Iger rumored to extend his term as CEO

[CJR]

Haven't been to Epcot since the 90's...shows you what I know.

Aye, you should go back just so you can see what I've been talking about then, DHS too, if you haven't been in some time. It's not pretty. The average Joe probably wouldn't notice so much, but comparing the 90's to today is like night and day when it comes to Disney quality. This isn't like DL, where they kept the rides up to par over the years. It really is sad to see it, because I know what it once was and know that they're charging about (actually, more than) triple for what's there now.

 

[MrPromey]

Aye, you should go back just so you can see what I've been talking about then, DHS too, if you haven't been in some time. It's not pretty. The average Joe probably wouldn't notice so much, but comparing the 90's to today is like night and day when it comes to Disney quality. This isn't like DL, where they kept the rides up to par over the years. It really is sad to see it, because I know what it once was and know that they're charging about (actually, more than) triple for what's there now.

That's a cruel trick trying to get him to spend money on something you know's going to depress the poor guy.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Aye, you should go back just so you can see what I've been talking about then, DHS too, if you haven't been in some time. It's not pretty. The average Joe probably wouldn't notice so much, but comparing the 90's to today is like night and day when it comes to Disney quality. This isn't like DL, where they kept the rides up to par over the years. It really is sad to see it, because I know what it once was and know that they're charging about (actually, more than) triple for what's there now.

This, as we countdown to the annual ticket price increase. I just wonder if Iger and his henchmen will have the cajones to raise ticket prices significantly this year under the guise of "Look what's coming soon!!!" or not. Even if they don't, I'm still expecting a revamping of the ticketing structure so they can continue to extract more $$$ from the only park that is more than a half-day park, plus the removal of the WP&F option.

And, always remember Iger and his henchmen's motto: "They're tourists... whadda they know?"

 

[MrPromey]

Wow, I'm surprised to see even a few people praise Iger. I know he's made good acquisitions, but can someone who likes him specifically articulate how you think he's bee good for WDW as of 2017?

Yes, I recognize some of his acquisitions could give him a chance at redemption, but we are in 2017 and I could list a ton of failures to this point. WDW is essentially the same as it was when he took over with a lot more closed and needing TLC (see just about every single ride and show that was there when he took over). He hasn't crashed the plane and has done a good job extracting margin, keeping attendance growth intact, and sprinkling in one or two nice things along the way. Overall however, WDW has suffered tremendously in the parks themselves and the resorts as well.

Florida theme parks aside, there is plenty people can look at to be a fan of. I mean, that Pixar deal was never going to happen with Eisner. Like or hate Star Wars and Marvel, they've done a ton to bring in an audience Disney struggled for a long time to attract.

It's not the visionary stuff we all like to see coming from a company like Disney but if you're a comic book fan, Disney's done more for this crowd in the movie space than anyone else I can think of.

The thing here is that we are on a Walt Disney World fan site - not a Disney Company fan site - and a lot of people here like to use arguments about the movies and other properties and stock prices to debate with another group of people (like you and me) who are here to talk about the Florida Theme Parks.

They're trying to reason with us by bringing things into the discussion that we don't see as part of the discussion we're trying to have.

In the space of what we are here to talk about, their arguments would matter more if all this money Disney was making were reflected in the value they are adding to the Florida parks. It's not so it doesn't matter to us because that's not what we are here to talk about but it does to them and from that perspective, Iger has done a pretty good job.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Florida theme parks aside, there is plenty people can look at to be a fan of.

That's the key though...the Florida theme parks have essentially suffered the most of any Disney asset, which is my problem It has been treated as a cash cow (which it is) but the standard has dropped below what used to be a gold standard.

I still love WDW, but there is no excuse for them to have let it get this bad. The acquisitions have been good. I have no problem acquiring existing IP if it's executed well and done in a timely manner. We are just waiting and waiting at this point.

 

[CJR]

This, as we countdown to the annual ticket price increase. "

The annual price increase wouldn't bother me if:
1. It was reinvested in the product.
and/or
2. The lowest paying job at Walt Disney World paid $15/hr.

