Disney to acquire Marvel for $4 billion

[Patricia]

Oh I can't wait to see how this is going to play out in the parks. I just can NOT see the Hulk and Mickey Mouse together, Yuck!

This is about as likely as seeing RD2D following Snow White around as the 8th Dwarf.

Seriously, they are not going to drop Super Heros into Fantasyland. Everyone needs to drop that line of thinking.

Although.. I get a chuckle thinking about Cinderella having tea with Spidey.

[NJGIRL]

OK from everything I have been reading the last two days (different sources) this is what "seems" to be the deal.

Universal holds the licensing rights to Spiderman, Hulk and Men in Black (don't know if they are Marvel) for perpetuity. This means that they will not have to pay anything to Disney and also means that Disney can not use them in Disney World Theme Parks.

A quote that I also read directly from Universal said that the Marvel Characters that are used at IOA will not in anyway be affected by the Disney/Marvel deal.

As someone mentioned before (sorry I'm not a big comic book fan so I don't know which characters are Marvel) Popeye and Dudley Do Right are not Marvel so those rides can also remain as is.

I was hoping for some new themeing at IOA but I guess that's not a for sure thing now.

[RBrooksC]

One may be almost assured that Disney, once DCA is completed and the rumored Fantasyland refurb is done, the company will focus on the rights to Spiderman, etc now held by Universal.

With Disney owning Marvel, there is no way the company will allow its major competition to continue to have rides and attractions based upon something Disney owns. Now whether that means Disney goes to court to have the "in perpetuity" contracts dissolved due to their new ownership or some sort of contract buy-out remains to be seen.

[TheVBs]

Speculation is what we all do best on this board but none of us has any idea what is in store for this franchise. Someone mentioned earlier that Disney doesn't even know how to properly capitalize on the Muppets, so who knows what will happen with Marvel. I am a Marvel fan however, and I'm intrigued to see what the future may hold. For all of those saying that they don't see how the worlds would mix and that they don't want their princesses cohabitating with super heroes, I say: "Really?" I mean, MGM/DHS in particular has always had plenty characters/attractions that did not have direct Disney roots... Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers meet and greets... The Lucas stuff... Aerosmith... Drew Carey. I don't see it all that far fetched for a super hero meet and greet in the Streets of America to take place or a stunt show with super heroes. It's not like Spiderman is going to be scaling Cinderella Castle, or having to rescue Snow White from Doctor Octopus, sheesh!

Very well put! I was thinking the same thing. I remember suffering a disconnect at the idea of seeing Star Wars characters at WDW. But they've done it well enough that now, it feels like they belong there. If they decide to introduce Marvel characters or themeing (don't know if I spelled that right) in the the parks, I feel confident they'll do it well. I think it's a very smart move on their part and I'm very excited to see what they do with it!

[TheVBs]

I also meant to say that Indiana Jones used to be at US as well. I remember seeing it when I was younger on a trip to CA.

[Stich8818]

My thoughts are I understand why they did it. The money is a big thing for me 4 billion could have gone a long way in the parks. But then too if they have this Marvel property it will benifit the parks later on with the money they will get with all the licencing. DIsney XD is mostly Marvel animation now as it is so that wont be a big change. I am a Mavel fan and I am still kind of wondering about this deal still.

[NJGIRL]

With Disney owning Marvel, there is no way the company will allow its major competition to continue to have rides and attractions based upon something Disney owns. Now whether that means Disney goes to court to have the "in perpetuity" contracts dissolved due to their new ownership or some sort of contract buy-out remains to be seen.

If everything I have been reading is true Disney is not holding the cards when it comes to those licensing contracts and can not force Universal to give them up.

[fupresti]

Universal holds the licensing rights to Spiderman, Hulk and Men in Black (don't know if they are Marvel) for perpetuity. This means that they will not have to pay anything to Disney and also means that Disney can not use them in Disney World Theme Parks.

Wrong, Universal is still licensing the use of the characters from Marvel, so they are still paying for their use. They will be paying Disney now as long as they are using them at the parks.

[JRock0114]

Disney already totally ripped off the story of the "Fantastic 4" from Marvel when the made the "Incredibles" movie. So they might as well purchase the company that birthed that idea. It's true......deal with it.

It kills me when I read these boards, they are full of people that say things like: "this is stupid", "waste of money", "don't change the original Disney magic". Are you kidding me? Folks.......Disney is a business. And right now, Disney is missing a MAJOR market. That market is a young Male/Boy demographic. Period.

