Michael Eisner Breaks Silence on What He Dislikes About Today’s Disney Parks
Michael Eisner built his reputation on growth — bigger films, bigger parks, bigger ambition. Now, nearly two decades after leaving The Walt Disney Company, he is raising a straightforward concern about what it takes to walk through its gates.
Eisner led Disney from 1984 to 2005, a period widely credited with reviving the studio and expanding its global reach. When he arrived, Disney was vulnerable. By the early 1990s, it was dominant again.
Animated hits including Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and The Lion King (1994) reshaped the company’s creative identity. The Lion King later became a Broadway juggernaut, reinforcing Disney’s presence beyond film and television.
He also pushed aggressively into media. Disney acquired ABC and ESPN under his leadership, transforming the company into a broadcast and sports powerhouse.
The theme parks division expanded just as dramatically. Disney-MGM Studios opened at Walt Disney World in 1989. Disneyland Paris debuted in 1992 (although the less we say about its financial performance in the ’90s, the better). Disney’s Animal Kingdom followed in 1998, adding a fourth gate in Florida.
California Adventure opened in 2001, broadening the Anaheim resort. Eisner’s tenure was defined by physical growth, international expansion, and brand reinforcement.
That history frames his latest comments.
Michael Eisner Slams Park Prices
In a recent interview with Graham Bensinger, Eisner reflected on his time running Disney and the direction the company has taken since. The conversation covered his decision not to purchase Pixar — a deal completed by Bob Iger in 2006 — and his long-running tensions with Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Then he turned to the parks.
“I’m not wild of the fact that it’s so expensive now to go to Disneyland or Disney World,” Eisner 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.”
The remarks cut directly to one of the most debated aspects of modern Disney operations.
Single-day tickets at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom can surpass $200 during peak periods. Food and merchandise costs have steadily climbed. Resort hotel pricing has followed the same trajectory.
The most visible change has been the replacement of the free FastPass system with paid Lightning Lane options. Guests now pay extra for expedited access to major attractions.
An additional tier, Lightning Lane Premier Pass, can exceed $400 per person on high-demand days.
Eisner did not cite specific products. His concern focused on the broader shift — fewer guests receiving what once felt like equal treatment.
A Leadership Shift Amid Price Scrutiny
Pricing debates have overlapped with executive changes.
Bob Chapek, who became CEO in 2020, drew early criticism as prices increased following the COVID-19 shutdowns. When Bob Iger returned to the role, those strategies largely remained intact.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, is set to take over as CEO in March. Having overseen the parks division during years of record per-guest spending, he enters the role under scrutiny from fans wary of additional increases.
Eisner has publicly supported D’Amaro.
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.
He also shared his advice for the new CEO.
“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,'” he said. “Good luck.”
Good luck, indeed.
Do you agree with Michael Eisner?
