A Spirited Perfect Ten

[ParentsOf4]

I was talking percentages, however less of an internal comparison. Comparitive to Jay, Tom has done well running P&R but compared to their competitors they are investing less, bringing in huge revenues, yet have far worse margins. I believe in 2013, CMCSA reported 44% margins in theme parks. While I wouldn't expect 40%+, I would like to see at least 30%. They are seemingly hemorrhaging cash somewhere and we all know where it isn't.

Maybe I'll dig in and post a better write up later. Keep in mind I am likely missing something obvious here as I didn't really do a thorough job.

I agree with you that, even with the recent improvement in Parks & Resorts operating margin, last year's 17.6% was subpar by many standards. However, it was Disney's best in over a decade.

Before the Paul Pressler crash-and-burn, P&R averaged 21.6% over 3 decades.

In 2013 (2014 numbers should be released later this month), Universal was at 31.5%.

In 2013, Six Flags was at 18.4%.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Many areas in WDW have 'hanging out with guests' as an assigned task for CMs to pick up. In many cases that's just hanging around answering questions, giving directions, but it can also be fooling around with stuff like hoops or street games. You won't always see it, but if the park is quiet and the Cast Members have been called in to work with nothing to do, or have a spare half hour, they might be sent out to do stuff like that just to add a little bit of magic to a now very quiet corner of the park - that's all that pic from the tour shows.

No, it shows a closed attraction that has no announced replacement and no construction being cleverly hidden by CMs with MAGICal hoola hoops.

Remember when Disney parks were world class theme parks?

 

[ford91exploder]

I agree with you that, even with the recent improvement in Parks & Resorts operating margin, last year's 17.6% was subpar by many standards. However, it was Disney's best in over a decade.

Before the Paul Pressler crash-and-burn, P&R averaged 21.6% over 3 decades.

In 2013 (2014 numbers should be released later this month), Universal was at 31.5%, although that's going to drop in 2014.

In 2013, Six Flags was at 18.4%.

Pathetic - especially since Disney is the one being run by 'Businessmen', Not those touchy-feely creative types.

 

[Cesar R M]

wow...
http://www.naturalnews.com/048519_vaccines_measles_virus_shedding.html#

EDIT: all I could say was WOW.... because of how ridiculous that is.

that is not 100% right, because vaccines themselves, are WEAKER or DEAD viruses of the same type, they're not fully blown active viruses.
And the current outbreak looks more like a full fledged virus from an UN-vacinated person.

 

[Cesar R M]

No city in China has clear skies, For the Beijing olympics China shut down factories and power plants for hundreds of miles around.

if they have so much power on building, why the hell they dont build nature-friendly towns?
put towers of apartments full of plants, trees, parks..etc..
not concrete lands!

 

[Cesar R M]

Think about it. How else would you do it? I would not want to put on a costume that 50 other Dad's put on before me. The show works for what it is. The animatronics and the magic mirror are cool. It is much better than a standard M&G.

now.. if they could put a decent guardians of the galaxy M&G including an animatronic groot and rocket.

 

[Cesar R M]

With all the smog flying through the air around there it would be more Chokin' than Soarin'.

then they will sell people oxygen tanks for a premium.

Meanwhile at Iger's office.

"We're gonna be richer than ever!"

 

[GoofGoof]

Pathetic - especially since Disney is the one being run by 'Businessmen', Not those touchy-feely creative types.

Are Universal and Six Flaggs actually run by touchy-feely creative types? Serious question. I have no idea who runs six flags or the Parks division for Comcast. Maybe Stagg's replacement could come from Universal. It would be a pretty big step up to go from running Universal Parks to running Disney's. No clue if the guy would be a serious candidate.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Isn't it amazing that Disneyland announces today on the Parks Blog they are closing a ride in two weeks, and shows WDI concept art of the brand new ride experience to replace the closed ride, and then gives an aggressive reopening timetable of "Early 2016" (one year)!

A year is hardly aggressive in any meaningful sense. There are no new show buildings or scenes being built out. It's a flat surface replacing a flat surface with new ride vehicles to replicate a rather ho-hum attraction that debuted a decade and half earlier.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

Isn't it amazing that Disneyland announces today on the Parks Blog they are closing a ride in two weeks, and shows WDI concept art of the brand new ride experience to replace the closed ride, and then gives an aggressive reopening timetable of "Early 2016" (one year)!

Talk about the growing chasm between the way they do things in Anaheim versus the way they do things in WDW.... http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...perience-at-disney-california-adventure-park/

Meanwhile, in Orlando...

That lucky kid. Her parents woke up in the middle of the night to get the FP+ for Disney's Magical Hula Hoop Hoedown.