Disney wants this market in a big way.....and they should. Because this market spends major money for many many years....movies, comics, video games, books, gadgets, etc.. There is very very little in Disney's portfolio right now that pulls this market in (Pirates and very few others).

Do you have any idea how many families come to Disney World and HAVE TO make a trip over to Universal for at least a day for Spider-man alone? If you have a young boy in your travel party......they are done with princesses very quickly at WDW. If they had a section of DHS with Spider-man, X-Men, and Iron Man....This would cover EVERYTHING a family could want. From young Boys....Girls.......and beyond.

Marvel has a wealth of characters and stories that Disney would love to make money on. Take Spider-Man for example. The stories of Spider-Man can be told in a very young "cartoony" basic way.......or can be told in a very dark adult version. Marvel has made millions on both sides of this coin for years.

Here's to hoping that Marvel Super Hero Island does not go anywhere at IOA. Universal nailed this and it is one of.....if not the greatest themed land in ALL of Orlando. And Spider-Man IS the greatest ride in ALL of Orlando. No question.

[fupresti]

Now that I think about it, DIsney now has an awesome cast to pull from to replace the Indiana Jones show. Replace it with a Super Hero show, maybe the Fantastic Four Super Hero Stunt Spectacular and you have an instant crowd pleaser and help move some of the teens away from ToT and RnR and into a stage show.

THey can also use Marvel characters now to retheme RnR if the deal with Aerosmith goes away.

[Belster]

My husband and I are HUGE Marvel fans and we are HUGE Disney fans...we ar very excited to see what will come of this. I am one that hopes to see a merge of characters at the parks....this would be wonderful!!!

[Belster]

Disney already totally ripped off the story of the "Fantastic 4" from Marvel when the made the "Incredibles" movie. So they might as well purchase the company that birthed that idea. It's true......deal with it.

It kills me when I read these boards, they are full of people that say things like: "this is stupid", "waste of money", "don't change the original Disney magic". Are you kidding me? Folks.......Disney is a business. And right now, Disney is missing a MAJOR market. That market is a young Male/Boy demographic. Period.

Disney wants this market in a big way.....and they should. Because this market spends major money for many many years....movies, comics, video games, books, gadgets, etc.. There is very very little in Disney's portfolio right now that pulls this market in (Pirates and very few others).

Do you have any idea how many families come to Disney World and HAVE TO make a trip over to Universal for at least a day for Spider-man alone? If you have a young boy in your travel party......they are done with princesses very quickly at WDW. If they had a section of DHS with Spider-man, X-Men, and Iron Man....This would cover EVERYTHING a family could want. From young Boys....Girls.......and beyond.

Marvel has a wealth of characters and stories that Disney would love to make money on. Take Spider-Man for example. The stories of Spider-Man can be told in a very young "cartoony" basic way.......or can be told in a very dark adult version. Marvel has made millions on both sides of this coin for years.

Here's to hoping that Marvel Super Hero Island does not go anywhere at IOA. Universal nailed this and it is one of.....if not the greatest themed land in ALL of Orlando. And Spider-Man IS the greatest ride in ALL of Orlando. No question.

This is exactly what I wanted to say but you put it way better than I could of...good for you!

[GothMickey]

Speculation is what we all do best on this board but none of us has any idea what is in store for this franchise. Someone mentioned earlier that Disney doesn't even know how to properly capitalize on the Muppets, so who knows what will happen with Marvel. I am a Marvel fan however, and I'm intrigued to see what the future may hold. For all of those saying that they don't see how the worlds would mix and that they don't want their princesses cohabitating with super heroes, I say: "Really?" I mean, MGM/DHS in particular has always had plenty characters/attractions that did not have direct Disney roots... Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers meet and greets... The Lucas stuff... Aerosmith... Drew Carey. I don't see it all that far fetched for a super hero meet and greet in the Streets of America to take place or a stunt show with super heroes. It's not like Spiderman is going to be scaling Cinderella Castle, or having to rescue Snow White from Doctor Octopus, sheesh!

Disney was limited in what they could actually do with the Muppets due to existing contracts that had to be honored when they bought Jum Henson's company. Those contracts are now expiring and a whole slew of Muppet related movies, shows, etc are in the pipeline. Disney didn't blow it with the Muppets. They were just limited.

[GothMickey]

Maybe stupid wasn't the right word choice ... how about "depressing" or "disappointing."

The notion that the "best in class family entertainment company" was so desperate to find properties to market to buys that they had to spend $4 billion to acquire someone else's ideas is a little frustrating to me.

