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Bill Ernest | |
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Born | 1950 (age 72–73) |
Nationality | American |
Education | Bachelor hospitality management and recreational management, MBA |
Alma mater | Southern Illinois University |
Occupation(s) | CEO, for Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) Company |
William Ernest (born December 16, 1950) is the former CEO of Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) Company. He had previously had occupied the role of president and managing director, Asia, for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. He assumed this role in April 2008 and retired in early 2018 after a nearly 24-year career with Disney. [1] Ernest was formerly the executive vice president and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Ernest was named to the position in January 2006, replacing Disney veteran Don Robinson. Previously, Ernest served as managing director of operations at the Hong Kong resort. [2]
Ernest received bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality management and recreational management from Southern Illinois University. A high school football player, he turned down a football scholarship to attend the Phillips Exeter Academy. I was this guys roommate at SIU in 1969-70 and he claims he went to a private school that year forgoing a football scholarship. Born in Dec 1950 I guess he could have started school at 5 years old.
Before joining Disney in 1994 as general manager of Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, Ernest opened more than 40 hotels for Marriott Corporation. After the Hilton Head position, Ernest was promoted to general manager of field businesses, where he was responsible for incorporating Disney's Vero Beach Resort into the company's Disney Vacation Club timeshare program. He later served as general manager of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort and Disney's All-Star Movies Resort at Walt Disney World Resort and vice president of operations and support for Disney Cruise Line. In 2018 he was named CEO of “Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN)”. [3] [4] [5]
The Disneyland Resort, commonly known as Disneyland, is an entertainment resort in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels, and a shopping, dining, and entertainment district known as Downtown Disney.
Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It is the first Disneyland in China. The Hong Kong Disneyland is located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and it is owned and managed by Hong Kong International Theme Parks. It is the largest theme park in Hong Kong, followed by Ocean Park Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland opened to visitors on Monday, 12 September 2005 at 13:00 HKT. Disney attempted to avoid problems of cultural backlash by incorporating Chinese culture, customs and traditions when designing and building the resort, including adherence to the rules of feng shui. Notably, a bend was put in a walkway near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort entrance so good qi energy would not flow into the South China Sea.
FastPass, FastPass+, and MaxPass were virtual queue systems created by the Walt Disney Company to speed up customer access to certain attractions and amenities at the Disney resorts and theme parks. First introduced in late 1999 as a virtual queue, the systems all allowed guests to avoid long lines at the attractions on which the system was installed, freeing them to partake in other attractions during their wait. There was generally no extra fee for the service.
Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc., commonly referred to as Imagineering, is the research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation, design, and construction of Disney theme parks and attractions worldwide. The company also operates Disney Live Entertainment and The Muppets Studio and manages Disney's properties, from Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to New Amsterdam Theatre and Times Square Studios Ltd. in New York City. Founded by Walt Disney to oversee the production of Disneyland, it was originally known as Walt Disney, Inc. then WED Enterprises, from the initials meaning "Walter Elias Disney", the company co-founder's full name. Headquartered in Glendale, California, Imagineering is composed of "Imagineers", who are illustrators, architects, engineers, lighting designers, show writers and graphic designers.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Inc., formerly Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and informally known as Disney Parks, is one of The Walt Disney Company's three major business segments and a division of that company. It was founded on April 1, 1971, exactly six months before the opening of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, just outside of Orlando.
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built and owned by Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited, a joint venture of the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres (1.2 mi) from Discovery Bay. It is the second Disney Resort in Asia and the first Disney Resort in China. Officially opened on 12 September 2005, the resort contains the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Hollywood Hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge and several retail, dining and entertainment facilities covering 1.3 square kilometres of the island.
James A. "Jay" Rasulo was the Senior Executive VP and CFO of The Walt Disney Company. On June 30, 2015, Christine McCarthy was announced as his successor. Prior to being appointed CFO, he was chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts from October 2005 until December 2009 when he switched positions with Thomas O. Staggs. He was made the president of the theme park division in September 2002, replacing Paul Pressler.
Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is the second Disney hotel in the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The theme of the hotel is of a Victorian style, and is located near Disneyland Harbour. The hotel is built on reclaimed land and opened on 12 September 2005.
Ronald Logan was an American businessman who served as executive vice president of Walt Disney Entertainment. After retiring from the company in 2001, he was formally a professor at the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando, Florida, United States.
Edward Arthur Grier is the dean of the Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business. Before coming to SCU, he was the dean at VCU, and before that he was an executive at The Walt Disney Company.
Walt Disney Attractions Japan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, one of four sectors of the American entertainment conglomerate The Walt Disney Company.
Andrew Kam is the current vice president of Dalian Wanda's Wanda Cultural Industry Group unit. He is the former Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland.
Shanghai Disney Resort is a themed resort in Pudong, Shanghai, China. The resort opened to the public on June 16, 2016. It is the first Disneyland in mainland China. It is also the sixth Disney resort worldwide, after Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Shanghai Disneyland is a theme park located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China, that is part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The park is operated by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products and Shanghai Shendi Group, through a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Shendi. Construction began on April 8, 2011. The park opened on June 16, 2016. The park operated in its first half-year with a visitor attendance of 5.60 million guests.
Iron Man Experience is a 3-D motion simulator attraction in Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened on 11 January 2017. The attraction is based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe character Iron Man, becoming the first Disney attraction to be based on a Marvel property. The attraction is located at the park's Tomorrowland section, in an area named "Stark Expo", adjacent to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Set a few years after the 2010 New York Stark Expo, Tony invites the visitors aboard the Iron Wing for a tour of Hong Kong, including the newly constructed Stark Tower. However, Hydra launches an attack on the city, led by Dr. Arnim Zola, forcing Tony to don the Iron Man armor and fight the menace alongside the Iron Wing.
The Cartoon Network Hotel is a resort-style hotel located in Anaheim, California, Orlando, Florida, Paris, France, Shanghai, China, Tokyo, Japan, Miami, Florida, San Antonio, Texas, San Diego, California, Corpus Christi, Texas and Shakopee, Minnesota. The hotel is managed by The Walt Disney Company, who licenses the Cartoon Network name from Cartoon Network owner, Warner Bros. Discovery The hotel was Cartoon Network's second entry into the hotel business after the Cartoon Network-branded experience at Hotel Cozzi Ximen Tainan, in Tainan, Taiwan.
World of Frozen is an upcoming themed area based on Frozen. This land is currently being developed by Walt Disney Imagineering at Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea under the name of Frozen Kingdom, and Walt Disney Studios Park under the name of Kingdom of Arendelle.
Castle of Magical Dreams is the centerpiece castle at Hong Kong Disneyland. It replaced the park's previous centerpiece, Sleeping Beauty Castle, as part of the park's 15th anniversary celebration. The castle's design pays tribute to the 12 Disney Princesses and 2 Frozen queens, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, Anna and Elsa. It is the third attraction to open as part of the park's multi-year expansion from 2018 to 2023.
Josh D'Amaro is an American businessman, who is Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Before becoming Chairman, D'Amaro has had a 22-year career with The Walt Disney Company, particularly in his positions across the resorts sector of the company.