Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[Lee]

They're just as obvious as they were then. Disney got in the business by acquiring companies with existing deals. New deals were signed because Marvel was exercising their promised autonomy. We were all discussing how Disney was basically uninvolved with The Avengers. If they weren't yet involved in the big reason the acquisition would make financial sense they sure as hell wouldn't be deeply involved in the many, many, many, many licensing deals. Contrast this to Lucasfilm where Disney did step in right away and they haven't been going about making their own decisions and setting up new licensing deals.

I understand the whole "autonomy" thing with Marvel. But, at least to me, it doesn't matter.
Disney ones and controls Marvel. A company that places as much value on image and brand as Disney does should have proactively made moves to prevent this sort of issue from coming up. Hiding behind Marvel is just an excuse.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I understand the whole "autonomy" thing with Marvel. But, at least to me, it doesn't matter.
Disney ones and controls Marvel. A company that places as much value on image and brand as Disney does should have proactively made moves to prevent this sort of issue from coming up. Hiding behind Marvel is just an excuse.

It's not an excuse if it is what happened. It could be seen as a failure to act, but we know that Disney held off on getting involved and that Marvel has been fighting Disney's meddling.

 

[unkadug]

There is no chance (realistically) of gambling ever coming to Disney property.

It's the idea of it appearing elsewhere nearby that scares them. Really scares them.

true...I should have phrased it "on or near their property".

 

[Bairstow]

There is no chance (realistically) of gambling ever coming to Disney property.

It's the idea of it appearing elsewhere nearby that scares them. Really scares them.

Wasn't there someone in here who kept saying that Disney was looking at turning EPCOT into some kind of indor/outdoor casino complex?
Preposterous, I agree, and they were probably being facetious, but it's come up again and again.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I see that it did get some attention, but, seriously do you have any idea how few people give a damn about it. We on these boards have an obsession with Disney, very few of the regular pubic even know that Disney bought marvel or that they have worked for years to keep gambling out of Orlando. They have been pretty serious about keeping gambling and the Disney Parks separated from the topic and even though they do not want to compete for the money spent on gambling, they have many reasons why not having Orlando become a Gambling destination and one is to protect not only their family image but it also helps the other family oriented businesses in the area too.

They have passed up on a lucrative source of income on the ships for the same reason. Not on moral grounds but as a business practice like theirs it just makes good sense to not support it. There is no angelic like purpose, but a solid business reason why it just would be a problem. Do they use their political clout to keep them out, I don't deny that for a minute. But having a cartoon character (not Mickey or Goofy) on a gaming machine is not at all the same thing as a Marvel character. Again, if we are honest with ourselves how many people even think about stuff like that when they are in a casino. I'd venture a guess of very few.

So is it an issue? I suppose it is to some degree but certainly not to the scandalous degree that some are trying to make it into. Kids may know Marvel, but they don't give a snot about who owns it and they aren't going to be gambling in a casino anyway.

 

[Rodan75]

I understand the whole "autonomy" thing with Marvel. But, at least to me, it doesn't matter.
Disney ones and controls Marvel. A company that places as much value on image and brand as Disney does should have proactively made moves to prevent this sort of issue from coming up. Hiding behind Marvel is just an excuse.

Everyone seems to be looking for a conspiracy here. Seems pretty cut and dry and as long as Disney doesn't sign any new North American deals without a change in the laws in FL or a public embrace of gaming...I think they are in the clear of these accusations of a cover up.

However...if the laws change in FL...then Disney and Universal are going to have to get with the program with their on-property resorts. (Some with gaming...some without)

 

[Goofyernmost]

Everyone seems to be looking for a conspiracy here. Seems pretty cut and dry and as long as Disney doesn't sign any new North American deals without a change in the laws in FL or a public embrace of gaming...I think they are in the clear of these accusations of a cover up.

However...if the laws change in FL...then Disney and Universal are going to have to get with the program with their on-property resorts. (Some with gaming...some without)

I don't think any of us want to see that. It's bad enough we now have to deal with drunks, but a drunk that just lost all his/her vacation money is going to be hard to deal with. I hope that they keep successfully fighting that option.

 

[GoofGoof]

Everyone seems to be looking for a conspiracy here. Seems pretty cut and dry and as long as Disney doesn't sign any new North American deals without a change in the laws in FL or a public embrace of gaming...I think they are in the clear of these accusations of a cover up.

However...if the laws change in FL...then Disney and Universal are going to have to get with the program with their on-property resorts. (Some with gaming...some without)

I'm with Lee on this. No way will we ever see gambling at the Disney resorts. It won't happen. If they give up that revenue stream on their cruise ships why would they add it to their hotels?

I really don't see this type of gambling being that disruptive to Disney in Orlando anyway. Sure it will take away some of the locals crowd (declining value of APs is doing that anyway) and a portion of the convention crowds, but it won't impact the core customer base of families with kids either way. I have seen gambling legalized in a lot of the states near me including my home state of PA. Legalizing gambling in Orlando won't likely result in a mini-Vegas popping up. If the history of legalized gambling in the Northeast tells you anything they would build several casinos that would draw mostly locals and would have little impact on tourism. If people are going to travel somewhere specifically to gamble they will go to Vegas or maybe AC if they are really desperate. I can still see why Disney wouldn't want that adult entertainment competition in their backyard but since they have the political pull to stop it why wouldn't they?

