Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[PhotoDave219]

OK, if that is the case, BRING BACK THE LIGHTS OF WINTER!!! Or at least put up a new and improved version.

Theyre still in a parking lot, last I heard....

 

[misterID]

Does The Walt Disney Company want to be publicly associated with MAX Comics?

Yes, or else they wouldn't have bought them.

It's just hard for me to believe Disney wouldn't know everything they were putting their IP on. They have people whose sole job is to watch IP usage, not only for trademark infringement, but when it's being used in a manor they don't like. Every single decision has to be approved, so I don't see how anything slips through the cracks, considering the number of people who have to sign off on something. I just think it's ironic how involved Disney was in the Orlando area that kept places away from Lake Buena Vista that weren't "wholesome." Heck, Walt didn't want Annette to show her bellybutton!

Really, it wasn't that long ago when people on this very board were arguing against certain IP's being used in the parks because it was family-oriented and wholesome, because that's what Disney is. And Avatar was pointed out as something being too mature. AVATAR!

And for the Wheel Of Fortune analogy... Um, you're playing for money on that show, based on a gambling instrument (the wheel), the set is inspired by Vegas and they broadcast from Vegas all the time. And they aren't targeting specifically to children. Bad comparison.

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm not trying to change your mind on this. You are entitled to your opinion, but your math is a little off. There are 428 rooms at BLT not 150 (14 3 bedroom grand villas, 148 dedicated 2 bedroom villas, 133 1 bedroom villas and 133 studios). Using your same $30 per day metric that comes to $4,686,600.

But only 150 rooms at BLT are declared as DVC units, the rest belong to CRO

 

[WDWDad13]

I personally see no problem with Disney getting involved in or having Casinos. Kids won't be a part of it and I honestly don't see this hurting their image. Frankly I'm surprised they don't have them on their cruise ships

One could make the argument but it could affect kids if parents get hooked on it... but one way to look at it is parents spend a ton of money to go to WDW today...sometimes it's a gamble in and of itself (crowds, busses, weather, room requests, etc.) and I bet a lot of those parents spend money to play the lottery today

 

[ParentsOf4]

But only 150 rooms at BLT are declared as DVC units, the rest belong to CRO

With the separate ongoing discussion regarding declining Deluxe Resort occupancy rates and with Disney adding over 2500 DVC rooms in the last 10 years, it doesn't make sense for Disney to hold onto 65% of BLT's capacity for cash "guests".

Why hold back 65% of capacity that ends up going unused for most of the year when selling DVC points assures a 90% plus occupancy rate year round?

DVC is all about quick profit. Disney wants to sell as much of BLT's capacity as possible. Think of it this way. Disney sells BLT for $165/point. Considering it cost them less than $30/point to construct, why wouldn't they sell as many points as possible?

 

[Darth Sidious]

that is a HUGE motivator.

More adults like casinos and adult entertainment than they do theme parks. Orlando is 1 or 2 annually for conventions in the USA and Disney gets a huge chunk of business both directly and ancillary.

If you suddenly had Resorts World Miami, Sands Miami Beach and Wynn SoBe, do you really think those cenventioneers would be opting for the MK?

I can tell you what Disney believes.

Absolutely not. I have friends who planned conventions this summer at WDW and the absurd prices they charge are borderline sickening. I believe it was $80 for a gallon of iced tea.

 

[WDWDad13]

I believe it was $80 for a gallon of iced tea.

wow

 

[Darth Sidious]

With the separate ongoing discussion regarding declining Deluxe Resort occupancy rates and with Disney adding over 2500 DVC rooms in the last 10 years, it doesn't make sense for Disney to hold onto 65% of BLT's capacity for cash "guests".

Why hold back 65% of capacity that ends up going unused for most of the year when selling DVC points assures a 90% plus occupancy rate year round?

DVC is all about quick profit. Disney wants to sell as much of BLT's capacity as possible. Think of it this way. Disney sells BLT for $165/point. Considering it cost them less than $30/point to construct, why wouldn't they sell as many points as possible?

I love this post. I truly want to know what you do for a living. Your posts are the most analytical on these boards... I love it.

 

[asianway]

Yes, or else they wouldn't have bought them.

It's just hard for me to believe Disney wouldn't know everything they were putting their IP on. They have people whose sole job is to watch IP usage, not only for trademark infringement, but when it's being used in a manor they don't like. Every single decision has to be approved, so I don't see how anything slips through the cracks, considering the number of people who have to sign off on something. I just think it's ironic how involved Disney was in the Orlando area that kept places away from Lake Buena Vista that weren't "wholesome." Heck, Walt didn't want Annette to show her bellybutton!

Really, it wasn't that long ago when people on this very board were arguing against certain IP's being used in the parks because it was family-oriented and wholesome, because that's what Disney is. And Avatar was pointed out as something being too mature. AVATAR!

And for the Wheel Of Fortune analogy... Um, you're playing for money on that show, based on a gambling instrument (the wheel), the set is inspired by Vegas and they broadcast from Vegas all the time. And they aren't targeting specifically to children. Bad comparison.

Got a name? I have many IP infringements by the lifestyle corps I'd love to report

 

[Darth Sidious]

wow

Maybe it was $70 a gallon but I just asked my friend what it was and I will post it here. I just know thousands of dollars were budgeted and all they got was popcorn or cupcakes and iced tea.

Edit: it was $75 a gallon

 

[Nemo14]

I personally see no problem with Disney getting involved in or having Casinos. Kids won't be a part of it and I honestly don't see this hurting their image. Frankly I'm surprised they don't have them on their cruise ships

One could make the argument but it could affect kids if parents get hooked on it... but one way to look at it is parents spend a ton of money to go to WDW today...sometimes it's a gamble in and of itself (crowds, busses, weather, room requests, etc.) and I bet a lot of those parents spend money to play the lottery today

Again, it doesn't matter what your opinion is about casinos. It's the fact that Disney has bought and fought considerably to keep casinos out of FL while profiting immensely from them. Hypocrisy with a touch of Pixie Dust.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yes, or else they wouldn't have bought them.

It's just hard for me to believe Disney wouldn't know everything they were putting their IP on. They have people whose sole job is to watch IP usage, not only for trademark infringement, but when it's being used in a manor they don't like. Every single decision has to be approved, so I don't see how anything slips through the cracks, considering the number of people who have to sign off on something. I just think it's ironic how involved Disney was in the Orlando area that kept places away from Lake Buena Vista that weren't "wholesome." Heck, Walt didn't want Annette to show her bellybutton!

Really, it wasn't that long ago when people on this very board were arguing against certain IP's being used in the parks because it was family-oriented and wholesome, because that's what Disney is. And Avatar was pointed out as something being too mature. AVATAR!

And for the Wheel Of Fortune analogy... Um, you're playing for money on that show, based on a gambling instrument (the wheel), the set is inspired by Vegas and they broadcast from Vegas all the time. And they aren't targeting specifically to children. Bad comparison.

Disney realized 30 years ago there was money to be made outside of the wholesome family market. That's why they created Touchstone and acquired companies like Miramax. Is Quentin Tarantino a match for the Disney name? The MAX Comics? I'd say hardly. Disney being hypocrital when it suits them is not something new. If there was an easy way to politically block other theme parks they'd do that too. The shock is gone.

 

[ford91exploder]

With the separate ongoing discussion regarding declining Deluxe Resort occupancy rates and with Disney adding over 2500 DVC rooms in the last 10 years, it doesn't make sense for Disney to hold onto 65% of BLT's capacity for cash "guests".

Why hold back 65% of capacity that ends up going unused for most of the year when selling DVC points assures a 90% plus occupancy rate year round?

DVC is all about quick profit. Disney wants to sell as much of BLT's capacity as possible. Think of it this way. Disney sells BLT for $165/point. Considering it cost them less than $30/point to construct, why wouldn't they sell as many points as possible?

Because of FL timeshare laws and those rooms 5.5MILLION POINTS GROSSED @ $125/pp DVD 687,500,000 for a hotel that cost 100,000,000 to build tops

 

[Pentacat]

Honest answers ... you either get it or you don't. I frankly am surprised by how many people just don't or don't care. I shouldn't be. We live in a nation of largely apathetic people who aren't known on the world stage for our deep thinking.

This is a company that has built a legacy and, more important to the business folks here, a BRAND based on quality family entertainment. Where do you believe gambling fits in? No dancing. How is gambling part of any of Disney's core competencies?

Having slot machines or lottery tickets (all that children can see, some they can buy as others have pointed out here) with Disney IP is a problem. Even if you or the collective YOU do not see that.

I think they are using the acquired IPs (Marvel, Lucas) because they believe that the general public still doesn't associate those with the core Disney Brand, at least not yet. It seems to me like a typical example of the current leadership of TWDC, i.e. it's helps the bottom line and it's good enough/not a danger to the public image of THE brand so let's chase those dollars.

The only standard I hold Disney to is its own. Period.

They are aggressively anti-gambling and I support that. If they have changed stances, then they should put out press releases and tout it thru social media. They aren't. Why do you think that is?

Sometimes, I think I could hit some folks over the head with a hammer and they'd still deny that the hammer actually existed.

I understand that TWDC as the right and even the requirement to provide profit to shareholders but Iger and company seem to just be slavish in these pursuits. If you continually alienate or ignore your core audience at some point THAT will really negatively impact the shareholders.

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm not trying to change your mind on this. You are entitled to your opinion, but your math is a little off. There are 428 rooms at BLT not 150 (14 3 bedroom grand villas, 148 dedicated 2 bedroom villas, 133 1 bedroom villas and 133 studios). Using your same $30 per day metric that comes to $4,686,600.

Actually, you proved my argument that DVC is misusing Dues to finance operating budget of entire resort for CRO and DVC, Out of the total rooms in BLT DVC only has 150 rooms dedicated to DVC According to the membership documents members are only paying for the services rendered to members not the entire resort.

