Motley Fool Discusses About Disney's Future

[lwalker8]

A new article from the Motley Fool details Disney in the digital age. But it also contains hints at a "Cars" attraction in the parks, and a quote from Tom Staggs putting a damper on any hopes for a fifth gate in the foreseeable future.:

-"This doesn't mean that DVD is dead. Even though Cars didn't play as well as The Incredibles on the big screen, it should ultimately sell about as many units on home video. Staggs also feels that Cars will have an extended life as a brand in consumer products and ultimately theme-park attractions."

-Ever since Disney sealed the deal on its acquisition of Pixar, Disney has pulled up a stool, grabbed an udder, and started milking. Capital expenditures are expected to climb in fiscal 2007, with a good chunk of that going to build out Pixar-themed attractions in Disney's stateside parks.

"If occupancy rates remain buoyant, Disney may expand its hotel properties, but the emphasis will remain on making its existing parks stickier destinations. And even though Disney has added a new park in Florida every 8-10 years, don't start camping out for a fifth gated attraction to open.

"I don't see another major theme park investment in the foreseeable future," Staggs said.

It may be a different story overseas. The company is already in talks with Shanghai, but there is no timetable on a second park in China, or anywhere else for that matter."

The article can be found at: http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06120804.htm

 

[T-i-doubleguher]

Yuck, I dont like the way he thinks...Oh well...time will tell.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I still wish that putting Pixar into the parks would mean using the story talent at Pixar to develop some new, unique attractions. But, I digress on that point.

I do wish they would do, if they want to use the actual characters, is revitalize a portion of the Studios. Pixar's animation procedures are very cutting edge, and they would serve as a wonderful way to actually overhaul the animation tour and/or create some animation-based attractions. MGM needs some serious rebranding on a whole. I think turning the odd backlot street area into the Animation-focused area would be a great start. It would tie in the Playhouse Disney theater, the Animation Tour, TLM, and a somewhat rebranded Midway Mania. Even OMD fits in. Redo the architecture to feature some major animation murals or something and build a second arch to separate the backlot area from "Animation Court" and it works.

 

[Connor002]

Nothing surprising, for sure.
Mostly just a compilation of common sense...

 

[Skippy]

MGM needs some serious rebranding on a whole.

Agreed.
I think if any of the parks should welcome Pixar it's the studios, bring in some display of computer animation and how Pixar works.. that will help the movie production theme at mgm.. and there isn't a lot of traditional animation going on their anyways..

 

[DME]

Agreed.
I think if any of the parks should welcome Pixar it's the studios, bring in some display of computer animation and how Pixar works.. that will help the movie production theme at mgm.. and there isn't a lot of traditional animation going on their anyways..

I agree with you 110%. Too much Pixar in the MK is not a good thing. It belongs in MGM....

 

[CTXRover]

I think the decision to round out the exisiting parks is exactly what Disney should be doing. There is absolutely no need for another theme park in Central Florida and I completely agree with the notion of making the 4 exisiting parks "stickier" or stronger destinations. Another park would continue to canabilize from the other parks rather than necessarily increase total vistation to WDW resort. There isn't a single Disney park in Orlando that couldn't benefit from either updating of existing attractions or a few new attractions, even as great as they already are.

 

[JLW11Hi]

Agreed.
I think if any of the parks should welcome Pixar it's the studios, bring in some display of computer animation and how Pixar works.. that will help the movie production theme at mgm.. and there isn't a lot of traditional animation going on their anyways..

There isn't any animation going on there nowadays.

They need to seriously stop acting like they are a working studio. They aren't! They don't film squat there! And I'm fine with that, but they just need to embrace the fact and go somewhere else with the theme. I'm more excited about the "fake Hollywood" part of the park. Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard, that whole "city" feel. And they should incorporate that into the backlot sections, too. Right now they act as if the soundstages can actually be used for filming in. I don't think that's accurate anymore. Get rid of the dang backlot tour! The thing is a shell of its former self. I say they can do a "backlot tour" themed ride, but have it fake! Go through some fake sets...have something go wrong...you know the drill.

 

[OmegaKnight]

Disney should definitely focus their efforts on improving their existing parks, not add more. Besides, WDW doesn't have enough CM's to work the parks they already have. A 5th one would just further saturate the already thin CM workforce.

 

[socalkdg]

Agreed.
I think if any of the parks should welcome Pixar it's the studios, bring in some display of computer animation and how Pixar works.. that will help the movie production theme at mgm.. and there isn't a lot of traditional animation going on their anyways..

Midway Mania(working title only) will do just that, put Pixar into the studios.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Again, it depends on how. It is not simply puting Pixar in the parks. It is utilizing them as vehicles. Current trends suggest that Disney is looking solely to the former which is disappointing considering how easy the changes could be. These new attractions should ENHANCE their surroundings; they should not alter or, even worse, fragment them. If Midway Mania becomes Animation Mania or something along those lines, I am all for it. Theme it to an animation studio gone wild. Use it to introduce the Pixar character from cel to cel. Tie it into animation production, and it would be great. Drop a Midway Ride into the backlot with a name change, and we have teh same thing as Nemo and Monsters Inc., IMHO. It comes off as cheap and lazy; that we can't be creative enough to work it into what was there to enhance the surroundings and become new and part of the old simultaneously.

 

[lpet11984]

....It comes off as cheap and lazy; that we can't be creative enough to work it into what was there to enhance the surroundings and become new and part of the old simultaneously.

:sohappy: Well said.