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Bob Iger back as Disney CEO

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bluefire579
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In reply to Quinn • 10:55a, 11/21/22
AG
Quinn said:
So what has happened with the park? I haven't been in about 20 years but I thought everyone still loved WDW? Haven't they been spending a ton of money on Star Wars stuff and Guardians of the Galaxy rides?
Raised prices in general, but they've also basically replaced the old fast pass system with a pay to play sort of thing. So you can spend extra money and jump to the front of the line.

I'm sure there are other aspects that folks who have been more recently can add in, but this is the big thing that's had myself rethinking going back to a park anytime soon
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ABATTBQ11
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In reply to Quinn • 11:05a, 11/21/22
AG
Quinn said:
So what has happened with the park? I haven't been in about 20 years but I thought everyone still loved WDW? Haven't they been spending a ton of money on Star Wars stuff and Guardians of the Galaxy rides?


My understanding is prices are just astronomical, and their pass systems are terrible. Basically, you're paying a ton of money for the privilege of paying a ton of money for food and to stand in line unless you want to pay even more money to schedule rides. On top of that, you're basically on the bottom rung of everything if you aren't shelling out money to stay at a Disney resort.

It's apparently gone from the most magical place on earth to an incredibly expensive and corporate hell hole.
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The Porkchop Express
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1:22p, 11/21/22
AG
On our 7th trip to Disney in 6 years. Haters gonna hate.
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dreyOO
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1:47p, 11/21/22
This is an interesting thread that it is perfect timing for me. My family of four just went to Disney World over fall break. Some background:
  • Wife and I probably went to Disney World 4 times on our own before we ever had kids, so we've had lots of great memories + experiences.
  • Took the kids to Disneyland in CA about 5 years ago. Smaller parks and shorter trip for us fit well with the kids' ages. But it just wasn't as 'magical' as Florida.
  • We had been originally planning to hit it in 2020, but Covid delayed us for a few years. Just didn't to force a trip and have a less than stellar experience.

High-level trip review:
  • First time staying on property. Had always been curious, and my cousin really hyped it up. We stayed at Port Orleans. It was fine, but not as big of a perk as I had always been led to believe. The Magic Express bus system is gone...that sucked b/c getting back and forth is just a pain in the ass.
  • Food was really average. Pricey, but inflation has really started to desensitize me which is scary. I'm so used to paying ridiculous $$ for mediocre food in Colorado. BTW, they have RID devices on their cups so people can't steal soda at the fountain dispensers. Are there really that many people staying there and then stealing fountain drinks?
  • The extra "magic hours" really wasn't a big deal. It was OK and had some value, but just not that significant. Some days, it was like 30 minutes head start...that's like one ride when you are racing with kids.
  • I'm glad y'all filled me in on the Lightning Lane thing. I had no idea why we were paying $80-90 extra to get on the fast pass list. Especially for a ride like the 7 dwarves mine ride. That was a huge let down. We paid extra for a gimmick imo...it's so similar to the Big Mountain Railroad ride...I have no idea why we paid a premium for that.
  • I noticed the cost of food/drinks, etc. But I just figured it Disney...what do you expect? The bigger surprise for me was seeing how many folks live HIGH on the hog there. Are people just swiping credit cards and saying F it?
  • Disney Springs was great family time for us. Less planned and structured which was a relief. But perfect example of a place that you can't avoid spending a lot of money. At least for us...
  • The park customer experience blew. I'm not talking about the grounds, rides, or staff. But you see it with all the other parents too -- everyone is glued to their phones frantically checking into the next ride as soon as you're checked into your current ride. And often times, that new ride is across the f-ing park so you waste time racing to the other one. That experience was the #1 bad experience.
  • Their disney experience app needs to be simplified. It's an ugly app. Lots of good functionality and info. But someone needs to make it less clugey.
  • I didn't mind the reservations at all. But at the time, i assumed it was just to make sure headcount was appropriate at each park. Thus, it would keep the lines reasonable. But that wasn't the case...Magic Kingdom was just as overrun as I've ever seen.
  • Avatar, Rise of the Resistance, Smugglers Run were all bad ass. Those made my trip. Bonus was hanging out in the Star Wars cantina...truly awesome.
  • BTW, they closed Magic Kingdom early the day we were there for a special party. Apparently, you can pay extra to attend a family friendly halloween 'party'. That felt like bull**** to me.
  • Overall, I don't want to be too critical of this stuff, b/c I don't have any solutions. I just know the experience is certainly pricey and very hectic. Kinda what I always experience at Disney World. Just a bit more amplified than before. I don't know how you solve for THAT many people in a place without there being lines...you either cut the headcount or you charge extra for premium service.
  • Kids had a great time. Mom and Dad were f-ing exhausted by the time it was over. We're lucky we're a very good communicating couple, b/c it's stressful.
  • Saw many families lose their **** on each other. That's always fun. Nice reminder that we're all under the stress.
  • Topped it off with a 7 hr drive to watch us lose South Carolina. Yeah

