Could disney be buying the paromount parks?

[RonAnnArbor]

Yeah, I honestly don't get some of the decisions that Cedar Fair makes -- (That is the corporate name, Cedar Point is only one of their many parks). But they started as one park 125 years ago that catered to picnic-ers and grew into the roller coaster park that they are now maybe they still have some of that mentality on their Board of Directors -- they have the money to spend at times, and at others they try to offload as much as they can -- that can't possibly make any money - it's like throwing good money after bad over and over. You would have thought they learned their lesson from acquiring Great Adventure Ohio, only to switch it back a year later to Geauga Lake.

 

[jasonchas]

It would never happen. Disney would never invest in parks that would tarnish their brand name and the Paramount would do so. Six Flags isn't going to buy them either. SF has been doing horrible over the past few year and they are closing a few of their own parks. I think if they are sold an outside investment company will purchase them. As for Carowinds - I don't think it will ever close. I grew up going there and the place has changed (for the better) over the years.

 

[peter11435]

It seems that Disney learned their lesson with trying to retrofit Mission: Space into an existing building.

I doubt they would want to retrofit an entire park.

Mission: Space was not built in an existing building.

 

[MartyMouse]

It seems that Disney learned their lesson with trying to retrofit Mission: Space into an existing building.

I doubt they would want to retrofit an entire park.

What?
:veryconfu
What are you talking about?

 

[relloron]

No. Those parks are pittiful. I'd be thinking more on Cedar Point (Ohio) or if you're lucky, Bush Gardens, though even those parks are nicer. Plus, they have six parks in the US, right now. And more room in Florida. Why buy a theme park that is so dirty and dingy? When they could just make another?

Anyway, even if they did it wouldn't be a Magic Kingdom. It'd be maybe one park and one or two hotels. Probably a Disney America. I've heard rumors about them making one, and if they were to buy it that would probably be it.

Anyway, you can try to keep high hopes, but it won't be a Disneyland or Disney World. :veryconfu

 

[MartyMouse]

Anyway, even if they did it wouldn't be a Magic Kingdom. It'd be maybe one park and one or two hotels. Probably a Disney America. I've heard rumors about them making one, and if they were to buy it that would probably be it.

People aren’t talking about that again are they?
It was a great idea for a park but I don’t see that coming to pass in today’s world.

 

[Pongo]

Just because Disney buys a park does not automatically make the park "Disney". Rides don't gain quality with the change of a name. Even if Disney WERE to purchase CaroWinds, it wouldn't reach Disney quality within the amount of time you have in mind.

Anyway, where is Disney going to get all this money from? Buy a park, tear it down, rebuild it? That's probably the equivalent of building two seperate theme parks of better quality in a better location, i.e. one that isn't an eight hour drive from an existing park.

Basically, I'd expect a seventh gate at WDW before Disney buys out Paramount parks.

 

[drew81]

I hate Kings Island!!!!!!!!

 

[napnet]

Six Flags over Georgia always seemed like a fair that never moved away... besides the nice roller coasters there was no theming or anythign else like that..

 

[headmouse2000]

disney Will Not Make Another Resort In The U.s.!!!!!!

 

[Tom]

With the way that so many people complain that Disney isn't dumping enough money into their current parks, to maintain them, it is funny to hear a few people want Disney to acquire and maintain yet anothe park.

In my opinion, they'll spread themselves too thin (thinner than they already have with all the overseas parks and DCA) and DL and WDW will lose even more of their magic because you can just hop over to Crapland USA in Ohio, or where ever these parks are that are up for sale, and get your Disney fix.

I've been to Kings Island enough to know that it would require a complete demolition of the existing propertym and starting from scratch, to make it worth ANYTHING or to come anywhere near Disney quality.

I doubt that the Board and Stockholders would look at a failing theme park company and say, "wow, we could invest in that and make a fortune!".

 

[BwanaBob]

disney Will Not Make Another Resort In The U.s.!!!!!!

Ditto!!!

(well said)

 

[sabian]

Just speaking from a business angle, the Paramount parks are not performing adequately to justify CBS's future investing. That is th reason they are looking to unload them. It is not cost effective. Therefore, i doubt seriously, that Disney has any interest in these parks. Even if you slap the Disney name on a trashcan, it is still only a trash can. Disney's corporate guys are never going to go after these things. We have all the Disney parks in America you will ever see. Remember, with every new addition, you increase competition with yourself. This equals bad busines and financial disaster.

 

[CRO-Magnum]

There is another way...

