8 Things Disney Fans Want to See in the Next CEO
Finish this phrase: Disney’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) should…
©CNBC
Disney has had several CEOs over the years, some of whom fans have appreciated or criticized more than others. We’ve covered many of the statements and opinions from Disney’s most recent CEOs — Bob Iger and Bob Chapek (Chapek continues to serve as CEO). Chapek’s contract as CEO has been extended for a few more years, but eventually, Disney will have a new CEO that will take his place. What qualities should that new CEO have? We reached out to our readers via Facebook and they had a LOT of opinions.
We asked our Facebook readers, “What’s something you’d like to see in Disney’s next CEO?”
Here’s what they had to say.
On-the-Ground Experience
One reader shared that they’d like to see a CEO who had experience working as a Cast Member in a customer-facing position. They said that in their opinion those who haven’t had this on-the-ground experience may not be as aware of what Cast Members are truly dealing with, making them a bit “out of touch.” That comment seemed to have resonated with many other readers as it got over 300 likes or hearts.
We love Disney Cast Members!
Others echoed this same desire, asking for a CEO with more customer experience and someone who has “actually been in a cast member position that can bring light to where focus should be.”
In terms of Iger and Chapek, Iger started his time with Disney as a studio supervisor at ABC Television, after serving as a weatherman and news reporter at a small TV station in Ithaca. (CNBC) Chapek started working for Disney back in 1993 within the home entertainment unit, which he eventually became president of. (CNN) So neither really started in a “traditional” customer-facing on-the-ground Cast Member role in the theme parks with the company.
Do you think that would make a difference in terms of leadership? Tell us in the comments.
Click here to learn about 7 celebs that were Cast Members before they became famous!
Walt Disney’s Vision
Quite a few also noted that they’d like to see a CEO who has some “respect for the past” or a deep understanding of “Walt’s vision.” One specifically noted that they’d like to see someone who understands what Walt Disney was trying to “do for the families whom he hoped could and would visit.”
©D23
What is “Walt Disney’s vision” though? Well, from the stories Walt told, the idea for Disneyland really grew out of the trips Walt made with his daughters to the merry-go-round. He wanted a place where parents and kids could have fun together. Some might take that as his “vision.”
Walt also wanted Disneyland to pay homage to his hometown and show the things that were good about American life and the challenge of the future. According to Walt, “Disneyland would…encompass the essence of the things that were good and true in American life. It would reflect the faith and challenge of the future, the entertainment, the interest in intelligently presented facts, the stimulation of the imagination, the standards of health and achievement, and above all, a sense of strength, contentment and well-being.”
Walt Disney
But it’s not as though Walt didn’t need money to keep that dream alive. According to The Orange County Register, by Disneyland’s 10th anniversary (in 1965), the prices had risen $7.30. Walt didn’t pass away until 1966, so this would have happened while Walt was alive.
But it’s undeniable that Disney’s prices have since skyrocketed, outpacing inflation. The $2.50 ticket from 1955 (adjusting now for inflation) would have been $23.89 in 2019 dollars. That’s a far cry from the current Disneyland prices, but the park is also dramatically different compared to what it was back in 1955.
Disneyland Is NOT the Same as It Once Was
In 1955 there was 1 park with 33 attractions, priced individually which accepted tickets from a booklet. Now there are 56 attractions in Disneyland alone and all fall under a single ticket price. Plus, (out in California alone) there is Disney California Adventure Park, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and MUCH more.
The Disney Company has changed a LOT over the last 100 years, but has it changed “too much?” According to some fans, the answer might be “yes.” Whatever “Walt’s vision” might be, it appears that some fans feel that the company has potentially strayed from it. What changes will the next 100 years bring? Only time will tell.
Families or Disney Adults: learn more about the battle for Disney’s parks
Money, Money, Money 
Disney is a company, so there’s no denying that there must be a focus on money for the sake of its investors and shareholders. But several readers pointed out their desire for the next CEO to change things a bit.
One reader pointed out that they’d want the next CEO to have less of an “obsession” with making money “above all other factors.” Several others echoed this.
