The campaign to replace The Walt Disney Company’s CEO, Bob Chapek, has exploded in popularity.
After being shared by former Disney Imagineers, the Change.org petition calling for his firing has reached 30,000 signatures. While the petition’s justifications aren’t completely clear, and not everyone agrees with most of the statement, it’s clear that there is resentment of Chapek and his regime’s policies.
The petition, which was published a year ago, lays accusations that Chapek has “consistently put himself and money above the product, and quality of the company,” as well as mentions the 28,000 layoffs of Disney Parks cast members since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic juxtaposed with the reinstatement of executive bonuses. The author also discusses poor maintenance at the parks, claiming that Chapek has put his attentions on Disney+ as “the current big money maker.” Recently, we learned that his decision to relocate the vast majority of Walt Disney Imagineering to Lake Nona, Florida has also caused a severe drop in morale, with many Imagineers choosing to leave the company than uproot the lives they’ve built in California.
Neither Disney nor Chapek has responded to the petition as of the writing of this article.
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Having Disney in my life for the last 45 years as a Texan who never visited a park until 2018 I personally feel that Bob Chapek’s actions in a very short time is distinctly anti Disney.
A small part of me tho doesn’t even think he cares about the MONEY anymore. You gotta remember that many of the Disney live action sequels were NOT overly successful….and yet he pushed ahead anyway.
Yes, precisely, flop movies like Cruella and Jungle Cruise got confirmed sequels before they were even released all so Chapek can shamelessly continue to squander Disney’s brand and further his “legacy.”
Everybody can agree with poor park maintenance. I have never seen so many attractions go down and audioanimatronics lacking maintenance in decades. That’s disappointing to families. The last time we were there, Rockin’ Roller Coaster was working the first day of our vacation and did not work again until a week after we went home. I wished I had gotten in line on the first day. The Disney Company is nickel and diming guests. Charging for everything and no perks for staying on property except transportation on property. Buses are outside contractors, because they don’t have bus drivers for their fleet. I’m not paying for Genie+!
I have to disagree with the no perks for staying on property statement. Genie+ and Lightning lane are a bit different than the prior FastPass+ and closer to the original paper FastPass that you got in parks and made a mad dash for. Just now it’s online and if you’re staying on property you can pick the Lightning Lane at 7:00 rather than when the parks close.
There’s also the extended park hours for on property. Half an hour early and if you’re in one of the deluxe resorts, an extra hour in the evenings.
Maybe it’s not quite all that you want, but there are perks beyond just transportation for staying on property.
I signed!
Where is it on Change.Org? I can’t find it. Was it taken down?
good everyone keep at it something has got to give!
I wonder how Disney will chose to respond….
With Chapek in charge, I am not holding my breath.
They won’t. Cowards.
If they respond, it will be typical “corporatese” like this:
“The Walt Disney Company is aware that a petition is circulating calling for the removal of one of our senior executives.
“We are privileged to have the most devoted fans, guests, and supporters anywhere, and we appreciate the passion with which millions of people worldwide–including the petitioners–regard the Disney brand.
“Please be assured that the entire Disney executive team along with every Disney cast member everywhere is working hard every day to listen to our guests and customers, to enhance the guest experience, and to enhance stockholder value.”
ah the typical response :( trying to fend off criticism
We need to do our utmost to bring this to Disney’s attention.
Let us not forget, the Board of Directors are also responsible.
And do you know what’s going g to happen…………..
NOTHING!!!!!!!
Well it depends. It depends on how much effort we put into convincing the Walt Disney Company.
No one likes Bob Chapek, but these propaganda articles you guys have put out lately are a bad look for you.
“propoganda”?
How exactly is reporting on a petition “propaganda”???
I don’t want to say anything negative about this ‘situation’ but read into it what you will… I ‘hear’ that everyone loved, loved Bob Iger as a leader (like taking zero pay to keep more employees employed during the pandemic), treats people with respect, demands greatness but will acknowledge a job well done – the type of person you would want to impress. And, he just understood Walt’s vision on so many levels and truly can see Disney through a child’s eyes, understanding what is “magic” about it. If the company ever decides to go a new/old direction with leadership… I ‘get the feeling’ that a LOT of Disney employees would LOVE to have Bog Iger back, somehow. Or… so I’ve heard.
for those that think cheapact is doing this for the shareholders, trust me as an owner of some disney stock. all the stock has done is go down since he took over. dvc owner and shareholder that thinks this petition and firing are way overdue.
