Disneyland celebrates the country's 250th birthday in 2026

[mickEblu]

Perhaps that's true, but to me there is a measurable difference pre- and post-2016 that has endured.

True but ultimately Iger is the CEO and has been for what, 3 years now since Chapek got ousted?

 

[Disney Irish]

To be honest I think Chapek, as unimpressive as he was, is an easy scapegoat. I’m not letting the Iger/ D’Amaro regime off the hook with that excuse. Iger was there before Chapek and he’s here after. Iger is the common denominator. And D’Amaro hasn’t impressed me either.

Obviously we need to see execution, but the post-Chapek additions now being built appear to beat anything during the Chapek era.

So any good has to be attributed to the Iger/D'Amero era, just like any bad is attributed to the Iger/Chapek and Chapek/D'Amaro eras.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Obviously we need to see execution, but the post-Chapek additions now being built appear to beat anything during the Chapek era.

So any good has to be attributed to the Iger/D'Amero era, just like any bad is attributed to the Iger/Chapek and Chapek/D'Amaro eras.

Wasn't Rise Chapek era?

I would argue that nothing built since then (at least over here) has topped it.

 

[coffeefan]

Considering the state of DCA 1.0, I credit Iger a lot for improving the park. Things are not perfect, but we've come a long way.

WDW fans have fair criticism (although some of that may fall on TDO), but he was a net positive for DLR, including getting DL Forward done.

 

[mickEblu]

Obviously we need to see execution, but the post-Chapek additions now being built appear to beat anything during the Chapek era.

So any good has to be attributed to the Iger/D'Amero era, just like any bad is attributed to the Iger/Chapek and Chapek/D'Amaro eras.

Who gets credit for TBA that’s what I want to know? I put that all on Iger. I’m sure Chapek’s cheap @$$ wanted nothing to do with that change. Not to mention the fact that he wanted to steer clear of political issues which I give him credit for even if he ultimately caved. What about Cosmic Rewind? Does Chapek get the credit since it was greenlit under his regime ( I think) or no because most of the time it was being built it was not?

 

[ToEarthandback]

Who gets credit for TBA that’s what I want to know? I put that all on Iger. I’m sure Chapek’s cheap @$$ wanted nothing to do with that change. Not to mention the fact that he wanted to steer clear of political issues which I give him credit for even if he ultimately caved. What about Cosmic Rewind? Does Chapek get the credit since it was greenlit under his regime ( I think) or no because most of the time it was being built it was not?

All fair questions , but will remind you Chapek was foolishly behind the public politics that made Disney lose control of reedy creek district at WDW. I don’t disagree with his support , but it was foolish in that it accomplished nothing and one of the biggest reasons for his firing IMO.

 

[mickEblu]

All fair questions , but will remind you Chapek was foolishly behind the public politics that made Disney lose control of reedy creek district at WDW. I don’t disagree with his support , but it was foolish in that it accomplished nothing and one of the biggest reasons for his firing IMO.

His fault as he was CEO but he was ultimately swayed from internal pressure and caved. From what I understand he wanted to avoid the political issues with Don’t Say Gay bill stuff which led to the Reedy Creek Fiasco if I recall correctly.

 

[Disney Vault]

Wasn't Rise Chapek era?

I would argue that nothing built since then (at least over here) has topped it.

No chapek incorrectly gets credit for Star wars. But it was actually approved under Tom Staggs

 

[Disney Irish]

Who gets credit for TBA that’s what I want to know? I put that all on Iger. I’m sure Chapek’s cheap @$$ wanted nothing to do with that change. Not to mention the fact that he wanted to steer clear of political issues which I give him credit for even if he ultimately caved. What about Cosmic Rewind? Does Chapek get the credit since it was greenlit under his regime ( I think) or no because most of the time it was being built it was not?

If you want to be fair both Iger and Chapek share blame for TBA, started under Iger finished under Chapek.

Guardians also was an Iger/Chapek era project, again started under Iger finished under Chapek.

 

[Disney Irish]

Wasn't Rise Chapek era?

I would argue that nothing built since then (at least over here) has topped it.

As Vault mentioned it was a Staggs project while under Iger.

The push for the getting Marvel in the Parks starting with MB was Chapek, as I understand it. That is the only project I would really attribute to him. Because Iger/Staggs basically ignored it until Chapek became head of Parks.

 

[TP2000]

No chapek incorrectly gets credit for Star wars. But it was actually approved under Tom Staggs

Staggs approved it all.

Then Chapek showed up during the early construction phase and decided to cut all the live entertainment and interactivity, and instead told us that Ky'le From Tustin working part time as a blue milk bar host would "pull us into his story" and immerse us.

I've been to Star Wars Land, and I went to the blue milk bar. Even though Ky'le From Tustin was off that day, I wasn't pulled into any story. Anywhere. It didn't work. I wasn't immersed.

Although the CM's there were happy to stand in front of me and talk to each other about an upcoming "sick" keg party on a planet called Fullerton.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Whether or not one believes Chapek was scapegoated for parks related issues (in some ways he was, in others he wasn’t), I think that’s actually missing what was actually wrong with Chapek more than anything and that is he was a terrible mouthpiece for the company and more than once put his foot in his mouth in a way that directly had a negative impact on the company.

