High level Disney Executives on property this week

[ford91exploder]

I think it's unrealistic for any exec to walk the park without a guide. I don't see why that should be held against him. He can still "get it" with a tour guide if he's a smart man and a true fan of the parks.

Why - It's the entire premise for 'Undercover Boss' and MDE did it regularly. 99.999% of regular guests would never recognize him 90% of CM's will not and perhaps 0.5% percent of US would recognize him.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Bob had a breakfast with cultural representatives from around world showcase yesterday morning at the American Adventure so he could be introduced to the program that most cast members working in this area of Epcot are participating in.

 

[ParksAndPixels]

While that is certainly true, every journey has to begin with a single step. We can hope that this initial evaluation by Chapek does lead to changes (improvements) down the road for WDW.

Being he is a bald man, maybe he'll demand more shade / trees in WDW?

 

[Katie G]

I don't think anyone is faulting Bob Chapek for visiting the theme parks in Anaheim and Orlando in his first few weeks in his new job. He needs to do that, and obviously these visits were set up as part of his orientation process. I'm sure he had an eye-opening experience in both locations, even if he'd been taking his family to Disneyland for decades.

It's just part of his new job, so it's nothing he should be congratulated for or fawned over for.

What he can do to deserve some instant street cred and admiration is be seen vacationing in the parks without a VIP Tour Guide whisking him and his family up the exit. He already gets his family into the parks for free as a Disney employee. Let's see him at a FP+ kiosk trying to book a Space Mountain time, or waiting in Standby at Haunted Mansion, or watching World of Color in an official-yet-crummy viewing section off to the side, or deciding to go Single Rider and split up his family at Radiator Springs Racers because the Fastpasses were all gone by 10AM.

When we see him do just one of those things, then we'll know that he gets it.

He has supposedly vacationed in the parks with his family for many years, so I'm sure he has had that experience at some point when no one was documenting it for him.

I don't even do any of those things, so why would I expect him to? If standby is too long, I don't ride. If I can't get a good spot for a show, I wait for the next one. If FP is gone, I come back another day. When you have unlimited access to the parks, why would you do any of the rides/attractions without at least an average experience?

I know not everyone has that luxury, but his job isn't to experience all of Disney parks with the worst experience for everything, its to understand the majority of experiences.

 

[Communicore]

Maybe he will ride Stitch and realize it sucks, or, "not scary enough."

 

[ParksAndPixels]

Maybe he will ride Stitch and realize it sucks, or, "not scary enough."

Imagine the attraction as is... But in chamber when they go to transport stitch becomes the original alien... terrified children, furious parents... and we will not open the chamber unless they pay for exit privileges on their MagicBand...

 

[doctornick]

So, the one thing I'm curious about is if he has visited WDW (or the international parks) in the past as a guest or if he has just visited DL. Not that there would be anything wrong if has not visited them, but it would offer some insight into how much of a theme park fan he is.

 

[216bruce]

Bob had a breakfast with cultural representatives from around world showcase yesterday morning at the American Adventure so he could be introduced to the program that most cast members working in this area of Epcot are participating in.

He may also be asking if any of their countries are for sale or are looking for a despot.

 

[bhg469]

Bob had a breakfast with cultural representatives from around world showcase yesterday morning at the American Adventure so he could be introduced to the program that most cast members working in this area of Epcot are participating in.

Were the Norwegian representatives in their traditional princess and snowman costumes?

 

[Katie G]

So, the one thing I'm curious about is if he has visited WDW (or the international parks) in the past as a guest or if he has just visited DL. Not that there would be anything wrong if has not visited them, but it would offer some insight into how much of a theme park fan he is.

I have read in some Q&A stuff that he has visited Orlando & WDW as a kid many times

 

[ford91exploder]

Bob had a breakfast with cultural representatives from around world showcase yesterday morning at the American Adventure so he could be introduced to the program that most cast members working in this area of Epcot are participating in.

That's frightening.

 

[senor_jorge]

Why - It's the entire premise for 'Undercover Boss' and MDE did it regularly. 99.999% of regular guests would never recognize him 90% of CM's will not and perhaps 0.5% percent of US would recognize him.

Or you recognize that his time is valuable and send a SME along to point things out to make the most of the time there, and reasonably assume that he's sharp enough to make his own observations along the way. Undercover Boss deals with a CEO that one would assume is already intimately familiar with operations, based on reports reaching their desk and the premise of the show is to determine what's really going on outside of the corporate office. That's somewhat different than a new CEO taking a look at what he's just become responsible for.

 

[Dice50]

Build Fire Mountain

 

[ford91exploder]

Or you recognize that his time is valuable and send a SME along to point things out to make the most of the time there, and reasonably assume that he's sharp enough to make his own observations along the way. Undercover Boss deals with a CEO that one would assume is already intimately familiar with operations, based on reports reaching their desk and the premise of the show is to determine what's really going on outside of the corporate office. That's somewhat different than a new CEO taking a look at what he's just become responsible for.

I'd agree but the guy has been working for TWDC for 14 YEARS already, So if he's not familiar with operations I'd venture he's an empty suit they would be better off without.

 

[jakeman]

I'd agree but the guy has been working for TWDC for 14 YEARS already, So if he's not familiar with operations I'd venture he's an empty suit they would be better off without.

What's your point? That he shouldn't need this tour? That the key to being a good executive is knowing how the frier in Peco Bill's work?

 

[senor_jorge]

I'd agree but the guy has been working for TWDC for 14 YEARS already, So if he's not familiar with operations I'd venture he's an empty suit they would be better off without.

I can't fault a guy for staying in his lane. Until there is evidence to the contrary I'll go with the evidence that he's been successful elsewhere and give him the rope to sink or swim based on results.

 

[MichWolv]

I'd agree but the guy has been working for TWDC for 14 YEARS already, So if he's not familiar with operations I'd venture he's an empty suit they would be better off without.

That is a remarkably silly thing to say for somebody as intelligent as you.

 

[Texas84]

Not if you have a Windows phone, or a Blackberry. No fastpass+ apps available for either of these.

It's not official but I use Disney Expedition for Windows Phone. It does FP+.

 

[ford91exploder]

That is a remarkably silly thing to say for somebody as intelligent as you.

Why - He's been a Disney executive for a decade plus, I don't expect him to know PARK operations but I would expect him to know business operations. He should be able to go through the park as a normal CM and see what does not work.

Dave Packard and Bill Hewlett called this MBWA or 'Management by Wandering Around' it WORKS.

My CEO is likely to materialize in our labs late at night if we are working because he wants to know WHY high level employees are pulling all-nighters perhaps it means more resources are needed or simply we are trying to please a customer for a specific issue.

To the fast food example, Is the operation safe and efficient does product go to waste because of handling, Yeah stuff like that is IMPORTANT.

 

[jakeman]

Why - He's been a Disney executive for a decade plus, I don't expect him to know PARK operations but I would expect him to know business operations. He should be able to go through the park as a normal CM and see what does not work.

Because moonlighting as Animal Care at DAK will tell you quite a bit about Fantasyland Attractions.