Disney: The Most Evil Business In The World

[Lawrence Wright]

You gotta let the week finish. There is 0% chance wait times will end up at pandemic levels. The park was operating at 50% capacity back then.

The take rate on fast passes and genie passes are up since the pandemic also.

Turns out shorter wait times can be monetized…smart business imo.

 

[RikidyBones]

The take rate on fast passes and genie passes are up since the pandemic also.

We have annual passes to universal and went last Friday. Express passes were sold out and those things can end up being over $350 per person. All parks are poppin right now.

 

[gcbvol]

Now is a good time to visit the parks. I can't for the life of me understand how folks enjoy visiting in the summer. Brutal.

 

[ClearwaterVol]

We have annual passes to universal and went last Friday. Express passes were sold out and those things can end up being over $350 per person. All parks are poppin right now.

I had the Premier Passes at Universal for years and the big advantages were that we got in an hour early, got free valet and fast pass after 4pm.

We'd generally go in the morning ride a bunch of rides in the first hour and then go have lunch, cocktails and let the kiddos swim in the pool and then return in the afternoon to utilize the fast passes and watch the laser light show.

The free valet was by far my favorite benefit. Drive straight up to the entrance drop off the car and walk in.

 

[volbound1700]

Now is a good time to visit the parks. I can't for the life of me understand how folks enjoy visiting in the summer. Brutal.

Work schedule... it is the prime vacation season because people usually have days off around the Fourth.

 

[VolinMichigan]

Now is a good time to visit the parks. I can't for the life of me understand how folks enjoy visiting in the summer. Brutal.

If you’re a FL resident, summer is often when the best discounts are. I agree that it’s sweltering but there’s usually enough indoor places to cool off.

 

[gcbvol]

Work schedule... it is the prime vacation season because people usually have days off around the Fourth.

Yeah, and kids are out of school. I get the scheduling component, but it's just so damn hot and humid. I feel for the folks with young children.

 

[gcbvol]

If you’re a FL resident, summer is often when the best discounts are. I agree that it’s sweltering but there’s usually enough indoor places to cool off.

Yep. I am and have been to the parks in summer. But after visiting in cooler months summer seems even more brutal. There's always frozen butter beer, though.

 

[RikidyBones]

Yep. I am and have been to the parks in summer. But after visiting in cooler months summer seems even more brutal. There's always frozen butter beer, though.

My 7 year old loves that stuff. We can blame the wife for that.

 

[volbound1700]

The last time that I went to Disney World (It has been over a Decade ago), was in the 3rd week of August. Although it was hot, it was a great time because the park traffic was dead because school had started. 25% of the customers were actually Europeans since it lined up with their August Vacation schedule.

We could basically walk on any ride with the exception of the most popular ones. Even with the popular ones, the longest wait we had to endure was likely 30 minutes.

As I stated before, I think Disney will be fine long-term but they do have major issues in some areas and I can see certain divisions being sold off or undergoing major revamps.

1. Marvel - To me, the issue is just that they have done too many movies and they have beaten these stories to death. They are probably the most profitable IP for Disney to this day but eventually people are going to get tired and I think it is already starting to happen.

2. LucasFilms - Overall, this is just a quality issue. There are some exception but most of the content coming out of this group is not well written and frankly almost comes off insulting to the original IP. They do shine at moments such as with Rogue One or the Mandalorian but it seems like if you give them time, they will run it into the group. Another desperation ploy seems to constantly bring in old characters for nostalgia bait but then writing them poorly. In some ways, they would be better off sticking with the new characters and not even having the original characters. Issues like hyperspace attack an enemy fleet don't even make sense in the logic of the Star Wars Universe which is a major issue.

3. Animation Studios - Seems like they are in a dry spell right now. Big issue for them may not just be the content but rather the fact that Universal/Dreamworks/Imagination are catching up and taking their spot at the top of the mountain. I still think they will likely pump out big hits going back to the well such as another Toy Story. History says this studio will eventually figure things out and come back. They have had dry spells in the past.

4. Streaming - This is the biggest loser for Disney. I think Disney+ is a major failure but this seems to be the trend across the board. Streaming is not working out for anyone.

5. ESPN - They are losing money on sports which is sad to say because this hurts the SEC Network, College Football visibility, etc. ESPN, despite politics, has been GREAT for College Athletics.


For people saying Politics is not hurting Disney, read this article from Left-Leaning CNN:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/investing/disney-earnings-bob-iger-preview/index.html

Even beyond being Woke, Disney has come off the last 10 years as a very greedy, non-personal Corporate entity. Not a reputation you want if you are a children-centric IP.

