The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[WDW1974]

It's hopeless - exactly what you posted here a few like @lazyboy97o and I laid out for days in the Frozen thread and people simply don't care. They roll right into the traps and are gitty to do so. I had to walk away.. because its no longer ignorance of what made Disney great.. it's eager stupidity willing to close their eyes because they are so eager to get 'something' - they'll take anything and give Iger a slap on the back for doing so.

I am truly glad I have been away because I can't argue with BRAND addicts who don't understand the basics behind what created the very places they say they love.

And you are absolutely right, there is a willful ignorance in large part behind this. They simply want to be part of the kewl kids and the kewl kids love Frozen and think sticking it anywhere/everywhere is MAGICal and if Bob Iger and
Tom Staggs are behind it well, that's where any fanboi worth his 2002 MNSSHP Guide Map is going to be too.

 

[GoofGoof]

This is perhaps the most insidious aspect of MyMagic+, the accelerated depreciation rates of its associated technology and its inflated operating costs.

In November 2013, Disney CFO Jay Rasulo reported for the then upcoming fiscal year 2014:

"But, as you can imagine with a project like MyMagic+, which had a very heavy IT investment, which depreciates on a much more rapid basis than the normal assets we put into place in World, we did expect the cost side to bump up"​

And later:

"And this year, we're looking at about a $300 million expense item, and more or less the same amount on the revenue side."​

Even more money thrown at MyMagic+ in 2014. More than Universal spent to build the original Wizzarding World Of Harry Potter, hundreds of millions more that Disney is going to spend on the Maelstrom/Frozen makeover. More than enough to build a top-notch E ticket attraction, even at WDI's inflated prices.

What a waste.

But it's $300M on the expense side and more or less the same amount on the revenue side-it's all good

 

[PhotoDave219]

Only if it is indeed fact. I don't think anyone can or, those that can, will confirm it. So there is no sense of getting all bent out of shape over something that has just as much chance of being incorrect as correct.

Yeah, I'm mostly looking to see if anyone else has heard similar numbers

 

[Nubs70]

This is perhaps the most insidious aspect of MyMagic+, the accelerated depreciation rates of its associated technology and its inflated operating costs.

In November 2013, Disney CFO Jay Rasulo reported for the then upcoming fiscal year 2014:

"But, as you can imagine with a project like MyMagic+, which had a very heavy IT investment, which depreciates on a much more rapid basis than the normal assets we put into place in World, we did expect the cost side to bump up"​

And later:

"And this year, we're looking at about a $300 million expense item, and more or less the same amount on the revenue side."​

Even more money thrown at MyMagic+ in 2014. More than Universal spent to build the original Wizzarding World Of Harry Potter, hundreds of millions more that Disney is going to spend on the Maelstrom/Frozen makeover. More than enough to build a top-notch E ticket attraction, even at WDI's inflated prices.

What a waste.

Would this infer that MM+ is revenue neutral for FY14?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Spirited New TV Season musings:

Gotham looked interesting and had a kewl vibe, yet it still is a Batman show without Batman and I have serious doubts about its longevity. It's still better than the godawful homage to the Marvel BRAND on ABC.

The Black List started out quite well in Season 2 ... Spader is spectacular. Sleepy Hollow not quite so much, although I did love Ichabod 's take on Founding Father Ben 'likes showing his stuff' Franklin.

Dallas ended its third season in its second incarnation with two great hours. J.R. Ewing may be dead, but Judith Light (who is as warm as anyone in the business in real life) is absolutely eating up the scenery as a female version of a larger than life Texas baddie.

I enjoyed Gotham. A lot.

Mostly because of John Donnan.

 

[Mike S]

$500K=$500,000

Frozen attraction budget was somewhere between $70-80 million when last time I heard.

And before you think that is a great sum realize it likely includes the meet-and-greet and that the Monsters redo of Superstar Limo at DCA was around $30 million if memory serves me.

I think you are missing a decimal place or something

Frozen Maelstrom $75M not $75K

Oh wow LOL, just noticed my mistake Well this is embarrassing.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

A-holes
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/espn-suspends-bill-simmons-anti-735565

 

[GoofGoof]

Would this infer that MM+ is revenue neutral for FY14?

In November of 2013 they were forecasting it to be neutral in 2014. Whether it was or not...that we most likely will never really know.

 

[WDW1974]

I agree with much of what you said overall, but folks who would know a heck of a lot better than you or I - like actual Norwegians or experts on Norway - have made pretty eloquent cases otherwise. It's beyond "landscapes" and such. For example -

Norwegian Connections in Frozen

Where is Arendelle?

