The focus on robotics research starts to make more sense when you dig into the financials.
Disney’s FY2022 operating income was $12.7B. $7.9B (!) of that comes from theme parks. That’s 65%.
Everything else Disney does (Pixar movies, Disney movies, Star Wars movies, television, streaming, touring musicals, merchandise, partnerships, IP licensing) is the remaining 45%.
I think that is even underselling it some. The theme parks don't exist without the content. With normal ads it's still possible to enjoy the product without being advertised to first.
That's why I don't care one bit about box office stats for any Marvel or Star Wars movie. It could literally sell 0 tickets and still be worth it for the downstream effects on merchandising and promotional tie-ins.
Disney’s FY2022 operating income was $12.7B. $7.9B (!) of that comes from theme parks. That’s 65%.
Everything else Disney does (Pixar movies, Disney movies, Star Wars movies, television, streaming, touring musicals, merchandise, partnerships, IP licensing) is the remaining 45%.
Robotics is essential to the parks.