HMF
Well-Known Member
It probably is. I don't think they want some of the more poorly aged material on their platform.
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News Josh D’Amaro Named Next CEO of The Walt Disney Company
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
Because I didn’t disagree. The error was your project timelines and unawareness that he hasn’t been in his role for 15 years.
The closures of ROA, Dinosaur, Muppet Vision, Zoogether. Not stuff built and operational before he stepped into the role.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
It's just an indicator of him being a good choice. I think he's a bad choice not because everything he's done is wrong, but he's been front and center (just short of CEO) for 6 years and WDW is worse.
It's not black and white but he was the wrong choice because he's part of the problem. Everyone can agree Disney has not been a well-run company for 10 years. They should have gone outside and fired everyone, IMO.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
I never said he was in this role 15 years. He's been around 28 and Disney has been trash for 10 years, with at least 6 of him being the #1 when it comes to WDW.
And I disagree that he was powerless the last 6 to stop some of the nonsense that's happened and continues to happen.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
I hope I'm wrong. Why would I be upset if they found a "fantastic executive?"January 2016
January 2026
A FULL List of Disney World Park Hours for January 2026 | the disney food blog
UPDATED February 1, 2026 Aaaah, Disney World in JANUARY! The New Year delivers some of the year’s coolest weather to Central Florida and welcomes EPCOT’s first Festival of the calendar year……www.disneyfoodblog.com
Subjective and unquantifiable. Not to mention, most Cast Members are union. With over 80,000 CMs, you’re talking about the population of an entire suburb. I have no idea how you’ve come to the conclusion that CM quality is down from 10 years ago. Even if your subjective experience tells you so, all humans are prone to rosy retrospection bias.
You work at Disney? How would you know?
Depends on where you go, IMO. Some places have gone up (or serve great food and the restaurant didn’t even exist 10 years ago), and others have gone down. Overall, I’d actually say quality has stayed about the same, even a little better in certain categories.
Demand for Disney’s parks and resorts was quite clearly inelastic 10 years ago and even today they have significant pricing power.
But there’s an entire thread about all the deals available this year to attract more domestic visitors in order to offset the decline in international visitation to the United States.
You’re just upset Disney found a fantastic executive from inside the company, and for you an insider is bad news because you want all the heads to roll. It’s a pretty myopic and foolish perspective, in my opinion. And, frankly, I think your take is going to age very poorly.
He's not fantastic or Disney would have not been this bad. No one is fantastic at Disney. Why are you heaping praise on him or the company? The company is hated by everyone who has real money on the line.
I also never said they didn't have pricing power. I said they should be commended for making WDW extremely profitable and squeezing their customers. I just think it made WDW worse and was the wrong decision to go this far and ruin so much in the process. I've always said Disney has pricing power. They could charge even more than they do today. Should they max it? I don't know.
Investors don't seem to think it's a great strategy. If you're bullish on Josh, you should long DIS today because it's significantly undervalued if anyone competent is taking over. All that's holding them back is terrible management.
HMF
Well-Known Member
Longer than that, they really haven't been well run this century.
CoastalElite64
Well-Known Member
It's struggling but still leading in all the main sectors it competes in. Back then Disney movies and TV were at the bottom and he was burning the Pixar bridge.
_caleb
Well-Known Member
I think we could make a strong case that Disney has navigated multiple existential crises in the last decade or so.
The pandemic literally shut down parks, cruises, and theatrical distribution. Linear television collapsed and destabilized one of their most reliable profit centers.
The pivot to streaming was really forced on them. It's taken massive investment while cannibalizing their existing business. They went from competing with DreamWorks and Six Flags to competing with thousands of Mr. Beasts and Cocomelons and Fortnite and Instagram.
