A Spirited 15 Rounds ...

[AEfx]

Blackfish was only the knockout punch. Potter has been kicking them stupid since 2010.

But not even just that.

As much as I think we need zoos, and in truth - most of the animals have much better lives in "captivity" than in the wild (provided with ample food, safe from predators, given amazing health care), especially now that we are so much better aware of their psychological needs (yet people are still stuck on negative stuff from decades ago that don't occur anymore), keeping animals as large as killer whales to "perform" for us was just a terrible idea that was never really going to last.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I think we have another winner for best nu-Mickey short

Was about to post this.... so amazing! The references!!

 

[AEfx]

I think we have another winner for best nu-Mickey short

It's so transparent why Disney is doing these - they are trying to head off the copyright battles to come by actively using the original Mickey likeness. It will be very interesting to see how that works out.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Pretty sure the statute of limitations would be up on any of that.

In CA, the statue of limitation on rape cases has been removed. It certainly wouldn’t cover all the incidents, but criminal charges could be brought against Weinstein.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...iminates-statute-of-limitations-on-rape-cases

Additionally, reports of Disney looking the other way, or not even knowing about it, while this was happening wouldn’t be great for its image either.

 

[yeti]

I think we have another winner for best nu-Mickey short

0:48 goosebumps

 

[brb1006]

I think we have another winner for best nu-Mickey short

Also don't forget to see the Mickey Mouse Halloween Special debuting tomorrow night at 8pm.

 

[brb1006]

It's so transparent why Disney is doing these - they are trying to head off the copyright battles to come by actively using the original Mickey likeness. It will be very interesting to see how that works out.

I'm just glad Mickey is finally doing things outside of edutainment.

 

[michmousefan]

Random Industry News Round-up

SeaWorld Stock jumps 4% on rumors of a sale.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/04/sea...rt-company-is-putting-itself-up-for-sale.html

Matt Ouimet leaves Cedar Fair

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2017/10/cedar_fair_ceo_matt_ouimet_to.html

Not saying they are related, but if ANY major theme park operator needs a competent "fixer", it's SeaWorld.

Ouimet isn't leaving CF. He's moving to the newly-created title of Executive Chairman of the Board. The current Prez and COO moves to the CEO slot. Sorry, SW, but we'll be happy to have Mr. Ouimet stay right where he is...

 

[Disneysea05]

The years he ran Disneyland were some of the best in recent memory. Quality and show were both so important to him and his team.

 

[FigmentJedi]

The Monument to 90s Imagineering's Sins video by Martin is up

 

[trainplane3]

The Monument to 90s Imagineering's Sins video by Martin is up

24 minutes of flaming turd, let's go! Seeing the line for it in that video reminded me that I waited a solid half hour for it. The amount of sheer disappointment I had is insane.
@marni1971 : Nice job getting the source audio for this. This is only the second time I've heard it this well. As much as I hate this ride, nice job covering it. Now...let's see what they do with V3. They won't anger fans again...right?

Edit: Meant to say "do with V4" but eh, still applies mostly.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

The Monument to 90s Imagineering's Sins video by Martin is up

@marni1971, how do you feel about Dr. Nigel Channing saying that you have no imagination?

 

[ford91exploder]

So this fund specializes in companies that buy shares back and DIS isn’t in their top 25 holdings. Doesn’t that prove the point that TWDC is not one of the worst offenders. Over 25% of the S&P 500 bought back enough of their shares to drive EPS growth over 4% so good luck avoiding products from companies that buy back shares.

Most of those players are mid caps who in some cases are taking on debt to fund buybacks. Disney is not borrowing to fund buybacks yet but among large caps they are one of the very few spending this much on buybacks

 

[GoofGoof]

Most of those players are mid caps who in some cases are taking on debt to fund buybacks. Disney is not borrowing to fund buybacks yet but among large caps they are one of the very few spending this much on buybacks

Mid-caps? Less than a quarter of the holdings are mid-cap. All theses companies are in their top 25 holdings and all are fortune 100 companies.

• Boeing
• GE
• United Technologies
• Goldman Sachs
• Amex
• AIG
• Delta
• Southwest
• Capital One
• Valero
• Target

What’s missing from the list...TWDC

I am not denying that TWDC spends too much on stock buybacks. What I don’t agree with is your theory that they are one of the few companies with that problem. It’s widespread and DIS is actually not one of the worst offenders.

 

[AEfx]

I am not denying that TWDC spends too much on stock buybacks. What I don’t agree with is your theory that they are one of the few companies with that problem. It’s widespread and DIS is actually not one of the worst offenders.

No! Stop lying! Take your facts and reasonable analysis and LEAVE! It's only Darth Iger who is this evil and demented! The current Wall Street climate has no business being mentioned here! It's irrelevant! Walt would never have allowed this treachery to happen!

 

[WDW1974]

Anyone talking about this:

http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=334431

Tom knows the biz inside and out, but I can't help but feel he is being brought aboard to be the fall guy as this project is so troubled that it makes SDL look like a smooth ride in comparison. The fact he is an American who ... how to put this delicately ... is very sympathetic to the Communist way of life likely helped as well.

FWIW, UNI is already pushing back opening from 2019 to 2020 and its very likely we're talking late 2020 with some major parts not opening until 2021.

Will they ever learn?

 

[Quinnmac000]

Anyone talking about this:

http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=334431

Tom knows the biz inside and out, but I can't help but feel he is being brought aboard to be the fall guy as this project is so troubled that it makes SDL look like a smooth ride in comparison. The fact he is an American who ... how to put this delicately ... is very sympathetic to the Communist way of life likely helped as well.

FWIW, UNI is already pushing back opening from 2019 to 2020 and its very likely we're talking late 2020 with some major parts not opening until 2021.

Will they ever learn?

You mean how they already said it was opening part by part in every single Chinese release with many expansions of the park coming in the future lineups? It was also announced 2020 for Universal Beijing in the Chinese press releases as well.

 

[ford91exploder]

Mid-caps? Less than a quarter of the holdings are mid-cap. All theses companies are in their top 25 holdings and all are fortune 100 companies.

• Boeing
• GE
• United Technologies
• Goldman Sachs
• Amex
• AIG
• Delta
• Southwest
• Capital One
• Valero
• Target

What’s missing from the list...TWDC

I am not denying that TWDC spends too much on stock buybacks. What I don’t agree with is your theory that they are one of the few companies with that problem. It’s widespread and DIS is actually not one of the worst offenders.

When a company is spending 10x on buybacks vs investment in the business it has a problem. Disney has made massive cuts in P&R maintenance and expansion to fund its buyback program.

As a counter example Southwest is expanding into new markets and buying new aircraft as fast as Boeing can build them and they have capital left over

I'd rather see southwest pay a dividend but its pretty obvious that the buybacks there are not at the expense of the core business.

Boeing same story developing new aircraft and selling its current models as fast as the production department can build them.

I'd like to see the rule which prevented the repurchase of shares reinstated as it would create stronger companies

 

[ford91exploder]

Anyone talking about this:

http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=334431

Tom knows the biz inside and out, but I can't help but feel he is being brought aboard to be the fall guy as this project is so troubled that it makes SDL look like a smooth ride in comparison. The fact he is an American who ... how to put this delicately ... is very sympathetic to the Communist way of life likely helped as well.

FWIW, UNI is already pushing back opening from 2019 to 2020 and its very likely we're talking late 2020 with some major parts not opening until 2021.

Will they ever learn?

Nope, All they see is money but the reality is money is only allowed to be made if one is Chinese.

 

[bclane]

When a company is spending 10x on buybacks vs investment in the business it has a problem. Disney has made massive cuts in P&R maintenance and expansion to fund its buyback program.

As a counter example Southwest is expanding into new markets and buying new aircraft as fast as Boeing can build them and they have capital left over

I'd rather see southwest pay a dividend but its pretty obvious that the buybacks there are not at the expense of the core business.

Boeing same story developing new aircraft and selling its current models as fast as the production department can build them.

I'd like to see the rule which prevented the repurchase of shares reinstated as it would create stronger companies

Just curious, are you short DIS (puts or otherwise)?