Your Predictions re Changes to DVC now that Iger is back as CEO

[elenex]

Don't know if DLR is this way still, but WDW no longer requires cancelling a park reservations to schedule a new one. You can modify all park reservations now.

At WDW you can purchase G+ & book your first ride before you leave your on site hotel. At DL last month we couldn’t start booking LL until after we’d made it through the hoards & entered the parks. DL’s ‘early entry’ for resort guests (we were at the GCH) was…unpleasant…they let everyone in & ‘hold’ the non on site people on Main Street, I guess so they can start making their LLs? It made trying to take advantage of early entry a very negative experience IMO.

Well I'm happy to hear this as I'm headed to WDW in 23, but yes these 2 roadblocks still exist at DLR. Hopefully they get removed.

 

[sipnride]

Probably silly to just give Iger the credit for it, but one exclusive direct member perk to report:

30% discount on Galactic Starcruiser cabins - a savings of more than $2k off regular prices!

Having gone in September, it's a great value. 4 Adults can split the cost and have it come out to somewhere between $1150 and $1250 each.

Yes, they're not selling out and so Disney needed to do something to get them to capacity, but they could have just put that out to the general public and sold out pretty quickly, but that they're at least giving DVC members first crack is a good sign.

 

[vacay77]

I would love to see early entry extended to 1 hr as opposed to 30 mins, and including rides like Radiator Springs Racer at DCA. I’d also like to see an Express Pass similar to Universal Studios - a set price for an express side that includes most rides instead of the a la carte offerings. I would also like to hear about a Moonlight Magic at Disneyland, lol. For WDW, I’d love to have the Magical Express back among other things.

 

[jekjones1558]

I'd like all those things, too, plus the return of FP+, even if it's a paid service. I do NOT like Genie at all.

But do you really think Iger will make any of them happen? I don't. Hope I am wrong!

I totally agree with you, Carol. I would also like all of those things, especially the old FP+, even paid. I HATE having to plan on the fly each day. It was SO NICE having 3 rides all lined up each day before your trip even started. I would be shocked if any of these options returns but a girl can dream...

 

[AZMermaid]

Probably silly to just give Iger the credit for it, but one exclusive direct member perk to report:

30% discount on Galactic Starcruiser cabins - a savings of more than $2k off regular prices!

Having gone in September, it's a great value. 4 Adults can split the cost and have it come out to somewhere between $1150 and $1250 each.

Yes, they're not selling out and so Disney needed to do something to get them to capacity, but they could have just put that out to the general public and sold out pretty quickly, but that they're at least giving DVC members first crack is a good sign.

You have to pay for at least one person with points. I looked at January 21-23 (I think). With the discount its 234 points plus $95 which on the rental market is worth about $5200. For one person. Yes you could do the rest with cash at a discount but this is still a pretty bad deal unless you have a gluttony of points to use up.

 

[zavandor]

Has anyone already mentioned a special AP that is valid only when staying onsite? It would be perfect for most DVC members.

 

[gavvy]

I don't see any big changes, he has been brought in as revenue and profits are down, so if anything I see more of the same. A lot of the stuff we hate at the moment in the parks was planned under him, maybe there will be small changes, but I don't see it getting any better anytime soon sadly.

The Parks are the cash cow, It's Disney plus that is the cash drain

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

I do not think it is fair for people who pay to go to the parks to be forced into subsidizing the parts of Disney’s business that are losing money. That is why everything is so hyper expensive in the parks. That is why normal hours are curtailed so they can charge separately for parties. Food. Bottled water. Hotel rooms. Genie+. Etc. the excess prices are to subsidize streaming.

Imagine what they could do if they used the money generated by the parks to repair, maintain, staff and improve or expand our domestic parks.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

30% discount on Galactic Starcruiser cabins - a savings of more than $2k off regular prices!

I suspect we’re all going to be getting 30 percent discounts soon. (D+ subscribers, Annual pass holders, people born in a month that ends in ‘Y’). It is not doing well.

 

[OKW Lover]

I predict the changes at the parks (not just DVC) will be minimal. Iger will be spending his efforts on the film/streaming side of the business. The parks are running fine right now. Yes, I know many disagree with that, but I'm saying it from a $$$ perspective.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

I predict the changes at the parks (not just DVC) will be minimal. Iger will be spending his efforts on the film/streaming side of the business. The parks are running fine right now. Yes, I know many disagree with that, but I'm saying it from a $$$ perspective.

