Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Why do you think Iger is so happy with Marvel? He can sell Iron Man 2 and Spidey crap to his heart's content in all the Disney parks and he doesn't even have to build something like IOA's amazing Spidey ride to do it. Just toss it on shelves in the MK or DD ... >> Your point is well taken, but it neglects an important fact. The Disney parks have never generated enough cash flow alone to sustain the business model with outside revenue from merchandising and the film studio. Never. Disney used to report negative profits for its parks in the off-season each fall and winter before vacations became a year-round industry. Even now, the parks are profitable but don't generate enough cash flow to support the kind of Capex necessary for what Disney fans really want. In the late 80s and 90s, Disney had the phenomenon known as VHS and DVC that dumped billions upon billions of dollars into the company treasury -- a large portion of which went to the theme parks. There is no DVD treasure chest anymore and the film studio is really just limping along. I hate the merchandising, film-based attractions, and marketing as much as anyone. However, it's not likely to go away given the current climate of the entertainment industry.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 201 Angry Fanboi Dalmatians riding a 601-foot track and wondering 'is this it?'
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^Luckily that angry fanboi can drive down route 4 to 2 rides that actually deliver on their promises!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Everything I've heard about the way complaints are handled, unless it's about something that can easily be changed (ala food, CM behaviour, maybe merch), they largely go in one ear and out the other.>> Depends. In many cases, it does. I would never complain, except directly to certain people, because I damn well know Disney has a file on me (scary as that is) that likely fills a filing cabinet (if they still made those!) But if enough people rise up and complain -- see LoW at EPCOT last holidays -- Disney does cower back down like the corporate coward it is underneath the bravado and PR. It does really depend on what the issue is. Personally, I do believe if The Official Disney Parks Blog was inundated with posts on one subject (say fixing the yeti or reversing George K's 'you pay for Halloween pyro at DL now and you pay WDW prices'), you might see a whole lot of action on those topics. But, as LoW showed, galvanizing the fan community is a very tough thing to do.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^Exactly. Most fans of WDW don't give a rat's butt what TDO or Burbank does as long as they can hug Mickey from their ECVs covered in Disney pins.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't see a big deal about pool hopping.>> I do. And I don't get holier than thou about it, but it's wrong. Period. You want to swim at the Poly? Pay to stay there like 99% of the folks who do. You want to pay $45 a night? Stay elsewhere and use the pool there. This really bothers me because I have stayed at many Disney resorts and witnesses this behavior on busy days. You shouldn't be there taking up lounges, towels and just plain space ... ... now if you were pool-hopping at POP at 1:30 a.m. when no one was using the pool and you had just had a snack, I might say OK and look the other way. But on a hot summer afternoon at DAK Lodge ... when I see someone who is obviously not staying there, I report them. And 8 times out of 10, Disney does nothing ... although sometimes they will and I love watching them get tossed.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>^^ Don't forget the Vinylmation filled ECV baskets.<< Those things are growing on me. I own two.
Originally Posted By TTA <<Those things are growing on me. I own two.>> Then they have you righttt where they want you. *evil laugh*
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Then they have you righttt where they want you. *evil laugh* <<< Hah! I guess...But I have no plans to buy more, nor would I buy them as they are sold (randomly) as I would want to pick out the design I like.
Originally Posted By TTA <<nor would I buy them as they are sold (randomly)>> Really? I didn't realize that. So, in essence, it's like buying a pack of baseball cards?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Yep. 10 bucks for ONE random figure. Off to eBay I go to get the one I want...LOL.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Your point is well taken, but it neglects an important fact.>> Thanks for pointing out (yet again) when I have been neglectful, Goof. And stepping on my Damn Dalmatians post! <<The Disney parks have never generated enough cash flow alone to sustain the business model with outside revenue from merchandising and the film studio. Never. Disney used to report negative profits for its parks in the off-season each fall and winter before vacations became a year-round industry. Even now, the parks are profitable but don't generate enough cash flow to support the kind of Capex necessary for what Disney fans really want. In the late 80s and 90s, Disney had the phenomenon known as VHS and DVC that dumped billions upon billions of dollars into the company treasury -- a large portion of which went to the theme parks. There is no DVD treasure chest anymore and the film studio is really just limping along.>> I do agree with you regarding the fact Disney once had off-seasons and now really doesn't ... of course, that (and the timeshare cash cow) should provide for more reinvestment capital, but it doesn't. And I'd really not say the Studios are limping around. Not with UP last year. Not with Alice this year. Not with what TS3 will be doing starting this week. Not likely with what Tron will do this fall. Studios is putting out plenty of hugely profittable product that can be used in theme parks. The biggest issue Disney has had is they just assumed everyone was going to go throw out their DVDs (as they did with VHS) and buy the same films for a third time on blue ray ... and that really hasn't happened ... and I doubt it will to the degree Disney hopes. But we're getting off-topic and I'd rather argue with you about the fact theme parks barely make any money and are a terrible business to be in. <<I hate the merchandising, film-based attractions, and marketing as much as anyone. However, it's not likely to go away given the current climate of the entertainment industry.>> That much, we agree on!
Originally Posted By TTA <<Yep. 10 bucks for ONE random figure.>> Eesh. I suppose it's a good business plan? <Off to eBay I go to get the one I want...LOL.>> There was ONE that I looked at that I kind of wanted. Old-school EPCOT Center adorned Vinyl.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Exactly. Most fans of WDW don't give a rat's butt what TDO or Burbank does as long as they can hug Mickey from their ECVs covered in Disney pins.>> Those are the fans who scare me. They're the ones crying like babies during Wishes.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<nor would I buy them as they are sold (randomly)>> <<Really? I didn't realize that. So, in essence, it's like buying a pack of baseball cards? >> Seriously, who but Disney could ever get away with something like that?
Originally Posted By TTA <<And I'd really not say the Studios are limping around.>> Spirit, do you see the new plan from the Studios cutting back on the time from theater to DVD (cutting it back by...4 weeks(?) I believe) will cut enough out of the theater margins to cause backlash?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I do. And I don't get holier than thou about it, but it's wrong. Period. You want to swim at the Poly? Pay to stay there like 99% of the folks who do. You want to pay $45 a night? Stay elsewhere and use the pool there. This really bothers me because I have stayed at many Disney resorts and witnesses this behavior on busy days. You shouldn't be there taking up lounges, towels and just plain space ... ... now if you were pool-hopping at POP at 1:30 a.m. when no one was using the pool and you had just had a snack, I might say OK and look the other way. But on a hot summer afternoon at DAK Lodge ... when I see someone who is obviously not staying there, I report them. And 8 times out of 10, Disney does nothing ... although sometimes they will and I love watching them get tossed.>> Oh, I never go on busy days. I'm not that crazy. I go when I know crowds are light and I won't be taking anyone's seat.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << But we're getting off-topic and I'd rather argue with you about the fact theme parks barely make any money and are a terrible business to be in. >> It's not a hard fact to argue. Disney is the only company out there that has cash-flow positive parks.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>There was ONE that I looked at that I kind of wanted. Old-school EPCOT Center adorned Vinyl.<< Me too. He's 50 bucks. *headdesk*
