Disney profits up 22% from last year and cant afford to hold onto VMK?

[aengus]

OK, so anyone who thinks Disney has to answer to their stock holders just lost that debate. 22% increase in profits from last year IN a bad economy? @_@

For crying out loud Disney give your fans their virtual kingdom so we can visit while we are not at the parks.

 

[tinkabellspirate]

We maybe need to see what their profits show next year, after us 22% are booted from the virtual park.

 

[paloma91]

I have seen this before in the business of the internet. The company screws up and closes one of their most lucrative venues. Find their profits fallling and then try to resurect it. Low and behold, the majoritiy of their past clients/ customers/ whatever, say No Thanks! Then their profits still continue to plummet. Well, we shall see what Disney does to itself. All we can do is sit back and wait. Too bad disney, You are going to screw up royally, if you close VMK

 

[Belle1997]

Oh my. Then why are they closing VMK? If it is not greed it is greed on Sulake I think. Why can Disney not tell us why they are hurting so many people so many kids, so many families. Why does Disney not feel anything for all the hurting disney fans.

I can garantee it will go down even if we all cut our spending by a 25% to 50%.

So sad so so sad. How they can read all those pleas and still look at themself is beyond me.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

I did see something about this while surfing the web. I think Iger has greedy fingers and deep pockets. I have a lot of opinons about the money and the greed within the corporation, but to stick to the topic I will zip my lip.

I hope for everybody that VMK stays open, I really do. I don't know that I would play anymore. I have given EVERYTHING away aside from my rooms. All of my rare and no-so-rare alike is gone. I am leaving VMK with what I came in with - just the clothes on my back.

 

[Goofy05]

Wow! In a recession and they are up in profits as though they were an oil company!!! Come on, Disney! WAKE UP!!! WE are the reason your profits are up!

VMK_Mouse: I have been gifting from the moment I had items to gift. I would welcome the challenge of starting fresh. It's part of that magic that's Disney. You are part of that magic! I bet I could talk you into staying, should VMK remain open...hehe!

 

[aengus]

Also was listening to a podcast today where they were talking about brand recognition. Talking about how it may be an incurring cost but creates revenues for their future.

I wonder how many kids are asking for disney vacations after spending time in vmk. Another way they can't measure profitabilty.

 

[CelebrationNM]

The 22% was an exciting announcement; congratulations to Mr. Iger and everybody that contributed to an excellent Q2. I think this is a great example that, even though the company might do things that certain fan groups disagree with, Disney knows what it is doing and is able to succeed, even through tough economic times. As the executives discussed in their Earnings Call yesterday, (transcript here) the Disney brand is poised to go ahead with a lot of new media projects. It looks like an exciting time for Walt Disney Company.

 

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

Well of course they are profitting, they keep raising their prices!! My family and I were appaulled at the $11/day parking fee this past January. I mean come on. And thats not the only prices that were raised And people will continue to fork out the dough, no matter how much, just because its Disney World.

 

[Pirate-Emery]

Stock's up at 34.71!!

That's GREAT! Probably not for most folks on these boards, but for someone that bought at 28, this is pretty good news.

 

[MomsGoneGoofy]

OK, so anyone who thinks Disney has to answer to their stock holders just lost that debate. 22% increase in profits from last year IN a bad economy? @_@

For crying out loud Disney give your fans their virtual kingdom so we can visit while we are not at the parks.

I saw this on TV this morning and thought the same thing.

 

[Pirate-Emery]

IN a bad economy?

Umm... apparently it's not THAT bad...

If folks are still flocking to the parks (aka. a "luxury" item as opposed to a necessity), then it means that they're not that bad off.

Yet all this talk of a "bad economy" leads one to believe that no one can afford any of this.

This just makes me question the reliability of the media, just a bit.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I wonder how many kids are asking for disney vacations after spending time in vmk. Another way they can't measure profitabilty.

Or...

How about a grown adult that has an annual pass, who has increased her visits to the Park over the past 2.5 years 5x as much as previously due to wanting a "real" Disney fix more often due to time in Funville... leaving who-knows-how-much money inside the gates on drinks, food, pins, gifts for VMK friends, and various souvenirs that have been purchased solely because they have a VMK connection?

Allow me to tell you it adds up to enough that I spend it in cash, not putting it on the credit card (those husbands just don't understand our shopping, do they ladies? ).

 

[aengus]

Umm... apparently it's not THAT bad...

If folks are still flocking to the parks (aka. a "luxury" item as opposed to a necessity), then it means that they're not that bad off.

Yet all this talk of a "bad economy" leads one to believe that no one can afford any of this.

This just makes me question the reliability of the media, just a bit.