Hey, would I rather get a huge attraction somewhere else? Sure. But I also am not going to cry and moan about the loss of Epcot over it. To be honest - I'll miss Maelstrom, but I don't think this is a tragedy, either. I truly get all that is actually behind the furor, I just think a lot of it is being focused on this one thing and it's being used as a punching bag by folks who would rather Disney not touch WS than do anything new there that they don't like. Disney still sucks donkey doo, we all know that - they are cheap, etc. - but I think the furor is misdirected, as culturally - the loss of entertainment is a much larger blow than this, by many magnitudes - but folks have their lasers out for anything Frozen or characters when in fact they have been doing this "creep" since 1985 since they started the character bus going around WS.

187 wrongs don't negate another wrong being committed.

I don't like what they are doing in entertainment, although those are moves that can be reversed. This can't.

And turning EPCOT into MK 2.0 featuring Drunkytown is a poor thing. That IS what Disney management wants, four parks that are essentially more alike than they are different.

Helll, I worry that UNI may be doing likewise with its third gate.

parks need to feel different ...

 

[WDW1974]

Also the fan boys took their slacktivism to a whole new level when they started that Epcot hashtag on Twitter…

Don't know what that is all about ... I do wonder what the WDW fanboi apologists will say when Tokyo winds up with a mega Frozen project and WDW winds up with a cheap projection-filled, shoehorned and misplaced attraction in EPCOT.

Norway deserves better.

Frozen deserves better.

And fans and guests most certainly deserve better.

 

[OSUgirl77]

Spirited New TV Season musings:

Gotham looked interesting and had a kewl vibe, yet it still is a Batman show without Batman and I have serious doubts about its longevity. It's still better than the godawful homage to the Marvel BRAND on ABC.

The Black List started out quite well in Season 2 ... Spader is spectacular. Sleepy Hollow not quite so much, although I did love Ichabod 's take on Founding Father Ben 'likes showing his stuff' Franklin.

Dallas ended its third season in its second incarnation with two great hours. J.R. Ewing may be dead, but Judith Light (who is as warm as anyone in the business in real life) is absolutely eating up the scenery as a female version of a larger than life Texas baddie.

I really liked Gotham, although I have always preferred DC to Marvel anyway. I hope it sticks around for a while, I think they could do a lot with it.
Blacklist was amazing, as always. Definitely one of the best shows on tv right now. Haven't had a chance to watch Sleepy Hollow yet, it's disappointing to hear you didn't like the premier. I very much enjoyed the first season, and was hoping for an even better second.

 

[WDW1974]

I'm surprised no one tweeted phone numbers or email addresses out. THAT'S how you get TWDC's attention, not that you, and I certainly do, #believeinEpcot.

I've thought about giving out a direct email to Tom Staggs (HINT: it isn't his) or a phone number to Andy Hail and Hardy (who isn,t simply Georgie K's other half , but also an entertainment financial guru for WDW) or Dr. Blondie or Crazy Gary's cell phone numbers (since they work in social media and all), but it's not my job to spoonfeed the fan community. I just don't care to.

People who know me know that when something bothers me enough I deal with it in my own Spirited way.

For instance, I have been very angry and sad of late and I have an outlet for that right now. And if others suffer because of it, frankly my 'tude is, that makes it even better.

Oh well, time for Modern Family's premiere. It's been something ...

 

[ParentsOf4]

Would this infer that MM+ is revenue neutral for FY14?

This means that, in November 2013, Disney was projecting that MyMagic+ would be revenue neutral.

Funny thing about running a company. The expenses can be counted on to be there.

The revenue, not so much.

At the next earnings call, you're going to hear about MyMagic+'s earnings growth. This is going to happen simply because of "the absence of development costs for MyMagic+".

What you're not going to hear much about is its revenue growth.

 

[flynnibus]

And you are absolutely right, there is a willful ignorance in large part behind this. They simply want to be part of the kewl kids and the kewl kids love Frozen and think sticking it anywhere/everywhere is MAGICal and if Bob Iger and Tom Staggs are behind it well, that's where any fanboi worth his 2002 MNSSHP Guide Map is going to be too.

Actually it's trendy to hate Frozen now... too saturated.

People just seem willing to take anything new/changed as 'better' and mix in blind faith that 'its disney, its going to be great'... and the fact the entire concept goes entirely counter to the construct of the land it's going into... makes no difference to them. They happily buy into 'the film has norweigan influences, setting, and styles... so obviously the film fits in World Showcase'

The same justifications that make Aladdin a film about Saudi culture... or the Indiana Jones a film about Germany history

You should review my concept for EPCOT of today... what EPCOT would be if designed today by fans
-----
If EPCOT were designed today with modern fan input... this is what Disney would build

-----------------------------------------
If EPCOT Center were imagined today under the leadership of Bob Iger and today's WDI leaders listening to what today's fans wanted... what would they build?

