Its been about 5 years...Has Iger done anything yet?

[kenny]

While I will agree that towards the end of Eisner's reign, Disney was in a decline. However, outside of Walt himself, I don't think anyone has had a more positive influence on Disney then Eisner.

He was brought in, in 1984 to turn Disney around and give it direction. Until the end, that is exactly what he did. Under his watch, Disney turned out some of the best animation films since Walt (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast), opened on Broadway to great success (Beauty and the Beast, Lion King), and expanded it's Theme Park presence with MGM, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland Paris ,Disneyland California Adventure. Disney also expanded into the Cruise Line industry.

Stock prices saw some of it's great high's and annual revenue rose 1500%.

That all being said, I think it was time for a change towards the end. His great success probably lead to his failures (some have touched upon reasons already).

As for Iger, I'll wait and see. Unfortunately the economy has suffered some of it's greatest hardships during his time and it can not be denied that this has affected Disney's overall direction.

Hopefully with an upswing in the market, Iger will get back to improving Disney and instituting new and better ideas to continue to keep Disney as the Happiest (and most Magical) place on earth.

 

[DC7800]

However, outside of Walt himself, I don't think anyone has had a more positive influence on Disney then Eisner.

You are giving Eisner credit for success which occurred in spite of him, not because of his leadership.

Disneyland California Adventure

Now that I'll be glad to give Eisner credit for. He deserves it.

 

[mnra]

While I will agree that towards the end of Eisner's reign, Disney was in a decline. However, outside of Walt himself, I don't think anyone has had a more positive influence on Disney then Eisner.

He was brought in, in 1984 to turn Disney around and give it direction. Until the end, that is exactly what he did. Under his watch, Disney turned out some of the best animation films since Walt (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast), opened on Broadway to great success (Beauty and the Beast, Lion King), and expanded it's Theme Park presence with MGM, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland Paris ,Disneyland California Adventure. Disney also expanded into the Cruise Line industry.

Stock prices saw some of it's great high's and annual revenue rose 1500%.

That all being said, I think it was time for a change towards the end. His great success probably lead to his failures (some have touched upon reasons already).

As for Iger, I'll wait and see. Unfortunately the economy has suffered some of it's greatest hardships during his time and it can not be denied that this has affected Disney's overall direction.

Hopefully with an upswing in the market, Iger will get back to improving Disney and instituting new and better ideas to continue to keep Disney as the Happiest (and most Magical) place on earth.

I agree Eisner brought great movies back to Disney. Iger on the other hand has managed to give away free dinning, up grade rooms for customers, and raised prices at the resort and theme parks. He is a money guy plaine and simple and yes Disney stills need to make money but from what I have seen I don;t see a vision. I doubt highly that they are going to open a 5th park. Maybe I will be wrong I just don;t see it. In addition I am not a fan of seeing the same merchandise at each theme park. The disney cruise line is a huge success even with high pricing and I believe Eisner also should get credit for that.

I guess we will have to wait to see how things turn out but I still think of it as the happiest place on earth and can;t wait till my next trip

 

[tjkraz]

Iger on the other hand has managed to give away free dinning, up grade rooms for customers, and raised prices at the resort and theme parks.

The first round of "free dining" was under way before Iger even took over. Room upgrades have been SOP for Disney for years (and I'm not entirely sure why that's a bad thing), as have annual price increases.

And WDW doesn't need a 5th park. A 5th theme park requires about a billion dollars invested for infrastructure, utilities parking lots, transportation, shops, restaurants and so on. And that's before you add a single attraction to the park. A far, FAR better use of that money is to put it into attractions at the existing parks.

 

[ChrisFL]

And WDW doesn't need a 5th park. A 5th theme park requires about a billion dollars invested for infrastructure, utilities parking lots, transportation, shops, restaurants and so on. And that's before you add a single attraction to the park. A far, FAR better use of that money is to put it into attractions at the existing parks.

Agreed, not to mention a LOT more cast members, and I have a feeling that Disney is already having trouble keeping quality control with existing CM's and that problem would be multiplied with another gate right now.

 

[TDSAXX]

WDW doesn't need a 5th park. A 5th theme park requires about a billion dollars invested for infrastructure, utilities parking lots, transportation, shops, restaurants and so on. And that's before you add a single attraction to the park. A far, FAR better use of that money is to put it into attractions at the existing parks.

I agree 100%. AK and DHS in particular need more attractions. Right now I consider both of these parks to be 1/2 day events.

