News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!

[monothingie]

The Woman Behind the Mouse

Disney has thrived under the leadership of chief financial officer Christine McCarthy ’77. But her career and life haven’t always been a fairy tale.

www.smith.edu

Every picture she poses in looks like she’s just returned from puppy mill after picking out a new pelt.

My god she makes Ursula look like a good guy.

 

[FutureCEO]

I hate to break it to Iger but I've been falling out of love with the theme parks a few years before Chapek.

 

[Touchdown]

I hate to break it to Iger but I've been falling out of love with the theme parks a few years before Chapek.

You should diversify. Going to other good parks (Universal, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Dollywood, Cedar Point, Knotts, etc) highlights Disneys failings and strengths and makes you appreciate all of them more.

 

[WondersOfLife]

…unfortunately, you are correct

…meh - let’s all just do a trip report instead

I sent my last trip report to Disney in an email back in August and I got 8 complimentary 2-day tickets.

Currently using 3 of them right now this weekend as I type this out. Not spending a dollar here. Even parked at Disney springs to get around parking fees. Taking full advantage of it.

 

[MrPromey]

I hate to break it to Iger but I've been falling out of love with the theme parks a few years before Chapek.

Before Chapek the CEO or before Chapek the Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts?

I'm pretty sure for me it started with the later.

How much of that can be traced to Chapek and how much of it Iger, I really can't say but I've always felt Iger just didn't really care about the parks unless he was opening them so as long as Chapek was bringing numbers he liked, including GAS. (which, from answering a few, I know don't tell the whole story)

I've never been given any reason to believe Chapek cared about GAS, himself, as long as the attendance mix remained favorable while the margins and overall profit were high - something he could focus on completely with Iger (sort of) gone so he was willing to make changes that looked bad and ignore the complaints as long as the metrics he cared about still appeared good.*

I don't think a whole lot of Josh but are things the way they are with him because of him or Chapek? Again, hard to say but I have to imagine Chapek, coming from P&R, would have a lot more input and a lot more awareness of where to shake to get cash to fall out in that segment than Iger did.


*and I'm not trying to make Chapek out to be a monster, here. I just don't think he had any personal love for his business or understood the need to fake that he did. He was a money guy without a mask who I think was clueless about why Disney was different from other major media companies, despite having worked so much of his career there.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Why do you still insist that the timing of Bob’s retirement was entirely and solely his to make?

Why did the Board, after multiple extensions, suddenly have a change of mind and tell him it was time to go mid-contract?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

What I would like about a Mayer/Staggs “administration” is that it would echo the Eisner/Wells and the Walt/Roy eras before. The company, for whatever reason, is best when there’s two at the helm.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Why did the Board, after multiple extensions, suddenly have a change of mind and tell him it was time to go mid-contract?

When his de facto protege sue Arnold was next in line/board leader?

…that seems like an “implausible” question

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What I would like about a Mayer/Staggs “administration” is that it would echo the Eisner/Wells and the Walt/Roy eras before. The company, for whatever reason, is best when there’s two at the helm.

I’d be ok with them…but neither are that experienced/good

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I’d be ok with them…but neither are that experienced/good

What I like about them is at least they have their own company and aren’t career corporatists. There’s a difference between an executive who has ownership experience and one who has never been an owner.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

check out the trajectory reputation-wise. It was already on a sharp downturn starting in 2017

Sharp downturn in 2017?

They were ranked the 7th best company on the list in 2017, improved to 5th in 2018, 5th again in 2019, then fell to 23rd in 2020, 37th in 2021, and 65th this year.

The downturn started in 2020 after foot in his mouth Chapek took over, there’s a lot of valid complaints about Iger but the one thing he was a master at was public relations, something Disney desperately needs right now after 2 years of bad press.

 

[RobWDW1971]

The downturn started in 2020 after foot in his mouth Chapek took over, there’s a lot of valid complaints about Iger but the one thing he was a master at was public relations, something Disney desperately needs right now after 2 years of bad press.

The downturn accelerated in 2020 you say?

Hmmmmm, I'm confused. All of the theme parks were closed that year so a nickel increase in the price of a Mickey ice cream bar or a broken AA on Splash Mountain certainly wouldn't have had an impact on the overall company brand impression.

Hmmmmm, what happened in 2020 that would start to fundamentally and immediately change the perception of the company?

It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle.

This is one of the world's most respected brands burning through their century earned reputation in just a few years.

Perhaps some true introspection is needed and a change in direction.

 

[LittleBuford]

The downturn started in 2020 you say?

Hmmmmm, I'm confused. All of the theme parks were closed that year so a nickel increase in the price of a Mickey ice cream bar or a broken AA on Splash Mountain certainly wouldn't have had an impact on the overall company brand impression.

Hmmmmmm, what happened in 2020 that would start to fundamentally and immediately change the perception of the company?

It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle.

There are two issues with this:

First, your assumption that “the public” cares to any significant extent about the things you’re alluding to. The retheme of Splash Mountain (for example) is a trifling matter out there in the real world, particularly with all that’s been happening these past few years.

Second, your assumption that those who are aware of the things you’re alluding to share your perspective. Believe it or not, there are people who welcome what Disney is doing in this regard.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Every picture she poses in looks like she’s just returned from puppy mill after picking out a new pelt.

My god she makes Ursula look like a good guy.

Yeah, i agree, she'd make a great CEO!!

 

[itsy bitsy spider]

I think both Bob's suck.

 

[Bender123]

Most of the garbage that Chapek had in his hand was started by Iger before he left...Insane prices, low quality, low effort and not being able to read the room have been a Disney hallmark for a decade. I dont see how doubling down on Igers brand of garbage is going to improve the situation.

 

[GhostHost1000]

There are two issues with this:

First, your assumption that “the public” cares to any significant extent about the things you’re alluding to. The retheme of Splash Mountain (for example) is a trifling matter out there in the real world, particularly with all that’s been happening these past few years.

Second, your assumption that those who are aware of the things you’re alluding to share your perspective. Believe it or not, there are people who welcome what Disney is doing in this regard.

There are also people who aren’t and I think therein lies the problem. It’s not something that needed to be done especially financially but Disney is forcing the change. When capacity is needed in the parks, add attractions, don’t just replace. Just my opinion.

 

[itsy bitsy spider]

Yeah, i agree, she'd make a great CEO!!

Isn't she the lady (and I use the term very loosely) that said "We're cutting down portion sizes. These people could stand to lose a few pounds?"

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Isn't she the lady (and I use the term very loosely) that said "We're cutting down portion sizes. These people could stand to lose a few pounds?"

Yes, that’s her!

 

[LittleBuford]

There are also people who aren’t

I agree, but my point is that the number of people who care one way or the other (i.e., who approve or disapprove of the decisions in question) really is very small. The general public doesn’t care, and nor should we expect them to. The time and energy that we here spend thinking and writing about Disney is exceptional (some might say strange) rather than representative.