The Spirited 11th Hour ...

[BrianLo]

That's some serious bummer news about HKDL. Not surprising, but depressing. Such a great property with so much potential.

Heartbreaking. Well, hopefully this is more like an added year road-bump rather than a 5 year delay. If nothing else, at least things are generally exciting at other parks for once, HKDL was one of the few bright spots in the last 5 years though.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That's some serious bummer news about HKDL. Not surprising, but depressing. Such a great property with so much potential.

It's more amazing that more was not done to prevent this outcome. It has been the Government of Hong Kong's fear since the beginning.

 

[Longhairbear]

Tom, you have never lived until you've stayed in the cabins in King's Canyon NP. Oh yeah!!!

My point on Bora Bora was simply that many of WDW Guests would rather pay for the crappy (and I know you stayed at one with friends or similar) swamp version because they are afraid to travel. You know this first hand when you dare compare something at WDW to something at TDL.

I certainly agree about the PPH. Loved staying there a dozen years ago on $59-89 a night AP rates. But when I see that it regularly goes for over $300, I am just astounded. I stayed there for a night in August after we hung out (albeit on DVC points, still not a great use) because we were going to the first day of D23. The hotel hasn't changed since my last stay there in 2006 or 2007 except no more comforters on the beds, flat screen TVs added and beach ball pillows that serve no purpose beyond theming. Everything in the room is the same ... except perhaps for some plain hotel carpet that likely was put in as stop gap about 2011 or 2012 and needs replacing again. You can literally stay at dozens of cheaper, nicer places within a two mile walk of the place in almost every direction. But they lack the MAGIC!!!

I've read around the 'net, that Paradise Pier is rumored to be torn down, and replaced with a mixed use DVC/ hotel/ mini waterpark. Is there even a grain of truth, or otherwise that got this rumor started?

 

[asianway]

I've read around the 'net, that Paradise Pier is rumored to be torn down, and replaced with a mixed use DVC/ hotel/ mini waterpark. Is there even a grain of truth, or otherwise that got this rumor started?

They are holding off on a refurb it's obvious options are being considered. Lots of DCA 1.0 references left including a heavily faded Sun Wheel coppertone billboard at the pool.

 

[rael ramone]

Batman vs Superman seems to be taken from Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns." Which was genius and should not be made into a movie.

I'm betting Deadpool overperforms.

Millers 'Dark Knight Returns' has been made into a 2 part direct to DVD animation. For a PG13 cartoon I was surprised at how intense it was.

 

[rael ramone]

Depending on how vast your ignore list is, some of us could still be on page 65.

Reading this thread is sometimes like listening to a Bob Newhart comedy routine where you only read one side of the conversation and have to imagine the rest....

 

[rael ramone]

$DIS has fallen 8.33% over the last year while the S&P has fallen 9.43%. But what do they say about statistics again?

$DIS doesn't drill oil or mine for commodities. Subtracting the real losers out of the S&P would give you a better comparision.

 

[ford91exploder]

It's more amazing that more was not done to prevent this outcome. It has been the Government of Hong Kong's fear since the beginning.

No it's not, Iger would have given his firstborn to be in MAINLAND China no matter how bad the terms and conditions were. Unfortunately HKDL is suffering because of it and let's face it ALL the other parks are suffering because of the focus on SDL.

 

[ford91exploder]

Reading this thread is sometimes like listening to a Bob Newhart comedy routine where you only read one side of the conversation and have to imagine the rest....

Only if you use the ignore feature which I do not, I do not necessarily like what some posters say but I read it anyway does not mean I have to agree with it though...

 

[ParentsOf4]

$DIS doesn't drill oil or mine for commodities. Subtracting the real losers out of the S&P would give you a better comparision.

From a stock perspective, Disney is most definitely a "real loser" at this point.

However, this has nothing to do with Disney's actual financial performance.

Instead, it's a function of Wall Street irrationally running up the stock and then, just as irrationally, running it back down.

 

[PhotoDave219]

From a stock perspective, Disney is most definitely a "real loser" at this point.

However, this has nothing to do with Disney's actual financial performance.

Instead, it's a function of Wall Street irrationally running up the stock and then, just as irrationally, running it back down.

One would think that the Tourism segment would be boosted by the cheap gas. More people traveling, more disposable income being dumped into the economy.

I still cannot wrap my mind around the concept that cheap gas/oil is somehow bad for our economy when our economy runs on the premise of cheap energy costs.

 

[dupac]

One would think that the Tourism segment would be boosted by the cheap gas. More people traveling, more disposable income being dumped into the economy.

I still cannot wrap my mind around the concept that cheap gas/oil is somehow bad for our economy when our economy runs on the premise of cheap energy costs.

Most of the time its not bad. But with China on the economic struggle bus, its a bit of a different story.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...l-prices-may-be-a-problem-for-world-s-economy

 

[PhotoDave219]

Most of the time its not bad. But with China on the economic struggle bus, its a bit of a different story.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...l-prices-may-be-a-problem-for-world-s-economy

I hate to sound xenophobic, but thats China's problem. I'm interested in solving our problems.