Iger has many faults (many) but he is generally speaking an effective communicator with the public and it is relatively rare that he says something that is notably damaging to Disney’s image. He has done this a couple of times, I won’t say he never ever has, but the examples are few for as long as he’s been the mouthpiece.

This is in my mind a big reason the board loves him so much. The general public is generally pretty emotionally neutral even sometimes slightly positive toward Iger whereas they were actively bristling against the way Chapek presented himself and, by extension, the company. Iger comes off as a more together CEO with a clearer intention and understanding of the company he is running. Chapek seemed to constantly be at very public odds with the company he was running with a very unclear vision of what he thought it should be.

I know parks fans really hate Iger, and some of it is justified, but to me there is a night and day difference in the way Iger and Chapek carry themselves and communicate as representatives of the company and Iger’s way is leagues ahead of Chapek’s.

 

[tanc]

Thinking I might actually go to this celebration, probably the only time I'd ever go 4th of July to Disney but it's possibly a once in a lifetime sort of celebration.

 

[Phroobar]

Thinking I might actually go to this celebration, probably the only time I'd ever go 4th of July to Disney but it's possibly a once in a lifetime sort of celebration.

I remember going to Disneyland on the 4th of July. It was really pleasant and not packed because people spent the day doing other stuff. That was before the dark onslaught of the Internet Disneyanna.

 

[tanc]

I would imagine for the 250th it will be extremely packed, but like I said, once in a lifetime event for a lot of people. Submitted my DVC request for GC, let's see if I get lucky enough.

 

[Touchdown]

The 4th this summer was not bad, the only time it felt packed was for the fireworks. Assuming PTN is still running, that’s actually a huge positive for you when it comes to the fireworks. Just get a spot for the first showing, doesn’t have to be a good one, just any spot on MSUSA or the hub, and immediately get up as Mickey passes, move into the street and get a primo spot that would normally be filled hours before the show.

 

[tanc]

Welp got my reserve in, excited to see it! Originally I wasn't going to plan another trip to DL for a while. But given that this might be a once in a lifetime thing, seemed like a good enough reason to go.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Honestly, they should consider putting America Sings back into the Carousel Theatre in Tomorrowland (Disneyland) to further celebrate this occasion aswell, some enhancements here & there but the same classic show we loved. Otherwise it’s just a sad waste of real-estate. It honestly I feel would be a big hit in getting the real big fans back in the Parks and those just looking for some of that good old fashioned Disney charm we tend not to see as often these days that would be a much welcomed return. More often that not, we need those cozier, sit down spots that the whole family can enjoy, especially since of course not everyone is gonna want or be able to do things like Space Mountain & Star Tours. And with the new Soarin’ offering coming to DCA, it’d be a little something “new” to add to Disneyland for the same celebration, for those that weren’t able to see it back in the 70s-80s. All the figures are still able to be built/brought back in, right? They’ve got the audio, everything all ready to be reused. No super heavy, extra production costs that come with creating something completely new
On top of it, the merchandising opportunities are there. Who wouldn’t want a Sam Eagle & Ollie Owl plush or figures to take home with them? Let alone any of the other fun characters. I mean, cmon. And aren’t anthro critters in these days? Look at the success of Zootopia, surely it’d be a hit. It’s genuinely a “Better Zoogether” Don’t need Carrot-vision to figure this one out. Representing our melting pot of culture that’s the USA, through classic folk songs.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Besides that, I feel it’d also qualm a lot of the recent pushback caused by the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure redo to Splash Mountain. Folks would be able to see nearly all their favorite critters again, the way they were initially designed/intended to be seen. Such an easy win if they’d decide to do this.

Add a PeopleMover announcement for the next D23 Expo or something, the track’s still there, yeah? Just refurb it and get the vehicles back in place. Maybe bring back the Tron theming you had from before but update it to something really awesome to see, or maybe something else that would fit thematically, there ya go.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Honestly, they should consider putting America Sings back into the Carousel Theatre in Tomorrowland (Disneyland) to further celebrate this occasion aswell, some enhancements here & there but the same classic show we loved. Otherwise it’s just a sad waste of real-estate. It honestly I feel would be a big hit in getting the real big fans back in the Parks and those just looking for some of that good old fashioned Disney charm we tend not to see as often these days that would be a much welcomed return. More often that not, we need those cozier, sit down spots that the whole family can enjoy, especially since of course not everyone is gonna want or be able to do things like Space Mountain & Star Tours. And with the new Soarin’ offering coming to DCA, it’d be a little something “new” to add to Disneyland for the same celebration, for those that weren’t able to see it back in the 70s-80s. All the figures are still able to be built/brought back in, right? They’ve got the audio, everything all ready to be reused. No super heavy, extra production costs that come with creating something completely new
On top of it, the merchandising opportunities are there. Who wouldn’t want a Sam Eagle & Ollie Owl plush or figures to take home with them? Let alone any of the other fun characters. I mean, cmon. And aren’t anthro critters in these days? Look at the success of Zootopia, surely it’d be a hit. It’s genuinely a “Better Zoogether” Don’t need Carrot-vision to figure this one out. Representing our melting pot of culture that’s the USA, through classic folk songs.

PS: to Disney company folks reading these boards, let us know when the Pop!-corn Goes the Weasel buckets start going on sale. I’d be happy to get one.