What effect does the potential sale of the Busch parks have on Disney?

[tazhughes]

Analysts today are predicting that when the sale of Anheuser Busch is finalized, In Bev will sell off the Busch parks. What effect do you think that might have on Disney? Would Disney make a play for any of the parks? Would the acquisition of any of the individual parks be a good move for Disney?

Heres a link to 1 of the many stories on the issue:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...F45612-A0E6-4138-BE1D-4D9A65E41660}&dist=hpts

IMHO, if In Bev was willing to break up the parks and sell them as individual assets there could be an advantage for Disney to buying certain assets. For example, Disney once had interest in opening a theme park in Virginia (Disney's America), if they acquired BG Williamsburg they could achieve that goal and expand it to include additional Disney themeing or open a second adjacent park to create another multipark situation.

Acquiring Sesame Place could have advantages as well. I would believe (admittedly I don't know definitively) that the acquisition of that park would include the use of those characters in all theme park settings. Since Disney already owns the theme park rights to the Muppets adding their cousins from Sesame Street could be incredibly beneficial. If that acquisition was accomplished Disney could incorporate a Sesame themed ride/ attraction area over by Muppet Vision in DHS which would thematically fit and could provide some much needed young audience attractions to that park.

What do you guys think, should Disney be a player in this situation?

 

[csmat99]

Analysts today are predicting that when the sale of Anheuser Busch is finalized, In Bev will sell off the Busch parks. What effect do you think that might have on Disney? Would Disney make a play for any of the parks? Would the acquisition of any of the individual parks be a good move for Disney?

Heres a link to 1 of the many stories on the issue:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...F45612-A0E6-4138-BE1D-4D9A65E41660}&dist=hpts

IMHO, if In Bev was willing to break up the parks and sell them as individual assets there could be an advantage for Disney to buying certain assets. For example, Disney once had interest in opening a theme park in Virginia (Disney's America), if they acquired BG Williamsburg they could achieve that goal and expand it to include additional Disney themeing or open a second adjacent park to create another multipark situation.

Acquiring Sesame Place could have advantages as well. I would believe (admittedly I don't know definitively) that the acquisition of that park would include the use of those characters in all theme park settings. Since Disney already owns the theme park rights to the Muppets adding their cousins from Sesame Street could be incredibly beneficial. If that acquisition was accomplished Disney could incorporate a Sesame themed ride/ attraction area over by Muppet Vision in DHS which would thematically fit and could provide some much needed young audience attractions to that park.

What do you guys think, should Disney be a player in this situation?

It doesn't make sense to sell those parks in pieces. It's all or nothing.

 

[jt04]

I think Disney could do well bidding on certain franchises as you mentioned. I especially like the idea of Disney possibly owning Busch Gardens in Virginia. Imagine how nice that park would be with some Disney magic. It's also a perfect location for a couple DVC resorts.

Kevin Yee has written a great article about the AB takeover somewhere on the web. Yes, I'm back on the bandwagon.:lol:

 

[tazhughes]

It doesn't make sense to sell those parks in pieces. It's all or nothing.

While I could certainly see In Bev taking that position, the article and many others point out that there really is no company in a position right now to make the acquisition. Of course their analysis was solely based on domestic companies, so in theory an overseas player could emerge, but there is no domestic theme park operator that currently is in a position to make a 4 billion dollar investment (estimated value of that division) in these parks as a group right now.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I agree with csmat99 - doesn't make a lot ofsense to sell the parks off one by one. I think they'd be packaged together as opposed to being sold individually. That being said, it would be nice to see Disney get something into Virginia, but I don't know if they would go and "buy" another park. Dsiney likes to build things from scratch on their own terms, ot redo and try to make someone elses work their own. Could happen, but I doubt we'll see Disney do anything.

 

[tazhughes]

I think Disney could do well bidding on certain franchises as you mentioned. I especially like the idea of Disney possibly owning Busch Gardens in Virginia. Imagine how nice that park would be with some Disney magic. It's also a perfect location for a couple DVC resorts.

Kevin Yee has written a great article about this somewhere on the web. Yes, I'm back on the bandwagon.:lol:

I'll have to look for that Yee article if you have a link I would appreciate it.

With regard to your point about Virginia being an ideal location for a DVC property I could not agree more and part of the sale would be the Kingsmill Resort, which could be converted to DVC I think.

 

[drew81]

I don't see WDC acquiring any of the Busch parks.

 

[MousDad]

http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky071508a.htm

For the record, Kevin does not mention anything about TWDC being a potential buyer.

