In Defense of Bob Chapek

[Moliphino]

It may be better then FP+ but it is still very flawed.

I haven't used it yet, but it seems to be the worst features of paper fastpass and FP+ rolled into one and you have to pay for it.

 

[GAN]

I was not a big fan of Iger's, and i agree Chapek is having to take it on the nose for some things that were decided when Iger was in charge, but its not like Chapek didnt have a say in those things, he was the number 2 and had a lot of sway.

Just curious ...why exactly weren't you a fan of Iger's. I ask from the perspective that he was possibly one of the best CEO's of this Century. I'm not quite sure what things Chapek would be "taking it on the nose" about ...Chapek certainly inherited just about everything successful from him and is running to the bank with it!

 

[Jrb1979]

I haven't used it yet, but it seems to be the worst features of paper fastpass and FP+ rolled into one and you have to pay for it.

The pay part doesn't bother me as much as it's that way across the industry. My gripe with it is for what you pay for it's not good at all. I expect more then 2-3 attractions a day with it.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Just curious ...why exactly weren't you a fan of Iger's. I ask from the perspective that he was possibly one of the best CEO's of this Century. I'm not quite sure what things Chapek would be "taking it on the nose" about ...Chapek certainly inherited just about everything successful from him and is running to the bank with it!

there was a period where the parks were stagnate in things being added, that clearly changed.

I felt the continual increase in the price of everything was a bit much. He was also the CEO when parking fees went into place at the resorts. I spoke to a disney rep about that, and was told.."well, everyone else does it", so to me, it told me the company was no longer a trend setter, but a follower.

Looking back, id happily take Iger over Chapek.

I also understand that Iger was way better of a CEO that i gave him credit for at the time.

He saved the pixar/disney relationship and helped breath new life into Star Wars.

 

[Jrb1979]

there was a period where the parks were stagnate in things being added, that clearly changed.

I felt the continual increase in the price of everything was a bit much. He was also the CEO when parking fees went into place at the resorts. I spoke to a disney rep about that, and was told.."well, everyone else does it", so to me, it told me the company was no longer a trend setter, but a follower.

Looking back, id happily take Iger over Chapek.

I also understand that Iger was way better of a CEO that i gave him credit for at the time.

He saved the pixar/disney relationship and helped breath new life into Star Wars.

That's great he did all that. He is no better then Chapek when it comes to the parks. The parks need capacity badly. Neither one has added a lot. The parks easily need 5-8 more attractions each. They don't all have to be E-tickets or highly marketable.

 

[bakenatj]

Just curious ...why exactly weren't you a fan of Iger's. I ask from the perspective that he was possibly one of the best CEO's of this Century. I'm not quite sure what things Chapek would be "taking it on the nose" about ...Chapek certainly inherited just about everything successful from him and is running to the bank with it!

My problem with Iger is he had/has political aspirations, and he used his position as CEO at Dinsey to promote his ideas as a springboard for his political backing when he would get to that stage. I think a lot of the problems Disney is now facing were brought on because of that very reason. He might have been okay at the start of his tenor but was not good for his final 10 years.

 

[Jrb1979]

My problem with Iger is he had/has political aspirations, and he used his position as CEO at Dinsey to promote his ideas as a springboard for his political backing when he would get to that stage. I think a lot of the problems Disney is now facing were brought on because of that very reason. He might have been okay at the start of his tenor but was not good for his final 10 years.

My problem with both of them is the lack of investments into the parks. I don't care about the media side of it as I rarely use streaming or D+.

 

[bakenatj]

My problem with both of them is the lack of investments into the parks. I don't care about the media side of it as I rarely use streaming or D+.

I 100% agree. Could care less about the other part unless they start creating original and GOOD content.

I love the parks, and wish they would stop trying to milk the money cow without feeding it. The value proposition of the parks is that it allows us, the consumer, to escape reality for a little while and remember what it is like to be a kid again. The more they try and pack the parks and make us wait in long lines, it takes away the respite from reality. They need to find a happy medium for what is wait time and limit the people in the park to that. Might mean you need to expand and add other parks, but if you damage the experience it will be hard for us to believe we will ever get that "Feeling" back we have of the good old days.

 

[MillauFr]

The pay part doesn't bother me as much as it's that way across the industry. My gripe with it is for what you pay for it's not good at all. I expect more then 2-3 attractions a day with it.

The problem is they are not charging enough for it to deliver all that it could. The price should be closer to $100 per day.

 

[Jrb1979]

I 100% agree. Could care less about the other part unless they start creating original and GOOD content.

I love the parks, and wish they would stop trying to milk the money cow without feeding it. The value proposition of the parks is that it allows us, the consumer, to escape reality for a little while and remember what it is like to be a kid again. The more they try and pack the parks and make us wait in long lines, it takes away the respite from reality. They need to find a happy medium for what is wait time and limit the people in the park to that. Might mean you need to expand and add other parks, but if you damage the experience it will be hard for us to believe we will ever get that "Feeling" back we have of the good old days.

