A reason to be thankful that Disney has been a bit stingy

[sublimesting]

I was just reading on MSN about companies projected to go bankrupt this year due to crushing debt in the billions. Among them are Blockbuster, GM, Ford, and Chevy and Six Flags. Almost all of them expanded or did too much at the wrong time.
We always give Disney a bad rap for not doing enough to enhance the parks and for not adding on to WDW. but, i'd much rather have a conservative park that I know will be there for the rest of my life than one that is run recklessly. We gripe that they make small cuts that ruin our experince but maybe these small cuts were just enough that Disney needed to be able to play it safe and conservative. From what I see when money is flowing well, Disney builds and adds on. They must be doing something right to have the largest entertainment compay in the world and be able to offer the great product that they do.
And to be honest, we only notice the cuts because we are "in the know" and spoiled. But I can say that when I went a few years ago after not being there since I was 16, i thought it was the greatest because I didn't know what had been cut or what was missing. But most visitors aren't nuts like us and would never notice.
Anyways, with the way the recession is going I am glad Disney is not nor never has spend recklessly.

 

[DisneyMom4]

Very well said! :sohappy:

Disney makes tough choices, but they seem to be good choices.

 

[SirGoofy]

I was just reading on MSN about companies projected to go bankrupt this year due to crushing debt in the billions. Among them are Blockbuster, GM, Ford, and Chevy and Six Flags. Almost all of them expanded or did too much at the wrong time.
We always give Disney a bad rap for not doing enough to enhance the parks and for not adding on to WDW. but, i'd much rather have a conservative park that I know will be there for the rest of my life than one that is run recklessly. We gripe that they make small cuts that ruin our experince but maybe these small cuts were just enough that Disney needed to be able to play it safe and conservative. From what I see when money is flowing well, Disney builds and adds on. They must be doing something right to have the largest entertainment compay in the world and be able to offer the great product that they do.
And to be honest, we only notice the cuts because we are "in the know" and spoiled. But I can say that when I went a few years ago after not being there since I was 16, i thought it was the greatest because I didn't know what had been cut or what was missing. But most visitors aren't nuts like us and would never notice.
Anyways, with the way the recession is going I am glad Disney is not nor never has spend recklessly.

Eh, I don't agree with you. Six flags was in the toilet because they bought up every park they could get their hands on, and really overreached.

And the American Automakers...yea that's a whole different issue.

And none of us are asking for them to spend recklessly. Well at least not the ones with any brains. There is nothing reckless about raising maintenance budgets so the rides look in top shape. And there isn't anything reckless about building a ride here and there.

I wouldn't expect them to go build an E-ticket every year, because that would be reckless. But when MK hasn't gotten a new one in almost 20 years, there's something wrong.

As for the part I bolded...don't be so sure of that. Plenty of regular guests notice the decline in quality that has happened the past few years.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

Finally, someone sensible!! :sohappy: BIG companies that I would never expect to go bankrupt are and quite frankly, if it could happen to these companies, it could happen to anyone. Including Disney.
and for the record, I don't think MK needs ANY new E-ticket attractions. It already has THE E-Ticket attractions. POTC, HM, Space Mountain, ect... if money was to be spent on new E-tickets, it should be at one of the other parks. Animal Kingdom or Hollywood studios to be exact.
Plus, if Six Flags is going out of bankrupt, what would the chances of Disney grabbing DC characters as an answer to Universal's Marvel? Not likely but a guy can dream, can he? XD

 

[SirGoofy]

Finally, someone sensible!! :sohappy:
and for the record, I don't think MK needs ANY new E-ticket attractions. It already has THE E-Ticket attractions. POTC, HM, Space Mountain, ect... if money was to be spent on new E-tickets, it should be at one of the other parks. Animal Kingdom or Hollywood studios to be exact.

I disagree. Both parks you listed are chock full of E-tickets, and both need smaller rides to compliment them.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Complete and utter fan boy apologist bollox. Disney is a cash income business like a supermarket, the comparison to the auto industry is erroneous. The companies who are suffering in the entertainment sector are ones who have used loans to expand or purchase competitors, buying a park is a bit different from building a ride.

Look at Man Utd , the worlds wealthiest football club is in stook because the Glaziers leveraged the loans based on future income.

I cant believe some folk are so blindly loyal that they swallow the party line without question.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I suppose, but when they make a smaller attraction, everyone complains that Disney's being "cheap"

 

[SirGoofy]

Complete and utter fan boy apologist bollox. Disney is a cash income business like a supermarket, the comparison to the auto industry is erroneous. The companies who are suffering in the entertainment sector are ones who have used loans to expand or purchase competitors, buying a park is a bit different from building a ride.

Look at Man Utd , the worlds wealthiest football club is in stook because the Glaziers leveraged the loans based on future income.

I cant believe some folk are so blindly loyal that they swallow the party line without question.

Agreed.

I suppose, but when they make a smaller attraction, everyone complains that Disney's being "cheap"

Not if they are quality attractions. AE and Timekeeper were smaller attractions, and were almost unanimously praised.

