News Josh D’Amaro Named Next CEO of The Walt Disney Company

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Finish the job, Josh. Drain the Jungle Cruise. Bulldoze Tokyo Splash. Level Kali. Leave no water ride alive. I want a dry and beautiful Disney World, y'see.


I mean uh, hip hip hooray?

All this recent talk about getting rid of MK’s Jungle Cruise scares me, lmao

 

[Kamikaze]

All this recent talk about getting rid of MK’s Jungle Cruise scares me, lmao

They aren't getting rid of the JC.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

All this recent talk about getting rid of MK’s Jungle Cruise scares me, lmao

I have a hard time seeing Jungle Cruise going away because Jungle Cruise had a lot of major changes on the ride for its 2021 refurbishment. What I mean by changes the ride got rethemed with new storyline elements.

 

[Andrew C]

I have a hard time seeing Jungle Cruise going away because Jungle Cruise had a lot of major changes on the ride for its 2021 refurbishment. What I mean by changes the ride got rethemed with new storyline elements.

They will soon tell us the JC river has leaks and it’s too expensive to maintain.

 

[Kamikaze]

They will soon tell us the JC river has leaks and it’s too expensive to maintain.

Or they won't because, you know, people actually go on it.

 

[HMF]

I don’t expect Josh to make drastic changes. He can’t and would never lead a price cut. But maybe bringing some lost value back to WDW. That would be signal to me it’s not the same old same old. But I’m not holding my breath

I don't see much of the value ever returning seeing as how the place has changed so much it is unlikely the lost feeling will ever return especially under this management.

 

[SamusAranX]

The value proposition isn’t there as it once was.

But I meant: fell down the dark hole and will go 5-6 times a year?

Ah I just meant DVC, not the parks.

 

[Andrew C]

I don't see much of the value ever returning seeing as how the place has changed so much it is unlikely the lost feeling will ever return especially under this management.

I may go back if they can provide a greater bang for your buck. Not holding my breath

 

[Lilofan]

Josh isn’t old so if he does a good job he might be around for a while.

That’s up to the Board who determines his fate and if his days are numbered then spend time negotiating your golden parachute.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't see much of the value ever returning seeing as how the place has changed so much it is unlikely the lost feeling will ever return especially under this management.

It’s really worse than that.

The bobs implemented a “retraining program”…in that scheme there is no concept of “lost feeling”…it’s that they seriously thought they are so irresistible that whatever feeling you get…in the moment…is good enough and will be accepted by all.

Boomers will be gone in 10 years…x will be grandparents…that will automatically lose the “nostalgia” urge a lot.

The problem there is THAT is where the loyalty is. It’s not gonna translate the same with the subsequent no attention peeps.

And doubt how vindictive X is at your peril, Disney…give us control of all the money and we’ll crash ya…

…now…about those crappy excuses for “Star Wars”….

 

[Chi84]

I don't see much of the value ever returning seeing as how the place has changed so much it is unlikely the lost feeling will ever return especially under this management.

I think the feeling is fine right now and so do the other people packing the parks.

This management will last for many years. Nothing is going back to what it was.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think the feeling is fine right now and so do the other people packing the parks.

This management will last for many years. Nothing is going back to what it was.

You have many times if you didn't take you kids to Disney they wouldn't be going at all. What happens the day you don't take them anymore? That's a multi generation family they lose. You're likely not the only one that's in that situation.
Management may last years but people packing the parks will start dropping once the baby-boomers stop going.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

JC puts many more people per hour through than the RoA did and is an IP in its own right. If they do replace it, it won’t be for a while. They have other low hanging fruit to pick (from their utilization perspective).

 

[Chi84]

You have many times if you didn't take you kids to Disney they wouldn't be going at all. What happens the day you don't take them anymore? That's a multi generation family they lose. You're likely not the only one that's in that situation.
Management may last years but people packing the parks will start dropping once the baby-boomers stop going.

My thought is that they’re going to correct course. But it won’t be by going backwards.

The problem isn’t a “lost feeling.” It’s that the place is too expensive.

 

[Lilofan]

You have many times if you didn't take you kids to Disney they wouldn't be going at all. What happens the day you don't take them anymore? That's a multi generation family they lose. You're likely not the only one that's in that situation.
Management may last years but people packing the parks will start dropping once the baby-boomers stop going.

