Disney CEO Bob Iger is on a mission to undo the damage done by his predecessor Bob Chapek. The company is reportedly reworking its pricing policy at the theme parks after loyal fans dubbed it a 'money grab' scheme.

Disney CEO Bob Iger is on a mission to undo the damage done by his predecessor Bob Chapek. The company is reportedly reworking its pricing policy at the theme parks after loyal fans dubbed it a 'money grab' scheme. According to documents seen by Insider, the parkgoers will now have access to the $104 one-day pass for more than 60 days throughout the year. The one-day pass was usually limited to some school days in winter and Spring but Iger is looking to woo back the customers with lower pricing. "We want to make sure our fans are feeling the love. We're listening to them, and we're trying to adjust," wrote Josh D'Amaro, Disney's head of parks in the memo. "Many of you know that I'm in the parks fairly often, and I listen to you and to our guests about the things that are working, as well as the things that might need some change." The regular ticket, however, will still cost $179. Parkgoers will also have more time to roam in the complex as the park gates will open at 11 AM as opposed to 1 PM. The overnight parking charges have also been down away with, according to the memo. Additionally, the parkgoers in Orlando and Anaheim will no longer be charged for downloading photos of themselves on the rides and meet-and-greets with Disney characters. Chapek, during his reign, had introduced pricing tiers for all services. WATCH | WION Fineprint | Disney asks employees to come back to the office × Notably, Iger returned to Dinsey in November last year after the board decided to ditch Chapek for underperforming and hurting Disney's bread-and-butter unit, the theme park services. Since then, Iger has been on a course-correcting spree. Earlier this week, the 71-year-old executive informed the remote workers that they will be required to work in the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1. “I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger Read more: Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week Bob Iger stepped down in 2020 after being Disney's CEO for 15 years. Under his watch, the company grew leaps and bounds, creating a legacy that has taken a rather substantial hit in the last year or two. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Disney to roll back theme park prices as Iger attempts to woo visitors back

An auction of Disneyland souvenirs and memorabilia is going online to commemorate the park's 65th anniversary. The first Disney theme park opened 65 years ago Friday (17 JULY) -- and while it's currently closed due the pandemic, fans can remember the past with souvenirs and memorabilia including a tombstone from the Haunted Mansion.

Disneyland auction looks back at 65 years of history

Walt Disney Co has opened the gates to its first theme park in China, prompting a rush from thousands of Mickey Mouse enthusiasts to be the first to storm Treasure Cove, ride the Roaring Rapids or visit Disney&#39;s tallest castle. 
 
Disney&#39;s largest overseas investment at $5.5 billion, the park is a bet on China&#39;s middle class and booming domestic tourism. The US firm hopes it will offset an otherwise lacklustre international theme park business, better known for cash-burning sites such as Euro Disney. 
 
&quot;China obviously represents incredible potential for the Walt Disney Company,&quot; chief executive Bob Iger told reporters at the park. Flanked by officials from local government partners today Iger cut a ribbon to officially open the resort - nearly two decades after he first scoped out the site in 1999. 
 
Not everything has gone quite to plan though. 
 
The opening gala - meant to be a bonanza of fireworks, live music and dance - was rained off on Wednesday night, while at Disney&#39;s park in Orlando, Florida, a young boy was grabbed by an alligator and killed. 
 
Disney, however, sees China as its greatest business opportunity since Walt Disney bought land in central Florida in the 1960s for what is now Walt Disney World - the world&#39;s most-visited theme park. The firm estimates 330 million people within a three-hour radius of Shanghai, the country&#39;s financial centre, will be able to afford to come to the park. 
 
Main Street has been replaced by Mickey Avenue to reduce the feel of Americana while attractions include a Chinese-style Wandering Moon tea house, a Chinese Zodiac-themed garden and a Tarzan musical featuring Chinese acrobats. 
 
Already expanding 
 
The iconic US firm is already expanding the Shanghai site to keep the home crowd keen, in a country where competition from a plethora of local theme parks and domestic cartoon characters promises to be fierce. 
 
The park&#39;s seven square kilometre plot of land means there is plenty of space to expand, Iger told reporters. 
 