Everyone else had to wait in a 120 minute Stand-by line.

Still, looks like it's more fun than hanging out at the Hub these days.

 

[ford91exploder]

if they have so much power on building, why the hell they dont build nature-friendly towns?
put towers of apartments full of plants, trees, parks..etc..
not concrete lands!

It's not in the nature of a communist government as heavy industry is considered more important because it creates jobs for workers, than the environment its just the way it is.

 

[ford91exploder]

Are Universal and Six Flaggs actually run by touchy-feely creative types? Serious question. I have no idea who runs six flags or the Parks division for Comcast. Maybe Stagg's replacement could come from Universal. It would be a pretty big step up to go from running Universal Parks to running Disney's. No clue if the guy would be a serious candidate.

There are LOTS of ex-WDI people who were forced out by Pressler/Rasulo/Staggs at UNI on both coasts and there are some at Six Flags as well, SFOT is getting a trackless dark ride for crying out loud.

I don't think you would get many UNI people to go to WDW as at UNI they have budget and much greater creative freedom, Yes UNI is heavy on SCREENS but look at the name 'Universal STUDIOS' so they of course are more screen centric.

Personally I prefer good AA's but - Spiderman and MIB those are D--n good attractions screens or no.

 

[lazyboy97o]

There are LOTS of ex-WDI people who were forced out by Pressler/Rasulo/Staggs at UNI on both coasts and there are some at Six Flags as well, SFOT is getting a trackless dark ride for crying out loud.

Six flags is not getting a trackless ride, but a budget version of the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride system. They also do not have much of a design group, instead hiring design firms.

 

[ford91exploder]

Six flags is not getting a trackless ride, but a budget version of the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride system. They also do not have much of a design group, instead hiring design firms.

Given that what is WDW getting, Some 'Off the shelf' flat rides and another TSMM track, Even with your correction SFOT is getting a FAR more advanced ride system than anything announced for WDW.

I'd say SFOT is bringing their A-game whereas WDW is just mailing it in.

 

[ford91exploder]

Imagine what Tony Baxter could do if UNI gave him a generous budget

 

[spacemt354]

Given that what is WDW getting, Some 'Off the shelf' flat rides and another TSMM track, Even with your correction SFOT is getting a FAR more advanced ride system than anything announced for WDW.

I'd say SFOT is bringing their A-game whereas WDW is just mailing it in.

The Avatar ride system seems pretty advanced. I think that's a tad hyperbolic to say WDW is mailing it in compared to Six Flags.

 

[ford91exploder]

The Avatar ride system seems pretty advanced. I think that's a tad hyperbolic to say WDW is mailing it in compared to Six Flags.

That ride has not been BUILT and it's just a upgrade of the Soarin mechanism, So not impressed and stand by the mailing it in comment.

 

[GoofGoof]

There are LOTS of ex-WDI people who were forced out by Pressler/Rasulo/Staggs at UNI on both coasts and there are some at Six Flags as well, SFOT is getting a trackless dark ride for crying out loud.

I don't think you would get many UNI people to go to WDW as at UNI they have budget and much greater creative freedom, Yes UNI is heavy on SCREENS but look at the name 'Universal STUDIOS' so they of course are more screen centric.

Personally I prefer good AA's but - Spiderman and MIB those are D--n good attractions screens or no.

Didn't the Star Wars guy at WDI (trowbridge?) come from Universal? I think the petty "us vs them" stuff is more prominent in the fan community then amongst the actual employees. Plus, money talks. Disney P&R is about 7X the size of Universal based on revenue. It's a significantly larger operation which equals bigger paycheck. When it's your job you make a move based on the best opportunity. If a high ranking exec at Universal was offered the head of P&R job at Disney they'd most likely jump unless there were personal reasons.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Are Universal and Six Flaggs actually run by touchy-feely creative types? Serious question. I have no idea who runs six flags or the Parks division for Comcast. Maybe Stagg's replacement could come from Universal. It would be a pretty big step up to go from running Universal Parks to running Disney's. No clue if the guy would be a serious candidate.

http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/man...es/universal-parks-resorts/thomas-l-williams/

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Didn't the Star Wars guy at WDI (trowbridge?) come from Universal? I think the petty "us vs them" stuff is more prominent in the fan community then amongst the actual employees. Plus, money talks. Disney P&R is about 7X the size of Universal based on revenue. It's a significantly larger operation which equals bigger paycheck. When it's your job you make a move based on the best opportunity. If a high ranking exec at Universal was offered the head of P&R job at Disney they'd most likely jump unless there were personal reasons.

Not if you would go from an exec with actual power to guide the creative process to a yes man to the yes man to "Lord Business".