That’s wishful thinking. Thats not happening.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

As for whether Parks will "recoup" any profit used to invest in Disney DTC, that is not how corporations work. This isn't one division loaning money to another division. This is a corporation allocating all resources of the company as they see fit, including any profit used to fund other divisions and ventures. So there was never an expectation of recouping any profit used to fund any other division. Just like there is no expectation of DTC recouping any money if its profits are used to fund the next capex infusion into Parks.

Yes, I get the impression from the way people talk about this issue that a lot of people imagine Disney executives are just adjusting profit margins at the parks to cover declining profit margins elsewhere when the reality appears far more nuanced than that. They certainly can and have made bad decisions, but they're not so stupid as to think they can just ring the parks dry for as much profit as they need without any concern for keeping that business healthy.

They certainly are looking for more profits from the Experiences division, however that also involves trying to grow the business with new capacity which is a change from the past few decades. It suggests they see the parks not just as an ATM but also as one of the more productive ways to invest their money for the future health of the company as a whole.

Also, I'm sorry, but a lot of the pricing strategies and upcharges also respond to changing demographics which have seen a hollowing out of the middle class who were traditionally their bread and butter. It is also a challenge from their perspective to figure out how to bring in a demographic they want to keep consuming their films, products, etc. but who have less money than previous generations for things like a vacation to Walt Disney World at the same time another segment of the population that seems large enough to fill the parks and resorts has more money than they know what to do with. Hence, more capacity, dynamic pricing, etc.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes, I get the impression from the way people talk about this issue that a lot of people imagine Disney executives are just adjusting profit margins at the parks to cover declining profit margins elsewhere when the reality appears far more nuanced than that. They certainly can and have made bad decisions, but they're not so stupid as to think they can just ring the parks dry for as much profit as they need without any concern for keeping that business healthy.

Sure about that?

They certainly are looking for more profits from the Experiences division, however that also involves trying to grow the business with new capacity which is a change from the past few decades. It suggests they see the parks not just as an ATM but also as one of the more productive ways to invest their money for the future health of the company as a whole.

Iger intentionally did not expand capacity…he actually allowed it to fail as a price control tactic

Also, I'm sorry, but a lot of the pricing strategies and upcharges also respond to changing demographics which have seen a hollowing out of the middle class who were traditionally their bread and butter. It is also a challenge from their perspective to figure out how to bring in a demographic they want to keep consuming their films, products, etc. but who have less money than previous generations for things like a vacation to Walt Disney World at the same time another segment of the population that seems large enough to fill the parks and resorts has more money than they know what to do with. Hence, more capacity, dynamic pricing, etc.

This is true…the problem is the parks cannot support themselves as “boutique”…and they will never be “luxury”

 

[Jrb1979]

That’s wishful thinking. Thats not happening.

I'm not saying that they are going to have a huge drop. I can see them losing a million guests a year or so. They will continue to be the most attended parks but IMO the gap between them and Universal will be closer.

 

[JD80]

You read my mind, I had to edit my OP as it was meant to say “bring back lost value”.

It’s a dead horse, but bringing back resort perks or adding new ones; getting creative with perceived or concrete discounts and deals as you mentioned; and so on, would really ease my cynicism.

Will probably be resuming my AP again after a two year hiatus as my family fell into the DVC black hole and will be going to the WDW 5-6 times a year. Will be very curious to get a boots on the ground feel for how things are

I've got a trip coming up this summer ONLY because of the 4 and 2 deal. If they added in a discounted AP while on vacation discount. I'd seriously consider it.

No way am I spending $1600 on one. I'd never break even.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Iger intentionally did not expand capacity…he actually allowed it to fail as a price control tactic

There was definitely a long period under Iger where they didn't see the value in expanding capacity which has had long-term repercussions. That's what makes the recent shift in strategy so notable, however.

This is true…the problem is the parks cannot support themselves as “boutique”…and they will never be “luxury”

What has been surprising to me is not that the last quarter was soft for the parks, but that up until now they have been more or less filling the parks and resorts and making huge profits despite all the price rises, bad press, and controversies. You can tell from how they're acting the moment that there is some internal sense that they pushed things too far and have to work on the perception of value if they want people to keep coming back. On the other hand, it seems they can still attract tens of thousands of people a day at these premium prices to the point where capacity remains an issue.