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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My guess is the Bob 1.0 doesn't give a rats butt about what Bob 2.0 does. At this point Bob 2.0 will systematically get blamed for everything including afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

You’d think…but that doesn’t seem to be the truth.

1.0 has an interest in having the lauding of Disney continue for a period of time BEFORE he feels his ego is secure. If things are bad for stock and in the press in 2022/23…it looks like he left a house of cards.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Doctor strange was in 2 avengers movies and a Spider-Man…might want to read that contract language very closely

You might want to read the original contract. At the time of the original contract, Doctor Strange was not an Avenger, nor belonged to any of the other 'families' that Uni utilized (Spider-Man, Avengers, Fantastic 4). The contract had a use-it-or-lose-it clause which said Uni had to use the Marvel characters (and their 'family') they wanted, or else, after a set time, they couldn't grab any more. And they didn't grab any more.

That is why DHS already had a Doctor Strange streetmosphere show. That Doctor Strange appeared in MCU movies doesn't mean anything for an expired clause of the original contract (not to mention that 'crossing over' into an Avengers or Spider-Man movie does not make him an Avenger nor part of the Spider-Family).

Now, there has been an updated contract that hasn't leaked. So, Black Boxes are black. But there is no Universal exclusion to a Doctor Strange Tower of Terror in DHS.

 

[pdude81]

You might want to read the original contract. At the time of the original contract, Doctor Strange was not an Avenger, nor belonged to any of the other 'families' that Uni utilized (Spider-Man, Avengers, Fantastic 4). The contract had a use-it-or-lose-it clause which said Uni had to use the Marvel characters (and their 'family') they wanted, or else, after a set time, they couldn't grab any more. And they didn't grab any more.

That is why DHS already had a Doctor Strange streetmosphere show. That Doctor Strange appeared in MCU movies doesn't mean anything for an expired clause of the original contract (not to mention that 'crossing over' into an Avengers or Spider-Man movie does not make him an Avenger nor part of the Spider-Family).

Now, there has been an updated contract that hasn't leaked. So, Black Boxes are black. But there is no Universal exclusion to a Doctor Strange Tower of Terror in DHS.

I hope we can all agree that a Doctor Strange Tower of Terror is a ty idea though.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I hope we can all agree that a Doctor Strange Tower of Terror is a ****ty idea though.

Yes, a mighty idea indeed!

Wouldn't even have to touch the outside or most of the inside. Change ghosts to people stuck in the Astral Plane.

Change RnRC to Incredibles and the Sunset Building into a M&G with Incredibles, GotG, and Baymax. Make the outside stage an Awesome Mix Tape show. Add a ride Baymax E-Ticket in the image of FoP where the outside food court is.

And you got Superhero Blvd.

 

[Tha Realest]

I definitely think you overestimate the IP universal has…but they can contract the next big thing and Disney really cannot.

Without wizarding…they don’t bring in Cameron…

Imagine how bad wdw would be on regurgitation now?? And they tend to underdeliver when they do build.

I suggest people read the backstory of Disney’s proposal to Rowling’s…it was there’s for the taking and they couldn’t be bothered to realize the potential. The success of MCU…which started with nothing to do with Disney…gave them the hubris to misread LFL too…

For all his back patting…look and see what IPs iger left in better shape when he left than when he started?

I’d say 1

Which 1? I’d say Pixar, for as much as he heralds that acquisition, hasn’t done its greatest work since it was brought back within the fold.

 

[maxairmike]

I’d agree with most of this except CDS. I worked for CedarFair for a while where we wrote our rotations out by pencil on scrap pieces of paper and made it work on the fly, having come from the world of CDS this seemed like the stone ages. As for Sysco, I cringe anytime I see their trucks drive onto property, we should do better than frozen veggies shipped in.

Coming in a little late, but saw this and had to chime in, since our prior experience is evidently similar. Never did I have nearly the amount of trouble managing a ride/set of rides with a paper and pencil as I saw (and experienced) with CDS. The "stone ages" worked a lot better than the fancy computer system IMO, and you see that in other places in park experiences these days. Of course, I came out of the "stone age" and into the modern world, whereas it sounds like you went back in time, so the difference makes sense.

 

[GimpYancIent]

For me, I do not want the current Bob to be creative.

Don't worry he's not.

 

[pdude81]

Yes, a mighty idea indeed!

Wouldn't even have to touch the outside or most of the inside. Change ghosts to people stuck in the Astral Plane.

Change RnRC to Incredibles and the Sunset Building into a M&G with Incredibles, GotG, and Baymax. Make the outside stage an Awesome Mix Tape show. Add a ride Baymax E-Ticket in the image of FoP where the outside food court is.

And you got Superhero Blvd.

 

[Lilofan]

You’re right. I often find myself saying “Mmm, that’s efficient” while eating a meal.

In the real world, multiple groups in a business doing whatever they want, that is really efficient. Won't fly for a second to the ones in charge.

 

[Lilofan]

For me, I do not want the current Bob to be creative.

Whatever the case he earned $28M in a year including performance bonuses set up by the Board so one is laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

You’d think…but that doesn’t seem to be the truth.

1.0 has an interest in having the lauding of Disney continue for a period of time BEFORE he feels his ego is secure. If things are bad for stock and in the press in 2022/23…it looks like he left a house of cards.

Which he did, of course.

One can’t get too caught up in hypotheticals, but SWGE was the beginning of a decline of their business model under their current approach and COVID has been useful in obfuscating that. Had a pandemic not happened, those numbers would have continued to look shaky/bad despite a relatively rosy economy.