All of Disney's issues are correctable but they need the right leadership in place. I personally think they should probably get rid of Disney+ and get a deal with a streaming service like Paramount, Netflix, or HBO and just get a pay-out from that streaming service to dump their IP on it. I also think they need to sell off LucasFilms, it hasn't lived up to hype. ESPN is another option I would be looking to divest from my portfolio if I was Disney.

They need to really pick up their Animation Studio and get back to making fun children's film on par with Moana, Frozen, Lilo & Stitch, Toy Story 4, etc.

Nintendo jumping into the Children's Animation Industry is a BIG ISSUE for Disney as Mario is recognized globally far more than any other animated children's character. Nintendo has a large IP catalog that can appeal to children and be made into interesting animated content.

 

[hog88]

Yep. I am and have been to the parks in summer. But after visiting in cooler months summer seems even more brutal. There's always frozen butter beer, though.

Tell us more.

 

[RikidyBones]

Tell us more.

You've never had butter beer?

 

[hog88]

You've never had butter beer?

Never heard of it let alone had it.

 

[RikidyBones]

The last time that I went to Disney World (It has been over a Decade ago), was in the 3rd week of August. Although it was hot, it was a great time because the park traffic was dead because school had started. 25% of the customers were actually Europeans since it lined up with their August Vacation schedule.

We could basically walk on any ride with the exception of the most popular ones. Even with the popular ones, the longest wait we had to endure was likely 30 minutes.

As I stated before, I think Disney will be fine long-term but they do have major issues in some areas and I can see certain divisions being sold off or undergoing major revamps.

1. Marvel - To me, the issue is just that they have done too many movies and they have beaten these stories to death. They are probably the most profitable IP for Disney to this day but eventually people are going to get tired and I think it is already starting to happen.

2. LucasFilms - Overall, this is just a quality issue. There are some exception but most of the content coming out of this group is not well written and frankly almost comes off insulting to the original IP. They do shine at moments such as with Rogue One or the Mandalorian but it seems like if you give them time, they will run it into the group. Another desperation ploy seems to constantly bring in old characters for nostalgia bait but then writing them poorly. In some ways, they would be better off sticking with the new characters and not even having the original characters. Issues like hyperspace attack an enemy fleet don't even make sense in the logic of the Star Wars Universe which is a major issue.

3. Animation Studios - Seems like they are in a dry spell right now. Big issue for them may not just be the content but rather the fact that Universal/Dreamworks/Imagination are catching up and taking their spot at the top of the mountain. I still think they will likely pump out big hits going back to the well such as another Toy Story. History says this studio will eventually figure things out and come back. They have had dry spells in the past.

4. Streaming - This is the biggest loser for Disney. I think Disney+ is a major failure but this seems to be the trend across the board. Streaming is not working out for anyone.

5. ESPN - They are losing money on sports which is sad to say because this hurts the SEC Network, College Football visibility, etc. ESPN, despite politics, has been GREAT for College Athletics.


For people saying Politics is not hurting Disney, read this article from Left-Leaning CNN:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/investing/disney-earnings-bob-iger-preview/index.html

Even beyond being Woke, Disney has come off the last 10 years as a very greedy, non-personal Corporate entity. Not a reputation you want if you are a children-centric IP.

All of Disney's issues are correctable but they need the right leadership in place. I personally think they should probably get rid of Disney+ and get a deal with a streaming service like Paramount, Netflix, or HBO and just get a pay-out from that streaming service to dump their IP on it. I also think they need to sell off LucasFilms, it hasn't lived up to hype. ESPN is another option I would be looking to divest from my portfolio if I was Disney.

They need to really pick up their Animation Studio and get back to making fun children's film on par with Moana, Frozen, Lilo & Stitch, Toy Story 4, etc.

Nintendo jumping into the Children's Animation Industry is a BIG ISSUE for Disney as Mario is recognized globally far more than any other animated children's character. Nintendo has a large IP catalog that can appeal to children and be made into interesting animated content.

Nintendo is going to be a problem for them if they dive in decently. So far with universal opening a new park dedicated to it in Orlando in a year or so and one opened in CA already, it has some solid potential.

 

[gcbvol]

My 7 year old loves that stuff. We can blame the wife for that.

I'd be 300lbs if I could get it anywhere.

 

[RikidyBones]

Never heard of it let alone had it.

It's a drink in Harry Potter. There's no alcohol in it at universal but it's a cream soda/butterscotch type drink. You can get it frozen like a slushie or regular.

