No one is saying TWDC is invincible, only that I'm sure they know a lot more about business plans than anyone on this board does. To insinuate that over using the Frozen IP is going to have long term detrimental effects is tantamount to saying that HP at universal is a fad. Frozen is huge, it's profitable and it will fuel other growth, IMO.
Either way, it's a guess.. we can all probably agree, though, that we hope the massive profits are reinvested into other unique properties instead of just into someone's pockets .. that's the real issue.
They know "a LOT more about business plans than ANYONE on this board does." [Emphasis added.]
Don't you think that is a little far? Either you think that the management of the Walt Disney Company is in a league all by themselves, or you are insulting a good number of businessmen and MBAs and just intelligent people on this board. All three exist here. I am senior tax auditor, a current elected president of a statewide association of local tax auditors, a youth director, and a board member of an alumni association. Knowledge of a good business plan comes into play in all of those (yes, including the youth work). I also know that that there are a good number of MBAs here and people who run businesses. (Um, I would say Steve is one...). So, plenty of people who know all about business plans, strategic management theory, and even accounting.
And sometimes a great "business plan" doesn't come from a book, or from Wall Street. Sometimes it comes from within -- someone who just gets it. Sometimes it involves a team (like Walt and Roy). And sometimes it comes from the creative talent driving while the accountants and MBAs work with them to make something awesome and lasting.
And sometimes... sometimes... it comes from the people who cared enough to study what made you in the first place.
My personal thought is that you do have to balance short-term profit and long-term investment. I do not fault the company for selling Frozen. Walt himself was a master at cross-pollenating his business units (a.k.a. using "synergy" in modern "business plan" lingo) in selling an upcoming film on TV and in the parks (like Tinkerbell herself was used). And right now it might also make sense to feature "Big Hero Six" a little bit, too.
As for "Frozen's" place in the business plan, I agree that for "Frozen" they should do some cool overlays and other "easy" stuff this year, like they are doing. But i also think it deserves a long-term, whole new experience in the MK or Studios, not shoehorned into Maelstrom in a way that completely dumps the integrity of World Showcase. And at the same time, add a new country and do
some cool NEW non-Frozen things around the resort. Yes, Frozen can be like Walt's term, "a weinie," attracting folks to walk your way; but there should also be other spectacular, memorable things to experience when they get there: things to "write home" about... and attract new visitors (or return ones) down the road. Use the current "Frozen" craziness to attract people and bring new experiences, but also give them reason to come back -- the quality and quantity of the resort.
Of course there is more to the implementation of a "business plan" (staffing, customer service training, inventory management, facilities management, logistics -- you know, things that people on a message board might not really understand), but for now, I will focus on the idea that, yes, they should emphasize "Frozen," but some of us who are talking about other things know a little bit about business, too.
