Florida: More Than the Mouse

by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 15, 2019

While I certainly enjoy Walt Disney World, is Florida only about Mickey Mouse? Far from it. I call the state “Entrepreneurial Florida.”

Check out the recent piece I wrote for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council titled “Entrepreneurial Florida is Much More Than Mickey Mouse and Retirement.” (Click on the photo below as well to go to the article.)

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

“Top Disney” on Every Disney Fan’s Bookshelf

by Ray Keating

Book Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 14, 2019

Certain books should be on the bookshelf of every Disney fan, and Top Disney: 100 Top Ten Lists of the Best of Disney, From the Man to the Mouse and Beyond (Lyons Press, 2019) rates as one of those books.

While flipping through pages and reading each list, it becomes clear that author Christopher Lucas possesses both deep knowledge and deep love for all things Disney. And what’s nice is that no matter the reader’s level of Disney expertise – from the casual fan to the master – there’s a great deal to appreciate in Top Disney.

I enjoyed what Lucas had to say in assorted lists about the people who have worked at and contributed to the Walt Disney Company over the years, such as Walt himself; his brother, Roy, and other family members; additional corporate icons and executives; key artists, animators and imagineers; and actors who worked with and/or got their starts with Disney.

Of course, there are plenty of lists that will generate disagreement and debate – hopefully, good natured – among Disney aficionados regarding movies, characters, songs, television shows, and the theme parks.

Lucas also serves up some quirky lists that reveal fun facts about Disney that I didn’t previous know, such as “Most Unusual Disney Films” and “Forgotten Disney Characters.”

So, put Top Disney on your Disney bookshelf. But don’t leave it there. Take it down often, crack it open, and then smile, debate, discuss, and come up with your own lists. Just have fun with Top Disney – after all, that’s why it was written.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Disney Theme Park Attendance and the Economy

by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 12, 2019

Since the Walt Disney Company reported its latest quarterly earnings last week, there’s been a great deal of speculation as to the reason behind a drop in attendance – widely reported to be a 3 percent decline – at Disney’s domestic theme parks. Most of the possibilities being tossed around likely played a part. But another possible factor – which has not garnered any attention but at least warrants some degree of consideration – is the economy. Specifically, has the recent slowdown in economic growth played a part?

In its third quarter earnings report, Disney explained:

The decrease in operating income at our domestic parks and resorts was due to higher costs and lower volume, partially offset by increased average per capita guest spending. Higher costs were driven by labor and other cost inflation and expenses associated with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Disneyland Resort on May 31. The decrease in volume was due to lower attendance, partially offset by higher occupied room nights. Guest spending growth was primarily due to higher average ticket prices and increased food, beverage and merchandise spending.

The basic message here is that there was a decline in park attendance in the third quarter, but spending on average was up among those in attendance. That’s not necessarily a bad thing from Disney’s perspective in terms of increasing revenues while providing an improved experience for the guests in attendance. However, that only goes so far. 

Among the explanations for the attendance drop being noted are Disney managing attendance given the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland; guests deferring visits until Galaxy’s Edge opens in Walt Disney World late this month; guests being scared off by the assumption of large crowds tied to Galaxy’s Edge; and guests deferring their visits until Galaxy’s Edge Rise of the Resistance joins Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Walt Disney World on December 5, 2019 and in Disneyland in January 17, 2020. Plus, there’s been a good number of articles and podcasts talking about Disney pushing the prices for theme park admissions too high.

Again, any and all of these factors could be at work. But what about the economy? Obviously, an economic slowdown or recession does not bode well for theme park attendance or Disney’s overall business.

It must be noted that while the current economic recovery/expansion has been lengthy (the recession officially ended in mid-2009), the average rate of growth has substantially under-performed the historical norm. For example, the economy normally grows at 3.3 percent annually in real terms (4.3 percent during recovery/expansion periods), but it has expanded at only 2.3 percent during this recovery/expansion. More recently, from mid-2015 to mid-2017, growth slowed (averaging only 1.8 percent), and it subsequently picked up over the next five quarters (average growth of 3.1 percent) from mid-2017 through the third quarter 2018. 

