Why I loved Disney World | Kim Matio posted on the topic | LinkedIn (2024)

MyDisneyLegacyMany people leaveThe Walt Disney Companywith the feeling that their time with the company was a life-changing experience. But how cool would it be if you could leave your own, positive mark on this 100+ year-old company?I might be lucky enough to be one of those people.Thanksgiving Day, 2022. It was my very first shift atDisney's Hollywood StudiosatWalt Disney World. They gave me a pan and broom and told me to sweep 'Popcorn Triangle' which is a non-stop sweeping frenzy to keep the ground from becoming a popcorn carpet.It was my very first day and there was no wayward bit of popcorn that was safe from my broom that night. On Thanksgiving Day 2022, popcorn triangle was SPOTLESS!But then something strange happened the next morning.When I woke up my hand was stiff and the joints in my fingers were swollen. Holding the broom with one hand requires an extremely tight grip and I had been sweeping for 8+ hours. I thought 'This can't be right' and my mind started trying to come up with a solution. I'm a fairly healthy guy, and I could only imagine how someone with regular hand pain or arthritis might feel if they were tasked to do the same job.I ordered parts from Amazon and after a month of tinkering, I had a surprisingly simple design: A wrist strap with a loop that holds the broom handle against the arm and acts as a counterbalance. I typed up a report detailing the problem and my solution and sent this to my leaders as well as the Disney Doctor and the local health and safety teams.Two months later, I thought the idea was dead.People have been sweeping the Disney Parks for 70+ years.Who am I to think I am going to amend one of the most basic functions of the custodial team?Then one day I got a call to appear at my Proprietor's office.This is usually not a good thing, so I was preparing myself for some kind of massive scolding, I just wish I had an idea what I had done wrong.As I entered the big boss's office, there were quite a few people there.- My propriator.- One of my Leaders,Daniel, who has always been the most positive supporter of the entire cast.- Several members of the Disney Health & Safety team.- and even The Vice President of Hollywood Studios.For a few seconds, I was confused. WTF is going on?Then the VP of Hollywood Studios says: "We saw your idea.. and we love it!"I was in so much shock.. that I turned around and walked right back out of the room. (Not joking.)Five seconds later, I had cleared my eyes and reentered the room.They said that this might be such a great idea, it might even be good enough for Disney 'GLOBALLY'... but that it was going to take some time.Flash forward one year. -- I was informed that a prototype of the gear has been obtained and that actual testing is going to commence.Someday in the future, if I am walking through Disney Paris, and I see some custodian sweeping their version of 'popcorn triangle' with a wrist strap, I can say... "I DID THAT!"

460

66 Comments

I have not posted for a long time. But this is a great read.For those who know Disney or are an existing or an ex-cast member, we know this is #michaeleisoner2.0 again at #disney. Many times in my previous postings, I predicted that #bobiger would return to Disney; he should speak to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and they should return to the castle and become the future #CEO.However, after leaving the castle and still loving the brand, I learned a good CEO should always let go of his ego, manage their team members, support the team, honor the loyalty, and acknowledge achievements.I understand that one, especially C-suite personnel, all could become egoistic at a certain level, but we all know that the castle, the Great Wall, etc., were all not built by one person.I always think Disney should bring back some old troops because those ex-cast members know the brand, love the company and have been well-trained by the internal executive program, as well as learning the errors of many external companies and avoiding them from happening in the mouse house.#itsgottabeafunride#ilovedisney #abc #nbc #cbs #fox #cw #ATT #comcast #warnerbrosdiscovery #discoveryplus #HBOMax #Disney #Disneyplus #AppleTVplus #viacom #peaco*ck #paramountplus #sonypictures #lionsgate #showtimes #paytv #youtube #facebook #netflix #amazon #hulu #primevideo #plutotv #streamingtv #contentisking ##eddytanmedia

