The Wall Street Journal reported that Universal want to build a resort in India and they want to use Marvel in some rides.What do you think.
I'm all for Marvel in the parks. Some great properties there.
I know some get their undies all in a bunch over it, but Marvel is as much Disney now as Pixar is - companies they bought and now run.
i think the OP is asking how do we feel about Universal using Disney owned Marvel characters in a new park in India....
i think the OP is asking how do we feel about Universal using Disney owned Marvel characters in a new park in India....
I would venture to say there has to be some sort of clause in any contract or agreement stating Universal can use these characters outside of the U.S... Not sure if there is one or not...
Universal would have to contract new rights for the new parks, so Disney can make as many outlandish requests or requirements as they deem fit. I think it's great, I don't think people see Marvel as Disney as much as they see Pulp Fiction as being Disney, and as such, should be cross promoted and advertised to raise money. Money for the parks, new family entertainment, etc.
Universal would have to contract new rights for the new parks, so Disney can make as many outlandish requests or requirements as they deem fit. I think it's great, I don't think people see Marvel as Disney as much as they see Pulp Fiction as being Disney, and as such, should be cross promoted and advertised to raise money. Money for the parks, new family entertainment, etc.
Remember the Marvel Theme Park that has been in limbo in Dubai for years? This falls into those "I'll believe it when I see it" kind of things. Disney knows that it'll be a tough sell to get the purists to accept Marvel into their theme parks. Most of the money that Disney will make off of Marvel will be in merchandising which has already begun but I think actually seeing a strong presence in any park is still a while away. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney continued to allow Universal to use the characters as long as they wanted and just collect the licensing fees, its the best of both worlds for Disney. You could find Spider-Man shirts at Downtown Disney and if people want to head to Universal and buy a ton of Spider-Man merchandise they are still making money hand over fist.
Remember the Marvel Theme Park that has been in limbo in Dubai for years?
Marvel is as interesting to me as wrestling and monster trucks. India is a fine place for those characters as I have no interest in ever going there.
I would highly doubt anything gets built in Dubai for awhile... That government is more in debt than the U.S. is, and since it's a Sultanate, I wouldn't put much thought into anything being built in Dubai until the oil market stabalizes, which at this point, may be never, especially if the plug in car system makes it mainstream in the next 2 years.
As for the Disney/Universal Marvel arrangement- Disney is bound, by contract, to honor exisiting licensing agreements. Most of those agreements end in the next 3-5 years. As part of that agreement, Disney agreed not to bring Marvel properties that do not have licenses existing into its theme parks for 1 year. That 1 year date is fast apporaching. Another part of the agreement was that Universal has the sole right to market Marvel properties in the State of Florida only. I would highly doubt that Disney will let these valuable properties out world-wide. The main reason for this agreement is obvious- Universal has several Marvel properties that it purchased the licenses for for their theme parks. Expect Disney to hold Universal hostage for the license renewals in the next few years... If I'm on the board of Universal, I'd have to be thinking- "What's cheaper? Scrapping an entire theme park theme and re-theming attractions or paying the sum of $1B for these licens renewels, plus residuals?"
Being in the train and collectible business, Disney has raised its license fees to an all-time high- almost $5/unit. While it may not seem like alot, consider this- toy item A costs $26 and retails for $42; identical item B, with the addition of Mickey in the graphics, costs $41 and retails for $68. Why the difference? The manufacturer has to pay the license fee AND a royalty fee, thus increasing the cost of the item, administration of the item, and a new department to handle this fiscally is needed. Disney priced their licenses out of the market for most manufacturers. Hasbro got luck with that agreement that they signed with Disney, and Disney is actually profit neutral money on that arrangement now. FYI- A traditional per unit license for most other properties is $0-$1.0/unit- just to put it perspective. So if you want any Disney trains, let me know. I still get them, just not as many as I used to.
Disney bought Marvel so they can win the TEEN male demographic. Which they have been suffering to win since the 80's.
So maybe is that why the Power Rangers are leaving because they're preapring for Spidey and his friends? So probaly by September we will see some relastic looking costumes of our Marvel heroes? The Universal costumes look like something from Party City.
***FACT CHECK***
Disney bought Marvel because it was able to purchase at $3B a company that had $10B of license contracts still existing. It had nothing to do with demographics. The deal almost fell apart because the Marvel shareholders initially said no. Disney had no interest in bringing these characters to the theme parks- it was simply a hedge against other properties that they already own (specifically Miramax which they duped some firm into for $660m).
When you talk about demographics, what are you referring to? Movie? TV? ThemePark? Disney already is the top spot in the teen demo's in those catagories. While the M/F ratio I'm sure is skewed towards female, there is no real way to gauge an actual teen demo for any teen age group under 18, since it is illegal to poll that age group. The demo's that are available are parental answers and do not always come across as accurate. The box office will be a better gauge in that age group. Disney got its butt beat by Harry Potter, but more than made up for it with the PotC franchise.
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