News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Can I perhaps paint a better picture of an Apple purchase to the parks division? Ok hear me out, imagine if Apple looked at them and expected as much of them as AB did of the Busch and Sea World Parks back in the day. Mainly, a giant “PR expense” that wasn’t really an expense as it was fully self funded (and turned a profit) without the expectation to fund every other part of the company. With the parks able to keep more of their budget they could invest in guest improvements, and expansions. The parks profit would simply be a drop in the bucket compared to Apple that it would not be as micromanaged. Not only that, the parks would no longer be run by a movie studio, but a tech company which may be the secret to ending the IP mandate, and it would no longer be a training ground for junior vps, but a prestigious position for theme park professionals but a rather dead end part of the company for anyone looking to advance to the CEO.

Would Apple definitely do this? No they may not, but they would be the only company wealthy and big enough that could. Plus at the very least, IT and the app would greatly be improved.

It’s possible…

But remember this: they rake massive profits in the gift shops…
It’s not a write off if you make money.

Parks are not the drag…abc/espn, D+ and the movies are the drags

 

[Touchdown]

It’s possible…

But remember this: they rake massive profits in the gift shops…
It’s not a write off if you make money.

Parks are not the drag…abc/espn, D+ and the movies are the drags

I know that’s my point, if you view something as an expense and it instead makes a profit, you’re not going to micromanage it and set the sharp pencil boys on it. This would be a significant improvement over the current status quo. The pencil boys would instead be set on the studios and streaming.

 

[sedati]

Luke and Leia were supposed to be true heroes in the sense of the great hero epics, like the Odyssey.



If Iger is going to repair Disney, he needs to focus on great storytelling, and skilled storytellers.

The hero's journey isn't a path of ever increasing peaks.

 

[UNCgolf]

Parks are not the drag…abc/espn, D+ and the movies are the drags

I don't think ESPN is a drag even now -- last I heard (a couple of years ago) it was still almost singlehandedly propping up the rest of Disney's media. It doesn't bring in the absolute insane revenue it did 20 years ago, but it's still one of the most profitable parts of Disney's business.

 

[TwilightZone]

I never got stories about ESPN doing bad because like every time I am at a restaurant they're playing ESPN. Unless its like a super fancy or old school restaurant. Not sure how that doesn't make them money to stay afloat.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I know that’s my point, if you view something as an expense and it instead makes a profit, you’re not going to micromanage it and set the sharp pencil boys on it. This would be a significant improvement over the current status quo. The pencil boys would instead be set on the studios and streaming.

Good point.

I appreciate the conversation - by the way. Respectful and productive.

It’s how it should be. ( I’ve spent a week reading the same pathetic excuses for Disney making bad Star Wars…this is a breath of fresh air)

 

[correcaminos]

Apples strength has always been the simplicity of its OS and the otherworldly stability of its devices. They just have always been the easiest to use and least likely for blue screen. Which is why all the other computer makers during the “boom” are gone…and a lot of the cellphone makers too.

Who remains? The might of google, dell and HP…more or less…

Samsung for phones at least globally are huge. I even jumped on them for the phenomenal camera. Both macro and 100x zoom have gotten me. Dark colored animals as well. Seriously crazy good. My friend tried to reproduce moon shots and came up with a blurry circle after I got this


But yeah to the rest. And Apple buying Disney just seems odd. I do think I understand that real connection.

 

[MrPromey]

They can invest the money needed to build this company back up to where it once was & tap its unlimited potential

They can but do they want to?

Did anyone think to ask anyone at Apple before jumping to this conclusion?

 

[Trauma]

How do people feel about Disney if Apple buys them?

I really lack the words to describe what I mean, but its something to do with some hard to describe emotional connection to something I can’t exactly put my finger on.

It’s not “Where going to Disney World” it’s where going to “Apple Disney Place”

It’s like it would be the indisputable confirmation of the fact that we know, but all try to deny, that Disney is nothing but a soulless corporation.

