Disney owns ABC and ABC owns ESPN. So how is central Florida's relationship with Disney in Orlando?

A lot of the operations higher ups are alumns and I believe there's some contribution level, but parks different from the company as whole.

It seems to me if UCF could get Disney behind them like UPS and Fedex are behind Louisville and Memphis. It could be a big boost for the New Big East.

Disney is a sponsor of our business school. They own a box at the football stadium. The support would be behind the scenes though. They won't want to be the face of any team.

You know better than me, but right now Disney is in love with the ACC. I hope UCF can get then to show some love to the Big East, too.

At one time or another they were supposed to close Disney Quest down (downtown Disney) and make it an entire Espn studio.

(09-18-2012 11:02 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Disney owns ABC and ABC owns ESPN. So how is central Florida's relationship with Disney in Orlando?

The dirty secret about Disney is that the leadership in California makes all of the decisions. Even though the Orlando parks are the cash cow, the big decisions are still made from Disneyland, not Disney World.

I have two brother-in-laws that work for Disney in Orlando and they constantly fly to California for all kinds of crap. They both say there is a huge California bias that permiates everything; basically, if something comes out of Orlando it's not worth crap, but if the idea originates in Cali, then it's a gem.

As mentioned by others, UCF receives nominal support from Disney, but really nothing more significant than any other large donor. We also have Darden Restaurants headquartered in Orlando. As the owners of some of the country's largest chains (Olive Garden, Red Lobster) I'd like to see them do more. I know they too donate some, but as a Fortune 500 company, they could do significantly more.

One of our other big supporters is Harris Rosen, for whom our College of Hospitality is named. His support is kind of self-serving, as he is a hotelier that needs well-trained staff, but he is one of the larger donors.

Disney's Orlando operations have ZERO to do with media decisions made by ABC/ESPN. Those decisions are made by folks in Bristol and LA. UCF's ties with the operations at WDW are great, but they have no pull with the networks Disney owns. Temple might have more pull with Comcast than UCF would ever have with ABC/ESPN.

(09-18-2012 11:20 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  Disney is a sponsor of our business school. They own a box at the football stadium. The support would be behind the scenes though. They won't want to be the face of any team.

UCF wouldn't be willing to rename themselves the "Mighty Ducks" would they?

(09-18-2012 12:12 PM)dwalker85 Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:20 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  Disney is a sponsor of our business school. They own a box at the football stadium. The support would be behind the scenes though. They won't want to be the face of any team.

UCF wouldn't be willing to rename themselves the "Mighty Ducks" would they?

I think the "Fighting Mice" with Mickey Mouse ears as our athletic logo ideas have been tossed around.

(09-18-2012 12:12 PM)dwalker85 Wrote:  UCF wouldn't be willing to rename themselves the "Mighty Ducks" would they?

QUACK
QUACK
QUACK

(09-18-2012 11:49 AM)NattyKnight Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:02 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Disney owns ABC and ABC owns ESPN. So how is central Florida's relationship with Disney in Orlando?

The dirty secret about Disney is that the leadership in California makes all of the decisions.

That's never been a "dirty secret"...as Disney HQ has always been located in Southern California.

Always have...always will.

(09-18-2012 12:52 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:49 AM)NattyKnight Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:02 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Disney owns ABC and ABC owns ESPN. So how is central Florida's relationship with Disney in Orlando?

The dirty secret about Disney is that the leadership in California makes all of the decisions.

That's never been a "dirty secret"...as Disney HQ has always been located in Southern California.

Always have...always will.

Ok but how many people outside of Southern California or Orlando think or know much about Disney's inner workings? Since the OP asked how Disney treats UCF, I assumed he and possibly others probably didn't know the shots are called by the home office and not in Orlando.

People outside of the Disney locations sometimes just see the name Disney and assume everything near the parks benefits from them. They don't understand the superficial relationship the Disney conglomerate often has with the local community.

(09-18-2012 11:49 AM)NattyKnight Wrote:  I have two brother-in-laws that work for Disney in Orlando and they constantly fly to California for all kinds of crap. They both say there is a huge California bias that permiates everything; basically, if something comes out of Orlando it's not worth crap, but if the idea originates in Cali, then it's a gem.

There are a lot of companies who have similar set ups. Namely if there were mergers.

Ha! What Disney character would UCF be? I'm thinking Bambi's mom. ; )

UofL would obviously be Mr. Incredible!

UL has to be John Carter...who thought he was a big shot...but ended up as a total flop.

Cincy is the little engine that could....

(09-18-2012 11:49 AM)NattyKnight Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:02 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Disney owns ABC and ABC owns ESPN. So how is central Florida's relationship with Disney in Orlando?

One of our other big supporters is Harris Rosen, for whom our College of Hospitality is named. His support is kind of self-serving, as he is a hotelier that needs well-trained staff, but he is one of the larger donors.

I think "mutually beneficial" is more accurate than "self-serving."

(09-19-2012 10:50 AM)Knightshift Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:49 AM)NattyKnight Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 11:02 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Disney owns ABC and ABC owns ESPN. So how is central Florida's relationship with Disney in Orlando?

One of our other big supporters is Harris Rosen, for whom our College of Hospitality is named. His support is kind of self-serving, as he is a hotelier that needs well-trained staff, but he is one of the larger donors.

I think "mutually beneficial" is more accurate than "self-serving."

Rosen has now donated almost $30 Million to UCF over the years.

He didn't need to donate 1/10 of that amount to find "good hotel staff" but he did because he wanted UCF to prosper/grow.

Laugh at Louisville all you want, but we know how to run a business and we are the most profitable program in the New Big East of 2013, We have the best facilities and the best attendance, also.