Record profits...where's the reinvestment?

[BrianL]

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.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

True,but not the reinvestment people would prefer to see.

If any company starts letting the masses make its investment decisions, that company is doomed. The masses simply don't think things through. A few people have posted just how extensively Disney has reinvested in WDW parks over the last 10 years. The masses only see/hear that which is convenient to their argument.

Fact - Disney is reinvesting heavily in its parks in WDW, even without the MM+ spend.

 

[MrInfinity]

Fact - Disney is reinvesting heavily in its parks in WDW, even without the MM+ spend.

I don't think Disney paid a dividend this year. Did it?

$.75 per share in 12/2013.
$.86 per share announced for 12/2014.

That's a 15% increase.

1.7B shares outstanding. At $.75/share, that's over a billion paid out. Crazy how big Dis is.

 

[OKW Lover]

$.75 per share in 12/2013.
$.86 per share announced for 12/2014.

That's a 15% increase.

1.7B shares outstanding. At $.75/share, that's over a billion paid out. Crazy how big Dis is.

Thanks. I guess I need to pay closer attention to my stock.

 

[Otter49]

$.75 per share in 12/2013.
$.86 per share announced for 12/2014.

That's a 15% increase.

1.7B shares outstanding. At $.75/share, that's over a billion paid out. Crazy how big Dis is.

Actually, the .86 was paid in 2013. It would be too early to announce the dividend for year end 2014.

As recently as 2009, the dividend was .35 - so a 250% increase in four years. Not too shabby.

But your point is spot on - crazy big. Payout of a little over 1.5B.

 

[wisblue]

$.75 per share in 12/2013.
$.86 per share announced for 12/2014.

That's a 15% increase.

1.7B shares outstanding. At $.75/share, that's over a billion paid out. Crazy how big Dis is.

Actually, the 86 cent per share dividend was declared in December and paid in January of this year.

The dividend has more than doubled in the last 4 years.

The stock is up 3.8 points today (over 5%), so investors were apparently not too unnerved by worries about MM+ and FP+.

 

[ChipnDale79]

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 for the amount of money that was spent, many people's reviews havent been that great.

Compare what was done in California and what was done in WDW. Many of the reviews that I've read have been like this..."this is nice, but that's it?"

I don't think FLE wowed people like DLR did. (that very well could change once its complete though).

Then as you mention there is Epcot, DHS, and AK. I was one of the people that questioned why spend all of this money in MK when the other parks are in dire need of upgrades. There are numerous buildings sitting empty at Epcot.......

 

[MrInfinity]

Actually, the .86 was paid in 2013. It would be too early to announce the dividend for year end 2014.

As recently as 2009, the dividend was .35 - so a 250% increase in four years. Not too shabby.

But your point is spot on - crazy big. Payout of a little over 1.5B.

Yep! My bad. The .86 and .75 was last year and the year before.

 

[disgirl14]

The DCA revamp, including Cars Land, was completed in 2012, and has nothing to do with the most recent reported quarter. The Art of Animation Resort also opened almost two years ago. The Magic Kingdom revamp was budgeted and paid for a long time ago, too. There have been no announcements of any Star Wars additions to DHS, so yes, that is just a guess, and has nothing to do with the latest quarter, either. So aside from Avatar and improvemetns to HKDL (which most of us will never visit), there is very little actual improvements to the infrastructure of the parks (i.e., rides, attractions, lands). And yes, I know they are spending on MyMagic+...that's part of the problem! Their priorities are screwed up. How about giving the fans and guests what they really want?

False consensus effect my friend. Maybe what they are doing is what the fans do want? No, I personally probably won't ever visit HKDL but what about the people who will? Also, I am very excited for the new avatar land, as I'm sure many others are. I have not experienced FP+ yet, but keep in mind it's still in the works. Perhaps you should take action where it will matter, and suggest some improvements to the company, so they can hear your opinions.

 

[tajz90]

Dividends posted/paid in January, but no actual money was paid out in 2013.

I'm a happy stock holder & I trust Disney to do the right thing for the company even though I'm not thrilled with the new fast pass thing.

