Chapek Memoir "Behind the Castle Walls"

Probably not interesting enough to be news, but apparently Bob Chapek's memoir is being released next week. According to the NY Times, Chapek seems to blame Iger for everything bad that happened during his CEO tenure. If anything, it's fun to see the Disney fanboy websites make fun of him, such as WDW News Today's article titled "Bob Chapek Rejects All Responsibility."

NYT Link (gift link)

He had his share of missteps, but he couldn't have taken the helm at a crappier time if he tried: global pandemic with the former boss watching over his shoulder and never really relinquishing control. No thank you.

I don't understand Iger's in-out-in motivations, and maybe he is an egomaniac. But Chapek's claim that he squeezed more out of the parks in a good way is not exactly the way that I'd describe it. His years didn't leave good vibes with the park-going public, and I wonder what the long-term consequence of that might have been if he stayed. The hotel parking fees in particular were absurd. Lightning Lane over Fastpass sucks, but there's clearly no putting that genie (literally) back in the bottle.

Jeff:

His years didn't leave good vibes with the park-going public,

Nor those working for him.

I suspect Iger's return had less to do with the parks and more to do with stock stability. The institutional investors respected Iger more.

He took over the company at the worst possible time. That should get a pass.

He raised prices a year or two later and that will never be a popular thing to do with any company. But Disney fans have proven time and time again that no price is too high for the Magic.

Not a big fan of these ‘tell all’ behind the scenes books. They just end up as a back and forth name calling type stuff. The truth always lies somewhere in the middle.