It's not necessarily that there weren't stories to be told about Disney having unfavorable characteristics during Iger's reign, it's also that those stories wouldn't have been allowed into public consumption from major publications.
While Chapek and Iger actually have fairly similar philosophies for running the company, one of the biggest differences is how the company controls its public image. Although Iger is certainly a more charismatic speaker who knows how to smooth out the rough edges, he had plenty his own of gaffes ("nondescript coaster") that weren't dissimilar to Chapek's standard speech patterns.
But more importantly, under Iger's control Disney made a concerted effort to keep a tighter leash on what was publicly said about the company. As Chief Communications Officer, Zenia Mucha (who rose to power during the end of Eisner's time) was notorious for keeping reporters on Disney's approved talking points for all aspects of the company, minimizing internal leaks, and making stories that didn't fit the pre-approved narrative ("oddly waifish man of anemic personality") disappear without a trace. It's why things like the Disney Parks Blog and D23 came into existence during that era: not to give the fans a place to congregate and discuss, but to give the company a direct mouthpiece to control the message about its past, present, and future.
While there may (or may not) have been a general public appetite under Iger's reign for stories about Disney's decreasing value to customers, it's unlikely those stories would have ever seen the light of day from a major publication. Even fan sites with relatively small readership routinely dropped from the media lists for events if their just-the-facts coverage wasn't positive enough.
Under Chapek, there appears to be a distinct departure from that approach, with little regard for the "feel good" messaging that the company was once known for. In addition to more bluntly business-focused messages from the top, communications from all levels of the company increasingly use terms that sound like they weren't written by real humans ("daytime activation," "cobochons," etc.). As part of this shift, there has also been a dramatic rise in critical stories from other major publications, which seems to indicate Chapek doesn't see the same value in tightly controlling the messaging about the company's public image.
Whether that's the best approach for an entertainment company who builds their brand on the emotional appeal of magic and nostalgia remains to be seen.
