Eisner="anti-character?"

[CubbieMan]

A Fellow co-worker(who interned with Disney 2 years ago) said that after 9/11 Eisner wanted to do away with Charcters when dealing with budget cuts...

I was wondering if anyone else has heard this...even the thought boggles my mind...The chacters are part of it charm and magic...in fact probably more so then any other aspects of the park...I'm just curious if anyone else has heard this...that alone should speak loudly about having the wrongs person at the helm of the corporation.

 

[mkt]

i definitely have heard this one, and have no reason to doubt it. Look at the newer theme park characters. You used to get full units from movies (even if only 2-3 were usable)... now it's 1-2 per movie

 

[General Grizz]

That's what I've heard from OH too many Cast Members. . .

Looks like Eisner likes Kermit more than Mickey, eh? :animwink:

 

[ClemsonTigger]

The last straw

Now I've been wrong before, (just ask my wife ), but I would think that is one move that would cause an uproar from all sectors, not just the zealots like us. Whether they/he may have discussed the fiscal benefit of character assassination (sorry :dazzle: ) I think even he knows the negative impact of image, and even his most devout suckups would raise that question.

mkt i definitely have heard this one, and have no reason to doubt it. Look at the newer theme park characters. You used to get full units from movies (even if only 2-3 were usable)... now it's 1-2 per movie

Rob, sorry for my ignorance, but could you clarify your use of "units"?

I just hope that thought stays on the back burner till Mikey moves on. My wife would be so proud that all those years of Polyanna training are bearing some fruit. :animwink:

 

[brkgnews]

This sounds suspiciously like the chapter "The Importance of Being Goofy" in the Unofficial Guide to WDW 2004... :lookaroun

 

[Tim G]

That's what I've heard from OH too many Cast Members. Looks like Eisner likes Kermit more than Mickey, eh? :animwink:

It could be they've replaced him with an new type Audio Animatronic... but.... nah.... WDI wouldn't put that much effort in it...

 

[Atta83]

I thought Eisner was going to get rid of everybody and close the parks .... :lookaroun :lookaroun LOL...JK

 

[mkt]

Rob, sorry for my ignorance, but could you clarify your use of "units"?

A set of characters regarded as a distinct entity within a larger set of characters. ie- the characters from one movie, in the gamut of all Disney Theme Park Characters.

To give an example. Lilo and Stitch got 2 characters. That's it. Lilo AND Stitch. No Nani, Pleakley, David, etc.

The little mermaid got 7 characters (Ariel, Prince Eric, Chef Louis, Sebastian, Flounder, Max, Ursula). Aladdin has 5 (Aladdin/Prince Ali, Jasmine, Genie, Jafar, Abu). Even Lion King has 5 (Timon, Rafiki, Shenzi, Bonzai, Ed).

Lets fast forward now to today. Treasure Planet gets 2 characters (Jim and Ben), Brother Bear gets 2 characters (Kenai and Koda), The Emperors New Groove gets 3 (Kuzco, Kronk, Yzma).

I think my point is well served

 

[KevinPage]

A set of characters regarded as a distinct entity within a larger set of characters. ie- the characters from one movie, in the gamut of all Disney Theme Park Characters.
To give an example. Lilo and Stitch got 2 characters. That's it. Lilo AND Stitch. No Nani, Pleakley, David, etc.
The little mermaid got 7 characters (Ariel, Prince Eric, Chef Louis, Sebastian, Flounder, Max, Ursula). Aladdin has 5 (Aladdin/Prince Ali, Jasmine, Genie, Jafar, Abu). Even Lion King has 5 (Timon, Rafiki, Shenzi, Bonzai, Ed).
Lets fast forward now to today. Treasure Planet gets 2 characters (Jim and Ben), Brother Bear gets 2 characters (Kenai and Koda), The Emperors New Groove gets 3 (Kuzco, Kronk, Yzma).
I think my point is well served

It could also be that 7 characters is overkill. I love Brother Bear, but how many characters do I need roaming the parks? Treasure Planet doesn't even deserve 1 character if you ask me, so consider it a gift.

 

[mkt]

well, Kevin, I know exactly what your opinion is worth

and if you want, I'll go to my lint trap and purchase it from you :kiss:

That being said, yes 7 characters IS overkill, for theme park guests... but not for promotional purposes.

 

[civileng68]

hmmm

Even though it would never fly with shareholders and therefore it would never happen, just the idea that he thinks in this manner is what I don't feel comfortable with.

I think he has desires to have an incredible park, but wants to take the WALT Disney out of it.

 

[DisneyDream2004]

The fact that he even had that thought is extremely disturbing to me. Not that I go visit the characters when I go to Disney (no kids), but to take them out of the park is altogether scary. Eisner sees no profitability in them, so he'd rather sell a $50 stuffed Mickey instead of let a kid hug the real thing.

