Marvel coming to WDW???!!!!

[lockedoutlogic]

And where they are investing 100s of millions in the parks.

There have been alot of excuses for the limited investment in attractions at wdw...and the lack of wow with anything built since...jeez...Everest...I begrudgingly guess.

Mostly magic bands for 5 years...

But I have to soapbox here a little.

OLC proves over and over that you can support new ride construction at almost all times...and still make a huge level of profit. They're not a charity, for heck's sake...

But they don't let up... And remember that Japan had a combo natural/nuclear disaster not too far from the parks only a few years ago...

This "what do you want?"
Excuse for Stock Bobby and the shortsighted approach In Burbank is wearing more thin by the day.

 

[rteetz]

There have been alot of excuses for the limited investment in attractions at wdw...and the lack of wow with anything built since...jeez...Everest...I begrudgingly guess.

Mostly magic bands for 5 years...

But I have to soapbox here a little.

OLC proves over and over that you can support new ride construction at almost all times...and still make a huge level of profit. They're not a charity, for heck's sake...

But they don't let up... And remember that Japan had a combo natural/nuclear disaster not too far from the parks only a few years ago...

This "what do you want?"
Excuse for Stock Bobby and the shortsighted approach In Burbank is wearing more thin by the day.

Japan also broke an attendance record for themselves this year and their park tickets cost almost half of what WDW costs.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I know we've been over this...but honestly it would be alot easier to agree with your pro-Disney/wdw management stance if you only referred to things that have, are, or will be built.

They can't receive credit for nothing but fan rumors or vague innuendo by the suits.

There is absolutely no doubt that Star Wars is coming. This has been repeatedly stated in clear terms. What and when has not been stated. But for the purposes of this discussion it doesn't matter what and when. I think they will do some great stuff, but even if they do something fair-to-middling it is going to bring in higher numbers. Star Wars is that big a draw.

The bottom line is numbers. Unless there is a decrease in attendance or an impact on profits the water is a sheet of glass with no ripples anywhere. I'm not saying anyone should like it. But apparently, like theaters and their popcorn prices, it is working for Disney. The numbers and profits prove that it is working. If it is working then they are doing the right thing. I spend a buck or two for a soda that costs about 4 to 10 cents to make. Oh well, I'm thirsty and I have the buck to spare. So we all pay one or two dollars for soda. Is it a crime? Nope. We all pay or we don't buy. Your choice. Again, I'm not saying anyone should like it, but to say it is poor business and is going to bring them to ruin is not borne out by the facts. Expect prices to increase as crowds increase.

 

[rteetz]

There is absolutely no doubt that Star Wars is coming. This has been repeatedly stated in clear terms. What and when has not been stated. But for the purposes of this discussion it doesn't matter what and when. I think they will do some great stuff, but even if they do something fair-to-middling it is going to bring in higher numbers. Star Wars is that big a draw.

The bottom line is numbers. Unless there is a decrease in attendance or an impact on profits the water is a sheet of glass with no ripples anywhere. I'm not saying anyone should like it. But apparently, like theaters and their popcorn prices, it is working for Disney. The numbers and profits prove that it is working. If it is working then they are doing the right thing. I spend a buck or two for a soda that costs about 4 to 10 cents to make. Oh well, I'm thirsty and I have the buck to spare. So we all pay one or two dollars for soda. Is it a crime? Nope. We all pay or we don't buy. Your choice. Again, I'm not saying anyone should like it, but to say it is poor business and is going to bring them to ruin is not borne out by the facts. Expect prices to increase as crowds increase.

Yes Star Wars is coming but I will probably have grandkids by the time that comes. If Star Wars is such a huge draw why haven't they built anything yet.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Disney actually can't have too much growth too soon. Too much growth would be worse on the guest experience than no new rides.

No, go ahead, please try to spoil my guest experience by building too many new attractions. I insist.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

No, go ahead, please try to spoil my guest experience by building too many new attractions. I insist.

That comment was so far out from left field that a drunk guy from the top of the upper deck shouted it...

Did I read that right? Did someone actually claim that Disney is "saving us from ourselves" by not building too much? All the while under a 10 year price increase...actually more a full scale assault head on.

The "general Pickett" approach...

And there's "no doubt" Star Wars is coming?
I agree...but there is plenty of doubt that it may be a cut corners approach and ultimately a sham. And an embarassment to both the Star Wars IP and Disney.

Honestly, Tim...you went ahead and did exactly what you do that trips you up:
Making your assumptions about Disney's "good will" a "truth" with nothing to justify it and applying the 80's/90's model of strategic planning to wdw - which looks to have been completely abandoned/reversed long ago.

 

[Planogirl]

It's the rose-colored glasses effect. I know because I have a dusty pair put away somewhere.

Seriously, I personally judge every company on what I see right now. Hearing that great things are coming is nice but means nothing until it actually happens.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

That comment was so far out from left field that a drunk guy from the top of the upper deck shouted it...

Did I read that right? Did someone actually claim that Disney is "saving us from ourselves" by not building too much? All the while under a 10 year price increase...actually more a full scale assault head on.

The "general Pickett" approach...

And there's "no doubt" Star Wars is coming?
I agree...but there is plenty of doubt that it may be a cut corners approach and ultimately a sham. And an embarassment to both the Star Wars IP and Disney.

Honestly, Tim...you went ahead and did exactly what you do that trips you up:
Making your assumptions about Disney's "good will" a "truth" with nothing to justify it and applying the 80's/90's model of strategic planning to wdw - which looks to have been completely abandoned/reversed long ago.

You're so focused on Star Wars quality you missed the whole point of my post. It doesn't matter how good or bad they do Star Wars. Assume SW is as bad as you think it might be. Attendance and profits will still go up. Nothing matters about building rides or making you guys happy. All that matters is increasing attendance. As you guys so frequently point out, rides have been slow in coming and you have been displeased with the type and quality while also stating that many things are declining. All the while attendance and profits increase. New Fantasyland is awful, and attendance and profits increase. The place is unkempt and attendance and profits increase. DHS is terrible and attendance and profits increase.

My point above has nothing to do with my positive outlook. My point above assumes all your negative viewpoints are true. My only point is as of today, given everything you say is true, attendance and profits are STILL UP! And projections are that attendance and profits will continue to increase. I can understand while this would make you guys upset. It is kind of like looking at a long line of people at the theater waiting to buy $20 popcorn.

While I don't share your negative view of the situation now and I think things are looking up in the future, even if you are 100% right... attendance is up. So where are the ripples of doom that Disney should worry about?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If this is the "the free market wins out" approach...I cannot concur...
The more I see - the less I agree. It's all a sham by power brokers - which is artificially inflated for quick or medium term scores.

Even Disney - drunk off their own PR driven perceptions at this point. It seems the management and board are walking around with their golden parachutes strapped on...no more evident than their approach to "investment" at wdw. Definitely not a longterm quality approach...let alone providing a short term value.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

But you have to admit that everything comes down to attendance and money. Period. And what is happening at this moment to attendance and money?

 

[rteetz]

But you have to admit that everything comes down to attendance and money. Period. And what is happening at this moment to attendance and money?

They are up of course so why would they build star wars if they don't have to

 

[lockedoutlogic]

But you have to admit that everything comes down to attendance and money. Period. And what is happening at this moment to attendance and money?

Honestly...nothing.

It's another credit fueled bubble of nothing...if you're honest.

That's why bob Iger is a genius...this "I'm retiring in 3 years"...subject to a "change of heart" if the market goes into retrograde

 

[nkosiek]

They have said that SW will come to PARKS but never once have they confirmed which parks. Surely many of us can/do believe they will put it in DLP, DLHK, DLSh, or even Tokyo before Orlando sees much.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

They have said that SW will come to PARKS but never once have they confirmed which parks. Surely many of us can/do believe they will put it in DLP, DLHK, DLSh, or even Tokyo before Orlando sees much.

Ahhhh...you've managed to spot the elephant sitting on the stool...

 

[nkosiek]

Ahhhh...you've managed to spot the elephant sitting on the stool...

You mean the one with pink polka dots?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You mean the one with pink polka dots?

Hmmm...the one I saw had purple stripes

 

[Reddog1134]

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Love it

 

[Planogirl]

I prefer pink elephants on parade...

 

[pilferk]

It's funny...I'm returning to the boards after a pretty long layoff, and one of the first threads I stumble across is the re-re-re-rehash of the same conversation about Marvel in WDW we've been having SINCE Disney bought Marvel.

I side with the contract...and the fact it's set up in perpetuity, with no expiration date, no additional cost to Uni (other than their annual licensing fee and the merch cut they send off), and no way for Disney to terminate unless Uni lets things fall, almost literally, to poo (which they won't do).

Disney has no leverage. Uni has no real impetus to offload. Disney gets free checks from Uni. Uni gets relatively cheap use of a huge (and getting huger) property.

I'm firmly in the camp of thinking the number Disney would have to float to Uni to get Marvel "back" would be 10 figures (that's right, the "b" word). That's not bashing, that's not a disgruntled opinion of Disney. That's looking at the contract, looking at the current business climate/relationship/benefits, looking at Uni's current IOA setup and using some commonly held public history about redevelopment/development in a theme park (like, for example, the costs of the DCA project, or the reported costs of Legoland) and coming up with a number.

You look at that number, add to it the costs DISNEY would incur, in addition, to develop attraction at WDW, and the general time frame it would take Disney to actually get attractions built (not to mention: there's question over whether you CAN actually see a marked increase in WDW attendance, and not just a redistribution, based on vacation costs, average vacation length in the US (which hasn't moved in a couple decades), and other factors)....and the numbers just don't seem to add up. I honestly believe the investors would revolt if Iger greenlit that kind of outlay of cash (and it would have to be cash, because Uni has no interest in owning Disney stock). It might actually be MORE cost effective to buy Uni parks and resorts OUTRIGHT...and I don't think THATS on the horizen, either.