Earlier this week, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Val Bunting will soon step down from her position as Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom to become General Manager of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. The move is Bunting’s choice, as she wants to move into the resort side of Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts; the move will take effect once a successor has been named.
Val Bunting has been employed with Walt Disney World since 1976. Prior to taking the position of VP at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Bunting was the General Manager of Park Operations at Magic Kingdom.
I hate to speculate, but it seems odd that someone would choose to make this type of move. From everything I’ve read about WDWP&R, the typically career path is to move from management at a resort to management at a park, not the other way around. My only guess is that someone, perhaps Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, saw something she/he wasn’t pleased with and encouraged Bunting to make the move.
Whatever the reason for the move, I hope it is a positive one for Bunting and Walt Disney World guests.
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