Disney Leader Bob Chapek Spotted Breaking Safety Rules at Disneyland

We all get excited when we see our favorite Disney characters walking around the theme parks.

From waving to Winnie the Pooh in EPCOT or meeting Mickey in Magic Kingdom, to seeing Chewbacca fix the Millenium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we all have special memories of spotting a famous Disney icon in Disney

But what if you saw a different kind of famous Disney icon?

That’s exactly what happened this week to one Disney Guest at the Disneyland Resort in California when they saw current Disney CEO Bob Chapek.

Credit: Disney Tips

Bob Chapek has certainly had a divided entry into his new role as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. 

With a petition going viral last year trying to get the Walt Disney Company to fire Chapek, Disney’s CEO has become the topic of debate for many Disney Guests at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The Disney head has been blamed for many cuts and changes being made to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which has led many Disney fans to discuss Chapek’s approach to the quality of the Park experience.

On January 24, a Guest at the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim saw Chapek walking around by himself. It is interesting to see him alone, as usually Disney executives as seen meandering the Parks together or with a security presence.

The TikTok video of Chapek walking in his usual dark suit was shared by @denmotherknowsbest with the addition of a humorous voiceover:

#bobchapek #disney #Disneyland #RufflesOwnYourRidges #ArbysDiabloDare #CloseYourRings

@denmotherknowsbest

#bobchapek #disney #Disneyland #RufflesOwnYourRidges #ArbysDiabloDare #CloseYourRings

♬ Make unnecessary journeys – will

The video shows Chapek walking in Downtown Disney while looking down on his cellphone. As commenters of the video confirm, this is something that Cast Members are told not to do in their training due to safety.

Of course, with the rise of virtual queues, Mobile Orders, Disney Genie, and the Park Pass reservation system, phone use in the Parks has dramatically increased – but we’re sure Bob Chapek wasn’t booking a Lightning Lane for Space Mountain.

With ticket prices increasing, wait times seemingly being inflated deliberately, and Disney’s FastPass being replaced by the paid-for Disney Genie+ service, Disney Guests have become quite vocal with their opinions on Chapek, and Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Josh D’Amaro.

Credit: D23

We revealed recently how Chapek and Bob Iger’s paychecks in 2021 increased dramatically, in a year where Chapek revealed in an interview that he dislikes this “cost-cutter” reputation he has gained as Disney CEO.

Chapek took over from Iger in February 2020, starting just before the COVID-19 pandemic. His decisions so far in the Disney Company have included laying off Cast Members, the steaming service Disney+, dealing with closures of Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Parks across the globe, as well as a high-profile lawsuit with Black Widow (2021) star Scarlett Johansson.

In a memo sent to Cast Members in January, controversial CEO Bob Chapek explained his three goals for 2022: “storytelling excellence,” “innovation” and “relentless focus on our audience.”

We’ll have to see if safety becomes a feature of these 2022 goals after seeing this video!