 

[Lee]

I'm with Lee on this. No way will we ever see gambling at the Disney resorts. It won't happen. If they give up that revenue stream on their cruise ships why would they add it to their hotels?

I really don't see this type of gambling being that disruptive to Disney in Orlando anyway. Sure it will take away some of the locals crowd (declining value of APs is doing that anyway) and a portion of the convention crowds, but it won't impact the core customer base of families with kids either way. I have seen gambling legalized in a lot of the states near me including my home state of PA. Legalizing gambling in Orlando won't likely result in a mini-Vegas popping up. If the history of legalized gambling in the Northeast tells you anything they would build several casinos that would draw mostly locals and would have little impact on tourism. If people are going to travel somewhere specifically to gamble they will go to Vegas or maybe AC if they are really desperate. I can still see why Disney wouldn't want that adult entertainment competition in their backyard but since they have the political pull to stop it why wouldn't they?

A mini Vegas? Maybe not.
More like a mini Tupelo, I would think.

It would be a major draw for the central FL population, and a destination for adults who would like some authentic grown-up activity in addition to their theme park visits.

It would be very interesting if one if the major parks/resorts were to embrace gaming and build a full, Vegas-style resort. Very interesting.

 

[Figments Friend]

Maybe this was said earlier....but if any Orlando Park were to be the first to embrace gambling, i would be willing to bet it would likely be Universal.

 

[Lee]

Everyone seems to be looking for a conspiracy here.

The only conspiracy I can see is how did Disney manage to get changes made to a published NYT article?

Other than that, it's a clear case of having their cake and eating it, too.

 

[HakunaMatata89]

It's bad enough we now have to deal with drunks.

Don't blame the people, blame Disney for allowing every country in EPCOT to have adult beverages. It's not our fault we get parched in the heat!

 

[doctornick]

Maybe this was said earlier....but if any Orlando Park were to be the first to embrace gambling, i would be willing to bet it would likely be Universal.

Or maybe Sea World as a way to distinguish themselves from the other, larger parks (and draw on the convention crowd).

I agree that it would not be Disney.

 

[Clever Name]

I think the Imagination Pavilion would be the perfect place for gambling.

 

[TalkingHead]

A mini Vegas? Maybe not.
More like a mini Tupelo, I would think.

It would be a major draw for the central FL population, and a destination for adults who would like some authentic grown-up activity in addition to their theme park visits.

It would be very interesting if one if the major parks/resorts were to embrace gaming and build a full, Vegas-style resort. Very interesting.

Splitting hairs, I realize, but you probably mean Tunica instead of Tupelo.

And, yeah, needless to say, it'd be super interesting if Universal got involved in gaming.

 

[GoofGoof]

A mini Vegas? Maybe not.
More like a mini Tupelo, I would think.

It would be a major draw for the central FL population, and a destination for adults who would like some authentic grown-up activity in addition to their theme park visits.

It would be very interesting if one if the major parks/resorts were to embrace gaming and build a full, Vegas-style resort. Very interesting.

If the casinos are anything like the various Harrahs properties outside the major gambling cities or any of the "Indian" casinos I've been to they would be a minor draw. If some company went all out and built a Borgota style casino in Orlando that would be very interesting. In order to sustain a full blown gambling destination you would need high rollers and I'm not sure the market can support that. Atlantic City is a few hours from NY and Philly and half half a days drive from DC or Boston but they struggle to maintain Vegas style resorts.

 

[doctornick]

Atlantic City is a few hours from NY and Philly and half half a days drive from DC or Boston but they struggle to maintain Vegas style resorts.

Of course, part of the reason they are really struggling now is because virtually all the states around there have legalized gambling (Delaware, Penn, Maryland, WV plus there are Indian casinos around) -- so a lot of the people who made the "nearby" trip to AC have closer options to get their gambling fix.

 

[flynnibus]

I look forward to hearing Spirit's take on this when he returns from regions beyond.

Tempest in a tea pot. They already said no new deals.. So people get what they want.... And Disney continues its stupid anti-gambling push. What story is there beyond 'antiquated parent company squashes acquisition ambitions'

Disney really needs to wake up to this century on this topic.

 

[flynnibus]

In order to sustain a full blown gambling destination you would need high rollers and I'm not sure the market can support that. Atlantic City is a few hours from NY and Philly and half half a days drive from DC or Boston but they struggle to maintain Vegas style resorts.

Think conventions...

And you should see the nearly billion dollar casino MGM is proposing for maryland/dc

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Not gambling related, but I fear Bob Iger wants to be pushed off the cliff to appear "current".
http://variety.com/2013/digital/new...ll-movies-warns-netflixs-sarandos-1200765818/