I could care less how big the attraction is as long it's a quality one.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I could care less how big the attraction is as long it's a quality one.

Yeah but "quality" is in the eye of the beholder. Some attractions I find to be in decent quality gets bashed here constantly because they aren't up to THEIR personal standards or just aren't the kind of attractions "they grew up with"

Complete and utter fan boy apologist bollox. Disney is a cash income business like a supermarket, the comparison to the auto industry is erroneous. The companies who are suffering in the entertainment sector are ones who have used loans to expand or purchase competitors, buying a park is a bit different from building a ride.

Look at Man Utd , the worlds wealthiest football club is in stook because the Glaziers leveraged the loans based on future income.

I cant believe some folk are so blindly loyal that they swallow the party line without question.

I can't believe some folk are so blindly viewing Disney so godlike that they can't accept it when reality hits.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I can't believe some folk are so blindly viewing Disney so godlike that they can't accept it when reality hits.

Probably because comparing Disney to GM or Slix Flags, and especially Blockbuster is quite pointless. If Disney were a car company or amusement park chain or a video rental store, then the comparison would be logical. But it's not. Disney is it's own huge one-of-a-kind entertainment corporation that can't compare to anything from either a business prospective or a creative one.

Disney isn't godlike, but it isn't just another random corporation.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

no, Disney would no go bankrupt like Blockbuster is, but they still have a LOT to lose if they throw EE money at an attraction or two and no one came to ride it because no one has the money

 

[krankenstein]

That's redonkulous! :brick:

Disney isn't anywhere near being in the same position as those companies. They operate in totally different sectors and the ones you listed are not nearly as diverse as Disney. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Disney isn't godlike, but it isn't just another random corporation.

And thats the point, it is a large monster of a corporation it seems that certain parks are deemed cash cows, and that they can be pumped for revenue to support other parts of the business.

And unlike a lot of big business this one has created a fanatical fan base, a brand that is instantly recognisable world wide, and a reputation for quality and excellence. However that means nowt cause its all about bonuses and shareholders, apparently.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

no, Disney would no go bankrupt like Blockbuster is, but they still have a LOT to lose if they throw EE money at an attraction or two and no one came to ride it because no one has the money

And the odds of that happening are? Judging by attendance this year, the answer is no. Disney will always find a way to make money and people will always visit WDW.

Disney makes movies, DVDs, merchandise, TV programing, food, you name it they make it. Something out there will make money. GM makes cars so if people don't buy their cars they are screwed.

Remember that this was the company that survived the lousy openings of DCA and Euro Disney Resort, spent $1 billion on a theme park the same year Tron and Tex weren't exactly box office gold, the energy crisis of the 70s, post 9/11 tourist drops etc. and always came back on their feet.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

no, Disney would no go bankrupt like Blockbuster is, but they still have a LOT to lose if they throw EE money at an attraction or two and no one came to ride it because no one has the money

Capital expenditure is not something that is expected to repay itself immediately so I dont get the risks you talk of. And Im sure that if the US is like the UK there are some tax breaks that can offset some of the outlay.

Also cash rich companies dont need finance from banks so are unaffected by higher loan charges but are affected by lower returns on the cash. That is why the supermarkets and some successful stores in the UK (McDs being one) are taking the down turn to go on aggressive expansion programs. Labour is lower, materials down, and if your not borrowing its a good time.

Unless your Disney World apparently

 

[Grumpy-Fan]

Good Lord!:hammer:

 

[toystory 3]

Although all of the cuts have been tremendously devastating to the "hardcore" fan, the biggest fault that Disney is doing to its fan base is not listening. 23 sucked! Monsters Inc. on Blu Ray has been pushed back to May 2010?? New attractions include a balloon ride and a Stitch puppet show, now cuts in parades??? When is enough, enough??? I love Disney! I really do, I will go to Disney World three times this year but by the time I get there in August what will be missing?? I grew up going to Six Flags over Texas, it stinks, it too small, and asking for a new attraction is like pulling teeth. My first trip to Disney was "magical" and everytime I have visited after that it has been better than the last. That is what we exspect from them. We want more magic and less excusses. Everyone knows that times are hard but dont lose sight of what Disney is all about Magic.

 

[Figment632]

Eh, I don't agree with you. Six flags was in the toilet because they bought up every park they could get their hands on, and really .

I disagree one of the main reasons Six Flags is in trouble is because they offer nothing but rough trill rides. That is the reason why I haven't been to six flags Great Adventure in a while and will probally never go back. It is badly themed and never builds anything but coasters would it kill them to build a Dark ride I'd something?

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

I feel Disney should focus on the parks they have right now before expanding even more in Asia.
Look at how Hong Kong Disneyland is doing, and the expansion plan just got slashed there.

 

[toystorymaniacs]

We all have things we would like to see Disney offer or do. We all see ways that they might improve but there is no where else I would rather take my vacation dollars. I agree with the original poster, Disney has to make tough choices and has to weigh a lot of options. The fact that they are doing so well in this economy says a lot. Imagine what the state of our economy would be if Disney had to close its doors.