©Disney
One reader noted that while profits are undeniably important to a company, they feel that they are just one component of “overall company health.”That reader shared that they’d like to see a “renewed emphasis on a positive corporate culture, customer centric service and accessibility to a greater segment of the population.”
Given the hundreds of price increases we’ve seen on everything from water bottles to Disneyland park tickets, and statements made about potential future price increases, increasing costs are something you’ll want to be prepared for at the moment.
Click here to see EVERY food price increase that hit Disney World in mid-October 2022
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
But could things change in the future? Only time will tell.
Price increases have been a part of the Disney company for years. The Orange County Register details some of the steady price increases that have taken place in terms of Disneyland’s ticket prices over the years, and our friends at AllEars have data showing ticket price increases at Disney World dating back to the 1970s.
Bob Iger served as Disney’s CEO from 2005 through 2020. During that time, Disney World ticket prices increased over 10 times. Thus far, during Chapek’s time as CEO, we haven’t seen Disney World ticket prices directly increased, but we have seen Annual Passholder price increases, and sneaky increases have been implemented that ultimately do make 2022 trips and will make 2023 trips more expensive.
Tower of Terror
Chapek took over the Disney Company in February of 2020, not long before Disney World and Disneyland closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other Disney parks also closed near that time, ultimately leading to a period of time when ALL Disney parks around the world were closed.
On top of that, for a period of time most movie theaters were closed, Disney Cruise Line sailings were canceled, movies were delayed, and other things within the company were impacted. Even after the parks reopened, Disney had to operate with changing health regulations, social distancing, restrictions on capacity, and more.
Animal Kingdom
In the Q2 earnings report for fiscal year 2022, Disney noted that “the impact of COVID-19 and measures to prevent its spread are affecting our segments in a number of ways” from theme park closures to suspended tours and supply chain disruptions. They also discussed how they delayed, shortened, or canceled some theatrical releases, suspended stage performances, and saw other sales impacted. Things were also impacted on the sports front with canceled games and altered schedules.
In other words, a LOT changed in a very short period of time. Now, things have changed again, much of the world has reopened, and the parks have hit huge revenue levels. But things could change again. CNN has shared that nearly 2/3 of “corporate economists believe the United States is already in a recession or will be within the next 12 months.”
That could once again impact the financial standing of the Walt Disney Company as a whole.
Mad Tea Party
With thousands of Cast Member jobs in the mix, huge investments still being made in streaming and the parks, and other expenses, price increases could be the route Disney is pursuing in an attempt to manage the effect of COVID-19 and prepare for potential impacts if a recession hits.
And Chapek has indicated that much of future pricing is in the consumer’s hands. When it comes to future price increases, Chapek has said, “If demand goes up, then we have the opportunity to do that.” In other words, Disney is really looking closely at what the consumer is doing. If prices keep increasing and guests keep coming, then more increases could be in Disney’s future, potentially until they see a negative response from guests.
Want to see a FULL timeline of Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s financial decisions from 2020-2022? Click here
A Focus on Cast Members
Several mentioned that they’d want a CEO whose focus is more on the Cast Members and improving their situation. They shared that, in their opinion, by taking care of the Cast Members, those Cast Members will “bring the magic back.”
Cast Members are, as we’ve mentioned time and time again, KEY to the Disney experience. Cast Members can make incredibly magical moments for you and your family that can truly change your entire vacation (and differentiate it from any other trip you’ve ever had).
We love to see it!
Cast Members undoubtedly went through stressful times as thousands were laid off from the company due to the COVID-19 pandemic closures. Some, even some within the Disney family, have criticized Disney’s treatment of Cast Members. Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Roy O. Disney (who co-founded the Disney company with Walt) has heavily criticized the Disney company in the past, including through the creation of a documentary.
The Orange County Register points out that “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales” (the documentary created by Abigail Disney) takes a “critical look at Disney as a stand-in for the rest of corporate America.” Abigail Disney notes that the documentary was “inspired by a Disney worker who reached out to her about the company’s low pay. The film reportedly points out that “Bob Iger’s compensation at $65 million was 1,424 times the median employee’s salary while 55 years ago Roy Disney, including stock options, made 78 times the lowest worker’s pay.”