But growth slowed in two of the last three quarters. Growth in the fourth quarter 2018 was only 1.1 percent, followed by a solid 3.1 percent in first quarter 2019, and then slowing to 2.1 percent in the second quarter 2019.

The first question is: Are we trending lower, or were two of the last three quarters mere breathers in terms of economic growth? Given that anti-growth, protectionist trade policies have taken a chunk out of U.S. economic growth (see my analysis here) recently, and there’s little reason to expect President Trump to reverse course and point trade policy in a more pro-growth direction, this stands out as the biggest threat to economic growth moving forward. For good measure, political uncertainty will increasingly come into play as the 2020 election gets closer.

The second question is: Given that the labor market remains relatively strong, how much have consumers taken notice of any slowdown and potential problems developing? Consumers tend to be followers, that is, they take their cues from what business is doing. That is, if business is investing, expanding and hiring, then consumers tend to be happy and spending. In the second quarter of 2019, the two biggest drags on the economy were declines in private investment and in trade. If those developments persist, recession becomes increasingly likely. 

But there are a lot of “ifs” in play here – more than typical – and the economy could go in either direction – up or down.

So, with one quarter showing a drop in Disney theme park attendance, we’re left to speculate and watch for further developments. In terms of what we’re watching, though, the state of the economy shouldn’t be ignored.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Disney Expanding, Not Limiting, Epic Competition and Choices

by Ray Keating

Analysis/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 7, 2019

After the recent Fox merger, the Walt Disney Company has been called (for example, in an IGN.com article) “the most powerful movie studio that has ever existed.” Wow. 

That phrase, of course, strikes fear into the hearts of many, including people who assume that consumers and creators will suffer under a “monopoly” or some kind of tremendous economic power, with competition and choice being lost. Nothing could be further from the truth.

First, a little history. Big does not guarantee success in the competitive marketplace. The history of business are strewn with companies that once dominated or were major players in their respective industries, and went on to be wiped out. Think Sears, Pan Am, Kodak, Borders, Blockbuster, Burger Chef – the list goes on and on. 

Second, a little economics. The term “monopoly” means a single seller of a product for which there are few good substitutes, and the industry has high barriers to entry. The Walt Disney Company stands as a major player – but far from the only player – in the broad entertainment industry. Consumers have seemingly countless and multiplying entertainment products and services on which they can spend their hard earned dollars. High barriers to entry, especially when considering the dramatic advancements in technology in terms of producing and distributing content, certainly don’t exist. 

For good measure, monopolies in the free market are more about the over-active imaginations of politicians, the media and assorted economists, rather than economic reality. Monopolies usually come about due to government (for example, public schools) or government protection (for example, back in the day, Ma Bell), not market competition. Sure, significant market share can be gained in the market. But that is accomplished by serving customers well, and that market share can and often does disappear due to competition and innovation. 

Talk of Disney being a monopoly or wielding some kind of overwhelming economic power amounts to economic fiction. In fact, Disney’s products, services and investments serve to expand rather than limit competition and choice.

Consider Disney’s announcement on August 6^ththat it’s going to bundle three streaming services – Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu – into one affordable package of $12.99 per month. The bundle will be available on November 12 with Disney+ coming online that day.

In the company’s August 6^thearnings call, CEO Bob Iger spoke about the long-term value of the Fox acquisition; the volume and variety of content scheduled for Disney+; flexibility among platforms; the need to maintain a flow of quality for its more traditional television networks like ABC, FX and Freeform; and the need “to be more resilient than any of our competitors.”

Low prices, and emphasis on investment in platforms and content are not signs of monopoly, but instead, they signal a company fighting for profits and market share in a competitive arena. Disney is taking on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and others in the online video market.

In addition, a recent announcement points to the competitive nature of another major part of the overall entertainment industry where Disney is a leading player, i.e., theme parks. But it wasn’t an announcement from Disney, but rather from a major competitor – Comcast.

On August 1, Comcast’s Universal Orlando Resorts announced that it would be opening a new park – its fourth – called “Universal’s Epic Universe.” The details are pretty vague at this point, except that this promises to be a major investment by a major competitor to Walt Disney World in Orlando. 

