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

[Cesar R M]

In today's TWDC the stock options are basically the equivalent of a cash bonus from a cash flow standpoint. They are using treasury stock to cover the exercised options and treasury stock is being replenished from stock buybacks every year. So basically the company buys shares back using cash on hand. Those shares end up in treasury stock and some of them are eventually used when options are exercised. They could just pay a cash bonus and buy less shares back and they would end up with the same amount of cash left for other investment. The difference for Iger and the execs is that the options are only worth something if the price goes up. For shareholders it's at least a guarantee that if their investment goes down the execs will end up with less compensation. In that case Iger would need to "get buy" on his millions of base salary alone

Speaking of Stock Options.

Could the buybacks be used also to buy IP?
I know many companies buy other companies with shares and very little cash.
Is Bob using this technique to buy new ip? (after all, its a double perfect strike.. buybacks.. raise the value of stocks, then use them to buy new ip.. which will increase the company shares value even further)

 

[Cesar R M]

Isn't this a pretty common thing for a company the size of Disney?

pretty much.. didnt NBC just said they are firing 1,000 or more jobs as well?

I remember reading that BP also let go a ton of workers as well (to justify their billion fines for the oil spill).

No the sarcasm is fine and translated, but CaptainAmerica seems to want to be the forum police.

Well, he's captain america, he loves to policy.
That is the modern Captain America.. screw the freedom

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Isn't this a pretty common thing for a company the size of Disney?

Yep. It's a giant pendulum. Companies get fat. They trim the fat. They trim to much fat and become lean. They hire. They hire too much and become fat again. It's a 5-10 year cycle.

The current efforts underway at TWDC are referred to simply as "the SG&A project." SG&A refers to selling, general, and administrative expenses.

 

[yoyoflamingo]

After another "MAGICal" experience with the monorails yesterday, here's hoping, though knowing it's unlikely, some of that money goes to fixing/replacing the monorails.

 

[AEfx]

I think that most people who would ride DINOSAUR and then ride IJA wouldn't even be able to tell they have the same ride layout or even use the same technologies beyond the similarities of the ride vehicles. IJA is spectacular, DINOSAUR is disappointing especially with all the missing or broken affects and prolonged time spent in almost total darkness.

I think the argument of not having similar ride technology at the same resort is silly, as long as the rides are fun and have enough differences to make them unique, who cares if they share architecture. RSR/Test Track, DINOSAUR/IJA, Omnimovers, etc etc.. I say bring it all.

Absolutely.

The "anti-clone" thing is simply a fan invention. In fact, it goes against the greater public's understanding. They expect one resort to have the same attractions as the other resort. They simply don't have any concept of why they should be "unique" and statistically they are completely accurate - I'd be willing to be the percentage of guests at WDW on any given day that has ever been, or likely will ever go, to Disney's California parks is in the single digit percentages.

Particularly the absurdity of "they CAN'T it's the exact same layout" which you hear so often it makes you wonder where folks placed their good sense, LOL. First, no one would notice even if they did have the same exact layout (no normal person at least, haha) and second - what are the chances they'd build a brick-for-brick replica 20+ years later? It's just nonsensical to think this would have any impact and that they wouldn't simply build a better, newer version at this point.

I'd really like to see it happen. It would be incredibly popular and would be a wonderful addition to DHS.

Not everyone doesn't want RSR because it's similar to Test Track. I don't want RSR because we already have a phenomenal cars land at Disneyland, and I'd rather have a unique land at DHS. A single attraction being ported- Indiana jones, mystic manor, etc- I'm ok with. But a land- I want something unique.

Just remember, your preference for something "unique" is not shared by the vast majority of the public that they will never know what is unique or not, as most of them will never visit both resorts on opposite coasts in their lifetimes.

 

[CinematicFusion]

Absolutely.

