Former Disney Chief Executive Bob Chapek Memoir Details Grievances Against Bob Iger and Defends Park Pricing

Former Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek is breaking his silence regarding his tumultuous tenure and 2022 ousting in a new memoir. Co-written with Don Yaeger and titled “Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth,” the book is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026, from Gallery Books. Advance copies obtained by The New York Times have revealed detailed accounts of corporate friction, executive strategy, and Chapek’s perspective on his departure from the company.

In the memoir, Chapek rejects personal responsibility for his dismissal as CEO after less than three years in the role. Instead, he places the blame squarely on a relentless campaign of sabotage orchestrated by Bob Iger, the man who both handpicked him as successor and ultimately returned to replace him. Chapek describes Iger as playing an intentional and preconceived role in ending his time as chief executive, alleging that Iger privately disparaged him to Hollywood talent and Disney loyalists while undermining his authority on pandemic-era film releases.

Chapek also addresses Iger’s sudden decision to step down as CEO in February 2020. While Iger previously stated he was weary of certain duties like earnings calls, Chapek shares a different theory in his book. He writes that unnamed high-ranking figures in government and private business told him Iger left abruptly because he anticipated the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Times notes that Chapek provides no evidence for this claim, which Disney has previously denied.

Park guests who experienced years of controversial policy changes will find that Chapek offers no apologies for his commercial strategies. During his time leading the parks division and later as corporate CEO, Chapek faced intense backlash for raising prices on theme park tickets and food, while eliminating free perks like Disney’s Magical Express and FastPass in favor of paid options such as Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane.

Rather than expressing regret, Chapek proudly defends the adoption of airline-style dynamic pricing. He argues that previous leadership left revenue opportunities on the table to avoid stirring the hornet’s nest. Pointing to an 18 percent compound annual profit growth during his tenure as parks chairman, Chapek maintains that higher prices successfully reduced crowding and improved guest satisfaction rather than simply padding profit margins.

The memoir also touches upon current Disney leadership. Chapek claims direct credit for the rise of current CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took over the top executive post after leading the parks division. Chapek writes that D’Amaro was a relative unknown in the corporate hierarchy before he singled him out and consistently suggested his promotion, calling D’Amaro the tip of his spear in driving park changes. However, reports from late 2022 noted that D’Amaro had considered leaving the company as a direct result of Chapek’s leadership actions shortly before Chapek’s departure.

As the release date approaches, Chapek’s memoir brings renewed attention to one of the most contentious eras in modern corporate history for The Walt Disney Company, putting his version of events permanently on the record.