In the Comcast statement, it was noted, “Universal’s Epic Universe will take guests on a journey where beloved stories expand into vibrant lands – and where that journey is as much a part of their adventure as the ultimate destination.” Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, said, “Our new park represents the single-largest investment Comcast NBCUniversal has made in its theme park business and in Florida overall.”

According to Universal Orlando:

“Universal’s Epic Universe will offer an entirely new level of experiences that will forever redefine theme park entertainment. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the destination. The new location will feature a theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. Ultimately, this expansion will create more space and freedom to let loose and create lasting memories with the people you love.”

Universal’s Epic Universe sends a clear signal that Disney both faces and spurs competition from rivals. It certainly is not the case of other businesses throwing up their arms in a surrender to a monopoly. 

Of course, a new theme park coming from Universal, along with Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge, or the Disney streaming package taking on Netflix and Amazon, serve as examples of competition that can be easily seen. But there’s much more going on among entrepreneurs, innovators and inventors that is hidden from the public, if you will, because it’s just getting started or in early development stages. These entrepreneurs are working to come up with the next big leap forward, whether it be related to content, technology or simply improved service. 

In the end, a company like Disney spurs competition, and must itself invest and innovate in the face of current and future competitors. The real economic power lies with consumers, and entrepreneurs and businesses must work and compete to provide new and/or improved products and services in order to succeed – and remain successful.

For consumers, such competition is, to borrow a word, epic.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Reagan Foundation Salutes Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 1, 2019

Early this week, the Ronald Reagan Foundation saluted Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in its latest Monday Minute.

President Reagan is featured giving tribute to Walt Disney and his accomplishments, and Reagan’s roll in hosting the television special covering the opening of Disneyland is noted, along with a reuniting of the television hosts, including Reagan, that occurred 35 years later.

Good stuff from Walt and the Gipper!

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

ROOT OF ALL EVIL? - Authored by DisneyBizJournal's Ray Keating - is the Book of the Month

ROOT OF ALL EVIL? is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for August. 

The Kindle price has been CUT from $6.99 to $2.99. And there's a big sale on signed books and sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month.

Do God, politics and money mix? In ROOT OF ALL EVIL? A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL by Ray Keating, the combination can turn out quite deadly. Keating introduced readers to Stephen Grant, a former CIA operative and current parish pastor, in the fun and highly praised WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL. Now, Grant is back in ROOT OF ALL EVIL? It’s a breathtaking thriller involving drug traffickers, politicians, the CIA and FBI, a shadowy foreign regime, the Church, and money. Charity, envy and greed are on display. Throughout, action runs high. Find a unique character and story, and lose yourself in ROOT OF ALL EVIL? A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL. 

Consider praise from assorted reviewers...

"ROOT OF ALL EVIL? is an extraordinarily good read.  Only Ray Keating could come up with a character like Pastor Stephen Grant... As trouble mounts in this page-turner, Grant will need both skills  - martial and theological - to punish evil and save the good.  Even though the Bible says that it's the love of money which is the root of all evil, Grant will find that even a casual appreciation of the U.S. dollar is enough to corrupt church men, government officials, and foreign agents.  Yet Grant can also save souls in whatever den of inequity he finds them."  - Paul L. Maier, author of A Skeleton in God's Closet, More Than A Skeleton, andThe Constantine Codex

"Well written, fast paced, it held my attention well while merging drama, adventure, theology, and economics."  - Mary Moerbe, author of Blessed: God's Gift of Loveand Family Vocation

"Ray Keating's second Pastor Stephen Grant novel, ROOT OF ALL EVIL?, is a fantastic follow up to Warrior Monk. It's a well crafted political thriller full of intrigue and theological truth. Keating's world has proven profitable for contrasting good theology with bad."  - Tyrel Bramwell, author of The Gift and the Defender

"I loved every second of it... This is well done. The character development ... is very nice. The story flows. It's multi-themed... I'm a fan. I'm hooked."  - Rod Zwonitzer, host of KFUO's "BookTalk"

"... storylines converge in D.C. with Stephen Grant's CIA past. He is called back into service as an expert shot and has ample opportunity to provide pastoral care."  - Lutheran Book Review

Disney Bought ABC 24 Years Ago Today

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 31, 2019

On July 31, 1995, the Walt Disney Company announced that it agreed to buy Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion. At the time, it was the second largest U.S. merger in history, and the merged company became the largest entertainment company on the planet.