They would build.. EPCOT Studios

The front half of the park would be Future World with some familar pavilions..

We enter the park under Spaceship Earth..
- Spaceship Earth - where we explore the galaxy learning about the planets from from our own space ranger BuZZZZ Lightyear! You shoot aliens with your light guns as we fly through the galaxy

beyond Spaceship earth we enter.. Stark Expo!
- A permanent exposition of technology and products from all the world's richest corporations!

To the left, we approach the Universe of Energy
- In the Universe of Energy, we are guided through how the world relies on symbiotic relations by Master Yoda

Next, we have The World of Motion
- Ride with Lightning McQueen through the race track with your crew chief Mater!
- Don't forget to purchase all your Cars! merchandise

On the other side of Future World.. we start with The Living Seas
- Ride the EAC with Nemo and friends in your sea cab!
- Meet and interact with Crush the Turtle

Next, we have the The Land Pavilion
- Take a landspeeder tour through Tatooine and see how moisture farmers can feed a population on a desert planet!
- Eat lunch at the Mos Eisley Cantina if you dare!

Next we have the The Force Pavilion
- Come see were your imagination takes you as you build your lightsabers and get instructions from Jedi Master yoda himself!
- See what the force can do in live demonstrations!

Beyond Future World.. we have World Showcase where you can see various countries of the world all in one place!

The Up! South American Pavilion
- Come ride in Carl’s house as you fly to Paradise Falls! (reskinned star tours clone)
- Meet Carl & Russell & Dug characters!
- Take photos of Kevin in a plastic jungle set!

The Norway Pavilion
- Ride with Kristoff and Anna trying to save Elsa in an fast paced sled ride!
- Come join the Elsa in the sing-along
- Meet Olaf the snowman!

The China Pavilion featuring Mulan!
- View ancient armor that inspired Mulan!
- Meet Mulan in your favorate character spot
- View the Mulan film as you never have with stunning 360 images!

The German Pavilion
- Join Indiana Jones as he tries to escape the Germans and Castle Brunwald (no Nazis – can’t have that!)
- There is a pinocchio and geppetto Meet & Greet – that is never staffed
- Eat in the Beirgarten food court!

The Italian Pavilion
- Enjoy the ancient Greek ruins with Hades and Hercules!

The American Adventure
- See Captain America and the Avengers save the USA in the action packed Marvel stunt show spectacular!

Japan Pavilion
- Come eat Sushi in Disney’s high end signature sushi restaurant – Open only for Dinner and FP+ holders who book 200 days in advance

Morroco Pavilion
- Come ride the magic carpet with Aladdin!
- Enjoy pseudo-Moroccan food in the M&G Dinner featuring Jasmin and Jafar

France Pavilion
- Run through the kitchen with Remy in the 3d adventure
- Enjoy food court dining at Remy’s

United Kingdom
- Learn to shoot with Miridia in the virtual archery range!
- Explore the Scottish castle and eat lunch at the local pub

Canada
- Explore the wilderness in this wonderful circlevision film hosted by the cast of Brother Bear!

 

[PhotoDave219]

A-holes
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/espn-suspends-bill-simmons-anti-735565

ESPN also appears to have fired their ombudsman.

In more local journalism news, the St. Pete Times has forced a lot of people to take a buyout today.

 

[Nubs70]

This means that, in November 2013, Disney was projecting that MyMagic+ would be revenue neutral.

Funny thing about running a company. The expenses can be counted on to be there.

The revenue, not so much.

At the next earnings call, you're going to hear about MyMagic+'s earnings growth. This is going to happen simply because of "the absence of development costs for MyMagic+".

What you're not going to hear much about is its revenue growth.

I wonder if Becky Quick will have the balls to pin Iger down on his next Sqwauck Box appearance?

 

[ParentsOf4]

I wonder if Becky Quick will have the balls to pin Iger down on his next Sqwauck Box appearance?

I'm hoping Wall Street and financial reporters forget about MyMagic+.

The quicker it's forgotten, the quicker DHS's much needed facelift will get started.

The upcoming Star Wars Land announcement will be just the right distraction the players need to conveniently forget to ask MyMagic+ financial questions.

After this thing dragging out for 2 years, pretty much everyone wants to put it in the rearview mirror.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

What makes George Kalogridis all hot and bothered? Apparently, a brand new $500K walk around Olaf character who should be seen in the parks by early November.

Foamhead or Living Character Initiative?

 

[Mike S]

Foamhead or Living Character Initiative?

Not gonna lie, a living character Olaf would be pretty cool

 

[Lee]

i wonder if those ESPN radio " personalities" at disney boardwalk bring this up?

I'm glad you put "personalities" in quotes. Those guys (at least the ones I've seen in there on Sundays) are characters. Actors.

They ain't sayin' nothing controversial.