People don't go to cinemas like they used to. We've seen generational cultural/subcultural polarization. The Fox acquisition and NBC buy-outs were very costly. Univeral made some strong moves. The Bob-to-Bob-to-Bob-to-Josh transition was anything but smooth. They faced down a least one major challenge by activist investors.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge (that they still haven't figured out) has been the rise of the fandom ecosystem. "Influencers" and YouTubers are no longer just enthusiastic fans who can be bought with a free cupcake reception. Many are monetized media entities incentivized to court controversy. Disney doesn’t control the narrative the way it once did.
None of this means every decision has been great, or even good. There have been lots of unforced errors. But it does mean recent creative (or not-so-creative) output at the parks and through the studios has been shaped by one of the most disruptive operating environments the company has ever faced.
The pandemic literally shut down parks, cruises, and theatrical distribution. Linear television collapsed and destabilized one of their most reliable profit centers.
The pivot to streaming was really forced on them. It's taken massive investment while cannibalizing their existing business. They went from competing with DreamWorks and Six Flags to competing with thousands of Mr. Beasts and Cocomelons and Fortnite and Instagram.
People don't go to cinemas like they used to. We've seen generational cultural/subcultural polarization. The Fox acquisition and NBC buy-outs were very costly. Univeral made some strong moves. The Bob-to-Bob-to-Bob-to-Josh transition was anything but smooth. They faced down a least one major challenge by activist investors.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge (that they still haven't figured out) has been the rise of the fandom ecosystem. "Influencers" and YouTubers are no longer just enthusiastic fans who can be bought with a free cupcake reception. Many are monetized media entities incentivized to court controversy. Disney doesn’t control the narrative the way it once did.
None of this means every decision has been great, or even good. There have been lots of unforced errors. But it does mean recent creative (or not-so-creative) output at the parks and through the studios has been shaped by one of the most disruptive operating environments the company has ever faced.
AidenRodriguez731
Well-Known Member
Interesting that they are going to the effort to remove bricks from the facade in the shape of the concept art just to scrap the show!
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I trust only what opens…which is the only thing they’ve earned in Orlando
We shall see
flynnibus
Premium Member
Ok cool - now do the rest of the year and you'll have caught up to the rest of us
Ain't nobody talking about the down seasons...
It's not subjective to be able to recognize Disney has had to lower it's dress code, has eliminated more of its casual seasonal workers, etc.
Because it's not secret and people share their experiences all the time...
Disney has gotten some diversity back after much of the DDP reductions, but you can't ignore the invasion of prix faire and other monsters.
This is what Disney wants... people to just slowly forget.
flynnibus
Premium Member
This is not a big issue. Influencers are easily bought. "partnerships" or "ambassador" programs are easily spun up.
The days of people insisting on independence are done - the younger population just don't care.
Disney could literally toss around pew-pew kind of deals and barely put a dent in the kind of money they spend on traditional marketing.
Stripes
Premium Member
January is not the down season. In any event, here you go! The busiest time of year!
December 2016:
December 2026:
A FULL List of Disney World Park Hours for December | the disney food blog
UPDATED January 5, 2026 It’s called “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” around the globe… and that’s no less true of Walt Disney World in December! “Oh, what fun it is…”…
www.disneyfoodblog.com
How is that at all indicative of CM quality?!
If you’re judgmental, I suppose it’s indicative of societal cultural changes but that’s out of Disney’s control. In my experience, “seasonal” hires are the exact opposite indication of quality. Often companies will bring on just about anybody as a seasonal hire and see if they work out before keeping them on permanently. Often, things don’t work out and the company lets the contract lapse.
My own friends and family have shared their experiences with me. If anything, I’ve heard about how the training has become more rigorous over the years. 20 years ago things were much more laid back.
I was referring to food quality, not menu structure and pricing. Obviously there’s been some changes to the latter over the years. None of which have degraded the quality of the overall food experience for us.
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flynnibus
Premium Member
Ok, now do summer... I didn't realize I had to spoon feed you this. Then recognize the how we've morphed from parks with EMH to parks that close at 9-11pm, unless we have a paid after hours event.
