Do You Agree With That Disney Hot Take?
A second Disney succession battle is taking place, but it’s not garnering the same headlines as the one for CEO.
No one knows for sure yet whether Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro will follow Bob Iger as Disney’s CEO.
Photo: orlandothemeparkzone.com
However, recent reports have suggested that he’s the favorite. Should D’Amaro earn a promotion, his job will be available and in high demand.
Several candidates are currently presenting their cases to become the next Chairman of Disney Experiences.
Photo: Disney
One of them just said something that has become a lightning rod for discussion.
Do you agree with that hot take creating a stir on the internet right now?
What’s the Hot Take?
(Photo by Adam Kissick/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images)
At this moment, we can only speculate who will replace D’Amaro if/when he leaves his current job.
Nobody talks about this because D’Amaro is so beloved, but he’s already held his current position for more than five years now.
Photo: CNBC
Notably, Bob Chapek, the previous Chairman of Disney’s theme parks, held his job for… a little over five years.
Disney’s current stability with its leadership positions is quite rare in the corporate world.
Source: CNBC.com
At some point, changes will occur at the top of the Disney food chain, presumably soon after Disney announces Iger’s successor.
Two of the names who must be at the top of the list to follow D’Amaro are Ken Potrock, the President of Disneyland Resort, and Jeff Vahle, the President of Walt Disney World Resort.
Ken Potrock, Major Events Intergration
Circumstances have held the feet of both individuals to the fire in recent years, with Potrock comporting himself exceedingly well during the DisneylandForward negotiations.
Meanwhile Vahle has quietly sustained Walt Disney World’s presence at the top of the tourism industry.
Instagram@ jeffvahle
Not coincidentally, Orlando Magazine just named Vahle number one on its list of the 50 most powerful people in Orlando tourism.
That’s a no-brainer, because he is. Vahle gave an interview to the publication and had one quote that has gone viral.
Photo: Jeff Vahle on LinkedIn
I consider the quote to be innocuous, because it’s something I’ve said many times. Still, I’m just one chatty guy on the internet.
Disney fans care what the theme parks leaders say. His quote is as follows:
Instagram@ jeffvahle
“These [new] lands and attractions will deliver some incredibly creative experiences while also bringing new life to underutilized areas.”
That’s it. That’s the quote.
Let’s Talk Faux Controversy
Photo: Forbes
If you were expecting something more incendiary, you don’t understand the nature of social media clickbait.
Everything is either the absolute greatest or the literal worst. There is no in-between.
Liberty Square Riverboat
To most Disney fans, this is just stating the obvious.
I keep challenging people to tell me the last time they rode Liberty Square Riverboat.
Most of the replies led with, “Well, we were really tired, and…”
The next person who tells me they anxiously awaited a ride on Liberty Square Riverboat will be the first… and I’d immediately hook them to a lie detector.
For generations, Tom Sawyer Island served a purpose by delivering free vacation babysitting to parents.
So, I understand why some people will miss that.
Jim Henson and the cast of Muppet*Vision 3D. Photo: Disney
Really, the source of the outcry is the perceived slight against Muppet*Vision 3D, which is still a sore subject to many, including me.
As I stated the day that Disney announced its closure, nobody can argue that it was a highly popular attraction.
Muppet*Vision 3D
During its closing weeks, I tracked wait times to find renewed interest.
It really only happened during the final few days.
Photo: Jeff Vahle Instagram
Overall, the average vacationer shrugged and thought, “Ooh, Monstropolis! That sounds fun.”
In that way, the average vacationer proved Vahle’s comments to be true.
Photo: Jeff Vahle on Instagram
Occam’s Razor applies here. Disney wouldn’t close these places if they were popular.
The company is in the business of making money. That’s the very purpose OF business.
Disney’s New Playbook
Disney wouldn’t close something popular unless there was a strong reason why.
For example, Disney would only shut down Country Bear Jamboree and Splash Mountain if the company had a better idea to modernize the attractions.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
Country Bear Musical Jamboree is objectively better than its predecessor, and while I know opinions are divided about Splash Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure tells a much more cohesive story.
We’ve since learned that Disney was hinting at its new playbook with these attractions.
Since then, other classic attractions, like It’s Tough to Be a Bug! and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin have also closed, as has Test Track 2.0.
Test Track again demonstrates D’Amaro and Vahle’s driving philosophy to reinvigorate attractions with better ideas and features.
A Bug’s Life had definitely lost most of its appeal. It’s one of the few largely forgotten Pixar films.
Meanwhile, Disney has happily boarded the monorail to Zootopia, which makes Zootopia: Better Zoogether! an excellent idea.
Photo: Disney
That’s also the key takeaway about this so-called “hot take.” How many people were screaming to save It’s Tough to Be a Bug!?
The answer is “not many,” and we know this to be true because Disney California Adventure closed its version of the show in March of 2018.
It’s Tough to be a Bug! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Do you remember ANY outcry? Spoiler: There wasn’t any.
People were excited to hear that they were getting a Spider-Man ride in the same area instead.
This fact again proves the point. The average consumer wants new and exciting attractions, not stale ones from prior eras.
The Hot Take Is RIGHT, Y’all
In a way, Disney’s new directive quietly corrects a few of the company’s theme park missteps throughout the years.
Disney is loudly announcing when it is closing rides, giving the remaining fans a reasonable amount of time to experience them.
As an example, my beloved DINOSAUR closes for good at the start of February.
I’ll miss it, but I also know that the Tropical Americas will be one hundred times better than DinoLand USA.
Photo: Disney
I think it’s clear where I stand on the hot take, and I’ve said as much for several years now.
Walt Disney dictated that its Imagineers should plus attractions to guarantee that The Happiest Place on Earth would stand the test of time.
Photo: Disney
Current park officials are treating the other locations with the same respect, including Walt Disney World.
When Disney keeps reinventing dull rides, it will eventually get to one you happen to love.
Photo: Disney
That doesn’t make what they’re doing wrong, though.
On the contrary, Disney is safeguarding its theme parks for future generations.
Photo: Disney
Folks, that alleged “hot take” is really nothing more than just a simple statement of a hard truth.
You should also keep in mind that this strategy works.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
That’s part of the reason why I won’t be surprised if Vahle eventually replaced D’Amaro as the Chairman of Disney Experiences.
For what it’s worth, I have nothing but good things to say about Potrock, but it’s harder to run Walt Disney World than Disneyland these days.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: Disney