 

[Atta83]

Can we say someone is greedy...........greedy.....thats one thing a parent loves to see on their childs face when they meet their favoirte character face to face for the first time.....*sigh*

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Atta83
Can we say someone is greedy...........greedy.....thats one thing a parent loves to see on their childs face when they meet their favoirte character face to face for the first time.....*sigh*

Unfortunately there are those parents that see dollars if a character touches their child, potentially ruining it for all of us (as it becomes a serious business/financial liability). What good would the characters be if we can just look at them from beyond a velvet rope?
__________________


I may very well get beaten down for this stance, but for whatever reason I feel compelled to give Eisner the benefit of the doubt.

The comment:

civileng68
I think he has desires to have an incredible park, but wants to take the WALT Disney out of it.

rang true with me...but let me suggest that rather than wanting to take Walt out of Disney, I feel he is trying to leave ME in Disney.

I guess I just can't forget the good he did with Wells at his side...and that he has just lost his way....

Having known powerful people (no, not that powerful), one thing I believe is that there are two main types, the ones that care for nothing but the money and the ones that want to leave a legacy. I do believe Eisner is in that second category. I remember how happy he appeared in the early years and in introducing the reintroduced Sunday show, and compare that to how he looks now. He feels we don't appreciate his contributions and has pushed to do more (unfortunately surrounding himself with the first type managers.

As I have said in other posts, I believe his personal milestone is to be in place through the 50th anniversary. To be cast in concrete (no, not to be dumped in the Seven Sea's Lagoon) as the Disney leader at this time, and that he will go quietly after that. I may be very very wrong, and I don't for a second doubt the pain and damage he has done to the company and CM's in recent years, but also like I said before...he reminds me of Darth Vader: Good but with character flaws (that also give him his strength), turned bad, but still with a streak of good deep down.

Sorry for the philosophic rant.

 

[civileng68]

I may very well get beaten down for this stance, but for whatever reason I feel compelled to give Eisner the benefit of the doubt.

The comment:

rang true with me...but let me suggest that rather than wanting to take Walt out of Disney, I feel he is trying to leave ME in Disney.

I guess I just can't forget the good he did with Wells at his side...and that he has just lost his way....

Having known powerful people (no, not that powerful), one thing I believe is that there are two main types, the ones that care for nothing but the money and the ones that want to leave a legacy. I do believe Eisner is in that second category. I remember how happy he appeared in the early years and in introducing the reintroduced Sunday show, and compare that to how he looks now. He feels we don't appreciate his contributions and has pushed to do more (unfortunately surrounding himself with the first type managers.

As I have said in other posts, I believe his personal milestone is to be in place through the 50th anniversary. To be cast in concrete (no, not to be dumped in the Seven Sea's Lagoon) as the Disney leader at this time, and that he will go quietly after that. I may be very very wrong, and I don't for a second doubt the pain and damage he has done to the company and CM's in recent years, but also like I said before...he reminds me of Darth Vader: Good but with character flaws (that also give him his strength), turned bad, but still with a streak of good deep down.

Sorry for the philosophic rant.

Well I see your point, but, if he was great with Wells by his side then we have to realize that some of the success was due to Wells moreso than Eisner. To even go FOR Eisner a little more, some people work well in teams (like he did with Wells) and some don't do so well outside of the team thing. Example: Kramer was great with Seinfeld but without him, his own show flunked, ok bad example .

About his legacy being up to the 50th anniversary. Unfortunately for Eisner that won't happen. You are remembered by what you have "done for me lately". Look at atheletes who were the greatest of their time that are remembered for staying in the sport too long. It's the same stance, just that Eisner will be remembered more for what he's done recently than in the past (good or bad) and any bad thing he does will stick longer than anything good. It's just the way it works.

I don't have anything personally against him, I am a purist and believe that whomever should take Disney control should aim to keep the standards that Walt created, not settle for anything. Walt spent his last penny on his park and in many cases more than his last penny. Im not saying Eisner should do the same thing, but Eisner has the ability financially to keep the standards there. Sure costs go up, but so do the finances to cover it, admission, parking, and then rise in prices for the parks such as food and the like.

Disney is a money making machine. a "goldmine" and it's up to a solid management to not squander it all and change the heart of which the company was founded on and on which so many fans (like us) live today.

 

[mrtoad]

he reminds me of Darth Vader: Good but with character flaws (that also give him his strength), turned bad, but still with a streak of good deep down.

So if he is Darth Vader, who is the Emperor? :animwink:

Back to the topic, if he really did want to get rid of them it would be a big mistake. I have heard many parents of young kids say that all their kids wanted to do was meet the characters for photos (mine included). It would be a big mistake…

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Easy one

The short sighted, quick profit stockholders of course! :veryconfu
Then again I'm one of them...but...but I don't want to be part of the evil empire.

 

[CubbieMan]

agreed...I don't even have kids yet..but I think that would be the biggest mistake ever made by Disney management...not only for the disney fans..but it just does not make sense financially...I would think they would cut off a whole sector of people who visit the parks just for the characters