Mickey Mouse buys Spiderman - Disney to buy Marvel Ent.

[twinklebug]

I worry what this will do to the Marvel Comic industry which is still going strong. Disney's never really been involved with such a venture before and like they tried to change Pixar (and Pixar fought back to a decent compromise) undoubtedly Disney will try to change Marvel.

The question is... will they get those gals some proper attire now?

... uh I did mean proper attire for the Marvel gals, not the princesses.

Image was taken from http://powet.tv/

 

[ducknturtle]

"The question is... will they get those gals some proper attire now?" - Twinklebug

While, although my DH likes the Princesses, he would love them if they were all "Marveled" up.

 

[King Triton]

What about using the Incredibles? Hello!! Why does Disney have to buy someone ele's creative ideas. Disney should create their own Superheros and use that $4 billion for the parks. Give me $4 billion and I bet I can come up with some new superheros for you.

 

[Jessfrogger88]

This is weird for me... I like Universal and Disney and Spiderman is one of the best rides ever... Really that is what I'm most concerned with lol I hope the Spiderman ride doesn't become a victim of this deal.

I also hope Disney really doesn't try to change their movies too much... I really like the majority of the Marvel movies as they are.

 

[tjkraz]

What about using the Incredibles? Hello!! Why does Disney have to buy someone ele's creative ideas. Disney should create their own Superheros and use that $4 billion for the parks. Give me $4 billion and I bet I can come up with some new superheros for you.

Oh, sure, just make some new superheroes, right?

If only it were that simple. Spider-Man alone has generate $2.5 billion in revenue for 3 feature films. And billions more when you add comic books, video games, television rights, theme park attractions and all of the other licensing tie-ins.

And that's just one of thousands of characters included in this deal.

It's not just about the dollar amount being spent...it's about the earnings potential of the property received in return. $4 billion spent on Marvel Entertainment has far greater earnings potential than $4 billion put into more theme parks and resorts. Disney can't even fill what it has now without heavy discounting.

 

[quikah]

There is no need for a 5th gate. There is a ton of space to expand DHS south to Osceola Parkway. They already have Streets of America that they can add Marvel themeing too (it is a waste of space 10 months of the year already). They could even completely redo the backlot tour to be marvel themed, not like we would be losing anything good IMO.

 

[DC7800]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney-marvel-entertainment-083109,0,2559631.story

Marvel also has various deals with the two-park Universal Orlando. The agreements governing two of Universal's hugely popular rides, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk roller coaster, appear to be virtually perpetual deals. According to Universal's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Universal Orlando retains American rights east of the Mississippi River for as long as its attractions are in operation.

 

[bikinpunk]

Has anyone stopped to think that it may benefit Disney more to keep the Marvel themed rides at US? Now that they own the rights, they get some payment (however much it would be, I have no idea) for licensing alone. I see no reason why Disney would want to employ those characters in their park, when they can keep them at US without having to worry about any additional overhead costs. Let that money go to work for them. This is an investment. I don’t see it as anything more than that, in terms of expanding their WDW or DCA cast/attractions.

But, I guess we’ll see…

 

[KyleRayner]

 

[KyleRayner]

I know people feel that this is weird, but I think the Marvel characters would fit in perfectly at Hollywood Studios along with the Power Rangers. Either that or a completely separate theme park.

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

Has anyone stopped to think that it may benefit Disney more to keep the Marvel themed rides at US? Now that they own the rights, they get some payment (however much it would be, I have no idea) for licensing alone. I see no reason why Disney would want to employ those characters in their park, when they can keep them at US without having to worry about any additional overhead costs. Let that money go to work for them. This is an investment. I don’t see it as anything more than that, in terms of expanding their WDW or DCA cast/attractions.

But, I guess we’ll see…

And in doing this essentially force Universal to advertise FOR Disney. Brilliant!

If I were the CEO of Universal I'd dump Marvel and go buy Six Flags which currently has the license for the DC characters (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc). Six Flags is currently in bankruptcy so they'd be cheap. Bring the Universal theming into the Six Flags parks and you have instant mini Universal theme parks all over the country. In an ecomomy where day trips are more popular than week long vacations that may be a smart move.

 

[King Triton]

Please squeeze in one more superhero.

Oh you can't leave out Spaceghost...

 

[King Triton]

Hmmmmm, it could work.

 

[tiggspring]

Wow what a great idea for US to pick up six flags with Batman etc. If DIS expande the Stuios you would have dueling superheros on I4!! My DH and DS would love this. You would have 80 percent of the boys and men in this country dying to get there and a demographic that would never age out!

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

Wow what a great idea for US to pick up six flags with Batman etc. If DIS expande the Stuios you would have dueling superheros on I4!! My DH and DS would love this. You would have 80 percent of the boys and men in this country dying to get there and a demographic that would never age out!

Exactly - my DH and DS are huge comic fans. They lean slightly for Marvel but the new batman cartoons are also very popular with DS. You've got to think that the US execs have thought about this. There's no way they would want to keep paying Disney when they could acquire heros that are equally as popular.

 

[tjkraz]

If I were the CEO of Universal I'd dump Marvel and go buy Six Flags which currently has the license for the DC characters (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc). Six Flags is currently in bankruptcy so they'd be cheap. Bring the Universal theming into the Six Flags parks and you have instant mini Universal theme parks all over the country. In an ecomomy where day trips are more popular than week long vacations that may be a smart move.

It may be a smart move....except for the fact that Six Flags is in bankruptcy protection. $2.4 billion in debt according to filings.

On the surface, it doesn't make a bit of sense to acquire a company that's being crushed by mountain of debt. Once that debt has been shed, Six Flags MAY have a fighting chance. But I can't see Universal taking that gamble. While Universal's parks have been profitable in recent years, that profit won't do much to prop-up the earnings of the Six Flags franchise if its parks continue to struggle.

In the abstract it sounds great. More Universal parks....spread the brand....new license for FL, etc. But profitability is the key. If Six Flags couldn't make it work, what reason is there to think that Universal can do better? The "Universal" name alone isn't going to turn around those parks. Building up the parks and trying to attract more business is an expensive proposition. Spend more and you need to earn more. It's a vicious circle.

Besides, there are many other themes which could be adapted to that section of the park which don't involve acquiring a bankrupt competitor.

 

[DizCaptain]

Personally, this is a bad move...Ive always found that disney is good with the family oriented heroes and such. But marvel and US has always had that edge to go beyond and have real dark themes that attract an older crowd. While many think good, Disney gets an older crowd, no one realizes that disney can do what they want with the superheroes now...IMO They can really do some damage to marvel superheroes as they did with the Star Wars Universe. I dont know yet though...just my two cents.

 

[CoolTrainerTerry]

I think this is a great idea. Two of my favorite things: Marvel and Disney. I'm just glad that Disney came right out and said that nothing's really gonna change. The comics will still be the same, it's just now owned by Disney.

 

[deej696]

Marvel Ent. is the whole shebang, including comics...

 

[deej696]

I agree with what many have said as far as what Disney will do with the characters. When it comes to this kind of transaction, its all about the execution. Sometimes 1+1=3, and others 1+1=1.5. Disney's track records with mergers is luke warm at best, as many times they try to transform what they've bought, instead of capitalizing on the things the acquired company did differently, but usually better than Disney could. Only time will tell...