Originally Posted By skinnerbox WHOA!! =8^0 Take care, Lee. Sounds like dreadful climate to deal with, both inside and out!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 A highly respected friend who is NOT in this business and I were talking this afternoon about all the 'what ifs?' that are flying around regarding whether Disney is interested in selling, has a buyer, is just testing the waters, or even trying to push the stock higher on speculation. We talked about the weird BoD/Iger/Saudi prince sightings in O-Town last week. The veil of secrecy. The lack of photographic evidence. The lack of any comments from Disney etc. We both agreed that the timing seemed 'set up' to possibly announce something late in the week. I have said that I felt that was to blunt any potential negative news coverage and/or a stock hit, if for instance they went the IPO route. My friend mentioned something else about the timing, and since we're all engaging in speculation right now anyway, I thought I'd toss it out. He said that Orlando had more media in town than ever with the Casey Anthony trial/circus going on. Disney, obviously, knew this. If these folks were just walking and talking at EPCOT (again, lack of one photo aside), then it would be understandable how real media would ignore or miss it. BUT ... if suddenly Disney had a major announcement to make, it sure wouldn't have taken very long to get all sorts of coverage 30 minutes down I-4. Any news outlet you can imagine has been camped out in downtown Orlando. Just another log to toss on the fire ... since Disney sure doesn't seem in any hurry to squelch these rumors.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>All I say is that a game of Chinese whispers is spreading through Glendale and Burbank.<< Nice. Very clever, and yet very cruel, turn of phrase. Respect!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Lee? What are you hearing?>> <<I really can't get into this which is why I've been absent from this discussion. I wish I could but it isn't good for my health to wade into this quagmire. All I say is that a game of Chinese whispers is spreading through Glendale and Burbank.>> Has Mickey (or The Weatherman) threatened to bury you in the swamps if you talk? Seriously, I respect your need for privacy and that's why I haven't badgered you here, although the desire certainly exists ;-) But one Spirit (actually many) can't help but wonder why Disney is allowing the flames to be fanned here, when, as I stated above a few posts, they could simply end it all very quickly by putting out a statement. Common sense, something in short supply in fan circles other than this one, simply brings me to a few very logical conclusions ... which your comment about 'Chinese whispers' only adds to. They are: 1.) Disney won't say P&R isn't on the market because they are and may be very close to reaching a deal of some kind; 2.) Disney won't say P&R isn't on the market because they've been negotiating and things may have not worked out, so they're looking at other potential business partners; 3.) Disney won't say P&R isn't on the market because they're the ones floating the idea to begin with to see what type of interest may exist; 4.) Disney won't say P&R isn't on the market because if speculation takes off (and they stay out of it, to steer clear of any legal issues) their stock is likely to skyrocket; Those are just very obvious things to me and other people as well. Take all the whispers, the emails. the frantic phone calls (yeah, I've had a few of those), the strange 'sightings' in O-Town last week and this week too away ... and it would take on simple statement to quell 99% of the chatter and keep fanbois from offing themselves. Yet ... they remain silent. That is incredibly ignorant in today's social media landscape IF in fact the parks aren't about to be dumped. You end it all and get fans talking about all those D23 announcements ... or maybe how George is taking having Meg as a new boss. But at least this issue goes away. Yet ... again ... they remain silent. What does that tell you?
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<Yet ... again ... they remain silent. What does that tell you?>> P&R are for sale Or @DisneyParks fails at social media Or Both
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>We both agreed that the timing seemed 'set up' to possibly announce something late in the week. I have said that I felt that was to blunt any potential negative news coverage and/or a stock hit, if for instance they went the IPO route.<< This causes me the most concern. I am still not a believer, but if an 'investment' is made in the parks division by a third party, what does that mean for the equity holders of the corporation? What deal could be presented to an 'investor' that would be more attractive than the purchases of bonds or any class of stock in the corporation? The deal structure for a WDP&R investment would obviously need to be more attractive than any potential corporate investment to a new third party investor. So, would a scenario be created where common shareholders get circumvented, get cut out? Where they don't see what they otherwise would in the appreciation of their own holdings? Like an IPO or spin-off, it would benefit all, but not equally. The common shareholder's best scenario is an investment in the equity of the corporation, not a private, incentified, deal for a division that has proven itself to be stable when media and consumer products aren't churning. The common stockholder will see a benefit no matter what. My issue is do they see a limited benefit because of an investment made in one division. Under typical financial principles, my guess would be yes.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Again, I'm not a believer. But I could understand how the corporation would seek and then engineer a specific investment partner in WDP&R. While Lee McD's comments are "fun". I still can't wrap my very limited mind around a successful transaction.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt OK, I admit that most of this is over my head, but let's suppose that the parks are being positioned for sale or some kind of investment from a third party. What's the general consensus on which resorts would be sold? The US properties? The US + Euro Disney? All of them? With Shanghai Disneyland Resort under construction and Disney being so bullish in its efforts to enter the Chinese market with its parks it strikes me as odd that it would selling those businesses.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>With Shanghai Disneyland Resort under construction and Disney being so bullish in its efforts to enter the Chinese market with its parks it strikes me as odd that it would selling those businesses<< Not if, HYPOTHETICALLY, they are trying to apply the same ownership scheme of Hong Kong or Shanghai back on to the domestic operations, which of course includes the brand new cruise line.
