Disney extends CEO Bob Iger to 2018

[rteetz]

Found another interesting point. When an attraction or land etc opened Eisner would promote the heck out of it. He would bring out stars from Hollywood and have a primetime special on ABC to show it off. Iger has a little stage show and let's the bloggers show it off. (New Fantasyland) Eisner would've had a hour long primetime special on ABC where he would go behind the scenes and ride the attractions with Hollywood stars and all sorts of stuff making people see it and want to go experience it.

 

[Networth]

Knew this was going to happen, he will stick around till Star Wars goes big for Disney. He did a good job repairing some relationships but beyond that I wish he would take a hike. A company like Disney needs someone at the helm who loves the brand, only reasons the board kept him is because of the constant returns, which IMO have nothing to do with Iger, Disney's movie division and parks are packed no thanks to Iger he is just riding the wave. He belongs at IBM or AT&T not Disney.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

knew this was going to happen, he will stick around till star wars goes big for disney. He did a good job repairing some relationships but beyond that i wish he would take a hike. A company like disney needs someone at the helm who loves the brand, only reasons the board kept him is because of the constant returns, which imo have nothing to do with iger, disney's movie division and parks are packed no thanks to iger he is just riding the wave. He belongs at ibm or at&t not disney.

x2

 

[Lee Matthews]

I think for Igor, its a long term thing. So far its been about building relationships and in that buying possibly 3 of the biggest IP's in Movie history, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars.

These franchises along with their own movies will bring in HUGE amounts of money for the company which i think will lead to bigger investments in the parks.

Hollywood Studios really deserves the attention atm as its become a bit neglected. Pixar Land expansion and Star Wars will easily sort that.

I personally don't see the appeal in an Avatar land but i guess any addition is welcome.

These investments and bail out of Disneyland Paris should come first before even thinking of the Shanghai park.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Found another interesting point. When an attraction or land etc opened Eisner would promote the heck out of it. He would bring out stars from Hollywood and have a primetime special on ABC to show it off. Iger has a little stage show and let's the bloggers show it off. (New Fantasyland) Eisner would've had a hour long primetime special on ABC where he would go behind the scenes and ride the attractions with Hollywood stars and all sorts of stuff making people see it and want to go experience it.

Well...to be fair the world has changed. Eisner did the majority of his work in the pre-digital media age...and disney struggled with web material in almost a comical fashion while Eisner was in control.

They have done better there.

But for all his flaws - the one area where Eisner FAR outperformed Iger was in parks - even with the disasterous parks opened at the end of his run.

Eisner saw the parks as a means to a different end - the manifestation of the brand in real life.
Iger sees a math equation in 3D that has to be constantly reformulated for new cash...

The problem there is that the things people really like - new attractions and value in their dollars - don't lead to new cash.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think for Igor, its a long term thing. So far its been about building relationships and in that buying possibly 3 of the biggest IP's in Movie history, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars.

These franchises along with their own movies will bring in HUGE amounts of money for the company which i think will lead to bigger investments in the parks.

Hollywood Studios really deserves the attention atm as its become a bit neglected. Pixar Land expansion and Star Wars will easily sort that.

I personally don't see the appeal in an Avatar land but i guess any addition is welcome.

These investments and bail out of Disneyland Paris should come first before even thinking of the Shanghai park.

You have the optimistic side of the coin - now they'll make even more money, so why wouldn't they build more in parks?

I hope you're right...but what if they just keep it?

 

[Lee Matthews]

Like you said, i like to be on the optimistic side

 

[mvk]

This is from a poster on wdwmagic.com who does some of the best things with Disney numbers I've ever seen

"Stating the obvious, this a Walt Disney World fansite, not a The Walt Disney Company fansite. What many here care the most about is Walt Disney World.

Iger has been a strong company CEO. That's great; that's his job.

However, he's been a terrible CEO for Parks & Resorts.

Let's compare one of the most basic business metrics: gross margin.

Excluding Parks & Resorts, Iger's average gross margin has been 25.1%. Compare that to former CEO Michael Eisner's 17.1%.

Conversely, Eisner's Parks & Resort average gross margin was 22.0% vs. Iger's 14.7%.

Iger's "leadership" not only had resulted in fewer additions and much higher prices at Walt Disney World, but his "squeeze every penny from the 'guests'" attitude has actually resulted in a decline in margin.

I'm a fan of Walt Disney World. Outside of Parks & Resorts, I couldn't give a hoot about the rest of the company.

For anyone who is a fan of Disney's theme parks, Iger has been Disney's worst CEO ever."

