News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!

[JD80]

From a politicians point of view, this recent turn of events offers Iger a very very interesting opportunity. Everything Iger has done has been buried in the last few years of stink:

• Where us fans have been noticing a decline in the parks for a decade, the public is finally seeing it to. To the point where we are getting major publications writing about it. (No reason to list all these thigns)
• Decline in movie quality.
• The state of the company's financials etc.

Like this thread has already hashed out, Iger was in charge when a lot of this was going on. Chapek was also in charge for a lot of the negative Parks stuff since 2015. Buck always stops at the top, but both men are equally responsible on the Parks side in any case.

That being said, this is an interesting opportunity for Iger. We as a society have very short term memories and if over the course of the next 2 years Iger can do any number of things that can erase all of his mistake and catapult him into "Legend" mode. Getting the parks into better shape, reducing costs or "hiding costs" in other things. Taking the negative connotation away from the cost of a vacation. Park additions, increase maintenance, giving the CMs a good raise (adjusted for inflation now ~19-20$/hr). Getting all the different studios into a better place and green lighting some new movies (which we won't see until after he's gone assuming he's gone after 2 years).

Iger, the shifty SOB, was able to bounce just before all of his bad decisions caught up to him (park maintenance, over crowding, G+ nickle and diming, a string of bad movies, D+ costs). All these things were going to hit regardless of who was sitting in the CEO chair.

So Iger has an interesting opportunity to "fix" all of his problems in the short term and play the white knight. Maybe it'll be deserved.

edit:
It'll be funny when Chapek doesn't get credit for all the park reservation/G+ changes that are coming that were being developed now and Iger gets all the praise.

 

[Ayla]

This old argument. Avatar was great including the story and the plot was fantastic.
People love to bash this movie because of their political views. Time to start. being honest about the bias that exists around this movie.

I had ZERO interest in seeing Avatar. I don't watch Sci-Fi movies, nor do I waste money on 3-D movies. Politics (whatever that means) had literally nothing to do with my disinterest. I also don't plan on watching any of the 4 subsequent Avatar movies.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

I wish for the old Figment Ride, Journey Into Imagination, restoration of the food plan, return of the Magical Express, resurrection of Horizons, return Test Track to original more-relevant ride, repaint those hideous, new Vegas-style casino hotels and the ever-elusive pipedream of lower prices and better booking packages, just as a beginning of wishes. These horses left the barn long ago.
The Skyliner is the best thing done under Chapek.

All of those bad things, with the exception of Magical Express, happened under Bob I.

 

[Goofnut1980]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stores?

 

[JD80]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stores?

Closing Disney Stores was a smart thing.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stores?

Eisner, who eventually sold them to The Children’s Place. Iger bought them back out of bankruptcy and tried for awhile with new store looks and opening new locations, but that eventually sputtered. Chapek had the latest round of closures that basically ended the concept outside of a few select locations.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stores?

It's kinda like asking under who's regime did Starbucks stores start popping up like festering little pimples all over the resort?

 

[JoeCamel]

It's kinda like asking under who's regime did Starbucks stores start popping up like festering little pimples all over the resort world?

But yeah

 

[Tonto]

I agree. Good advice. Try taking it yourself.

Sorry. my Mistake.

 

[SilentWindODoom]

Nope they have no heart

While you can say it lacks for content, the theming of the land on-stage and the Flight of Passage Queue are friggin' nuts and the kind of standard we ask for from the company.

I know people talk about Eisner’s 2nd half being terrible… what would be some of his biggest mistakes thats people say were awful etc?

Cheaping out after Paris's issues. Animal Kingdom is still trying to dig itself out of half-day status. Everyone's already mentioned California Adventure's chintzy approach, which sadly overshadowed the positives that were there. Building a shell of a castle park in Hong Kong and an utter embarrassment in Walt Disney Studios Park.

You know what? I've never thought about how much worse that last one is by the fact that the French had a mistaken perception of what has been called the most beautiful and deep castle park and Eisner then gave them exactly what they thought Disney would bring: a cheap American money-grab.

(Oh dear. I apparently got interrupted in writing this yesterday and never sent it.)

 

[JoeCamel]

While you can say it lacks for content, the theming of the land on-stage and the Flight of Passage Queue are friggin' nuts and the kind of standard we ask for from the company.



Cheaping out after Paris's issues. Animal Kingdom is still trying to dig itself out of half-day status. Everyone's already mentioned California Adventure's chintzy approach, which sadly overshadowed the positives that were there. Building a shell of a castle park in Hong Kong and an utter embarrassment in Walt Disney Studios Park.

