Marvel coming to WDW???!!!!

[rteetz]

So anchoring or co-anchoring a Resort or a 5th Gate around the Marvel theme would not be a reason?

Note: I am not saying that such expansions do or do not make sense and cents, but rather that there are reasons I could see them wanting the rights.

I don't see disney building a single IP park. people want a Star Wars or marvel only park I just don't see that happening. Disney has never done a IP themed park. Star Wars and marvel may be big but if that's all there is in that single park that's not good for attendance. If it's just a marvel or Star Wars land in let's say DHS. Then you also have the rest of the park in case you done like Star Wars or marvel.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Whatever. I enjoy the Marvel movies, but they're not "Disney" to me. Heck, I'm more down with Star Wars & Disney than I am Marvel...

 

[Planogirl]

I'm one who couldn't possibly get enough Marvel but I see the logic in not basing a whole park on it. I've been uneasy about the amount of Harry Potter at that other place in fact and I'm glad that they've been working on a lot of other IP's. Disney should really do something special with Star Wars though. I would love a large land based on it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

So anchoring or co-anchoring a Resort or a 5th Gate around the Marvel theme would not be a reason?

Note: I am not saying that such expansions do or do not make sense and cents, but rather that there are reasons I could see them wanting the rights.

The average guest stay went up less that one day when animal kingdom opened.

So who says Disney wants a fifth gate? That's just one of a 100 reasons...

It's not that you don't want more...it's that your boss won't give you the days off...
Disney knows that. Can't beat society.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm one who couldn't possibly get enough Marvel but I see the logic in not basing a whole park on it. I've been uneasy about the amount of Harry Potter at that other place in fact and I'm glad that they've been working on a lot of other IP's. Disney should really do something special with Star Wars though. I would love a large land based on it.

This is the elephant in the room about this silly marvel discussion - they already have a male focused property that is at least as big as marvel to use with no contract...

The minute they bought Star Wars...this became moot.

 

[MattsPrincess]

I love Disney with all my heart, always have, always will. I REALLY hope Marvel stays at Universal. It just seems to fit better, to me. And honestly, I'm worried Disney wouldn't do it right. As it's been pointed out, at this point they've been pretty much dropping the ball with Star Wars, and it's likely the same would happen to Marvel.

Marvel "done right" is already happening, at a park that has a whole area dedicated to it already. I've also seen all the reports that Universal is, in fact, planning to expand/improve on their Marvel park presence, and I'm hoping for that.

Like it's been mentioned, Disney has a huge, competitive with Marvel, mostly male-focused IP to work with in Star Wars. They've been teasing about big new SW things coming, and already have a huge success with SWW. Why would they suddenly put all that on the back burner to take over another IP and develop that just because they make the movies now? I'd really rather see them start to really work with SW before getting into any other new thing.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I love Disney with all my heart, always have, always will. I REALLY hope Marvel stays at Universal. It just seems to fit better, to me. And honestly, I'm worried Disney wouldn't do it right. As it's been pointed out, at this point they've been pretty much dropping the ball with Star Wars, and it's likely the same would happen to Marvel.

Marvel "done right" is already happening, at a park that has a whole area dedicated to it already. I've also seen all the reports that Universal is, in fact, planning to expand/improve on their Marvel park presence, and I'm hoping for that.

Like it's been mentioned, Disney has a huge, competitive with Marvel, mostly male-focused IP to work with in Star Wars. They've been teasing about big new SW things coming, and already have a huge success with SWW. Why would they suddenly put all that on the back burner to take over another IP and develop that just because they make the movies now? I'd really rather see them start to really work with SW before getting into any other new thing.

Perfect...x2

 

[OldsDr]

So anchoring or co-anchoring a Resort or a 5th Gate around the Marvel theme would not be a reason?

Note: I am not saying that such expansions do or do not make sense and cents, but rather that there are reasons I could see them wanting the rights.

As a consumer I would be extremely upset if they built a fifth gate anytime soon. They have more than enough room at the existing parks for expansion and new entertainment options. Let them at least fix MGM before this 5th gate stuff starts up again.