In Igers 9 years 6-7 of those have been the worst in company history for the theme parks.

But you didn't say gross margin, you said investment in parks & resorts is lower under Iger than previous CEOs. Thats not the case. Since that 2012 article I referenced, they dropped a bunch more money into parks (MM+, Shanghai, Paris, AK, Disney Springs, etc).

And saying someone on wdwmagic forums does some of the best things with Disneys numbers just means he does things to the numbers that you want to see. Iger has been a hugely successful CEO for Disney, including P&R.

 

[mvk]

Knew this was going to happen, he will stick around till Star Wars goes big for Disney. He did a good job repairing some relationships but beyond that I wish he would take a hike. A company like Disney needs someone at the helm who loves the brand, only reasons the board kept him is because of the constant returns, which IMO have nothing to do with Iger, Disney's movie division and parks are packed no thanks to Iger he is just riding the wave. He belongs at IBM or AT&T not Disney.

No thanks to Iger? Who led the purchase of Pixar (and brought Lasseter over to head all animation), Marvel, and Star Wars? You can hate the guy all you want, but give the man credit where he is due.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

No thanks to Iger? Who led the purchase of Pixar (and brought Lasseter over to head all animation), Marvel, and Star Wars? You can hate the guy all you want, but give the man credit where he is due.

Domestically...they have done comparatively "little" with Pixar...even based on their own interests to maximize revenue off product in the parks...the DCA project is the exception - not the rule.

Marvel was bought for the media income and the toy isle at walmart. It is likely that it will NEVER mean anything for wdw.

And forgive me on the Star Wars front... But I'm NOT giving them advance credit. Show me the money, Jerry

If you're gonna cherry pick the argument...at least cherry pick it around Florida.

I could care less about china, or Paris, or cruiseships (and I'm about to go on one)...
None of those things affect the opinion wdw is In a status quo mode while all the efforts are going to pulling more money out of the customers on the fringes...
And some of the things are outright shameless exploitation

Iger doesn't need a defender...no matter what "the company" tells you

 

[mvk]

Domestically...they have done comparatively "little" with Pixar...even based on their own interests to maximize revenue off product in the parks...the DCA project is the exception - not the rule.

Marvel was bought for the media income and the toy isle at walmart. It is likely that it will NEVER mean anything for wdw.

And forgive me on the Star Wars front... But I'm NOT giving them advance credit. Show me the money, Jerry

If you're gonna cherry pick the argument...at least cherry pick it around Florida.

I could care less about china, or Paris, or cruiseships (and I'm about to go on one)...
None of those things affect the opinion wdw is In a status quo mode while all the efforts are going to pulling more money out of the customers on the fringes...
And some of the things are outright shameless exploitation

Iger doesn't need a defender...no matter what "the company" tells you

He said the movie division and parks are packed no thanks to Iger. Pixar (and Lasseter's extension to Animation Studios) and Marvel are leading the way in the movie division. That's to direct credit to Iger on the acquisition. Star Wars will keep the movie division chugging along for the next 6-8 years, even if the superhero Marvel craze dies down a little bit.

Maybe you're not reading what people post in a rush to criticize anything and everything Disney. That's not my fault.

 

[rteetz]

But you didn't say gross margin, you said investment in parks & resorts is lower under Iger than previous CEOs. Thats not the case. Since that 2012 article I referenced, they dropped a bunch more money into parks (MM+, Shanghai, Paris, AK, Disney Springs, etc). And saying someone on wdwmagic forums does some of the best things with Disneys numbers just means he does things to the numbers that you want to see. Iger has been a hugely successful CEO for Disney, including P&R.

Iger has been great for Disney and numbers are through the roof at the parks but that's because he does the minimal to get the biggest return, Iger is all about money. NFL could've been better, it was a few clones and a solid d ticket. I would say the best thing Iger has done for the parks domestically is DCA and that's because Eisner messed that up so he had to. Another point to Iger being all about large short term gains is DVC, they just keep building it and selling more of it, they are really starting to see the effects of that. Their next DVC project is supposed to converting rooms at deluxe resorts to DVC because they aren't filling rooms. Their occupancy rates are dropping. I wonder why not much new in the parks. MM+ has a whole goal of making people spend more money! locking in your choices so you can spend more time in shops and restaurants. Disney Springs is is all shopping and dining so disney just making more money exactly what Iger wants. Shanghai is because their is a huge market in China for theme parks and Iger wants to take advantage of it. Paris got ratatouille which looks great but it's really underperforming and has a lot of problems that's why Disney bailed them out, and one of the strings attached is they have to implement MM+. I'm very excited to AK because that will be the first truly new experience disney has produced in a very long time, it will change the park to a full day experience. Epcot is getting Frozen... Do I need to say much more. DHS keeps closing things but nothing has been confirmed yet. We are only 7 years away from WDWs 50th anniversary will we see something new and exciting for MK? I guess what I'm getting at is Iger may be investing in actual rides and attractions overseas but not as much here. Think about what the 2b spent on MM+ could've built. Iger really has been great for the company overall but WDW hasn't seen much under him.

