Critics say Disney wields too much influence in the Florida Chamber of Commerce

[Master Yoda]

Nothing says legit like paying for a study that is a pat on the back.

Yes and no. Many studies are paid for by someone who would desire a positive result. That in itself does not invalidate the data. The simple fact that Disney disclosed that they paid for it lends to the credibility and in spite of Disney's deep pockets, it is unlikely that a company like Arduin, Laffer and Moore Econometrics would risk their entire business falsifying a single report for a single client.

 

[jakeman]

Yes and no. Many studies are paid for by someone who would desire a positive result. That in itself does not invalidate the data. The simple fact that Disney disclosed that they paid for it lends to the credibility and in spite of Disney's deep pockets, it is unlikely that a company like Arduin, Laffer and Moore Econometrics would risk their entire business falsifying a single report for a single client.

Considering that's the basis for almost all drug development globally I would tend to agree.

Just because the results of a study are positive doesn't mean the sponsor company cooked the books.

 

[lt94]

The $18.2 billion in annual economic activity generated locally by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts accounts for a staggering 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product for the entire state.

Who is the other 7.5% !!!

 

[imagineer boy]

Its all apart of Disney's evil plan to take over the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8u7px_GzWQ

 

[Motorpro]

You do realize Florida was a tourist destination for a hundred years before Disney showed up, right?

Yes you had a few rich people at the beach resorts but central Florida was a swamp waste land

 

[WorldKey]

From the Sentinel

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-florida-chamber-influence-20111027,0,5459172.story

All I would say to that is that those complaining are very likely in the extreme majority of central Florida businesses that would not exist if Disney had not arrived. Most of central Florida would still be cow towns and orange groves.

 

[njDizFan]

Since when is a private company's primary goal the welfare of the citizens of one of the states where they do business? Your argument supposes that the "right reasons" here would be for Disney to roll over and invite competition in because it's in the best interest of some Florida residents.

Disney's first obligation is to their own shareholders--the owners of the company. Their shareholders' interests are not served by failing to protect the company's interests. If there is any other obligation, it's to guests and then employees.

And that's the problem right there. Quarter after quarter of double digit returns is the mantra of Wall Street. How about nourturing your guests, employees, and community with respect and good will. Or is that just going to get me flamed as a dirty socialist.

 

[mkt]

Can I invite a member of Disney Social Media to come debate that point here? (I mean I just did and I'm sure that Tom or Jenn or Gary are reading and will not come here because their social media department exists only as inhouse PR/propaganda and not a true conduit with the fan community ... my question is more is this piece of the post is just gonna disappear? I started asking questions like this on one Disney Place and suddenly you'd have thought I questioned whether Mickey existed!)

You just defined social media. It's an interesting gray area between PR, Promotions, and Advertising- nothing more.

Anyone who thinks it's different is only fooling themselves.

 

[mkt]

And that's the problem right there. Quarter after quarter of double digit returns is the mantra of Wall Street. How about nourturing your guests, employees, and community with respect and good will. Or is that just going to get me flamed as a dirty socialist.

If Disney were to buy back of its stock, then sure.

But as they're a publicly traded company, they only have one real obligation. And it's not to the fans.

 

[Master Yoda]

And that's the problem right there. Quarter after quarter of double digit returns is the mantra of Wall Street. How about nourturing your guests, employees, and community with respect and good will. Or is that just going to get me flamed as a dirty socialist.

About the only way you can get away with that being your primary goal these days is if you are a privately and not publicly owned company.

 

[Bolna]

Yes you had a few rich people at the beach resorts but central Florida was a swamp waste land

All I would say to that is that those complaining are very likely in the extreme majority of central Florida businesses that would not exist if Disney had not arrived. Most of central Florida would still be cow towns and orange groves.

I am just quoting the two of you, because you are the most recent posters about this, but there were a few others as well...

The point here is that this is the Florida Chamber of Commerce. We aren't talking about Central Florida/Orange County/Osceola County, but about the whole state!!

While I know nearly nothing about Floridian politics, it is peculiar if the Chamber of Commerce picks two legislative topics which heavily favour one specific company and region to the detriment of other regions' interests.

Even if it may be in Disney's interest to get those topics decided in their favour, one can ask how clever it is to alienate other players in other regions in the Floridian economy that way. Even someone who does not have a stake in the tourism industry that much - like Publix, one of the other big donator to the Chamber of Commerce according to the article - might get annoyed that their money is being used solely for Disney's interests.

And maybe the interesting thing isn't so much that Disney is having a lot of influence, but the fact that people are speaking up against it. The article is definitely not positive PR for Disney.

 

[njDizFan]

About the only way you can get away with that being your primary goal these days is if you are a privately and not publicly owned company.

Agreed. But there are socially responsible companies out there, maybe not mega-corporations like TWDC. And sometimes treating your people, clients and community well pays off in the long run.

 

[Master Yoda]

Agreed. But there are socially responsible companies out there, maybe not mega-corporations like TWDC. And sometimes treating your people, clients and community well pays off in the long run.

I would agree. Unfortunately, I do not make the rules. I often wonder what Disney would be like if it was owned and operated solely by one person. In all probability it would not exist at all if it did not go public.

 

[comics101]

And that's the problem right there. Quarter after quarter of double digit returns is the mantra of Wall Street. How about nourturing your guests, employees, and community with respect and good will. Or is that just going to get me flamed as a dirty socialist.

How is that the problem? I for one am very, very thankful Disney has to answer to their shareholders. The way Disney makes money for those shareholders IS by nourturing their guests. Happy guests=$$$. $$$=Happy shareholders. If guests were unhappy with the service they recieved from Disney, then guests would stop going to Disney. Aside from Disney Dweebs like us, I've yet to come across a person who's had a major complaint about service at WDW or DLR (aside from prices, but obviously guests are willing to pay, so it can't be that big of a problem...). In fact, I would be willing to bet it very seldom happens. In other words, Disney treats their guests very well, in fact, better than any other company I can think of off the top of my head. As for their employees, having never worked for Disney I really can't comment on that, but I would assume Disney treats their employees very similar to any other major service business out there.

 

[njDizFan]

How is that the problem? I for one am very, very thankful Disney has to answer to their shareholders. The way Disney makes money for those shareholders IS by nourturing their guests. Happy guests=$$$. $$$=Happy shareholders. If guests were unhappy with the service they recieved from Disney, then guests would stop going to Disney. Aside from Disney Dweebs like us, I've yet to come across a person who's had a major complaint about service at WDW or DLR (aside from prices, but obviously guests are willing to pay, so it can't be that big of a problem...). In fact, I would be willing to bet it very seldom happens. In other words, Disney treats their guests very well, in fact, better than any other company I can think of off the top of my head. As for their employees, having never worked for Disney I really can't comment on that, but I would assume Disney treats their employees very similar to any other major service business out there.

I will try not to go on a full blown rant but you are a little naive if you think TWDC goes full out helping their guest,CMs and community for the benefit of their shareholders.

TWDC is out to squeeze every last cent out of their clients. Whether that's artifically raising prices to force people to use the DDP, homogonizing merchandise to maximize $s per square feet of retail space. Holding off major refurbishments in spite of bad show quality.

And believe me I'm sure Parks and Resorts get a multitude of complaints on a daily basis.

As far as the CMs, I am not or ever been a Disney employee but I know they don't pay a real living wage.

 

[lt94]

Notice the next time you purchase a item at disney look at where it was made sometimes it's outside the USA how does that help the local buisness

 

[jt04]

I will try not to go on a full blown rant but you are a little naive if you think TWDC goes full out helping their guest,CMs and community for the benefit of their shareholders.