Originally Posted By oc_dean In the vein of "I see dead people"......... 'I see Bob Iger The New "Kirk Kirkorian" and the Co. as "The Second MGM Dismantling" ' 'Life' .. meet ... 'Repeating History' ... 'Repeating History' .. meet 'Life'.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Someone on that MAGICal site was reporting that Tony Baxter is apparently very worried about the parks being sold off, and that general panic has ensued in Glendale.<<< Why would that be? WDI would still be used, wouldn't they? ...If not, that's frightening.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>All I say is that a game of Chinese whispers is spreading through Glendale and Burbank.<<<< WOW! And what about Prince Ali?
Originally Posted By Manfried <<the likely reason is to close her career with the highest pensionable earnings they can as a 'thank you' gift for her service. Thus the extra title for now and I assume higher earnings.>> Unlike government workers, business pensions are in a real world. Hence they are an average of your entire salary during your tenure. So they take your total salary earned over your Disney career and divide it by the number of years and then a percentage of that for your annual pension upon retirement.
Originally Posted By ChiMike All I say is that a game of Chinese whispers is spreading through Glendale and Burbank >>Again, I'm not a believer. But I could understand how the corporation would seek and then engineer a specific investment partner in WDP&R. While Lee McD's comments are "fun". I still can't wrap my very limited mind around a successful transaction.<< Okay, I guess I owe Lee a casual apology. His sarcastic use of Chinese Whispers pushed me to reach out and touch someone. Quite the eye opener. This sure is serious, or at least being taken seriously. Yikes.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "And what about Prince Ali?" Make way for Prince Ali Say hey! It's Prince Ali Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar Hey you! Let us through! It's a bright new star! Oh Come! Be the first on your block to meet his eye! Make way! Here he comes! Ring bells! Bang the drums! Are you gonna love this guy! Prince Ali! Fabulous he! Ali Ababwa Genuflect, shom some respect Down on one knee! Now, try your best to stay calm Brush up your sunday salaam The come and meet his spectacular coterie Prince Ali! Mighty is he! Ali Ababwa Strong as ten regular men, definitely! He faced the galloping hordes A hundred bad guys with swords Who sent those goons to their lords? Why, Prince Ali He's got seventy-five golden camels Purple peacocks He's got fifty-three When it comes to exotic-type mammals Has he got a zoo? I'm telling you, it's a world-class menagerie Prince Ali! Handsome is he, Ali Ababwa That physique! How can I speak Weak at the knee Well, get on out in that square Adjust your vein and prepare To gawk and grovel and stare at Prince Ali! There's no question this Ali's alluring Never ordinary, never boring Everything about the man just plain impresses He's a winner, he's a whiz, a wonder! He's about to pull my heart asunder! And I absolutely love the way he dresses! He's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys (He's got the monkeys, let's see the monkeys) And to view them he charges no fee (He's generous, so generous) He's got slaves, he's got servants and flunkies (Proud to work for him) They bow to his whim love serving him They're just lousy with loyalty to Ali! Prince Ali! Prince Ali! Amorous he! Ali Ababwa Heard your princess was a sight lovely to see And that, good people, is why he got dolled up and dropped by With sixty elephants, llamas galore With his bears and lions A brass band and more With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers His birds that warble on key Make way for prince Ali!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Some really great points made that I want to respond to, but it really is time for a Spirited slumber. I just wanted to add that while I don't have any new information to add just yet, I did hear largely more of the same. And that makes me believe something big is up. And lots of folks on the west coast seem to believe it's already a done deal (I am NOT saying that because I just don't know). I do think it was interesting that Bob Iger was the first big name to arrive in Sun Valley this week and he didn't have Willow on his arm, but Tom Staggs and Anne Sweeney, who happen to run two business units that may be in play right now. We should have sent an LP rep there. Why the hell is Leemac in Singapore and not the lush and tranquil mountains of Idaho? One can only wonder what twists and turns Friday will bring ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Herb Allen's annual summer mogulfest. Huge event every year for movers and shakers ... and deal makers
