Internal casting has begun for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, indicating a reopening of the beloved childrens’ salon across Walt Disney World. The boutique has locations in the Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The locations allow children 12 and under to become a Disney princess or prince and is a favorite tradition for guests visiting with younger ones. Only the retail end is open at the Disneyland Resort, with all other locations in Florida, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai still closed due to the pandemic’s effects.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques onboard the Disney Cruise Line ships have already resumed operations.
As the Walt Disney Company and Parks find themselves surrounded by seemingly endless controversy, CEO Bob Chapek maintains the helm of the ship, either successfully making it through the treacherous waves of backlash or going down with the ship.
If you have visited the Disney Parks and Resorts in the last few years or been a part of the Disney community in general you will surely know the name, Bob Chapek. Chapek serves as the company’s current CEO, taking over Bob Iger’s multi-decade tenure in early 2020, perhaps the worst time to take over one o the largest corporations in the world.
The exchange of power between Iger and Chapek was swift and came as a bit of a surprise, especially since Bob Chapek ended his position with the company earlier than expected. Now, as reported by CNBC, the relationship between Chapek and Iger is strained after the two had a falling out.
Of course, some of this can be attributed to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties it caused. Normal times would have most likely allowed Iger and Chapek to work more closely. Iger and Chapek seemed to be ready for the difficult challenge of dealing with a global pandemic together. Back in 2020 during the Walt Disney Company’s Annual Shareholder meeting, Iger said “I can’t think of a better person to succeed me in this role”. Chapek returned the same optimistic view of the future.
One month after these positive comments, then-New York Times columnist Ben Smith published a story after reaching Iger by email where Iger told Smith he would stick around to help run the company, saying “A crisis of this magnitude, and its impact on Disney would necessarily result in my actively helping Bob [Chapek] and the company contend with it, particularly since I ran the company for 15 years!”
Allegedly Chapek was furious when he saw the story and comments. He had not expressed a need or desire for extra help and had not asked for any. At this point, Iger had postponed his retirement as Disney CEO three times already and Chapek felt he was essentially doing it again.
Although a joint effort in running a company during a pandemic would certainly help, “the two executives barely spoke to each other” after this. Apparently, Chapek has a small circle of close confidants with whom he makes and discusses major decisions including longtime right-hand man Kareem Daniel, chief of staff Arthur Bochner, and, to some degree, Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy, whom Iger promoted to the role in 2015, according to people familiar with the situation.
Former CEO Bob Iger was not so lucky as to be included in this circle. Back in December, Iger threw a little “going away” type of party, inviting over 50 people to his Brentwood home in suburban Los Angeles. Iger spoke about and discussed his time at the company among other matters. Also in attendance was Chapek, but according to sources, there was little interaction between the two men during the event.
Guests, including veteran Disney executives and television talents such as broadcasters Robin Roberts, David Muir, and Al Michaels were in attendance with Iger and Chapek reportedly sitting at opposite tables. Chapek sat near several of his direct reports, including Daniel. Iger sat next to film director and mogul Steven Spielberg. While Iger spent about 10 minutes publicly praising former colleagues, he barely mentioned Chapek, said the people.
“It was extremely awkward,” said one of the guests, asking to remain anonymous. “The tension was palpable.” According to CNBC, both Iger and Chapek declined to comment on their relationship with each other.
Bob Iger had an accomplished time at the company and any replacement was surely going to have a difficult time replacing him. Iger was beloved by Hollywood and highly respected as a CEO, both by higher-ups and the Disney community in general. Leading the company during the acquisition of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm also helped solidify Iger as the leader Disney needed at the time.
Chapek, meanwhile, has a harder exterior and at times, according to colleagues, struggles with emotional intelligence — which happens to be Iger’s strength.
In an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience here at Walt Disney World Resort, we refresh our offerings from time to time.
The high Rock Springs Pool and On the Rocks Pool Bar at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will be unavailable from January through late March 2023 while the pool undergoes refurbishment. The Paddock Pool and other leisure pools will remain open and available to Guests throughout this refurbishment.
The lobby at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will undergo a refurbishment from mid-April through late May 2022. During this time, the lobby will remain operational and Cast Members will be present to help direct Guests to the check-in location.
During this time, it is possible that Guests may see or hear construction, but noise should not be heard from Guest rooms between dusk and 9 a.m.
WESH Orlando reports that Walt Disney World Cast Members were among more than 100 people arrested in a prostitution, human trafficking, and child predator sting.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that 108 people were arrested. Along with some Disney Cast Members was at least one man who works at Fun Spot America, another Orlando theme park.
Judd identified one of the suspects as 27-year-old Xavier Jackson from Kissimmee. He is accused of sending sexual pictures to what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
“Did I mention that he just happens to be a lifeguard at the Polynesian Resort for Disney?” Judd said. “You think there’s a few children around there? That’s right, I didn’t stutter. He was a lifeguard at the Polynesian Resort. And was bragging about that.”
Most of the arrests were for soliciting a prostitute. Polk County detectives, with other agencies, identified prostitutes who posted advertisements online and the people searching for those prostitutes. The oldest person arrested was 67, while the youngest was 17. They arrested one woman for trafficking another woman. The investigation is still ongoing and suspects could face more charges.
Disney has just announced a new expansion at the Polynesian Village Resort near Magic Kingdom!
Lots of changes, upgrades, additions, and reimaginings have been taking place at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels recently, and the news just keeps coming!
We first learned that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort would be getting new theming in some of its rooms; this time, Moana would join the line-up. Then Disney reimagined some of the Guest rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort so that everyone’s favorite family of supers could be a part of the fun! The Grand Floridian Resort is currently undergoing a transformation with its Disney Vacation Club rooms, and we just learned that the Boardwalk Inn near EPCOT will be getting its very own upgrades!
Today we have learned that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will get yet another surprise, and it’s a big one! The Resort Hotel will be getting a brand-new addition, which is slated to be completed sometime in late 2024. It will be an expansion of the Disney Vacation Club at the Polynesian Village Resort and will include brand-new Guest rooms, new offerings in Guest recreation, new dining locations, and more!