The "anti-clone" thing is simply a fan invention. In fact, it goes against the greater public's understanding. They expect one resort to have the same attractions as the other resort. They simply don't have any concept of why they should be "unique" and statistically they are completely accurate - I'd be willing to be the percentage of guests at WDW on any given day that has ever been, or likely will ever go, to Disney's California parks is in the single digit percentages.

Particularly the absurdity of "they CAN'T it's the exact same layout" which you hear so often it makes you wonder where folks placed their good sense, LOL. First, no one would notice even if they did have the same exact layout (no normal person at least, haha) and second - what are the chances they'd build a brick-for-brick replica 20+ years later? It's just nonsensical to think this would have any impact and that they wouldn't simply build a better, newer version at this point.

I'd really like to see it happen. It would be incredibly popular and would be a wonderful addition to DHS.



Just remember, your preference for something "unique" is not shared by the vast majority of the public that they will never know what is unique or not, as most of them will never visit both resorts on opposite coasts in their lifetimes.

Well it would be the cheaper way for disney to clone everything and create nothing unique for land and world. I'm on the creating something unique side of the argument.

 

[GoofGoof]

pretty much.. didnt NBC just said they are firing 1,000 or more jobs as well?

I remember reading that BP also let go a ton of workers as well (to justify their billion fines for the oil spill).


Well, he's captain america, he loves to policy.
That is the modern Captain America.. screw the freedom

Yes. For example, Lucas got shares when he sold to Disney, but TWDC didn't need to issue new shares, they just used treasury stock on hand from previous buybacks. They could buy a whole lot of IP with the amount of buybacks they have been doing in the past few years.

 

[AEfx]

Well it would be the cheaper way for disney to clone everything and create nothing unique for land and world. I'm on the creating something unique side of the argument.

And that's fine - we all have our personal preferences. Just understand that your personal preference is pretty unique to those of us who sit around and talk about these parks on the Internet, and is a "uber-fan" focused idea. Most people think "Why would I go to Disneyland - I've already been to WDW" and vice versa, and in fact expect similar attractions at each resort.

 

[Captain Neo]

Interesting how everyone instantly hears budgets and then thinks it's going to find their favorite thing

Uh I didn't think anything

BTW, my "favorite thing" is Star Wars which Bob Iger already confirmed would be getting a substantial investment.

 

[Mike S]

And that's fine - we all have our personal preferences. Just understand that your personal preference is pretty unique to those of us who sit around and talk about these parks on the Internet, and is a "uber-fan" focused idea. Most people think "Why would I go to Disneyland - I've already been to WDW" and vice versa, and in fact expect similar attractions at each resort.

 

[ford91exploder]

I have to agree with you but its not just at the Parks and Resort Division. Something big is happening here in Burbank and they wont tell any of us lower corporate officers. People around me are getting fired divisions being rebranded or laid off. Something is happening and no one is saying anything. Its not rumors and its not being reported by the LA times or anybody really. It makes me disillusioned that i work for such greedy people. Disney has assets of over 100 billion U.S. dollars yet cost cuts are going off the roof and the spreadsheets don't add up. Personally i feel someone or something is planning a buyout or launch of a big project.

Possible Scenarios

1 - TWDC is about to announce a major corporate restructuring
2 - We are coming up on the end of the FY (Aug 27) and the numbers are not rosy enough so layoffs to make the numbers look rosy.
3 - The 'Conspiracy Theorists' are correct and TWDC's is about to join the long list of companies which went 'poof' after cooking the books for years.

 

[ryan1]

Absolutely.

The "anti-clone" thing is simply a fan invention. In fact, it goes against the greater public's understanding. They expect one resort to have the same attractions as the other resort. They simply don't have any concept of why they should be "unique" and statistically they are completely accurate - I'd be willing to be the percentage of guests at WDW on any given day that has ever been, or likely will ever go, to Disney's California parks is in the single digit percentages.

Particularly the absurdity of "they CAN'T it's the exact same layout" which you hear so often it makes you wonder where folks placed their good sense, LOL. First, no one would notice even if they did have the same exact layout (no normal person at least, haha) and second - what are the chances they'd build a brick-for-brick replica 20+ years later? It's just nonsensical to think this would have any impact and that they wouldn't simply build a better, newer version at this point.

