The Spirit Takes the Fifth ...

[Darth Sidious]

Honestly, I don't understand any possibility were Disney wasn't fully aware of Market's gaming business. You don't enter into four billion plus buyouts not knowing every aspect about what you are purchasing. If Disney/Iger didn't know, then the BoD has major oversight issues.

I'd say Iger knew exactly what he was buying.

I concur, working in the finance biz... They'd know every last revenue stream before the acquisition. That's why they hire the big time IBs to do their due diligence and frame the deal.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

If Disney is working to align Marvel with stated policy, then why did Marvel renew a contract 2 years ago when Disney bought them over 4 years ago?

Simple, my facts are better than your facts.

That's a fact.

 

[danlb_2000]

Simple, my facts are better than your facts.

That's a fact.

Not my facts, facts from a Marvel spokesman via the New York Times article.

 

[artvandelay]

In a sense Disney does have gambling on their ships... They have very popular Bingo games that you buy into and try to win the cash prizes. Bingo is just another form of regulated gambling.

And very expensive BINGO games!

 

[flynnibus]

And very expensive BINGO games!

Yeah, I'm a little ashamed on how much I spent on them... but my youngest really enjoyed it so it was a good activity to do onboard that both parents and kids could do together. We were only one # away from two big jackpots... but I did win a raffle

 

[alissafalco]

Why was Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV locked?

 

[unkadug]

Why was Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV locked?

Because the conversation was moved here...???

 

[GoofGoof]

Gambling and Disney...two of my favorite subjects. It's a totally hypocritical approach to fight against gambling in the Orlando area and then have a subsidiary profit from gambling. It's hypocritical, but not at all surprising. TWDC is a large corporation that is greedy and opportunistic like most successful large corporations. It's not like it's a non-profit collecting money to fight cancer and then selling cigarettes. I get the issue and Iger clearly got called out on it, but I don't see this being a major issue for TWDC.

They will let the contracts run their course and then not renew. If anyone else asks now or in the future this will be the official policy, but the machines will probably be in casinos for years. I noticed a few people mention that they should have just cancelled the contracts and payed a penalty, but that may not be an option. Without seeing the contracts there is no way of knowing.

 

[BrianLo]

I still require help clarifying this issue. I understand Disney's stance and how it is two-faced to have a gambling liscening deal with a subsidiary, and to be indirectly profiting from a company whom they've purchased. I get that deals being renewed 2 years into purchasing Marvel means they maybe were actually trying to profit from the deal. So:

A) It was a hypocritical on their behalf to market "Disney is family friendly and against gambling" (and yes we all agree they have much to benefit by keeping the casino's out). So I understand how some people are upset or ambivalent towards the deal (because it wasn't "Disney" per say).

Now...

B) Disney has been caught with their hands in the cookie-jar (assuming the BOD was maliciously renewing the liscening deals). However, Iger is dismantling the deals to up-hold their mantra.

So apart from maybe requiring a News Story to identify the hypocrisy, why are we upset with Iger that he is ditching the gambling like everyone wanted in the first place? It seems like people got what they wanted, is this not a good thing?

Unless...

C) People really want Disney to not by hypocritical and just embrace gambling across the board?

Or

D) The liscening deal is really just fodder to justify that Marvel really doesn't fit into Disney. (Fair enough, but that ship sailed a while back and a few slot machines isn't going to really sway my opinion. It was a smart business decision that compliments Disney well.)


I just want to know why people seem to be upset even though the situation has completely changed to what people wanted a few months ago, and why this is being made into a scandal beyond "ha ha Disney got caught and now they are course correcting".

Also what is the actual dollar figure this deal brings in for Marvel? It's not like they are running Marvel casino's all over the world. I feel like we are talking about a few thousand slot machines here, which seriously can't be generating that much revenue? Does the Marvel president seriously care, really?

My opinion remains that A really wasn't a major issue, but good that B has happened and they continue their schtick of being anti-gambling, but why are people still upset over this?

I feel like there is some sort of agenda that I don't quite grasp. I'm just curious what it is so I can form my opinion accordingly.

 

[WDW1974]

Just had a chance to read the entire Miceage update and I noticed when talking about the new upgrades coming to Soarin at DCA they mentioned Shanghai's opening in early 2016.

I wasn't aware that Disney had moved off its late 2015 date, so not sure whether it is a mistake or not.

I do find it interesting that Disney can't even target an opening this close in. Some of us who are going might like to book mileage reward business class seats at some point, right @Lee?

 

[PorterRedkey]

Regardless of who the movies are targeted at, the merchandise is clearly targeted at a younger demographic. I saw countless 2, 3, 4, and 5 year old dressed as marvel characters this year for Halloween. At the end of the day, it's the parent's responsibility to monitor what their children watch and do (one could question the parenting style of someone who allows or encourages a three year old to dress as Iron Man, considering his character flaws). But, you'd be naive to think these characters aren't seen by and in fact specifically targeted at a much younger demographic.

I agree, parents need to be responsible for their kids.
I also realize that a lot of kids younger than 13 see the movie and even if they don't they are exposed to the marketing that is splashed all over TV.

