Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

How would he? How many hours has he spent in a theme park not as part of a PR campaign? How often do you imagine he sneaks into a movie with the general public? Hell, how often do you think he even talks to people who plunk down $10 to see a movie or $95 to visit a theme park?

Can we just stop at "How many hours has he spent in a theme park not as part of a PR campaign" because that is a big one here.

Does he see anything besides dollar signs when looking around a resort, or a park, or even a damn parking lot?

 

[flynnibus]

Unless the shutdown costs are percentage of what would have been on Avatar which could mean it is the same. If they are basing on film success I could see it being 10% of what would of been per year so if say they have a 10 year contract with 2 renewal periods Cameron may be entitled to more than the costs to build it.

Businesses shutdown even profitable things if they aren't profitable enough. The overhead of employment, operational stretch, footprint, etc are all reasons why often businesses shutdown divisions even if they aren't losing money. A business can say 'I have 500 people making 2mil/year over here'... but if I had 500 people over there.. I could be making 10mil/yr'. At that point it doesn't matter that the group was profitable, stable, cheap, etc... it's the opportunity comparison that kills them. Or others examples include simply they don't think they want those 500 additional headcount... you don't make enough to justify the overhead. pl0nk.

Same thing happens in the financial microscope. High expenses with low returns are frowned upon. Running a project that boosts operational costs without returning the target margin are frowned upon.

The 'cheaper option' isn't alone good enough in many cases.

I can't imagine Disney taking the operational overhead of a project for 10+ years if they believe up front it won't perform to target. They wouldn't take the penalties it would incur on their operational and reporting sides. It's much better to write it down now, and avoid the long term drag on your numbers.

 

[JimboJones123]

Question:

What about a Marvel Heroes Resort?Fantastapool.
Avengers Tower rooms.
X-park, for gifted youngsters.
Friendly Neighborhood Spidersnacks.

Does that break the Universal contract?

 

[Nubs70]

Businesses shutdown even profitable things if they aren't profitable enough. The overhead of employment, operational stretch, footprint, etc are all reasons why often businesses shutdown divisions even if they aren't losing money. A business can say 'I have 500 people making 2mil/year over here'... but if I had 500 people over there.. I could be making 10mil/yr'. At that point it doesn't matter that the group was profitable, stable, cheap, etc... it's the opportunity comparison that kills them. Or others examples include simply they don't think they want those 500 additional headcount... you don't make enough to justify the overhead. pl0nk.

Same thing happens in the financial microscope. High expenses with low returns are frowned upon. Running a project that boosts operational costs without returning the target margin are frowned upon.

The 'cheaper option' isn't alone good enough in many cases.

I can't imagine Disney taking the operational overhead of a project for 10+ years if they believe up front it won't perform to target. They wouldn't take the penalties it would incur on their operational and reporting sides. It's much better to write it down now, and avoid the long term drag on your numbers.

This is the concept of Balanced Scorecard.

 

[ford91exploder]

There must be something in the air over there on the west coast. Whatever it is, I want what they're breathing!

Read:

http://micechat.com/42628-miceage-disneyland-update/

The mood there is real uppity and the mood here is a real downer lately...

Doors Coaster @DCA? Monstropolis @DCA? New Star Wars attractions at Tomorrowland? How do they know this? What do we know for what's being worked on for us? NOTHING. Not even a leak. Tons of worthless rumors. Avatar or is that A-vapor-tar? Come on!

They can at least bring back Pleasure Island so that we can soak our sorrows out at the Blues bar!

Its TDO - the only things planned are closures and price increases

 

[ford91exploder]

This is the concept of Balanced Scorecard.

Yes the concept which Asia does the ROTFLMAO about american companies doing, especially Japanese companies and now chinese companies who are copying them where small divisions create small streams of profit which aggregate into a river of wealth, Watching american companies close down profitable divisions in search of the 'Next Big Thing',

Kodak and Lucent were both practitioners of the 'Balanced Scorecard' and Kodak's bankrupt and Alcatel bought what was left of Lucent.

 

[GLaDOS]

Question:

What about a Marvel Heroes Resort?Fantastapool.
Avengers Tower rooms.
X-park, for gifted youngsters.
Friendly Neighborhood Spidersnacks.

Does that break the Universal contract?

Yes. The Avengerail/Ironrail barely skirted through the contract.

 

[TheDisneyMagic]

I am very, VERY glad these people never get to visit HKDL and see what Disney can do for Halloween.

Such a shame Disney forced Euro Disney SCA to discontinue Terrorific Nights at the Walt Disney Studios, I was fortunate to attend this event a couple of times and think it could of been great at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirited Musings:

Is there really a thread here on LotR coming to TPFKaTD-MGMS? I mean REALLY????!!!

Did we call DoA on Cars Land too soon? Yes, there seems to be life in the corpse unless someone is playing the set up game. We call this one 'developing'.

The OLC is not happy with WDI these days. Yes, that is why there will be no Cars Land in Tokyo (thankfully). The OLC isn't really happy with Disney at all, right now. They've been pushed hard on everything from One Disney to MM+/NGE and want no part of any of it since they run their parks to a standard Disney is simply unwilling, or more accurately incapable of doing.

I was not overly happy with the Emmys on Sunday (although CBS was). It was a dull boring affair and I almost thought they were doing so because I had to miss them for the first time since 2001. They got best drama and best comedy right (the biggies as I call them) and I was happy for Anna Gunn and Jim Parsons, but beyond that there were a whole lot of HUHS!!?!?? And the morbid focus on death and the tacky way it was done is all on my good friends at the Academy.