I'd really like to see it happen. It would be incredibly popular and would be a wonderful addition to DHS.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the new Transformers ride at Uni the same ride system, vehicle, and layout as the Spiderman ride less than a mile away at IoA? (I haven't ridden transformers yet so I can't speak first hand but have seen enough pictures to see similarities) I haven't heard anyone complain about it being the same ride system/ride just with a different skin.

Any Indy ride would be great, even if it is a "clone" of Paris.

 

[Mike S]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the new Transformers ride at Uni the same ride system, vehicle, and layout as the Spiderman ride less than a mile away at IoA? (I haven't ridden transformers yet so I can't speak first hand but have seen enough pictures to see similarities) I haven't heard anyone complain about it being the same ride system/ride just with a different skin.

It's not the same layout but it does use the same ride system and vehicle. Just another reason why Dinosaur and a possibly new Indiana Jones Adventure would have no problem coexisting.*

*I know it's most likely not happening. Just saying how it would be no problem if it did.

 

[ChrisFL]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the new Transformers ride at Uni the same ride system, vehicle, and layout as the Spiderman ride less than a mile away at IoA? (I haven't ridden transformers yet so I can't speak first hand but have seen enough pictures to see similarities) I haven't heard anyone complain about it being the same ride system/ride just with a different skin.

Any Indy ride would be great, even if it is a "clone" of Paris.

A few people complained, but Uni isn't held to the perfectionist standards that Disney is, IMO.

People who follow Uni parks know the reason why Transformers was added (has to do with an unused plot of land, taxes and drawing crowds to another new attraction besides Diagon Alley)

 

[Haymarket2008]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the new Transformers ride at Uni the same ride system, vehicle, and layout as the Spiderman ride less than a mile away at IoA? (I haven't ridden transformers yet so I can't speak first hand but have seen enough pictures to see similarities) I haven't heard anyone complain about it being the same ride system/ride just with a different skin.

Any Indy ride would be great, even if it is a "clone" of Paris.

It is the same ride system. Not sure if it's the same layout. But boy is it a terrible attraction.

 

[IMFearless]

Is it to much to ask for a beautiful omnimover ride through the history of animation (especially Disney animation) to replace the art of animation building? Imagine riding through a zoetrope!!! The ride truly could be beautiful, and it would be a much needed people eater for the park.

Best idea ever!

Could start off black and white, then sound gets added, and colour and so on.

It could be really spectacular if done well, like the Great Movie Ride, but good.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the new Transformers ride at Uni the same ride system, vehicle, and layout as the Spiderman ride less than a mile away at IoA? (I haven't ridden transformers yet so I can't speak first hand but have seen enough pictures to see similarities) I haven't heard anyone complain about it being the same ride system/ride just with a different skin.

Any Indy ride would be great, even if it is a "clone" of Paris.

I shamed others last week for going off topic on Universal... I shall shame you as well.

We have specific universal forums. And they're actually pretty active....

 

[ryan1]

It's not the same layout but it does use the same ride system and vehicle. Just another reason why Dinosaur and a possibly new Indiana Jones Adventure would have no problem coexisting.*.

Exactly my point. Only a small percentage of people will even realize or care unless they are riding them in the same day. It also will help people give it a pass if the ride is really good, which Indy is.

 

[ChrisFL]

I shamed others last week for going off topic on Universal... I shall shame you as well.

We have specific universal forums. And they're actually pretty active....

They're relating the local market of a competitor and directly mentioned Disney at the end, but sorry, apparently they didn't realize this was YOUR forum and thread.

 

[ryan1]

I shamed others last week for going off topic on Universal... I shall shame you as well.

We have specific universal forums. And they're actually pretty active....

Sorry Judge, I was merely using the Uni example as evidence to further the case why Dinosaur and an Indy clone could coexist at WDW. Which is on topic.