I can’t stand to even look at Chapek and I wish he would take his millions and just go away. He is leading the company in trading mid- and long-term guest goodwill for short term profits.
But you are incorrect in saying “All the stock has done is go down since he took over.”
Disney stock closed at $128.19 on Feb 25, 2020 the day Chapek took over.
It is trading today at over $170, an increase of 33%.
I am a lifelong Disney fan whose favorite place to vacation was the Disney Parks but I have zero interest in ever going again after all these changes. And just to make it clear, I am not even a conservative. I am a progressive liberal, but all the bizarre and calculated changes to the attractions, just to appeal to the Twitter crowd who complain about anything and everything and will never be satisfied, plus this new Genie system which basically means you have to pay extra for every single ride, has completely turned me off. Please remove Chapek because as bad as Iger was, he never tried to systematically destroy the parks and prevent middle-class and working-class families from ever being able to afford to attend.
I try to keep “real life” out of my trips to Di$ney. But…so hard to not feel like I’m getting less and less at the Di$ney Parks for more $$$. And this Genie+ is ridiculous to understand. And then then add in all the other social/political things to rides…what the heck happened the escapism Di$ney used to be the master of? So, no thanks.
I am a DVC member and a stock owner,, l didn’t receive a dividend last year , But I am glad the executivesgot their pay.
Doesn’t matter if there are 30 million signatures so long as those 30 million continue to spend money on Disney. Check the Disney+ subscrption numbers. Has it gone down or anything? This is a joke. Chapek will laugh all the way to the bank.
What does this petition tell Disney? It tells Disney that fans are not happy with paying more and losing benefits. Does Disney not know that people will be displeased when they raise prices and cut benefits? Of course Disney knows, everybody knows that, it’s not a deep concept. Therefore, this petition says nothing new. Disney is a business, not a democracy. If the business fails, even if Chapek had been popular, he would have been ousted. If the business is profitable, he will stay, public opinion be damned.
All the people who sign this petition are also ones who come to this website to see what new Disney merch to buy, which new restaurant to try out, how the parks are doing, what’s new on Disney+, that is, all the ways to hand Disney more of their hard earned money. Money speaks, petition doesn’t.
Might I add I’ve also emailed it to not one but TWO Disney email addresses. We should ALL do the same!
I am a diehard disney fan im so sick of what has become of the “most magical place on earth ” i was born in December of 71, i was 14 days old went their the first time (so I’m told ) and I think the things that are going on are Ridiculous because because of the changing times does not mean you need to change rides … because of what people might think wat it represents….. I respect people’s opinions I might agree with them but I do respect them… and its a park we’re you go to let your inner child out not enter bankruptcy…. walt said in his opening speech “For all to enter !!!) Not just the rich or upper class …. back in the day it use to cost what would be a happy meal now its a mortgage payment…. its disgusting
Wow, it’s nearing 50,000 signatures Tom!
Im so tired of hearing about #firechapek. The guy has people in charge of all the divisions making these bad decisions.
How about #fire d’amaro, the man at the helm of all this. He is the one leading the charge on degrading the park experience and was even quoted saying that Genie+ is going to better the guest experience… which shows how disconnected he is. Yet Chapek gets all the blame.
Thanks D’Amaro for paid Fastpass, Ikea rooms at the Contemporary, ending Magical Express, taking away the Disney Look, no parking trams, going so woke that saying “boys and girls” in an announcement is offensive, and… overseeing a 50th anniversary celebration that gave absolutely no tribute to the man who started it all. Instead we recieved terrible nighttime shows and what turned out to be a desperate ploy to boost merchandise sales. What else is this guy going to let happen?
Help me fellow fans… what did I miss from the list??
Good point. You’re right, D’Amaro is head of the Parks and Experiences division and is technically responsible for all things Disney Parks. I’m sure he is keeping his head low so that folks continue to blame Paycheck for as long as possible.
So Chapek might not be SOLELY responsible after all. although having said that, his departure *might* cause an executive reshuffle
You missed the level of lighting in the parks at night. Epcot is so dark that it is dangerous.
Just look at the smug idiot. He’s the typical 90’s boss everyone hated. On top of that, Chapek thinks he’s the best hire Disney’s ever had. It seemed like Disney started sucking the day he became CEO.