The fact leadership seems to give themselves raise after raise while doing so little for the product or the people working on the front end, who really are why Disney has been successful, bothers me a lot.

 

[MrPromey]

That's the key though...the Florida theme parks have essentially suffered the most of any Disney asset, which is my problem It has been treated as a cash cow (which it is) but the standard has dropped below what used to be a gold standard.

I still love WDW, but there is no excuse for them to have let it get this bad. The acquisitions have been good. I have no problem acquiring existing IP if it's executed well and done in a timely manner. We are just waiting and waiting at this point.

I'm totally on board with you. I'm in lock-step agreement, in fact.

 

[RobbinsDad]

What? They tore it down in 99, Mission Space is in that location now.

But I do agree with you about Imagination, UoE and WoL

I'm pretty sure he or she meant Odyssey, or at least I hope so.

 

[RobbinsDad]

Haven't been to Epcot since the 90's...shows you what I know.

Never mind.

 

[CJR]

In the space of what we are here to talk about, their arguments would matter more if all this money Disney was making were reflected in the value they are adding to the Florida parks. It's not so it doesn't matter to us because that's not what we are here to talk about but it does to them and from that perspective, Iger has done a pretty good job.

Iger has done some things right and Pixar was probably among the best of them. Buying Marvel and Lucasfilm were also both great moves, especially at the time they were done. Iger's timing in his purchases were amazing and then executed very well.

The problem with Disney and Iger is the company's too big. It's the same issue Eisner had by his end. Disney always, and I mean always, worked best when there were two people taking turns running the ship. When Iger leaves, it really is time to separate the President and CEO positions again. It's just too big for one man to have his hands into everything.

EDIT: My criticism of Iger has more to do with the the fact he should realize this and ask for the board to hire a new president himself. He just doesn't care enough (all about $$$).

 

[PB Watermelon]

Aye, you should go back just so you can see what I've been talking about then, DHS too, if you haven't been in some time. It's not pretty. The average Joe probably wouldn't notice so much, but comparing the 90's to today is like night and day when it comes to Disney quality. This isn't like DL, where they kept the rides up to par over the years. It really is sad to see it, because I know what it once was and know that they're charging about (actually, more than) triple for what's there now.

I went to WDW in 2004, my sister had her second child by then, ages 4 and 2. Saw Animal Kingdom, DHS, Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney, Epcot was supposed to be our last park, but the kids were such combative sibling-rivalry screaming crying hellions (bless them, such little angels), we didn't make it past two hours. When my niece was kicking flowers over by The American Adventure, that was ballgame, so I never even made it to that side of Future World. So it's been thirteen years. Epcot is my favorite of the four parks, and I was none too happy having to leave after two hours. I might have my revenge though...my sister sat the kids down for that "leave a picture" thing on those granite slabs outside of Spaceship Earth. If those slabs are still there, then the photo is the both of the kids (now teenagers) screaming their heads off and crying and wailing. If those slabs are still there, next time I go (looks like late June of this year) I fully intend to find that photo and put it up on their social media pages.

Evil!

 

[doctornick]

Wow, I'm surprised to see even a few people praise Iger. I know he's made good acquisitions, but can someone who likes him specifically articulate how you think he's bee good for WDW as of 2017?

He's been absolutely terrible for WDW. But being the CEO of Disney entails more things than just running theme parks in general or WDW specifically. Under Iger, there have been some great things in other aspects of the company (especially the film division) and if you are evaluating him as a head of Disney you would need to consider everything the company does.

But, yeah, terrible for the parks.

 

[Chef Mickey]

He's been absolutely terrible for WDW. But being the CEO of Disney entails more things than just running theme parks in general or WDW specifically. Under Iger, there have been some great things in other aspects of the company (especially the film division) and if you are evaluating him as a head of Disney you would need to consider everything the company does.

But, yeah, terrible for the parks.