 

[gcbvol]

Tell us more.

It's from Harry Potter. The park version reminds me of cream soda and maybe butterscotch? @utvols88 does that sound right? Been a couple years since I've had it.

They serve it non-fozen, too, but it's not as good.

 

[gcbvol]

The pumpkin juice sucks.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Disney will Slash Thousands of Staff NEXT WEEK - including 15% of its Entertainment Division - as firm seeks to ax 7,000 of its 220,000 global workforce amid ongoing clash with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

• The changes will see 15% of its entertainment division culled in coming weeks

The Walt Disney Company is going to cut thousands of staff next week - including 15 percent of its entertainment division.

The layoffs will affect all major divisions of the roughly $185 billion company, which was recently split into: entertainment, ESPN and parks and resorts.

These plans were first reported by Bloomberg, but align with an announcement in February in which the company said it would ax 7,000 positions to cut annual costs by $5.5 billion.


Disney's 'bloodbath' layoffs are set to hit thousands of workers across every division in the US | Daily Mail Online

 

[VolinMichigan]

Yep. I am and have been to the parks in summer. But after visiting in cooler months summer seems even more brutal. There's always frozen butter beer, though.

Uggghh too sweet. I’ve had it a couple of times. I’d describe it as kind of like a cream soda slushie. I could feel my pancreas signaling defeat. They did have some kind of orange spice drink that I liked a lot more last time we went. They also have a dark beer made specifically for the Harry Potter section that wasn’t bad.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Disney Lawyers worried about 'optics,' Disguised Their Input in last-ditch development deal, Emails Show

FIRST ON FOX — Lawyers for the Walt Disney Company tried to hide their authorship of a rushed development agreement with a local Florida board that heavily favored the company, according to internal emails reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Those emails showed that Disney's lawyers tried to disguise their involvement in writing the agreement, and were worried about bad "optics" for the company if it was seen as the author.

Emails reviewed by Fox News Digital that were also read aloud at a meeting of the new board on Wednesday show that a draft of the agreement that was circulated earlier this year listed Walt Disney World Resort chief counsel John McGowan as the drafter, and that McGowan preferred putting someone else's name on the draft.

"My name is currently at the top of the document as a drafter," McGowan wrote. "And I am comfortable having my name on it, but from an optics perspective that is not ideal and it would be better to have a non-Disney employee be the drafter."

Disney lawyers worried about 'optics,' disguised their input in last-ditch development deal, emails show

 

[gcbvol]

Uggghh too sweet. I’ve had it a couple of times. I’d describe it as kind of like a cream soda slushie. I could feel my pancreas signaling defeat. They did have some kind of orange spice drink that I liked a lot more last time we went. They also have a dark beer made specifically for the Harry Potter section that wasn’t bad.

Yeah, I have a sweet tooth. Sounds like you were okay with the pumpkin juice, which I thought was awful. LOL. Different palates.

 

[MurphyVol]

Disney Lawyers worried about 'optics,' Disguised Their Input in last-ditch development deal, Emails Show

FIRST ON FOX — Lawyers for the Walt Disney Company tried to hide their authorship of a rushed development agreement with a local Florida board that heavily favored the company, according to internal emails reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Those emails showed that Disney's lawyers tried to disguise their involvement in writing the agreement, and were worried about bad "optics" for the company if it was seen as the author.

Emails reviewed by Fox News Digital that were also read aloud at a meeting of the new board on Wednesday show that a draft of the agreement that was circulated earlier this year listed Walt Disney World Resort chief counsel John McGowan as the drafter, and that McGowan preferred putting someone else's name on the draft.

"My name is currently at the top of the document as a drafter," McGowan wrote. "And I am comfortable having my name on it, but from an optics perspective that is not ideal and it would be better to have a non-Disney employee be the drafter."

Disney lawyers worried about 'optics,' disguised their input in last-ditch development deal, emails show

Speaking of bad optics:

Exclusive: Two More Congressmen From Florida Plan to Endorse Trump in Blow to DeSantis
Their pledges continue something of a downward spiral for DeSantis, who has been steadily losing ground in the endorsement battle for legislators from his own backyard.

2 More Florida Congressmen Plan to Endorse Trump: Exclusive | Time

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Just build a lot of Affordable Housing all around Disney. The Marxists surely would not oppose that.

 

[Orangeburst]

It's a drink in Harry Potter. There's no alcohol in it at universal but it's a cream soda/butterscotch type drink. You can get it frozen like a slushie or regular.

Hog thought it combined 2 of his favorites and turns out it has neither..LOL