Using only data numbers and dollars to assess the parks was Chapek’s mistake. That kind of management looks only backward. Leadership must look forward. The parks are not running fine right now. If the parks issues are not addressed and revenue is continuously pushed by excessive pricing and raided for other branches of the business there will be trouble across all branches. A free fall could result if a perfect storm appears, like; base loyalty customers (passholders) are angry, domestic recession, staffing inadequacy, supply shortages, global conflict disruption, lingering effects of a pandemic or even relapse into a global pandemic, culture wars, increasing on-property violence, poor enforcement of line cutting while charging for a line cutting service, development permitting problems with government, water supply, natural disaster from hurricanes, AP non-renewals break the generational bond growing future Disney fans, rejecting good story material solely over lack of diversity, political wars, activists, artist and employee discontent, wage wars, corporation wars and possibly a hostile takeover attempt, inter department in-fighting, unexpected loss of talent without a trained replacement, key person risks, problems with a foreign government over censorship or content, scandal and more. Any CEO, interim or permanent, cannot just look backwards on the numbers.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sigh. As I posted my comment I just knew it wasn't going to be understood. The point I was trying to make is that he first needs to focus his attention on stopping the bleeding. The Parks can continue the way they are for now.

 

[TheWho]

It sounds like the Disney Company is heavily leveraged. Iger probably looking for cash. Any chance Disney sells DVC? This was a rumor when the Disney Co. was looking into ways to get into sport betting a few years ago.

 

[jekjones1558]

It sounds like the Disney Company is heavily leveraged. Iger probably looking for cash. Any chance Disney sells DVC? This was a rumor when the Disney Co. was looking into ways to get into sport betting a few years ago.

Bite your tongue!

 

[OKW Lover]

It sounds like the Disney Company is heavily leveraged. Iger probably looking for cash. Any chance Disney sells DVC? This was a rumor when the Disney Co. was looking into ways to get into sport betting a few years ago.

Not really heavily leveraged. Total capitalization is ~$140B. Of that, ~$95B is common equity. So a Debt/Equity ration of approximately 67%/33%.

 

[Nabas]

Sigh. As I posted my comment I just knew it wasn't going to be understood. The point I was trying to make is that he first needs to focus his attention on stopping the bleeding. The Parks can continue the way they are for now.

One immediate change that Iger could make that would cause him little distraction is to end Park Pass.

Few like it and Chapek went out of his way to say that Park Pass is here to stay.

Getting rid of Park Pass is a quick way to distinguish himself from the former CEO and would be received positively by most park-goers.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Sigh. As I posted my comment I just knew it wasn't going to be understood. The point I was trying to make is that he first needs to focus his attention on stopping the bleeding. The Parks can continue the way they are for now.

CEOs cannot focus solely on one thing; even a serious thing. The parks are not fine for now. Adjustments for the parks need advance planning too. Chapek thought he had enough management tools through new technology to turn on a dime. But he was data driven. That was a big mistake that left the parks with a growing cancer. CNN Business reported the Board changed to Iger as CEO for two years with “a mandate from the Board to set the strategic direction for renewed growth and to work closely with the Board in developing a successor to lead the Company at the completion of his term.” The language here is important. “Strategic direction” is a specific type of leadership. There are about seven types, but in essence it Is a big, huge change from bean counting and data crunching management. Setting goals and committing the tools to get there are primary. Iger will not leave parks alone for now to focus on streaming. That would be a recipe for disaster .

 

[Straulin]

I think with the economy turning, the direct points requirement will be lowered from 150 to 75ish.

I also wish they would implement where you could buy a blue card to upgrade resale points. Might as well make some money on resale.

I would love that. We bought resale for 360 points. We would like to get the direct benefits but just couldn’t justify the cost when compared to resale. I would jump on it if I only had to buy 75 points.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

IMHO, when you think about it, remember Chapek was driven by numbers and data. Articles have been written about Chapek and social intelligence.

When Chapek’s data showed lackluster performance in the Q4 2022 Earnings report, and specifically $1.5 billion in bleeding losses from streaming, he responded by trying to spin it to his Board of Directors. At that moment, he owed them absolute candor, a frank and truthful analysis and a realistic plan, not a promise backed solely by his smile. He had a duty to avoid spin and make sure they understood the gravity. He gaslighted his own board. You can see the results.

 

[Narcoossee11]

No changes, just a different talking head.
You have to realize that Iger was involved with ALL changes in the Chapek 3 years.
The changes have been in the works for over 10 years. Iger will be more gentle in the messages.