I can think of so many ways I'd rather see them spend that money.

Spend it on what? They wouldn't have spent it on the parks, two different budgets. So what else would they spend it on? M&A's budget is separate from P&R.

[GothMickey]

Very well put! I was thinking the same thing. I remember suffering a disconnect at the idea of seeing Star Wars characters at WDW. But they've done it well enough that now, it feels like they belong there. If they decide to introduce Marvel characters or themeing (don't know if I spelled that right) in the the parks, I feel confident they'll do it well. I think it's a very smart move on their part and I'm very excited to see what they do with it!

Star Wars is where it belongs, in DHS. I wouldn't mind some sort of Star Wars theme in Tomorrowland though. Marvel would be perfect in DHS as well.

[GothMickey]

Wrong, Universal is still licensing the use of the characters from Marvel, so they are still paying for their use. They will be paying Disney now as long as they are using them at the parks.

This is correct. Universal still has to pay Disney the license fees for Marvel. Question is, how profitable is Marvel Super Hero Island for Universal that they want to promote Disney characters in their park?

[PirateLover]

Disney was limited in what they could actually do with the Muppets due to existing contracts that had to be honored when they bought Jum Henson's company. Those contracts are now expiring and a whole slew of Muppet related movies, shows, etc are in the pipeline. Disney didn't blow it with the Muppets. They were just limited.

I don't want to hijack the thread but I'm pretty sure you got that from Jim Hill, and it's just not true. If it were true, then how did Disney release the pathetic Muppet Wizard of Oz? How were they able to do new Christmas Specials? How were they able to create new merchandise, and release a few seasons of DVDs? How were they re-branding their website 4 or 5 years ago and parading Piggy and Kermit on talk shows telling everyone to prepare for the next wave, and then... nothing. if you can provide facts to support that claim I'd love to see it. As an unabashed Muppet lover, everything I've ever been able to find says that in 2003, the Henson Co handed practically everything back over to Disney. They don't own Fraggles or Sesame Street, but they own the Classic Muppet lineup including TV, Movie and distribution rights.

[Jasper]

OK, I agree that having Cinderella and Spiderman at the same character meal is a riot. Despite all the jokes and fun we are having with the topic I really can't see Disney doing a whole lot with these characters in the domestic markets for a minimum of five years or maybe even longer.

Granted, I am no expert in the area, but it would appear that current agreements are wrapped up tight enough for the near term that Disney will have to be happy with collecting royalties and with using the characters at overseas parks.

[PirateLover]

"Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company February 17, 2004

The Walt Disney Company and The Jim Henson Company today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Disney will acquire the beloved Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House properties from Henson.

The transaction includes all Muppet assets, including the Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Animal characters, the Muppet film and television library, and all associated copyrights and trademarks, as well as all the Bear in the Big Blue House characters, television library, copyrights and trademarks. The parties have signed a binding purchase agreement and expect the transaction to close within two months, subject to receiving the necessary regulatory clearances. The transaction does not include the Sesame Street characters, such as Big Bird and Elmo, which are separately owned by Sesame Workshop. The deal also includes non-exclusive production and consulting agreements under which Henson will develop potential new programming featuring the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House for Disney. "

[GothMickey]

I don't want to hijack the thread but I'm pretty sure you got that from Jim Hill, and it's just not true. If it were true, then how did Disney release the pathetic Muppet Wizard of Oz? How were they able to do new Christmas Specials? How were they able to create new merchandise, and release a few seasons of DVDs? How were they re-branding their website 4 or 5 years ago and parading Piggy and Kermit on talk shows telling everyone to prepare for the next wave, and then... nothing. if you can provide facts to support that claim I'd love to see it. As an unabashed Muppet lover, everything I've ever been able to find says that in 2003, the Henson Co handed practically everything back over to Disney. They don't own Fraggles or Sesame Street, but they own the Classic Muppet lineup including TV, Movie and distribution rights.

Wizard of Oz was 20th Century Fox, not Disney. Again, a pre-existing contract that Disney HAD TO honor. Those contracts are ending, HENCE Disney doing a new Muppet movie.

Yes, Disney bought the Muppets, but, any contract signed PRIOR TO the purchase HAD TO be honored. Since Disney owned the Muppets, they were able to open the website, distribute the DVDs. However, if say Twentith Century Fox signed a 5 TV movie deal, that deal HAD TO be honored.

And seriously, you know as well as I these contracts ARE NOT public knowledge. And shouldn't be.