On the housekeeping line item I was being generous and assumed that all rooms cleaned daily but assuming 1 week stays each DVC unit would only be cleaned twice based on the contracted housekeeping, Any others are charged at $35 per cleaning to the requesting member.

Assuming my assertions are true AND WDW1974's occupancy figures are accurate it seems DVC is responsible for carrying the operating budget load for the resorts division and CRO is now pure profit. Which explains the rush to add DVC to Poly

Now Jim Lewis is about the most hated figure in the DVC pantheon of executives because of the Aulani Member Fees being too low to support resort operations and Disney had to stop sales and subsidize MF's for existing purchasers, Now what if we examine the possibility that the Aulani MF's were honestly calculated and only supported the DVC member portion of the budget NOT the entire resort operating budget?. Recall it took a really long time for sales to restart and HI has really strict timeshare laws designed to prevent timeshare owners from subsidizing hotel operations. Hmmmm....

 

[DougK]

Actually, you proved my argument that DVC is misusing Dues to finance operating budget of entire resort for CRO and DVC, Out of the total rooms in BLT DVC only has 150 rooms dedicated to DVC According to the membership documents members are only paying for the services rendered to members not the entire resort.

On the housekeeping line item I was being generous and assumed that all rooms cleaned daily but assuming 1 week stays each DVC unit would only be cleaned twice based on the contracted housekeeping, Any others are charged at $35 per cleaning to the requesting member.

Assuming my assertions are true AND WDW1974's occupancy figures are accurate it seems DVC is responsible for carrying the operating budget load for the resorts division and CRO is now pure profit. Which explains the rush to add DVC to Poly

Now Jim Lewis is about the most hated figure in the DVC pantheon of executives because of the Aulani Member Fees being too low to support resort operations and Disney had to stop sales and subsidize MF's for existing purchasers, Now what if we examine the possibility that the Aulani MF's were honestly calculated and only supported the DVC member portion of the budget NOT the entire resort operating budget?. Recall it took a really long time for sales to restart and HI has really strict timeshare laws designed to prevent timeshare owners from subsidizing hotel operations. Hmmmm....

As I recall the Spirit said he had some more information about the whole Jim Lewis firing but as far as I know he hasn't posted it yet. I would love to know what the Spirit knows about that!

 

[truecoat]

Kind of off topic but I'm going for it anyway. One of my Dad's cousins was in an addiction group where there was a lady who had lost her house and life savings. Now normally you'd think it was on gambling and it is related but not how you think.

She was addicted to stuffed animal crane machines. There was one at the local bar and she started playing and winning and spending. Her house was filled with these stuffed toys. The company that managed the machines had installed a second machine due to her cleaning out the first one so quickly between vendor visits. It was a weird but very sad story.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Kind of off topic but I'm going for it anyway. One of my Dad's cousins was in an addiction group where there was a lady who had lost her house and life savings. Now normally you'd think it was on gambling and it is related but not how you think.

She was addicted to stuffed animal crane machines. There was one at the local bar and she started playing and winning and spending. Her house was filled with these stuffed toys. The company that managed the machines had installed a second machine due to her cleaning out the first one so quickly between vendor visits. It was a weird but very sad story.

How do you know me mum?

 

[lebeau]

I get the outrage over the gambling issue. Yes, it is hypocrital of Disney to on the one hand oppose gambling on moral grounds while profiting from it through subsidiaries. But I also get the apathy. Most of us know what Disney's true motives are. This is just Disney being Disney and chasing the almighty dollar. We're here for the theme park stuff. Stories confirming what we already know - that Disney cares about $$$ more than anything else - aren't going to shock us. If the stories are separated from the theme parks we're here to read about and discus, it's pretty easy to shrug it all off.

I care, but not much. There are things more deserving of my outrage. I'm sure Disney would rather we not discus their involvement in gambling. So I guess if I wanted to get Disney management sweating, I would have more interest in the topic. But most of us aren't here for that reason.

So yeah, 74 is right. Not sure why people have felt the need to argue with him for pages on end. I bet Disney sure wishes you guys would stop arguing with him so the topic would just go away.

I am very interested in Parentof4's DVC analysis. Not as scandalous, but more in line with my interests.

 

[misterID]

Disney realized 30 years ago there was money to be made outside of the wholesome family market. That's why they created Touchstone and acquired companies like Miramax. Is Quentin Tarantino a match for the Disney name? The MAX Comics? I'd say hardly. Disney being hypocrital when it suits them is not something new. If there was an easy way to politically block other theme parks they'd do that too. The shock is gone.

Well, color me naive that they would actually extend their IP brand to gambling. Movies are one thing, it's art (so are comics, whether people want to accept that or not) and it's understandable they want to make a broadbase of films to tap into every market. But actually use their IP, especially when said IP is being marketed at kids, specifically in some instances, that does shock me. I don't see it as comparable to Quentin, because they aren't marketing Pulp Fiction to children. It shocks me a lot, actually.