On July 9, 2025, the Disney Cruise Line discreetly revealed a new plaque dedicated to Joe Schott as the “Master Ship Builder” at their private Caribbean island, Castaway Cay. This sign replaced the previous one, which had honored former CEO Bob Chapek, and was taken down in November 2022 following his departure from the position of Disney’s CEO.
Originally, a sign bearing “Bob Chapek – Skilled Ship Builder” faced “D’Amaro Dock,” symbolizing Josh D’Amaro’s leadership in Disney Experiences. After Bob Chapek left, the sign was taken down during executive changes led by returning CEO Bob Iger, and it remained empty for more than two years.
The revised signs follow the previous layout, merely swapping Chapek’s name for Joe Schott’s. In January 2025, Schott ascended to the position of President of Disney Signature Experiences. In this expanded capacity, he is responsible for managing Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa, Adventures by Disney, and Storyliving by Disney. Prior to this, Schott was in charge of Shanghai Disney Resort, where he oversaw the creation of a Zootopia land and a Spider-Man attraction among other significant developments. Additionally, he held prominent positions at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disney Resort.
Schott is directly under the supervision of Josh D’Amaro, who continues to be symbolically present on Castaway Cay through the enduring “D’Amaro Dock” sign. Additionally, there’s a nod to Bob Iger, labeled as “Captain Bob Iger, Shrimp Distributors,” visible on a nearby barrier.
For approximately three decades, Bob Chapek was a vital part of Disney, starting his journey with the company in 1993. He steadily advanced through various departments, including Home Entertainment, Consumer Products, and eventually reaching the position of Chairman for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. As Parks Chairman, he presided over significant earnings and spearheaded projects like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Shanghai Disney Resort, and (regrettably) Disney’s Genie+ system development.
In February 2020, Chapek took on the role of CEO, a position he assumed only weeks before the global lockdown caused theme parks to close and film productions to halt worldwide. Faced with significant adversity, Chapek guided Disney through one of its toughest financial periods, enacting cost-saving strategies and quickly adapting to streaming services. Although some decisions faced criticism, the number of Disney+ subscribers skyrocketed under his leadership, reaching over 160 million worldwide by late 2022.
Despite his impressive track record, Bob Chapek found himself removed from Disney’s leadership unexpectedly, shortly after announcing robust quarterly profits. The role was then handed back to Bob Iger, who had stepped down as CEO in 2021 following a 15-year term. The reasons behind Chapek’s dismissal were not fully disclosed, but it appears that personal disagreements with Iger and some board members, coupled with public disputes in Florida, may have contributed to the decision.
After Chapek’s departure, Disney swiftly worked on undoing his impact within the organization. One notable instance was taking down the “Master Ship Builder” plaque from Castaway Cay in November 2022, which many saw as a symbolic gesture to minimize his influence. Typically, Disney acknowledges former executives and creators with subtle signs like the Chapek sign on Castaway Cay. Removing such recognition is an unusual step.
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2025-07-10 16:56