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

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
It’s not about your personal experience. The “guy in the video” breaks down the entire history, the theory and the application…and then does a case study in real time to prove the point. It’s about numbers and studying patterns.

So we’ll agree to disagree. We’ll go in circles if the “I think THIS” is used as “evidence”. Have a good one 👍🏻

It didn’t happen to him so everything else is irrelevant. Surely you’ve seen this song and dance before.
 

Heppenheimer

Well-Known Member
That's the big question, isn't it? What is the breaking point that causes people to stop their WDW habit? I keep drawing a line in the sand. But, you never it with so many trampling over it!
I'm past my breaking point. I just can't justify the cost and the trouble of traveling from northern New England with two young children for what now doesn't seem like a particularly enjoyable experience anymore.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
I'm past my breaking point. I just can't justify the cost and the trouble of traveling from northern New England with two young children for what now doesn't seem like a particularly enjoyable experience anymore.
I hear a lot of the same…and it is “tempered”…for now…with the long-standing belief in Disney and the very human instinct to take a bit of a leap of faith and “hope it works out” 🤞

…which means they still have some time to fix some of what’s going on. But not forever. I don’t think there was anyway chapek would be out of there quickly…
…but if their park attendance starts to collapse…the board will have no choice.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
I thought it was cancelled well before COVID.
That was…it was 100% a complete bait and switch. Make announcement to create buzz, keep WDI out of their hair wasting time on “design”…and can it “just cause”

By the worlds greatest management

1648994822227.jpeg
 

castlecake2.0

Well-Known Member
I hear a lot of the same…and it is “tempered”…for now…with the long-standing belief in Disney and the very human instinct to take a bit of a leap of faith and “hope it works out” 🤞

…which means they still have some time to fix some of what’s going on. But not forever. I don’t think there was anyway chapek would be out of there quickly…
…but if their park attendance starts to collapse…the board will have no choice.
Does anyone with any power in the company realize this change in the fan base is happening and the amounts of negative press going around, or are the engines going full speed to the iceberg? Just wondering if anyone in the crows nest is sounding the alarm.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
While there will likely never be a perfect choice for CEO, one with extensive training in Parks, film, tv, and other venues, who would make a good leader for the company? I see a lot of complaints about who is leading the company, but never suggestions for who should?

Within Disney, I believe the best possible option would be Peter Rice. He may not have park experience, but he has led 20th Television to considerable success with shows like Modern Family, This is Us, and several others. People in Hollywood know Rice, they like him, and he has extensive years of working with talent. Perhaps he could elevate Josh D'Amaro to the role of President of the company so he can be the Parks and Resorts guy, whereas Peter Rice runs the business side.

Outside the company, I've always felt that Spielberg would have made a great leader for Disney. He almost was. Back in the mid-80s, Disney actually reached out to the likes of Spielberg, George Lucas, and Jim Henson to see about running the company. They said no, but they all recommended Michael Eisner which is partly how he became CEO.
Some people hate Rice. But at least he’s a Hollywood guy.

You’d like to have someone with more focus on parks too…

But chapek is NEITHER. He’s one of the least qualified CEOs you can imagine. He just doesn’t have the background for this other than 5 years of playing park Hatchet man. He didn’t “improve” that product. Just more exploitation.

I would hope a couple execs…some more “internal” and some with different prospectives…would he needed to compartmentalize a little. Because Eisner started an oligarchy in the 90s…and Iger continued it…doesn’t mean it HAS to be so.

It’s not unreasonable to accept that Disney is so big that it’s more than a one person job. Kinda common sense.

Not sold on the D’Amoro dude…he has all the characteristics of a screwdriver or wrench. Just a more personable one.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Does anyone with any power in the company realize this change in the fan base is happening and the amounts of negative press going around, or are the engines going full speed to the iceberg? Just wondering if anyone in the crows nest is sounding the alarm.
There’s no icebergs out there if your concern is Wall Street.

I’ve said this before…but I think it’s a bigger deal not on the radar: chapek is 61. This isn’t the last 2 guys. He could just be looking to pump it for a $250-500,000,000 retirement cash out and then slink away.

