Former CEO Michael Eisner Speaks Out, Slams Disney Parks

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner has shared his thoughts on the current state of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort – and let’s just say, he’s not impressed about one key detail.

Few executives have left a mark on The Walt Disney Company quite like Michael Eisner. Serving as CEO from 1984 to 2005, Eisner oversaw one of the most transformative periods in the company’s history, revitalizing its film division, expanding its global theme park footprint, and steering Walt Disney Animation through what is today considered the Disney Renaissance.

Under his leadership, Disney opened new parks and resorts, including Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris in France, while also expanding the company’s presence in television and animation.

His tenure was not without controversy, particularly toward its later years, but Eisner remains one of the most influential figures in Disney’s modern era. His opinion is still highly regarded by Disney fans – which is why his latest remarks about the Disney parks of today have made such an impact.

Michael Eisner Slams One Detail About Disneyland and Disney World

In a recent interview with Graham Bensinger, Eisner opened up about his history with The Walt Disney Company. The former CEO discussed everything from his decision not to buy Pixar Animation (which his successor, Bob Iger, ultimately purchased in 2006) to his famous clashes with Jeffrey Katzenberg, who allegedly later went on to parody Eisner in the form of Shrek (2001) villain Lord Farquaad.

Most importantly, Eisner revealed the one thing he dislikes about the Disney parks of today: their prices.

“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.”

While Eisner didn’t highlight any particular upcharges at the parks, it’s safe to assume that the likes of Lightning Lanes fall under that banner. With free FastPasses eliminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the paid alternative has drawn plenty of criticism for its soaring price tag– not to mention the fact that there’s now an ultra-premium alternative in the form of Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which can cost $400+ per person.

Disney’s theme parks have made headlines for their increasing ticket prices. A day at Disneyland or Magic Kingdom could now cost you over $200 during peak periods. Merchandise and food have also experienced huge increases.

Who’s Responsible For Disney’s Increasing Prices?

While some initially pinned soaring post-pandemic prices on ousted CEO Bob Chapek, the fact that these prices only continued to climb after Bob Iger was brought back as his replacement suggests that he was far from the sole advocate.

There are also concerns that incoming Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro – who takes over from Iger in March – will oversee even more price increases.

Having spent several years as chairman of Disney Experiences, some fans believe D’Amaro deserves more blame than Iger or Chapek in that department, and that the situation will only worsen once he’s on the Disney throne. As one fan wrote on Reddit, “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 has already endorsed D’Amaro as Iger’s replacement – as well as sharing his own advice, which touched on his belief that everyone deserves to feel like a VIP at Disney’s theme parks.

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 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.”

However, it’s also worth noting that this comment sounds about on par in enthusiasm to his endorsement of Bob Chapek as Disney CEO. In 2022, Eisner told Deadline that he was a “fan of both Bobs” and that Chapek was “his own guy” who was “very good at Disney when I was there.” He went on to explain, “He took our home video business from a rental to a sell-through business. That was very risky. He did a very good job in the parks. I am a shareholder. I think he’s going to do very well.”

Do you agree with Michael Eisner that Disney parks are too expensive?