If and When Apple Buys Disney, Will Parks Finally Improve?

Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
For years, rumors have swirled that Apple and Disney would be a match made in heaven. Disney's content needs to move to the cloud and Iger is on Apple's board.

Obviously not knowing the final details or if it's even going to happen, I raise this question. Should Apple take total control of Disney, including Parks and Resorts, what do you think would change from a guest perspective?

Apple is nearing $150b cash, but would have to bring a large part of that back to the US and pay a hefty tax bill to close the deal. With a market cap of $150b today, Disney is still quite large for Apple to absorb the entire company. They'd also probably have to up the bid closer to $200b for shareholders to approve anything gigantic.

Still, Apple is about the only company with enough size and enough cash to even make a deal like this possible. Perhaps a third company or private equity could get involved as well and parks could be spun off? Long story short, would you like to see Disney Parks and Resorts taken over by new ownership in hopes of change?

I'm not sure how much Apple would care about Parks and Resorts, but ESPN, studios, and digital media could enjoy synergies in teaming up with a tech company. I just think Disney might be too big.

So people not close to this situation don't think this is purely speculation, the news has resurfaced and can be read about here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...hy-he-thinks-a-deal-is-frighteningly-obvious/
 
Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
morningstar said:
The question is, will Apple even continue to be the company it has been. Apple without Steve Jobs is like Disney without Walt.
Click to expand...
It's already not and that's the whole argument for the deal. Fewer people care about Apple's products every day with all the competition.

Apple might try to make a big splash to ensure the company doesn't fade back into just another tech company. A company like Apple is so dependent on 3-4 products that they have to think longer term. Will anyone care about an iPhone, iPad, or other permutation of the same thing in 10 years? I think it's safer to say people will care about Disney in 10 years and that's the interest.
 
GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
Apparently the speculation on this happening has been around for several years, but it seems to be picking up more steam and press lately.

First the pros, starting with the Washington Post, Apple Buying Disney A Consultant Explains why he thinks a deal is Frighteningly Obvious.

Next, the con from BGR, The single stupidest Apple prediction we've read all year.

Personally, I have a hard time understanding why they would do this when they already have a close relationship that seems to work well. And then, why would a technology company buy a media company, unless maybe they were worried about Amazon? I think they would be best to stick to what they know, unless they were to spin off their media group (music, movies, etc) to another entity, then maybe that unit purchase Disney. But, who knows, I guess anything is possible, whether it's a good idea or not is a topic for discussion.
 
NowInc

NowInc

Well-Known Member
To clarify upon my earlier post:

The 2nd article even says that it would be financially very difficult. Not to mention this entire "prediction" is from one guy, based on media streaming, of which is not..by far..the largest part of Disney.
 
GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
Maybe not as polarizing as I would have thought.

I'm tending to lean toward it's a dumb idea, but that doesn't mean anything, really. They could make a bid for it, or at least buy a bigger stake in Disney to gain more control. Don't they already own 7%, and isn't Jobs' widow on the board?
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom