Why Chapek is to blame? (Why not D’Amaro or others?)

[DianaMB333]

Hi!
I generally agree that there is some magic missing in the parks right now -although with the live entertainment back, I’m feeling much better-… also generally agree that it is becoming too expensive and complicated to plan and enjoy…

But… why Chapek is to blame? Isn’t D’Amaro the head of parks? How about the WDW leadership team?

The CEO is probably aware of what happens in the parks, but such a large corp and areas to oversee, isn’t the responsibility somewhere else?

Didn’t Iger pick/chose Chapek to succeed him?

I know we might not have all the information and probably not going to solve anything, but would love to know your opinions..

Thanks!

 

[umichigan10]

There’s a lot of speculation and talk on this in other threads I’ve seen. I tend to agree with you, all parties involved are to blame. But Chapek is a very easy to hate person because of his lack of personality and he definitely doesn’t seem to “get” the parks.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Uh because Chapek is D'Amaro's boss and sets his budget(and bonus). I'm pretty sure if Chapek gave D'Amaro another 200 million to improve the parks experience he'd be all over it. Josh is doing the best he can with what he's been given without pissing off his current boss. Lets don't forget D'Amaro was amazing under Iger.

 

[BrianL]

There is a lot of blame to go around, but the buck stops with Chapek. He is the boss. He sets the tone for the others.

 

[dreamer17555]

I know everyone loves D’Amaro but I blame both. Sorry not sorry. Happening under both their watch.

 

[umichigan10]

Uh because Chapek is D'Amaro's boss and sets his budget(and bonus). I'm pretty sure if Chapek gave D'Amaro another 200 million to improve the parks experience he'd be all over it. Josh is doing the best he can with what he's been given without pissing off his current boss. Lets don't forget D'Amaro was amazing under Iger.

In fairness, a lot of changes for the worse were happening with chapek in that position that he got hate for, while iger, not so much. Think there’s a definite lack of consistency on poinp

 

[mom2rtk]

For whatever reason, people have decided D'Amaro is a great guy. I personally think that what we want as fans and guests will almost always be at cross purposes with the people who rise to the highest levels of WDW management want to do. Translation: He's likely no better.

 

[Brett Wyman]

In fairness, a lot of changes for the worse were happening with chapek in that position that he got hate for, while iger, not so much. Think there’s a definite lack of consistency on poinp

Disney has always sought to make more money. Up until now Disney's leadership was skilled enough to disguise the changes. And the really skilled ones even made it feel like "something for free!", FP+ for example. Chapek is a big ole bull in a china shop and simply doesn't care. They will come and they will pay what I say they will, is his attitude. Thats where the magic is being stripped away. And why Chapek is an incredibly poor leader for a creative company.

 

[fatmanatee]

For whatever reason, people have decided D'Amaro is a great guy. I personally think that what we want as fans and guests will almost always be at cross purposes with the people who rise to the highest levels of WDW management want to do. Translation: He's likely no better.

From what I've heard he's a better politician, if that makes sense in this context.

 

[umichigan10]

Disney has always sought to make more money. Up until now Disney's leadership was skilled enough to disguise the changes. And the really skilled ones even made it feel like "something for free!", FP+ for example. Chapek is a big ole bull in a china shop and simply doesn't care. They will come and they will pay what I say they will, is his attitude. Thats where the magic is being stripped away. And why Chapek is an incredibly poor leader for a creative company.

I agree with what you’re saying, I’m no fan of chapek. Just feel like the whole leadership team for parks deserves the rub. Josh might be a more personable guy, but it’s also happening under his watch

 

[mattburmeister]

I'd say its because Bob Chapek was the prior Chairman of Parks and Resorts before Josh D'amaro and D'amaro was named successor by Chapek. So Chapek has had 7 years of either him or someone selected by him running the parks.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I agree with what you’re saying, I’m no fan of chapek. Just feel like the whole leadership team for parks deserves the rub. Josh might be a more personable guy, but it’s also happening under his watch

That's the thing. Josh doesn't have a "watch". He reports to Chapek. He has no power to change things(outside of the budget and plan he's already been given). He has to work withins Chapek's framework. I suppose he could really rebel and threaten to walk if they don't can Chapek. But I don't think he's that nice. But when given proper resources he was doing good things. I was very happy with Disney in 2019 personally.