All of the financial articles on the subject add that Disneys numbers are most impressive because of the bad economy. I just took it from their publishings.

 

[poohluv2u]

Umm... apparently it's not THAT bad...

If folks are still flocking to the parks (aka. a "luxury" item as opposed to a necessity), then it means that they're not that bad off.

Yet all this talk of a "bad economy" leads one to believe that no one can afford any of this.

This just makes me question the reliability of the media, just a bit.

DH and I are small business owners, and since 9/11 our income is only 1/3 of what it used to be. Yet, every year we have made it to at least one of the Parks. For us going to Disney is a necessity, and we have given up other luxury items in order to get there ... no movies at the theater, no dinners out, and buying groceries at lower end supermarkets.

We have sacrificed a lot to give Disney our dollars, and all we have expected in return is 'the magic' that they promise. Sadly, a little piece of that magic will disappear if they close VMK.

 

[Jasonbobdude]

I wonder how many kids are asking for disney vacations after spending time in vmk. Another way they can't measure profitabilty.

Very true! I've always wanted to go to the Disney parks over other parks, and VMK has just strengthened that for me. I remember hearing about some people arranging extra trips to the parks to do VMK Quests, too.

 

[Goofy05]

Umm... apparently it's not THAT bad...

If folks are still flocking to the parks (aka. a "luxury" item as opposed to a necessity), then it means that they're not that bad off.

Yet all this talk of a "bad economy" leads one to believe that no one can afford any of this.

This just makes me question the reliability of the media, just a bit.

Apparently, the economy hasn't affected you. lol The city I live in has closed stores, factories and has the second highest unemployment rate in the country. I have often questioned the reliability of the media and our government, however all one has to do is drive through most any town in middle America to see how accurate saying this country is in a recession is. To see that Disney profits are up could reflect the lesser value of the US dollar, as well. Foreign travel and purchases could have affected those profits.

 

[Fonna]

The 22% was an exciting announcement; congratulations to Mr. Iger and everybody that contributed to an excellent Q2. I think this is a great example that, even though the company might do things that certain fan groups disagree with, Disney knows what it is doing and is able to succeed, even through tough economic times. As the executives discussed in their Earnings Call yesterday, (transcript here) the Disney brand is poised to go ahead with a lot of new media projects. It looks like an exciting time for Walt Disney Company.

Just a quick question - Do you work for Disney? Most of your posts seem to hint at a person who sees that Disney name on his paycheck every week.
(and actually you total lack of empathy for people hurting over this Disney decision additionally.)

Just wondering..

 

[vmkfan13]

I said this many times.. but I REALLY don't think that Disney closed VMK because of lack of money.

 

[Sugar]

Well of course they are profitting, they keep raising their prices!! My family and I were appaulled at the $11/day parking fee this past January. I mean come on. And thats not the only prices that were raised And people will continue to fork out the dough, no matter how much, just because its Disney World.

I've seen this locally. The restaurant I work at saw a 20% increase in sales last February from the February before... It was CLEAR that there were fewer customers, but the prices on ALL of the meals have raised a good $1 to $3!

Stock's up at 34.71!!

That's GREAT! Probably not for most folks on these boards, but for someone that bought at 28, this is pretty good news.

Funny thing is, I was so in love with Disney, that I bought Disney stock in January for a project at school (fake money, of course), and its gone up ever since...

Apparently, the economy hasn't affected you. lol The city I live in has closed stores, factories and has the second highest unemployment rate in the country. I have often questioned the reliability of the media and our government, however all one has to do is drive through most any town in middle America to see how accurate saying this country is in a recession is. To see that Disney profits are up could reflect the lesser value of the US dollar, as well. Foreign travel and purchases could have affected those profits.

The area I live in is very wealthy, although if you live here you are not, generally speaking; the prices of homes have skyrocketed, nobody's buying real estate, gas is $3.85/gal (at its cheapest), food is up 30-40% (although I believe that's everywhere), and the list goes on and on. It's very difficult to scrape by.

My school of 700 students employs roughly 30 teachers. Every year, about 20 are laid off due to underqualification (or because they did something that merits a pink slip). Anywho, it's harder and harder to find qualified teachers BECAUSE THE SALARY DOES NOT COVER LIVING EXPENSES. It used to, I promise you. But in this day and age, it does not. What makes it worse is my district just received a $6 million pay cut, so teachers are leaving left and right.

Again referring to my place of employment...
April and May are usually the end of our "busy season" down here, but it has been so slow that bussers are only working on Fridays and Saturdays now... It's been as slow as September (when we generally close for a 4-6 week vacation). Month-by-month, I wonder if my job will still be there.

- Sugar