 

[jmuboy]

As someone who lives 1 hour from Busch Gardens, I hope someone aquires that park who will take care of it. For a seasonal theme park, its aREAL gem and a TOP NOTCH operation. Busch operated their parks with a lot of class. They will be a tough act to follow. Every aspect of the buy out / take over upsets me. It's my patriotism coming through.

 

[jt04]

As someone who lives 1 hour from Busch Gardens, I hope someone aquires that park who will take care of it. For a seasonal theme park, its aREAL gem and a TOP NOTCH operation. Busch operated their parks with a lot of class. They will be a tough act to follow. Every aspect of the buy out / take over upsets me. It's my patriotism coming through.

If it's any solice, Belgium is a great friend of the USA. There are many people there who love America and have not forgotten what we did for them in WWII. Personally, I have no problem with them buying out AB. But that is just my opinion.

 

[fosse76]

Other than the name "Busch Gardens" there is no reason why the parks can't be sold individually. I doubt Disney has any interest in these parks...especially in light of the economic situation.

 

[jt04]

Other than the name "Busch Gardens" there is no reason why the parks can't be sold individually. I doubt Disney has any interest in these parks...especially in light of the economic situation.

I am not so sure, prices tend to be cheaper when the economy is not growing as fast. There are some really good deals in the real estate markets right now because prices have come down from the overheated markets of 2 years ago.

 

[miles1]

IMHO, if In Bev was willing to break up the parks and sell them as individual assets there could be an advantage for Disney to buying certain assets. For example, Disney once had interest in opening a theme park in Virginia (Disney's America), if they acquired BG Williamsburg they could achieve that goal and expand it to include additional Disney themeing or open a second adjacent park to create another multipark situation.

True, but in a lagging economy I don't think Disney will open their own park that will compete with WDW. New York, New Jersey and New England visitors account for a good chunk of WDW's revenues. Putting another sizable operation within a few hour's drive may only canabalize Florida attendance.

 

[imagineergurl]

Well wasn't Disney interested interested in buying the Sea Worlds in California and Orlando? This may be their chance. Before they had to take all or nothing but if they are being sold individually Disney might just go for it.

 

[tazhughes]

True, but in a lagging economy I don't think Disney will open their own park that will compete with WDW. New York, New Jersey and New England visitors account for a good chunk of WDW's revenues. Putting another sizable operation within a few hour's drive may only canabalize Florida attendance.

While I agree with your premise, Disney has in the past considered venturing into the Virginia market so I would have to believe that they might consider it again. Also, this park already exists and will continue to exist so theoretically it already is canabilizing that market.

So isn't it a greater risk for Disney that someone else would purchase BG and created a sizable operation within a short driving distance? Disney would receive none of that revenue and it would seem to me that acquiring this seasonal park and it's revenue is a better play than letting that revenue go somewhere else. (BTW I don't think a seasonal park in Virginia will significantly dent the Orlando empires market share of the northeast, we still will want to go to Florida in the colder months).

 

[uklad79]

It's sad what's happening to Busch and it's a shame the board are a bit clueless and didn't make a bid for InBev first now mass layoffs are only around the corner no matter what they say now. I always wondered why Busch got into the Themepark business, I can only assume it was an intrest of one of the family members? If so hopefully they can get the backing to buy the parks themselves then kick InBev product tasting out of the parks.

 

[DisneyStu]

:shrugose any one find it interesting,
that just a few months ago, BUSH ENTERTAINMENT moved it orifices from ST. Louis to Orlando.

 

[MinnieSummer]

When this news first broke all I could think of was thay my DD finally found a summer camp program that she really loved and it was doomed. I really hope Disney buys SeaWorld -- but continues to operate the education program the way SeaWorld has it set up. The camps they offer are amazing -- educational and fun. I hope whoever buys BG in Tampa does the same.

 

[tazhughes]

It's sad what's happening to Busch and it's a shame the board are a bit clueless and didn't make a bid for InBev first now mass layoffs are only around the corner no matter what they say now. I always wondered why Busch got into the Themepark business, I can only assume it was an intrest of one of the family members? If so hopefully they can get the backing to buy the parks themselves then kick InBev product tasting out of the parks.

That would be an interesting turn of events and one that would avoid the rebranding of this product. If the Busch family acquired the theme park division from In Bev they would not need to change the name of the Williamsburg or Tampa product, as it stands now I can't imagine another company maintaining the name.

 

[uklad79]

That would be an interesting turn of events and one that would avoid the rebranding of this product. If the Busch family acquired the theme park division from In Bev they would not need to change the name of the Williamsburg or Tampa product, as it stands now I can't imagine another company maintaining the name.

I wonder if the name is kept there would be some licensing fees due to InBev (I am sure they will screw every last penny they can get) or to the Busch family? I wonder who owns the rights to the name. :shrug: