Can Disney's latest moves help Gen Z? You betcha!

This pandemic is crazy. It is absolute chaos juggling working from home, kids doing online school, often at the same time in the same room. Or, your school is supposed to be a hybrid, but they pull it 24 hours before it starts. Everyone is so fed up. Add the traditional stressors of applying for college and universities makes everyone want to pull the covers over their heads until 2022.

An online article in the October 23rd, E-magazine Fast Company reported on the Disney Corporations’ unexpected pandemic pivot to streaming and how it is a wake-up call for other business leaders.

In the article, author Hamza Mudassir writes that the ONLY financial bright spot in the Disney entertainment conglomerate is their recently launched, direct to consumer, streaming service, Disney +. This service gained over 60.5 million subscribers in the past 10 months (fueled, no doubt, by desperate homebound families!) It’s hard to believe, but just a year ago Disney held a nearly 40% share of the US box office, thanks to their wildly successful Marvel films. Theatres remain shuttered and their prospects grow dimmer.

What exactly does Disney’s remarkable pirouette have to do with your student and their college education? Maybe a lot more than you think.

First- Disney’s focus on building up their steaming services, (they chose to fold their third-quarter stock dividend BACK into these services) suggests this pandemic will alter people’s entertainment plans for some time to come. It will. This pandemic has started to upend every college & university’s classic pipeline of students and money. EVERY single parent and most college kids doing college online are seething about paying full-boat tuition for remote learning. If their student is a Junior or Senior, they are gritting their teeth and toughing it out. But watch out- one in SEVEN freshman students took a pass on their higher education plans this fall. This is not an anomaly; this is the beginning of the education revolution, and it’s being led by the very pragmatic Gen Z.

Second- Disney’s research suggests it will be a while before families will plunk down big money for a packed park or cruise ship experience. Buying a $30 ticket for a premiere showing of a movie at home with your family feels affordable by comparison. Especially if you used your stimulus money to buy a really big screen tv. Big screen tv sales are up over 54% in the first half of 2020, a level normally seen during the Christmas buying season. If Disney is studying the trends in their business, shouldn’t we be doing the same in the business of your student’s college education? Universities and colleges are in the business of teaching and granting degrees. However, this pandemic is causing everyone to question the “value” and search for less costly options.

Third- Disney must look out for its stockholders and the well-being of its brand. Their immediate future in theme parks and cruises revenues is very suspect. Streaming premiere online movies to your family is a strong new revenue stream, and they are changing direction to capitalize on your brand new 65” + big screen experience. You should look out for YOUR stockholders— and that would be YOU.

Are you looking over all the education choices your future college student?. Are you familiar with these uncommon options? Name-brand university fully online degrees? 33 entry-level courses (College Level Exam Placement) you can take and pass for less than $200 each & which are accepted at 80% of universities out there? What about the military- not only will they help you get your college degree, some branches will help you get rid of up to $75,000 in your debt after you graduate!

This generation, Generation Z, abhors the idea of going into debt for a degree. They are turning this process upside down by price shopping. Here’s how they might look at it in my backyard.

Let’s assume you took 9 classes in your freshman year, four courses in the fall, and five in the spring. This is a pretty common course load. Here are some rough local costs.

Local in-person public University on-campus experience- $25,000/year

Online college courses OR local community college costs - $7-9,000/year

CLEP courses, 1st year, plus books and exam fees- $1,600/year

What makes the most sense for your student’s education AND your wallet?

As always, I have detailed a lot of these options in my book, ENOUGH! The College Cost Crisis. This book is packed with truth and can save you tens of thousands of dollars. My book can be read in under 3 hours, easy; with shipping, a print copy you can take notes in is under $20. It would be a GREAT Christmas gift to friends and those you love!

If just a few of you consider quality alternatives, you will alter the college landscape. And, no question, your future should be less financially stressful. Don’t bail out on higher education- hustle for the way to save $50,000 or more in costs by looking for the alternate path right for your student.

Next week, I tackle the huge rift between student loan debt forgiveness advocates and the no-bailout crowd. Believe it or not, there could be a third way that would benefit our communities, our students, and solve the big question. Check it out!

Until next time,

All my best,

Bonnie