Iger on CNBC this afternoon ...

[jt04]

FACT: WDW's attractions and infrastructure have been in worse shape under Iger than Eisner. Yes, work in some places to change that has finally happened, but things in other places (like DAK or monorails) are worse than ever.

FACT: DL was in godawful shape from around 1998-2003 under Eisner, BUT he was the CEO in charge when DL's 50th rehab was budgeted and completed.

FACT: DL has continued to improve under Iger (but was under Eisner) while WDW has continued to falter under Iger (as it had started under Eisner).



Make up whatever excuse you like, none are acceptable. The company isn't going broke. Do you know the current market cap of DIS is an astounding $103 BILLION and change right now. It has never been worth more. That may mean that your boy has done a good job for Wall Street and my portfolio. But it also means Disney has more than enough resources to spread around so basic maintaining of attractions and facilities and infrastructure at WDW shouldn't be even a blip of concern for him. The $$$ is there.

You seem to have mistaken me for someone who gives a hoot about Disneyland. (I won't bring up DCA 1.0) Eisner did good there but my concern is only with WDW. Hopefully the next CEO sees the potential of the place because Iger has created a great situation for future growth at WDW's parks. Universal, Sea World, I-Drive Live, Legoland and KSC are ensuring that will happen.

 

[RSoxNo1]

While I agree with the point, did I miss where Iger talked about Coke? Was he harping on refillable mugs?

BTW, I don't know if it's just me, but Coke tastes so much better in most nations I've traveled to than it does here. Have no idea if it's sugar because I don't believe that's used everywhere else, just some places ...

There are different formulas for Coca Cola depending on where it's being sent. I believe Wise Potato Chips does the same thing.

 

[WDW1974]

Actually I read up on this a while back. The reason people choose Pepsi in a taste test is because the taste profile is better with one small sip. If you give people a bottle to drink and then took a survey people choose Coke because it tastes better after a few minutes of drinking.

I don't care either way it's just what the studies found. There was a lot of justification scientifically too.

I will always choose Coke if given an option. It just tastes better to me (no matter where in the world I may be drinking it!)

 

[WDW1974]

You seem to have mistaken me for someone who gives a hoot about Disneyland. (I won't bring up DCA 1.0) Eisner did good there but my concern is only with WDW. Hopefully the next CEO sees the potential of the place because Iger has created a great situation for future growth at WDW's parks. Universal, Sea World, I-Drive Live, Legoland and KSC are ensuring that will happen.

Fair enough, JT.

But see, I care about DLR quite a bit. And I also care about the health of the company as a whole.

Of course, funny how you used to use everything from DCA to DCL to Studios as excuses as to why the Sheriff couldn't fix what ailed WDW!

 

[jt04]

Fair enough, JT.

But see, I care about DLR quite a bit. And I also care about the health of the company as a whole.

Of course, funny how you used to use everything from DCA to DCL to Studios as excuses as to why the Sheriff couldn't fix what ailed WDW!

I still believe that. WDW has remained financially viable and was least in need of attention on a large scale. And I do think WDW was moving to the top of the list after DCA 2.0. I made this point tirelessly.

But then Shanghai happened. That set any major new adds for WDW back IMO. You remember Shanghai right? The deal you said Iger could never accomplish because he lacked the negotiating skills and cultural sensitivities. Heh. Sorry couldn't resist.

Now some will say one has nothing to do with the other but I disagree. WDI only has so much talent and spreading that talent thin is not optimal. But it appears much of Shanghai is through blue-sky and design and now finally the creatives can focus more on WDW. Just in time to respond to all the activities happening at other central Florida tourist destinations.

And now you know the rest of the story. Just being frank.

 

[lazyboy97o]

But then Shanghai happened.

Shanghai has been in the works since before Hong Kong. It didn't just happen.

 

[WDW1974]

I still believe that. WDW has remained financially viable and was least in need of attention on a large scale. And I do think WDW was moving to the top of the list after DCA 2.0. I made this point tirelessly.

Or tiresomely, depending on your POV.

But then Shanghai happened. That set any major new adds for WDW back IMO. You remember Shanghai right? The deal you said Iger could never accomplish because he lacked the negotiating skills and cultural sensitivities. Heh. Sorry couldn't resist.

Shanghai had nothing to do with WDW. A park/resort there was planned as far back as the 1990s. It was brought to the table by Michael Eisner and Paul Pressler. ... And I NEVER said it wouldn't happen. I did say the project was pretty much dead in the water (partially for the reasons above) before we made the global economy tank in 2008. Only after China had to idle factories that weren't selling as much of their crap to Americans did the talks heat up again.

I'm glad. I love China, but you know that. I'm sure I'll see you at SDL's opening. @Lee will be MAGIC's un-official, official ambassador from what I hear!

Now some will say one has nothing to do with the other but I disagree. WDI only has so much talent and spreading that talent thin is not optimal. But it appears much of Shanghai is through blue-sky and design and now finally the creatives can focus more on WDW. Just in time to respond to all the activities happening at other central Florida tourist destinations.

And now you know the rest of the story. Just being frank.

WDI has let so much talent sit around and collect mold (like say Tony Baxter) and let so many others walk out the door (from the Kirks to Tim Delaney to the now-sadly deceased Bruce Gordon). They could have used any of them or brought back others. If they have a lack of depth in talent, then one can say they are not being managed correctly.

 

[WDW1974]

Shanghai has been in the works since before Hong Kong. It didn't just happen.

YES!
That!!!

 

[PhotoDave219]

You seem to have mistaken me for someone who gives a hoot about Disneyland. (I won't bring up DCA 1.0) Eisner did good there but my concern is only with WDW. Hopefully the next CEO sees the potential of the place because Iger has created a great situation for future growth at WDW's parks. Universal, Sea World, I-Drive Live, Legoland and KSC are ensuring that will happen.

