News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!

[MerlinTheGoat]

The biggest knock on Eisner from my perspective is how the parks stagnated in the mid to late 90’s to the mid 00’s.

Besides that, the thing that also keeps me on the Eisner hate train is what he did to EPCOT Center in the mid-late 90s. While I very much enjoyed some exhibits in Innoventions (especially Alec Tronic, he appealed to my love for robotics and classic Disney attractions), overall it was kind of lesser than Communicore before it and was the first sign of things to come. Then Horizons lost its sponsor that year and became a "seasonal" attraction (more like it was operated intermittently over next 5 years to help offset the other attractions being closed). Then World of Motion closed in 96, Universe of Energy got a really inferior and stupid overhaul with Ellen that same year, then Imagination in 98, and Horizons' final permanent closure in 99. EPCOT used to be a wonderful park, and they absolutely razed it under Eisner...

 

[Elijah Abrams]

He also had some major health problems that impacted his ability to lead.

Yep, I heard about that as well.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

It's like how I've yet to encounter someone who was underwhelmed by Galaxy's Edge outside of this board.

I doubt many were underwhelmed with the execution of the final product - based on Disneys vision of what it should be.

Rather, they were disappointed by the exclusion of critical components of the franchise and sheer lack of connection they had. There’s a big difference there.

But it is a cool “space land - in the desert”.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Eisner also had emergency quadruple bypass surgery a few months after Wells’ death.

Wells was very much Eisner’s mentor, the elder executive to whom Eisner looked to for reassurance. The one who could stand firm that investing in the product was the right strategy. That double whammy definitely shook Eisner’s already lacking confidence.

 

[Br0ckford]

I doubt many were underwhelmed with the execution of the final product - based on Disneys vision of what it should be.

Rather, they were disappointed by the exclusion of critical components of the franchise and sheer lack of connection they had. There’s a big difference there.

But it is a cool “space land - in the desert”.

I agree with this. It's a cool land and definitely feels like a space port. It does not feel like star wars to me. But neither do the sequels.

But I'm also the guy that wants Luke, Leia, Han and Darth so what do I know.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Besides that, the thing that also keeps me on the Eisner hate train is what he did to EPCOT Center in the mid-late 90s. While I very much enjoyed some exhibits in Innoventions (especially Alec Tronic, he appealed to my love for robotics and classic Disney attractions), overall it was kind of lesser than Communicore before it and was the first sign of things to come. Then Horizons lost its sponsor that year and became a "seasonal" attraction (more like it was operated intermittently over next 5 years to help offset the other attractions being closed). Then World of Motion closed in 96, Universe of Energy got a really inferior and stupid overhaul with Ellen that same year, then Imagination in 98, and Horizons' final permanent closure in 99. EPCOT used to be a wonderful park, and they absolutely razed it under Eisner...

As for the rides and themes - it’s all subjective. You liked the robotics. I liked Adventurer’s Club. Eisner shut down the former and Iger the latter.

 

[hopemax]

Possible, he had 20 years though, as I said earlier if this was his plan all along it’s the longest long game ever.

I don't think it was a 20 year plan. But when MyMagic+ didn't alleviate the issues and worked the way he thought it would, IMO, he believed his next solution was to lean more into demand pricing. Not attraction investment. If this was all Chapek's idea, then the idea would have had to have been conceptualized, project management, developed and made it into production between Feb 2020 and Oct 2021. When have you recently seen Disney work that fast? Remember, people said that the reservation system had to be build on the old Fastpass+ system in order to get it ready quickly enough. Chapek turned the dial up much faster than Iger seems to have been comfortable with. But it's still the same equipment. Just because Chapek went straight to 7 while Iger wanted to start at 3, then go to 4, 5, and slow walk it to 7 doesn't mean that we won't end up in the same place at the end.

 

[Rani_needs_coffee]

Wow, interesting turn of events.

How long until they can make the parks an enjoyable, worry free, experience again?

In 10 years time my personal opinion on WDW has shifted from “a vacation where everything is taken care of for me” to “ How do we power through this thing one last time for the kids, is this even worth it?”

That’s not how you grow a customer base.

Totally agree! Well said!

 

[Rani_needs_coffee]

Wow, interesting turn of events.

How long until they can make the parks an enjoyable, worry free, experience again?

In 10 years time my personal opinion on WDW has shifted from “a vacation where everything is taken care of for me” to “ How do we power through this thing one last time for the kids, is this even worth it?”

That’s not how you grow a customer base.

I completely agree. I don’t think we can justify this anymore.

 

[MrPromey]

I don’t know. No marketing *and* bad word of mouth from those that actually made it a point to go see it?

I get what you're saying - I'm just kind of in disbelief.

I know this movie came with an elephant but I didn't expect it to hurt things that much.