Following are some key points from the Los Angeles Times report at the time. These not only provide some interesting points about the merger, but also what the state of Disney was during that period.

• “The combination brings together the No. 1 television distributor and network and the nation’s premier producer of movies to create a one-of-a-kind global powerhouse with combined sales of $20.7 billion.”

• “The industry also congratulated Michael Eisner, the often risk-averse chairman of Disney, for stepping up to the plate after several rounds of warm-up talks with both ABC and CBS.”

• “In addition to a raft of characters that play well from Japan to Scandinavia--such as Mickey Mouse, Snow White and Donald Duck--Disney owns theme parks in the United States and abroad, a professional hockey team, 400 retail stores, a record and book arm, the Disney Channel pay TV service and a television and movie studio with a rich vein of hits that include ‘Pocahontas’ and ‘The Lion King.’”

• “Created in a merger in March, 1985, Capital Cities/ABC owns the most profitable network, eight of the best-managed television stations in the country--which reach 25% of the nation’s viewers--21 radio stations, the ESPN sports cable networks, a gaggle of trade magazines and interests in cable networks, including Lifetime and A&E. It has 225 affiliate broadcasters. Its newspaper group includes the Kansas City Star and the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.”

• “The companies have something of a history together. Murphy talked about teaming up with Roy Disney Sr. years ago. In 1953, then ABC Chairman Leonard Goldenson helped finance Disneyland. Eisner landed his first job in 1969 at ABC Entertainment, and joked at the press conference about his scheduling of soap operas when he was a programming chief there.”

• “Under the agreement, Michael Eisner will remain chairman of Disney, with Robert A. Iger continuing as president of Capital Cities, which becomes a subsidiary of the Burbank-based company.”

• “Television executives say Eisner had gotten cold feet during talks in the past, worried that a major acquisition would weaken Disney’s stock price. The company, after all, had its fair share of bad news in the last few years, with its theme park outside of Paris flopping, plans for a park outside Washington scuttled and a series of bruising management defections taking their toll.”

• Analysts pointed to “another important asset of the Capital Cities purchase: a depth of management that can help fill the gaps at Disney left by recent departures.

Indeed, that management depth would lead to Iger succeeding Eisner at the Disney helm.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Disney Hits Annual Box-Office Record ... in July

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 29, 2019

Disney hit a box-office record for the entire year, but it’s only July, according to a Hollywood Reporter article.

Keeping in mind that these comparisons are in nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation (my standard economist disclaimer), Disney has pulled in a total of $7.67 billion globally so far this year, according to the Reporter, which surpasses the previous full-year record of $7.61 billion, which also was held by Disney for 2016.

For good measure, Disney’s $5.09 billion internationally ranks as the first time international revenues have moved beyond $5 billion for a studio.

Disney also is on track to break its 2016 record of having four films break the $1 billion mark – with Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin and both Toy Story 4 and The Lion King are on track to do so shortly.

And there’s more to come, including Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Frozen II and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as well as films moved under the Disney umbrella with the Fox merger, such as to be Ad Astra, Terminator: Dark Fate, and Ford v. Ferrari.

One of the interesting questions looking ahead is: Will Disney in future years be able to match what it has accomplished at the box office in 2019? Although, how much will Disney care given its investment in the Disney+ streaming service and the ongoing shift of video entertainment from the theater to the home?

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

Sign up for Ray Keating's Email List and Get Cool, Valuable Stuff, Including 50% Off Keating’s Soon-To-Be-Published Book FREE TRADE ROCKS!

