Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[MichWolv]

This gives the exec's a nice tax advantaged way to cash in on their stockholding, plus they can the give all the stock they bought back to themselves because in the announcement I don't see any plan to retire the shares. Just the normal plundering of corporate assets to benefit insiders

There is no tax advantage to any shareholder, exec or otherwise, from selling shares back to the company vs. in the market.

As for retiring the shares vs. holding them for reissue, the answer is it is irrelevant to how many shares would be available for future grants to executives or others in the form of stock compensation. Unless Disney has an incredibly (non-existent) odd provision in their stock compensation plans, the approval levels necessary for an award do not differ based on whether the award if of a new share or share held in treasury.

 

[Hakunamatata]

There is no tax advantage to any shareholder, exec or otherwise, from selling shares back to the company vs. in the market.

As for retiring the shares vs. holding them for reissue, the answer is it is irrelevant to how many shares would be available for future grants to executives or others in the form of stock compensation. Unless Disney has an incredibly (non-existent) odd provision in their stock compensation plans, the approval levels necessary for an award do not differ based on whether the award if of a new share or share held in treasury.

Now there you go, pulling the soap box out from under people again by applying facts to a rant.

 

[1023]

.

*1023*

P.S. Incidentally, as I mentioned in another thread, about an hour on the phone today with multiple WDW departments yielded a few morsels about MM- progress. Testing will continue through the end of November. There are still issues with linking many different types of AP media in the system without physically being present to do so. They have no idea when this will be resolved.

 

[PhotoDave219]

.

*1023*

P.S. Incidentally, as I mentioned in another thread, about an hour on the phone today with multiple WDW departments yielded a few morsels about MM- progress. Testing will continue through the end of November. There are still issues with linking many different types of AP media in the system without physically being present to do so. They have no idea when this will be resolved.

I am testing Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[ford91exploder]

.

*1023*

P.S. Incidentally, as I mentioned in another thread, about an hour on the phone today with multiple WDW departments yielded a few morsels about MM- progress. Testing will continue through the end of November. There are still issues with linking many different types of AP media in the system without physically being present to do so. They have no idea when this will be resolved.

They don't want it resolved or it would have been, Would not surprise me if this was the first move in getting rid of AP's altogether.

 

[HMF]

True patience is key, but again how long have we been saying this change is coming lol? I dont think the 3 stooges are going anywhere, I fear Rasulo will take Igers place.

If I recall correctly Spirit said that things would get worse before they get better. The worst thing we can do now is succumb to despair, Anything can happen. We helped kill the interactive queue aspect of NextGen this week so we are not powerless. I am doing my part by severely minimizing my business with WDC since that is the only way to get their attention.

 

[HMF]

Based on this post, I'm inferring that Iger is thinking, or planning the third gate to be Marvel-based. Is it possible for these plans to change years from now? What are the possibilities of a Marvel gate in Anaheim actually happening?

I really don't think a third gate at DLR is nessacary. The second one still needs work. There is such a thing as over-saturation.

 

[Bolna]

I don't think I have ever actually set foot in there ... maybe soon?

It used to be the Paris version of DHS Backlot express and was quite interesting. When they changed it into the Blockbuster Cafe it became horrible. So much stuff just thrown in there. I am actually very happy that they are getting rid of the fake locker room. Who wants to eat in a gym locker room?

 

[HMF]

Whoa....
While i agree that the Original Imagination Pavilion was the greatest addition to EPCOT ever, i am surprised by your comment.

Greater then Horizons...?

I believe that was sarcasm.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I really don't think a third gate at DLR is nessacary. The second one still needs work. There is such a thing as over-saturation.

It's not like the Third gate would be built in the next two to five years. If it did happen, I can't see it for at least another decade.

I don't think a third park is necessary, either. There's nothing you and I can say to determine that, though.

 

[nytimez]

It's not like the Third gate would be built in the next two to five years. If it did happen, I can't see it for at least another decade.

I don't think a third park is necessary, either. There's nothing you and I can say to determine that, though.

Maybe not necessary. But if that third gate is Westcot? Hells yeah.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Maybe not necessary. But if that third gate is Westcot? Hells yeah.

Nnnnooooo. Hellz no. No WestCot, please. Something new and original.

 

[SirLink]

Dear John,
Talent retention is really important.
Sincerely,
The Dreamfinder

He doesn't care - if anything I would add him to the ever growing list of people needing to be replaced at TWDC.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Basically true.

This is his reward for decades of playing good soldier and allowing Cynthia to (blank) all over him in 2002. He gets to come home and be head queen of the kingdom (a joke, take it easy fanbois!) ... He's here to implement NGE and further One Disney and then go live in Islesworth with Andy in retirement in 2016. He's no savior. And the fact he has been kept in hiding shows they don't even trust him with the lifestyler brigade.

