Jim Lewis Fired from WDWCo

[wbl2745]

What's not to like?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

 

[TisBit]

This statement is unfair. It's like labeling an entire group racist yet there is only a couple people.
I've been a member since '97 and have loved coming here almost every year since '93. I come because I love Disney but I have noticed our perks becoming less and less. I miss the free valet, 10% off at the Disney store and some others. The new banking policy doesn't bother me but if what he said was true on why it was implemented, then I'm glad to see him go.

I was on last years SSMC and found it not to be as much fun as the very first one that I went on in '03. Friends we met last year said the "Freebies" every night became more and more cheap and they were using the same "Freebie" ideas and cruise names that were used on SSMCs prior.
With all the imaginative power behind Disney you would think that these "little things" would keep getting better and better! The only reasons they wouldn't would be OPERATING ON THE CHEAP and A DISASSOCIATION WITH HOW YOU GOT THERE! You need to keep your base happy in order to grow!!!! Word of mouth is KEY! I have walked by many a DVC kiosk and have overheard the conversation and hesitation of people and told them to just go, that it isn't a high pressure sales pitch and that it is fun getting all the info. I've persuaded quite a few over the years.

That's my 2 cents from a non insider. The "Magic" has dissipated for some time now and it would be better to have "The Best Kept Secret" than "Hey, I Wanna Talk To You bout Something". Here's to hoping things get back on the right track!

Not really unfair. Under Jim Lewis there were a lot of changes that came about that the membership generally did not like. Jim Lewis took the blame for them, rightly or wrongly, he was the captain of the ship.

What you quoted from me, that my opinion was a lot of the disgruntleness with the changes do fall into that categorey of constant complaints about how WDW is going downhill under its current leadership. Some of the changes were good business sense and kept dues lower....and some of them I didn't understand, but also don't have all the information to really pass judgement. I did not label Jim Lewis as the greatest leader ever and hope that some of the problems were due to him and now there will be a fresh start.

Interesting times and fascinating thread. Four points come to mind at the moment.

It strikes me that a public firing of an executive is a rare event. He is being held accountable for something and Disney wanted and/or needed to signal that in a very direct way. Of all the mentioned reasons for his departure, the Aulani issues seem to best explain the how and why of this event.

There are likely others who share responsibility for whatever happened and those will probably not get the public treatment. Hopefully there will be much learned and changes made to prevent a recurrence.

A good employee who makes a serious error in judgment, even a costly one, is often counseled and put back in the game. But there are lines that cannot be crossed without serious repercussions, and this appears to be one of those times.

Disney has a great heritage and a unique brand. Our visits over three plus decades have brought much fun and the CMs deserve a serious portion of the credit for that. I'm not blind to the challenges and issues that exist, or the "value" concerns others raise. Just trying to keep it in perspective that overall we continue to enjoy our time with Disney.

I completely agree about the public firing of an executive. As I posted in another thread, I don't even see Aulani being the sole reason for his dismissal. That issue has been going on for a month now, why would they fire him this week. Usually, there will be a big shake up and than the head of the organization would be re-assigned somewhere else. Jim Lewis has had a long history with WDW and for them to cut him off completely without even an opportunity to resign, I think there was something bigger that came about that broke the trust with WDW. But as I said before, we will likely never know due to confidentiality agreements, etc. WDW will just let everyone believe it was Aulani (or it will come out that the Aulani issue isn't that big of deal and was a legal mumble jumbo problem that Hawaii and WDW Legal messed up on) and we won't know what really happened.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I haven't been following the issues with the Oahu development very closely...but i gotta say the fact there are issues is not suprising.

I would love to go to a DVC in Hawaii...but i think they jumped the gun on building there.

It seems to me that they need to build more of a "non-themepark" market niche for DVC in other, more reasonable locations than shooting for islands in the pacific.

And i don't think Vero Beach or Hilton Head exactly has the muscle to pull off the foundation.

But speaking of Hawaii - who exactly are they selling this too?
It sure isn't New Jersey - unlike all the other developments to this point...it ain't chicago...or even california...and it sure as heck isn't London...

Then who should be buying?

Ohhh...that's right...the Japanese. Those who vacationed in Hawaii during their boom years from 1960-1989.
But I think they might have overstepped this one a little.
And of course...it's conveniently located not too far from their new best friends - the chinese. But are they buying?

They tried to get off the launching pad too fast - in my opinion.

They should've built the Polynesian DVC - instead of the real thing

(they will - of course - in not too long of a time...bet on that selling out quickly and being booked during christmas week!)

 

[bobbiwoz]

...
Jim Lewis has had a long history with WDW ....

DH asked me how JL came to lead DVC. Where in the organization was he?

 

[doconeill]

DH asked me how JL came to lead DVC. Where in the organization was he?

He was with Public Affairs prior to taking over DVC in 2003.

There was some guide, not sure who it was (not mine), or maybe it was an ASA, who told me it was Lewis that convinced Eisner that DVC could really work because Eisner didn't think so. However, I'm not sure that could be true given the time frame...unless he talked Eisner into giving him the job...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

He was with Public Affairs prior to taking over DVC in 2003.

There was some guide, not sure who it was (not mine), or maybe it was an ASA, who told me it was Lewis that convinced Eisner that DVC could really work because Eisner didn't think so. However, I'm not sure that could be true given the time frame...unless he talked Eisner into giving him the job...

The Eisner story is highly unlikely.