Because it reflects that the company is not able to attract and retain enough labor willing to work within the standards they previously had. Disney used to be able to get away with being a poor paying employer and still get enough help because the people were so eager to actually work there and would sacrafice to do so. That kind of attitude also reflects in their work.
Disney didn't change their standards because they thought they reflected poorly on Disney - they changed them because they needed to else further their employment issues.
We're not talking about 'other companies' here. Disney used to retain a ton of employees that didn't work enough hours and or would work during specific periods. These people were not seasonal mules like you find in retail during the holiday season - these were Disney lifers who adored working for the company where they could. So again, would reflect in their work. But instead, Disney purged those options forcing out good help.
Menu structure, pricing and food quality are all interdependent things. Homogenized sourcing, fixed options, etc are all done at the expense of the customer.
_caleb
Well-Known Member
Loads of influencers can be easily bought, yes. And I agree that "independence" doesn't matter anymore. But for those who just parrot Disney's talking points, it increasingly becomes more and more difficult to stand out from all the others.
How to differentiate? Go negative. Do an exposé. Write an opinion piece exploring socially-unacceptable depictions in Disney's rides and films. Promote "urban exploring," "hacks" and "challenges" Disney doesn't want people doing. For every one YouTuber Disney is willing to "partner" with, there are dozens with no chance at insider access and therefore nothing to lose.
When Disney spends money on tradtional marketing, they have all the control. But the fandom, even when "bought," has a lot of influence, and cannot be controlled. I'm telling you, the general public's view of Disney today is shaped more by outside influences than by Disney's PR and marketing efforts.
Don't believe me? See: The Song of the South/Splash Mountain retheme, The Fandom Menace, Jenny Nicholson and the Starcruiser closure, Pixie-dust bloggers (like The Trackers), the string of box-office disappointments, fan sites like ITM, and the general sentiment here on WDWMagic.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Disney doesn't necessarily need stand-outs - they need peanut butter. They don't need one reel from a celebrity influencer, they want 500 influencers flooding the feeds with the message.
This is why Disney invites and sponsors moms, gen-z, and any other countless forms of people with cameras OVER inviting impactful reviewers, etc.
The answer to one dissenting voice is to drown it out with 5,000 voices singing your praise. This is life in the algorithm.
And the majority of those outside influences you are talking about are being shaped by Disney PR - just to various degrees.
The tempest in a teapot stuff you point out are issues in the fandom.. Disney is going much broader than that.
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
I would say the fandom / anti-fandom issue is a subset of what you referenced regarding the switch to digital culture. The “shock value” YouTube thumbnails that slam Disney are of course not good advertising, but I think they’re a subset of the larger issue you mentioned, a total restructuring of how people consume content.
What’s interesting, I think, is that Disney kinda rose to fame the last time populist entertainment (at that point, Vaudeville and such) was on the downswing and “talkies” and then tv were ascendant. In some ways short form, brain rot / slapstick content is not as much in their DNA. Some of the early cartoons may lean in that direction but in general I think of Disney as the purveyors of “grand narratives”, just the kind that people seem to be moving away from now. Again, nothing is 100%, their movies still sell plenty of tickets - but it’s hard to picture Disney as a short form content company (although I think they just tried something new there with The Locker Diaries).
Stripes
Premium Member
You don’t have to spoon feed me. You just keep moving the goal posts, and coming up empty.
EMH is still around, but now it’s an extra 30 minutes at all the parks instead of an extra hour at one particular park (thereby incentivizing crowds to visit one particular park and increasing wait times at the park throughout the day). A win in my book.
EEH is still around too…
July 2016:
July 2025:
A FULL List of Disney World Park Hours for July 2025 | the disney food blog
UPDATED January 4, 2026 Celebrate Independence Day — and more — in Walt Disney World in July! Want to know how many theme park hours you’ll have in July to experience all the…
www.disneyfoodblog.com
So it is about the tattoos? Gosh.
You know what, I don’t care how much you pay, good luck finding 80,000+ people to work in one location, often in hot and humid conditions that don’t have tattoos today! Good luck!!
