Attention all Eisner haters...

[raven]

My 2 cents.

Originally posted by nancya75s
I have met Mr. Michael Eisner when I was young on TV many years ago several times.I have even met with him last year on occasion

Ok now we understand why you are sticking up for him. If I had met him too, I would be reluctant to believe any of this.

Originally posted by nancya75s
Excuse me but none of you work for the amusement park industry on a corporate level and creative one OBVIOUSLY!

The Disney Company is WAY more than just an amusement park industry. You have no idea of all the companies that Disney owns. The theam parks are less that 5% of what Disney, and Eisner, is over.

I was a CM for the Disney Store, nothing to do with the parks at all, and left because the company is taking a nose dive due to Eisners poor leadership of the company.

Roy is blood, true. But you probably didn't know that Roy's father, Walts brother, was partners with Walt from the very first drawing of Mickey Mouse back in the 1920's and stuck with him until he died. Now the next of kin, Roy, is trying to keep the dream alive.

Michael Eisner was doing fine until his partner in crime died. After that, Michael failed the company by running it into the ground financialy and also has a lack of vision for the present and future.

I am clearly stating what I know from being at Disney Cast Member from experience. A lot of people within the company feel this way too, it's not by any means a small handful at all. We are in the millions here.

I just want to see Walts dream carried on, and Michael is not doing it at all. I know it's hard to be CEO of such a large company but he has made some very bad and wrong choices. He is money driven only and it shows. If things weren't as bad as people are making them out to be, then why did 2 members of the board quit? THEY know him more than we do and look what they are saying. Have you read their letters to him? Take a look:

http://savedisney.com/letters.html

Originally posted by nancya75s
Mr. Michael Eisner I support you!

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by DisneyFan 2000
Re-theme Dino-Rama! That place looks so CHEAP

It's supposed to look cheap!!

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by raven
My 2 cents.

I am clearly stating what I know from being at Disney Cast Member from experience. A lot of people within the company feel this way too, it's not by any means a small handful at all. We are in the millions here.

Disney employs about 120,000 people worldwide. 51,000 work at Walt Disney World.

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by Lee
Ya wanna know my problem with Eisner?

Here's a quote from his letter to the Cast, dated 12/03/03:

"And we will not be distracted from what has been and must remain our sole focus — delivering growth and shareholder value."

Pathetic. The man hasn't a drop of Pixie Dust left on him.
Create magic? Deliver the best in family entertainment? Maintain the world's finest theme parks?

Nope. Please shareholders and Wall St.:brick:

Save Disney.

Thats his job. He is not an entertainer.

THe people that work below him are the ones who supposed to be creating the magic. People like myself, and Pixie Duster, and Invero, and many others on thses boards who do their jobs day in and day out to make your stay at WDW a memorable one.

People just like us also work at the other Disney companies in different roles but with one purpose and that is entertainment and the support functions needed to make the show go on.

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by drew smith
I hope that CM's would actually make a decent wage. For example: friends of the characters and others in Entertainment.

I don't want to offend anyone here but since I usually manage too anyway .........

If you saw WDW from my perspective you might think quite a number of CM's were over paid given the tiny amount of work they actually accomplish.

There are many great CM's out there who worked their rears off to get the "job" done. But there also quite a number who think Disney owes them the job they have and more and fail to earn an honest days pay.

 

[lebernadin]

Originally posted by niteobsrvr
There are many great CM's out there who worked their rears off to get the "job" done. But there also quite a number who think Disney owes them the job they have and more and fail to earn an honest days pay.

Yeah good point, and this transcends Disney obviously.

If you offer a wage of $7.50/hour and you hire, let's say, 5 people at that wage. You're bound to have hired a few people who live outside their means whether it be credit card debt or whatever the case may be. If you gave them a $5.00 raise every year, the odds are that they will continually live beyond their means at the greater pay scales.

I'm not trying to defend minimum wage or keeping people's paychecks low in lieu of CEO bonuses and all the other cliches. But there's a good percentage of people who can't live within their means and feel their jobs are the reason. As a result, many of them lessen their workloads in protest, making those who aren't complaining and/or aren't struggling now do more work.

Its early...but do you see my point? :wave:

 

[Shaman]

Originally posted by niteobsrvr
Thats his job. He is not an entertainer.

