Bob Chapek Discusses Passholders, ‘Don’t Say Gay’, Disney+, and More in Interview with The Hollywood Reporter

Spencer Lloyd

Bob Chapek speaking into microphone

Bob Chapek Discusses Passholders, ‘Don’t Say Gay’, Disney+, and More in Interview with The Hollywood Reporter

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter during D23 Expo, Disney CEO Bob Chapek touched on a number of issues during his tenure as CEO, including controversies related to Annual Passholders, the “Don’t Say Gay” saga, and the conflict with Scarlett Johansson early in his tenure.

Bob Chapek speaking into microphone

First up, when asked about how much content is being developed specifically for Disney+, Chapek responded “It’s important to go back to when Disney+ was launched and what the hypothesis was about how much food you had to give that system for it to truly maximize its potential, and I would say we dramatically underestimated the hungry beast and how much content it needed to be fed. As we were realizing that, COVID hit and we were completely constrained in terms of making new things.”

He additionally notes “Now that production is back fully and we have a full understanding of what’s needed, right about now — this fall — we’re in a position to fully program theatrical exhibition, without having to steal content from one place or another, as well as our streaming services.”

Chapek also believes that Disney could launch a successful franchise based on a property original to Disney+ rather than traditional theaters or television networks. He notes they have “flexibility” now on where to send things, stating “That doesn’t mean we’re not going to take great Marvel and Star Wars movies, and Avatar, and put them first in theatrical. We will because it’s a wonderful way to experience those films. But that does not mean that everything, for it to be credible or for it to eventually turn into a Disney franchise, has to go through that.”

Moving on to the issue of the theme parks and “superfans”, he directly addresses the reservation system specifically, stating “We love the superfans, obviously… we celebrate that. But at the same time, we’ve got to make sure that there’s room in the park for the family from Denver that comes once every five years. We didn’t have a reservation system and we didn’t control the number of annual passes we distributed and frankly, the annual pass as a value was so great that people were literally coming all the time and the accessibility of the park was unlimited to them and that family from Denver would get to the park and not be let in. That doesn’t seem like a real balanced proposition. I guess it’s possible that the superfans look at that as a disadvantaging of the way they consume the park, but we’ve got to make sure that not only are we heeding the needs of our superfans, but we’re heeding the needs of everyone who travels from across the country one time every five years. We have a real high-class problem: We have much more demand than there is supply. What we will not bend on is giving somebody a less than stellar experience in the parks because we jammed too many people in there. If we’re going to have that foundational rule, you have to start balancing who you let in. … Our ticket prices and constraints we put on how often people can come and when they come is a direct reflection of demand. When is it too much? Demand will tell us when it’s too much.”

Following this, he acknowledged that he was one voice in the Scarlett Johansson issue back in 2021, and many others had a vote in the issue as well. But he says Disney’s relationship with her and her agency “has never been better.”

In regards to the “Don’t Say Gay” controversy in Florida earlier this year, Chapek stood firm with his convictions. “These are complex social issues where we absolutely, positively want to represent the needs and the expectations of our cast members, but we also realize that sometimes in such a divided world, there’s not alignment between what possibly large constituencies of our guest and consumer base are looking for in terms of the kind of content that they want to show their kids at this particular time,” he said. “

“What we try to do is be everything to everybody. That tends to be very difficult because we’re the Walt Disney Company. When you’re a lightning rod for clicks and for political podium speeches, the essence of our brand can be misappropriated or misused to try to fit the needs of any one particular group’s agenda. We want to rise above that. We believe Disney is a place where people can come together with shared values of what an optimistic and ideal future can be. We certainly don’t want to get caught up in any political subterfuge, but at the same time we also realize that we want to represent a brighter tomorrow for families of all types, regardless of how they define themselves.”

The full interview with Bob Chapek is available on The Hollywood Reporter.

What are your thoughts on Chapek’s tenure? Let us know in the comments below!

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16 thoughts on “Bob Chapek Discusses Passholders, ‘Don’t Say Gay’, Disney+, and More in Interview with The Hollywood Reporter”

  1. SHAME ON YOU BOB FOR BLAMING SUPERFANS ON WHY A RANDOM FAMILY FROM DENVER CANT GET IN… that never happens.. it’s a lie. The only high class problem we have and the Disney company has is You

  2. You know these are some interesting questions and even he even brought up some moral questions and delemas. Honestly I kind of understand how hard it is to make the right choice. So I really don’t think he is the bad thing as most people say he is and that he is just doing his best. But there is one thing I think Wall Street should’ve asked him about that you should ask him about. And that is the Ready Creek thing and how he feels about it and if negotiations can be made. I’m quite curious. But overall this was actually a pretty human thing to say. Nice job.

