Iger is back and Chapek is out...

[Wiltony]

Great news, but don't expect the price increases to stop.

I certainly don't expect them to stop. But what I DO expect is that the guest experience will improve, and eventually be back to the point where the incredibly high cost of going to Disney will once again feel worth it.

I've always felt (and I imagine many others do too) that I would have a lot better time spending $3,000 that "includes everything" compared to spending $2200 + $150 parking + $250 genie + $200 LL + $100 airport transfer (total of $2,900).

As we've all been lamenting, making us feel nickeled and dimed has been Chapek's hallmark. He will certainly not be remembered fondly.

 

[HopperFan]

Thank you. As abrupt and wild as I thought. I like what you said about creating false profits. 11/11 Chapek announced layoffs/hiring freezes. Architect of his own downfall.

Perfect example. Last year he patted himself on the back that "Park Guest Spending was UP!"

Well, very cleverly worded and easily misinterpreted. Yes, I paid MORE for my tickets, paid MORE to have Genie+ because with crowds it was needed, paid MORE for food with price increases, paid MORE for hotel rooms etc etc.

I didn't willingly increase my spending because you provided an exceptional product, I spent more money because you increased the prices. With reduced services (ex: increase hotel prices but reduce or eliminate substantial housekeeping) I actually paid way more for less.

So while Disney pocketed more money, it wasn't because I chose to spend more money. That is a "false profit" that is not sustainable. Long term it isn't going to work out unless you bring in value to those prices.

 

[Wiltony]

Thank you. As abrupt and wild as I thought. I like what you said about creating false profits. 11/11 Chapek announced layoffs/hiring freezes. Architect of his own downfall.

Yep I always felt Chapek was just cashing in on Disney's goodwill (good name and reputation) and converting it to short-term profit. Everyone could see the money flowing in, but what was less apparent was the increasingly disillusioned guests and people who were writing off Disney. It absolutely had to catch up sooner or later. This feels sooner than expected, and for that I'm grateful.

 

[DisneyFive]

We were there for 2 different trips when they had stopped FP+ and had not started Genie +. Everyone was standby only and the waits were manageable. the continually moved and never stopped because of the other line of people.

I suppose "Manageable" is a relative term and different for everyone. What dates were you there?

Crowd levels were very low for a lot of the post covid timeframe when G+ wasn't around yet, so standby waits were skewed much lower. It wasn't representative of what the parks would look like today if everyone was forced to standby only. We visited late July 2021 when crowds had picked back up (but still not quite at today's levels) and the standby waits were not manageable to us. Sure the lines moved almost constantly but they spilled out all over the parks and you still stood in line much longer each day and did far less attractions each day because of it. Also, the word was out, and rope drop held very little advantage anymore. We got up super early to get to the parks 30-60 minutes before park open so that we could get ONE, maybe two, headliners done before the crush of crowds arrived and waits were long for the rest of the day. It was depressing, especially knowing how the parks normally were with FP or FP+. We vowed never to return (and we're WDW diehards) until a FP like system was back in place. Fast forward to summer 2022 and we got our amazing parks back thanks to G+. We didn't rope drop once, stood in lines far less time, and did many more attractions than when the parks were standby only. Anyhow I don't want to derail the topic of this thread so I'll leave it at that. There will always be those on both sides of the coin on this one and I don't begrudge you for your opinion on it.

Dan

 

[Brett Wyman]

Increase ticket prices but take away reservations and bring back FP+.

 

[Neener16]

Bingo, when it was 100% standby only the lines always kept moving. The only people using the FP+/Genie+ line were DAS Holders and VIP Tour Groups so the slowdown was pretty much non-existent.

We were there July 2021. At that time I said I’ll never go back until they get some version of FP. My experience was miserable. The lines were really long and we didn’t get nearly as much done as we usually do. Maybe we hit a bad week but it sucked.

 

[Jonfw2]

Latest is that Chapek's exit package will be much larger than Iger's compensation.

 

[Kbrb]

Imagine the level of good will if they just brought back the ME.

For all the cuts and changes we missed that the most. I flew from the uk, got delayed 5 hours. Then found my cell didnt work in the US then got a cab and was charged a fourtune.

Compared to my pre covid trip once i got my bag that was it i was on hoilday.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

One thing that I cannot wrap my head around is why Bob Iger, Big Papa, would come back to TWDC. I struggle to understand his motivations coming back.

Part of me wonders if Bob Iger believes there is one more big deal to make to reshape TWDC moving forward. Acquiring Amazon or Apple seems out of the question. Maybe Bob Iger wants Disney to buy Netflix and corner the streaming market like it has cornered the film business after acquiring Marvel, LucasFilm and Fox?

 

[wabbott]

One thing that I cannot wrap my head around is why Bob Iger, Big Papa, would come back to TWDC. I struggle to understand his motivations coming back.