Uh, KSC's demise was essentially ending manned space flight. There's no other reason for me to go.

 

[Lee]

I love China, but you know that. I'm sure I'll see you at SDL's opening. @Lee will be MAGIC's un-official, official ambassador from what I hear!

Damn right.

 

[PeterAlt]

You seem to have mistaken me for someone who gives a hoot about Disneyland. (I won't bring up DCA 1.0) Eisner did good there but my concern is only with WDW. Hopefully the next CEO sees the potential of the place because Iger has created a great situation for future growth at WDW's parks. Universal, Sea World, I-Drive Live, Legoland and KSC are ensuring that will happen.

I'm one of the rare (but proud) fans of Eisner. As an Eisner fan and as someone who visited DCA 1.0 (twice), let me tell you Eisner did not do a good job there. It is a low point in his career. When you surround yourself with people like Paul Pressler and your world is collapsing (death of Frank Wells, heart attack, EuroDisney disaster), you start to question your traditional ways of doing things. Pressler and Harris were given an opportunity to to do things a different way. The initial numbers they showed on a spreadsheet might have caused Eisner to think that maybe their approach was the saving grace to the problems and pressure mounting at the time.

Hind sight is always 20/20 and he must have seen that they (Presler and Harris) were systematically destroying the company. He did force them out, if you remember correctly. He did a number of things to undo the damage they caused before he himself stepped down.

 

[PeterAlt]

It's funny that at the time when DL had their problems, I was thinking about how west coast people love to attach personalities to things and personalities didn't matter that much to WDW fans. I just wondered why that was and kind of forgotten about it. Fast forward years later to today and - for WDW fans - it's all about personalities - Tom Staggs, Meg Crofton, George K. It's like we've adapted that same mindset the west coast fans had at the time several years back. They were enraged by local managers Cynthia Harris and Paul Pressler, while WDW fans (mostly) - at that time - probably couldn't name a single WDW board member. Now, everyone knows Tom Staggs, Meg Crofton, George K. Personalities matter all of a sudden to WDW fans, just as it mattered to west coast fans back in the day. Just thought I'd share that.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I still believe that. WDW has remained financially viable and was least in need of attention on a large scale. And I do think WDW was moving to the top of the list after DCA 2.0. I made this point tirelessly.

But then Shanghai happened. That set any major new adds for WDW back IMO. You remember Shanghai right? The deal you said Iger could never accomplish because he lacked the negotiating skills and cultural sensitivities. Heh. Sorry couldn't resist.

Now some will say one has nothing to do with the other but I disagree. WDI only has so much talent and spreading that talent thin is not optimal. But it appears much of Shanghai is through blue-sky and design and now finally the creatives can focus more on WDW. Just in time to respond to all the activities happening at other central Florida tourist destinations.

And now you know the rest of the story. Just being frank.

So they...Ka-POW!...stun the competition with ambitious plans for a....shopping mall.

Sure, Iger has "cleared the palette" for tremendous in park growth at WDW. That's what happens when you neglect a property. It becomes ripe for attention.

 

[MattM]

I prefer the taste of US coke products over the cane sugar version... YMMV

Commie

 

[MattM]

Make up whatever excuse you like, none are acceptable. The company isn't going broke. Do you know the current market cap of DIS is an astounding $103 BILLION and change right now. It has never been worth more. .

I agree with your overall point, but to be fair, market cap is in no way related to cash on hand nor cash flow.

 

[MattM]

So they...Ka-POW!...stun the competition with ambitious plans for a....shopping mall.

I don't understand why its getting such a bad rap. I think it is a smart move.

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

Make up whatever excuse you like, none are acceptable. The company isn't going broke. Do you know the current market cap of DIS is an astounding $103 BILLION and change right now. It has never been worth more. That may mean that your boy has done a good job for Wall Street and my portfolio. But it also means Disney has more than enough resources to spread around so basic maintaining of attractions and facilities and infrastructure at WDW shouldn't be even a blip of concern for him. The $$$ is there.

It's amazing that with a market cap that sounds so high, Apple could still buy them with a couple hundred tractor trailer loads of their Benjamin's they have laying around.

 

[Buck]

I really wish there was a way to get the OP's inside information without all his annoying schtick.

 

[jt04]

Or tiresomely, depending on your POV.



Shanghai had nothing to do with WDW. A park/resort there was planned as far back as the 1990s. It was brought to the table by Michael Eisner and Paul Pressler. ... And I NEVER said it wouldn't happen. I did say the project was pretty much dead in the water (partially for the reasons above) before we made the global economy tank in 2008. Only after China had to idle factories that weren't selling as much of their crap to Americans did the talks heat up again.

I'm glad. I love China, but you know that. I'm sure I'll see you at SDL's opening. @Lee will be MAGIC's un-official, official ambassador from what I hear!



WDI has let so much talent sit around and collect mold (like say Tony Baxter) and let so many others walk out the door (from the Kirks to Tim Delaney to the now-sadly deceased Bruce Gordon). They could have used any of them or brought back others. If they have a lack of depth in talent, then one can say they are not being managed correctly.

You must have been an expert dodge ball player as a kid.

Iger made Shanghai happen.

Whether Disney made mistakes at WDI is a moot point. I was referring to the here and now and the reality of the situation.

Whether there was a plan for China before is also a moot point as the park was completely reimagined by today's WDI. And it looks pretty good to me.

The Disney Springs model reeks of greatness.

 

[Lee]

You must have been an expert dodge ball player as a kid.

Iger made Shanghai happen.

Oh, if it weren't for an informal NDA, I would have a lot of fun with that bit.