Does Micheal Eisner deserve a statue at Magic Kingdom?

Does Micheal Eisner deserve a statue at the Magic Kingdom?

  • Total voters
    158
  • Poll closed .
BrerJon

BrerJon

Well-Known Member
I don't think anyone other than Walt and Roy needs statues, but Eisner definitely deserves more credit for what he did to WDW. Yes, his last few years weren't good for anyone, and in the company as a whole (especially animation) he messed a lot of things up, but looking purely at Florida, in these days when we hope for any tiniest sign of something new at WDW, when a meet-and-greet is what passes for an attraction, looking back it's amazing what Eisner built.

In a ten year period of Eisner's reign we had Typhoon Lagoon, MGM-Studios, Blizzard Beach, Animal Kingdom, All-Star Resorts, Swan/Dolphin, Epcot Boardwalk, Pleasure Island and more. Under Iger we haven't had anything on the scale of a single one of those, apart from a few timeshares. New Fantasyland, Tom Staggs' crown jewel, would have been a footnote under Eisner.

Now things started to decline under him, for sure, once DAK opened the rot and bad habits we still suffer today started, but while late Eisner did a lot of damage, Wells-era Eisner and mid-term Eisner did some amazing things for Florida that today's attraction starved 'Mall of Brazil' can only dream of.
 
copcarguyp71

copcarguyp71

Well-Known Member
Statue...no for me.

Possibly a nice silent nod somewhere within the parks. A window in MGM or something named in his honor but the statues that exist are of the founding fathers so to speak and in my opinion the reverence of them needs to remain resolute and not diluted by others Just one guys opinion though.

As a side note though I do not believe the egos of the current regime could allow any of this to happen so this entire discussion is purely academic.
 
Matt_Black

Matt_Black

Well-Known Member
Let's also not forget that it was Eisner who was a key figure in getting Star Wars and Muppets in the parks, beginning long-term business relationships with the respective companies that eventually resulted in Disney buying them.
 
Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing

Well-Known Member
I have an Eisner story.

I worked at GF during the summers while I was in college. One day after work I waited for a couple girls and while waiting Michael Eisner and a bunch of stuffed shirts walked by. One of the girls I was waiting for walked by them and asked "Mr. Eisner" if he wanted to hang out and drink around the world with us at Epcot. He smiled, called her by her first name, ( she was wearing her tag ), and warmly told her he had previous arrangements for the evening and had to decline. Eisner had this air of success about him, its funny people insult the man without ever meeting him or judging him from books. I dont know what he was like behind closed doors of course, but from what I have seen with my own eyes, not a bad guy.
 
Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
jjharvpro said:
Yes, Eisner did a lot for the Company and especially Walt Disney World. Looking back, it was nice to have a CEO that strove to plus WDW. Not hating on Iger though! I really do like Iger, he's just more on Disneyland IMO.

But I don't think Eisner needs a statue. That may be a little much. But a plaque? Yeah! Disney Legend one day? Sure!
Click to expand...
Iger has left WDW dying for a meaningful investment. His legacy at WDW is essentially Fantasyland expansion and Magic Bands. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are dying.

Without Eisner, where would WDW be today? I don't like everything about Eisner, but Iger has been pretty useless for WDW and has really focused on shareholders above all.
 
MarkTwain

MarkTwain

Well-Known Member
I could see a tribute to Eisner being a great idea for WDW considering his role in growing the resort, but a statue at MK would be way too much. Perhaps at one of the parks he had a hand in, like DHS or DAK, but I think a window on Hollywood Blvd would be a better touch given his background in the film industry.

Personally, I don't even like Walt statues at parks he didn't have a hand in (and especially parks he would likely hate), like the Disney Studios Paris or Tokyo Disneyland. Should be Disneyland and MK only IMO.
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
Something you might not have noticed about the statues at the Magic Kingdom....
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Both men are named "Disney".

Sure 'EISNER' has two syllables and an E, an I, and an S. But 'EISNER' is not 'DISNEY'.
 
tigger1968

tigger1968

Well-Known Member
Why...why on earth dredge this up from 2012.... *sigh*

So here's my Eisner story...about 6 years ago I got to go to one of those "Success" seminars in Atlanta...the ones that last for hours and feature a ton of business and government leaders talking about success, and with the occasional hard sell for some worthless investment products tossed in. Eisner was the first speaker. I had read Disney War, and was excited about hearing him speak.

My take on him was he was a big force in building the Disney Company, and WDW, into the brands they are today, but over time, he was much more of a detriment to the company, and he needed to go when he did.

He strode to the platform and gave a 20 minute talk on the benefits of micromanagement. MICROMANAGMENT. He talked about how crucial it was that he helped pick out the patterns of towels and bedspreads at the WDW resorts. I was totally floored at the massive ego he exuded as he spoke. It was just the worst.

I know...I posted in this thread....which only prolongs its being on the front page....
 

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