Seven Summits Expeditions, Frank G. Wells. That’s what the first photo captures in the Magic Kingdom Disney-legend tribute window.
Frank Wells was the original choice for CEO to replace Ron Miller (Walt’s son-in-law) in 1984. As the story has been shared with me, Frank turned it down, because he said Disney needed a creative person at the helm. Frank told his suitors that if they got the young Paramount Studios executive, Michael Eisner, as the new Disney CEO, Frank said he would be willing to be the COO.
Ten years later, Frank was tragically killed in a Heli-skiing accident.
Unknown to most Disney Cast Members is this story and the back story of Frank and a mountain climbing partner and their attempt to summit the highest peak on each of the seven continents. They summited six peaks, but did not make it to the top of Mount Everest.
That’s the significance to the window.
i had the privilege to spend two-and-a-half years (1988-1990) working in a Disney World office that handled Michael and Frank’s Orlando itinerary every time they visited. i even got to meet and interact with both of them.
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Awesome awesome awesome!
I’ve heard nothing but good things attributed to Frank – mostly “man behind the man” stuff.
He and Michael did awesome things for the company!
Thank Craig for your enthusiasm for Frank. Being so close to Frank’s reality it gave me a unique appreciation for his character. Frank always had the same driver, Nelson (RIP), and Nelson and i were not only colleagues (he was a direct report), we were also neighbors. The stories Nelson told about Frank did nothing but support the man everyone saw in public.