Reading the tea leaves and decoding the scuttlebutt...
The company is not ripe currently for a total takeover / buyout.
The numbers don't work out on the divisions that could be most easily sold off (ESPN, ABC, streaming).
Of the divisions most severely underperforming (Production, D+, P&R), only one can react and correct in a relatively short timeframe: The parks.
As I understand it, there are some levers that they are prepared to pull to increase volume at a lower margin. Earlier in this downturn, there were at least some on the inside hoping stories of lower crowd levels would give them a boost. As we all would expect that has completely backfired, instead increasing awareness and elevating discussion of all the current offering's shortcomings.
In relatively short order I'd expect some combination of the following:
- Restructuring of elements and cost of a package.
- Value adds for onsite guests (MDE, some form of free/discounted dining [as they've already tinkered with])
- Quick, dirty, and marketable additions (how quickly can MSEP be duct taped back together and shipped over)
- Amping up excitement for construction of the next additions (Beyond Big Thunder?)... maybe visible clearing and fencing, no matter if they're actually going to carry thru on the project.
They've fully missed the window to quietly adjust and correct. Anything they do now will be big and obvious, but they do have enough tools in their belt to at least juice attendance a bit... even if they aren't getting at the fundamental problems.
Buckle up.
