Disney's New Clown Prince D'Amaro Takes the Stage

Why So Serious About Succession?

Alright alright settle down you bunch of squawking penguins. It seems the House of Mouse has decided who's next in line to wear the big cheese ears. Josh D'Amaro the man who makes theme parks dreams is now the big boss. Bob Iger that fella who just wouldn't quit is finally shuffling off to the shadows... but not before hanging around as a "senior advisor." Sounds like a recipe for a real giggle fest doesn't it? I mean who needs Joker gas when you have corporate politics?

From Parks to Power: A Fairy Tale?

D'Amaro eh? The guy who knows how to make long lines and overpriced churros seem like a magical experience. They say he's got an "instinctive appreciation" for the Disney brand. Which I take to mean he knows how to squeeze every last dime out of your childhood nostalgia. He's got to balance creativity with operational excellence which is more or less like juggling nitroglycerin while riding a unicycle. Speaking of excellence have you seen Japanese Stocks Skyrocket After Landmark Election? Now that’s what I call a performance!

The Walden Gambit

But wait there's more! Dana Walden gets a fancy new title too – President and Chief Creative Officer. She'll be focusing on the storytelling and content engine of Disney. Translation: She's in charge of making sure the stories are still "magical" enough to distract you from the fact that you're paying twelve bucks for a bottle of water. It's all part of the plan see? A little chaos here a little order there... and a whole lotta money in the middle.

Earnings and Egos

Of course no good story is complete without a little financial drama. Disney's quarterly earnings topped expectations thanks to theme parks and streaming. But the stock still took a nosedive. Why so serious? Because Wall Street is a fickle beast and even Mickey Mouse can't always keep it happy. It's all about appearances you know? Like wearing a smile while you're plotting your next move.

Iger's Legacy: A Clown Show in Disguise?

Let's not forget about the big guy Iger. He's been running this circus for ages acquiring everything in sight and turning Disney into a global empire. But his first attempt at picking a successor that Chapek fella well that was a bit of a disaster wasn't it? It's like he said "introduce a little anarchy upset the established order and everything becomes chaos." Which let's be honest is my kind of party.

The Next Act: Same Bat Time Same Bat Channel?

So what's next for Disney under D'Amaro? More theme parks? More streaming shows? More ways to separate you from your hard earned cash? Probably. But hey at least it'll be entertaining. And who knows maybe D'Amaro will surprise us all. Maybe he'll tear down the whole system and build something new. Or maybe he'll just keep the clowns dancing. Either way I'll be watching with a grin. After all it's all part of the game.