- In the Parks
- No
For those of you who don't know, bullish means optimistic about a stock's price in the long term. This post will be about more than that - and no, I am not being sarcastic in any way. I truly believe Chapek is someone who will continue to bring value to the Disney company and the people who believe in it.
Now hear me out. I know you know my historically pessimistic, downright frustrated posts about what he's been doing to the parks. I still maintain that frustration and think he's a real piece of work. But when you bear in mind what this country is going through, and how most people are choosing to hold on to their optimism instead of criticize, Chapek is actually the perfect candidate to run this company.
I'm posting this thread in the Disneyland Forum, so my points will be strictly about the Disneyland / DCA areas.
Let me rapid fire some points for you:
1. Chapek obviously doesn't care for park history, or what the community has come to expect. This works as an advantage.
2. Advertisement & IP is the focus, and most people don't see it - or I should say, just don't care.
3. He's been given executive leadership over something well-established and unbelievably well-loved. He doesn't have to prove anything to Disney park goers except that he knows how not to burn it down (literally).
4. The prices of everything keep rising, and the crowds still show up. Disney can charge $9 for a breaded cinnamon stick and get away with it. People will still pay over $150 a day per person just to step foot in Mainstreet.
5. He (and/or his crew) know how to fight against anything that could be offensive. In today's climate, that is incredibly important.
Alright let me elaborate just a little bit more.
Regarding point 1
In Iger's later years, and since Chapek stepped foot into an executive position, Disneyland has been changing at a pretty rapid pace. Sure, some people will throw their arms up at some historical, legendary attractions & scenery being changed, but that's only short lived. The new offering tends to be more popular, and I'd argue it's just because its new. I could sit here and confidently tell you that Tiki Room & Jungle Cruise would be changing. The latter turned out to be 100% true. Remember those rumors about Matterhorn being changed to a Frozen theme? I bet you that was a real idea that didn't come to fruition for whatever reason. We don't know that for a fact, of course, I will admit.
They care not about what rides you love. They just know if they slap a Disney character on a roller coaster, you'll love it. And this beats the heck out of creating something original which takes time, money, and much more effort.
Regarding point 2
Last time I stepped foot in the parks, High School Musical was playing in Tomorrowland theater. Hyperspace Mountain and Tomorrow Galaxies Edge Land 2.0 meant that every attraction and theme in tomorrowland is Star Wars. DCA is turning into Marvel and Pixar advertisements. Star Wars Galaxies Edge - that humongous plot of land on Disneyland's North Side - is an architectural genius no doubt. And that's pretty much all it is. There's two E-ticket attractions, some costumed people.. There are several opportunities for you to open your wallet for the sake of Star Wars nostalgia. Is anyone complaining? Not really. It's still Disneyland!
I've been seeing a lot of posts, and generally people, talking about how much better a ride was because they saw their favorite characters. This level of optimism is now necessary as we haven't had an original attraction since Expedition Everest in 2006 (Disneyworld). And this works perfectly for the executives trying to push up any type of earnings because they clearly didn't have to try hard to turn something like Screamin' to chase-a-baby.
Regarding points 3 and 4
Need I elaborate? People will keep going and paying the price because Disneyland is Disneyland. Heck even I must admit, no matter how much they change it, just being there and even stepping foot on Harbor Blvd is something special on its own. Going into the parks is an unmatched emotion. Chapek didn't have anything to do with that, but he has proven that he can run the parks without them imploding and I guess that's a plus. There's also the matter of continually increasing prices of pretty much everything. They can get away with it, and you'll still pay it. We all do.
Regarding point 5
It doesn't matter where you or I stand on this matter. Chapek & his crew are scrubbing things here and there that may be perceived as offensive. There is now a division at Disney who's sole purpose is to figure what is and isn't offensive, and what can be done to change it. This will make some people happy, and for those who aren't - it doesn't matter, see point 1.
And to be clear, this isn't a problem in and of itself - the replacements however tend to be (or always are) lackluster and IP-related. They fail to match the quality and emotion of what was there before. I don't need to give specific examples as it'll just sound like I'm repeating myself over and over. But I look towards the Pirates auction scene, Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain - whatever else i'm missing.
In Conclusion
Elon Must, Steve Jobs, Phil Spencer, Walt Disney, Frank Wells. These are genius visionary executives who CARE about the work they're doing. They live & breathe the product in which they have control over, and they share that love with the consumer. Chapek is nowhere near that level of brilliance but he doesn't have to be. Disney is already established and that works in his favor.
You may disagree with my angle, and that is completely fine. I'm not saying anyone is wrong - we all enjoy our guilty pleasures differently. But I am saying that Bob Chapek is seemingly the right clown to further increase Disneyland's income & decrease expenses. Let me hear your thoughts!