What makes you so sure people don’t sacrifice to work for Disney anymore?! You’ve got to be kidding me!
No, frankly, they were people that would come in twice a week in their retirement so they’d have something to do and get free admission to the parks. Now, new CMs have to come in at least 3 times a week, but even CMs that were hired under the previous rules were grandfathered in. Kind of a bizarre complaint if you ask me, and also hardly a factor in attracting top talent.
All I can say is, I’m pretty happy with the food and dining options at WDW, and overall I think the options are better than ever.
Feel free to disagree.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
…oh here we go…
Compensation has fallen relative to inflation and more importantly - notably the COL in Orlando and Florida in General. You get what you pay for…and if your employees can’t pay…you’re not getting much.
They’ve also slashed a lot of perks for the CMs periodically over the years…which highlights the shortcuts in other areas.
And “Union” isn’t a term with much weight in a “right to work” state. Let me translate for you: that’s the term applied to union/collective bargaining busting as a matter of policy. The donors are happy - of course - but the dude working the parking lot in Magic kingdom not so much.
That’s 2 strikes…try not to bite on the slider in the dirt next
But they actually can’t afford to do that…because Stanford Econ likes to be upside and wrong…so they increase the price, offer discounts, and try to trick the sheep into getting back to the same spot
Which is why it’s not really moved any needles at all. Strap in…this train is just getting started.
If you line up the actual activities and moves from tights pants for 5 years to slap head 5 years before…it lines up far too closely for comfort in the wash.
“Fantastic internal candidate” is a longshot and that’s not even a debate…unless you’ve slept for 20 years, Rip and not noticed how badly the management has been botched as far as the second tier by the emperor…
So he would have to prove something. He’s proven nothing. Let’s watch it play with our $49.99 collector popcorn buckets
It’s declined steadily from the early 90’s…
Compensation has fallen relative to inflation and more importantly - notably the COL in Orlando and Florida in General. You get what you pay for…and if your employees can’t pay…you’re not getting much.
They’ve also slashed a lot of perks for the CMs periodically over the years…which highlights the shortcuts in other areas.
And “Union” isn’t a term with much weight in a “right to work” state. Let me translate for you: that’s the term applied to union/collective bargaining busting as a matter of policy. The donors are happy - of course - but the dude working the parking lot in Magic kingdom not so much.
After decades of trend..usually you can see the fire behind the smoke
Literally nowhere has “gone up” from the heyday 25+!years ago…some quick service options have diversified…which is great…but the tables have been value engineered in procurement into and through the kitchen. Because you’ll gladly fork over $65 for chef mickeys…does not mean it’s better than when it was $16.99
That’s 2 strikes…try not to bite on the slider in the dirt next
…here comes the contraction/ self soothing…
WRONG!!! they’re slashing their prices with deals right here…
But they actually can’t afford to do that…because Stanford Econ likes to be upside and wrong…so they increase the price, offer discounts, and try to trick the sheep into getting back to the same spot
Which is why it’s not really moved any needles at all. Strap in…this train is just getting started.
You know nothing about that…nobody does…nothing on earth indicates “fantastic” at all.
If you line up the actual activities and moves from tights pants for 5 years to slap head 5 years before…it lines up far too closely for comfort in the wash.
“Fantastic internal candidate” is a longshot and that’s not even a debate…unless you’ve slept for 20 years, Rip and not noticed how badly the management has been botched as far as the second tier by the emperor…
So he would have to prove something. He’s proven nothing. Let’s watch it play with our $49.99 collector popcorn buckets
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flynnibus
Premium Member
1hr? LOL I'm not moving the goal posts.. I'm having to remind you that you focusing on one little spot doesn't reflect the whole canvas. I shouldn't also have to remind you that 2016 is after the problem had started.. so comparing back to it is kind of a circular logic fail.
Like I said.. "This is what Disney wants... people to just slowly forget."
10pm close on a summer night is an absolute joke.. and if looking back at Disney prior failures makes you feel better justifying that.. then you do you.