 

[mvk]

Iger has been great for Disney and numbers are through the roof at the parks but that's because he does the minimal to get the biggest return, Iger is all about money. NFL could've been better, it was a few clones and a solid d ticket. I would say the best thing Iger has done for the parks domestically is DCA and that's because Eisner messed that up so he had to. Another point to Iger being all about large short term gains is DVC, they just keep building it and selling more of it, they are really starting to see the effects of that. Their next DVC project is supposed to converting rooms at deluxe resorts to DVC because they aren't filling rooms. Their occupancy rates are dropping. I wonder why not much new in the parks. MM+ has a whole goal of making people spend more money! locking in your choices so you can spend more time in shops and restaurants. Disney Springs is is all shopping and dining so disney just making more money exactly what Iger wants. Shanghai is because their is a huge market in China for theme parks and Iger wants to take advantage of it. Paris got ratatouille which looks great but it's really underperforming and has a lot of problems that's why Disney bailed them out, and one of the strings attached is they have to implement MM+. I'm very excited to AK because that will be the first truly new experience disney has produced in a very long time, it will change the park to a full day experience. Epcot is getting Frozen... Do I need to say much more. DHS keeps closing things but nothing has been confirmed yet. We are only 7 years away from WDWs 50th anniversary will we see something new and exciting for MK? I guess what I'm getting at is Iger may be investing in actual rides and attractions overseas but not as much here. Think about what the 2b spent on MM+ could've built. Iger really has been great for the company overall but WDW hasn't seen much under him.

Oh, so what you are really saying, is that yes, he is spending a lot on Parks and Resorts, but just not where you want him to spend it. You said in a previous post, that Iger is spending less on P&R than past CEO's... thats just not true. Also, in your post above, you correctly point out that Iger had to fix what Eisner screwed up, namely DCA. He's in the process of doing the same to Animal Kingdom as well. So not only is he spending/investing more in parks and resorts, he is doing it more effectively as well.

The Magic Kingdom is pretty tapped out in terms of space, so I doubt there is much added in the near future. The big thing there now is crowd control, getting people in, around, and out in a manageable manner; thus the Hub construction and the Main Street Bypass (in addition to MM+ and somewhat NFL as well). That's very important, even going towards guest satisfaction.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

He said the movie division and parks are packed no thanks to Iger. Pixar (and Lasseter's extension to Animation Studios) and Marvel are leading the way in the movie division. That's to direct credit to Iger on the acquisition. Star Wars will keep the movie division chugging along for the next 6-8 years, even if the superhero Marvel craze dies down a little bit.

Maybe you're not reading what people post in a rush to criticize anything and everything Disney. That's not my fault.

No...
You made a not too clever inference that Iger's acquisition of IP has done wonders for the parks as well as the movie division by responding to a post that included both...but tried to maintain the plausible deniability of saying "I didnt "specifically" say that"

And besides...does it really matter? You're gonna defend Disney to the end of the earth on everything for some vague reason...and I'm going to doubt the corporate leadership on specific things - especially wdw and their brand erosion tactics - until they prove me wrong by injecting new value into their product and/or moving alot of dirt and firing up the welding torches.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Oh, so what you are really saying, is that yes, he is spending a lot on Parks and Resorts, but just not where you want him to spend it.

I don't see where any of us claimed otherwise...I know I didnt.

Wdw is the flagship...and unlike the pandering to Chinese administrators in the interests of sweatshops, failing France, and the zealous Anaheim crowd...the flagship - WDW - has not been invested to the level to build longterm strength and value for many years. That a debatable stance...but make no mistake it is very much an issue worth discussing/recognizing.

And they are not "out of space" anywhere in Orlando...not even close. I don't think they should realistically add a 5th main gate or use all the space.

But the reason more isnt/hasn't been done is purely money... Not space.

