Record profits...where's the reinvestment?

[wisblue]

I don't even know what that means I meant paid out to me (reinvested) & others like me

If you aren't a shareholder, you didn't get any money from Disney last year or the year before.

But, it is important to remember that the first responsibility of the management and board of directors of a publicly traded company is to its shareholders, the people who are directly invested in the company.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I never said that they don't reinvest in their parks. What I have said, in several threads, is that they cynically reinvest the minimum that they think they can get away with. That's apparent when you consider all the persistently neglected areas of the parks.

And I thought these were fan/traveller forums, not "investor forums."

By the way, I would argue that the shareholders, the fans, even the company -- yes, everybody -- would be far better served if the WDC's number one priority was to create greatness and quality products. In other words, if they could think more long term and forget about the next quarter. Build it, and they will come. Or, as John Lasseter says, "Quality is the best business plan."

 

[ekendall2]

perhaps you just don't know what reinvestment means, but money spent on mymagic+ is a reinvestment.

/end thread

 

[tajz90]

If you aren't a shareholder, you didn't get any money from Disney last year or the year before.

But, it is important to remember that the first responsibility of the management and board of directors of a publicly traded company is to its shareholders, the people who are directly invested in the company.

We were paid dividends in 2012, but not 2013 you mean.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

So why is New Fantasyland overlooked as reinvestment/new attractions? It was a major endeavor and added three attractions (well, once 7DMT is actually open). Granted, MK was the least in need of major new attractions, but then again, it's the most popular theme park destination in the world so maybe it earned it.

Granted Epcot, DHS, and AK need a little love, but to say that Disney is not investing at all in their parks is nonsense.

I think it is overshadowed by the Carsland expansion. The FLE is nice, but the 7DMT is still not completed. ETWB is neat, but it's a low capacity attraction aimed at girls. Voyage of the Little Mermaid is copy of the same ride they have in DCA.

Considering that there have been recent additional cuts to entertainment in the parks. I can undertand why some are disappointed. I think the fact that most of us don't even expect Disney to replace entertainers that have left or are leaving anymore says a lot.

 

[Davey Jones II]

False consensus effect my friend. Maybe what they are doing is what the fans do want?.

If they held similar polls in the parks, the results would be similar. Why? Because people go to the parks to enjoy the park attractions -- not for a bells and whistles reservation/admission system. To argue otherwise would be like saying that people in a movie theatre are not there for the movies -- they came to tinker with the keypad that allows you to buy movie tickets.

 

[estherhead]

I think it is overshadowed by the Carsland expansion. The FLE is nice, but the 7DMT is still not completed. ETWB is neat, but it's a low capacity attraction aimed at girls. Voyage of the Little Mermaid is copy of the same ride they have in DCA.

Considering that there have been recent additional cuts to entertainment in the parks. I can undertand why some are disappointed. I think the fact that most of us don't even expect Disney to replace entertainers that have left or are leaving anymore says a lot.

But Disney is doing what needs done for each park in the order that it needs done, in my opinion. DCA was a half done park and so it needed a total overhaul. So they gave it undivided attention.

Though MK was great, it is the most popular park in the world and needed more areas to hold people. So now you have a giant Dumbo tent, Character Greets everywhere, ETWB that holds lots of people, etc, etc. And now AK closes early, losing money and not holding it's allotment of people after 6:00 pm. So it goes next.

And I'm guessing DHS will be next since it is becoming more popular and crowded. Epcot may need some major overhauls from we veteran's point of view, but as far as the company goes, it does it's job. It's huge, holds a lot of people, and makes a ton of money with shopping and dining.

Harry Potter can only be compared to DCA. IoA was not up to the level of all the other Orlando parks. So Universal needed to do what Disney did to DCA.

From a business point of view, I think what Disney has done makes sense. It might not be what we want, but it does make logical sense. Even MM+. If they can give 90% of the visitors a better experience, they will sacrifice the 10%. And that alone does make money. 90% will speak more positively on social media, come back more often, and happier people spend more money.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If they held similar polls in the parks, the results would be similar. Why? Because people go to the parks to enjoy the park attractions

I am not sure that I agree. The "random" guest in a WDW park has probably never been there before, or not in some time. The random guest would probably think that the bracelets are cool, and that fast passes reserved in advance are awesome.

I am guessing - I really don't know. Are there stats on a random poll taken in the parks as opposed to polls taken on WDW sites or FaceBook (where the responder is far from a "random" guest)?

 

[wisblue]

We were paid dividends in 2012, but not 2013 you mean.

I didn't mean for this to be confusing, or a big deal.

Shareholders have been paid dividends for every fiscal year of the company for a long time.