The first DVC resort, Disney's Old Key West Resort (originally simply called Disney Vacation Club Resort), opened in December 1991. That means that the go-ahead for it was given some time around 1989, with DVC feasibility studies probably starting several years before then -- long before Disney hired Jim Lewis.

Jim Lewis joined Disney in 1996 as Director of Planning and Finance for Walt Disney Attractions. In that capacity, Lewis was undoubtedly involved with later DVC resorts.

 

[sgtdisney]

No, the peach towels will still fit right in. They didn't do anything it the bathrooms except repaint the pickeled wall.

Come to think of it, you're right. The same 20 year old tile and peach walls. Hmm. Now I really want my peach towels back!

Hearing of all these stories from Cast Members and Club members related to Jim Lewis, I just keep imagining him sitting in his office (ivory tower) and saying "Let them eat cake" when referring to the DVC members....

 

[doconeill]

The Eisner story is highly unlikely.

The first DVC resort, Disney's Old Key West Resort (originally simply called Disney Vacation Club Resort), opened in December 1991. That means that the go-ahead for it was given some time around 1989, with DVC feasibility studies probably starting several years before then -- long before Disney hired Jim Lewis.

Jim Lewis joined Disney in 1996 as Director of Planning and Finance for Walt Disney Attractions. In that capacity, Lewis was undoubtedly involved with later DVC resorts.

Oh, I admit knowing what I know now, it is highly suspect...but it wasn't that he founded DVC or anything, but supposedly convinced Eisner that it could work (presumably better than it had been) - but then again, everything prior to SSR was open at that point.

 

[Sammie]

I personally do not think hiring Jim was a bad idea, at first he was very much in tune with the membership. Eisner was the same way. Sadly some people in positions of power forget who helped them get there.

As to the decline of the rooms being a Disney standard I have to disagree. During out last trip we stayed at the Yacht Club and our room was far and away much nicer than our DVC room. Better carpeting, better bedding including mattress, extremely well maintained. Yes there was the usual wear and tear that a hotel room gets but you could tell they had come in and made an attempt to repair those issues. DVC lets it go until it literally falls on you.

Now if for some reason DVC rooms are abused more than the hotel rooms that needs to be addressed and make those doing the damage pay to put it back right.

 

[Laurabearz]

Just seeing this now... Wow...

 

[photobob]

Just seeing this now... Wow...

Me too!

 

[DeeCee735]

just seeing this as well, can someone do a quick recap? is it true? when did he get the boot and who is replacing him?

any info is very appreciated...

 

[Donna DeVil]

Now if for some reason DVC rooms are abused more than the hotel rooms that needs to be addressed and make those doing the damage pay to put it back right.

I wonder about this, too. We stayed at GC resort room in 2010. Beautiful! Perfect!

It seems unlikely that we, the people who ultimately pay for it, are the ones destroying our DVC rooms & stealing the kitchen utensils & towels. It would be interesting to know if the points-based reservations are responsible or the cash-based.

 

[JimMIA]

I read the entire thread, and am happy to be up to speed with what's going on.

Overall, a very good thing for DVC, I think.

 

[Oglet]

What's not to like?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

She is kinda hot

 

[Deb & Bill]

She is kinda hot

Let me be the first to offer the name of a good optometrist.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I can speak on Annies behalf, and I dont feel she would have a problem at this point with me doing so, considering our friendship, she saw 1st hand, as an owner, as a CM, where things were going wrong. She was not a disgruntled CM, she truly had legit reasons for her concern. So many times, it seems we write CMs off as such, but she truly loved her job. We kept in confidence her concerns, but all the while watched more carefully, rather than as an owner in bliss, but as a concerned one. And she truly means what she says about not sending folks who would truly struggle to pay for DVC over to tour just to get her money.

I was truly concerned where OKW owners were being effected, because it meant us owners of later built resorts were next in line for the cuts where they come in refurbs, etc.

Im not one to jump on the bandwagon unless I truly feel change needs to come, I am human, I dont like change. But this is a case of it is broke, it needs fixing! Lewis did wrong, knowingly, he needed to go. Now our beloved DVC is vunerable to the critics. But we will prevail. I have no doubt.

Hopes are they will weed out the slime that is the norm among timeshare people, and get DVC back to its right place, at the top!!

Annie, thanks for revealing what you saw. It allows us that glimpse inside, helps us to be more mindful of not allowing our investment to become just another timeshare Annie, I hope more like you come along and become CMs, Disney in general, and its guests will be all the better for it!!

Very well put, but Annie and JimmyTammy.

I too HOPE that we get this ship righted, but I'm probably less confident that we can go back to what it was pre-JL. I think too much time and water has passed over the dam for that.

 

[Hunclemarco]

What's not to like?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

I never had a problem with her as Dee Vee Cee...but if they do get rid of the character, i hope they keep her as part of the Disney team.

As far as Jim Lewis...he seemed very political to me, and hope that someone with a true love of disney takes his place.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Let me be the first to offer the name of a good optometrist.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Regardless of any specific reason for Jim Lewis' dismissal, as a relatively long term DVC member, I view this as an opportunity for DVC to get better. Truthfully, they weren't getting better under the stewardship of JL, just more generic. As in "just another timeshare".

For the "be careful what you wish for" crowd, I'm not concerned that Disney will conduct an active search for someone to do a worse job than JL. I expect they have already identified a candidate - or candidates - they anticipate will perform on a higher level for both DVC and the membership in general.

So, in the glow of the recent change, I'm cautiously optimistic that better DVC days lie ahead for all of us. But as always, time will tell.

From your lips to DVC's ear!!!