Overview
- During a Disneyland YouTube tour with The Rest Is History, Bob Iger called Pirates of the Caribbean “brilliant execution” rather than “brilliant storytelling.”
- The quote went viral as fan communities criticized the framing as dismissive of Walt-era design and park heritage.
- Coverage links the remark to years of replacements that favor film franchises, citing Maelstrom becoming Frozen Ever After and Ellen’s Energy Adventure becoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
- Reports note additional moves in this direction, including the closure of MuppetVision 3D for a planned Monsters, Inc. area and the reimagining of Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. with Encanto and Indiana Jones influences.
- Analyses point to financial incentives and recent successes such as Pandora – The World of Avatar and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, while also noting Iger’s reported plan to depart in 2026 that could shape the parks’ future emphasis.