 

[MichWolv]

One would think that the Tourism segment would be boosted by the cheap gas. More people traveling, more disposable income being dumped into the economy.

I still cannot wrap my mind around the concept that cheap gas/oil is somehow bad for our economy when our economy runs on the premise of cheap energy costs.

Those that believe cheap oil is, on the whole, bad, are concerned that the loss in jobs and economic activity of oil companies (and their suppliers, etc.) will be so significant that it will dwarf the increase in economic activity that comes from cheaper gasoline. Certainly, there are areas of Texas, North Dakota and other places that could vouch for at least the possibility of that happening, as they have lost huge number of jobs due to fracking and other oil production techniques no longer being economically viable with oil at prices as low as they are. Lower gas prices clearly benefit more people than they hurt. But there are a lot that are hurt and if they are hurt badly enough, their pain overwhelms our gain.

I don't think we're at that point, but plenty of wall street folks seem to disagree.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No it's not, Iger would have given his firstborn to be in MAINLAND China no matter how bad the terms and conditions were. Unfortunately HKDL is suffering because of it and let's face it ALL the other parks are suffering because of the focus on SDL.

The Government of Hong Kong has been concerned about the Shanghai Disney Resort since before Iger was ever in the equation. He has nothing to do with their willingness to accept vague assurances in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

 

[truecoat]

Only if you use the ignore feature which I do not, I do not necessarily like what some posters say but I read it anyway does not mean I have to agree with it though...

Ignore is the "It's my ball and I'm going home" attitude when you don't agree with someone. There are people that deserve it but to use it with a broad stroke tells a lot on how important someone views their own opinion.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Those that believe cheap oil is, on the whole, bad, are concerned that the loss in jobs and economic activity of oil companies (and their suppliers, etc.) will be so significant that it will dwarf the increase in economic activity that comes from cheaper gasoline. Certainly, there are areas of Texas, North Dakota and other places that could vouch for at least the possibility of that happening, as they have lost huge number of jobs due to fracking and other oil production techniques no longer being economically viable with oil at prices as low as they are. Lower gas prices clearly benefit more people than they hurt. But there are a lot that are hurt and if they are hurt badly enough, their pain overwhelms our gain.

I don't think we're at that point, but plenty of wall street folks seem to disagree.

I'd suggest that the concerns of regional oil producing markets mean little to Wall Street.

Lower oil prices put more money in consumer pockets. Whether it's on vacations to WDW or new TV's, they are going to spend it somewhere.

Instead, I suggest that the bigger concern is with institutions that have made loans to oil companies, money that was used to invest in oil production. Those largely Wall Street based firms are panicking that those loans will be defaulted on, and are punishing companies like Disney (who might actually perform better with cheap oil) because of that panic.

For lack of a better word, Wall Street is always selfish. They don't care about you. They care about "me".

Essentially, cheap oil means more money in "your" pocket, less in "their" pocket .

 

[VJ]

Let's hope this group is truly being watched by The Weatherman and The Oddly Waifish Man of Anemic personality.

I'm glad I've been lurking a while or else I'd never understand quotes like the above.

 

[MichWolv]

Instead, I suggest that the bigger concern is with institutions that have made loans to oil companies, money that was used to invest in oil production.

No question that those are part of the group that is hurt by lower oil prices.

Those largely Wall Street based firms are panicking that those loans will be defaulted on, and are punishing companies like Disney (who might actually perform better with cheap oil) because of that panic.

Panic I get. Punishing Disney doesn't solve that. Wall Street may be greedy, but punishing Disney doesn't satisfy their greed.

This represents a real view from Wall Street that the effects of low oil will hurt, rather than help, Disney (of course, there's ESPN problems and other things as well, so it's hard to pull out the effects of one thing) and other companies, including banks and oil services companies. I don't think this is Wall Street just going on a non-specific punishment jag.

 

[Travel Junkie]

For those interested in the NFL returning to LA here is an in depth story about it. http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/sto...owners-battle-bring-football-back-los-angeles

There are a few paragraphs on Iger's involvement but here is an excerpt about Iger's presentation to the NFL owners:

"On behalf of Carson, Iger went next. He tried to "break the ice," he says now, with a joke about how in his 42 years at ABC and Disney, he had paid more money to the NFL than anyone else. The quip was met with blank stares. For about 20 minutes, Iger spoke with a slideshow behind him, then ended with another prepared line, a spin-off of the famous commercial of the Super Bowl MVP shouting, "I'm going to Disney World!" "I hope I'm going to the NFL!" Iger said. Again, silence.

After Iger left the ballroom and returned to his suite, Jones said, "He said he paid us. Last time I checked, that money is coming from Disney shareholders, not him."

And this is a story on ESPN!