That type of thinking is why there's a problem in the high levels of the WALT DISNEY Company food chain...if the CEO doesn't see himself as an entertainer...the way we could Walt perhaps saw himself...then the business will never be more than just a business and will in the end lose its magic and just be part of a trend....in the past Disney has transcended both fads and trends...but in the end they could very well be part of the downfall of the themepark industry in the USA if things don't shape up....kind of grim,but things won't last long if they aren't wisely run...just my opinion.

 

[mac388]

Anyone who claims that Michael Eisner is not an entertainer and just a businessman has obviously not read the book that HE wrote. Where, he stated, that he was proud of the fact that he had only taken one accounting/business class before taking over the position of CEO at Disney. He and Frank Wells both had backgrounds in the entertainment industry. Eisner made the comparison to Walt DIsney, who never really followed a traditional business career path (college, degree, MBA, etc). So, it's not accurate to claim that Eisner's only role is that of a businessman. Disney is a creative entertainment company. To separate Eisner from that responsibility is asking for trouble and more company downturn. His qualifications were what made him an attractive option for the company in the first place.
And as for nancya75s' claim that Roy is "too old".... WHat???!! Since when do we start using ageism to determine his worth? He's only 72, people. I think that it's an insult to him and his supporters to assume that he's too old. If you're going to make that claim, then maybe we should say that Eisner's lost his marbles too, since he's in his early 60's.
It all comes down to Eisner once being good, now he's not. You can't always be great forever.

 

[General Grizz]

Didn't Eisner major in acting?

How dare you bring nanCYA75 up?! :fork:

 

[mac388]

Originally posted by nancya75s
You have to understand that the Walt Disney Company is a business.

Many people here seem to hate Mr. Michael Eisner Disney's CEO.

Why?

Before you blame Mr. Michael Eisner for anything let me ask you the following:

1. Who here has run a multi million dollar company?

2. Who here has ever been a real life CEO?

3. Who here has ever worked in the theme park industry for 10 years or more dealing with creative and financial responsibilities?

No one I thought so!

Do any of you realize how hard it is to run an amusement park company creatively, financially and other wise?

Hey people before you set blame on Mr. Michael Eisner realize business wise the difficulties, and impossibilities that come with it before you start bashing.

So what Roy Disney stepped down form the board of directors?

The board of directors doesn't mean anything as far as dealing with public relations or to have ride systems open and running.

This is not the first time Roy Disney stepped down from the board.

Roy Disney is legally getting too old to make any real decisions about anything.

It was Roy Disney's fault for the failure of Epcot Center, the closing of Horizons and leading the company into its current state of failure.

If Roy Disney is in charge that would mean that he is the person responsible for the company's failure.

Why can't you people realize that the Walt Disney family is a large one.

Roy Disney is not the only family member of the Disney linage at all.

Believe it or not there are many more "Disney's" in the world than you think.

Why won't you all stop embarrassing your self and get a grip on real life and how a business runs.

Mr. Michael Eisner single handedly saved the Walt Disney Company in the 1980's and made Epcot Center that was it's splendor.

It's time that some people voice some real opinion about how Roy Disney has been leading this company to its failure because of his age hindering him to make real life decisions about the company and blaming Mr. Michael Eisner for everything in between.

Mr. Michael Eisner has been running the company smoothly what is the big deal?

Mr. Michael Eisner I salute and support you sir!

Roy is "legally" too old to be on the board. I never said he is "too old to work".

The people who bash Mr. Michael Eisner will only accomplish:

1. False ignorant and mislead "hate".
2. Destroying the Disney Company by "bad mouthing" it across this board forum a thousand times in the name of Eisner!
3. Having the Disney Company shut down thinking Mr. Michael Eisner controls and owns "EVERYTHING" which he does not!!
4. Making the Disney Company lose money, jobs and attendance because of this Mr. Michael Eisner hate bashing.
Who here is a real life CEO and can sympathize with Mr. Michael Eisner with how hard it is to keep a public image and run a billion dollar company?
Unless you are a real life CEO please don't hurt Eisner!
Mr. Michael Eisner I Support you!

