Disney and Universal: Two very different paths

[ford91exploder]

True, but that is changing over time. More options will soon be available to everyone. The bonus of a company like Comcast is it's simplicity, and that'll keep a large portion of it's customer base, no matter how good/bad their service, price, or options are. It's "easy" to buy a bundle of cable/phone/internet. I know, because I am a victim customer of a similar bundle on a competitor. I really don't think that Comcast is going away in any stretch of the imagination. And as @flynnibus has made the excellent point, they are changing their model to evolve with the times.
I just think that the current lay of the land, Comcast needs the content that Disney provides more than Disney needs the distribution channel, and I feel that it's currently skewing more and more towards Disney's side as time passes. Likely, it's just because I feel that the spin is easier on Disney's side. It's easy for them to point to similar content providers and the prices that they charge, and their per/customer "price" makes it an easier spin job than a company like Comcast to try and sell their customers on the idea that Disney charges outrageous prices. And that's just the spin, Disney likely does charge outlandish prices, and it's likely passed directly on to the customer, but in the press, that's all obfuscated because to the customer, it seems that Comcast is the ones raising prices.

I'm really not sure about that anymore 3 years ago I would have agreed with you, But now I think the real MUST HAVE content comes from Viacom, ie Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Cartoon Channel, MTV - the only exception on Disney's side being ESPN because none of the Disney content has buzz and ALL of Viacom's properties have big time buzz.

To a lesser extent more MUST HAVE content comes from NBCU Things like SyFy, Telemundo, and most of the standard basic cable properties belong to Comcast from NBCU.

Disney even lost the 'tween demographic when 'Hannah Montana' went off the air. None of the current Disney content properties even drive Merch sales. And the ESPN 'zones' were a giant flop.

Disney is rapidly heading for irrelevance in my opinion mainly because of Burbank's penny-wise pound foolish orientation.

 

[Bairstow]

No one being you.

Comparatively speaking.
Kali just never found the fanbase of a lot E-tickets. Rather then just having some effects that occasionally go down its flaws are permanent and critical; it's too short and it's always going to be to short.

 

[bhg469]

Views from inside the park are more important IMO but there is so much more wrong than views..

Comparatively speaking.
Kali just never found the fanbase of a lot E-tickets. Rather then just having some effects that occasionally go down its flaws are permanent and critical; it's too short and it's always going to be to short.

100% true, this attraction had the potential to be 10x better and a park favorite if it was just a 25% longer. It is such a waste of space.

 

[MickeyPeace]

Comparatively speaking.
Kali just never found the fanbase of a lot E-tickets. Rather then just having some effects that occasionally go down its flaws are permanent and critical; it's too short and it's always going to be to short.

True it is too short. Disney cheaped out and cheated its guests.

Kali does have plenty if effects though, some of which I've listed above. These can be fixed and don't have to be permanent.

 

[Bairstow]

True it is too short. Disney cheaped out and cheated its guests.

Kali does have plenty if effects though, some of which I've listed above. These can be fixed and don't have to be permanent.

My understanding is that most of that crap had to be turned off to accommodate the lifeguard station.

 

[marni1971]

My understanding is that most of that crap had to be turned off to accommodate the lifeguard station.

Not at all. If so, Why doesn't the truck move anymore?

It's also a lifeguard station that was overkill and not required.

 

[raymusiccity]

Not at all. If so, Why doesn't the truck move anymore?

It's also a lifeguard station that was overkill and not required.

...not overkill at all, these accidents happen. Disney would rather err on the side of caution:

• "On March 21, 1999, a 28-year-old woman died at Six Flags Over Texas, and 10 other guests were injured, when the raft they were on overturned in 2–3 feet of water due to sudden deflation of the air chambers that support the raft. The raft then got caught on an underwater pipe, which provided leverage for the rushing water in the ride to flip the boat over.[2] In a subsequent settlement, Six Flags agreed to pay US$4 million to the victim's family..."

 

[marni1971]

Raft rides all over the world exist without staff manning the route. And where they do, there are plenty of places where they could be placed to not ruin the show.

 

[PeterAlt]

If they did that it would hurt comcast way more. You'd also see a lot of directv and dish network sign ups it would expect

Not to mention U-Verse or Fios! I have U-Verse and they carry every Disney-affiliated network.

 

[PeterAlt]

I'm fan of Comcast as a BUSINESS, Don't visit their parks and coming d--n close to not visiting Disney's anymore either. It's not a popular opinion here but I think TWDC is heading for a fall.

Comcast Cable is where Disney parks is (or at least where TDO is with WDW), which is the total opposite of what they're putting into Universal theme parks (especially USO). It's funny because I refuse to have any involvement with their cable business, but it's ironic that (because of TDO) WDW seems to be operating in similar fashion (as Comcast Cable).