7

Increasing your Recruiting IQ: “The Magic Kingdom at a Crossroads: Bob Iger's Return to Disney signals a critical moment in a legacy of dreams, innovation, and enchantment."As Disney navigates through an era marked by turbulence, change, and a thirst for renewal, a familiar face returned to lead the way: Bob Iger.This story is of great interest to my family and I since we have long been Disneyphiles.In fact, my wife and I honeymooned at Disneyworld in 1984 and have been Disney Vacation Club members since 2008.Throughout the years, we have seen Disney’s popularity grow phenomenally and were very disturbed by the course changes that Bob Chapek took during his short lived tenure at the helm of Disney.Needless to say, we were very pleased to see Bob Iger reappear as CEO again.Iger’s second term as CEO isn't merely about leadership; it's about rekindling the magic, rebuilding trust, and setting a course towards a future filled with wonder and potential.The road ahead will be challenging. Chapek left behind a company with low morale, financial instability, and a tarnished reputation. Iger will need to address these problems head-on if he wants to restore Disney to its former glory.Here's how Iger plans to revitalize Disney:Handpicking key personnel that embody Disney's core valuesInvesting in new content and experiences that will appeal to a wider audience.Expanding Disney's streaming services into new markets.Working to repair Disney's relationship with its employees and fans.Is this the dawn of a new era for Disney, filled with magical opportunities? Or are the obstacles too great even for a seasoned leader like Iger? What do you think? Dive into our in-depth analysis, full of insights, strategies, and implications for Disney and beyond, to discover how the future of one of the world's most beloved brands is being reshaped.Thank you for reading,Clay[Read the full article: "Reassembling the Magic Kingdom: Bob Iger's Strategic Hiring and Mission to Rebuild Disney"#disney #bobiger #magickingdom #hiringinsights #linkedin

3

This line perfectly summarizes Disney's current struggles: "Iger has built the entire company around him; he may be the only person capable of running it in its current form."Iger so significantly transformed Disney from September 30, 2005 – February 25, 2020 - his first run as the company's CEO - that Disney is now a reflection of Iger's priorities and business values. For someone else to run Disney, they must either become an Iger clone or they have to reshape Disney into an organization that they can manage. https://lnkd.in/erJTUVF3 #disney #bobiger #BobChapek #waltdisney

7

1 Comment

The wildest ride from the tenures between former The Walt Disney Company CEO, Bob Chapek and now Bob Iger who recent extended his contract till December 31st, 2026 (even though still in mid-process for finding a new CEO as him & the Disney Board have been saying for a while now). Chapek confided to a friend that his time as CEO of Disney was “about three years of hell,” overshadowed by the fear that Iger wanted his job back. Iger declined to comment for CNBC’s story, as the Disney board suggested Chapek take over Iger’s expansive office, but Iger loved the office’s private shower and wasn’t interested in moving. The Bobs “agreed” that Iger could stay and Chapek moved into a smaller office on the same floor.Chapek issued the following statement to CNBC through a spokesperson:“Bob is proud of the work he did in the course of his 30-year career at Disney, particularly during his nearly three-year run as CEO, steering the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, and setting the course for business transformation as he and his team took the disruptive yet necessary steps for business revitalization and long-term growth.”-> Full story down below: ⬇️⬇️https://lnkd.in/geYJFsTX#disney #disneyparks #leadership#entertainmentindustry #entertainmentnews #businessnews #market

Disney CEO Bob Iger tells employees he wants to start "building again". As a Disney fan and a reoccurring visitor to their parks, I want to preface that this is just my opinion on my take on what I think is going on with The Walt Disney Co. Why isn't Disney the "juggernauts" they once were? Park attendance is down. Well, if I have to take out a loan just to visit your theme park, we may need to have a conversation. Look, I get it, you have to buy your attendance. New rides, new realms, you need to do something to keep your guests coming back. And well, you have to offset those costs somewhere, but not so much that people feel they need to go into debt just to visit. It's because no one wants to go to the movies anymore! Not really. The top 4 movies of 2023 domestically were Barbie, The Super Mario Bros Movie, Spider-Man: Across the Universe, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Heck, Five Nights at Freddys performed very well. It is now Blumhouse's highest grossing movie at the global box office. What do these movies have in common? Well, they are all IP titles and or sequels. What this tells me is people will flock to the theaters for not just the characters, but characters we the audience love and for the unique stories they tell. Do I believe The Walt Disney Co. will turnaround, absolutely. This is a time where they need to look themselves in the mirror (which I'm sure they are doing). Let's get back to the basics when it comes to the guest experience. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the current state of The Walt Disney Co.#waltdisney #bobiger #waltdisneyworld #marvel #boxoffice #themepark https://lnkd.in/g6kX38TY