.. which isn't to say that's the problem or that there even is one specific problem - I just - even lame animated Disney movies in wide theatrical release normally do better than that.

Don't they?

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I don't think it was a 20 year plan. But when MyMagic+ didn't alleviate the issues and worked the way he thought it would, IMO, he believed his next solution was to lean more into demand pricing. Not attraction investment. If this was all Chapek's idea, then the idea would have had to have been conceptualized, project management, developed and made it into production between Feb 2020 and Oct 2021. When have you recently seen Disney work that fast? Remember, people said that the reservation system had to be build on the old Fastpass+ system in order to get it ready quickly enough. Chapek turned the dial up much faster than Iger seems to have been comfortable with. But it's still the same equipment. Just because Chapek went straight to 7 while Iger wanted to start at 3, then go to 4, 5, and slow walk it to 7 doesn't mean that we won't end up in the same place at the end.

I think this is probably largely the case, though where I do see some difference is that slow-walking changes does give more chance to test and adjust depending on how people respond to the changes and any other external factors. The problem with just suddenly turning the dial up to 7 is that you fundamentally change the theme park going experience more or less overnight, annoying your customers royally and making it hard to walk back any of the changes that don't turn out so well and repairing damage to the brand.

I can see the argument that the Chapek method is more honest while the slow-walking that might be more to Iger's taste is essentially just trying to turn up the heat in a way that the frogs don't realise they are being boiled alive. But I do think a more cautious approach to implementing these changes would have at least showed more respect and potentially been more responsive to the impact different changes were having on guest experience and perceptions of the parks.

 

[RSoxNo1]

How long before Iger buys Candle Media to bring Staggs and Mayer back in the fold?

 

[lazyboy97o]

I don't think it was a 20 year plan. But when MyMagic+ didn't alleviate the issues and worked the way he thought it would, IMO, he believed his next solution was to lean more into demand pricing. Not attraction investment. If this was all Chapek's idea, then the idea would have had to have been conceptualized, project management, developed and made it into production between Feb 2020 and Oct 2021. When have you recently seen Disney work that fast? Remember, people said that the reservation system had to be build on the old Fastpass+ system in order to get it ready quickly enough. Chapek turned the dial up much faster than Iger seems to have been comfortable with. But it's still the same equipment. Just because Chapek went straight to 7 while Iger wanted to start at 3, then go to 4, 5, and slow walk it to 7 doesn't mean that we won't end up in the same place at the end.

It's not even necessarily that Iger was slow walking the change. The pandemic created a situation where suddenly Disney was operating with more than adequate capacity and then jumped right back into old form of straining capacity. The perception is one of much more radical change.

 

[lazyboy97o]

How long before Iger buys Candle Media to bring Staggs and Mayer back in the fold?

It's been reported that the Board made that offer before turning to Iger.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I get what you're saying - I'm just kind of in disbelief.

I know this movie came with an elephant but I didn't expect it to hurt things that much.

.. which isn't to say that's the problem or that there even is one specific problem - I just - even lame animated Disney movies in wide theatrical release normally do better than that.

Don't they?

To be honest, I am kind of surprised Disney green-lit an animated sci-fi adventure in the first place. That seems almost the perfect recipe if you were shooting for box office failure.

 

[MrPromey]

To be honest, I am kind of surprised Disney green-lit an animated sci-fi adventure in the first place. That seems almost the perfect recipe if you were shooting for box office failure.

With their track record when making them, I guess I kind of have to agree. :/

 

[RSoxNo1]

It's been reported that the Board made that offer before turning to Iger.

Right, but it would have been something that Chapek had to approve.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

The negligence that occurred at Disneyland was conducted with actual intent. There's a long historical record of what happens when preventative inspections and maintenance are foregone at theme parks. People sustain injuries and die. One of the key reasons that Disneyland was built in the first place was Walt Disney's hatred for dirty and dangerous fairs. There were standards he insisted on setting when he built the place. The executives running Disneyland in the 90s and 2000s however deliberately began slashing budgets and reduced safety inspections/maintenance that had been standard procedure prior to that. Under Eisner's approval. Fans noticed the decline and could see dangerous conditions taking form. The executives also knew what they were doing and the potential consequences, they just saw the money and didn't care. Figuring they'd get away with it. And they weren't really even wrong. Instead of going to prison, they were given golden parachutes.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I merely pointed out that there have been unfortunate incidents on Iger’s watch as well that can also be considered negligent.

If there were safety procedures that were cut under Iger's watch, the situation might be somewhat comparable with the Big Thunder accident. I don't think you're arguing that, though?

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

If there were safety procedures that were cut under Iger's watch, the situation might be somewhat comparable with the Big Thunder accident. I don't think you're arguing that, though?

I’m saying there was negligence in both instances.

You all can associate whatever level of negligence and/or try and make comparisons all you’d like. Have at it.