The current situation with Disney's corporate decisions has been increasingly upsetting for me, and I've been feeling more and more of a need to make my voice heard. I drafted a very lengthy email to Bob Chapek highlighting the concerns that many of us have about the future of the company; I think I'll sleep on it and send it off tomorrow but I wanted to put my thoughts out here as well.
Dear Mr. Chapek,
First of all, I don't expect you to read this. I know that someone of your job caliber has to deal with a nearly endless stream of emails, most of which are deleted unless the name or subject is something you recognize. Even if this ends up getting lost in the mess, however, I felt the need to make my voice heard. I appreciate any time you're willing to commit to my experiences and concerns.
Disney was my first love. For as long as I can remember, it's been my second home, my happy place, my escape from reality. The day I learned about Hidden Mickeys (and all the other hidden attention to detail that makes the parks special) changed my life, and the day I learned the word Imagineer, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Annual trips to Disney World have always been some of the highlights of my year. I used to follow Disney news obsessively, checking construction updates, new announcements, and ride opening predictions every day. When watching the "real world" news was anxiety-inducing, I could be confident that there would be good news in the parks; watching construction updates as Galaxy's Edge came to life felt like watching magic being born. Recently, however, I've taken a step back from Disney news; more often than not, it does me more harm than good.
Mr. Chapek, watching the changes you've made over the last year has made me afraid for the future of the Disney company. As a super-fan who has spent countless hours diving into the early history of the parks and found comfort in Walt's voice as he described his vision for Disneyland, I am sad to see the way the company has strayed from his vision and values. Walt imagined a place for families to escape the real world and have fun together, he hoped his parks would be a "source of joy and inspiration to all the world." How can that be true when a Disney vacation is becoming less and less attainable to the average family? I understand that you are running a company and that numbers often speak louder than any words the fans can throw at you, but the "pay more, get less" approach the parks have taken is not the best or only way to attain those numbers. Constantly raising prices, taking away benefits like extra magic hours and entertainment that has not returned since Covid, and implementing new systems like Genie+ to squeeze every last penny out of your already high paying guests only serves to cheapen the experience and close the gap between Disney and its competitors. The high standards set Disney apart are falling rapidly, and this lapse has not gone unnoticed.
Beyond this, it has been extremely upsetting to see the way the Imagineers have been treated as of late. While you may see them as dispensable, they are your most valuable asset; your brand is creating magic, and nobody can bring this magic to life quite like the brilliant minds of WDI. Several of their most recent endeavors (namely the 50th anniversary offerings at WDW) have fallen severely short of the Disney standard, and from where we stand as fans, it looks like restrictions on creativity have caused these shortcomings. It genuinely hurts my heart to see the way incredible people and innovators are being pushed out of WDI by the move to Florida. This talent is irreplaceable. After seeing the latest Animal Kingdom offering to open without Joe Rohde's oversight, I am worried for the future of the parks if the talent that has made them so special is pushed out.
You can't be oblivious to the criticism you've faced online as of late. The Disney social media sphere is not a happy place, and I'm sure you know that you've been far from a fan-favorite as of late. While it's true that no one complains about Disney more than Disney fans, I've never seen them quite like this. And so I urge you to pay attention and listen. Some of your most loyal fans are swearing off Disney until changes are made, and the risk this poses is something you should be scared of. You can make decisions for Wall Street, you can make your numbers look good so your shareholders are happy, but you need to remember your place; your brand is magic, your company is built on nostalgia. Disney has been successful for so long because people remember the good memories they have made, and they keep coming back. And you are at risk of losing your most loyal, most nostalgic fans. Mr. Chapek, you need to remember that when you walk into work each morning you are not just running a company, you are running the Walt Disney Company; your job is to continue on the legacy of nearly 100 years of creating magic, and that is a legacy that won't last much longer unless changes are made. As an avid researcher of Disney history, I have to believe that this dark period in the company is temporary, and that a new era of creativity and growth will return the parks to their former glory. But if the future of the parks is anything like the past, this can't happen until the balance between business and creativity is restored. To quote the 50th anniversary theme song, the magic is calling you. It's calling you to change the direction the company has been going since March 2020. It's calling you to make decisions that allow the parks to evolve and improve; it's calling you to make decisions that make this park experience accessible and affordable again. It's calling you to return the Walt Disney Company to its brand of happiness, nostalgia, and magic. Mr. Chapek, the magic is calling you to turn things around; all I can do is urge you to answer the call.