I totally get it. I am an investor and like him from a company perspective. A CEO is generally judged on stock performance alone. He's made shareholders a lot of money.

I just don't think there has been any excuse, no matter how good he's been in other areas, to let WDW in particular get to its current state.

 

[CJR]

If those slabs are still there, then the photo is the both of the kids (now teenagers) screaming their heads off and crying and wailing. If those slabs are still there, next time I go (looks like late June of this year) I fully intend to find that photo and put it up on their social media pages.

Evil!

I think you'll be pretty happy, I don't see them moving for a while still and if they do, they'll probably still be someone nearby. Chances are though, they'll be in place until the contracts are all up. Money can be better spent elsewhere in the meantime.

Really, money being spent on the entrance is one of the last things I care about personally. I get other people care more than I do, but I care more about "what's inside of the shell". When the park's at a place where the attractions feel fresh again, then money can go towards cosmetics.

 

[Laketravis]

That's the key though...the Florida theme parks have essentially suffered the most of any Disney asset, which is my problem It has been treated as a cash cow (which it is) but the standard has dropped below what used to be a gold standard.

Bob needs that cash. He's still thinking about making a play for Twitter.

 

[P_Radden]

Bob needs that cash. He's still thinking about making a play for Twitter.

There are also rumors of Disney acquiring Verizon...

 

[MrPromey]

I went to WDW in 2004, my sister had her second child by then, ages 4 and 2. Saw Animal Kingdom, DHS, Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney, Epcot was supposed to be our last park, but the kids were such combative sibling-rivalry screaming crying hellions (bless them, such little angels), we didn't make it past two hours. When my niece was kicking flowers over by The American Adventure, that was ballgame, so I never even made it to that side of Future World. So it's been thirteen years. Epcot is my favorite of the four parks, and I was none too happy having to leave after two hours. I might have my revenge though...my sister sat the kids down for that "leave a picture" thing on those granite slabs outside of Spaceship Earth. If those slabs are still there, then the photo is the both of the kids (now teenagers) screaming their heads off and crying and wailing. If those slabs are still there, next time I go (looks like late June of this year) I fully intend to find that photo and put it up on their social media pages.

Evil!

They're there as of today.

I was going to make a joke and say that if they were to announce tomorrow that they were being removed that we probably wouldn't see activity until at least 2020 so you're probably safe but then I remembered how fast they got that hat out of Hollywood Studios.

I mean, they're there, today and they'll probably still be there come June.

Given your story, it kind of makes me wonder how many regrettable pictures are up there on those marble slabs.

 

[PB Watermelon]

They're there as of today.

I was going to make a joke and say that if they were to announce tomorrow that they were being removed that we probably wouldn't see activity until at least 2020 so you're probably safe but then I remembered how fast they got that hat out of Hollywood Studios.

I mean, they're there, today and they'll probably still be there come June.

Given your story, it kind of makes me wonder how many regrettable pictures are up there on those marble slabs.

REVENGE!!!

Seriously, though, Epcot may not be the best fit for the under-five set.

 

[Rodan75]

Any thread about Iger is sure to get weird. I still don't understand why some folks can't acknowledge the good and recognize the bad.

Iger didn't focus on the domestic parks, his focuses have been on the Studios, distribution models (iTunes, Netflix, Hulu) and international expansion, he also doubled the size of the profitable Cruise Line. In those areas he has made strong and solid progress and defined the company for years to come.

Under his watch, he kept bad leaders in place at Parks & Resorts for too long. He allowed bad leadership to miss many opportunities in the Interactive/Gaming space and they didn't prepare the markets for the reduction of ESPNs subscriber base and allowed ESPN to be a whipping horse for the cord cutting movement.

I think the good outweighs the bad, especially seeing capital coming into the Domestic Parks now. But it is still a big question whether Chapek is good for P&R yet (we need to see some of his work come to fruition before a true judgement).

 

[Chef Mickey]

Bob needs that cash. He's still thinking about making a play for Twitter.

God, let's hope not. The worst run social media site with essentially 99% garbage for content.