For me I found that escape at other parks now. For my family til they make it less complex to visit we will continue visiting other parks where it doesn't require a PHD to visit.

 

[Jrb1979]

The problem is they are not charging enough for it to deliver all that it could. The price should be closer to $100 per day.

Hopefully that's whats coming. They really need to price people out. It's not meant to work with 2/3 of guests using it. From numbers I have heard it needs to be closer to 10% of guests per day using it.

 

[bakenatj]

For me I found that escape at other parks now. For my family til they make it less complex to visit we will continue visiting other parks where it doesn't require a PHD to visit.

I did Universal for the first time in 2021 and really enjoyed it. My problem is when we go, we take our whole family and to go there for a day or two in addition to Dinsey Parks it gets very expensive. What we dump into that kind of a vacation could have supported a family for a year when I was born. Which is just insane when you think about it. (Might be stretching it a bit, but it is close.)

 

[wabbott]

My problem with both of them is the lack of investments into the parks. I don't care about the media side of it as I rarely use streaming or D+.

One thing to remember, the parks probably wouldn't have come to be without the creative content of movies. Think how many of the attractions have their theming and storyline from movies. Radiator Springs Racers, Avatar, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Pandora, all of Toy Story Land, the Star Wars themed stuff.

 

[Jrb1979]

I did Universal for the first time in 2021 and really enjoyed it. My problem is when we go, we take our whole family and to go there for a day or two in addition to Dinsey Parks it gets very expensive. What we dump into that kind of a vacation could have supported a family for a year when I was born. Which is just insane when you think about it. (Might be stretching it a bit, but it is close.)

Why does it have to be both. A few years ago my family went out Orlando and did neither Disney or Universal. We did SeaWorld and Busch Gardens instead.

 

[Jrb1979]

One thing to remember, the parks probably wouldn't have come to be without the creative content of movies. Think how many of the attractions have their theming and storyline from movies. Radiator Springs Racers, Avatar, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Pandora, all of Toy Story Land, the Star Wars themed stuff.

While true there should be a balance. Right now they seem more focused on D+ which IMO it's never going to be that golden goose they think it will be. It's hit it's peak now.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Why does it have to be both. A few years ago my family went out Orlando and did neither Disney or Universal. We did SeaWorld and Busch Gardens instead.

I have heard Sea World's coasters at the Orlando park are really cool and have been trying to get my family to go, but they all refuse. I think a lot of people are exclusively Disney park goers rather than theme park goers in general. I can't even get my family to go to Hershey Park which is about 2 hours from where we live.

 

[Jrb1979]

I have heard Sea World's coasters at the Orlando park are really cool and have been trying to get my family to go, but they all refuse. I think a lot of people are exclusively Disney park goers rather than theme park goers in general. I can't even get my family to go to Hershey Park which is about 2 hours from where we live.

SeaWorld is a great park. Hershey is as well. I don't know how old your are. Til I met my wife I did a lot of parks solo for many years. My family isn't interested in parks much. Certainly not enough to do 11 different parks in one year

 

[ChipnDale79]

That's great he did all that. He is no better then Chapek when it comes to the parks. The parks need capacity badly. Neither one has added a lot. The parks easily need 5-8 more attractions each. They don't all have to be E-tickets or highly marketable.

that's a beef ive had as well, there is an argument that a 5th gate is needed also.

 

[wabbott]

While true there should be a balance. Right now they seem more focused on D+ which IMO it's never going to be that golden goose they think it will be. It's hit it's peak now.

We shall see, He's got 3 years to make good. There's sure a lot of folks watching every move.

 

[maui22]

Every CEO is responsible to the shareholders. Chapek needed to do many cuts just to survive, much the way Iger did during the Great Recession.

I see Chapek making the same (and possibly a worse) mistake that Iger did 2006-2009 with DVC. 2006/2007 Kidani, THV, BLT, and VGC were all approved. All four opened in 2009. On top of that 2007-2009, DVC portion was selling and financing (through 3rd party) to almost anyone. Created far too much supply at the worst time. They spent 2010-2013 dealing with foreclosures (mostly SSR and AKV) and selling points at discounts because they needed to offload them. To give an idea of how severe the discounts were VGC sold as low as $85/pt and BLT as low as $87/pt. Prices are triple that today.

Chapek keeps approving projects despite sales not warranting the expansion. RIV is less than half sold. Now, VGF2 is selling so demand is split. DVC even lowered prices for the resorts to try to sell them. They soon with have VDH added to the list of places to sell. 2024 brings Poly 2 (whether it's part of PVB or it's own association). Sadly, these are among the best locations Disney will have to sell until 2042 when BWV and BCV all end. Over supply seems likely to result in discounts and lost revenue Disney would have had if they slowed down expansion.

Chapek should have learned from Universal's Great Recession approach. Save money during good times, build when costs drop for materials and workers during to a recession.