Does anyone know how much Universial pays for the marvel rights? We all talk about how Disney would not want to give up the free money, myself included, but how much money annually are we talking? Even if that is not a public number, anyone have an educated guess?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

As a consumer I would be extremely upset if they built a fifth gate anytime soon. They have more than enough room at the existing parks for expansion and new entertainment options. Let them at least fix MGM before this 5th gate stuff starts up again.


Does anyone know how much Universial pays for the marvel rights? We all talk about how Disney would not want to give up the free money, myself included, but how much money annually are we talking? Even if that is not a public number, anyone have an educated guess?

I'd like to know too but have no idea...

It could be $1 and it's a deal for Disney...because its a "free" $1...

And... It allows merchandise.
I keep saying this and nobody believes me... Because is intentionally vague in SEC filings...

But ALL the walkaway profits from WDW is in merchandise...or the lions share of like 80-90%.

It's made in mass In sweatshops (boy... Disney should build some parks in those countries to keep the free trade deals flowing )...transported tariff free (the legacy of nafta)... And sold at 20 times the production cost...

That is your profit. Why are there 200 shops in Walt Disney world selling the same things? Cause all the money is in the room rates at pop century?

So with the marvel contract...even a share of the gift receipts is pure, free money...

And there they don't have to pay the sales tax or the $8 an hour for someone to sell it.

That deal will only be broken by Comcast...and why would they do it? Disney advertises their park every 3 months when a new movie comes out...

 

[ChrisFL]

Anyway, Marvel coming to WDW?

 

[Josh Hendy]

Doom is going away for a new marvel theme. It's staying in the marvel family. Hulk is getting a big refurb but staying hulk.

Dr. Doom is pretty crummy. They can do much better than that. And probably will.

Hulk is good, but it's somewhat in the "ow my neck ooooh now the sun is in my eyes" class of coaster. I assume they won't do anything much with the coaster itself but the theming in the queue could be improved.

 

[rteetz]

Dr. Doom is pretty crummy. They can do much better than that. And probably will.

Hulk is good, but it's somewhat in the "ow my neck ooooh now the sun is in my eyes" class of coaster. I assume they won't do anything much with the coaster itself but the theming in the queue could be improved.

I believe hulk is supposed to get a track refurb and probably theming work.

 

[DDLand]

I've seen a lot said about Marvel and Universal, and it seems two lines have been drawn with no middle ground. I think both are correct to an extent, but fail to capture the full essence of the situation.

The first point) Disney has to get them back, and probably will do anything to get them back. Disney can't leave it's own IP in the hands of the enemy.

The second) Disney has every incentive to just sit on it's butt and collect the cash.


I don't think either are directly on the mark. I'll just go through each side.

1) Disney's just got to get them back. I think before we say that we should look at the players. I look at Universal, and I see how they've got to realize what a goldmine they're sitting on. With proper execution integrating into the Cinematic Universe like HP did, they could have massive upward momentum. It would be idiotic to let the rights disappear. Then Disney. What do they get from it? Money. Some have said that this is the end all situation. While it's true that this can be a compelling business situation (duh) two questions should always be asked 1) Are they making the most money possible? 2) Does it help with the overall business strategy? I think it's rightly pointed out that the answer of both these questions is no. Then why haven't they gotten the rights? Because there are other problems to contend with.

Questions of how much it would cost to retrieve the rights, Universal's interest in removing, etc. stand in the way.

That's not to say this is Disney's optimum business situation. Just because they don't think the cost benefit of forking a lot of money upfront is worth it, doesn't mean that they love this arrangement.

2) Disney loves this arrangement, and wants to keep cashing in. I think this is too shallow and ignores that WDW is a entire destination, and that when WDW gets a guest they experience positive ramifications throughout their entire business. A percent cut from a theme park across I4 doesn't help their resorts, shopping district, and services. It's almost certainly in their best interest to have Marvel on property. That doesn't mean they're getting the rights. They're not. I just don't think this is a new business direction either. This is not Disney's preferred way of doing business, especially as they're working on integrating Marvel into the Disney Brand. This is counterintuitive. However, having said that it doesn't appear they're getting them back. They're not.

Don't read to much into the fact they aren't though.

 

[DDLand]

I believe hulk is supposed to get a track refurb and probably theming work.

Indeed, I actually saw Martin say they're completely rebuilding it.

