Forget the Starbucks Christmas Cup controversy, Disney Parks makes it clear what holiday they’re celebrating with their holiday themed cups. I like the festive symbols, but I do remember that some of the previous cups were a bit more involved and had Disney characters on… Read More »Disney Parks Christmas Cups
I bet you didn’t know this, but Mickey’s got game. He likes to keep up his skills by practicing with the NBA’s Orlando Magic. To keep up this cover story, Disney Parks even sponsors the professional basketball team. “We are thrilled to have Disney Parks… Read More »Disney Parks and Orlando Magic extend partnership
Remember last year at the Disney Parks Christmas Celebration (formerly the Disney Parks Christmas Parade) TV special on ABC when Disney facilitated family reunions to demonstrate how the parks help make magic happen? I thought those were some of the best moments of the special.… Read More »Disney Holiday Special Now Casting. Tell your Disney story to audition.
As you know the D23 Expo is the Disney event to end all Disney events. It is huge, filled with tons of amazing exhibits, tweet-worthy news, celebrities and incredible cosplay. There is something for every Disney fan and then some. However, like all things Disney… Read More »Suggestions for Plussing the D23 Expo
1 million followers anywhere is a big number. So Disney decided to celebrate when it’s @DisneyParks Twitter account reached that milestone. They gathered some of your favorite Disney characters for a special stop-motion surprise: Now go behind the scenes with Walt Disney World photographer Chloe… Read More »Disney Parks Twitter account celebrates reaching 1 Million Followers
For many guests the Mickey Mouse Ear Hat is the must have accessory for their Disney theme park vacation. The hats actually have their roots on TV. The Mickey Mouse Club’s famous Mousketeers wore them on each show and before too long Disney fans were… Read More »Four Brand New Mickey Mouse Ear Hats
When Tom Staggs was announced as Chief Operating Officer, it was mentioned he’d retain control of the Disney Parks division until a successor could be found. I think everyone had a 6 to 12 month timeline on that, but Disney can move fast when it wants to.
Effective today Bob Chapek has been named Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Chapek is a 22-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company, having served since 2011 as President of Disney Consumer Products, driving a technology-led transformation of the Company’s consumer products, retail and publishing operations. Prior to that he managed Disney’s Home Video/DVD division.
If this move seems familiar it’s because Disney already tried this once with moving Paul Pressler from President of the Disney Stores to Disneyland (and then Disney Parks). The implication that the parks are little more than giant Disney stores is clear. Paul and his successor Cynthia Harriss were never quite able to shake themselves of the rules of retail and took their eyes off the real important things at the theme parks. I have a few suggestions for Bob on how to avoid that fate at the end of this article.
It’s true that this could be a move to expand Bob’s horizons and groom him for additional responsibility within the company. The good news is that merchandise mix at the parks is one thing the parks are generally doing well (the Big Hero 6 mix was a failure, alas). I don’t know much about Bob, this could a perfect fit for him, and I hope it is, but history hasn’t been kind on similar moves.
“Under Bob’s leadership, Consumer Products has seen great success, focusing on brands and a franchise-driven strategy while launching new products and retail experiences that combine technological innovation and creativity,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said. “He is an experienced and versatile executive well-suited to lead Parks and Resorts into the future.”Read More »Bob Chapek moves from Disney Stores to Disney Parks Chair
One thing Disney theme park fans love to complain about is decision by spreadsheet (or as Disney author Kevin Yee famously says “declining by degrees”). The idea that there’s someone backstage with a formula and a red pen saying, you have to cut, cut, cut because some random number wasn’t met and you end up with death of the guest experience by a thousand small cuts instead of one or two large ones. Like a frog in a pot of water, by the time you notice the end is near, it’s too late to jump out.
Wielding the spreadsheet is the moment when Disney is most like a business and least like something magical. Erin Wallace, executive vice president of operations strategy, planning, and revenue management for Walt Disney Parks and resorts, was in charge of that whole process. As such, she often became the subject of flames from the fans.
Whether Wallace deserved those critiques or not, is an open question. She answered to someone (for a long time the also departing Meg Crofton and more recently Parks chair Tom Staggs) and was subject to meeting the overall goals of the company. The company is doing remarkably well right now, but how will it work in the long term, well that remains to be seen.Read More »Disney Parks operations executive Erin Wallace departs