Comcast is reportedly in talks to acquire DreamWorks Animation in a multibillion deal

[PuppyJonathan]

I believe Tolkien stated that his IP was never to go into Disney Parks in any way. He hated Walt.

Doesn't his estate also hate the Peter Jackson movies? Granted I heard that off of screamscape but reading around it seems highly likely

 

[manning]

UO will never topple WDW, if that's their goal, they will fail.

Their goal should be to take a day or two extra off of a disney vacation and move it to Universal. They've done that for years, but I think they are going to be able to do that with more and more guests in the near future.

Who knows. My grand mother used to say 'never say never, all things are possible'.

 

[Josh Hendy]

This does NOTHING to vindicate igers themepark strategy...which has some good moves and the notable albatross of trusting China as "growth"...

Comcast could very quickly position themselves as a major competitor in Orlando...what a turnaround in 10 years while lake Buena vista slept.

I'm glad for Comcast (corporate...not their crappy cable)...the rat wouldn't have been forced into these spending moves at MGM and ak without them.

While Universal has foreign theme park investments, you'll note that (so far) they've avoided falling into money pits in places like France and the People's Republic. Actually "falling" isn't the right description ... I mean, they have refrained from digging money pits and them jumping into them head first.

Therefore Universal has this dilemma:

"Theme parks in the USA are a big moneymaker and appear to have steadily growing attendance and revenues. How fast can we get new product out there to satisfy the growing demand?"

As contrasted with:

"Theme parks in the USA are a big moneymaker and appear to have steadily growing attendance and revenues. How fast can we squeeze money out of them in order to shore up our foreign mistakes?"

 

[luisov]

It's more than just Comcast investing on Universal Studios to satisfy growing demand. Comcast has tried to compete with Disney for a long time. Some of their executives even come from Disney. They saw an opportunity in Disney's lack of interest in the Orlando area, and when Harry Potter finally opened to rave reviews, they finally saw a chance to truly compete with Disney. It all seems like an effort to gain market share while they have momentum.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's more than just Comcast investing on Universal Studios to satisfy growing demand. Comcast has tried to compete with Disney for a long time. Some of the executives at Comcast even come from Disney. They saw an opportunity in Disney's lack of interest in the Orlando area, and when Harry Potter finally opened to rave reviews, they finally saw a chance to truly compete with Disney. It all seems like an effort to gain market share while they have momentum.

This is the closest post to the real world truth as you're gonna find...

But Many around here will still dismiss it as anti Disney without considering it.

 

[Planogirl]

This is the closest post to the real world truth as you're gonna find...

But Many around here will still dismiss it as anti Disney without considering it.

Or they can't compete because 'insert reason'. They can and they are and that should make things better for everyone.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Or they can't compete because 'insert reason'. They can and they are and that should make things better for everyone.

While I still don't think there is a realistic chance of Comcast offsetting Disney head start/IP advantage in Orlando...

What I can definitely say is that since they dipped in the pool with Harry Potter...they have done an incredible job of making rapid progress in the the last 5 years...like an unprecedented and unrelenting agressive strategy that at least rivals Disneys spurts over time (late 80's and early 90's being the gold standard)...
Far more impressive than any competitor would have ever dreamed...

Comcast's pockets are just as deep, they're leadership is - frankly - better...and they are going through a massive shift in their core product and in many ways "following Disneys lead" to steaming/content/data/ and recreational destinations.

That means the "ugly little brother" arrangement they had in Orlando doesnt fit - so they're changing it. Which the mouse has been slower and slower to do in the last 20 years. From Eisners fumbling of tech to Igers really foolish approach to key parts of the parks and attractions business.

 

[Planogirl]

While I still don't think there is a realistic chance of Comcast offsetting Disney head start/IP advantage in Orlando...

What I can definitely say is that since they dipped in the pool with Harry Potter...they have done an incredible job of making rapid progress in the the last 5 years...like an unprecedented and unrelenting agressive strategy that at least rivals Disneys spurts over time (late 80's and early 90's being the gold standard)...
Far more impressive than any competitor would have ever dreamed...

Comcast's pockets are just as deep, they're leadership is - frankly - better...and they are going through a massive shift in their core product and in many ways "following Disneys lead" to steaming/content/data/ and recreational destinations.

That means the "ugly little brother" arrangement they had in Orlando doesnt fit - so they're changing it. Which the mouse has been slower and slower to do in the last 20 years. From Eisners fumbling of tech to Igers really foolish approach to key parts of the parks and attractions business.

I agree that they won't pass Disney. However they can patiently chip away while Disney possibly does more damage to themselves than Comcast ever could. If the new expansions are disappointing then I can't imagine how it'll all play out. I'm assuming that Disney won't be quite that cheap and ignorant so even if they're good Universal has still set themselves up as the other guys that do a good job. How many will turn to them? We did but it's impossible to guess how many others might.

I always mention those huge companies that have fallen for a variety of reasons. Disney should never become complacent because it can happen over time even to the mighty.

 

[ChrisFL]

5 years from now, it's possible that Universal will have 3 parks with maybe 8 to 10 resort hotels on-property compared to Disney with 4 parks and their 22+ hotels with many becoming partially DVC.

Also, Universal Studios Florida has been open for 26 years, IOA has been open for 17 years....that's nearly a generation of both parks being open...so people who visited those parks when they were kids will take their kids....the thing that Disney was known for and their legacy.

Universal won't overtake Disney, but the field will be leveled significantly, especially if WDW keeps losing the special feeling of years past.

 

[manning]

I agree that they won't pass Disney. However they can patiently chip away while Disney possibly does more damage to themselves than Comcast ever could. If the new expansions are disappointing then I can't imagine how it'll all play out. I'm assuming that Disney won't be quite that cheap and ignorant so even if they're good Universal has still set themselves up as the other guys that do a good job. How many will turn to them? We did but it's impossible to guess how many others might.

I always mention those huge companies that have fallen for a variety of reasons. Disney should never become complacent because it can happen over time even to the mighty.

I'm too old toremember names, there have been many companies who thought they were bullet proof. One of the big ones was General Motors. They were always at the top of the big three. If it wasn't for the government you would be saying 'General who?' They were on the ropes. You could see it coming. Oldsmobile..gone Pontiac... gone.. Saturn. There were some bad decisions made at the top.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm too old toremember names, there have been many companies who thought they were bullet proof. One of the big ones was General Motors. They were always at the top of the big three. If it wasn't for the government you would be saying 'General who?' They were on the ropes. You could see it coming. Oldsmobile..gone Pontiac... gone.. Saturn. There were some bad decisions made at the top.

I think the more cautionary tale is kodak...who ignored the changing face of their business and what their COMPETITON was doing - thinking that their size would rule the day.

100% gone in ten years flat.

The problem with GM...and the other two...is that they made increasingly crappier cars. Large repair bills and half the road service life - meaning no resale value.

 

[manning]

I think the more cautionary tale is kodak...who ignored the changing face of their business and what their COMPETITON was doing - thinking that their size would rule the day.

100% gone in ten years flat.

The problem with GM...and the other two...is the that they made increasingly crappier cars. Large repair bills and half the road service life - meaning no resale value.

Like Disney, allowing quality to slip.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Look, I'll say it. If Comcast decides to build a 3rd Orlando theme park the way they built the Harry Potter lands, and if that theme park was reminiscent of a 21 century Magic Kingdom, with all of the kid and family content they now own (and with another sprinkle of Potter thrown in), all bets are off in Orlando. I think Disney would lose market share rapidly. All Universal has needed to draw people away is a water park (done next year) and a family park which accommodates those 0-100 (which could be done quickly if Comcast stays in charge)...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Look, I'll say it. If Comcast decides to build a 3rd Orlando theme park the way they built the Harry Potter lands, and if that theme park was reminiscent of a 21 century Magic Kingdom, with all of the kid and family content they now own (and with another sprinkle of Potter thrown in), all bets are off in Orlando. I think Disney would lose market share rapidly. All Universal has needed to draw people away is a water park (done next year) and a family park which accommodates those 0-100 (which could be done quickly if Comcast stays in charge)...

Not quite...

The advantage that Disney truly owns was In their mass purchase of cattle farms/fertilizer beds in 1964...

Also known as the incorporated town of lake Buena vista/reedy creek improvement district.

The property is a huge advantage that Comcast would have a really hard time overcoming or narrowing the gap on. It allows Disney to "lock you away" for days/weeks on end. That is a huge psychological tool at their disposal.

Look at Orlando: it sucks. I-4 is a parking lot all the time now. Like any typically um...tropical...city/state...they can't run themselves. Building a private, toll "express lane" that will solve nothing...was that haliburton's idea?

Anyways...the lack of a unified "compound" is a bigger deal for Comcast than most are acknowledging...
It's not Just a matter of "buses"

 

[Asellus]

Look, I'll say it. If Comcast decides to build a 3rd Orlando theme park the way they built the Harry Potter lands, and if that theme park was reminiscent of a 21 century Magic Kingdom, with all of the kid and family content they now own (and with another sprinkle of Potter thrown in), all bets are off in Orlando. I think Disney would lose market share rapidly. All Universal has needed to draw people away is a water park (done next year) and a family park which accommodates those 0-100 (which could be done quickly if Comcast stays in charge)...

As someone who has never stayed on property for Disney (though I would love to), this just might be the thing that steals us from Disney. Right now, Universal suffers from a lack of characters my kids like or recognize. Bring in Kung Fu Panda, How to Train your Dragon, and Nintendo characters and Universal just may have the pull for those of us with elementary school age kids. Let's be fair, Characters are a huge pull for Disney. Homer Simpson is hardly the equivalent of a Disney Princess. Bring in Zelda, Peach and Samus though...and we might just have a deal! (with a side of awesome castle please)
I think a lot of us are noticing all the money grabs Disney is doing. There is no such thing as too big to fail and Disney needs to learn that.

 

[lubob]

Comcast can make deals like this, but in nj they can't make a deal with the Yes network so we can watch the New York Yankee games!! I am so fed up with Comcast

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Comcast can make deals like this, but in nj they can't make a deal with the Yes network so we can watch the New York Yankee games!! I am so fed up with Comcast

They're awful...now your summer is free

 

[rteetz]

They're awful...now your summer is free

I know this is sarcasm but if a team is awful (my Milwaukee Brewers are) people still watch because they are fans. I still watch my teams because I'm a fan bad or not.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I know this is sarcasm but if a team is awful (my Milwaukee Brewers are) people still watch because they are fans. I still watch my teams because I'm a fan bad or not.

Are you sure you know it's sarcasm?

Hang out with Yankee fans much? Who laud the accomplishments of men dead 75 years ago? It's a constant struggle...

#4in12

 

[rteetz]

Are you sure you know it's sarcasm?

Hang out with Yankee fans much? Who laud the accomplishments of men dead 75 years ago? It's a constant struggle...

#4in12

Well my team hasn't ever won a World Series and I don't know if they ever will. The Yankees and least have competed and won in the last decade.