A Spirited Perfect Ten

[Goofyernmost]

Of course, just because they're a business doesn't mean they can't be an ethical business and an industry trendsetter.

That's a given and one the I totally agree with, but, that isn't the continuing argument. It has to be clear that this continued insistence that Disney isn't a business is shear folly. It may be a business that we wish were run differently, but, it is and the reason that it does things today that seem out of character is more a result of the times we live in then some evil direction being purposely taken by management. We as adults have to accept that the world we live in is the world we live in regardless of how we would like it to be. We can insist that Disney act differently, but words will not change anything. We cannot protest and continue to support it financially. That's hypocrisy at the highest level.

The problem is much bigger then Disney, however, and extends to the entire, 1% of take no prisoners, controllers of the wealth in the country as it is today. They call the shots and we can squirm and shake or do whatever we do to express our discontent, but, until a unified stand is made (which isn't going to happen, btw) nothing will ever change. It certainly isn't that I disagree with concepts, but, I have been around long enough to know that this is not 1955, it isn't even 1990, the world is different, the attitudes are different and the business world is different. We are responsible for that because we didn't know anything about it until it was out of control.

I know we all want to solidify the thought that Disney started out as an act of love for his fellow humanity. Walt was a nice guy, but, he was driven to achieve his personal goals. Those goals were something that happened to be something that we all could benefit from. Those days died with Walt. He started and operated a creative business that was more concerned about product then result, however, the two were not separated by much because without results there would be no continued product. It is an endless cycle. Today's Disney is a HUGE business, one that I doubt Walt could have imagined and if he could would have been powerless to oversee on the personal level that he did.

This putting people down for being able to recognize that the real world operates in ways that make ridiculing someone for acknowledging the world they work in is real and not the fantasy that everyone is trying so desperately to hang onto the sooner that it can be worked within and not around and the sooner changes can happen. However, until the end of time Disney will always be a business and as such has to deal with the world it exists in not some idealistic idea of how wonderful it would be to actually be run via Pixie Dust.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Congrats on missing the point entirely.

Congrats on not expressing the point at all! It's very easy to miss something that isn't there.

 

[Frankie The Beer]

Looks like Chinese government officials are dumping their stock holdings all at once while the public has to hold on to theirs, or they might get killed. That beautiful Shanghai Disneyland is starting to look like a pretty bleak company investment. Granted Iger could not have foreseen a potential economic collapse in China, but if Shanghai is his legacy, it would be pretty terrible for the man to be remembered if that park goes belly up. I hope not.

 

[PhotoDave219]

That's a given and one the I totally agree with, but, that isn't the continuing argument. It has to be clear that this continued insistence that Disney isn't a business is shear folly. It may be a business that we wish were run differently, but, it is and the reason that it does things today that seem our of character is more a result of the times we live in then some evil direction being purposely taken by management. We as adults have to accept that the world we live in is the world we live in regardless of how we would like it to be. We can insist that Disney act differently, but words will not change anything. We cannot protest and continue to support it financially. That's hypocrisy at the highest level.

The problem is much bigger then Disney, however, and extends to the entire, 1% of take no prisoners, controllers of the wealth in the country as it is today. They call the shots and we can squirm and shake or do whatever we do to express our discontent, but, until a unified stand is made (which isn't going to happen, btw) nothing will ever change. It certainly isn't that I disagree with concepts, but, I have been around long enough to know that this is not 1955, it isn't even 1990, the world is different, the attitudes are different and the business world is different. We are responsible for that because we didn't know anything about it until it was out of control.

I know we all want to solidify the thought that Disney started out as an act of love for his fellow humanity. Walt was a nice guy, but, he was driven to achieve his personal goals. Those goals were something that happened to be something that we all could benefit from. Those days died with Walt. He started and operated a creative business that was more concerned about product then result, however, the two were not separated by much because without results there would be no continued product. It is an endless cycle. Today's Disney is a HUGE business, one that I doubt Walt could have imagined and if he could would have been powerless to oversee on the personal level that he did.

This putting people down for being able to recognize that the real world operates in ways that make ridiculing someone for acknowledging the world they work in is real and not the fantasy that everyone is trying so desperately to hang onto the sooner that it can be worked within and not around and the sooner changes can happen. However, until the end of time Disney will always be a business and as such has to deal with the world it exists in not some idealistic idea of how wonderful it would be to actually be run via Pixie Dust.

And my premise is that you can change that 1% with a company like Disney. They're big enough to start the trend. Others will follow suit.

 

[Frankie The Beer]

Great video with Bob Iger about how ESPN, and Disney can be sold directly to consumers. This man is the definition of artful dodger.

http://finance.yahoo.com/video/disney-ceo-brands-could-sold-120600665.html

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Great video with Bob Iger about how ESPN, and Disney can be sold directly to consumers. This man is the definition of artful dodger.

http://finance.yahoo.com/video/disney-ceo-brands-could-sold-120600665.html

I wonder if they're considering selling their stake in A&E networks?

 

[Stevek]

I could not see the attempted "spoiler" (next time just use the button on the toolbar), but I also want to say I think I saw that image before on another thread and might have been proven to be a fake photoshopped image using a stock photo of theater seats.

Yeah, I used the spoiler tag but it didn't work for some reason. I will see if I can fix.

 

[Rodan75]

Looks like Chinese government officials are dumping their stock holdings all at once while the public has to hold on to theirs, or they might get killed. That beautiful Shanghai Disneyland is starting to look like a pretty bleak company investment. Granted Iger could not have foreseen a potential economic collapse in China, but if Shanghai is his legacy, it would be pretty terrible for the man to be remembered if that park goes belly up. I hope not.

Parks are 25-60+ year investments. I doubt even if China did enter into a Great Depression, that it would kill the Park 15 years from now, let alone 50 years.

This park is about the long game, not the one over the next 5 years.

 

[Rodan75]

I wonder if they're considering selling their stake in A&E networks?

I can't imagine that they would. A&E still brings in ad dollars and is consistently among the highest rated group of networks.

 

[Rodan75]

Great video with Bob Iger about how ESPN, and Disney can be sold directly to consumers. This man is the definition of artful dodger.

http://finance.yahoo.com/video/disney-ceo-brands-could-sold-120600665.html

LOL...I know Iger is not mr personality. But wow, does he not look to be having fun with those CNBC folks. The key for Disney and all of the media companies is to keep the NFL and NBA from going Direct To Consumer on their own. If they lose that battle then the media landscape really changes...not just swapping between Coax to IP on demand.

 

[Shaman]

Great video with Bob Iger about how ESPN, and Disney can be sold directly to consumers. This man is the definition of artful dodger.

http://finance.yahoo.com/video/disney-ceo-brands-could-sold-120600665.html

I watch that and smile, because I remember early in Iger's tenure as CEO he got a lot of heat for saying he wanted to distribute content directly to consumers...specifically from theaters when he mentioned shortening the film release windows. He has always seemed to embrace "New Media".

I think HBO was bold and smart for not waiting to go after the cord cutters. Disney seems more cautious, probably because they benefit from the current structure. They are starting to make moves that might lead to stand alone products/subscriptions. Disney definitely has the content library.

I'm just not sure how lone content channels survive in the long term...especially if Disney, Viacom, Fox, WB...all have their own services. A la carte, perhaps seems the most sensible in the long run, through a cable or sat provider.

 

[tissandtully]

We can thank @WDWFigment for all the newbs joining the board

 

[WildcatDen]

Spirited Weekend Musings (the VERY last until fall):

You know that scene in the Wizard of Oz, where Glinda floats away in her bubble and all of the Munchkins run and wave buy-bye? I kinda feel like this is one of those moments. Buy-bye @WDW1974 We will see you soon. Buh-bye. . . .

 

[Cesar R M]

I was bummed that they did push more cg than practical effects in JW. I'm a sucker for practical effects and for me even at a young age that's what really made JP great imo

Agree, if you consider how old the original movie is.. and how good the effects still look..
Its impressive!

Steven Spielberg and his team really deserve a huge applause.

 

[Cesar R M]

Congrats on not expressing the point at all! It's very easy to miss something that isn't there.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Another excerpt from Bob's CNBC appearance this morning.
http://finance.yahoo.com/video/disney-ceo-using-technology-better-121100758.html
Note that he claims the 300 million plus number, the number of potential SHDR guests within a three hour train/plane ride, he and Disney have been touting is "income qualified".

I just love the awkward smile he gives when one of the panelists brings up Disney not getting the rights to Harry Potter.

 

[michmousefan]

Speaking of the Razzies.. Isnt A.Sandler the champion on most awards already?

I'm not certain of that but he has to be near the top. I think for Jack and Jill he netted like 11 Razzies that year. And now a urinating Q-Bert might help him secure even more.

 

[BernardandBianca]

Parks are 25-60+ year investments. I doubt even if China did enter into a Great Depression, that it would kill the Park 15 years from now, let alone 50 years.

This park is about the long game, not the one over the next 5 years.

I wonder how you can reconcile these statements with the "Next Quarter is King" attitude of upper management of at least Disney, if not a supermajority of those in the S&P 500?

 

[Rodan75]

Another excerpt from Bob's CNBC appearance this morning.
http://finance.yahoo.com/video/disney-ceo-using-technology-better-121100758.html
Note that he claims the 300 million plus number, the number of potential SHDR guests within a three hour train/plane ride, he and Disney have been touting is "income qualified".

I just love the awkward smile he gives when one of the panelists brings up Disney not getting the rights to Harry Potter.

Honestly...I know folks around here don't like him much. But I have a hard time buying that Wall Street or the Board are going to be willing to let Bob go after his current extension. Financial folks like stability and continuity and he doesn't look ready to leave, he could have easily sent Staggs to that interview if he was truly ready to let go the reigns.

 

[Rodan75]

I wonder how you can reconcile these statements with the "Next Quarter is King" attitude of upper management of at least Disney, if not a supermajority of those in the S&P 500?

There is no reconciliation, yes the next quarter is king and any short term short falls at Shanghai will have to be made up elsewhere or the stock price will take a hit. Either another division will have to make up the slack of missed expectations or other divisions will have to cut deeper to show effective cost control. Making a long term investment, does not remove short term results expectations.

But I think it is an odd assumption that 1 park would destroy Iger's legacy or even significantly damage TWDC. If it is successful it will cement his legacy, if it is unsuccessful in the short term or even forever...it will be his Go.Com.

Now if Star Wars implodes globally and Shanghai fails and Comic Book Fatigue really sets in...then I think he starts looking foolish and the goodwill he has built up dwindles quickly.