So in summary:
-I'd fix that app, stop charging for the fast pass, bring back the Magic Express, etc. Everything else was about as expected. Oh, and if you ever want to feel good about your body, this is the place. Some gargantuan people there. It's like Disney World is it's own inspiration for the people in Wall-E.
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20ag07
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2:53p, 11/21/22
Lot of talk about the parks. But Iger NEVER spent time with them.

Why would he now?
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In reply to 20ag07 • 3:04p, 11/21/22
TCTTS
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In reply to TCTTS • 3:06p, 11/21/22
AG

[If you knew a derail would follow your post you shouldn't have made the post and if you want to experiment start your own thread and don't do it on others. You admit that you knew that it would probably happen and did not care that you were going to derail a thread started by another poster and now you are making a post on this thread that has nothing to do with you and trying to make it about you. You are now suspended from posting. -Staff]
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TCTTS
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In reply to Iowaggie • 3:06p, 11/21/22
AG
Iowaggie said:
I'll wait and listen to The Town podcast with Matthew Belloni to see what the story is.

Matthew Belloni is the man. For anyone interested in the insider/business side of Hollywood, he's one of the best, most plugged in guys out there. His site/newsletter is behind a paywall, but his bi-weekly podcast (two half-hour episodes per week) is free, and so incredibly informative...

https://puck.news/author/matthew-belloni/

https://twitter.com/MattBelloni

https://www.theringer.com/the-town-podcast
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TCTTS
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In reply to TCTTS • 3:08p, 11/21/22
AG
His newsletter last night on this topic, in particular, was really good. About to listen to his appearance on Bill Simmons last night, just after the news broke...

https://www.theringer.com/the-bill-simmons-podcast/2022/11/21/23470825/a-disney-shocker-apex-mahomes-zach-wilsons-nadir-and-thanksgiving-lines
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Cinco Ranch Aggie
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3:14p, 11/21/22
AG
Quote:
It's like Disney World is it's own inspiration for the people in Wall-E.
I don't think truer words have ever been written.
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20ag07
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In reply to [removed post] • 3:19p, 11/21/22
Quote:
The parks segment of Disney generally is the company's most profitable segment.
And he fired Tom Staggs and now Chapek.

He never was engaged.
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The Grinder (99)
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In reply to 20ag07 • 7:53p, 11/21/22
AG
Because they were working well when he was running things and he had the luxury of focusing on other things (Disney+). He's a smart guy so hope the will focus on the foundation of this company, the parks and its loyal followers
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8:47p, 11/21/22
Iowaggie
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In reply to TCTTS • 9:29p, 11/21/22
AG
TCTTS said:
Iowaggie said:
I'll wait and listen to The Town podcast with Matthew Belloni to see what the story is.

Matthew Belloni is the man. For anyone interested in the insider/business side of Hollywood, he's one of the best, most plugged in guys out there. His site/newsletter is behind a paywall, but his bi-weekly podcast (two half-hour episodes per week) is free, and so incredibly informative...

https://puck.news/author/matthew-belloni/

https://twitter.com/MattBelloni

https://www.theringer.com/the-town-podcast


Belloni led Bill Simmons podcast this past Sunday for his first thoughts before today's podcast. (ETA: You just wrote that above).

I liked the "Jay Leno's back!" comparison.


Iger also seemed a lot like Favre.
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BowSowy
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In reply to [removed post] • 9:58p, 11/21/22
AG
C@LAg said:
I know there is talk out there and has been since 2018-2019, but i just do not see the DOJ/FTC letting 2 of the 3 biggest streamers merge under a Dem administration, when neither of them are suffering from debt, market forces, or anything else at this time that would warrant such a consolidation. While that would still leave Amazon as the main competitor, all the other weenie little streamers out there (Apple included) are no real competition to the big 3.