 

[Laketravis]

See here -

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/29/opinion/disney-robert-iger-bob-chapek.html

THAT is an excellent piece.

 

[Nubs70]

The problem is every parent realizes it's much easier to deal with the kids when it's at home. Taking kids, especially multiple kids to a movie theater is a huge PITA.

Long term I can see the traditional movie theater model dying all together as there's really no real advantage to the big screen model other than it being a big screen and Large format TV's are only getting more affordable.

How many months of a D+ subscription can you get for 1 trip to the theater to watch 1 movie with a family of 4?

 

[correcaminos]

How do people feel about Disney if Apple buys them?

I really lack the words to describe what I mean, but its something to do with some hard to describe emotional connection to something I can’t exactly put my finger on.

It’s not “Where going to Disney World” it’s where going to “Apple Disney Place”

It’s like it would be the indisputable confirmation of the fact that we know, but all try to deny, that Disney is nothing but a soulless corporation.

They won't at least doubtful in my lifetime. If they did... I'd likely bow out gracefully of going. Full disclosure, I'm more on the ledge now anyway.

 

[BobPar]

The can but do they want to?

Did anyone think to ask anyone at Apple before jumping to this conclusion?

Oh trust me. Im not saying they want to or even jumping to any conclusion but Apple imo right now is stale & im a big lover of AAPL… so i think their name is mentioned bc it was rumored in the past & does make a nice fit.

 

[jpinkc]

I would not be surprised if Iger isnt planning on trying to merge DIS with someone. It all feeds into him being a Great Business man (ego), but I dont see Apple as a good fit. The only ones in my mind would be let Oriental Land Company take over. They at least appreciate the parks and know how to run them. Apple might buy the Movies and Media sides but I dont think they would want the parks. Yes the Parks are where the money is at, ATM, but in the long run the Media (TV,Movies,etc) TWDC controls will probably make much more.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

That’s always possible too. But remember they have never lost one cent in parks…not for one second of one day. They had an elaborate scheme to be on the hook at euro and then thought China wanted parks because of sweatshops.
When Disney has been “in it to win it” at parks…they’ve always won it

Did you have lobotomy this week? The Star Wars stuff and now this?

It’s IGER And he never really left…just laid low for what amounted to 15 months.

“who they are?”

Didn’t Iger try and sell off the parks around 2007/2008??

 

[Touchdown]

For another park chain flourishing with a corporate sugar daddy, just head up I4. Comcast one of the least liked companies in America has showered Universal Studios with loads of cash to build up good will, and those parks have never been better because of Comcast.

 

[HairyChest]

This is the most informative thing I’ve seen on the subject

 

[Laketravis]

Personally I don't see much of a future in streaming for Disney. Disney+ enjoyed phenomenal subscriber growth shortly after it's debut solely because of Covid. Parents subscribed to keep their school aged at-home remote learners occupied. Now? They no longer need it.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Personally I don't see much of a future in streaming for Disney. Disney+ enjoyed phenomenal subscriber growth shortly after it's debut solely because of Covid. Parents subscribed to keep their school aged at-home remote learners occupied. Now? They no longer need it.

D+ subs grew every quarter. How do you explain an extra 3 million this past quarter now that the pandemic is effectively over? How do you explain the rise of Netflix before the pandemic?

 

[VJ]

I would not be surprised if Iger isnt planning on trying to merge DIS with someone. It all feeds into him being a Great Business man (ego), but I dont see Apple as a good fit. The only ones in my mind would be let Oriental Land Company take over. They at least appreciate the parks and know how to run them.

to be completely honest, OLC buying the parks is not gonna happen the way you think. the reason why the japanese parks work so well is because they're in japan - the japanese people and culture have a class and respect that just isn't america's thing anymore, and it hasn't been for a long while

if you want the disney parks to be run better, you're gonna have to change american culture as a whole... and good luck with that