 

[BrianL]

I think for the amount of money that was spent, many people's reviews havent been that great.

Compare what was done in California and what was done in WDW. Many of the reviews that I've read have been like this..."this is nice, but that's it?"

I don't think FLE wowed people like DLR did. (that very well could change once its complete though).

Then as you mention there is Epcot, DHS, and AK. I was one of the people that questioned why spend all of this money in MK when the other parks are in dire need of upgrades. There are numerous buildings sitting empty at Epcot.......

I can get not liking New Fantasyland, but there seems to be this pervasive belief that Disney is not investing at all in new attractions. They clearly and demonstrably ARE. We do agree that the other parks needed an upgrade more than MK. MK was already great to near-perfect! At least AK is getting something, but it'll be a while.

 

[Dacky619]

Again, take a look at that poll I referenced above and tell me I'm in the minority. Count how many "pro-MM" threads there are, compared to the ones started by people who are unhappy with how the company reinvests profits. So far, there are very few of the former.

You want to claim, with a straight face, that most Disney guests would prefer new reservation systems over new and plussed attractions and lands? Why do people go to theme parks, anyway? To tinker with a reservation system or to enjoy everything that park has to offer? Reservations are just a means to that end.

Yes, they are running a business. A big part of doing that is to listen to your customers and give them what they want.

I don't need a poll to see you are in the minority. Disney setting record profits tells me you are in the minority

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out more profit it you raise prices.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I don't need a poll to see you are in the minority. Disney setting record profits tells me you are in the minority

That doesnt mean anyone is in a "minority."

I think the economy is also turning around, which means more and more people are taking vacations again and are going to places like WDW.

There are way too many variables to link the up tick directly to one thing.

Can anyone name another thing that disney has received so much backlash from?

 

[wisblue]

Dividends posted/paid in January, but no actual money was paid out in 2013.

This is literally true for a cash basis taxpayer receiving dividends from a company operating on an October 1 - September 30 fiscal year. Before January of 2014 the last dividend payment was 12/28/2012.

But, I think Disney has paid dividends for every one of its fiscal years for a long time, maybe over 50 years.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I can get not liking New Fantasyland, but there seems to be this pervasive belief that Disney is not investing at all in new attractions. They clearly and demonstrably ARE. We do agree that the other parks needed an upgrade more than MK. MK was already great to near-perfect! At least AK is getting something, but it'll be a while.

Let's put it this way, an investment in MK is less noticeable then an investment in Epcot, DHS, and AK. Maybe that's why people feel like disney isnt investing.

 

[OKW Lover]

Doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out more profit it you raise prices.

...or lower expenses.

 

[wisblue]

Can anyone name another thing that disney has received so much backlash from?

I'm sure we can think of a lot of them, but the ill fated Disney America theme park comes immediately to mind.

Maybe you would enjoy this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_The_Walt_Disney_Company

A group of rabid fans getting worked up about losing a few more chances to skip lines isn't going to get much national attention. It fits somewhere alongside the angst when FPs were introduced in the first place. In other words, an imperceptible blip on the Disney timeline. Which is where I predict this will be when we look back at it a few years from now.

 

[Dacky619]

That doesnt mean anyone is in a "minority."

I think the economy is also turning around, which means more and more people are taking vacations again and are going to places like WDW.

There are way too many variables to link the up tick directly to one thing.

Can anyone name another thing that disney has received so much backlash from?

I thought the sarcasm would be easily picked up in my post. I'm sorry you couldn't see it. There really should be a sarcasm emoticon.

But several of our friends have taken trips recently and they all love magic bands. They are not part of the disboards (nor were they super FP- users), so I don't think disney is getting quite the backlash that most of us think they are getting.

 

[tajz90]

This is literally true for a cash basis taxpayer receiving dividends from a company operating on an October 1 - September 30 fiscal year. Before January of 2014 the last dividend payment was 12/28/2012.

But, I think Disney has paid dividends for every one of its fiscal years for a long time, maybe over 50 years.

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