Record Breaking Year for the Walt Disney Company

[RailRider]

http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/sites/default/files/reports/q4-fy14-earnings.pdf

Parks and Resorts

Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 7% to $4.0 billion, and segment operating

income increased 20% to $687 million. Operating income growth for the quarter was due to an increase

at our domestic operations, partially offset by a decrease at our international operations.

Higher operating income at our domestic operations was driven by increased guest spending and

attendance, partially offset by higher costs and lower vacation club ownership sales. The increase in guest

spending was primarily due to higher average ticket prices for theme park admissions and for sailings at

our cruise line and increased food, beverage and merchandise spending. Higher costs reflected increased

costs for MyMagic+ and the absence of an offset in the prior-year quarter from a property sale, partially

offset by lower pension and postretirement medical costs. Decreased vacation club ownership sales

reflected the prior-year success of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, for which sales

commenced at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

The decrease at our international operations was due to lower operating performance at Disneyland

Paris, higher pre-opening expenses at Shanghai Disney Resort and the impact of a weaker yen on our

royalties from Tokyo Disney Resort. Lower operating income at Disneyland Paris was driven by higher

operating and marketing costs and lower attendance, partially offset by increased guest spending, due to

higher average ticket prices, and higher real estate sales.

At our Parks and Resorts segment, growth was due to

higher average guest spending, attendance and occupancy at the domestic businesses, partially offset by

higher costs driven by the continued roll-out of MyMagic+

I hear attendance at the Florida Parks has been record breaking this year and when you see how Frozen has contributed to the bottom line, there is no wonder all parks are getting the Frozen treatment.

[Shaggy]

I was just at WDW Resort this week. I can tell you firsthand the parks were VERY crowded. On Tuesday Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was maintaining a 2+ hour wait. And it's not even peak season.

Shaggy

[BoddaH1994]

Perhaps My Magic Bands are in fact paying off...

[RailRider]

Potter Who?

[The Interpreter]

Often times there is plenty of business for two, when perhaps not so much for one.

Potter may actually have ADDED to Disney business.

[TTD-120-420]

Yeah, Universal isn't hurting.

[Skyrider]

I think Disney's future will continue to grow and be even more successful in the future. It sounds like a total redo of the Disney Studios is happening and is rumored to have a Star Wars Land and also an expanded Toy Story area (I believe this even more since the Toy Story 4 was just announced). Epcot is getting the confirmed Frozen ride and possibly adding a screen to Soarin and that will attract not just adults but more kids to Epcot (adding additional days to your ticket and hotel stays). You have Animal Kingdom getting Avatar which if done right will be amazing and unlike anything seen before. They are also redoing Downtown Disney and will add more retail which will also help Disney's profits. This is just what is happening in Orlando not to mention what is happening at other Disney parks in the US and around the world. Disney does get flack for taking too long to build but they also are smart to spread things out so that more and more trips to Disney are planned to see what was newly added. Just we whats new is loosing stream something new is opening. They have a great product and they know that they can wait and space things out. Sometimes it reminds me of a new car and running it for all the maximum mileage you can get before getting something new. I has been working for Disney and I am sure they will continue to be really successful.