 

[umichigan10]

That's the thing. Josh doesn't have a "watch". He reports to Chapek. He has no power to change things(outside of the budget and plan he's already been given). He has to work withins Chapek's framework. I suppose he could really rebel and threaten to walk if they don't can Chapek. But I don't think he's that nice. But when given proper resources he was doing good things. I was very happy with Disney in 2019 personally.

I feel like I’m 2019 a lot of the inklings of things to come were there. EMH were being cutback, hours in general were decreasing, with paid after hours events. You can debate the merits of all these things, but I also think that paid fastpass, no ME, and no EMH for certain resort levels had been in the works for a while

 

[Brocktoon]

Chapek isn't helping himself with statements like this ...


CNBC Chapek Transcript

BOORSTIN: So the lowest price days have stayed the same. But the truth is, is that the more crowded times, the more popular times those prices have gone up. There’s been backlash online. People want to be able to afford to take their families, how do you address those concerns and what is driving those prices up? Is it inflation, is it labor shortages?

CHAPEK: Demand. This is a supply and demand business. Unfortunately, unlike say Disney+, we have a fixed supply and we commit to our guests to give them the absolute best Disney experience no matter when they come. And, you know, one of the ways that we do that is by taking those guests that want to have a more bespoke, more personalized, more customized, more expensive day and using that essentially to keep the lower prices on again, the second Tuesday in September. And so, it’s really demand that drives it.

 

[Brett Wyman]

We are literally a third week in September family

 

[DianaMB333]

Thanks for sharing… I’ guess he has become an easier target…
I work for a big corporation as well, and whilw CEO guidelines are very influential of course, the decisions for customer experience, pricing, etc are taken levels much more below..

A good leader knows how to surround him/her by a very capable team

Probably it is more a matter of politics and public relations

 

[middlechild]

Chapek has taken over profit/loss responsibility from departments and moved it into his inner circle. Decisions that used to be with the head of Parks is now a few at the top decide. Take any and all revenue from the parks and use it to build a technology company. Use the guests' money, as fast as you can harvest it, to feed Disney+ and Hulu and ESPN+ until such time as that new pillar boosts stock price into the stratosphere. Never mind that Netflix couldn't do it, becuase ... they are not Disney!

 

[LosAngelesRunner]

[deleted]

 

[DduzDis]

There was a transcript (somewhere) that indicated Chapek has consolidated power to himself and maybe two other people. I think D'Amaro is handcuffed to some extent though he may bear some responsibility as well.

D'Amaro was beginning to post on LinkedIn to talk about happenings in the parks, but I haven't seen one past the first....sort of like the Wandavision series come to think of it....

 

[BrianL]

Chapek has taken over profit/loss responsibility from departments and moved it into his inner circle. Decisions that used to be with the head of Parks is now a few at the top decide. Take any and all revenue from the parks and use it to build a technology company. Use the guests' money, as fast as you can harvest it, to feed Disney+ and Hulu and ESPN+ until such time as that new pillar boosts stock price into the stratosphere. Never mind that Netflix couldn't do it, becuase ... they are not Disney!

Right. Chapek had more autonomy under Iger when he was in charge of parks - now he has centralized and D'Amaro has less power than Chapek did in the same role.

I work in the entertainment industry and have a lot of colleagues with business at Disney/Fox now, and the general sense for Chapek seems to be that he values profit and the bottom line over all else, ESPECIALLY working with talent and focusing on story which was Iger's biggest strength. I think perhaps the park experience has suffered because of this, too - whether not nurturing the right talent financially to continue innovating in big ways for the park. I think Chapek will be out in the next year or two though... can't imagine the Board is too pleased

Exactly. Yeah, Iger did keep his eye on the bottom line, but he knew how to keep the talant happy and give them what they needed - even when cutting expenses. He was prety good at the balancing act.