With recent news of cbs selling it's themeparks could disney be buying the paromount themeparks.Personally I think it would be a great idea for disney to buy the parks.Of course one reason it would be good is because I live in charlotte.Plus it would be good for the area and I always did want a disney world where I lived.So if the people who are the higher ups at disney are reading this please think about buying the paromount parks it would be a great strategey marketing business.

...in which Disney could be involved. Back when Disney was trying to stave off it's imminent demise at the hands of Pickens, Steinberg, and the rest of the corporate raiders in the early 90's, it ws discussed that Disney could sell its parks and maintain management contracts. I believe the idea was resurrected by Gary Wilson when he was CFO.

What about a private group purchasing the Paramount theme-park entity and then hiring Disney as the management team? It would be low risk for Disney but also provide valuable insight into operating second-tier theme parks. For Disney to expand in Asia, where the financials don't justify first tier theme parks, they need to apply a different operating model.

Disney would certainly provide a boost to hiring, training, marketing, and entertainment. And I', sure Disney could get more out of the Paramount properties than its current owner, based on Disney's experience with their own film characters.

Just a thought...

 

[MickeyMan101]

WEll, suposidly Paramounts Kings Island was bought out by some PRIVATE corp. but idk if it's true, if disney were to buy it idk what they would do... it would need a lot of work for a disney style park!!! But hey i would have a Disney park 20 min away!!! and from a friends house i could see it from their pool in their backyard!!(even tho i doubt it will happen)

MickeyMan101

 

[Nut4Disney]

I would think that Anaheuser-Busch would be interested, although Sea World in Northern Ohio didn't do very well. I live about 30 minutes from Kings Island, and I haven't been there in probably 8yrs. When I am able to go to WDW 3 times a year, Kings Island just doesn't interest me anymore. It's like going to a cheap carnival.

 

[tink81]

I would highly, highly doubt it since the parks probably are not up to Disney quality. They wouldnt want sub-standard parks associated with their name and bring the brand down... well on second thought they did open California Adventure... :slurp:

I would hardly call California Adventure sub-standard. The theming may be a bit off in places, but it's laid out well (a lot more spacious and WDW-like than DL, but DL is a 50 year-old park and has property constraints) and it's bright and clean. Granted this is just my opinion, but I think DCA is very lovely and even though it's not catching on as quickly as hoped, there is great potential there.

I live in central PA and around here the big park is Hersheypark. I had the fortune of interning for their company and learned a lot about the amusement industry, including Disney. I can say with absolute certainty that every park in the US looks at Disney to set the standard by which all other will be measured. IMHO, Disney would never "cheapen" its great name by buying these parks.

 

[Foolish1]

Disney will never buy the Paramount parks. Why? Several reasons.

First, and foremost, this would be competition against their current resorts, and why compete with yourself? Disney has stated in the past few years that attendance does not warrant a 5th gated park at WDW. As a result, no 5th park for the foreseeable future. Perhaps in ten years this could change.

Second, what companies has Disney bought in the past? Let's look at them.
ABC, doing well when purchased. Miramax, doing fairly well when purchased. Pixar, doing very well when purchased. See where I am going with this?
Why is the current owner selling them if they are so great to have?

Third, I don't think the lack of themeing will ever stop Disney from buying another park, though. While themeing is not cheap, it is known they have looked at other parks a few times. Disney came *this* close to buying all of Universal back in 1990, please remember. (Yes, so close it's hard to believe they don't currently own them now.)

Fourth, what about regulators? It's doubtful that being the #1 theme park company in USA and the world, the FTC would like especially favorable on this sort of thing.

Also, if Disney did have an interest in just the land or some other motive, surely there are cheaper ways to get the same amount of land in the same areas of the country.

No, I see a zero percent chance Disney ever buys the Paramount chain of parks.


John

 

[Foolish1]

Also, while I do understand why everyone complains about DCA, I thought was an OK park, myself. Until 2005, I had never been to California before, so I had to check out DL and DCA. I liked DCA, but clearly it does not live up to it's potential.

You are right, it is clean, well layed out, spacious for what they have, etc.
But it's not very Disney-esque. It's not very imaginative. It doesn't go the
extra mile to impress.

Definitely better than any Six Flags park, though! But what isn't?


John

 

[Edeyore]

I am sorry to disagree, but the whole arguement comes down to one point. Would buying the Universal Parks be profitable? If it would be it could happen.
Maybe all the parks need is a little Disney "magic" and organization to work well. No one on these boards can really say for certain one way or another, unless of course you sit on the Disney board.