Part of me wonders if Bob Iger believes there is one more big deal to make to reshape TWDC moving forward. Acquiring Amazon or Apple seems out of the question. Maybe Bob Iger wants Disney to buy Netflix and corner the streaming market like it has cornered the film business after acquiring Marvel, LucasFilm and Fox?

IMO, the simplest reason of all - belief in self, or ego.

 

[Jonfw2]

One thing that I cannot wrap my head around is why Bob Iger, Big Papa, would come back to TWDC. I struggle to understand his motivations coming back.

Part of me wonders if Bob Iger believes there is one more big deal to make to reshape TWDC moving forward. Acquiring Amazon or Apple seems out of the question. Maybe Bob Iger wants Disney to buy Netflix and corner the streaming market like it has cornered the film business after acquiring Marvel, LucasFilm and Fox?

I think it's some guilt in handpicking Chapek combined with a real love for the company- a rare sense of duty and responsibility.

 

[Gandalf_Greyhame]

IMO, the simplest reason of all - belief in self, or ego.

I also see his return as an acknowledgement that he made a poor decision in naming Chapek his successor. It might be ego in that as well, you don't reach that level without it (not saying that in a bad way). I think he truly regretted his decision and jumped at the chance to correct it. Lord knows there are lots of career decisions I wish I had a second shot at.

 

[squirk]

I would love to have been a fly on the wall in that board meeting, and in what was no doubt a flurry of e-mails, phone calls, text messages, etc. over the weekend. All "Succession"-style.

More to the point, I would really like to know if the parks came up at all as a point of dissatisfaction for the board.

I know that P&R isn't the division that Iger was specifically called back to fix, but was the board 100% fine with what Chapek's done with the parks - "revenue is up so no worries there"?

Or did they have concerns?

 

[revdon64]

Knowing that it was Iger who started almost all of the changes that have disenfranchised loyal long-term guests and families... knowing that it was Iger that got played by Comcast in the Fox acquisition... knowing that it was Iger who started the dismantling of imagineering in favor of IP integration... how does anyone think that he's the solution to the problems that he was integral in creating? Chapek was certainly bad for us, the guests, but he was mostly the scapegoat for Iger's attempts at creating a legacy that failed. I can't say I know the answer, but I don't think that switching Bobs is it.

 

[Jonfw2]

Today marked the highest price points ever for LL...and all the biggest draws were sold out by 10am.

 

[Nabz34]

We were there for 2 different trips when they had stopped FP+ and had not started Genie +. Everyone was standby only and the waits were manageable. the continually moved and never stopped because of the other line of people.

Maybe this was during the height of COVID when attendance was way down, but we went in early October 2021, right at the start of the 50th, a few weeks before they started Genie+, and standby waits were NOT manageable at all. It was super crowded and frustrating and all the headliners had 60+ minute standby waits throughout most of the day. It was the least enjoyable trip we had had in years. I haven't been back since Genie+ was rolled out, so I can't judge first hand how it is now, but I vowed I wouldn't go back until there was some sort of FP system in place.

 

[thebigman65]

I could also see the possible push to get a new IT team to overhaul the app/website - a major thorn in many people’s sides.

This! Despite many calls, emails, etc., we still can't do online check in and no one at Disney can figure out why......Disney IT is atrocious.....

 

[DisneyFive]

Knowing that it was Iger who started almost all of the changes that have disenfranchised loyal long-term guests and families...

This is news to me. What are you referring to specifically about Iger? I can't say I had many qualms with the parks in the past decade pre Covid/Chapek.

Dan

 

[butterscotchcollins]

I think it's safe to say that it's original slate (IE the Marvel and Star Wars shows) haven't exactly lit the world on fire.

The massive amount of money they’ve made on Baby Yoda merchandise would like a word with you

The Genie+ product that Disney is currently selling doesn't give the folks that purchase it a great experience, but gives everyone else a horrible experience. All Disney had to do was look at what Universal or Cedar Point had, and copy it.

THIS. I would gladly fork over $$$$$ if I could just walk into the LL on any ride without having to make a time reservation in my app.

If Iger truly wants to win favor with the fans, he should build a PizzeRizzo in every single park. In fact, franchise out PizzeRizzo and open them across the US. We need more PizzeRizzos in this world.

If this is sarcasm how dare you but if you’re serious I’m on board

One thing that I cannot wrap my head around is why Bob Iger, Big Papa, would come back to TWDC. I struggle to understand his motivations coming back.

Money, honey.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall in that board meeting, and in what was no doubt a flurry of e-mails, phone calls, text messages, etc. over the weekend. All "Succession"-style

Yes everyone needs to go watch “Succession” if they want a peak inside
how this deal was likely made. I’m not at all surprised that they settled terms with Iger without Chapek’s knowledge before showing him the door.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think it's some guilt in handpicking Chapek combined with a real love for the company- a rare sense of duty and responsibility.

It's all about his legacy. He doesn't want it be remembered as the guy who picked Chapek.