I don't know, I just don't think this change was made for a big M&A. I think Disney saw that their brand loyalty has been tanking and their stock price is down a lot.

Although, my favorite conspiracy theory I've read is that Iger/Disney knew what was coming with COVID via Shanghai Disney. Iger stepped down for a scapegoat that would cut costs, then step back in when the world turned around again.
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toucan82
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11:01p, 11/21/22
The sports nerd in me perked up a little when Belloni and Simmons brought up the idea of Iger dropping ESPN
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Iowaggie
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In reply to toucan82 • 1:50p, 11/22/22
AG
toucan82 said:
The sports nerd in me perked up a little when Belloni and Simmons brought up the idea of Iger dropping ESPN

A Disney investor had loudly been calling on Chapek and the board to sell off ESPN, so they had to address it.

If they want to be in the live sports game, which almost every streaming or media service wants to be in, they aren't dropping ESPN. I won't like it, but they need to start putting more stuff on ESPN+ because right now, it is not worth having for most the country.
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oragator
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9:14p, 11/23/22
Well this would be interesting.
Talk (unsubstantiated) of Iger selling Disney to Apple.

https://www.thewrap.com/bob-iger-sell-disney-apple-power-move/
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9:47p, 11/23/22
TexasAggie73
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In reply to oragator • 10:52p, 11/23/22
AG
oragator said:
Well this would be interesting.
Talk (unsubstantiated) of Iger selling Disney to Apple.

https://www.thewrap.com/bob-iger-sell-disney-apple-power-move/


The Apple rumors have been popping up for years
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FL_Ag1998
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In reply to oragator • 10:53p, 11/23/22
AG
oragator said:
Well this would be interesting.
Talk (unsubstantiated) of Iger selling Disney to Apple.

https://www.thewrap.com/bob-iger-sell-disney-apple-power-move/


Oh **** me if that happens, Apple will just **** it all up and make it as horrible as their products.
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TexasAggie73
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11:01p, 11/23/22
AG
Long time Disney goer and own DVC since 1997 and will be going back in January. A lot of the park changes like Genie were started under Iger. Chapel has only been CEO for 30 months and has 0 charisma and it is report that he is a micro manager that drives people crazy.

This change was not based on park earnings, but on their movies and streaming having big quarterly loses. Park revenue is paying the bills not only by higher attendance cost , but also by higher attendance in the parks. From something like 4 months closure and massive lay offs, they had to rebuild. Pre Covid, they had over 70,000 cast members. This includes the college program and international cast. Which both have only recently been restarted. And still looking for more.
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20ag07
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11:28p, 11/23/22
Quote:
A lot of the park changes like Genie were started under Iger.
You mean started by the Parks execs?

Staggs and Chapek?

Iger was always delegating the Parks.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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In reply to TexasAggie73 • 11:47p, 11/23/22
AG
Park earnings were not a problem. Guest satisfaction at the parks very much was.
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Saxsoon
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In reply to 20ag07 • 10:44a, 11/24/22
AG
20ag07 said:
Quote:
A lot of the park changes like Genie were started under Iger.
You mean started by the Parks execs?

Staggs and Chapek?

Iger was always delegating the Parks.


He approved it regardless
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bluefire579
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3:19p, 11/27/22
AG
https://nypost.com/2022/11/25/disney-ceo-bob-iger-thinks-park-ticket-prices-too-steep/

Quote:
Bob Iger, who returned as Disney's CEO in a surprise move last week, said prices at the Mouse House's theme parks have become too steep and that his predecessor Bob Chapek was "killing the soul of the company," according to a report.

Iger blasted numerous decisions made by ex-CEO Bob Chapek, including his moves to hike prices at theme parks including Disney World and Disneyland in order to make up for losses during the pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.

...

"He's killing the soul of the company," Iger reportedly said.
Hopefully we see some price drops on that front.
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DannyDuberstein
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4:10p, 11/27/22
AG
We've never been crazy Disney park people - a WDW trip when our kids were younger (2013) and then we visited Disneyland for the first time last spring. Buying a ticket, paying additional for for Genie+, and then getting shaken down a 3rd time for certain rides was ridiculous. Massive downgrade and basically makes you feel like a ripped off rube that just got nigerian scammed. The only guest experience improvement in 10 years was the food ordering app
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TexasAggie73
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In reply to DannyDuberstein • 4:17p, 11/27/22
AG
Someone posted on a Disney FB site and said that they went to Busch Garden in Virginia and their version of Genie was $80 per person and for only select rides and no repeats. T(he also said that food was more expensive. My point is that entertainment every where has got much , much more expensive and outpacing inflation. What does a bottle of water now cost at Kyle?
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GrayMatter
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In reply to bluefire579 • 12:46p, 11/29/22
AG
Quote:
Hopefully we see some price drops on that front.
I highly doubt that... The smarter move would be to improve the experience and keeping the rates the same or go to a tiered system where they charge more during the busiest times of the year.

If anything, I think he'll improve the guest experience by making the app more user friendly and maybe bringing the Express back so guests won't have to worry about transportation to and fro the airport.

Bringing back the Express is no-brainer to me. Why would you want to bring in 3rd party transportation to add to Disney congestion when you can control the traffic with your own transportation? Not only do you control how the traffic flows with your own transportation but it's also free advertising when you can wrap your bus with Disney logos.
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TexasAggie73
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In reply to GrayMatter • 2:00p, 11/29/22
AG
GrayMatter said:
Quote:
Hopefully we see some price drops on that front.
I highly doubt that... The smarter move would be to improve the experience and keeping the rates the same or go to a tiered system where they charge more during the busiest times of the year.

If anything, I think he'll improve the guest experience by making the app more user friendly and maybe bringing the Express back so guests won't have to worry about transportation to and fro the airport.

Bringing back the Express is no-brainer to me. Why would you want to bring in 3rd party transportation to add to Disney congestion when you can control the traffic with your own transportation? Not only do you control how the traffic flows with your own transportation but it's also free advertising when you can wrap your bus with Disney logos.
Mears was operating Magical Express and the cost was added to the hotel rates. We own DVC and I know the cost was a line item in our maintenance fees, we paid for it even if we didn't use it.

Iger was brought back to make streaming and movies profitable, not for guest experiences at the parks. He oversaw or started a lot of the things that Chapek got accused of.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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In reply to TexasAggie73 • 5:48p, 11/29/22
AG
How do you know it wasn't both?
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double aught
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In reply to GrayMatter • 5:55p, 11/29/22
AG
GrayMatter said:
Quote:
Hopefully we see some price drops on that front.
I highly doubt that... The smarter move would be to improve the experience and keeping the rates the same or go to a tiered system where they charge more during the busiest times of the year.

If anything, I think he'll improve the guest experience by making the app more user friendly and maybe bringing the Express back so guests won't have to worry about transportation to and fro the airport.

Bringing back the Express is no-brainer to me. Why would you want to bring in 3rd party transportation to add to Disney congestion when you can control the traffic with your own transportation? Not only do you control how the traffic flows with your own transportation but it's also free advertising when you can wrap your bus with Disney logos.
I would love this coming back. We went to Disney world a few years ago. Checked our bags at the airport and didn't see them again until we walked into the hotel room. So convenient.
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Sea Speed
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In reply to The Porkchop Express • 6:28p, 11/29/22
AG
The Porkchop Express said:
I would post my thoughts but I'm too tired from the Disney World Christmas party last night.


Photo taken at aforementioned party
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TexasAggie73
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 7:42p, 11/29/22
AG
Brian Earl Spilner said:
How do you know it wasn't both?


The first person he fired was over streaming and movies. Iger had even stated that his priority was that division that was bleeding money in his cast member meeting. He trust his man that is currently had of parks to continue. A lot of the park experience changes was made under Iger.
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Iowaggie
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In reply to TexasAggie73 • 8:02p, 11/29/22
AG
TexasAggie73 said:
Brian Earl Spilner said:
How do you know it wasn't both?


The first person he fired was over streaming and movies. Iger had even stated that his priority was that division that was bleeding money in his cast member meeting. He trust his man that is currently had of parks to continue. A lot of the park experience changes was made under Iger.

A lot of the movies and shows that are coming out now were started or approved under Iger.

It will be interesting to see if Iger really rolls back on any of the pricing changes that Chapek for Disney+ did because part of me wonders if Iger was basically waiting for Chapek to do some of the dirty work that Disney needed to do to be more profitable without Iger being the bad guy.
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