We love Disney Cast Members
Disney has recently worked on giving Cast Members certain benefits, like by providing Cast Members with Disney+ for free. What would you want the next CEO to do when it comes to Disney’s Cast Members? How would you want their actions to differ from the most recent CEOs’ actions? Tell us in the comments.
It’s Just for FUN
Some shared that they’d like a CEO with a focus on the kids who really just want to go to the parks, watch the movies, etc. for FUN. If you’ve ever been to Disney and just felt like it’s a bucket of stress, it seems these readers feel the same and think that a CEO with a greater focus on “fun” could change things.
Is It Just Not Fun Anymore?
It’s not totally clear what a greater focus on “fun” would involve though. Would it involve getting rid of certain systems that some fans find to be complicated (like Genie+)? Would it involve simplifying other parts of the in-park experience? Would it impact anything to do with Disney’s movies? Let us know what you think.
Click here to see dining mistakes you don’t want to make in Disney
It’s “Art”
Another shared that they’d want the next CEO to be someone focused on art first, and business second.
They noted that they would like to see someone in the role who looks at the parks and the movies not as products to sell or things to use to make money, but as “pieces of art to take pride in.”
EPCOT
Again, it’s not totally clear what this would involve. Would it perhaps involve bringing someone up through the ranks who was once an Imagineer? Is it simply a matter of personal view rather than work experience? How would something like this be evaluated and determined? You tell us!
A FAN
Some readers felt like they just wanted to look at Disney’s next CEO and see a bit of themselves reflected back. In other words, they want a FAN to lead the company — someone who is “in love with the Disney magic” and is as big of a fan as the guests are.
Look at those crowds!
Again, it’s hard to say what the evaluating criteria for this would be. Must they be a Disney cosplayer or someone who is an expert in Disney bounding? Someone who has read dozens of Disney books just for fun? What would you want to see in terms of “fandom” in a future CEO?
Put Streaming Second
Another shared that they’d like a CEO that is more focused on the in-person guest experience, rather than Disney’s streaming platforms.
We’ve certainly seen Disney’s recent CEOs focus heavily on Disney’s streaming platforms — especially Disney+. Bob Iger called Disney+ a “beacon of hope” and Disney even recognized certain content groups in 2020 to make streaming the Company’s primary focus in terms of entertainment.
Hollywood Studios
And Disney’s streaming service has proven to be a big focus for investors too — particularly when it comes to subscriber numbers. It is undeniable that streaming has become a big part of the company. But for some, it may be seen as TOO big of a focus.
Disney+ is losing money and is not expected to become profitable for a little while longer. But some of its shows have become massive hits and some of the direct-to-Disney+ movies have also seen great success.
That doesn’t mean the parks aren’t getting new things too. Various things are in the works for Disney’s parks in the next few years, but perhaps, for some, there just isn’t enough on the parks side. What do you think?
Click here to see what’s coming for the Disney Company in 2022, 2023, and 2024
And MORE!
Other readers mentioned wanting to see a CEO who stays a little bit further out of political matters, and a CEO focused on simplifying the Disney experience.
In other words…there are a LOT of things guests want to see in Disney’s next CEO. As many pointed out, Disney is, at the end of the day, a business. That means that more “business-related” matters, like making and increasing profits, are critical to its ability to continue functioning and, therefore, are critical to the individual serving as CEO.
Bob Chapek
But Disney is a unique, family-focused entertainment company with a beloved founder and a legacy of incredible customer service. Some fans appear to feel that there has been a “stray” from this legacy, the views of Walt, or other things. According to those fans, a future CEO with some of the specific qualities listed above could be the key to “bringing back” the magic they feel is missing.
What do you think? What would you want to see in Disney’s next CEO? Tell us in the comments below.
Cinderella Castle
To see more about what Disney’s current CEO Bob Chapek has had to say about price increases, annual passes, and park passes, click here. You can also click here to read Chapek’s comments about Disney+. And stay tuned for more Disney news.
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What’s something you’d like to see in Disney’s next CEO? Tell us in the comments!
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