Disney takeover bid: implications on visitors?

[Nostromo]

I am a bit worried about all this recent news about the possibility of Disney being taken over by some obscure TV company. As a visiting 'customer', I wonder what it will mean to the image of Orlando ingeneral and WDW in particular. Will the parks retain the same magic and remain as 'user friendly' as they are now with their emphasis on old fashioned family values? Or will Mickey et al be forced to dance to some new sponsor's tune every year? Whether one likes it or not, people are too used to Disney being Disney and any new image (if that is what's intended) may not work the same magic.

[kevinprewett]

quote:Originally posted by Nostromo

I am a bit worried about all this recent news about the possibility of Disney being taken over by some obscure TV company. As a visiting 'customer', I wonder what it will mean to the image of Orlando ingeneral and WDW in particular. Will the parks retain the same magic and remain as 'user friendly' as they are now with their emphasis on old fashioned family values? Or will Mickey et al be forced to dance to some new sponsor's tune every year? Whether one likes it or not, people are too used to Disney being Disney and any new image (if that is what's intended) may not work the same magic.

Hi,
I understand exactly what you are saying & totally agree. Should there be any take-over I think any company doing so needs to understand that Disney is the Biggest 'family, orientated attraction worldwide, any attempts to change this could well destroy Disney & ultimately the takeover company also!!
Lets keep our fingers crossed it never happens.
[V]

[orlandobabe]

We'll just have to wait and hope.

Maybe Roy will save the day!

[Nostromo]

quote:Originally posted by orlandobabe

We'll just have to wait and hope.

Maybe Roy will save the day!

But hasn't he just resigned??

[florida4sun]

Well they cannot do a worse job than Eisner, he has been messing things up at the expense of the parks for a long time. A change is long overdue. I mean he was the one who let Mcdonalds take of the food services. Cut down staff training, reduced fuilltime workes to very low leveals. The park is now staff mainly by part timers who just do not have the edge that walts program used to give. Something has to be done.
Main problem is that it is a public comopany and who ever runs it has to put the shareholders first. Shareholders like dividends and not the type of investment that Disney needs.

quote:Originally posted by Nostromo

I am a bit worried about all this recent news about the possibility of Disney being taken over by some obscure TV company. As a visiting 'customer', I wonder what it will mean to the image of Orlando ingeneral and WDW in particular. Will the parks retain the same magic and remain as 'user friendly' as they are now with their emphasis on old fashioned family values? Or will Mickey et al be forced to dance to some new sponsor's tune every year? Whether one likes it or not, people are too used to Disney being Disney and any new image (if that is what's intended) may not work the same magic.

[steph_goodrum]

It's a bit complicated Nostromo, basically he brought in Michael Eisner about 20 years ago to revamp the company and for about 12 years it seemed to be working. However Michael Eisner has now destroyed so many of the original ideas etc and has admitted he would rename it Michael Eisner Coroporation if he is able.
Although Roy reached compulsory retirement age a couple of years ago he was allowed to stay but the powers that be decided this year the they were going to enforce the compulsory retirement so he was forced to "resign". He is actually working through various means to oust Eisner and could well be behind the Comcast bid from what we've read in a few sources.
There is a lot more detail on the website www.savedisney.com which has been discussed on another thread here.

[Nostromo]

Wait a minute, have I got this right? Are you suggesting that Roy Disney might be behind Comcast's bid to takeover Disney? If this is the case, is there not the danger of jumping from the frying pan into the fire? RD might well succeed in outsing Eisner, but what if he finds himself in a limbo after that? I mean Comcast must surely have their own agenda if they're really working (or pretending to)with RD for the time being. The desire for revenge is a powerful thing and history has numerous exaples of people shooting themselves in their feet for it. To me, this seems like RD is trusting the cat to guard the cream from the brat.

[Bazamor]

Roy e Disney has no connection at all with Comcast. As Steph says read up on all the goings on on www.savedisney.com . Join the fight!

[Ray&Sarah]

I guess we all have views on how we would like to see this proceed. But OB is right, we'll just have to wait and see. Orlando already supports many big corporations other than Disney in the entertainment field. Lets hope the values stay the same, and the magic is retained.

[steph_goodrum]

Nostromo
I don't think there is any direct connections at the moment but I have seen a few things that seem to suggest that RD would not be too disappointed if it were to mean the ousting of Eisner. Of course this is only from reading what has been speculated and published I don't know anything about the accuracy of it. Reporting can be biased in so many ways. I've got my orders to read the shareholders report tonight and make sure the right proxy gets appointed!