TV season started and I still am enjoying Sleepy Hollow and love Black List, but Spader would be great in an adult diaper commercial. Do not get what the hype beyond it being MARVEL!!!!!!!!! For Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It wasn't bad, but wasn't particularly good either. Same could be said for the Goldbergs. I'll give them both a few more chances.

Back to WDW ... Just read @KevinYee 's column on more for less at MNSSHP. Thought it was honest and straight forward. This is how Disney operates today and this is why guests attempt to lie, cheat and steal to even the playing field whether by stealing soda or privileges for the disabled or simply walking out of the Emporium without paying or even complaining about a perfectly fine meal to get it comped. Do I think it is right? Not at all. ... Do I think it is understandable? Absolutely. You screw folks enough and you have to expect that a portion of them are going to turn around and give it to you hard.

So, Iger's big sales job yesterday was Avatar and MAGIC bands. What another glorious decade of utter mediocrity WDW guests have to look forward to.

Is George Kalogridis still in hiding?

Sorry, gushing UNI fanbois but I do not believe that this is the best HHNs ever or that every house is fantastic. Honestly, the event got so repetitive that I skipped it in 2009, swore I wasn't sane for returning in 2010 and then had a great time in 2011. I can't really rate last year's event because I went during a four-hour monsoon. But I am looking forward to this year's event. It would be great if they could burn a Disney Lifestyler every night, though.

While not a fan of any NFL team, I must admit to enjoy seeing the Fins at 3-0, while teams such as the Steelers, Giants and Redskins are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Disney absolutely is delusional in thinking that I'd ever pay $89 to stay at the when fanb....OK, no jokes. That rate is a joke all its own.

I heard my thread was temporarily turned into the of the moment stroller and ECV bashfest and I must say I approve. When at the Disney international parks you see almost no ECVs (and people in them have obvious issues and don't weigh 458 pounds) and far less strollers. When kids reach walking age, they walk. Very simply. They aren't coddled like American brats are. Unless a child has a REAL disability, there is no excuse for a child over the age of say 5 being pushed around all day except bad, lazy parents. Hey, you know who you are. They gave your children functioning legs so they could walk with them. Think about that when you see a child being pushed around because they can't walk and they never will.

 

[muteki]

Happy to hear Carsland at Tokyo is nixed, hated that idea from the get go.

 

[WDW1974]

BTW, I left off on page 483 and will likely not be attempting to catch up. But what was the hate on Miami? Granted it isn't one of my favorite places, but it does have some actual culture and natural beauty that O-Town doesn't.

 

[GLaDOS]

Do not get what the hype beyond it being MARVEL!!!!!!!!! For Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It wasn't bad, but wasn't particularly good either.

Can't agree there, Spirit. SHIELD is one of the strongest pilot episodes we've seen since Lost.

 

[WDW1974]

Such a shame Disney forced Euro Disney SCA to discontinue Terrorific Nights at the Walt Disney Studios, I was fortunate to attend this event a couple of times and think it could of been great at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Was that decision made for this year? I could have sworn I saw advertising for it somewhere.

 

[WDW1974]

Can't agree there, Spirit. SHIELD is one of the strongest pilot episodes we've seen since Lost.

Not going to argue opinion or taste. But I so thoroughly disagree.

Lost was gritty, real and mysterious. Oh, and filmed in Hawaii.

Shield was cartoony and clearly is going to attempt to use the Avengers to draw viewers while not having any actual heros. I will be interested to see how it does against NCIS.

 

[WDW1974]

Oh what else ... Has the lifestyler pretending be Mrs. Brigante been around?

 

[GLaDOS]

Not going to argue opinion or taste. But I so thoroughly disagree.

Lost was gritty, real and mysterious. Oh, and filmed in Hawaii.

Shield was cartoony and clearly is going to attempt to use the Avengers to draw viewers while not having any actual heros. I will be interested to see how it does against NCIS.

I mean, they're two different things, so I'm not comparing the content, just the execution. A show about SHIELD has to not take itself so seriously, and as a fan of Whedon's previous TV efforts, this falls in line with the rest. Terrific dialogue, snappy pacing, and a distinct comic book feel.

It's by far the best pilot of the year, and way better than anything we've seen the past few years as well.

And no offense, but if you found SHIELD to be cartoony, I can't believe you thought Blacklist was great. Blacklist was decent, but so derivative and cliched.

 

[PeterAlt]

Its TDO - the only things planned are closures and price increases

It's like they like things just the way it is because they have their daily routines that they've gotten down packed. If they start adding things, it would mess up their daily routine and they would have have to work a little harder. It's very clear what's going on.

 

[asianway]

Oh what else ... Has the lifestyler pretending be Mrs. Brigante been around?

I really dont think she was pretending...

 

[PhilharMagician]

I don't want to derail this thread, but Agents of SHEILD was good, but certainly not great. It has a lot of potential but lets see what happens over the next few episodes and see which direction the writers and director go.

 

[doctornick]

Question:

What about a Marvel Heroes Resort?Fantastapool.
Avengers Tower rooms.
X-park, for gifted youngsters.
Friendly Neighborhood Spidersnacks.

Does that break the Universal contract?

I was actually wondering last night is a SHIELD based attraction would violate the contract. Although the movies have created some connection between SHIELD and the Avengers, there aen't really the same "family" and there is no AFAIK representation of SHIELD in IOA. With the new TV show, it might be conceivable for Disney to develop an attraction based on being an agent of SHIELD -- could be a good fit for DQ, were they inclined to ever invest money in that -- and provide the type of IP synergy that Iger seems to love.

Don't think they'd bother because its not worth the billable hours to even determine if it would work, but seems more plausible than some of the Marvel ideas we end up seeing around here.