On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[Askimosita]

If the PRC wanted more - or all - of Shanghai Disney what’s to stop them from just taking it?

By my understanding, TWDC and the Shanghai Shendi Group— a group comprised of three Chinese divisions each controlled by the Chinese government—hold ownership. TWDC owns and manages 43% of the Theme parks and 70% of the outside resort. That’s why this theme park is very unlike the others, where truly American symbols and themes, like Main Street, are omitted and 80% of the rides are unique to this park. Disney had to appease the government to make sure there was no American undertones and things were very chinese nationalistic.

So, with this in mind, wouldn’t Disney have to sell their stake of the park to get out of it? China can’t completely control what they don’t own in entirety. They can be a road block in determining what goes in the park and what doesn’t, but by my understanding, they can’t just take it over.

 

[Lilofan]

You've said this several times. Google doesn't know everything.

If you think it was a conspiracy on what happened to Skipper, then that's unfortunate. Facts are facts. Some just think otherwise.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

If the PRC wanted more - or all - of Shanghai Disney what’s to stop them from just taking it?

Predator drones, presumably.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

If you think it was a conspiracy on what happened to Skipper, then that's unfortunate.

The cocaine blackmail story is the conspiracy.

My version is a fairly straightforward case of corporate succession planning.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

cOnSpIrAcY tHeOrY

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/26/jimmy-pitaro-espn-president-politics/

 

[EricsBiscuit]

By my understanding, TWDC and the Shanghai Shendi Group— a group comprised of three Chinese divisions each controlled by the Chinese government—hold ownership. TWDC owns and manages 43% of the Theme parks and 70% of the outside resort. That’s why this theme park is very unlike the others, where truly American symbols and themes, like Main Street, are omitted and 80% of the rides are unique to this park. Disney had to appease the government to make sure there was no American undertones and things were very chinese nationalistic.

So, with this in mind, wouldn’t Disney have to sell their stake of the park to get out of it? China can’t completely control what they don’t own in entirety. They can be a road block in determining what goes in the park and what doesn’t, but by my understanding, they can’t just take it over.

It’s Communist China. If the local Party chairman so much as snaps his fingers Disney is donezo.

 

[SamusAranX]

But it’s covered under terms and conditions and right of refusal when you buy your tickets.

The reality is we have “no power”...only bad PR and future profits hold them in check

be that as it may, I see a hotshot civil suit lawyer in Orlando and “attention: affected Disney Annual Passholder 2020 Settlement” mailers in our future

 

[MisterPenguin]

They would be wise to allow park hopping to Epcot. Perhaps let guests come there for “free” after departing one of the earlier-closing parks?

That's what I was going to say!

Epcot is restaurantland. They should let people hop over there for a bite.

Oh, and get Rat up and running.

 

[Askimosita]

It’s Communist China. If the local Party chairman so much as snaps his fingers Disney is donezo.

I think it was just a foolish thing to even mess around with putting a park in Communist China if it meant handing over the reigns, even a little bit. It ruins and jeopardizes the brand.

 

[Lilofan]

The cocaine blackmail story is the conspiracy.

My version is a fairly straightforward case of corporate succession planning.

There are no words if you refuse to believe facts including John Skipper admission of guilt.

 

[CastAStone]

It shouldn’t have...there were some pretty strong hints they had actually hit a bit of a price ceiling/overextension last 3 or so years BEFORE the plague and the run on the bank.

Like record setting attendance in February?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Disney is straight up using quantum math to claim this operation is profitable. It is not.

Chapek laid out what the metric will be to re-open, and complete profitability was not it.

He excluded depreciation expenses. The goal was enough people to cover daily operating expenses. I don't know how WDW puts a budgetary value to APers every time they click in, which can effect whether the day was 'profitable' or not.

I don't know if they met that goal. I'm sure Chapek will address whether they're hitting that metric in the Q3 webcast in five days.

By 4pm every park is lucky to still have a thousand in park. On most days. its rotten luck!

You wouldn't know it by the queues (July's monthly average)...

 

[MisterPenguin]

But I thought EPCOT was super duper EXTRA popular now thanks to the addition of the BRAND NEW** Frozen ride?

It's tied as top drawer for the park by queue wait...

 

[DisneyFanaticUK]

You're absolutely right. This is why they are doing it to themselves. Disney needs to look like they have the lights on. This is their play to salvage future bookings. As the headlines get spookier and the virus sticks around, I dunno what those future bookings are gonna look like. Images of empty theme parks are almost as bad for their reputation than staying closed. It's so *obvious* ppl are staying away cause they don't feel safe.

Perhaps anecdotally, as an international traveler, closed parks are definitely worse than photos with pathetic crowd numbers. Even the appearance of things running normally goes a long way.

The second the mask restrictions are lifted (no objection to them at all, I'm just a pasty Northern Irish guy who sweats a lot in the humid heat in Orlando) and the nighttime entertainment returns I'll weigh up whether or not a trip to theme parks are worth it.

 

[CastAStone]

I've been told the property as a whole is profitable right now, but just, and is improving for the most part.

Disney is straight up using quantum math to claim this operation is profitable. It is not. We all see the deserted theme parks and lack of guest spending.

Define profitable. Like, Net Income profitable? That’s hard to believe. But Gross Margin profitable, like they’re losing less money open than closed? That’s pretty easy to believe.

 

[CastAStone]

They would be wise to allow park hopping to Epcot. Perhaps let guests come there for “free” after departing one of the earlier-closing parks?

I think earlier in this thread I suggested charging $14.99 and selling it through MDE. That way they could still manage the capacity and cover The cost of transporting the guest from AK/MK to Epcot at the same time.

 

[CastAStone]

Food and Wine sales are dismal. The only exception is possibly Disney Springs, where some things have gone better than expected.

Who wants to do Food and Wine when it’s 96 out? The locals know it will still be there in October.

Disney Springs isn’t charging the same price for a reduced experience. Well, I guess technically they are, but you know what I mean.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Like record setting attendance in February?

A month?

Overall attendance has been close to flat since about 2017.

That’s the pricing...as no other economic turmoil can be blamed for the attendance plateau. It always goes up fairly consistently over time without some type of economic disruption.

Remember they Opened big “lands” that bob promised would be the best ever too.

 

[hopemax]

The cocaine blackmail story is the conspiracy.

My version is a fairly straightforward case of corporate succession planning.

I don't know why I am responding to this, but I took the advice to Google...

So it is part of normal corporate succession planning, for the person being shown the door to give an interview, 3 months later, with the Hollywood Reporter saying that it was cocaine extortion?

Why in this situation is the standard, "I'm leaving to spend more time with my family," and then quietly disappear not enough?

Why is Skipper a willing participant in this cover up vs "keeping his mouth shut?" It must be one heck of a golden parachute.

Why would any future executive take a high ranking position with Disney knowing that, "We may need to cover your sudden dismissal by putting forward a story that implicates you in criminal activities. You will need to do interviews that corroborate this story."

If pheneix's OP is right about Chapek "taking out the trash," I can't wait to see what the departing executives will cop to, as part of their normal company exit.

 

[Castmbr]

The only exception is possibly Disney Springs, where some things have gone better than expected.

Interesting......
Cast can go to Springs unrestricted and it is free for everyone in the area to go an visit if they are OK with a mask to walk to a restaurant. Cast CANNOT go with family to EPCOT, heck, APs are having issues getting reservations for EPCOT as well....so no surprise IMHO that rev at Food and Wine is way down. Bad execution/decisions and hubris is causing things to be even worse.