At least for the last several years, the dividends have usually been paid in January but, for whatever reason, the dividend declared in December of 2012 was paid on 12/28/12 instead of in January of 2013. So, someone who has been a shareholder for several years received 2 dividend payments in calendar year 2012 (one in January and one in December) but none in calendar year 2013.

 

[wisblue]

If they held similar polls in the parks, the results would be similar. Why? Because people go to the parks to enjoy the park attractions -- not for a bells and whistles reservation/admission system. To argue otherwise would be like saying that people in a movie theatre are not there for the movies -- they came to tinker with the keypad that allows you to buy movie tickets.

Not a good analogy.

You are assuming that everyone in the parks (even those who want to do as many attractions as possible) is now able to do less. But, those guests who didn't know how to maximize the use of paper FP, or didn't care to deal with it because of how it forced them into a return time that may not be convenient for them, are now able to do more things than they did before in the same amount of time, especially if they are satisfied doing things once instead of multiple times.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Not a good analogy.

You are assuming that everyone in the parks (even those who want to do as many attractions as possible) is now able to do less. But, those guests who didn't know how to maximize the use of paper FP, or didn't care to deal with it because of how it forced them into a return time that may not be convenient for them, are now able to do more things than they did before in the same amount of time, especially if they are satisfied doing things once instead of multiple times.

Whose fault is it for not knowing how to use a paper fast pass or know the best way to get the most out of your time?

I don't care if you're a first time visitor or not, do some research before you go on vacation. Of all places that you can vacation there is probably more material on a disney vacation then anywhere else in the world.

It's really that simple, if you spend that kind of money on anything, do some dang research.

It's not my fault someone didnt research their trip......

 

[tajz90]

I didn't mean for this to be confusing, or a big deal.

Shareholders have been paid dividends for every fiscal year of the company for a long time.

At least for the last several years, the dividends have usually been paid in January but, for whatever reason, the dividend declared in December of 2012 was paid on 12/28/12 instead of in January of 2013. So, someone who has been a shareholder for several years received 2 dividend payments in calendar year 2012 (one in January and one in December) but none in calendar year 2013.

Ha! Thanks for the explanation but I wasn't confused on when I was paid haha.

 

[mom2rtk]

If they held similar polls in the parks, the results would be similar. Why? Because people go to the parks to enjoy the park attractions -- not for a bells and whistles reservation/admission system. To argue otherwise would be like saying that people in a movie theatre are not there for the movies -- they came to tinker with the keypad that allows you to buy movie tickets.

But Tom Staggs came out and said their research told them guests wanted to interact more with their electronic devices in the parks.

They didn't ask me.

My guess is they misinterpreted the clamor for free Wi-Fi.

 

[FireDancer]

Keep in mind when Disney says "Parks" or "Them Parks Division" the really mean the Parks and Resorts business segment, not literally the theme parks by themselves.

Disney will be investing more and more in the overseas parks, especially in China, because of the potential for growth there. They also announce a new Ratatouille themed attraction and restaurant in Paris. They will take the income from the American parks and spend it in those parks.

The resorts are in that division so investments in things like DVC (including DVC no where near the Theme parks) or the building of AoA are capital expenditures in the Parks and Resorts division.

The cruise line is in that division so those two floating cities they introduced in 2011 and 2012 along with the referb of the Magic are all capital investment in the "Parks".

Much of NextGen's cost is probably being allocated to that division so there is more capital expenditure.

Just because they aren't spending it how (general) you want or even in ways that are visible to guests doesn't mean it isn't being spent.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Not a good analogy.

You are assuming that everyone in the parks (even those who want to do as many attractions as possible) is now able to do less. But, those guests who didn't know how to maximize the use of paper FP, or didn't care to deal with it because of how it forced them into a return time that may not be convenient for them, are now able to do more things than they did before in the same amount of time, especially if they are satisfied doing things once instead of multiple times.

Nope, I'm assuming exactly what I said: that people go to the parks for everything that the parks offer, not for the reservation/admission system. While some may prefer FP+ to Legacy Fast Pass (and clearly many don't), I am sure that most guests would prefer more rides and attractions to a new fangled reservation system. Why on earth wouldn't they? More to choose from, more to do, and more fun.

Let's drop this myth that the posters on this site are somehow freaks who are not representative of Disney fans and guests. That's nonsense. These days, virtually everyone has a computer, and posting on some site, about whatever you happen to be interested in, is something millions of people do. If the Disney execs want to ignore what we say, that would be a huge loss of free and valuable feedback.

I just wish they had asked us BEFORE blowing $1.5 billion on the so-called Magic Bands.