326 pm ET: We are waiting for the close of the market for Disney to announce the financial results for fiscal full year and Q4 2014. Will Disney break records again?
353 pm ET: Ahead of the earnings call, Disney stock is trading near all time highs. It is currently at 91.85, up nearly 1% for the day.
400 pm ET: Disney stock closes at 92.00. This is an all-time high.
417 pm ET: Disney stock earnings per share of 89 cents is in line with expectations.
418 pm ET: CNBC asks about Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Bob says rereleasing all the Star Wars films sounds like a great idea.
419 pm ET: The parks had record attendance, especially at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. Bob says that MyMagic+ is making a difference.
421 pm ET: Bob says the forecast for Frozen this holiday season is “very hot”
425 pm ET: Disney stock is getting hammered in after-hour trading. Currently trading down 1%
427 pm ET: Here is a link to the Disney earnings release.
428 pm ET: Disney Interactive had a profitable year. The earnings release calls out “Tsum Tsum” as a contributor to that performance.
453 pm ET: On hold for the earnings call. I bet you can’t guess what the hold music is. Oh wait, it is Frozen.
500 pm ET: The earnings call is beginning with Lowell Singer SVP of Investor Relations
501 pm ET: Bob says that new technological developments have created a golden age of content.
503 pm ET: Bob just said “Ragnarok”. That was fun to hear.
504 pm ET: Bob Iger just announced that John Lasseter is directing Toy Story 4, due out June 2017.
510 pm ET: Bob Iger also said that Pixar will be releasing The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory in 2016 and Disney Animation will be releasing Zootopia.
513 pm ET: The record breaking Studios performance happened in a year without a Pixar and Star Wars film.
514 pm ET: Jay Rasulo said that MyMagic+ spending is still in ramp up mode, but that early indications of the programs success are encouraging.
517 pm ET: Capital Expenditures is expected to be up next year due to the ongoing investment in Shanghai Disneyland. Programming costs will also be increasing at ESPN.
519 pm ET: Q&A Time. The first question is about affiliate fees at the cable networks. Bob said they saw some small erosion in the cable bundles, but it was not a major impact to earnings. Bob said that the basic cable package is still the dominant entertainment package in the home. Millenials are subscribing later than they used to.
524 pm ET: Perhaps hiding behind the major news. Disneyland announced that Fantasmic! will be going to a World of Color FastPass system:
Beginning December 12, a “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS will be required to gain access to the show’s reserved viewing space. Beginning at Disneyland park opening, “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS distribution will take place along Big Thunder Trail in Frontierland. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until one hour prior to show time or while supplies last, whichever comes first. Each “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS will indicate the assigned showtime, suggested return time and assigned viewing section. Also, a non-ticketed area will be available in the “Fantasmic!” viewing area each night for limited stand-by viewing on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests will also have the option to receive a “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS with the purchase of new “Fantasmic!” dining packages, including dinner at Blue Bayou Restaurant, special table-service seating at River Belle Terrace, a new dessert party at Hungry Bear Restaurant, on-the-go options and more. Check out all of the new “Fantasmic!” dining packages here.
Reservations for December 12 and beyond will be available for booking beginning November 12. Space is limited for these experiences, so advance reservations are recommended online at disneyland.com or by calling 714-781-DINE (714-781-3463).
526 pm ET: Disney is expected to announce an opening date for Shanghai Disneyland in early 2015.
527 pm ET: The next question is about Maker Studios. They don’t report Maker’s financials, but Jay says it is notable on how integrated they are with all segments of the company.
536 pm ET: Bob Iger, regarding advertising, says that there’s no question some money has siphoned away from traditional to digital platforms.
541 pm ET: A Citi analyst referenced me. He talked with me at the Marvel fan event and asked me about how I felt about the three major Disney acquisitions.
548 pm ET: Bob Iger said that they don’t intend to offer a product that would compete with cable. But they feel well positioned to offer an a la carte product if the marketplace demands it.
551 pm ET: Last question is about advertising. That has been the theme of the day. The analyst is asking about alternative measurement on ESPN and ABC. Bob said that measurement is very frustrating, as they know consumption is up.