Big Big News!!!!!!!!

[Abercrombie Kid]

I'm in total shock right now, ROY IS GONE!
I totally wasn't expecting this, Roy really rocks for telling Mike E. what everyone is thinking. I agree totally with what Roy said, Mike has just lost his touch. Disney has a reputation as being a comany just to make a buck now. The disney co. used to have more meaning, everone respected it for it's family vaules and good christain practices. Now Mike E. has turned the company into a company that is solely based in doing something on the lowest possible level, instead of making awesome entertaing family movies we are forced to watch things like Bad Santa and The Country Bears. Now the animation dept. in Fl. is gone! With the recent changes in managment i expect to see Mike E. resign soon, i'm sure Roy's letter is having a huge impact on him. The Walt Disney Co. is in for some big and good changes.


P.S. Pray that Mike E. will leave and a awesome replacement comes!

 

[monorail256]

Wow!

Hopefully... Mr. Eisner will get outta there and someone new will be put in the CEO position...

We need someone new, someone who understands the concept of Disney and can help Disney out of the troubling times that the company is in right now.

Perhaps then, we can start to fix all the problems that have been collecting up over the past few years... such as
1- Lower theme park attendence
2- Animation studios going down the drain (depending solely on computers is not something I am fond of, eventhough I do enjoy all the Pixar films. Comp animation just lacks something.)
3- As a Disney Store employee... maybe they could help us out but not sending us the junk they have been trying to get us to sell! As someone mentioned before.. who wants a bunch of plastic crap? We should be selling animation cells, watches... and some of the nicer things that we did sell at one time.

I know that there are many more.. but those just come to mind. Really... this could do a lot for the company, or it could do jack squat. Really depends on if Mr. Eisner is willing to confront a Disney on what a Disney company should be involved in doing, and I sure as heck hope he just steps down... and doesn't bring on a huge fight.



...anyone want my autographed picture of Mr. Eisner? :lookaroun haha

 

[mac388]

Thanks to the person who posted the complete letter!

I don't think that I could have said what Roy wrote any better. He is completely right. Instead of looking at Disney as a feel-good company, it is now looked at as a manipulative corporate conglomerate.
In addition to the suggestions made above, there also need to be improvements to:
1. Cast Member hiring. Cast Member morale is low, since Disney can no longer afford to be selective in their hiring process. At WDW, they have increasingly brought in third party contractors to do work. In August, the construction workers on Thunder Mountain were standing on the bricks, smoking as the WDW Railroad went by! I'm tired of seeing Cast Members at Super Wal-Mart with their costumes dirty and hanging out, shopping after work. That kinda ruins the magic, ya know!
2. Park Upkeep. This isn't just something that us Disney freaks notice. I had a long talk with Guests about how they noticed paint peeling, water fountains not working, and food getting worse. If you've been to the buffets at any location, you may have noticed how they are ALL the same now and offer the same, low cost, cheap to make food. I said it before, I notice paint peeling and trash in the parks not being picked up. I'm no longer a CM, but when I go I still find myself tidying up...that shouldn't have to happen.
3. Better Merchandise. See above, where the Disney Store CM talks about the plastic nonsense they are forced to sell.

Sorry about the rant...but Roy leaving is a shock and wake up call. I'm going to try to be optimistic and hope for the best....Roy did this back in 1984...hopefully he is seeking out a new CEO privately like he did back then.

 

[CoraJack]

Originally posted by Testtrack321
RUN TO THE CELER! IT'S FALLING!

Frankly guys, Disne is a laughing stock now. IoA has attenedence and respect that it didn't have 10 years ago, Dreamworks is doing well (somewhat) and Disney's biggest pictures are by Pixar.

What do I think should happen?

I think Disney's fate is a constant state of burning to the ground and renewel, like the Pheonix. I say our next CEO should be this guy, who turned around a company that's a laughing stock to a highly respectable one....


Mr. Steve Jobs....

Although I do agree that Jobs is an EXCELLENT businessman, he is not really a "family man". We need both. Look at Jobs' behavior when he was building Apple--he was a real jerk. I don't know what he's like now, maybe he's changed....but back in the day, he did nothing but hurt people.

I say this not knowing who I'd put in his place though. I really do not know who could do the job...I still think it should be given to someone with a Disney heritage. Is there no one with a business background who is related to the Disney family in some way who could take over? I'm sure that most people in the Disney family have attended college....where are they????

 

[KevinPage]

I don't pretend to know how these 'corporate things' work, but by Roy resigning, is he:

a) just giving up the fight and letting Eisner WIN

OR

b) throwing down the gauntlet to garner support from other members in getting rid of Eisner and then being reinstated. (by getting media attention, etc.)


If it's choice B, then wouldn't it make more sense to stay on board and rip the guy. Surely you would have more power within the company than you do now? (but what the heck do I know)

 

[CoraJack]

Originally posted by KevinPage
I don't pretend to know how these 'corporate things' work, but by Roy resigning, is he:

a) just giving up the fight and letting Eisner WIN

OR

b) throwing down the gauntlet to garner support from other members in getting rid of Eisner and then being reinstated. (by getting media attention, etc.)


If it's choice B, then wouldn't it make more sense to stay on board and rip the guy. Surely you would have more power within the company than you do now? (but what the heck do I know)

I agree with Kevin, he had more power within the company than outside of it. But he could have a plan. As Kevin said, the media attention just might make Eisner quit.

Or perhaps at his age, Disney is just tired of all of it. But he has to be pretty tired of it to throw in the towel to his family's business.

