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

[WDWJoeG]

Couple issues with this...

For an executive at Josh's level, this is one of those double-edged-sword problems that can't easily be solved. Going out into the park and getting feedback is good, but he also has to trust the executives and leaders that are tasked with solving these issues at the lower level. Dropping in and solving one issue, can just alienate the mid level leaders, precipitate a long list of "what about this other issues" complaints, and even come off as somewhat insincere to the fans/audience.

The fans will still demand fixes to tangible things that impact them directly... that usually means something directly related to the daily operation of the parks/resorts, but at Josh's level, he has to have responsibility for so much more that the audience doesn't see.

That sort of leads to issue two... even if Josh wants to solve all the problems, and is sincere in his desire to make the parks better, his hands are still completely tied but budgets and accounting. If customers/guests keep insisting on value over experience, then that is exactly the type of product Josh will have to offer, regardless of whatever direction he wants to take. Absolutely no point in steering the ship against the current.






Maybe today, but 5 to 10 years from now, Disney could still be producing IP where Universal will still be seeking to buy. Lack of IP is not a problem for Disney.




Splash Mountain was added to Disneyland, 43 years after it was released in theaters.




Nothing is that clear cut. Josh can definitely have come into the role, with long term plans in motion for Lake Nona, that he had almost no input on and no real ability to stop. Other things could be completely driven by him. We have no way of knowing.

And yet, when it was Pressler, Chapek, pick your villain, it was completely known.

Funny how that works.

 

[el_super]

And yet, when it was Pressler, Chapek, pick your villain, it was completely known.

Funny how that works.

It wasn't really then either. People just wanted to fall into the trope of having a villain to blame. Point at Chapek and say he's the problem, then you get to sleep easy at night thinking that if Chapek gets replaced, everything will be fine.

It won't be. The board will always pick someone like Chapek to run the company, and the shareholders will always pick board members that will make the same exact decisions.

Maybe at the end of it, you can just blame the shareholders for wanting to retire. Even that solution though, ignores the demands of the customers.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It wasn't really then either. People just wanted to fall into the trope of having a villain to blame. Point at Chapek and say he's the problem, then you get to sleep easy at night thinking that if Chapek gets replaced, everything will be fine.

It won't be. The board will always pick someone like Chapek to run the company, and the shareholders will always pick board members that will make the same exact decisions.

Maybe at the end of it, you can just blame the shareholders for wanting to retire. Even that solution though, ignores the demands of the customers.

The “villains” are the last two CEOs…the underlings have no power.

As time goes on…this will become more evident.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Maybe today, but 5 to 10 years from now, Disney could still be producing IP where Universal will still be seeking to buy. Lack of IP is not a problem for Disney.

Aside from princess movies, what new successful IP are they creating? Universal may be making more partnerships than they are creating in house, but it’s given them far greater variety than what Disney offers. With Disney, it’s 5 core brands, all of which are cinematic offerings targeted at the 14 and under crowd.

 

[el_super]

Aside from princess movies, what new successful IP are they creating?

I don't know, they seem to be doing alright with super hero movies, and of course space franchise is still pretty popular.

The broader point though is that Disney is still creating, and creating a LOT. Even if nothing new hits it off in the next 5 to 10 years, there is still a HUGE back catalogue to be utilized.

And what's wrong with princess movies?

 

[el_super]

The “villains” are the last two CEOs…the underlings have no power.

And probably the next four or five too. The board will never hire a CEO that "gets it" by the fan's definition. They will always be the villain.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Disney certainly can change their quality output. But reputation is not something that “turns on a dime”. It takes time to change.

And if they want to fight “IP Wars”, they are surely going to lose. Universal just has access to more of the most popular media franchises, and this is going to become clear 5 to 10 years into the run of Epic Universe. Part of the reason is that Disney is reluctant to even touch an ever growing entertainment medium (video games) that Universal is now openly embracing. If they wait to long, and Uni keeps scooping up the franchises, how will they compete?

Disney has another issue with Universal long term. Universal after Epic Universe has enough space to do a 4th park if they want to. That park can be up to 100 acres. I also read Universal is planning to move the offices of the first parks to that 750 acres of land to get more room for attractions for the first 2 parks.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't know, they seem to be doing alright with super hero movies, and of course space franchise is still pretty popular.

The broader point though is that Disney is still creating, and creating a LOT. Even if nothing new hits it off in the next 5 to 10 years, there is still a HUGE back catalogue to be utilized.

And what's wrong with princess movies?

I think the point was new material…which was always tough.

They’ve cranked out about 30 MCU movies at this point and the “other” franchise has been mostly train wreck…

Couple that wish live action remakes and Pixar sequels and the creative juices might already be wine at this point.

They have strong IP…but the danger in repetition is real.

Hollywood writers have written about the developing need for adult entertainment to bridge the marketplace again…

And by “again”…it’s exactly what Disney had to do in 1985 when they started the “adult” movie studios.

Everyone stoked for the live action Bambi?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney has another issue with Universal long term. Universal after Epic Universe has enough space to do a 4th park if they want to. That park can be up to 100 acres. I also read Universal is planning to move the offices of the first parks to that 750 acres of land to get more room for attractions for the first 2 parks.

