Bob Iger to Address Disney Park Reservations and More
Bob Iger is back in as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company replacing outgoing CEO Bob Chapek. During his 15 years as CEO, from 2005 to 2020, Bob Iger helped build Disney into one of the world’s most successful and admired media and entertainment companies with a strategic vision focused on creative excellence, technological innovation and international growth. He expanded on Disney’s legacy of unparalleled storytelling with the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox and increased the Company’s market capitalization fivefold during his time as CEO.
Now, he’ll be counted upon to do many of the same things again. Though there have been downsides to Disney as a company, the Disney Parks division has easily been the strongest. Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort have both seen record numbers this year, and this likely means we won’t see Bob Iger make many major changes. However, there are certain issues that fans have continuously brought up– and have since begged Iger to do something about since he stepped into office– that the CEO will at least have to address.
Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane
Disney’s official description of Disney Genie says that “you’ve never had a friend like this.” However, many users of the new system have said it is “anything but a friend.” Disney just announced a sliding scale change that has allowed prices to Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane to skyrocket. During the week of Thanksgiving, prices at Walt Disney World just reached an all-time high for Disney Genie+, coming in at $29.00 per person for the service, which allows Guests to book reservations for Disney attractions and then enter the Lightning Lane when it’s their turn, bypassing the standby line queue.
When Bob Iger was CEO of the company, Disney’s system was known as “FastPass+.” The system allowed Guests to book up to three attractions ahead of time so that they could reserve a chance to get in the FastPass line when it was their turn. The system wasn’t based on spending extra money and was certainly more favorable among Guests.
While thousands of fans have already asked Iger to make a change to Disney Genie, it’s not likely that the CEO will embark on this mission, especially with all the revenue that Disney is currently bringing in from the extra paid service.
Disney Park Reservation System
While Bob Iger might not make the change that Guests want to see in Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane, one area that he could improve is the Disney Park Reservation system. Put into place during the pandemic, the Disney Park Reservation system requires Guests to make a reservation to a theme park ahead of time. To enter a theme park, all Guests ages 3 and older must have a Park Reservation in addition to valid admission for the same park on the same date (limit one park per day).
This has put a big damper on Park-Hopping and has made many Guests upset about how they must go about booking their Disney vacation. Iger could do away with the Reservations, or at the very least, look into changes that may be more beneficial for those visiting the theme parks.
Disney World Annual Passes
Disney Park fans who didn’t already have their Annual Pass– or who didn’t renew during the pandemic– have been waiting patiently for the opportunity to purchase a Disney Incredi-Pass, Disney Sorcerer Pass, or Disney Pirate Pass. However, they’ve been denied as Disney announced a freeze of Annual Pass sales last November, which has remained in place throughout this year. Disney announced that Annual Pass prices would be increasing when they do return at Walt Disney World Resort but has not shared a date as of yet.
It’s unclear what Iger might do to bring Disney World Annual Passes back. Disneyland announced the return of Magic Keys just this past week, and Guests waited in line for hours online to purchase one, with many unfortunately being denied. It can only be imagined what might happen when Walt Disney World Resort puts their Annual Passes back on sale.
Borrowed content courtesy of insidethemagic.net
by Andrew Boardwine
