-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Amazing Lines at US and IOA
- Thread starter Siege898
- Start date
NemoRocks78
Seized
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I'll have to use that one....
I'll have to use that one....
TowerOfTerror
Well-Known Member
All I have to say is that Universal Studios parks will be owned by Disney before 2010. Why do you ask, because GE/NBC has no intentions for keeping the parks anytime soon, since they are making the park worse and worse every year by doing certain things like selling the land next to the Royal Pacific, cutting days on non-HHN events, not repairing damages after the hurricanes, and so on. When the Bidding goes up for sale all I know is that there is only two contenders ready to fight for all of the universal parks. Disney and maybe Comcast.
I love Universal and Disney parks too so don't get me wrong, it just makes perfect sense.
I love Universal and Disney parks too so don't get me wrong, it just makes perfect sense.
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
Disney's Universal Studios hmmm
Sounds like MK + Epcot + MGM all rolled into one! :lol:
Anyway, personally, I do not enjoy Universal for my own reasons, but I have no problem with people that do. I go, try to enjoy myself, and, when I don't go, I reduce that 10 minute wait for y'all by the 9 seconds it takes me to board a train/car/whatever! :wave:
Sounds like MK + Epcot + MGM all rolled into one! :lol:
Anyway, personally, I do not enjoy Universal for my own reasons, but I have no problem with people that do. I go, try to enjoy myself, and, when I don't go, I reduce that 10 minute wait for y'all by the 9 seconds it takes me to board a train/car/whatever! :wave:
Legacy
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't bet on that. GE/NBC is still waiting to see how they should handle the parks. The success of the Mummy on both coasts (and Spiderman in Japan), is really causing GE to take a step back and watch things. You have to remember that television companies (like NBC) only get revenue from advertisers. NBC having ownership over Universal provides 4 important things: Movie Library (which will not have to be bought), soundstage space on both coasts, free advertising and most important, REVENUE! Disney's parks are keeping ABC afloat, so it is known that theme parks can be very profitable. NBC is going to see what will happen, and if its worth the costs to keep the parks to help themselves out in the future (which I think is the smart thing).TowerOfTerror said:
speck76
Well-Known Member
TowerOfTerror said:
Worst idea ever!
I can not imagine WDC buying the Universal parks and promoting a product (Universal Studios Movies) that they do not see any gain from. WDC is not a park operator, they are an entertainment company that operates parks....there is a difference.
I do not think NBC will sell off the american parks, although they may hire another company to operate them......if so, I think that company will be Cedar Fair.
TowerOfTerror
Well-Known Member
They alreadly have sold off the universal property park in Spain. So another park maybe next. I doubt that Cedar Fair LP has enough money to buy universal orlando alone, It is worth 1.5 Billion dollars alone. And then you have hollywood close to 900 million and universal japan is 2.1 billion so who could haddle all that cash ?speck76 said:
TowerOfTerror
Well-Known Member
I hope you didn't forget that Disney offered Vendi Universal $10 Billion for all of Universal Assets, movies, music, parks, everything. Here's an article to refresh your memory:
By Robert Johnson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 9, 2002
Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man roaming the same theme parks? The idea might not be too far-fetched.
Analysts and tourism officials were intrigued Thursday by a Disney official's comment that the company could be interested in buying some assets of debt-ridden Vivendi Universal, which owns such parks as Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
"Any assets that are in our core business that come available, we would certainly take a look at," Disney Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs told Reuters news service. "Our primary focus is our core business."
Rumors of a sale have been swirling since embattled Vivendi CEO Jean-Marie Messier was ousted and replaced by Jean-Rene Fourtou, who said he plans to lower Vivendi's debt load by "significant asset disposals."
Selling off its entertainment business -- which includes theme parks, movie studios and television -- could be a quick way for the conglomerate to reduce debt without cutting off its core assets in the sewer and water industry.
Analysts said such an acquisition by Disney could erode its current efforts to strengthen its balance sheet and slumping stock price. But Staggs said, "To the extent we can do an acquisition that is not dilutive to the earnings or cash flow, we'll take a look."
The price would have to be "bargain-basement" to make good business sense, said Katherine Styponias, an analyst at Prudential Securities. "Owning more theme parks could make Disney even more cyclical because that's a cyclical business," she said.
Besides, although Disney has the borrowing power to make such a purchase, Styponias said that "given where their stock is, this might not be the best time for a major acquisition."
Shares in both Disney and Universal are trading near 52-week lows. Stock in Disney closed Thursday at $14.50 a share, up 60 cents. That compares with a 52-week range of $13.75 and $27.98.
Vivendi stock closed at $16.32 on the New York Stock Exchange, compared with a 52-week range of $13.36 to $59.35.
Disney and Universal have battled each other on the Orlando tourism front since the latter opened here in 1990.
"Owning Universal would give Disney World a huge increase in marketing power," said Peter Stapp, a theme park consultant who has been a supervisor at both properties. "Disney would get two more jewels in their crown and be able to offer tickets to both."
Disney's huge bus system also could funnel tourists back and forth. "It could mean a lot more convenience for visitors, and they might stay longer," Stapp said.
Advertising and leisure industry veteran Peter Yesawich said that the possible combination is intriguing. "You could package more exciting vacations with more options."
One possible downside cited by Yesawich: Less competition in the pricing of tickets and rooms. Another could be wages, "There wouldn't be as much pressure to pay more in this job market."
"Disney's goal is to eliminate the competition"
By Robert Johnson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 9, 2002
Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man roaming the same theme parks? The idea might not be too far-fetched.
Analysts and tourism officials were intrigued Thursday by a Disney official's comment that the company could be interested in buying some assets of debt-ridden Vivendi Universal, which owns such parks as Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
"Any assets that are in our core business that come available, we would certainly take a look at," Disney Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs told Reuters news service. "Our primary focus is our core business."
Rumors of a sale have been swirling since embattled Vivendi CEO Jean-Marie Messier was ousted and replaced by Jean-Rene Fourtou, who said he plans to lower Vivendi's debt load by "significant asset disposals."
Selling off its entertainment business -- which includes theme parks, movie studios and television -- could be a quick way for the conglomerate to reduce debt without cutting off its core assets in the sewer and water industry.
Analysts said such an acquisition by Disney could erode its current efforts to strengthen its balance sheet and slumping stock price. But Staggs said, "To the extent we can do an acquisition that is not dilutive to the earnings or cash flow, we'll take a look."
The price would have to be "bargain-basement" to make good business sense, said Katherine Styponias, an analyst at Prudential Securities. "Owning more theme parks could make Disney even more cyclical because that's a cyclical business," she said.
Besides, although Disney has the borrowing power to make such a purchase, Styponias said that "given where their stock is, this might not be the best time for a major acquisition."
Shares in both Disney and Universal are trading near 52-week lows. Stock in Disney closed Thursday at $14.50 a share, up 60 cents. That compares with a 52-week range of $13.75 and $27.98.
Vivendi stock closed at $16.32 on the New York Stock Exchange, compared with a 52-week range of $13.36 to $59.35.
Disney and Universal have battled each other on the Orlando tourism front since the latter opened here in 1990.
"Owning Universal would give Disney World a huge increase in marketing power," said Peter Stapp, a theme park consultant who has been a supervisor at both properties. "Disney would get two more jewels in their crown and be able to offer tickets to both."
Disney's huge bus system also could funnel tourists back and forth. "It could mean a lot more convenience for visitors, and they might stay longer," Stapp said.
Advertising and leisure industry veteran Peter Yesawich said that the possible combination is intriguing. "You could package more exciting vacations with more options."
One possible downside cited by Yesawich: Less competition in the pricing of tickets and rooms. Another could be wages, "There wouldn't be as much pressure to pay more in this job market."
"Disney's goal is to eliminate the competition"
speck76
Well-Known Member
TowerOfTerror said:
Two years ago, when they would have bought ALL of the assets.....WDC and Universal/NBC are much more than just the theme parks.
In 2003, Disney parks and resorts only accounted for $6.4 billion of the $27 billion in total revenues.....
If WDC could have purchased the parks as a package that included the TV and movie productions and libraries of Universal, I could have seen this happen, but since NBC is not likely at all to get rid of either of these two units, your dream of WDC buying the Universal parks alone will not happen. (especially since the parks have lost moeny since the opening of IOA....WDC is not in a position to throw any more money out of the window.)
NemoRocks78
Seized
TowerofTerror said:
It didn't make money and they weren't interested in it (that park is also like a glorified Six Flags actually). Would you like to own a park like that?
Speck76 said:
No....not Cedar Fair.....I can already imagine what would happen then....
Lynx04
New Member
First, fighting over which park is better is ridiculous. You can't fight over someones park preference. That is like you guys fighting over which flavor of ice cream is better.
Second, Disney has no interest in buying Universal's Orlando resort. There is no benefit. There really wouldn't be an increase in attendence because a lot of the visitors or Universal are already staying at Disney. It wouldn't justify the expendatures. If they were to buy the property I would suspect them to perge everything and sell the land to real estate buyers. As far as comcast, I don't think they would buy it. The reason they wanted to buy Disney was because of the networks, not the parks. Comcast doesn't care about the parks.
If anyone were to buy the park I would think it would be a group of investers be it individual or company. If any park where to buy it, the only park operator I could see buying it would be Busch or Paramount, but that is pushing it.
Cedar Fair and Six Flags don't have the creative ability nor the idealogy to run a park with the creative standard that is required to keep the park sucessful in Orlando. 90 percent of the work that goes into there attractions are done by out side companies. All TTD is a coaster that Intamin AG designed and conceived. Cedar Fairs didn't have any creative input except maybe the name and theme the cars to a dragster. That works in Ohio and else where, it doesn't work in Orlando.
By the way chocolate is way better then vanilla!!
Second, Disney has no interest in buying Universal's Orlando resort. There is no benefit. There really wouldn't be an increase in attendence because a lot of the visitors or Universal are already staying at Disney. It wouldn't justify the expendatures. If they were to buy the property I would suspect them to perge everything and sell the land to real estate buyers. As far as comcast, I don't think they would buy it. The reason they wanted to buy Disney was because of the networks, not the parks. Comcast doesn't care about the parks.
If anyone were to buy the park I would think it would be a group of investers be it individual or company. If any park where to buy it, the only park operator I could see buying it would be Busch or Paramount, but that is pushing it.
Cedar Fair and Six Flags don't have the creative ability nor the idealogy to run a park with the creative standard that is required to keep the park sucessful in Orlando. 90 percent of the work that goes into there attractions are done by out side companies. All TTD is a coaster that Intamin AG designed and conceived. Cedar Fairs didn't have any creative input except maybe the name and theme the cars to a dragster. That works in Ohio and else where, it doesn't work in Orlando.
By the way chocolate is way better then vanilla!!
NemoRocks78
Seized
That was done by Vivendi before the sale, if I remember correctly.
Not repairing hurricane damages? I was there days after Hurricane Frances hit and the park looked fine to me.
I do believe that NBC/GE is taking perfect care of the parks. I have been seeing much more painting and rehabbing going on now then I have ever seen. From the looks of it, they want to take good care of the parks, which must mean that they are interested in the whole Resort. And then there's all these rumors about new attractions....
The only direction that Universal theme parks are going in is up, IMO.
Lynx04
New Member
NemoRocks said:That was done by Vivendi before the sale, if I remember correctly.
Not repairing hurricane damages? I was there days after Hurricane Frances hit and the park looked fine to me.
I do believe that NBC/GE is taking perfect care of the parks. I have been seeing much more painting and rehabbing going on now then I have ever seen. From the looks of it, they want to take good care of the parks, which must mean that they are interested in the whole Resort. And then there's all these rumors about new attractions....
The only direction that Universal theme parks are going in is up, IMO.
It is in GE best interest to keep the parks looking outstanding. If not for the guests, then for potential buyers, if they plan on selling the property.
I think they are doing a wait and see approach, I think people inside either NBC or Universal are trying to convience the decision makers that the parks are in the companies interest to keep and GE is testing them out to see if they are or can be.
Legacy
Well-Known Member
Exactly. We have to remember that GE has had plenty of experience with theme parks, of both the good (IllumiNations) and bad (Test Track/Rocket Rods). GE knows that parks can be VERY profitable for their owners, and like I said before, with a broadcast company with very little revenue sources, a park like Universal can be financial godsend if its treated properly.Lynx04 said:
(I hope Conan does a show in Orlando now...)
NemoRocks78
Seized
They both had been sponsored by GE....ogryn said:
TowerOfTerror
Well-Known Member
you want to see some hurricane damage that was taken last week ?
Legacy
Well-Known Member
If you can find some... yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing it.TowerOfTerror said:
I was there the second week of October and didn't see anything major, and I was crawling all over the park (three days straight for HHN). I didn't see anything that would warrant a major concern. I mean, they even took down the sign for IoA to prevent damage to that.