I’d be shocked if universal does a 4th amusement gate. I think they’ll learn from the template and focus back on IOA and USO afterward.

But that’s good too…they will likely move as much storage as they can to the new property and have sorely needed development space.

 

[FigmentJedi]

And what's wrong with princess movies?

The Princess Industrial Complex and its needs keeps Disney Animation from making more movies in the genres that all the popular "rides that had nothing to do with pre-existing movies" are. Imagineering's basically been banking on the overlap of "Park Nerds" and "Atlantis/Tarzan/Treasure Planet fans" to get more attention put onto their Society of Explorers and Adventurers lore outside the park bubble.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And probably the next four or five too. The board will never hire a CEO that "gets it" by the fan's definition. They will always be the villain.

Truth.

And that’s not good.

Which means an eventually sale…possibly a breakup. Only a matter of time.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I don't know, they seem to be doing alright with super hero movies, and of course space franchise is still pretty popular.

The broader point though is that Disney is still creating, and creating a LOT. Even if nothing new hits it off in the next 5 to 10 years, there is still a HUGE back catalogue to be utilized.

And what's wrong with princess movies?

New IP. As in, not something that was created already. They fit within the 5 core franchises that Disney (over)relies on: Marvel, Star Wars, Princesses, Core Pixar, and Mickey. Two of those are action blockbusters. Two of those are formulaic kids movies. And then there’s Mickey. Not a ton of variety in terms of content and targeted audience.

 

[el_super]

They’ve cranked out about 30 MCU movies at this point and the “other” franchise has been mostly train wreck…

They don't really get to choose which ones turn into hits and which ones flop. If they knew for sure how to produce nothing but hits, they would.

The key point though is that they are still creating. 33 billion dollars worth this year right? The more you create the more chance something will hit it big with the audience.

The Princess Industrial Complex and its needs keeps Disney Animation from making more movies in the genres that all the popular "rides that had nothing to do with pre-existing movies" are. Imagineering's basically been banking on the overlap of "Park Nerds" and "Atlantis/Tarzan/Treasure Planet fans" to get more attention put onto their Society of Explorers and Adventurers lore outside the park bubble.

The park product isn't solely focused on princesses though. We've just recently had attractions based on Spiderman, Gaurdians of the Galaxy, Tron (lol from 1982), Ratatouille, Toy Story, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars and even Zootopia in the works.

They didn't get to decide that Frozen would be a cultural phenomenon that would transcend all cultural boundaries.

And that’s not good.

Which means an eventually sale…possibly a breakup. Only a matter of time.

It will be good enough and they will be fine. I wasn't even really ready to write off Chapek until this whole PR disaster he imagineered in the last week. Most of the decisions made during his tenure haven't been pretty, but a case could be made that they were absoultely necessary.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Disney has another issue with Universal long term. Universal after Epic Universe has enough space to do a 4th park if they want to. That park can be up to 100 acres. I also read Universal is planning to move the offices of the first parks to that 750 acres of land to get more room for attractions for the first 2 parks.

I don’t think they will do a 4th traditional park. But 3 fully loaded parks is more than enough to topple Disney’s one solid park and 3 half dayers.

 

[el_super]

New IP. As in, not something that was created already. They fit within the 5 core franchises that Disney (over)relies on: Marvel, Star Wars, Princesses, Core Pixar, and Mickey. Two of those are action blockbusters. Two of those are formulaic kids movies. And then there’s Mickey. Not a ton of variety in terms of content and targeted audience.

That's still a pretty big variety for Disney. And more to the point: their family friend IP draws a bigger demographic than what Universal currently can do. Universal has always skewed toward the teenage/action set because that was the market that Disney didn't pay attention to, and it was easy for Universal to pick up. Disney's core children/family market though, is far bigger than what Universal is pulling. Hard to convince families to come out for the Fast and the Furious or Velocicoaster.

 

[mightynine]

Everyone stoked for the live action Bambi?

What’s gonna be the slowed down cover song in the trailer for when you-know-what happens? Ozzy Osbourne’s “Shot In The Dark”?

 

[VJ]

What’s gonna be the slowed down cover song in the trailer for when you-know-what happens? Ozzy Osbourne’s “Shot In The Dark”?

"In The Arms of An Angel".

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Odds Chappie shows at the Moon Knight premiere tonight?

 

[TikibirdLand]

If you really think either Bob or Josh care about "the fifth key", I think you'll want to study The D's past. They've certainly had plenty of time to invest using other keys. It's what brings in the guests -- only. I doubt there's much any of us pontificate here can change that nor their trajectory. But, I'll watch the stock price to see if I'm wrong there. We'll chat more about this when their stock value gets below $125...

 

[Fox&Hound]

Disney certainly can change their quality output. But reputation is not something that “turns on a dime”. It takes time to change.

And if they want to fight “IP Wars”, they are surely going to lose. Universal just has access to more of the most popular media franchises, and this is going to become clear 5 to 10 years into the run of Epic Universe. Part of the reason is that Disney is reluctant to even touch an ever growing entertainment medium (video games) that Universal is now openly embracing. If they wait to long, and Uni keeps scooping up the franchises, how will they compete?

There is no way you are serious. You are claiming that 'Universal has access to more of the most popular media franchises? Over Disney? Hahahha okay...Not trying to be mean, but do you seriously believe this?