 

[zulemara]

This is my 1st ever reply but it has hit on something very important to me. Iger has given Pixar to Disney, he could screw up every thing else and still have done so much. But more importantly everyone must understand how businesses are run. Theme parks are only a small portion of what the Disney truly is, and if the company is to succeed, then the company needs to make money. This means that even if the theme parks make money, they may not be able to spend it on adding a 5th park or Beastly Kingdom. If you want Walt Disney World to expand, buy stock in the company or go there at least once a year and spend money. No one else is, yet you expect Iger to spend money that doesn't exist so that you can be happy. Walt Disney World is the greatest place in the world, stop complaining. Would you rather have a swamp or would you like Walt Disney World. Please shut up

maybe when they stop hurting families by raising stroller prices or charging premiums on the dining plan during xmas, easter, and the summer season. Maybe when they treat their CMs as Walt would have wanted, by providing them a competitive salary, bennefits, and full discounts. Maybe when they stop cutting and start investing in the future of WDW. Then maybe they will be the greatest place in the world. I suggest you move to FL or become a seasonal CM. Then maybe you'll take off those rose colored glasses

 

[mitros]

This is my 1st ever reply but it has hit on something very important to me. Iger has given Pixar to Disney, he could screw up every thing else and still have done so much. But more importantly everyone must understand how businesses are run. Theme parks are only a small portion of what the Disney truly is, and if the company is to succeed, then the company needs to make money. This means that even if the theme parks make money, they may not be able to spend it on adding a 5th park or Beastly Kingdom. If you want Walt Disney World to expand, buy stock in the company or go there at least once a year and spend money. No one else is, yet you expect Iger to spend money that doesn't exist so that you can be happy. Walt Disney World is the greatest place in the world, stop complaining. Would you rather have a swamp or would you like Walt Disney World. Please shut up

Shut up? Well, aren't you the pleasent person....................

 

[PrincessMonkey]

A lot of what Bob Iger has influenced at Disney is probably unseen by the public.

I especially admire his contributions for buying Pixar, getting Roy Disney back in speaking terms with the Walt Disney Company, having Steve Jobs' input while he was in good health (I feel like we may not have had Toy Story Mania and parts of VMK promotions without him), and the latest "official community for Disney fans"... D23.

Disney fans are finally getting some official attention for being loyal to Walt Disney, the parks and The Mouse.

 

[AlienBrain]

I wouldn't put WDW Theme Park progress on Iger's shoulders. He is not directly in charge of new attraction design, etc. Much like the president of the US does not write bills and make laws, Congress does. People forget these facts far too often.

Disney has definitely slowed its stride. Looking at an innovative ride like SpiderMan and then looking at Disney, I think that rides like Soarin' and TSMM rival it. Disney is all about family appeal. They have to hold back a bit, much unlike Universal.

I would also like to add that I think Universal was EXTREMELY STUPID for getting rid of Back to the Future. I have been to Universal once since they have gotten rid of Back to the Future and I am NEVER going back. Worst decision ever.

 

[TDSAXX]

Intesting that days after this thread was started Disney buys Marvel. Hmmm maybe Iger DOES read these boards.

 

[Metro West]

I would also like to add that I think Universal was EXTREMELY STUPID for getting rid of Back to the Future. I have been to Universal once since they have gotten rid of Back to the Future and I am NEVER going back. Worst decision ever.

Well...BTTF had the same problem that Star Tours has...it's waaaay outdated. BTTF was probably worse off than Star Tours and it seemed no one wanted to take charge to do anything about refurbishing the attraction. I know lots of people were upset when BTTF closed...I wasn't one of them. I stopped riding BTTF a few years ago. I liked the attraction just fine...as I do The Simpsons but it was a very uncomfortable ride for me since I always got stuck in the back seat. Being 6'2" doesn't help when you're in the back seat and it certainly doesn't feel good to have your head bashed around. I rode The Simpsons at the AP preview last year but the same ride vehicle is used...same result.

 

[ChrisFL]

I would also like to add that I think Universal was EXTREMELY STUPID for getting rid of Back to the Future. I have been to Universal once since they have gotten rid of Back to the Future and I am NEVER going back. Worst decision ever.

Well there was a few problems with BTTF. Kids aren't even familiar with it, since it's been about 20 years since the last movie came out and it hasn't had the same lasting appeal as Star Wars, etc.

Second, there's this whole bit of the ride that takes place in the year 2015....we're quickly approaching the actual year 2015 and it looks nothing like the vision from BTTF.

I love BTTF movies but I understand some things just aren't as appealing to the target demographic. I've heard even Universal Osaka who just had BTTF built when the park opened about 6 years ago is going to be replacing it.