Some exciting times lie ahead for DHS but before we give the Disney Brain Trust too much credit, let’s remember why DHS reached its current state: years of neglect.
RSR!!!!!??? yeahhh hurray
Some exciting times lie ahead for DHS but before we give the Disney Brain Trust too much credit, let’s remember why DHS reached its current state: years of neglect.
Giving today’s Disney leadership credit is rather like giving a car owner credit for having their vehicle serviced once every 20,000 miles.
The only reason it’s taken this long is greed. Rather than invest in their WDW theme parks that generate $8 billion annually in revenue, they’ve spent nearly a decade “investing” in their compensation packages.
View attachment 66982
Since Disney CEO Bob Iger took charge at the beginning of fiscal year 2006, Disney has "invested" $38.3 billion on stock repurchases but less than $9.2 billion at the domestic resorts.
Most of that $9.2 billion simply was to keep the aging WDW and DLR from falling apart. (How is the Yeti doing?) In terms of real domestic resort improvements, Iger has invested about one-tenth the amount spent on stock buybacks. Even that one-tenth includes a lot spent on DVC, including Aulani.
There are legitimate reasons for a company to repurchase stock. Unfortunately, Iger is not doing it for any of those reasons.
Iger is doing it to pump up the stock price. Cutting through the baloney, Iger is doing it because senior executive compensation is tied directly to stock price.
It’s an old CEO trick. Influence the Executive Compensation Committee in order to make sure that pay is tied to something you can control in the short-term, even if it results in an unhealthy long-term strategy for the company.
Fund managers are in the same boat. Their compensation is tied directly to today’s stock price. They want Iger to inflate the stock price just as much as Iger does. Some give it lip service but very few are concerned about Disney’s long-term health.
Wall Street hasn’t changed. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, most fund managers thought building EPCOT was a mistake. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Wall Street repeatedly expressed concerns over former CEO Michael Eisner’s strong theme park investments.
CEOs before Iger invested in WDW because they knew it was best for the company.
Today's WDW generates $8 billion annually exactly because previous CEOs invested in WDW.
If previous Disney CEOs had taken Iger’s attitude, today’s WDW would consist of the Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and a bunch of timeshares. It would generate only a fraction of the revenue it does today.
Today’s Disney leadership spent nearly a decade cashing in on wise investments made by previous leadership, investments that bucked Wall Street’s conventional wisdom.
Iger is Wall Street's darling exactly because he does their bidding.
Investing in theme parks takes patience, effort, and capital.
No one who is part of today’s Inner Circle wants to invest the patience, effort, and capital to build for the future.
Instead, they were content to allow DHS to reach a deplorable state before actually doing something about it.
The upcoming DHS redo is long overdue.
Before anyone gives current Disney leadership credit for fixing DHS, just remember the 38.3 billion times they failed to invest in DHS.
True, but the park isn't afraid of charging guests full price for admission.
The park looked bleak even when those were open.
They'll be fine. They will just keep the Frozen BS flowing through the park to keep guests coming.
Some exciting times lie ahead for DHS but before we give the Disney Brain Trust too much credit, let’s remember why DHS reached its current state: years of neglect.
Giving today’s Disney leadership credit is rather like giving a car owner credit for having their vehicle serviced once every 20,000 miles.
The only reason it’s taken this long is greed. Rather than invest in their WDW theme parks that generate $8 billion annually in revenue, they’ve spent nearly a decade “investing” in their compensation packages.
View attachment 66982
Since Disney CEO Bob Iger took charge at the beginning of fiscal year 2006, Disney has "invested" $38.3 billion in stock repurchases but less than $9.2 billion at the domestic resorts.
Most of that $9.2 billion simply was to keep the aging WDW and DLR from falling apart. (How is the Yeti doing?) In terms of real domestic resort improvements, Iger has invested about one-tenth the amount spent on stock buybacks. Even that one-tenth includes a lot spent on DVC, including Aulani.
There are legitimate reasons for a company to repurchase stock. Unfortunately, Iger is not doing it for any of those reasons.
Iger is doing it to pump up the stock price. Cutting through the baloney, Iger is doing it because senior executive compensation is tied directly to stock price.
It’s an old CEO trick. Influence the Executive Compensation Committee in order to make sure that pay is tied to something you can control in the short-term, even if it results in an unhealthy long-term strategy for the company.
Fund managers are in the same boat. Their compensation is tied directly to today’s stock price. They want Iger to inflate the stock price just as much as Iger does. Some give it lip service but very few are concerned about Disney’s long-term health.
Wall Street hasn’t changed. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, most fund managers thought building EPCOT was a mistake. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Wall Street repeatedly expressed concerns over former CEO Michael Eisner’s strong theme park investments.
CEOs before Iger invested in WDW because they knew it was best for the company.
Today's WDW generates $8 billion annually exactly because previous CEOs invested in WDW.
If previous Disney CEOs had taken Iger’s attitude, today’s WDW would consist of the Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and a bunch of timeshares. It would generate only a fraction of the revenue it does today.
Today’s Disney leadership spent nearly a decade cashing in on wise investments made by previous leadership, investments that bucked Wall Street’s conventional wisdom.
Iger is Wall Street's darling exactly because he does their bidding.
Investing in theme parks takes patience, effort, and capital.
No one who is part of today’s Inner Circle wants to invest the patience, effort, and capital to build for the future.
Instead, they were content to allow DHS to reach a deplorable state before actually doing something about it.
The upcoming DHS redo is long overdue.
Before anyone gives current Disney leadership credit for fixing DHS, just remember the 38.3 billion times they failed to invest in DHS.
I wonder how people that pump septic tanks feel about their work?
And a bit more on the Simmons gag order issued by ESPN:
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
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If EPCOT were designed today with modern fan input... this is what Disney would build
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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!
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
He is the only one I have heard things about people complaining about avatar. I am actually excited to see what they can do with avatar. I am a Joe Rohde fan and James Cameron isnt the easiest guy to work with so them together could do big things.Thanks for the summary.
I really wonder what's going on with avatar. And speaking from personal experience, if you don't like something you're working on, you're not going to do a great job of it.
I love Joe Rohde. I wish they'd have given him free reign instead of tying him to an intellectual property that doesn't seem to have a huge ongoing fan base. I also wish they'd have given him the money they spent acquiring that IP to go towards his project.
