Rumor Hollywood insiders say there's growing tension at Disney as CEO Bob Chapek chafes at Bob Iger's 'long goodbye'

[SirLink]

Don't forget that they're hammering away at those "warm and fuzzies" with all the anti-consumer moves they're making.

By anti-consumer moves I assume you mean increasing prices? That is just business and the global impact on energy prices.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

By anti-consumer moves I assume you mean increasing prices? That is just business and the global impact on energy prices.

You mean charging for things that were “include,” removing amenities, restricting AP use…

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Good point. I've recently sold off a considerable number of shares I've built up over the years due to the current topic at hand and this concern as well. Once the veneer of goodwill is whittled away, I do worry how well the company can perform. Gone are the days of "Uncle Walt" on your television showing you the latest and greatest.

I think the issues facing Disney (and large corporations in general) are that they're treating consumers as if they are a cactus to be squeezed of every last drop of "liquid", and the CEOs and executives lack excitement about the specific companies they run (there's no excitement if you can do the same exact thing somewhere else). Walt understood that he could do things that are good and enjoyable for people and families and make money at the same time - and he was extremely excited about that prospect and exploring new ways to achieve both goals. The emotional attachment he had to what he was doing helped him create the things that captivated generations.

 

[SirLink]

You mean charging for things that were “include,” removing amenities, restricting AP use…

One thats not anti-consumer ... after a pandemic followed by energy prices increase companies can't keep absorbing the costs so have to change the product.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

One thats not anti-consumer ... after a pandemic followed by energy prices increase companies can't keep absorbing the costs so have to change the product.

Yes, I agree. It’s just sad that things fall off.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

One thats not anti-consumer ... after a pandemic followed by energy prices increase companies can't keep absorbing the costs so have to change the product.

That's just the cover.

 

[Poseidon Quest]

Good point. I've recently sold off a considerable number of shares I've built up over the years due to the current topic at hand and this concern as well. Once the veneer of goodwill is whittled away, I do worry how well the company can perform. Gone are the days of "Uncle Walt" on your television showing you the latest and greatest.

I love the irony of how they use him as a marketing tool. The new children's playground designed around a tree in Toontown is "inspired" by a tree Walt would sit under as a child. Or slapping their name on a desert neighborhood that is located in an area that was "inspired" by the landscape of the California desert that Walt may have visited. It's really kind of pathetic at this point. Just like putting a statue of Walt in Epcot, a place he would have certainly hated today, but would also have hated on its inception as it destroyed his utopian (though highly flawed) dream.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

I love the irony of how they use him as a marketing tool. The new children's playground designed around a tree in Toontown is "inspired" by a tree Walt would sit under as a child. Or slapping their name on a desert neighborhood that is located in an area that was "inspired" by the landscape of the California desert that Walt may have visited. It's really kind of pathetic at this point. Just like putting a statue of Walt in Epcot, a place he would have certainly hated today, but would also have hated on its inception as it destroyed his utopian (though highly flawed) dream.

I think he would have liked the edutainment aspect of OG EPCOT Center.

 

[GimpYancIent]

One thats not anti-consumer ... after a pandemic followed by energy prices increase companies can't keep absorbing the costs so have to change the product.

The lack of imagination, creativity and forethought coupled with being over influenced by social media noise and making poor public relations choices are but a few of the factors impacting the need for major management change.

 

[SirLink]

That's just the cover.

No that is just business.

 

[Lilofan]

I love the irony of how they use him as a marketing tool. The new children's playground designed around a tree in Toontown is "inspired" by a tree Walt would sit under as a child. Or slapping their name on a desert neighborhood that is located in an area that was "inspired" by the landscape of the California desert that Walt may have visited. It's really kind of pathetic at this point. Just like putting a statue of Walt in Epcot, a place he would have certainly hated today, but would also have hated on its inception as it destroyed his utopian (though highly flawed) dream.

He would have hated the alcohol being sold at Epcot. MK was the last bastion of an alcohol free park even on NYE back in the day, until WDW finally realizing guests wanted to drink and helping the company improve the bottom line by selling booze. In regards to cigarettes which killed chain smoking Walt at age 65 , he would probably support smoking everywhere. When we visited One Mans Dream at DHS years ago and saw an exact replica of Walt's CA office, I counted at least 6 ashtrays spread throughout his office.

 

[UNCgolf]

It's not the 90s. The risk isn't temper-tantrums and boycotts, it's half the country looking at Disney and thinking "eh, that's just not for people like me."

And the half of the country that Disney has turned its back on has WAY more babies than the other half. Interesting strategy.

That's basically my point, though.

It's just noise from a loud minority on both sides. I'd bet the majority of people don't even know about the Florida law because they don't pay attention/don't care, and an even smaller number has any idea what Bob Chapek and Disney are saying/doing about it.

 

[UNCgolf]

The bill itself could easily be struck down as unconstitutional for being overly vague, but that aside, it's still a terrible bill for its enforcement scheme.

I don't know why anyone thinks that's a good idea -- it's basically guaranteed that the left will jump on and use the exact same tactic to weaponize private lawsuits against things they don't like. It's a recipe to completely undermine the entire judicial system.

 

[marni1971]

One thats not anti-consumer ... after a pandemic followed by energy prices increase companies can't keep absorbing the costs so have to change the product.

What if they were planned pre pandemic?

 

[ImperfectPixie]

The bill itself could easily be struck down as unconstitutional for being overly vague, but that aside, it's still a terrible bill for its enforcement scheme.

I don't know why anyone thinks that's a good idea -- it's basically guaranteed that the left will jump on and use the exact same tactic to weaponize private lawsuits against things they don't like. It's a recipe to completely undermine the entire judicial system.

I hope you're right.

And I agree...this tactic of weaponizing laws and playing on people's angers and fears is a recipe for disaster (as we've already seen).

 

[SirLink]

What if they were planned pre pandemic?

The word 'if' is a mighty small word with a mighty big meaning. Whilst this is almost certainly true, after the pandemic and energy price market shocks it became inevitable.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Does anyone else see “strategic planning” remnants in Chapek’s new management style?

Iger was a part of strategic planning.

None of Eisner's faults in his later years as CEO left with him.

The only difference is now Bob 2.0 doesn't have the carefully crafted public persona that Iger built for his desired political career.

 

[doctornick]

The problem is that Chapek wants to run an apolitical organisation - and what Iger had left him was anything but that. Combine that with its workers thinking they are in a 'bottom up' company when its a 'top down' company more of its employees will get in line.

I don’t think it’s a problem running an apolitical company (and honestly I think companies should be run that way) but that Chapek is beyond crappy at PR and public relations. It’s actually surprising how bad he is and how he’s been able to progress this far given that.

You can approach issues many different ways with well crafted messaging.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

It’s actually surprise how bad he is and how he’s been able to progress this far given that.

Bob's PR incompetence highlights a somewhat sad, but not surprising aspect of modern Disney, which is that the company basically knows how to run itself regardless of who is in charge at the top.

The CEO is now largely detached from the day-to-day operational and creative decisions necessary for filmmaking and park operations. That wasn't the case with Eisner and Wells because they had a genuine curiosity about the business, especially what was new to them like the parks, and the overall portfolio was smaller and more focused.

Disney is so bloated today that a savvy business person can take credit for running the show, without doing that much.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Politics doesn't dictate people's taste in entertainment. It just doesn't. If it did, all of Hollywood would alienate half of the US by now. But people still go see movies and watch mainstream TV.

A movie ticket is $15. A Netflix subscription is $15. A Walt Disney World vacation is $6,000. A DVC membership is $30,000.