 

[ford91exploder]

Comcast Cable is where Disney parks is (or at least where TDO is with WDW), which is the total opposite of what they're putting into Universal theme parks (especially USO). It's funny because I refuse to have any involvement with their cable business, but it's ironic that (because of TDO) WDW seems to be operating in similar fashion (as Comcast Cable).

Agree, When I went Satellite TV /Optical Data I had Comcast pull the cable entirely off the property right back to the pole. That being said Comcast is still a better BUSINESS than Disney who is effectively at the mercy of the content providers. Who if they ganged up on Disney would make TWDC's content business worthless overnight.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Agree, When I went Satellite TV /Optical Data I had Comcast pull the cable entirely off the property right back to the pole. That being said Comcast is still a better BUSINESS than Disney who is effectively at the mercy of the content providers. Who if they ganged up on Disney would make TWDC's content business worthless overnight.

What am I missing in that post. It seems backwards to me. I'm not being sarcastic, just confused. Could you explain that a little more? It seems like Comcast is way more dependent on Disney then the other way around. I must be missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

 

[George]

Raft rides all over the world exist without staff manning the route. And where they do, there are plenty of places where they could be placed to not ruin the show.

All the other raft rides exist in areas where lives aren't as valued as WDW. Did you know, Disney has the technology to re-animate a corpse and make sure it doesn't collapse until it is off property? This is really expensive to do, so bean counters decided that in order to make sure they maintained the no deaths at WDW "clean sheet", some cheaper alternatives would be pursued. I understand that 30 or 40 people are rescued a day at Kali.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I'll confess to being completely unfamiliar with raft ride safety mechanisms. But on intuition, I'd say that you can not hope to overturn an upside down raft by manpower anyway. The best remedie is not a few lifeguards (they're not Superman), but a plug to quickly drain the water to prevent drowning.

 

[celluloid]

I'll confess to being completely unfamiliar with raft ride safety mechanisms. But on intuition, I'd say that you can not hope to overturn an upside down raft by manpower anyway. The best remedie is not a few lifeguards (they're not Superman), but a plug to quickly drain the water to prevent drowning.

And that is exactly what Universal's is with popeye's at Islands of Adventure. It has an intense drainage system in case of emergencies.

 

[Doctor Cash]

I was linked this page on Reddit where they are having a field day with the responses and how little people know about the world of business.

First off I used to be a Florida local and grew up with both parks. I'm sick of both of them and remember Universal's hotels having bed bugs all the time. Disney I just plain outgrew.

Now the Comcast verse Disney debate that everyone is trying to out do each other on. I work as an analyst so knowing both companies is important in my line of work, I also have a better knowledge of both companies infrastructure in regards to what they are capable of business wise so keep that in mind before you bring out the torches and pitchforks. To be blunt, I can care less how this is perceived especially by the people involved. I do not mean that to be insulting rather I'm just being honest.

Comcast, is a good company. Disney is a good company.

For the general public that's all you need to know. Comcast would suffer without Disney and vice versa. Comcast needs ESPN and the Disney Channel, Disney needs the absurd fees they charge for those channels. ESPN costs about 5 to 6 bucks on your cable each month, no other channel is close to that, the next channel is like a dollar and change. Disney charges so much because they can. Comcast is in no position to tell them they can't. Comcast is very good in the delivery business, Disney knows this so I honestly believe they have no intentions of killing the golden goose.

That being said, I do own Disney stock and do not own Comcast nor do I intend to purchase any, anytime soon. Disney at the moment is a better value.

tldr

Both companies are good, get off the soap boxes people.

 

[wm49rs]

Another county heard from....

 

[Goofyernmost]

I was linked this page on Reddit where they are having a field day with the responses and how little people know about the world of business.

First off I used to be a Florida local and grew up with both parks. I'm sick of both of them and remember Universal's hotels having bed bugs all the time. Disney I just plain outgrew.

Now the Comcast verse Disney debate that everyone is trying to out do each other on. I work as an analyst so knowing both companies is important in my line of work, I also have a better knowledge of both companies infrastructure in regards to what they are capable of business wise so keep that in mind before you bring out the torches and pitchforks. To be blunt, I can care less how this is perceived especially by the people involved. I do not mean that to be insulting rather I'm just being honest.

Comcast, is a good company. Disney is a good company.

For the general public that's all you need to know. Comcast would suffer without Disney and vice versa. Comcast needs ESPN and the Disney Channel, Disney needs the absurd fees they charge for those channels. ESPN costs about 5 to 6 bucks on your cable each month, no other channel is close to that, the next channel is like a dollar and change. Disney charges so much because they can. Comcast is in no position to tell them they can't. Comcast is very good in the delivery business, Disney knows this so I honestly believe they have no intentions of killing the golden goose.

That being said, I do own Disney stock and do not own Comcast nor do I intend to purchase any, anytime soon. Disney at the moment is a better value.

tldr

Both companies are good, get off the soap boxes people.

We're sorry!

 

[englanddg]

I was linked this page on Reddit where they are having a field day with the responses and how little people know about the world of business.

