July 17, 1955. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
“The ability to bring back guests is the start of that financial recovery. As we begin to add more capacity, as we get more frequency, as we add back a membership program, all of those things are layers along the journey.
We’re incredibly optimistic about what our comeback is going to look like and that it’s going to be a rapid one.”
Guests take in the sights and sounds of Main Street U.S.A. as Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, reopens on Friday, April 30, 2021. Disneyland Resort welcomes guests back to this Happiest Place on Earth, reopening Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Thrilled To Be Here
Moreover, Disneyland’s new boss spoke about the possibility of bringing back more than the 11,500 cast members currently returned from furlough. And he talked about the upcoming changes to the capacity cap and California’s easing of safety mandates.
However, it wasn’t the quotes about the recovery or the reopening that seemed most impressive.
Guests take in the sights and sounds of Main Street U.S.A. as Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, reopens on Friday, April 30, 2021. Disneyland Resort welcomes guests back to this Happiest Place on Earth, reopening Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
It was the way the new Disneyland boss talked about his guests and how people returning to the parks are as committed as his Cast Members.
“[P]eople are wearing their masks, people are socially distancing…Not because they’re being told.
People are thrilled to be here, and because they’re thrilled to be here, they’re supporting us and supporting their fellow park visitors by behaving the way we need everybody to behave.”
The Wotter family of Lake Elsinore, California, captures a special moment in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle as Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, reopens on Friday, April 30, 2021. Disneyland Resort welcomes guests back to this Happiest Place on Earth, reopening Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and DisneyÕs Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
In the end, that attitude might just indicate how much those guests really love Disneyland, even beyond the amount of money they drop in the park.
Feature Photo: Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG
