Bob Iger at WDW now ... BoD to Follow?

[alphac2005]

You honestly think you're important enough for me to burn my bridges, sources, and friendships I've had for years that are telling me otherwise?

You're clearly delusional if you think you're that important.

Dave... ummm.. You've seemed to forget that we have a whole new generation that thinks they're entitled to everything and if you don't give them the information that they demand, then you're just blowing smoke.

 

[BrerJon]

Yeah, but remember how hyped we were for "pixar land" with the "big guns" touring DHS?
And in the end, we only heard the rumor of them giving the go ahead to only another queue line and another track for that toy story attraction?

Yeah that's what I'm talking about. Around the time the Backlot shut it was pretty much taken as definite that a Pixar Mini-Land was coming for a few weeks, then those rumours died away. Whatever happened to that? Time and time again, bigwigs come down, or there's a D23, or some other reason for everyone to get excited, then nothing.

But Dave's post gives me reasons to be cheerful, that this time it's more than just wishful thinking, so fingers crossed this isn't yet another damp squib.

 

[Darth Sidious]

How do you figure P&R is the most "problematic division"? Is it because of profits? Attendance?

I believe the most problematic division to the company was their gaming unit... Disney Interactive? ESPN is ok right now, but when business models change, Disney is in trouble. Perhaps securing a distribution channel (Netflix?) or creating one?



Immigrants are not stupid. I mean I know accepting the working conditions sometimes seen at WDW is crazy, but....

I think your other ideas about Disney discussing the selling of some share of P&R or buying a cable company are more plausible. For sure, they are discussing other items and not just WDW.

ESPN is a monster money maker for TWDC. They get the most money out of their media networks segment, with ESPN being the strongest component. Interactive is their smallest but as of FY2014 it was very successful given how little it costs. Most of the Interactive unit is licensed out to third party developers.

As for media distribution shifting to digital, believe it or not Disney is the best positioned media company to adapt to this. They are very much aware of technology and that is why your board of directors include Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook and Jack Dorsey or Twitter and Square Inc. You also have John Chen and Judy Estrin from the tech side as well, the latter being a former CTO of Cisco.

Disney was the first company to distribute via iTunes and has business relationships with companies like Netflix. In short, it's one area that Bob has definitely made his focus.

EDIT: Judy is no longer on the board as of this year.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

How do you figure P&R is the most "problematic division"? Is it because of profits? Attendance?

I believe the most problematic division to the company was their gaming unit... Disney Interactive? ESPN is ok right now, but when business models change, Disney is in trouble. Perhaps securing a distribution channel (Netflix?) or creating one?



Immigrants are not stupid. I mean I know accepting the working conditions sometimes seen at WDW is crazy, but....

I think your other ideas about Disney discussing the selling of some share of P&R or buying a cable company are more plausible. For sure, they are discussing other items and not just WDW.

Disney already is part of a streaming service.
Hulu. They own like 33% or something.
It is a joint venture between
Comcast, 21st Century FOX, Disney-ABC TV Group

 

[SYRIK2000]

I'm still waiting from where you've read a star wars land will be built? Ah there is no official word? Jus rumours? Got ya.

I think someone needs to go make some tea and relax. If you don't like the parks don't go. It's as simple as that. And by all means please delete your message board accounts.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I believe the pics @marni1971 posted a while back were the guys deciding/planning what will be pitched at this BOD meeting. They aren't bringing the BoD here without something solidly planned out to pitch.

 

[wm49rs]

So we have a poster who claims Iger is in a meeting in Orlando at the Grand Floridian. Naturally this must mean he is there to discuss the Star Wars Land rite?

ROFLMAO only on this board are people this niave.

They may be naive, but they (for the most part) know how to use spell check....

And a calendar, for that matter....

 

[P_Radden]

I believe the pics @marni1971 posted a while back were the guys deciding/planning what will be pitched at this BOD meeting. They aren't bringing the BoD here without something solidly planned out to pitch.

I'm dying to see those plans.. All of them, even the ones that don't make it. Although we have an idea what to expect in some aspects of a DHS overhaul, I'm really hoping there is more to this project than we think.

 

[truecoat]

Where are all our flies on the wall spies?

IT'S A TRAP!

 

[Shaman]

ESPN is a monster money maker for TWDC. They get the most money out of their media networks segment, with ESPN being the strongest component. Interactive is their smallest but as of FY2014 it was very successful given how little it costs. Most of the Interactive unit is licensed out to third party developers.

As for media distribution shifting to digital, believe it or not Disney is the best positioned media company to adapt to this. They are very much aware of technology and that is why your board of directors include Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook and Jack Dorsey or Twitter and Square Inc. You also have John Chen and Judy Estrin from the tech side as well, the latter being a former CTO of Cisco.

Disney was the first company to distribute via iTunes and has business relationships with companies like Netflix. In short, it's one area that Bob has definitely made his focus.

EDIT: Judy is no longer on the board as of this year.

I understand all that. I guess, my point was that the narrative that Iger has "destroyed" the parks and the company is often an oversimplification that borders on ridiculous. Are the parks in a condition super fans want them to be? Most of us think things could be better. But the average guest visits so rarely that they hardly notice missing trees, missing benches, empty attraction buildings, etc. Issues like dangerously crowded parks are hard to ignore though. Issues like working conditions, wages, and corporate culture and initiatives, do reflect on those in charge.

I just want to know how much input Iger has on the day to day operation of the parks? Forget the BoD. It seems to me, the weakness is at the management level that oversees WDW directly.

About media...

Didn't Iger talk about skipping the middle man (theaters) and releasing films directly to consumers? This was earlier in his tenure as CEO I believe. Seemed to make sense then...and now.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

Are you @ford91exploder's long lost son?

It would make sense. They're both on ignore...

 

[ford91exploder]

This thread is confusing. We seem to have gone from the outside chance that DHS could get some Star Wars loving - I've been reading rumous of a 'LucasLand' for getting on for ten years now (we've already had *two* D23's where fans were pretty much swearing blind a Star Wars land was going to be announced at the event), yet like the poster that cried wolf, nothing ever happens, nothing comes of it.

Just wait! We are told. Just wait, then you'll see! So we wait, but still nothing.

Nothing on the Disney Parks Blog, no sign of any construction. The only evidence seems to be Iger hinting that they were looking at bringing Star Wars to the parks, which he's been doing for several years now with nothing coming of it.

So what is different this week? Why does the consensus seem to be that something huge *is* about to be announced this time? Is it different this time because people with reliable sources have been shown plans or given information they can't share yet? Or is it just mass hysteria, wishful thinking boosted by the hype of the new movie and the hope that a few more attractions closing might signal some construction instead of just a way to save some money.

Basically why should we believe anything is going on this time when every time these rumours have swirled in the last few years nothing has come of it?

My vote is for the mass hysteria because people want something NEW at WDW so badly, Personally I'm thinking it will be changes which we will not like, I don't doubt that @PhotoDave219 and @WDW1974 have heard some juicy stuff, But just consider for a moment that the tidbits may have been planted to out leakers.

Every earnings call for the last 18 months has given Wall St guidance on how TWDC plans to REDUCE P&R CAPEX, So why would they turn the spending taps on when they told Wall St the opposite???.

 

[216bruce]

Here's how it works...Iger sighting, Board o' D's to follow?, conjecture on meetings purpose, 'insider info', serious conjecture and debate, announcement, griping about announcement. The Circle of Life.

"Someday Simba...all of this will be yours"

 

[ford91exploder]

I wouldn't say the theme parks are the most secure - remember 9/11 and recessions? Now, ESPN is the big money maker. You can stay home and watch it on TV at the comfort of your favorite chair. Secure unless you can't pay the cable bill each month.

You mean Secure until ala carte pricing comes into play, Variety just ran a poll stating that only 37.5 percent of households would voluntarily pay for ESPN's content.

Full article here

http://variety.com/2015/digital/new...els-people-would-actually-pay-for-1201520900/

Disney's production only model is in real danger under a ala carte pricing model.

 

[SYRIK2000]

So we have a poster who claims Iger is in a meeting in Orlando at the Grand Floridian. Naturally this must mean he is there to discuss the Star Wars Land rite?

ROFLMAO only on this board are people this niave.

You spelled Right, Wrong!

 

[SYRIK2000]

NOOOOOOOO They removed the Hot Cheese Sauce. So that's what the board was doing there.

 

[mahnamahna101]

Seriously? You would want to take money away from Star Wars and the rumored Pixar expansion for THAT!?!?

To answer your question, that has not been mentioned to me. I'm sure theres other things on the agenda but anything MK related has yet to cross my radar.

I think he was just asking lol... but I agree. I'd rather see $2 billion thrown at DHS and maybe $400-500 million (for enhancements to current attractions and possibly Laugh Floor/Stitch replacements... over the next 6-7 years) at MK, then $1 billion at DHS and $1 billion at MK.

If DHS is getting Star Wars, Pixar, the Muppets mini-land, GMR update and something for Sunset/Animation, then I'd wouldn't want anything spent on MK. But if we only get a Star Wars mini-land and TSPL along with 2 new parking garages - I don't really blame anyone for wanting to fix Tomorrowland.

The Laugh Floor should really be in the new Pixar Place IMO.

^This

Laugh Floor is a compact attraction that pleases crowds, appeals to little kids and would help flesh out Pixar Place's offerings.

Laugh floor needs retired.

It's far better than Stitch. I'd be fine with it being in Pixar Place if we get a Monsters Inc dark ride/coaster, too. Way too many people seem to enjoy this show and it'd be a people-eating C-ticket in a park that's desperate for them (DHS). Plus, it allows a Tomorrowland-centric replacement to move in.

 

[stevehousse]

why must we focus on and harass peoples' misspelling like you are all english teachers??? Its so petty, especially when you dont even have anything to come back with except that?!? The fact that most people on this board usually are on their phone, and we all love our phones spell check! You know how many times you write a word correctly and the iphone changes it to a completely new word that doesnt even make sense? we all have been there. If you cant come up with something to actually say, even if you dont like what the poster is spewing, at least come back with something of more substance than "omg they mispelled a word! Their opinion cant matter anymore because they spelled a word wrong!"

 

[Next Big Thing]

Laugh floor needs retired.

The Laugh Floor is actually a decent show, it just has no business being in Tomorrowland.

 

[SYRIK2000]

why must we focus on and harass peoples' misspelling like you are all english teachers??? Its so petty, especially when you dont even have anything to come back with except that?!? The fact that most people on this board usually are on their phone, and we all love our phones spell check! You know how many times you write a word correctly and the iphone changes it to a completely new word that doesnt even make sense? we all have been there. If you cant come up with something to actually say, even if you dont like what the poster is spewing, at least come back with something of more substance than "omg they mispelled a word! Their opinion cant matter anymore because they spelled a word wrong!"

I apologize, I thought we were playing whack-a-troll. and the play on right and wrong struck me as funny.