Now hear me out. I know you know my historically pessimistic, downright frustrated posts about what he's been doing to the parks. I still maintain that frustration and think he's a real piece of work. But when you bear in mind what this country is going through, and how most people are choosing to hold on to their optimism instead of criticize, Chapek is actually the perfect candidate to run this company.
I'm posting this thread in the Disneyland Forum, so my points will be strictly about the Disneyland / DCA areas.
Let me rapid fire some points for you:
1. Chapek obviously doesn't care for park history, or what the community has come to expect. This works as an advantage.
2. Advertisement & IP is the focus, and most people don't see it - or I should say, just don't care.
3. He's been given executive leadership over something well-established and unbelievably well-loved. He doesn't have to prove anything to Disney park goers except that he knows how not to burn it down (literally).
4. The prices of everything keep rising, and the crowds still show up. Disney can charge $9 for a breaded cinnamon stick and get away with it. People will still pay over $150 a day per person just to step foot in Mainstreet.
5. He (and/or his crew) know how to fight against anything that could be offensive. In today's climate, that is incredibly important.
Alright let me elaborate just a little bit more.
Regarding point 1
In Iger's later years, and since Chapek stepped foot into an executive position, Disneyland has been changing at a pretty rapid pace. Sure, some people will throw their arms up at some historical, legendary attractions & scenery being changed, but that's only short lived. The new offering tends to be more popular, and I'd argue it's just because its new. I could sit here and confidently tell you that Tiki Room & Jungle Cruise would be changing. The latter turned out to be 100% true. Remember those rumors about Matterhorn being changed to a Frozen theme? I bet you that was a real idea that didn't come to fruition for whatever reason. We don't know that for a fact, of course, I will admit.
They care not about what rides you love. They just know if they slap a Disney character on a roller coaster, you'll love it. And this beats the heck out of creating something original which takes time, money, and much more effort.
Regarding point 2
Last time I stepped foot in the parks, High School Musical was playing in Tomorrowland theater. Hyperspace Mountain and Tomorrow Galaxies Edge Land 2.0 meant that every attraction and theme in tomorrowland is Star Wars. DCA is turning into Marvel and Pixar advertisements. Star Wars Galaxies Edge - that humongous plot of land on Disneyland's North Side - is an architectural genius no doubt. And that's pretty much all it is. There's two E-ticket attractions, some costumed people.. There are several opportunities for you to open your wallet for the sake of Star Wars nostalgia. Is anyone complaining? Not really. It's still Disneyland!
I've been seeing a lot of posts, and generally people, talking about how much better a ride was because they saw their favorite characters. This level of optimism is now necessary as we haven't had an original attraction since Expedition Everest in 2006 (Disneyworld). And this works perfectly for the executives trying to push up any type of earnings because they clearly didn't have to try hard to turn something like Screamin' to chase-a-baby.
Regarding points 3 and 4
Need I elaborate? People will keep going and paying the price because Disneyland is Disneyland. Heck even I must admit, no matter how much they change it, just being there and even stepping foot on Harbor Blvd is something special on its own. Going into the parks is an unmatched emotion. Chapek didn't have anything to do with that, but he has proven that he can run the parks without them imploding and I guess that's a plus. There's also the matter of continually increasing prices of pretty much everything. They can get away with it, and you'll still pay it. We all do.
Regarding point 5
It doesn't matter where you or I stand on this matter. Chapek & his crew are scrubbing things here and there that may be perceived as offensive. There is now a division at Disney who's sole purpose is to figure what is and isn't offensive, and what can be done to change it. This will make some people happy, and for those who aren't - it doesn't matter, see point 1.
And to be clear, this isn't a problem in and of itself - the replacements however tend to be (or always are) lackluster and IP-related. They fail to match the quality and emotion of what was there before. I don't need to give specific examples as it'll just sound like I'm repeating myself over and over. But I look towards the Pirates auction scene, Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain - whatever else i'm missing.
In Conclusion
Elon Must, Steve Jobs, Phil Spencer, Walt Disney, Frank Wells. These are genius visionary executives who CARE about the work they're doing. They live & breathe the product in which they have control over, and they share that love with the consumer. Chapek is nowhere near that level of brilliance but he doesn't have to be. Disney is already established and that works in his favor.
You may disagree with my angle, and that is completely fine. I'm not saying anyone is wrong - we all enjoy our guilty pleasures differently. But I am saying that Bob Chapek is seemingly the right clown to further increase Disneyland's income & decrease expenses. Let me hear your thoughts!
