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.

I just finished the book, I quite enjoyed it. It wasn't particularly reflective but CEO books really are.

• If a lot of what he says is true he was stitched up, but I am not sure that the reasons he suggests for it are entirely plausible - not sure.
• Iger remaining as chairman / the creative decision maker seems to have been a disastrous way for him to start his term as CEO
• The fact that after 'retiring' quite suddenly, Iger was then on the day of Chapek's firing, happy to jump back into the job for another four years when 70+, would suggest he wasn't ready to leave first time around
• COVID was a big factor - but there are things he seemed to do well, as I recall thinking at the time.
• I found it interesting how proud he was of the straight to video sequels to Aladdin and the like given how much they are panned (and loathed by Disney folk)
• Was surprised how little mention there was of Eisner and Katzenberg in the 1990s chapters.

Edit - I should add, in Iger's book, he talks about how irritated he was that the Disney board allowed his predecessor (Eisner) to present to the board cautioning around Iger's planned purchase of Pixar and how it was the only thing that the board ever did to annoy him. A short presentation by your predecessor seems to be a non-event if when you yourself move on, you opt to be the new guy's boss and hold the reigns on some pretty important stuff for two years.

Worth a read. Would also recommend DisneyWar (audiobook that one, it's long). Iger's book ok too. Eisner's autobiography was a bit tough going - he claims to hate it now. There's a great Eisner interview here (in it, he talks about how Iger wasn't ready to leave).

I read Iger's book, which contextually was different because it was before any of this with Chapek went down. I found his experience with panic attacks interesting. I've had a few myself.

Iger's recounting of the gator attack and the Pulse nightclub shooting in "Ride of a Lifetime" is worth the purchase alone. I thought the way he addressed the family of the victim was a lesson in leadership and knowing when the CEO needs to be human.

I have hinted to Ouimet a couple of times that he should be writing a book. I'd buy that one too.