The other problem with Disney is all the “legacy” talk that they bombard everyone with…inside the walls and to the customers. What if nobody cares anymore? It’s not a ridiculous concept.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Well I agree with you there…but it’s a different problem that fuels this beast too

But what I meant is that Disney fans/watchers assume the goal is another 100 of “brand building”

But what if Slaphead goes in to his office…looks at the ridiculous dwarves on the outside and the Mickey statues/wall art…laughs and says “look at this stupid stuff”
 
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WDWJoeG

Well-Known Member
Some people hate Rice. But at least he’s a Hollywood guy.

You’d like to have someone with more focus on parks too…

But chapek is NEITHER. He’s one of the least qualified CEOs you can imagine. He just doesn’t have the background for this other than 5 years of playing park Hatchet man. He didn’t “improve” that product. Just more exploitation.

I would hope a couple execs…some more “internal” and some with different prospectives…would he needed to compartmentalize a little. Because Eisner started an oligarchy in the 90s…and Iger continued it…doesn’t mean it HAS to be so.

It’s not unreasonable to accept that Disney is so big that it’s more than a one person job. Kinda common sense.

Not sold on the D’Amoro dude…he has all the characteristics of a screwdriver or wrench. Just a more personable one.
D'Anaro has zero media experience (which is crucial for the job), is a revenue management guy by training, and came up through Chapek at CP, and is loyal to him for giving him these huge career jumps.

Besides being a nice guy, have no clue why anybody thinks that is a good choice as we've seen the outcome of his decisions as "Chairman" of the parks division.

But, but, he took a selfie with me!!!!!!
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
D'Anaro has zero media experience (which is crucial for the job), is a revenue management guy by training, and came up through Chapek at CP, and is loyal to him for giving him these huge career jumps.

Besides being a nice guy, have no clue why anybody thinks that is a good choice as we've seen the outcome of his decisions as "Chairman" of the parks division.

But, but, he took a selfie with me!!!!!!
Well a lot of people seem to be on to his game…which is nothing really…

His overseeing of the covid era looks REALLY bad. And he can blame chapek…germs…labor policy that disempowered the slave drivers…whatever…

But he rubberstamped a ton of bad looks. Laying off most the staff in Orlando…then just assuming they were hanging out on I-4 waiting to comeback is as novice as it gets…now rolling up into this current tiff with Tallahassee
 
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bcoachable

Well-Known Member
I hear a lot of the same…and it is “tempered”…for now…with the long-standing belief in Disney and the very human instinct to take a bit of a leap of faith and “hope it works out” 🤞

…which means they still have some time to fix some of what’s going on. But not forever. I don’t think there was anyway chapek would be out of there quickly…
…but if their park attendance starts to collapse…the board will have no choice.
Will attendence make the board act? It seems they are making more money than ever before under his leadership ( wether or not it is from his doing or his implementation of the weatherman’s plan)
 

Lilofan

Well-Known Member
Will attendence make the board act? It seems they are making more money than ever before under his leadership ( wether or not it is from his doing or his implementation of the weatherman’s plan)
Let s keep in mind that parks and resorts are just one part of TWDC. Some predict the sky is falling in parks and resorts and that may lead to Chapek leaving. I'm curious how the numbers pan out in future Wall Street quarterly public earning calls with Chapek, CFO Christine and the Wall Street analysts as Chapek discusses TWDC business in addition to parks and resorts. If he can pull magic out of a hat and exceed Wall Street revenue estimates and impresses the street and company shareholders , he's not going anywhere for the moment.
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Does anyone with any power in the company realize this change in the fan base is happening and the amounts of negative press going around, or are the engines going full speed to the iceberg? Just wondering if anyone in the crows nest is sounding the alarm.
Right now that Iceberg is many miles off. For some to stop going it will take probably a couple years before they realize just how much more it is costing now. Those that are wealthy will tire of it all and find new stuff to amuse themselves. The Pandemic has limited the number of places to socially impress others. But it will happen.
There’s no icebergs out there if your concern is Wall Street.

The other problem with Disney is all the “legacy” talk that they bombard everyone with…inside the walls and to the customers. What if nobody cares anymore? It’s not a ridiculous concept.
Wall Street isn't the concern at all. It isn't even related to reality. It's a place were rich people go to gamble. Common folks, those people that made Disney what it is, are bothered or even affected very little by what Wall Street does.
 
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