Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
And you probably have.
But making your first post on this site starting a thread that was no doubt going to be a heated debate is not the best first impression.
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Is Disney a Greedy Business?
- Thread starter PostScott
- Start date
And you probably have.
But making your first post on this site starting a thread that was no doubt going to be a heated debate is not the best first impression.
That's why I said "I'm genuinely curious but I also don't want this to become some "lets talk trash about Disney" tread". I understand your suspicion, but if I really wanted to start that kind of thread then I wouldn't of stated some of the stuff in my post. It may be a bad first impression but I'm just curious as to other people's constructive opinions. Also, I'm thankful no one has really been rude. It's interesting to read some of these responses.
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Greedy as shareholders? Accumulating many shares at a low price, and selling them at a high price? Laughing all the way to the bank
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Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I don't have a dog in this race, but I have to ask why? Putting out an opinion on a discussion board to be discussed is a bad thing now? Heated or not, it is up for discussion. No one is going to change their minds about it anyway, so what is the harm unless we try to intimidate people, call them degrading names or make them feel ashamed about posting a perfectly acceptable statement.
Should the first post have read... "Hi, I'm Johnny, I like candy! Does anyone else like candy? I promise to be a good boy or girl and not attempt to ruffle any of the feathers of those that are absolutely superior to me mentally and if I do please set me straight so I can slink away in my much deserved shame.
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Based on rising prices, I'd call guests expectacious.
Charitable contributions are a significant part of a balanced approach to tax avoidance.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Both excellent points! And I agree. The lack of training is delaying the real guest, that should be fixed at a minimum for that reason alone! I also agree, many cast members (and their families) do indeed spend a lot at the parks albeit at a discount. That said, we all know the mouse is making plenty of money even with the cast member discount.
el_super
Well-Known Member
Corporations pay taxes?
DisneyJayL
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I believe now it has become that.
It is the one downfall of capitalism. I rather have that than the other.
It is the one downfall of capitalism. I rather have that than the other.
WDW won and courts ruled in their favor of paying lower taxes. Orange County property appraiser Rick Singh was battling with Disney in paying their fair share of taxes.
Pepper's Ghost
Well-Known Member
I think everyone and every company should pay their fair share of taxes.
With that said... don't blame the player, blame the game. Most companies only pay as much as they have to according to the law. If they can take advantage of loopholes, they will. Just like you and me. You can't blame Disney, Amazon, or any other company for only paying what they're required to. I don't think a single person on this board figures their annual income taxes by April, and then writes a check for an additional $10k to the Fed. I'd say I could count on no hands the number of people who do that, so why would any company? It's the tax loopholes and/or system that should be addressed. Just my 2¢.
With that said... don't blame the player, blame the game. Most companies only pay as much as they have to according to the law. If they can take advantage of loopholes, they will. Just like you and me. You can't blame Disney, Amazon, or any other company for only paying what they're required to. I don't think a single person on this board figures their annual income taxes by April, and then writes a check for an additional $10k to the Fed. I'd say I could count on no hands the number of people who do that, so why would any company? It's the tax loopholes and/or system that should be addressed. Just my 2¢.
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
How do you define "Fair share" is the crux of that argument. The property appraiser's methodology of establishing "fair market value" for properties and structures that have never traded on the open market was questionable. Goodwill is an intangible asset that cant be taxed but it is part and parcel of the Disneyworld Property.
smooch
Well-Known Member
I've seen much worse first impressions. It's an actual topic to have an actual discussion about, of course people will disagree but that's better than posting a thread with a widely accepted premise that will just become an echo chamber of the same sentiment being repeated over and over. The thread is actually creating a discussion and it doesn't really matter if it's their first thread or not in my opinion, it's an interesting one.
That said, I think it's because of Wall Street in general: companies have always been for profit but it seems to me that most companies are extremely short sited now. Executives need to learn to ride out the ups and downs, they panic if their profits are down 0.5%, and it causes cost cutting that doesn't end up getting reverted because they end up making more money and continue to have customers. This creates a worse product with higher profits with very little repercussions. Angry consumers, happy shareholders with plenty of dollar bills to wipe their tears with.
RobWDW1971
Well-Known Member
Yup. This is the one that always seems to elude people - the executives are paid to drive stock price, everything is window dressing. If they don't do it, they will be replaced with another executive who will only be more motivated to do what their predecessor did not to do.
The discussion shouldn't be about concepts like "greed" or "evil", etc. it should be about HOW they go about driving stock price. I want the Disney CEO to be the greediest person on the planet and drive the stock price to $500/share by buying world class IP (Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar) and building incredible new attractions, parks, etc. that make people line up to spend money. I win in that scenario and so do the shareholders.
On the other hand, if the CEO builds DCA and Paris' Studio Park and it is something with poor quality that doesn't drive visitation and spending then that is a poor business decision that does not drive the share price nor make me as a fan happy.
Driving share price is not always, by definition, at odds with the consumer - see Tesla, Apple, Netflix, Facebook, Google, etc.
MaryJaneP
Well-Known Member
Walt = guest experience, Roy=financial ROI
Too many Roys and no Walts.
Irretrievably broken once IPO and shareholder experience > guest experience. Slippery slope.
One interesting perspective could be to reverse the question to ask "What if Disney was NOT a greedy company?"
Too many Roys and no Walts.
Irretrievably broken once IPO and shareholder experience > guest experience. Slippery slope.
One interesting perspective could be to reverse the question to ask "What if Disney was NOT a greedy company?"
RobWDW1971
Well-Known Member
But that's a binary point of view. Take Disney out of it for a second - Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and many others have shown you can drive incredible financial ROI by providing an exceptional guest experience. Those concepts are not in conflict and the idea that there is "two camps" doesn't capture the dynamic.
Back to Disney, the cruise line is a perfect example of driving guest experience and fantastic ROI. This should be the goal for fans and shareholders - more investment, better guest experiences, higher ROI, higher share price. That is a beautiful cycle.
Now, when they invest in poor ideas and the guests still buy anything regardless of quality/price, that starts to blow up the cycle.
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Pepper's Ghost
Well-Known Member
Specifically for the parks, that is so hard to measure (not including merch). Most people are attending for the sake of nostalgia, and happier times. It's hard to say that attendance should go down with more recent lack of quality or high prices. With so many offerings, both nostalgic and new, it's hard to measure what is driving record attendance, but I'd say it's mostly due to people's love for the specific rides and entertainment they've loved for 10, 20, or 40 years.
Mr Mindcrime
Well-Known Member
My point exactly.Greedy as shareholders? Accumulating many shares at a low price, and selling them at a high price? Laughing all the way to the bank
Mr Mindcrime
Well-Known Member
Yup. Corporate Charitable Contributions are not necessarily (usually?) altruistic. It's usually a part of tax strategy and public goodwill.
Its irresponsible for Disney not to charge what people are willing to pay.. they raise the price and people still come...so raise it again.. find the market value..
As long as they take that money and maintain and upgrade their product as well as bank roll for lean times, then that is not greedy...
If they just kept the money and gave it out as bonuses and let the parks / hotels slide and run down, then that would be greed..
As long as they take that money and maintain and upgrade their product as well as bank roll for lean times, then that is not greedy...
If they just kept the money and gave it out as bonuses and let the parks / hotels slide and run down, then that would be greed..