DVCs future continues to look brighter and brighter

[Steelers0854]

With the news today that Josh is taking over as CEO plus all of the imperial evidence that the parks are at the heart of Disney and its success I think we can all be excited about all the things to come to DVC both directly and indirectly. I think all of our investments in this program will continue to pay great dividends going forward. I’m excited!

https://www.latimes.com/entertainme...picks-new-ceo-josh-damaro-bob-iger-retirement

 

[Girlstar30]

With the news today that Josh is taking over as CEO plus all of the imperial evidence that the parks are at the heart of Disney and its success I think we can all be excited about all the things to come to DVC both directly and indirectly. I think all of our investments in this program will continue to pay great dividends going forward. I’m excited!

https://www.latimes.com/entertainme...picks-new-ceo-josh-damaro-bob-iger-retirement

Im hoping my Disneyland Forward gamble will pay off big time Im planning to go to D23 and i will report any exciting changes coming if I hopefully get into the big panels. I hope they keep it the same as last time, it was way smoother knowing you have a guaranteed seat! I am kind of hopefully expecting some LSL announcements!

 

[muppets3d]

I think it is telling that they made a parks veteran the CEO. It's clear that Disney is an Experiences company right now, the studio and TV arms are really just ads to get people to go to the parks and on cruises.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Iger at the end was 10x worse than Eisner at the end. This change was much needed. Just hope he carves his own path and isn't a puppet of the board. I personally think he can forge his own way and not kowtow to the whims of the C-Suite but these days I'm more skeptical and like to be proven wrong. If he succeeds then yes the parks, and by extension DVC, will really flourish again.

 

[DCJ]

Happy to see the Iger / Chapek era come to a close. I don't know if Josh is just a smiling face with personality, or if he can and will actually bring Disney back.

I am hoping he can, but the parks have not been that enjoyable, even since Josh took them over, so I am very skeptical.

I still want a 5th gate to support all the new resorts and crowds. WDW needs some love...better lightening lane / fastpass experience, characters, entertainment, etc. Maybe some better ideas than Igers NBA experience or Chapeks.....well everything Chapek did or thought of.

 

[Cfabar1]

For those hoping D'Amaro will "bring Disney back", what do you have in mind/hope that he will do?

Seeing that Disney has identified Parks and Experiences as the profit driver for the company actually worries me - it makes me think that the parks - and DVC by extension will be under increased scrutiny to drive profits.

DVC started as a wacky experiment that was meaningless to the company if it failed (and it nearly did overall! - they retooled the initial concept).

Then again, Parks has does some creative things this year - like the kids eat free on the Dining plan... Great idea - I still think table service ADRs are overly available, but I suspect it has helped drive dining sales and fit into an overall bigger picture as to way...

Best thing D'Amaro could do is break down the silos between divisions in the parks and incentivize viewing the customer experience from an holistic perspective. Would likely increase guest satisfaction and increase revenue as well...

 

[DCJ]

Expect more from Disney than kids eating free on DDP. Maybe more creativity, more focus on imagineering. Chapek told us the cast members were the entertainment...certainly cheaper than paying actual performers. Maybe more Eisner style than what we have gotten the last few years. Believe me, I don't expect another Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
But Ceo is more than just Disney World..

 

[davidhr]

I don’t think this will have the positive impact you expect. Disney seems committed to be a content giant and my concern is they’ll keep pressuring the parks division to cut cost and increase profits to make that happen.

It’s a short term push at the cost of the long term, and that’s what shareholders care about. Josh works for them.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

I think it is telling that they made a parks veteran the CEO. It's clear that Disney is an Experiences company right now, the studio and TV arms are really just ads to get people to go to the parks and on cruises.

Hmmm Chapek was head of parks & resorts before he was promoted to CEO... and that didn't turn out so good.