&quot;There is actually construction going on this week. When we open we will continue the construction to expand what&#39;s on the opening day menu,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We have plenty of space to do that and we believe we&#39;ve got willing partners...We think we will probably do that sooner rather than later.&quot; 
 
Shanghai Disney could also help lure more consumers to its films. &quot;Zootopia&quot;, &quot;Captain America: Civil War&quot;, &quot;The Jungle Book&quot; and &quot;Star Wars: the Force Awakens&quot; are among the ten most-watched movies in China of 2016, reaping more than $690 million in ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. Characters from those films will feature at the Shanghai resort. 
 
Disney, though, is facing intense competition from billionaire developers building homegrown parks and from domestic cartoon characters. Consumers also have an ambivalent attitude to its products, with some being sceptical about American values overriding Chinese traditions and culture. 
 
Iger received a presidential welcome from Xi Jinping in May, and Disney has been granted &quot;special&quot; trademark protection. But China&#39;s main military newspaper has also warned that &quot;Zootopia&quot;, a story about a rabbit police officer in an animal city, was a tool for spreading US propaganda and ideals. 
 
Furthermore, Disney will have to share the spoils. The resort is a joint venture with state-owned Shendi Group, which has a 57 per cent stake - a concession agreed during lengthy negotiations. 
 
Shendi is a consortium controlled by four large government-owned companies: Shanghai Media Group; hotelier Jin Jiang International, controlled by the city of Shanghai; supermarket-to-department store operator Bailian Group, and property developer Lujiazui Development Group. 
(Reuters)

It's a bet on China's middle class and booming domestic tourism but competition from billionaire developers making homegrow parks is intense

Walt Disney Co has opened the gates to its first theme park in China, prompting a rush from thousands of Mickey Mouse enthusiasts to be the first to storm Treasure Cove, ride the Roaring Rapids or visit Disney's tallest castle. Disney's largest overseas investment at $5.5 billion, the park is a bet on China's middle class and booming domestic tourism. The US firm hopes it will offset an otherwise lacklustre international theme park business, better known for cash-burning sites such as Euro Disney. "China obviously represents incredible potential for the Walt Disney Company," chief executive Bob Iger told reporters at the park. Flanked by officials from local government partners today Iger cut a ribbon to officially open the resort - nearly two decades after he first scoped out the site in 1999. Not everything has gone quite to plan though. The opening gala - meant to be a bonanza of fireworks, live music and dance - was rained off on Wednesday night, while at Disney's park in Orlando, Florida, a young boy was grabbed by an alligator and killed. Disney, however, sees China as its greatest business opportunity since Walt Disney bought land in central Florida in the 1960s for what is now Walt Disney World - the world's most-visited theme park. The firm estimates 330 million people within a three-hour radius of Shanghai, the country's financial centre, will be able to afford to come to the park. Main Street has been replaced by Mickey Avenue to reduce the feel of Americana while attractions include a Chinese-style Wandering Moon tea house, a Chinese Zodiac-themed garden and a Tarzan musical featuring Chinese acrobats. Already expanding The iconic US firm is already expanding the Shanghai site to keep the home crowd keen, in a country where competition from a plethora of local theme parks and domestic cartoon characters promises to be fierce. The park's seven square kilometre plot of land means there is plenty of space to expand, Iger told reporters. "There is actually construction going on this week. When we open we will continue the construction to expand what's on the opening day menu," he said. "We have plenty of space to do that and we believe we've got willing partners...We think we will probably do that sooner rather than later." Shanghai Disney could also help lure more consumers to its films. "Zootopia", "Captain America: Civil War", "The Jungle Book" and "Star Wars: the Force Awakens" are among the ten most-watched movies in China of 2016, reaping more than $690 million in ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. Characters from those films will feature at the Shanghai resort. Disney, though, is facing intense competition from billionaire developers building homegrown parks and from domestic cartoon characters. Consumers also have an ambivalent attitude to its products, with some being sceptical about American values overriding Chinese traditions and culture. Iger received a presidential welcome from Xi Jinping in May, and Disney has been granted "special" trademark protection. But China's main military newspaper has also warned that "Zootopia", a story about a rabbit police officer in an animal city, was a tool for spreading US propaganda and ideals. Furthermore, Disney will have to share the spoils. The resort is a joint venture with state-owned Shendi Group, which has a 57 per cent stake - a concession agreed during lengthy negotiations. Shendi is a consortium controlled by four large government-owned companies: Shanghai Media Group; hotelier Jin Jiang International, controlled by the city of Shanghai; supermarket-to-department store operator Bailian Group, and property developer Lujiazui Development Group. (Reuters)

Disney's China fairytale begins with $5.5 billion park opening, already eyes expansion