  3. Has this guy ever REALLY visited the parks himself on either coast? Not just show up for some event and leave but really walked the parks to see how it is for guests over his years in Disney? He sure doesn’t sound like he has. The parks are packed here on the West Coast with the reservation system. Nothing flows smoothly either with rides that have Genie+. The only time I have ever known Disneyland to ever shut guests out before the reservation system was during that last week of the year between Christmas and New Year’s. That wasn’t all day even that they would be shut out either. In fact that made up family from Denver he talks about that would visit every few years could be more likely to be shut out of the parks now with the reservation system than they would have been without it. More if they have no clue about the reservation system because, I know this is shocking, there are still those out there that have no clue about the reservation system.

  4. Chapek has shown profound incompetence in his management and no amount of him falsely claiming he was driven by virtue to make bad decisions can gloss that over. He must go and someone focused instead on business and on high quality, profitable products and services that customers want should take his place. Simply watch Lightyear or Wrinkle in Time and you can feel what’s wrong with Disney’s creative focus. Talk to experienced cast members who were denied the opportunity to worn Galactic Star Cruiser in favor of inexperienced (and cheap) college program personnel to understand what’s wrong with hotel / creative management.

    Disney must stop acting like a political action committee and get back to basics. Dump Chapek and focus on families and fun.

  5. Those are political “word salad” non-answers. This guy is a tool and not worthy of leading Walt Disney. Everything costs more yet we are getting less magic with the price increases. How does that help anyone, regular or occasional park goer?! They claim paid fast pass is for extra flexibility but force a reservation system that locks you in anyway. The best way for a company to stay out of politics, is to stay out of politics. When Florida passed the bill, a response was not required by any company because they are not in government. If people dont like what was done in that area, they will vote politicians out. Not up to a company to change things in the political realm. Disney still allows everyone in the parks and sells merchandise for everyone. Your personal sexual preference should not be a talking point of a business.

  6. My entire family have been annual pass holders for years. Prior to Covid and 2020, there would be a few days each summer where the WDW parks would reach maximum capacity and halt further entry. That was understandable, but why were the “park full” limits abandoned in favor of reservations? Since that time, we so-called local resident “superfans” have reduced both our attendance and our expenditures in the parks by 75% because of the “non-magical” reservation system. In short, we go and spend our money elsewhere…like SeaWorld and Universal. In reference to Scarlet, Disney chose greed and profits over respect and loyalty, just they’ve done with their reservation system. As for the political side of things…hey, Disney caved-in to a small minority of special interest groups and then spoke out in public about it. Although I welcome their support for inclusion and diversity…they brought their Reedy Creek problems on by going public in a loud vocal manner. What did they think would happen? As a result, their fight with DeSantis is now like two grade school kids on the playground. We remain Disney fans but yes, in comparison to past decades, they’ve extinguished much of Walt’s magic…it just isn’t there anymore like it once was!

  7. Bob doesn’know his parks. In the 20+ years we have been here (prior to reservations sustem) the parks have only reached capacity on Christmas Day and New Years Eve. And that family from Denver would get in no problem if they stayed on property even Christmas!

  8. The reservation system is all well and good honestly it’s fine. But now the family from Denver can’t go once every five years because they’ll have to spend an extra fee per person per day with lightening lane for something that used to be included with entrance (fast pass system) or risk spending all their time in 2-3 hour lines. The amount of people in the parks hasn’t changed, just the way you access rides. Park goers should get a break somewhere.

  9. “The business has moved on.” Interesting quote from the head of a company that still doesn’t understand how much the post-pandemic office has changed. Making employees go back into the physical office for no reason, and making employees relocate to a different coast… These are old ideas that don’t reflect modern business. But go on, Chapek. Keep saying your words.

  10. Bob is an idiot. He complains about passholders and their lack of spending but I bet him and at least 5 finance guys under him don’t even know that you can link your annual pass to a magic band but not a credit card. If you want us to spend more make it easier to do.

  11. Yo, Bob… your company is not a “lightning rod” for social issues. Your company is an entertainer, pure and simple. Stop trying to be “everything to everybody” and drop the DE&I and woke nonsense, and just simply entertain people like Walt did. Your Guests will love you again for it. It’s clear this guy still misses the mark.

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