Michael Eisner helped turn The Walt Disney Company into a global entertainment powerhouse. Now, the former CEO is questioning whether its theme parks still live up to the promise that defined his era.
In a recent interview, Eisner made clear he believes one aspect of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort has drifted too far from that ideal.
Michael Eisner's Legacy at The Walt Disney Company
Few leaders reshaped Disney as dramatically as Eisner did between 1984 and 2005. When he arrived, the studio was struggling creatively and financially. By the early 1990s, Disney animation had reemerged as a cultural force.
Films such as Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and The Lion King (1994) powered what is now known as the Disney Renaissance. The company also expanded aggressively into television, home video, and Broadway, turning stage adaptations like The Lion King into long-running hits.
The theme parks division grew just as boldly. Eisner oversaw the opening of Disney-MGM Studios — now Disney’s Hollywood Studios — at Walt Disney World, launched Disneyland Paris in 1992, and later added Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998. He also greenlit California Adventure, significantly widening Disney’s domestic footprint.
Corporate acquisitions further strengthened Disney’s reach. Under Eisner, the company acquired ABC and ESPN, cementing its dominance in broadcast and sports media. By the time he departed, Disney was a far more diversified and globally entrenched brand.
His tenure was not without controversy, particularly in its later years. Still, Eisner remains one of the defining architects of modern Disney — and his opinions continue to carry weight with investors and fans alike.
Eisner Calls Out Rising Costs at Disney Parks
Speaking with Graham Bensinger, Eisner reflected on both triumphs and missteps from his time at the company. He revisited his decision not to acquire Pixar — a move later executed by successor Bob Iger — and discussed his well-documented tensions with Jeffrey Katzenberg.
But his sharpest remarks were reserved for today’s parks.
“I'm not wild of the fact that it's so expensive now to go to Disneyland or Disney World,” he told Bensinger. “I'm not wild of the fact that it's harder to have everybody as a VIP at the parks, because they are selling things.”
Eisner isn't alone in thinking as much. His comments land amid a period of high scrutiny towards Disney’s pricing strategy.
Single-day tickets at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom can exceed $200 during peak demand. The elimination of the free FastPass system during the COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for paid Lightning Lane access, adding another tiered expense to a visit.
The introduction of Lightning Lane Premier Pass — sometimes priced above $400 per person — has amplified criticism that the company increasingly monetizes convenience. Hotel rates, merchandise, and food prices have also climbed steadily.
Eisner did not cite specific products, but his broader point echoes a recurring fan complaint: that the sense of universal “VIP treatment” has eroded in favor of à la carte upgrades.
Leadership Transition and the Pricing Debate
The question of responsibility has followed Disney’s executive reshuffles.
Bob Chapek, who took over in 2020, became an early lightning rod for price increases. Yet costs continued rising after Bob Iger returned, suggesting a structural shift in strategy rather than a temporary deviation.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, is set to assume the CEO role in March. Having overseen the parks division during years of revenue optimization and record per-guest spending, he faces skepticism from some corners of the fan base.
One Reddit user wrote, “The guy that’s been jacking up the price of Disney parks for years is the next CEO. Look forward to more price hikes and annual firings to inflate the stock price for his bonus.”
Eisner, however, has endorsed D’Amaro’s appointment.
Congratulations to Josh D’Amaro for becoming the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and congratulations to Chairman James Gorman for making such a wise pick as well as promoting Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer. My advice to Josh is continue Bob Iger’s strategy…
— Michael Eisner (@Michael_Eisner) February 3, 2026
“Congratulations to Josh D’Amaro for becoming the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and congratulations to Chairman James Gorman for making such a wise pick as well as promoting Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer,” Eisner wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“My advice to Josh is [to] continue Bob Iger’s strategy that creativity will handle profits, always protect the brand, and keep close the words of Walt Disney: ‘We love to entertain kings and queens, but the vital thing to remember is this — every guest receives the VIP treatment.' Good luck.”
Notably, Eisner directed another criticism towards Disney in 2025 amid the temporary removal of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The latter was suspended following pressure from the Trump administration due to his remarks in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination.
Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment? The “suspending indefinitely” of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the…
— Michael Eisner (@Michael_Eisner) September 19, 2025
“Where has all the leadership gone?” Eisner said on X. “If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment? The ‘suspending indefinitely' of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation.”
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