In addition to 50% off FREE TRADE ROCKS!, receive free newsletters and updates, and 40% off coupons for all of Keating's other forthcoming books covering entrepreneurship, business, your career, writing, Disney, TO DO list solutions, and more! Sign up at https://raykeatingonline.com/contact.

Books scheduled for publication later in 2019 include:

• Free Trade Rocks!

• 10 Entrepreneurship Lessons for Writers

• 10 Entrepreneurship Lessons from Walt Disney

• The Realistic Optimist Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

• The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

• The Movie Buff Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

• The Lutheran Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

• The Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

and more!

Go to https://raykeatingonline.com/contact

Sign up for Ray Keating's DisneyBizJournal, Books and More Email List!

Join at https://raykeatingonline.com/contact, and receive free newsletters and updates, notifications about events, and 40% off coupons for all of Keating's forthcoming books covering Disney, entrepreneurship, business, your career – and more! 

Books scheduled for publication later in 2019 include:

• 10 Entrepreneurship Lessons from Walt Disney

• The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

And more coming! Again, go to https://raykeatingonline.com/contact

Recommended Reading: Skills Needed to “Live” in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 25, 2019

Writing for Forbes.com, Christian Sylt serves up an excellent piece on what Disney is looking for in its Disneyland Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge cast members, as well as what the company offers beyond a paycheck.

Here are four quick points from Sylt’s article:

• “To operate Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland created 1,600 new positions for employees who are known as Cast Members due to the role they play in a themed environment. Galaxy’s Edge is one of the most intricate that Disney has ever produced.”

• “In Galaxy’s Edge Cast Members can mix and match parts of their costumes so they look more like actual inhabitants. Adding to the sense of immersion, they can even take sides with some being members of the heroic Resistance whilst others are in the villainous First Order or are double-dealing smugglers.”

• Kappy Thorsen, General Manager of Disneyland Park North Operations, was quoted: “All of Disneyland Park is rooted in deep story, but with Galaxy’s Edge, we are encouraging our Cast to take it to the next level. We’ve taught our Cast Members immersive back stories, living as Batuuans working in Black Spire Outpost. They have choices and get to decide how they feel about the about the Resistance, First Order and smugglers. Cast build their Batuuan story to engage with guests. We know our visitors are going to come prepared with their preferred affiliations and our Cast are ready to play Star Wars with them. This land offers the Cast an incredible opportunity to transport our guests to the planet of Batuu.”

• “Thorsen knows exactly what it takes to cast this spell and says ‘if you enjoy people, like to be challenged, enjoy versatility, storytelling and having fun we have a job for you.’ She explains that she looks for ‘Cast Members with a passion for the guest experience, friendliness, flexibility, confidence in problem solving, caring and working well in a team environment.’”

There’s more to the story – read the full piece here.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.

How About a Very Optimistic Take on Disney Earnings?

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 24, 2019

If you like what you’re seeing businesswise from the Walt Disney Company, get ready for the good news to double over the coming five years – at least according to Morgan Stanley.

According to a MarketWatch.com report, Morgan Stanley expects Disney to “nearly double” its earnings per share “from $6.50 in 2020 to between $11 and $12 in 2024.” Why? Morgan Stanley notes Marvel’s “critical role” in the Disney+ streaming service, which is scheduled to come online in November.

Morgan is looking for 130 million Disney+ subscribers, with two-thirds overseas.

MarketWatch noted: “The superpowers of Marvel underscore the type of content likely to buttress Disney+, which is scheduled to debut in November at $6.99 a month without advertisements. Disney stock, up 29% this year, is also likely to benefit.”

Once again, watch out Netflix!

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

If you enjoyed this article, and since I am the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories, can I ask you to take at least one (preferably more) of the following steps?

1) The new Pastor Stephen Grant novel – DEEP ROUGH – has arrived! You can order the Kindle edition, the paperback, or the signed book.

2) Please join the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories email list, and get the upcoming short story, THE TRAITOR, for free! Sign up here.

3) Buy one of the other Pastor Stephen Grant novels or short stories at Amazon.comor signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

4) Become a member of the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship, and get all kinds of FREE stuff, including each new book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Check out the levels and benefits here.