Roy is NOT "Legally" too old to be on the board. Exceptions regarding age have been made before. It is not a "law," but rather a term in a contract. That is why so many people found it odd that Eisner would get rid of the only people that opposed him, especially one of the heirs.

Don't you find it a little odd that most people are supporting Roy? IT's obvious to so many people around the world that Disney is becoming a world-domination type company that wants to expand everywhere-an entertainment type McDonalds.

And for your comment if any of us have ever been CEO's, and therefore we must be oblivious and have no clue as to the inner workings of a company that we all love.....

You don't have to be a chef to know that something tastes bad.

 

[Shaman]

Originally posted by mac388
And as for nancya75s' claim that Roy is "too old".... WHat???!! Since when do we start using ageism to determine his worth? He's only 72, people.

I guess to nancya75s that means we should round up all the seniors and stick them in a concentration camp (old people make society unpure)....hmmm...now where have I seen this before....

:brick:

 

[General Grizz]

As for Roy's age...

LAY OFF MICKEY! HE'S 75!

. . . and I believe it doesn't count if you're some type of director or head of a department.

Michael's actions to Roy alone show the weakness of the CEO, not to mention the other damages to the Disney image we've put up with for years.

 

[General Grizz]

Originally posted by objr
I guess to nancya75s that means we should round up all the seniors and stick them in a concentration camp (old people make society unpure)....hmmm...now where have I seen this before....

:brick:

Nacy is 69 and her birthday is yesterday! :sohappy: I dunno, shouldn't we leave her in that one thread instead of spreading it around?? :lookaroun

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by mac388
Anyone who claims that Michael Eisner is not an entertainer and just a businessman has obviously not read the book that HE wrote. Where, he stated, that he was proud of the fact that he had only taken one accounting/business class before taking over the position of CEO at Disney. He and Frank Wells both had backgrounds in the entertainment industry. Eisner made the comparison to Walt DIsney, who never really followed a traditional business career path (college, degree, MBA, etc). So, it's not accurate to claim that Eisner's only role is that of a businessman. Disney is a creative entertainment company. To separate Eisner from that responsibility is asking for trouble and more company downturn. His qualifications were what made him an attractive option for the company in the first place.
And as for nancya75s' claim that Roy is "too old".... WHat???!! Since when do we start using ageism to determine his worth? He's only 72, people. I think that it's an insult to him and his supporters to assume that he's too old. If you're going to make that claim, then maybe we should say that Eisner's lost his marbles too, since he's in his early 60's.
It all comes down to Eisner once being good, now he's not. You can't always be great forever.

If I write a book that said I was best musician in the world would that make it so?

While he may not have followed a traditional business education and career path, that does not make him less of an executive and more and entertainer. Eisner is not the showman that Walt was just like Walt was not the financier that his brother Roy was at the time.

If you want to consider Michael an entertainer thats fine. Afterall, the job of a CEO many times is to put on a a show and media circus to get the investors to continually trust what you are doing.

 

[mac388]

Actually, I agree with you. I don't think that Michael Eisner is an entertainer-however, I do think that when picking a CEO they should be a businessperson as well as have the qualifications in the area they are in charge of.
Really, in the world of business, if you think about it-no businessperson is just that. They also need to have extensive knowledge of their product.

 

[General Grizz]

This reminds me of what I was doing last night: Watching Walt Disney hosting It's a Small World and Babes and Toyland backstage. Wow. I love these old Vault Disney tapes. So much heart put into a single production.

 

[JLW11Hi]

Eisner has also been accused of the "creative brain drain" in the company for the past few years. He isn't keeping very good relationships with the rest of the Disney team. Pixar has been bringing a lot of money into Disney for quite a while now, yet now they are considering not renewing their contract with Disney. I think it has something to do with the amount of money that Pixar recieves from each film.

Katzenberg left the place because of his apparent quarrels with Eisner too. And lets not forget the disagreements between him and Spielberg, which basically killed the Roger Rabbit franchise.

I don't hate Eisner. I bet he's a real nice guy and all. I just don't think he is the right person to be leading Disney into the next century. He did his part, and that was great. But with all the lack in the creative department lately, and with Disney owning all these non-profitable burdons like ABC and such, I just think there has to be another way of doing things. If there isn't, well, then that's that.

 

[raven]

Originally posted by lebernadin
If you offer a wage of $7.50/hour and you hire, let's say, 5 people at that wage. You're bound to have hired a few people who live outside their means whether it be credit card debt or whatever the case may be. If you gave them a $5.00 raise every year, the odds are that they will continually live beyond their means at the greater pay scales.

First of all, for a Disney CM, $7.50 is high. I started at The Disney Store for only $6.50/hr. All off the other stores in the mall started at at least $8. The Disney Managers ( or leads where I was) were only getting $10/hr. very poor for a management possition.

Why did I work for Disney then? Because I am a Disney nut and that's what they are looking for. Disney will hire people for a few reasons: 1) The people they hire want to work for the Disney company. 2) Since these people are nuts about the company, they will work great at selling and promoting the company. 3) The Disney nuts they hire (like me) spend their own income buying Disney merchandise due to their deep CM discounts. This means putting their employees money back into the company. Trust me, it happens. We get free theme park passes, but we still have to pay large emounts to take a vacation there. It just cycles back in.

As far as a $5 pay raise every year? This is highly unlikely for any Disney CM doing a normal job ( at least for TDS). I got on $7.25 after being with the company for 2 years. Disney CM's aren't working for the company for the money. And if you try to argue about your wages, they aren't worried because there are plenty of people out there wanting to work for them that will do it at the lower rate. That's how they get by with it.

Most CM's are only part-time. They cannot become full-time unless they are in a management possition. I was getting 35-38 hours a week and they sent me home if I was getting near the 40hr/week mark. In fact, I worked over a certain amount of hours within six months that my name was automaticly added to the mailing list for the Disney Health Benifits program. This is only for full-time possitions and I was quickly removed from the list and my hours were cut. They couldn't afford to make a regular CM full-time that isn't in a management possition.

I loved working for the company. It's just that I think that the CM's should be compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication. But it isn't happening.

And who is to blame for all of this? You guessed right, Mr. CEO. But look at his paycheck! He's not worried at all.

 

[Dash_Riprock]

Originally posted by Empress Room
Okay, here's a question or two. Let's assume that Eisner resigns or is otherwise forced out of his position as CEO (Either by Roy or others) and a new CEO (Roy or someone else) assumes the position.

What changes would you expect to see at WDW (the theme parks, not other Disney ventures. That's a topic for another thread). In other words, what has Eisner done so wrong, what is wrong, and how would a new CEO with a supposedly new vision "fix" the parks or otherwise improve them?

No fair making observations or criticisms which are directly or indirectly attributable to factors beyond Eisner's control (e.g. September 11, a weak economy, continuing terrorist threats).

Thoughts?

Eisner completely destroyed Disneyland. He destroyed everything Walt Disney stood for - clean, happy fun for everyone in an expensive, lavish place.

He cheapened the park to an extreme. Closing the subs because of "operating expenses"? Here's a hint, Eisner: Close the entire park, and you'll save even more! :hammer: California Adventure is the cheapest, ugliest theme park I have ever been to (yes, that includes Six Flags parks). Downtown Disney? Heresy. An ESPN SPORTS BAR inside the "Disney Resort"? "Rainforest Cafe"?

Eisner completely destroyed every last breath of charm Disneyland had. He has also messed up the animation department - Disney animation is, to be quite honest, crap. Pixar is their only good asset.

Eisner earns close to 1B dollars. Can you imagine investing that amount in Disneyland, Disneyworld? Or maybe in the animators? Disney always spent every last cent on his endeavours. Cheap Eisner can only think of himself.

All I can say is - Eisner, please resign and leave your position to someone who has half a clue (and a heart, like Walt Disney did).

 

[TacoExistential]

I usually just enjoy reading everything, and just sitting back and watching the show, (yes, I am a lurker) but this subject is just so intriguing.

This is the thread of the year for me. (even though it has spilled over into this year) I've read every single word. Those for, and those against Eisner. I tend to lean to the side of those against, but some of the post defending him have made sense.

I think what we all want in the end is for Disney NOT to lose it's "Magic".

And while it may or may not be all Eisner's fault, it would probably serve the company better to start the regeneration of "Pixie Dust" with a new CEO.