 

[tidefan]

Be interesting to see what happens below. I have always been a Ken Potrock fan since his days over DVC. He was extremely accessible during our 2015 Member Cruise and would answer anyone's questions and have good discussions with you. He was over DL for awhile and now is heading up special events (I believe Disney's involvement in the 2028 olympics, etc.). Hope he is back involved with the parks in some way.

 

[muppets3d]

Hmmm Chapek was head of parks & resorts before he was promoted to CEO... and that didn't turn out so good.

He started in home video he was rotated around to the parks. D'Amaro has been in Parks for pretty much his entire career at Disney.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Expect more from Disney than kids eating free on DDP. Maybe more creativity, more focus on imagineering. Chapek told us the cast members were the entertainment...certainly cheaper than paying actual performers. Maybe more Eisner style than what we have gotten the last few years. Believe me, I don't expect another Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
But Ceo is more than just Disney World..

Bravo. Well said!

 

[Steelers0854]

Just hope he carves his own path and isn't a puppet of the board. I personally think he can forge his own way and not kowtow to the whims of the C-Suite

I think the addition of Dana as CCO is a very good sign. I think that means he and the board recognize his gaps and she can compliment him there and possibly even transition into the CEO role eventually as well. Im optimistic.

I still want a 5th gate to support all the new resorts and crowds

I agree, and I honestly think the current strategy supports this. WDW invests heavily into plusing up their existing parks and maximizing their footprints. You get the hype and popularity for a while with these new lands in MK, AK, HS, etc. That then gives them headroom to focus on the 5th gate.

 

[Cfabar1]

Disney's MGM Hollywood Studios still needs major work...

EPCOT (shockingly) needs a near complete overhaul, or needs to restore much of the entertainment offerings that have been removed over the past 20 years...

Tomorrowland is in really sad shape...

I hope Disney will take a serious look at fixing the current parks prior to building a fifth gate....

Controversial view, the park that needs the least amount of overhaul after the next few years will be Disney's Animal Kingdom... Once Tropical Americas comes in, there won't be too much more needed to fix the park - maybe a couple more rides (use the Avatar Expansion Pad) and the return of evening entertainment or something to justify that amphitheater around the lake... Heck, maybe bring back the Discovery Boats!

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Controversial view, the park that needs the least amount of overhaul after the next few years will be Disney's Animal Kingdom... Once Tropical Americas comes in, there won't be too much more needed to fix the park - maybe a couple more rides (use the Avatar Expansion Pad) and the return of evening entertainment or something to justify that amphitheater around the lake... Heck, maybe bring back the Discovery Boats!

I don't disagree. While AK is always visited least by my family on any given vacation nevertheless we seem to always enjoy it most for what it is. I never got the half day park argument. I'm not going to AK to go on rides. It's an immersive experience. It's relaxing and educational and probably feels the most "Disney" of the 4 tell you the truth. We never have a bad visit to AK.

As for corporate Disney...I mean let's be real...are they really going to go back to Eisner era service and style. Nope. Those days are over. I wish they would. I live for nostalgia and what could have been. It's not a great mentality to have but it is what it is. So I always think about how great the parks could be now if Eisner didn't go off the rails and that original trajectory he had continued into Iger and up until today. It's almost like Back to the Future 2 only that dystopian future where Biff rules is the current iteration . Doc! We have to go back!

 

[The Jackal]

Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom all need more rides. With all Disney is doing right now of those parks they are adding only 1 ride. The Villians expansion is questionable as of right now. Looks like just 2 rides going in and not much anything else. If WDW is going to keep building DVC resorts and other hotels, it will need more capacity. Another park will be probably needed. Will WDW commit to it?

 

[patm95]

Iger at the end was 10x worse than Eisner at the end. This change was much needed. Just hope he carves his own path and isn't a puppet of the board. I personally think he can forge his own way and not kowtow to the whims of the C-Suite but these days I'm more skeptical and like to be proven wrong. If he succeeds then yes the parks, and by extension DVC, will really flourish again.

Exactly my thoughts.