GK wasn't even at The First Annual Mahatma Gandhi Diversity Breakfast yesterday, where WDW received an award for "Diversity In The Workplace".

 

[John]

GK wasn't even at The First Annual Mahatma Gandhi Diversity Breakfast yesterday, where WDW received an award for "Diversity In The Workplace".

I agree with Spirit on this one. Georgie is at the end of his run. This is his last stop before he rides off into the sunset and sits on the front porch of his Golden Oak retreat. He isn't going to make any waves while he is here. He has received his marching orders to stay low and shut up. Rassalo has this puppy. Burbank is now basically running the show in the swamps. Didn't we get the memo..... it being the " Disney Parks" . TDO is now going to be nothing more then a Guest Service outpost. Mitigating MM- is going to be a full time job. Mr. K has no intentions on doing anything that will rock the boat. Heck, I doubt that even has to show up at the office at this point.

 

[alphac2005]

What do I think?

I think it is a half-hearted PR move that they planted in the media, so no one looks too closely at how they really treat their CMs.

Not to veer off-topic, but quickly, a lot of posts are speaking about the Affordable Care Act. I want to make something pretty clear because it's quite lost in all the PR garbage, just like what Disney is doing by taking this small lot of part-timers (sad that 30 hours is part-time...) and giving them full health coverage.

My father was a very (I do stress this) high level insurance industry executive for many years and subsequently made the jump to the client side of corporations becoming a client of the same industry that he was in for so long, so I'm extraordinarily informed about insurance matters.

The biggest joke, lie, garbage with the ACA is when a company says that they are FORCED to give the employees health care or they are subject to a fine. (The fine is annually $2,000 per individual if the amount of employees is over 30 employees) Here's the dishonesty in the entire conversation: The companies only have to OFFER a heath care plan. They DON'T have to pay a CENT towards the cost of the coverage.

As long as they are physically offering health care plans, any sleazebag business can opt to offer a plan, but leave the full cost of the premiums to the employee. If a company chooses to go this route, they most likely will receive some lousy press, but that's the truth of the matter and policy here. Any company at any time chooses how much they will cover for their employees heath care cost and the only change here is that the law is simply requiring that they have to offer insurance, again, a company can choose to defer all the premium cost to an employee if they so choose. The whole concept is pooling, creating so many more customers (for private insurers, BTW, which seems to be missed by a certain "news" channel and their ilk) that costs and premiums are contained.

The United States has turned into a battle of dishonesty, talking points, and just plain lies when it comes to policy. Wouldn't it be nice to have honest policy discussions and not bogus scaremongering and politicking for once? But I digress...

 

[Darth Sidious]

There is no tax advantage to any shareholder, exec or otherwise, from selling shares back to the company vs. in the market.

As for retiring the shares vs. holding them for reissue, the answer is it is irrelevant to how many shares would be available for future grants to executives or others in the form of stock compensation. Unless Disney has an incredibly (non-existent) odd provision in their stock compensation plans, the approval levels necessary for an award do not differ based on whether the award if of a new share or share held in treasury.

Yeah there isn't a tax advantage by participating in a buy back. Historically you actually should not sell back to the company because it advantageous to wait. Perhaps @ford91exploder is thinking of executive compensation in the form of options and shares. When you cash those out in the market you are taxed at the capital gains rate which is lower than your personal income bracket.

 

[aladdin2007]

I agree with Spirit on this one. Georgie is at the end of his run. This is his last stop before he rides off into the sunset and sits on the front porch of his Golden Oak retreat. He isn't going to make any waves while he is here. He has received his marching orders to stay low and shut up. Rassalo has this puppy. Burbank is now basically running the show in the swamps. Didn't we get the memo..... it being the " Disney Parks" . TDO is now going to be nothing more then a Guest Service outpost. Mitigating MM- is going to be a full time job. Mr. K has no intentions on doing anything that will rock the boat. Heck, I doubt that even has to show up at the office at this point.

Sad but probably true, just like oh whats his name in charge of MK, Holmes. These people need to go already, but they are here to stay until they fall apart, just like imagination, energy, tomorrowland, and all the other things that need a redo.

 

[Figments Friend]

Back to our regularly scheduled bickering.....So how about those big a$$ strollers at WDW?

The size of SUVs these days...yeah.

One of several reasons i am becoming more and more enamored with Disneyland ....

 

[Figments Friend]

I really don't think a third gate at DLR is nessacary. The second one still needs work. There is such a thing as over-saturation.

Agree.
Not really understanding the fierce desire for a 3rd Gate at the DLR.
Fully understand the appeal it has to Burbank though...(ca-ching..).


The better longtime plan is to grow what is there...make additions, expand where you can in reasonable ways, and instill a quality overall experience for your Guests.
Don't just open another Park down the road solely as just an excuse to charge a additional gate fee.

We have already seen how that thinking has 'improved' things elsewhere...