It’s fair to say that Bob Iger’s return as CEO of the Walt Disney Company was certainly not on most people’s 2022 bingo cards. However, following Sunday night’s shocking announcement that Bob Chapek would be exiting the position effective immediately and that Iger would now be entering his second term, parks fans have already begun to speculate what this interesting change in leadership could mean for the future of Disney parks.
Chapek succeeded Iger in the role of Disney CEO in February 2020, meaning his new position found him immediately navigating the Walt Disney Company through the turbulence that came as a result of the pandemic. During his 33 months as CEO, a variety of new changes and systems were implemented which left parks fans feeling largely unimpressed, as many of these decisions were widely regarded as financially driven, with little regard for the guest experience. As a result, parks fans are now optimistic that Iger’s return could bring a shift in focus, with many hoping that we could soon see the reversal of some of these not-so-favorable changes.
Here are five things that Disney parks fans are hoping Iger’s return could bring…
1. The return of the Dining Plan
As one of the more obvious cost-cutting measures put in place during Chapek’s run, the loss of the Dining Plan came as a hit to many parks fans. Disney previously acknowledged the eventual return of the Dining Plan back in 2021, though no date was confirmed and little else has been discussed since.
With the Dining Plan previously serving as a key component in many families’ Disney trips, the hope is now that its revival will be fast-tracked in the wake of Iger’s return. However, the loss of free Disney dining is likely to have sparked an increase in in-park spending, therefore, it remains to be seen whether bringing back the Dining Plan will be a priority for Iger.
2. The end of the park reservation system
Disney’s reservation system has been the thorn in almost every parks fan’s side for the past couple of years, as it requires guests to reserve their entry for each individual visit to a Disney park.
Annual pass holders have found this new element particularly limiting as gone are the days of spontaneous park visits, although, guests visiting from around the world have also struggled with this new system.
The reservation system was initially implemented to help with capacity during the pandemic, however, with the parks having long since returned to pre-pandemic capacity across the board, many have questioned the ongoing need for reservations. If Iger has been listening to visitor demands prior to his return, he will likely be aware that the system’s removal is a major wishlist item among parks fans.
3. The full return of park hopping
Similar to the reservation system, park hopping has also been limited since the pandemic with guests currently only able to access another Disney park after 2 pm, and only once they have entered their reserved park. The removal of the parks reservation system would see park hopping return to normal by default, though perhaps Iger could decide to reinstate regular park hopping first as a means of phasing out the reservation system as a whole. Of course, there is always the chance that this system is here to stay, so for now guests will have to keep their fingers crossed.
4. The return of annual pass sales
A decision that has frustrated and confused Disney fans for a while now was the pause on the sale of annual passes. Citing intense demand, sales were initially halted for Walt Disney World annual passes in November 2021, with no current confirmation as to when sales will resume. Further confusion came last week when a price increase was announced for annual passes, with many hoping that this was potentially signaling their return, though little is known about the future of annual pass sales.
Disneyland locals have equally endured a rocky road with their annual passes over the past couple of years, so many will be hoping that Iger’s future parks plans will have this at the forefront.
5. A Genie+ Overhaul
Genie+ is another of Disney’s most divisive additions in recent years, as it replaced the free Fastpass+ system with a new paid model. While some have certainly embraced the benefits of Genie+, the system is deemed to be largely flawed by many, even down to the user experience it offers in the My Disney Experience app.
With Genie+ serving as a considerable money maker for the Disney parks, it’s unlikely that any form of free system will return, however, a better thought-out premium offering would likely satisfy those who have struggled to adjust to Genie+’s implementation.
What do you think of Iger’s return as CEO? Which of these changes do you hope to see first within the Disney parks? Let us know by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