Dear Mr. Chapek,
First of all, I don't expect you to read this. I know that someone of your job caliber has to deal with a nearly endless stream of emails, most of which are deleted unless the name or subject is something you recognize. Even if this ends up getting lost in the mess, however, I felt the need to make my voice heard. I appreciate any time you're willing to commit to my experiences and concerns.
Disney was my first love. For as long as I can remember, it's been my second home, my happy place, my escape from reality. The day I learned about Hidden Mickeys (and all the other hidden attention to detail that makes the parks special) changed my life, and the day I learned the word Imagineer, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Annual trips to Disney World have always been some of the highlights of my year. I used to follow Disney news obsessively, checking construction updates, new announcements, and ride opening predictions every day. When watching the "real world" news was anxiety-inducing, I could be confident that there would be good news in the parks; watching construction updates as Galaxy's Edge came to life felt like watching magic being born. Recently, however, I've taken a step back from Disney news; more often than not, it does me more harm than good.
Mr. Chapek, watching the changes you've made over the last year has made me afraid for the future of the Disney company. As a super-fan who has spent countless hours diving into the early history of the parks and found comfort in Walt's voice as he described his vision for Disneyland, I am sad to see the way the company has strayed from his vision and values. Walt imagined a place for families to escape the real world and have fun together, he hoped his parks would be a "source of joy and inspiration to all the world." How can that be true when a Disney vacation is becoming less and less attainable to the average family? I understand that you are running a company and that numbers often speak louder than any words the fans can throw at you, but the "pay more, get less" approach the parks have taken is not the best or only way to attain those numbers. Constantly raising prices, taking away benefits like extra magic hours and entertainment that has not returned since Covid, and implementing new systems like Genie+ to squeeze every last penny out of your already high paying guests only serves to cheapen the experience and close the gap between Disney and its competitors. The high standards set Disney apart are falling rapidly, and this lapse has not gone unnoticed.
Beyond this, it has been extremely upsetting to see the way the Imagineers have been treated as of late. While you may see them as dispensable, they are your most valuable asset; your brand is creating magic, and nobody can bring this magic to life quite like the brilliant minds of WDI. Several of their most recent endeavors (namely the 50th anniversary offerings at WDW) have fallen severely short of the Disney standard, and from where we stand as fans, it looks like restrictions on creativity have caused these shortcomings. It genuinely hurts my heart to see the way incredible people and innovators are being pushed out of WDI by the move to Florida. This talent is irreplaceable. After seeing the latest Animal Kingdom offering to open without Joe Rohde's oversight, I am worried for the future of the parks if the talent that has made them so special is pushed out.
You can't be oblivious to the criticism you've faced online as of late. The Disney social media sphere is not a happy place, and I'm sure you know that you've been far from a fan-favorite as of late. While it's true that no one complains about Disney more than Disney fans, I've never seen them quite like this. And so I urge you to pay attention and listen. Some of your most loyal fans are swearing off Disney until changes are made, and the risk this poses is something you should be scared of. You can make decisions for Wall Street, you can make your numbers look good so your shareholders are happy, but you need to remember your place; your brand is magic, your company is built on nostalgia. Disney has been successful for so long because people remember the good memories they have made, and they keep coming back. And you are at risk of losing your most loyal, most nostalgic fans. Mr. Chapek, you need to remember that when you walk into work each morning you are not just running a company, you are running the Walt Disney Company; your job is to continue on the legacy of nearly 100 years of creating magic, and that is a legacy that won't last much longer unless changes are made. As an avid researcher of Disney history, I have to believe that this dark period in the company is temporary, and that a new era of creativity and growth will return the parks to their former glory. But if the future of the parks is anything like the past, this can't happen until the balance between business and creativity is restored. To quote the 50th anniversary theme song, the magic is calling you. It's calling you to change the direction the company has been going since March 2020. It's calling you to make decisions that allow the parks to evolve and improve; it's calling you to make decisions that make this park experience accessible and affordable again. It's calling you to return the Walt Disney Company to its brand of happiness, nostalgia, and magic. Mr. Chapek, the magic is calling you to turn things around; all I can do is urge you to answer the call.