 

[ChrisFL]

In Iger's world, profits and shareholder happiness trumps perceived competition and having "enemies". If leaving Marvel to Universal means keeping higher profits in the grand scheme of things, Iger will stick with that. Anyway, he has much bigger things to worry about, in Shanghai.

Eisner was a bit different, he took some competition personally. I've heard that he had animosity toward Universal since his Paramount days and partially why Disney-MGM Studios was built and completed a year before Universal Studios Florida.

 

[rteetz]

In Iger's world, profits and shareholder happiness trumps perceived competition and having "enemies". If leaving Marvel to Universal means keeping higher profits in the grand scheme of things, Iger will stick with that. Anyway, he has much bigger things to worry about, in Shanghai.

Eisner was a bit different, he took some competition personally. I've heard that he had animosity toward Universal since his Paramount days and partially why Disney-MGM Studios was built and completed a year before Universal Studios Florida.

Exactly. MCA the company that owned universal at the time of the build approached Disney in 81ish and wanted to build a joint studios park. Then Disney CEO was for it and needed it to get by the board. Fast forward to 84ish Eisner is now CEO. Eisner was well aware of the Orlando universal and when MCA came back to Disney to ask if they were still interested Eisner said no goodbye we have our own plans. Low and behold we have the fast tracked DHS. At that point that Disney backed out universal studios Orlando almost wasn't built. Spielberg came in and was aware of what Lucas was doing for Disney. Spielberg told universal that they should be looking at full scale attractions rather than scenes on a tram ride. That was when the universal project was revived.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think it's foolhardy to even hint that Disney has some kinda "honor code" regarding Comcast leasing marvel characters...

If you've positioned yourself as IP peddlers... And they have...then that's what they do: lease IP.

Much of that can be used internally...but it will also be licensed/leased in perpetuity on advantageous deals...

This is one of those...nothing ventured, much gained on Disney's end.

We just need to move on.

 

[DDLand]

If you've positioned yourself as IP peddlers... And they have...then that's what they do: lease IP.

Much of that can be used internally...but it will also be licensed/leased in perpetuity on advantageous deals...

This is one of those...nothing ventured, much gained on Disney's end.

We just need to move on.

I don't think Disney has positioned themselves as IP licensors. Look towards to the likes of Shanghai Disneyland and the controlled Longterm takeover of Disneyland Paris. They're very much into the managment and ownership of properties even now.

They don't maximize their full value by licensing when they can integrate those properties into the complete picture. I have yet to see them move in that direction at all.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I don't think Disney has positioned themselves as IP licensors. Look towards to the likes of Shanghai Disneyland and the controlled Longterm takeover of Disneyland Paris. They're very much into the managment and ownership of properties even now.

They don't maximize their full value by licensing when they can integrate those properties into the complete picture. I have yet to see them move in the direction at all.

You say this over and over again...but building rides based on IP they own in parks that they have to pay to operate is not the path to success as it was from 1955 to about 2000...

That Disney is gone. Even In 2000 on the Inside... It had basically had been decided that wdw cost too much to run and addition would really only exasperate that...

I left and I hoped it would shift... But I can only say that not only was the premise run with...it seems to have been expanded.

 

[disneymac000]

Marvel isn't leaving Universal.
1. Universal isn't letting Marvel go unless TWDC pays for the rights, an IP, and the rebuilding of the area to Potter level standards which Disney would never do.
2. Universal has the rights forever.
3. TWDC can't see any plans ideas books, budgets of R&D for any rides due to legal laws in place to protect companies during acquisitions on Marvel can and they can not show or tell Bob Iger or anyone what Universal is doing without breaking the law. So no Marvel can't bullcrap their way and randomly continously saying no.
4. Universal can use movie forms of characters if they choose, however, they aren't going to pay Robert Downey Jr or any other marvel actor more money on top of their Disney contract to use their image in the park. There is no stipulation other than they have to stay true to the characters and the comics. Like they can't make the Black Widow a man who can breathe fire out his mouth.
5. Trusted insiders have said there may be plans for an Avengers ride along with SHIELD and other high level IPs. Universal Creative wouldn't waste their time making things they can't make.


So stop trying to make Marvel at WDW happen. Its not. THey haven't even really used it at Disneyland where they can other than Meet and Greets what makes you think Disneyworld will be any different.