http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008...ell-disney.aspx

Wow – not only does he hit the nail on the head as far as looking at Disney’s whole picture of diverse revenue sources, but he also drags in Great Wolf lodge and dumps on Cedar Fair and six flags. Good find Interp!

Thanks! Even a blind pig gets a few truffles!

That’s the thing with truffles – even though the outside looks good you get the real treat when you bite-in.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/or...0,3510075.story

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...&refer=home

A big advantage Disney has going for it (particularly for WDW) over the regional parks is the large number of international guests who visit. And, with foreign tourism to the US booming (due to the low value of the dollar), this should be a real competitive advantage to them for the foreseeable future. (I read somewhere recently that it's cheaper right now for a British family to travel to Orlando and have a vacation at WDW, then it is for them to take the same vacation to DLP...)

A funny story about how early kids become aware of WDW...a colleague and I were going to a conference at the Coronado Springs at WDW a few years ago, and my colleague wasn't going to tell his son (who I think was three or four at the time) that he'd be at WDW. So, he told him that he was going to a business meeting in Orlando, to which the kid immediately replied (without missing a beat) "you're going to Disney World?!?!" The mouse's marketing engine starts really early.

A few weeks ago we received a flier in the mail from WDW with a deal for 40% off the value resort rooms during certain times of the year. These times are during their off-peak times, but that works out fine for us since our daughter is only 3 and not in school yet. We were actually going to call last night to reserve (it has to be done by 3/31) but got too busy so we were calling tonight. I didn't really think too much about why they were offering the discounts until I read these articles. But hey, I'll take it. Especially if those checks clear the senate and get out in the mail. They do have some valid arguments against the current plan, but that's a whole different (off-topic) story. We're going to Disney World with or without that check.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...p;%3Brefer=home

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1202229283...=googlenews_wsj

Motley Fool: Disney Makes Bears Look Goofy:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008...look-goofy.aspx