4

So, the self-declared engine of entertainment and inspiration is stumbling right now.Quite considerably, in fact.I'm referring of course toThe Walt Disney Companywhere CEO Robert Iger recently had his CEO comeback-contract extended by two years.The company and its headline-sustaining CEO have been plagued by a stream of issues that have persisted since Iger returned to the company after his return to the company late last year.It seems the mission of Disney continues to elude Iger and the management team.Realistically, some of the issues are the result of a series of poor decisions and can't be turned around overnight.Others reflect perhaps some dogged intransigence - and Iger appears to be struggling with both of these.The fact that Elemental -Pixar Animation Studios' latest movie - has the shameful distinction of the lowest opening box office (around 10% of the budget of the movie) speaks to a lack of connection with the audience, knowing what they will want to go and see, and an utter miss in being able to leverage distribution platforms (I mean, Disney has its own distribution channel, Disney Plus and it couldn't get its own movie in front of more viewers...)The fact that the parks were not as full this summer was (and is) a massive failure.I recall once advising an airline on a transformation they were going through.It was a common refrain that there isn't anything more unsold than an unsold seat on a plane.Once that plane takes off, every open seat represents a missed opportunity.Missed revenue.The same applies to hotels - max out the occupancy.So if you need to, discount it down to the point where it makes sense.Disney Parks, Experiences and Productsfailed here too.🛩️ Delta Air Linesjust posted incredible earnings.Domestic (and international) travel have all rebounded to levels that surpass even pre-pandemic levels.So the issue isn't that people aren't traveling.It's that people aren't traveling to Disney's $250+ per person theme parks.And shame on the Parks division for not seeing this (despite their abundance of data and predictive analytics).The mighty Iger clashed with his CFO (never a good sign).Then he dared to taunt the industry and (now famously) misread the situation with the actors' (and writers') strike.Much is made of Iger's yacht, and him attending the Met Gala.Who cares?Exec compensation is out of control, but Iger is hardly the worst.And it's a distraction - cutting millions from CEO compensation won't stave off the losses.The Disney board is impressive.But I have to wonder if they really have their arms around this?Because the challenges across all parts of this business are vast and significant.What investors want is stable and profitable growth.They're also impatient.And that time pressure can be quite overwhelming and threatening for any leader, even Iger.#ambition #leadership The Ambition Company

14

1 Comment

A tale as old as time: The Future of Disney the Company. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Disneyland, Disney World—these are all things that come to mind when we think of Disney. They served as key memories in our childhood, and even the young kids of today, as well as their parents, continue to enjoy Disney movies. Disney has an immense influence on shaping an entire nation's culture as an entertainment company.However, Disney has faced its fair share of difficulties in recent times, including politics, controversies, the post-COVID era, and actor strikes. It seems like it's been one challenge after another for the company. In light of these obstacles, Disney has brought back Bob Iger, a seasoned problem solver who previously served as CEO.Bob Iger is known for his intelligence and his ability to make astute business decisions. For instance, he orchestrated the $7.4 billion deal to acquire Pixar in 2006, a move that proved highly successful for Disney. He presented this deal to Disney's board on his second day as CEO, showcasing his visionary thinking and decisive action.Bob Iger also transformed ESPN into a cable giant, although the rise of cord-cutting has presented new challenges for the sports network. Additionally, he strategically utilized movie acquisitions like Lucasfilm and Marvel to not only generate success at the box office but also enhance Disney's theme park business. His track record demonstrates his ability to foresee opportunities and execute them effectively.Despite these achievements, Disney's stock price has experienced a decline since 2021, reflecting a shift in consumer sentiment. However, this downturn also presents an exciting opportunity for both Disney and Bob Iger himself. It serves as a catalyst for new additions to the Disney company and the emergence of revolutionary creative ideas. As an avid observer, I am eagerly looking forward to what lies ahead for Disney under Bob Iger's leadership.#disney #bobiger

2