I guess I am trying to see if people think there is a difference between say a Tangled slot, a Toy Story slot and a Marvel slot. Tangle is a princess movie aimed at children with character created by Disney. Toy Story is a movie aimed at families with characters created by Pixar. Avengers is a movie that is targeted to teens which contains wall to wall violence and characters created by Marvel.
Isn't there a difference between the subject matter and doesn't that difference make one movie more appropriate than another to turn into a slot?

If you don't believe Disney should have any ties to gambling then okay, but it was an existing license acquired with Marvel's purchase. It sounds like Iger will be slowly backing away from these deals as they expire, much to the chagrin on Marvel old guard. This should make everyone happy if it happens.

 

[WDW1974]

Marvel is involved with a tangled mess of licensing deals. If Iger and team were aware then the story from your sources should be about Iger quickly turning on Marvel and deals he approved of continuing, not that Marvel was suddenly being made aware that they were stopping. Disney not knowing what they were buying because the focus was on the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes far more sense and fits into everything that has been said about the acquisition.

I don't believe Iger quickly turned on them. It sounds like he hoped no one would notice that Disney was in the gambling business and when that didn't happen, they went into damage control mode.

It is one article and who has taken notice? The story seems to have fizzled everywhere but here where the narrative of the story seems to be in a state of flux. And how would you suggest Disney get out of deals if they are unable to get out of other deals that Marvel already has in place? This is the company with a perpetual theme park deal where licensing fees only increase with inflation. Why should we assume that is the only shortsighted deal?

I would suggest anyone who reads the Times or the many publications that picked it up (I had friends in Hong Kong read it in the South China Morning Post) took notice as did folks who work in the pro or anti casinos lobbies here in FL and the folks who run companies who have deals with Disney and politicos, naturally, for starters.

I can't speak to the deals because I haven't access to them (although I am always seeking out information and have asked some folks who might be in better position). All I do know is that Disney has made deals with gambling companies years after they purchased Marvel. Oh, and I am not suggesting how Disney might get out of anything. They pay big bucks to people that are supposed to be smart enough to figure out those answers.

 

[WDW1974]

That's for sure. During the due diligence process every single detail of any contract must have been run through with a fine-toothed comb by layers of legal. I've been involved in dealings and it's incredible when major transactions occur as any and everything is fully examined, line by line, piece by piece. For anyone to say otherwise is simply moronic or lacks an iota of understanding of how business transactions work.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I view things.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Just had a chance to read the entire Miceage update and I noticed when talking about the new upgrades coming to Soarin at DCA they mentioned Shanghai's opening in early 2016.

I wasn't aware that Disney had moved off its late 2015 date, so not sure whether it is a mistake or not.

I do find it interesting that Disney can't even target an opening this close in. Some of us who are going might like to book mileage reward business class seats at some point, right @Lee?

Iger said late 2015 on last week's call, but does anyone seriously think the company who spends 3 years to build a kiddie coaster will deliver SDL in 2015?

 

[WDW1974]

Is it possible they start building before the announcement?

Anything is possible, but I don't think so.

This isn't a Star Wars themed timeshare.

 

[WDW1974]

Maybe I'm missing the issue regarding gambling. This just feels like another non-issue kinda like alcohol served in MK or Starbucks on Main Street.

They are just not alike at all.

Perhaps, it's not being a Floridian watching this issue play out over the last three decades ... But those other 'issues' are fanboi only things. The other is a fight over keeping a billion dollar industry out of the state.

 

[WDW1974]

OK gotcha. So the question is why don't they build a casino on Disney property, obviously after the weird laws that you Yanks have get changed?

The same reason why you don't have kids sections at the MGM Grand, Ventian or the Aria.

Some people have issues with booze being sold at Disney parks. Some argued that Pleasure Island shouldn't have existed until Disney shut it down. Gambling is an adult enterprise that often goes hand in hand with other adult vices.

Disney runs family resorts. Gambling doesn't fit.

 

[WDW1974]

Why was Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV locked?

I have no idea other than it was getting very long ...I was sorta looking for a million hits for a little social media experiment of mine ...but we were talking about different things there and while some might be imported, there are others that I'd prefer to be left behind because they aren't about Disney or even the industry at all.

 

[nytimez]

The same reason why you don't have kids sections at the MGM Grand, Ventian or the Aria.

Some people have issues with booze being sold at Disney parks. Some argued that Pleasure Island shouldn't have existed until Disney shut it down. Gambling is an adult enterprise that often goes hand in hand with other adult vices.

Disney runs family resorts. Gambling doesn't fit.

Vegas tried to market itself as a family destination, waaaay back in the last millennium. Didn't work out too well. It alienated some of their core and also families that showed up were... well... none too happy with some of the things their kids had to walk past.

I believe that's when a lot of the theme park type elements were added, some of which have since been removed and others are in various states of decay (you'd have to hate your kids... or at least wish you suddenly didn't have any... to put them on some of the rides there these days).

 

[nytimez]

Just had a chance to read the entire Miceage update and I noticed when talking about the new upgrades coming to Soarin at DCA they mentioned Shanghai's opening in early 2016.

I wasn't aware that Disney had moved off its late 2015 date, so not sure whether it is a mistake or not.

I do find it interesting that Disney can't even target an opening this close in. Some of us who are going might like to book mileage reward business class seats at some point, right @Lee?

Not to take you too far off topic... but... speaking of China: The Jimmy Kimmel thing is turning into a bit of problem for the company...