 

[seascape]

No it is from CNN or MSNBC the least truthful news organizations.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Regarding Nintendo:

Universal gets far more out of that deal than Nintendo does. Nintendo is a Disney level company, of the few that can even be compared to it in terms of cross generational mind share. Yet they do these, albeit generous, licensing deals with UNI as if they’re Harry Potter. Insane.

If anything, the deal is advantageous to both UNI AND Disney in that it keeps a giant out of their business as an equal. Nintendo is probably the only company globally capable of building a Disney/UNI level theme park chain. They have a quirky Kyoto corporate culture where they do deals that don’t make sense to outsiders, see the IP they don’t fully own like Pokémon, Fire Emblem or Kirby, but locking yourself into UNI’s parks for 20 years or more… oof. Tens of billions of dollars per decade have been left on the table.

It’s an even worse deal than what Marvel got.

 

[Touchdown]

If you check the most profitable IPs you would notice that Nintendo contains two franchises that have earned over 50 million, Pokémon (#1) and Mario (#6.) Disney only owns 3 IPs in that range Mickey (#3) Pooh (#4) and Star Wars (#5.) I do not understand why people discount Nintendo here, they own 2 huge IPs that are as big as some of Disney’s heavy hitters, Sonic is no where near that level.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

If you check the most profitable IPs you would notice that Nintendo contains two franchises that have earned over 50 million, Pokémon (#1) and Mario (#6.) Disney only owns 3 IPs in that range Mickey (#3) Pooh (#4) and Star Wars (#5.) I do not understand why people discount Nintendo here, they own 2 huge IPs that are as big as some of Disney’s heavy hitters, Sonic is no where near that level.

I don't think anyone's discounting Nintendo. It's more that I don't think Disney needs to be buying up more IPs in order to compete with other theme parks. They have plenty that hit multiple demographics if that's the route they want to go; they don't have to own literally every IP and at present probably have an unrivalled portfolio from which to draw in-house. Maybe they can try building something based on one other than Toy Story if they want to diversify.

I'm not into video games so can't really comment, but I do wonder how great the attraction is for those who are to visit theme park attractions based on different games versus movies or other properties from popular culture. It strikes me that whatever a company like Disney builds will never really compete with the immersion and interactivity you would find at home with the games themselves. As many have said, Nintendo is kind of an exception to this as it has characters and worlds that have a long history and are part of the general culture.

 

[seascape]

I don't think anyone's discounting Nintendo. It's more that I don't think Disney needs to be buying up more IPs in order to compete with other theme parks. They have plenty that hit multiple demographics if that's the route they want to go; they don't have to own literally every IP. Maybe they can try building something based on one other than Toy Story if they want to diversify.

I'm not into video games so can't really comment, but I do wonder how great the attraction is for those who are to visit theme park attractions based on different games versus movies or other properties from popular culture. It strikes me that whatever a company like Disney builds will never really compete with the immersion and interactivity you would find at home with the games themselves. As many have said, Nintendo is kind of an exception to this as it has characters and worlds that have a long history and are part of the general culture.

I think Nintendo is testing the waters just like Disney did with the Big Red Boat. If Universal proves Nintendo IPs work in the Themeparks look for Nintendo to not renew their contract and build their own parks. Nintendo is a smart company and will do what is in their interest and not anyone elses.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Whatever the case he earned $28M in a year including performance bonuses set up by the Board so one is laughing all the way to the bank.

Why do you feel as if that is a justification for something??

Have you heard of “pump and dump”?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think Nintendo is testing the waters just like Disney did with the Big Red Boat. If Universal proves Nintendo IPs work in the Themeparks look for Nintendo to not renew their contract and build their own parks. Nintendo is a smart company and will do what is in their interest and not anyone elses.

Woah…I’ll give you full props for a big red boat mention

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't think anyone's discounting Nintendo. It's more that I don't think Disney needs to be buying up more IPs in order to compete with other theme parks. They have plenty that hit multiple demographics if that's the route they want to go; they don't have to own literally every IP and at present probably have an unrivalled portfolio from which to draw in-house. Maybe they can try building something based on one other than Toy Story if they want to diversify.

I'm not into video games so can't really comment, but I do wonder how great the attraction is for those who are to visit theme park attractions based on different games versus movies or other properties from popular culture. It strikes me that whatever a company like Disney builds will never really compete with the immersion and interactivity you would find at home with the games themselves. As many have said, Nintendo is kind of an exception to this as it has characters and worlds that have a long history and are part of the general culture.

Their “strategy” is both cynical and unimaginative.

Building clones or variations of the same handful of IPs around the world does end up looking cheap in the end. And that’s all they’re doing.

Remember when everyone assumed two expensive, identical Star Wars lands was gonna be “great”? Because you wouldn’t be able fo keep anyone away from it? Well even the concept drawings didn’t look quite right…it was vague/ambiguous and not in a good way. So they end up - frankly - being “not awesome” and you have two monuments to bad ideas sitting there. Toy story land becomes almost the same. Not “awful”…but perhaps not “adequate” either

You can tie that up around iger’s neck too. Completely overrated (for parks and IP management) and I used to get laughed at for that. But this band wagon is starting to get crowded now. Gonna have to start selling lighting lane to get a ride on it.

 

[Lilofan]

Why do you feel as if that is a justification for something??

Have you heard of “pump and dump”?

Its not a justification but when the Board sets up the executive compensation plan including bonus targets and whoever the CEO achieves them then it is what it is.