TWDC is out to squeeze every last cent out of their clients. Whether that's artifically raising prices to force people to use the DDP, homogonizing merchandise to maximize $s per square feet of retail space. Holding off major refurbishments in spite of bad show quality.

And believe me I'm sure Parks and Resorts get a multitude of complaints on a daily basis.

As far as the CMs, I am not or ever been a Disney employee but I know they don't pay a real living wage.

Anyone who uses the term "a living wage" is speaking in talking points. CM jobs are almost always an entry level position. You need to learn basic economics.

If Disney squeezed people as you say and were as darkly cynical as you claim they would have few customers. The numbers do not support your claims.

 

[WDW1974]

Ah, I am a stockholder in TWDC and I want to see it perform well. BUT ... not at any costs. That's my main point with the Chamber being basically used to push Disney's agenda.

What's good for Florida right now (the state, not simply a 3-4 county area in the center) is mega casino resorts in SoFla. Of course, those would compete with Disney (the Mouse hates that the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa is less than 90 minutes away, but being that's Indian gaming, they have no choice).

There's a strong movement in this country (one I find to be absurd and ignorant in wake of the worldwide financial disaster we began in 2008 -- earlier actually, but that's when the pooh hit the fan!) to defend Wall Street and big business at all costs. Even by little guys who aren't close to being worth a million, yet defend billionares and billion dollar companies. I think they confuse democracy with capitalism, which are two different things, but I am not looking to get an intelligent thread closed.

But I believe companies, especially Disney, operated in a much more socially conscious fashion for decades. Now, it's anything goes. They want every penny that comes into Florida tourism coffers (or as many as they can get) and will do whatever it takes to do so. If that hurts the state as a whole or residents, they don't care. They'll spin it some way about casinos not being good for families etc. I've spent plenty of time in Vegas and Orlando over the years and they both suffer the same social ills from having largely service economies. I don't see Orlando as some shining beacon over Vegas and don't see how three casino resorts 200 miles away will harm the Orlando way of life (whatever that is). But I do see how it can harm Disney's bottom line.

As to the April story about Disney being worth $18 billion to Florida's economy all I can say is if your torture numbers enough they will say anything. Doesn't mean they are faked (I don't believe that), just they don't tell the whole story. Much like what we hear everytime a sports franchise wants a new stadium or arena on taxpayers' money ... or what we hear everytime the Super Bowl is played in Miami or Tampa or Jacksonville. Sure, there's economic gain ... but to what extent is always overstated and the negatives that come with them are never factored in because of course the point of the studies is to portray the conclusion in the most positive light.

Is Florida better for having WDW here? I don't think there's much doubt. ... BUT has WDW brought along a whole laundry list of problems with it (and partially fed by its never-ending goals to make more the next quarter than the prior)?

Of that I don't think there's any doubt either.

~GFC~

 

[jt04]

Notice the next time you purchase a item at disney look at where it was made sometimes it's outside the USA how does that help the local buisness

If the local business is an importer they make money. As do the dock workers and those that transport the merchandise. As do the retailers. Do these things really have to be spelled out?

 

[WDW1974]

Since when is a private company's primary goal the welfare of the citizens of one of the states where they do business? Your argument supposes that the "right reasons" here would be for Disney to roll over and invite competition in because it's in the best interest of some Florida residents.

Disney's first obligation is to their own shareholders--the owners of the company. Their shareholders' interests are not served by failing to protect the company's interests. If there is any other obligation, it's to guests and then employees.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating. Disney doesn't exist in a vacuum and if they eat all of the pie and others starve I'm not sure how that makes them a good neighbor or good for the state at all.

That's the problem with the batardized form of capitalism we have in the 21st century USA, the ONLY thing that matters is feeding the beast with ever-increasing profits. Even though that isn't a sustainable way for us to survive and prosper as a state and nation.

Competition means an even playing field and not buying the stadium and the referees before you start the game.

~GFC~