First off I used to be a Florida local and grew up with both parks. I'm sick of both of them and remember Universal's hotels having bed bugs all the time. Disney I just plain outgrew.

Now the Comcast verse Disney debate that everyone is trying to out do each other on. I work as an analyst so knowing both companies is important in my line of work, I also have a better knowledge of both companies infrastructure in regards to what they are capable of business wise so keep that in mind before you bring out the torches and pitchforks. To be blunt, I can care less how this is perceived especially by the people involved. I do not mean that to be insulting rather I'm just being honest.

Comcast, is a good company. Disney is a good company.

For the general public that's all you need to know. Comcast would suffer without Disney and vice versa. Comcast needs ESPN and the Disney Channel, Disney needs the absurd fees they charge for those channels. ESPN costs about 5 to 6 bucks on your cable each month, no other channel is close to that, the next channel is like a dollar and change. Disney charges so much because they can. Comcast is in no position to tell them they can't. Comcast is very good in the delivery business, Disney knows this so I honestly believe they have no intentions of killing the golden goose.

That being said, I do own Disney stock and do not own Comcast nor do I intend to purchase any, anytime soon. Disney at the moment is a better value.

tldr

Both companies are good, get off the soap boxes people.

I also don't mean this to be insulting. You are correct in many of your points. Spot on, in fact!

But, with all due respect...while your analysis of the companies themselves as a whole is correct...that is not the purpose of this discussion. This isn't a "DISNEY WANTS TO KILL COMCAST" thread...nor is it the opposite.

If on Reddit there is a stream making fun of us here, that's amusing, as it's obviously caught attention. Not a bad thing for us, not a bad thing for the site!

But, while the thread may ramble and waver, the topic of it is regarding Resorts and Theme Parks. And, more specifically, how each company is viewing them currently and the future of them through their capital investments and announced plans. It's about a segment of the business, not the business as a whole. Did you not even read the original post to gain context? Nice "analysis" from an "analyst".

The terms in question, and how people use them, is not a reflection of a general ignorance of how "business works", as you put it...heck, Microsoft was one of the largest programming centers for Apple! Business is about making products and services that work and entice consumption. Period. In many cases, it makes for competing markets that overlap with cooperative ones.

Most people know this, and it doesn't take a genius to see it.

That being said, as was the case with MS and Apple, try telling it to a fan of either. The fan of MS doesn't care that they did work for Apple, they think their OS is the best, and that is what they are defending or debating. And when it's not, that is what they are criticizing.

The same could be said for console game fans.

Anyhow, my point is...

To blatantly assume that people are "ignorant" to the "world of business" because they have specific concerns and gripes about how one company is conducting a VERY SPECIFIC line of business versus the other...

Well...to me...that's ignorant in and of itself.

As an "analyst", I'd assume that you would first want to understand the context and the content being discussed before producing an opinion.

But, I guess not. So, please go back to "analyzing" things, because you certainly didn't "analyze" this thread, nor this forum, nor the site as a whole, very well at all. With that in mind, I'll likewise avoid your stock tips.

Thanks for your post, and have a magical day!

 

[ford91exploder]

What am I missing in that post. It seems backwards to me. I'm not being sarcastic, just confused. Could you explain that a little more? It seems like Comcast is way more dependent on Disney then the other way around. I must be missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Sure,

Comcast CABLE has the worst customer service in the industry, That being said DISNEY with the SOLE exception of ESPN does not have any 'MUST HAVE' cable properties, NO ONE will care if ABC Network/Family Channel/Disney XD/Disney Junior is not available.

The same cannot be said for the comedy channel/nickelodeon etc Also the VAST majority of the 'basic cable' channels now belong to Comcast through the NBC/Universal merger. You would be amazed at how MANY including the majority of spanish/portugese language channels Comcast now owns.

Disney has NO independent content distribution other than OTA from network affiliates, So if Comcast/TWC/Metrocast/ATT/Verizon/DirectTV/Dish decided not to carry Disney's content Disney's cable holdings would drop in value OVERNIGHT to almost nothing. Disney uses ESPN as a hammer to force the cable companies to carry their other channels.

I believe Disney is charging the cableco's somewhere north of $5/month per-sub for ESPN. A LOT of cable providers would dearly love to put ESPN in a 'sports' package and drop the Disney 'shovelware' as it would vastly improve their cashflow.

Disney is on the way to irrelevance because they have not CREATED any new IP with mass appeal in nearly a decade - When 'Hannah Montana' was airing the Disney Channels were MUST HAVE as they were a direct pipeline to the 'Tween demographic. Now they are 'background noise' for small children at best.

It's going to be very interesting what happens next contract renewal for one of the Major's I expect they will play hardball and block out Disney. I expect Disney to dig in it's heels and I imagine we will hear the sound of crickets except from the relatively small core of hardcore sports fans who will be in withdrawal from 'Sportscenter'.