Disney's former CEO made some bold claims in his upcoming memoir, saying he has no regrets about making trips to the parks more expensive and blames his firing on a sabotage campaign spearheaded by his replacement.
Here's what to know
Bob Chapek, who was fired in 2022, is unapologetic about his tenure with The Walt Disney Company. As reported by The Independent, "Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth" said that the park changes he made, including airline-style variable pricing and new charges for perks that had previously been included, were justified.
Under Chapek, FastPass, Disney's former no-cost line-skipping program, was replaced with the paid Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane options. Disney instituted parking fees at its Florida hotels, and its complimentary airport shuttle service ended.
Even Disney's streaming platforms hiked prices during Chapek's reign — Disney+ rose from $7.99 to $10.99 a month, while ESPN increased from $6.99 to $9.99.
The New York Times received an advance copy of the unreleased memoir, and Chapek reportedly wrote: "We'd been, at a minimum, leaving revenue opportunities on the table to avoid stirring the hornet's nest."
More background
Chapek's stint as CEO ran for under three years, with much of it unfolding amid COVID-era turmoil.
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In the book, Chapek accused Bob Iger — his predecessor who originally "retired" in 2021 and chose him as successor — of waging a "relentless" campaign against him behind the scenes to take back his position.
Disney opted not to comment.
Where can I learn more?
Here are some more stories on all things Disney, from the consequences of extreme heat to in-park products that are changing the visitor experience.
• At Disneyland, drops in attendance during extreme heat are fueling ghost-town complaints.
• Disney and Universal Studios are pursuing greener theme-park operations as sustainability pressures grow.
• At Walt Disney World, solar panels over parking lots are drawing mixed reactions.
• Disneyland Paris is adding a solar canopy over parking to reshape arrivals.
• At Disney stores, a bulky new park product is baffling frustrated visitors.
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