 

[mvk]

No...
You made a not too clever inference that Iger's acquisition of IP has done wonders for the parks as well as the movie division by responding to a post that included both...but tried to maintain the plausible deniability of saying "I didnt "specifically" say that"

And besides...does it really matter? You're gonna defend Disney to the end of the earth on everything for some vague reason...and I'm going to doubt the corporate leadership on specific things - especially wdw and their brand erosion tactics - until they prove me wrong by injecting new value into their product and/or moving alot of dirt and firing up the welding torches.

I think you read what you want, instead of what is posted. But when your first instincts are to bash and demean anything Disney does, that isn't surprising.

 

[rteetz]

Oh, so what you are really saying, is that yes, he is spending a lot on Parks and Resorts, but just not where you want him to spend it. You said in a previous post, that Iger is spending less on P&R than past CEO's... thats just not true. Also, in your post above, you correctly point out that Iger had to fix what Eisner screwed up, namely DCA. He's in the process of doing the same to Animal Kingdom as well. So not only is he spending/investing more in parks and resorts, he is doing it more effectively as well. The Magic Kingdom is pretty tapped out in terms of space, so I doubt there is much added in the near future. The big thing there now is crowd control, getting people in, around, and out in a manageable manner; thus the Hub construction and the Main Street Bypass (in addition to MM+ and somewhat NFL as well). That's very important, even going towards guest satisfaction.

I guess my main point is domestic investment. Yes Iger is spending a lot on parks and resorts a couple billion on Shanghai, and DLP. WDW saw tons of new attractions under Eisner as well as two new parks. Based on what Iger has done if he had the choice to build another park at WDW or not he would choose not too. At WDW since Iger has been CEO we have gotten little mermaid (clone of DCA), TSMM, EE, 7DMT, a second dumbo, monsters inc laugh floor, Soarin (clone of DCA), the seas with Nemo and fiends, LMA (clone of DLP). So if you think about it WDW hasn't seen an e ticket since 2006 when EE opened. So until now with the current AK expansion it has been nothing truly new and exciting. I also agree that guest satisfaction is important and the hub expansion and bypass are very well needed. I brought up before that Disney's hotel occupancy is not where they want it and that could very well be because not much is new. Disney's construction also takes a very long time avatar was announced in 2009 and is going to open in 2017... NFL took 4 years, who knows how long DHS will take when they get whatever they are getting.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think you read what you want, instead of what is posted. But when your first instincts are to bash and demean anything Disney does, that isn't surprising.

Kinda like a blind defense, huh?

 

[rteetz]

I don't see where any of us claimed otherwise...I know I didnt. Wdw is the flagship...and unlike the pandering to Chinese administrators in the interests of sweatshops, failing France, and the zealous Anaheim crowd...the flagship - WDW - has not been invested to the level to build longterm strength and value for many years. That a debatable stance...but make no mistake it is very much an issue worth discussing/recognizing. And they are not "out of space" anywhere in Orlando...not even close. I don't think they should realistically add a 5th main gate or use all the space. But the reason more isnt/hasn't been done is purely money... Not space.

Exactly couldn't agree more

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I guess my main point is domestic investment. Yes Iger is spending a lot on parks and resorts a couple billion on Shanghai, and DLP. WDW saw tons of new attractions under Eisner as well as two new parks. Based on what Iger has done if he had the choice to build another park at WDW or not he would choose not too. At WDW since Iger has been CEO we have gotten little mermaid (clone of DCA), TSMM, EE, 7DMT, a second dumbo, monsters inc laugh floor, Soarin (clone of DCA), the seas with Nemo and fiends, LMA (clone of DLP). So if you think about it WDW hasn't seen an e ticket since 2006 when EE opened. So until now with the current AK expansion it has been nothing truly new and exciting. I also agree that guest satisfaction is important and the hub expansion and bypass are very well needed. I brought up before that Disney's hotel occupancy is not where they want it and that could very well be because not much is new. Disney's construction also takes a very long time avatar was announced in 2009 and is going to open in 2017... NFL took 4 years, who knows how long DHS will take when they get whatever they are getting.

Expedition Everest was definitely an Eisner thing...more than likely Midway mania was too - at least early development was.

Which means in exactly 10 years of leadership... Iger's lone original "frontline" addition created specifically for wdw is the Dwarf Mine Train...

So THAT'S why it has a 2 hour wait?

Think about that...it's the whole
Problem...
Wdw is a 3-4 billion annual revenue generator ( a guess...but reasonable)... And they have treated it like money in the bank.

Attention has been on things like crowd distribution and 8 years to build a retail mall complex with fancy writing on the arches and buildings.

And DVC...or course