But everyone has their own limits...perhaps Disney has just reached his...regardless of the consequences. It's a shame.

 

[prberk]

Just like everyone else, I am a bit overwhelmed. I agree wholeheartedly with the letter, but I wish Roy did not have to resign. And, as for mandatory retirement, I never agreed with that. It is a form age discrimination. It is competence that is important, not age alone.

Anyway, as for Eisner, it does seem like he has lost something (perhaps a proper "check" or "balance") since Frank Wells' retirement. But I am not sure that this letter or Roy's action will do anything.

I believe that Michael has the resources and persistence (not to mention apparent support on the board) to stay on and just consider Roy's resignation as just another scuffle to win.

Let me be clear: I do not hate Eisner. I just agree with the letter. He seems to have lost his understanding of the importance of heritage and integrity to the company (in many ways -- from park upkeep, to cheap stuff at the stores, to "Bad Santa"). He was doing well, and is to be thanked for his earlier work; but lately he has hurt the company's name -- and in the end it is the company's name (one formerly associated with VISION, FAMILY, TECHNICAL INNOVATION, and REVERENCE FOR THE PAST) that matters most. It is the cornerstone of the company. And without it, the rest faulters. Period.

I hope positive change is on the way; but I just don't know..


And, for the record, I would LOVE to see John Lassiter or Steve Jobs head the company -- and I don't think that they would destroy traditional animation, either. To the contrary, I believe the company, animation and all, would regain focus.


Sorry for the long post. A lot of feelings to air. Main one, though, is a desire to get back to basic values and LOVE for Disney's product.

 

[Mr D]

Clear and happy sailing Roy, you are doing whats best for the legacy of the World of Disney, many many thanks friend!

 

[Merlin]

Originally posted by CoraJack
I agree with Kevin, he had more power within the company than outside of it. But he could have a plan. As Kevin said, the media attention just might make Eisner quit.

Or perhaps at his age, Disney is just tired of all of it. But he has to be pretty tired of it to throw in the towel to his family's business.

But everyone has their own limits...perhaps Disney has just reached his...regardless of the consequences. It's a shame.

As the news articles have stated, he was going to be forced out anyway. So he really didn't have anything to lose by doing this. by staying, he had his dignity to lose. So it could very well be nothing more than that. On the other hand, he wanted the letter disclosed and made public, so it could be part of a larger plan. When he resigned and then sold much of his stock in the 80's it had a huge negative impact on the value of the stock.

 

[Bill]

This makes me very sad. All I can hope for is the removal of Eisner. As for Roy, perhaps he will come back like he did before.

 

[WDWtech]

Folks I never thought I would see a day like today. Roy Disney resigns thats very sad. I thought that disney was doing better than ever. I do know that ABC has suffered because I work in the television industry but for the rest of the disney corportation I thought they were doing ok. Roy you have my upmost respect for what you did. Now down with Eisner !!


Damn you Eisner !!!! :fork:

 

[MKCustodial]

Well, today's Jim Hill column evidently covers the subject, and he seems to have interesting news regarding Eisner leaving.

 

[radioandy]

This says it all:

"The perception by our stakeholders –consumers, investors, employees, distributors and suppliers – that the Company is rapacious, soul-less, and always looking for the “quick buck” rather than long-term value which is leading to a loss of public trust."

Eisner must go!

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

I find this hard to believe! (i'm still in shock!)

Well, look at the bright side! If new management comes in maybe they won't consider the green alien bumper cars for Tommorrowland!

Goodbye Disney! :wave:

 

[T1nker_Bell]

Roy cannot come back, he has reached the age limit to be on the board. I was born in 1985, so I never knew of a time when Eisner was not running the show. My parents tell me quality has gone down on many things. However, any leader who allows Hariss to run Disneyland (she was part of THREE major accidents!!!), is a bit dissapointing. I respect what Disney is saying, however, this will hurt economic confidence in the Disney Company.. stocks will go down.

 

[Al]

I have just heard the news!

Roy leaving is one thing, but Eisner being the reason is another. This gives me the feeling that Eisners popularity will drop again, and with good reason. This is awful!

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by T1nker_Bell
Roy cannot come back, he has reached the age limit to be on the board. I was born in 1985, so I never knew of a time when Eisner was not running the show. My parents tell me quality has gone down on many things. However, any leader who allows Hariss to run Disneyland (she was part of THREE major accidents!!!), is a bit dissapointing. I respect what Disney is saying, however, this will hurt economic confidence in the Disney Company.. stocks will go down.

I think that there would be an exception made if Roy, the son of one of the founding members, wanted to come back in some role if Eisner leaves.

 

[smilez4011]

I whole-heartedly respect and understand Roy's reasoning for his resignation. Although it saddens me greatly to know that the last remaining direct desendant to Walt will no longer be a part of the "magic". I admire Roy for trying as hard as he did to try and prevent Eisner from taking away the values that the Disney company was built on. I'm sure it was difficult for him to resign, but he does have the best interest in the company in mind and I hope that something positive emerges from all of this.

 

[mac388]

1. Even though Roy Disney has reached the "retirement age," an exeption can be made. It has been made for other board members in the past, so it was surprising last week when an extension was denied by the board.
2. Roy did this back in 1984. He secretly recruited Eisner behind Ron Miller (CEO at the time). Oh, and Miller was Walt's son-in-law.

 

[FutureCEO]

Im sure the board would have let Disney serve all the time he wanted, after all he is a Disney. Are they're any more Disney family members in the company? I do think Roy has the plan of getting Eisner fired or resign with the media and public's attention.