You know what? I've never thought about how much worse that last one is by the fact that the French had a mistaken perception of what has been called the most beautiful and deep castle park and Eisner then gave them exactly what they thought Disney would bring: a cheap American money-grab.

(Oh dear. I apparently got interrupted in writing this yesterday and never sent it.)

They learned to build a good queue and they do spend on rockwork but as a whole it lacks what the rides that come before had. Its just an opinion but it does seem to have some traction

 

[castlecake2.0]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stor

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stores?

chapek put the final nail in the coffin. I think some of the stores should have closed, the mall is dying, BUT they could have saved a few more of the flagships. There should be more cast facing guest areas of the company other than the parks. With the closure of Disney stores and radioDisney they removed brand ambassadors in local communities that could talk up the company and its initiatives, maybe these venues weren’t making as much money as before, but they were still an important part of the puzzle. But why run your own business when you pay target run it into the ground.

 

[Disone]

I don't think that's true of Disney+ (or Peacock, ironically).

Netflix - Draw people in with Stranger Things and whatever binge drama or true crime documentary goes viral, but nothing to keep them around.

HBO - Draw people in with Game of Thrones, but nothing to keep them around.

Amazon - Draw people in with free 2-Day shipping, keep them around with free 2-Day shipping, doesn't matter what anyone watches.

Hulu - Attempt to be consistently good with FX content (The Bear, Reservation Dogs, Under the Banner of Heaven, Dopesick), but no major draw outside of The Handmaid's Tale, which has a super niche audience

Paramount+ - Pray that Taylor Sheridan can keep cranking out bangers

Peacock - Nothing to draw people in, but if they get some hits people will stick around to watch The Office and Parks & Rec for the thousandth time

Disney+ - Come for Mando, stay for the Library

Disney+ and Peacock don't need to spend on "sustainment" content, because they already have it. They need to spend on must-see blockbuster content that continues to bring people into the service. Once they're in, they're in. Churn should be much lower than most of these other services.

I think that's a strong argument in favor of Disney Plus. And I guess peacock too. I agree. Get them in and most will stay for the library.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Under who’s regime did the company start closing a lot of the Disney Stor

chapek put the final nail in the coffin. I think some of the stores should have closed, the mall is dying, BUT they could have saved a few more of the flagships. There should be more cast facing guest areas of the company other than the parks. With the closure of Disney stores and radioDisney they removed brand ambassadors in local communities that could talk up the company and its initiatives, maybe these venues weren’t making as much money as before, but they were still an important part of the puzzle. But why run your own business when you pay target run it into the ground.View attachment 680977View attachment 680978

There’s also the fact that back in its inception it wasn’t necessarily easy to get official Disney merchandise without visiting the resort.

Now a days with the EBays and Amazon’s of the world and the fact that people go in and buy 10’s of the same item just so they can list the product in these channels - the distribution landscape has changed a bit. Alternately, they can order from Disney directly online.

 

[brb1006]

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Disney was super cheap and tacky by the end of that period.

Hey Bambi II was good though!

 

[brb1006]

I wish for more wishes

Disney's got the perfect film on the topic of "Wishes".

 

[castlecake2.0]

There’s also the fact that back in its inception it wasn’t necessarily easy to get official Disney merchandise without visiting the resort.

Now a days with the EBays and Amazon’s of the world and the fact that people go in and buy 10’s of the same item just so they can list the product in these channels - the distribution landscape has changed a bit. Alternately, they can order from Disney directly online.

Totally agree with all of that, the store concept definitely needed some re imagining, and the sad part was it was getting so close to the right mix of merch again right before it closed. I don’t think every mall needs a Disney Store, but a a dozen or two flagships across the US and Canada could work. They could even sell Disney+ subscriptions at checkout

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Meg Crofton queen of the single ply TP?

…anyone who had the displeasure will break into sweats when you say Voldemort’s name

 

[castlecake2.0]

…anyone who had the displeasure will break into sweats when you say Voldemort’s name

But her hair and power suits were always so perfect

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Totally agree with all of that, the store concept definitely needed some re imagining, and the sad part was it was getting so close to the right mix of merch again right before it closed. I don’t think every mall needs a Disney Store, but a a dozen or two flagships across the US and Canada could work. They could even sell Disney+ subscriptions at checkout

I always thought that they needed to combine the concept. Possibly with DVC, Resorts, and/or Meeting and Conventions, - in short a small slice of the Disney bubble.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about a Disney resort in every major city. Rather, think Gaylord. Maybe 6-8 large strategically placed properties catering to the beforementioned audience, and throw in some exclusive dining options, entertainment, and merchandising.

Would work for the Corporate Travel audience, would work for those that lived close enough for a weekend (or three day weekend) getaway, and would work for those that were local. And it would also bring additional depth to the DVC offerings.