Eisner praises employees' diligence
Disney chief visits Orlando parks to thank employees for storm efforts
By Richard Verrier | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 19, 2004
Dressed in a yellow polo shirt, white pants, black sneakers and Mickey Mouse baseball cap, he could have passed for a tourist.
But Michael Eisner wasn't on vacation Wednesday.
Instead, the Disney chief executive was on the job, praising his troops for their efforts to keep much of Walt Disney World resort humming in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.
"I just wanted to come and say what a great job you people did. We totally appreciate it," Eisner told about a dozen workers from the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -- Play It! game show, who were crammed into a lunchroom with Eisner and an entourage of Disney executives.
Although the storm forced Disney to shut down Animal Kingdom for a day, Hurricane Charley caused only minimal damage to the resort, which opened three of its parks the next morning after extensive cleanup efforts by employees.
"You did an amazing job," Eisner told another group of "ride out crew" members who coordinated the emergency response.
In several informal meetings in the backstage area of Disney-MGM Studios on Wednesday afternoon, Eisner peppered Disney "cast members" with questions. Where were you when the storm hit? Was your home damaged? How did guests respond the next day? Did all the rides work?
Eisner received polite and candid responses.
One employee described how she reported to work at 4:30 a.m., just hours after her previous shift, to help clean the park even though her home was damaged. On her way to Disney, she said, "I was stopped three times and told to go back home and I said, 'No, Disney needs my help.' "
Another brought up the delicate issue of contract talks between Walt Disney World and unions representing 21,000 full-time employees.
"It shows the dedication that we have to this company, and we'd like to be appreciated as well, and in contract time we'd like to see a little better offer," she said.
"Oh. Oh. We're not negotiating now," Eisner quipped, prompting laughter in one of several light-hearted exchanges with the employees.
Eisner weathered a storm of his own earlier this year. In February, an investor conference at Walt Disney World was overshadowed by an unsolicited takeover bid from cable-TV giant Comcast Corp. A month later, Eisner was narrowly re-elected to the board after 45 percent of shares voted withheld support amid investor concerns about the company's governance and performance.
Since then, Eisner has won some breathing room. Comcast pulled its offer after being rejected by the Disney board. And investors have been encouraged by the company's improved earnings, driven in part by a rebound in business at Disney World.
Eisner said the hurricane and high gas prices would have a minimal effect on the continued recovery of the parks-and-resorts division. "We're optimistic," he said in a brief interview after his meetings. "The pent-up demand for our product is still there."
Michael Eisner (far left) greets employees Wednesday at the command center of Disney-MGM Studios. Eisner visited Disney World's Orlando parks to thank workers for doing ‘an amazing job' preparing for and cleaning up after Charley.
(JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
:lol: :lol: :lol:
EDIT: I just realized that this had already been posted in the 'Mikey visits WDW' thread. My apologies.
Disney chief visits Orlando parks to thank employees for storm efforts
By Richard Verrier | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 19, 2004
Dressed in a yellow polo shirt, white pants, black sneakers and Mickey Mouse baseball cap, he could have passed for a tourist.
But Michael Eisner wasn't on vacation Wednesday.
Instead, the Disney chief executive was on the job, praising his troops for their efforts to keep much of Walt Disney World resort humming in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.
"I just wanted to come and say what a great job you people did. We totally appreciate it," Eisner told about a dozen workers from the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -- Play It! game show, who were crammed into a lunchroom with Eisner and an entourage of Disney executives.
Although the storm forced Disney to shut down Animal Kingdom for a day, Hurricane Charley caused only minimal damage to the resort, which opened three of its parks the next morning after extensive cleanup efforts by employees.
"You did an amazing job," Eisner told another group of "ride out crew" members who coordinated the emergency response.
In several informal meetings in the backstage area of Disney-MGM Studios on Wednesday afternoon, Eisner peppered Disney "cast members" with questions. Where were you when the storm hit? Was your home damaged? How did guests respond the next day? Did all the rides work?
Eisner received polite and candid responses.
One employee described how she reported to work at 4:30 a.m., just hours after her previous shift, to help clean the park even though her home was damaged. On her way to Disney, she said, "I was stopped three times and told to go back home and I said, 'No, Disney needs my help.' "
Another brought up the delicate issue of contract talks between Walt Disney World and unions representing 21,000 full-time employees.
"It shows the dedication that we have to this company, and we'd like to be appreciated as well, and in contract time we'd like to see a little better offer," she said.
"Oh. Oh. We're not negotiating now," Eisner quipped, prompting laughter in one of several light-hearted exchanges with the employees.
Eisner weathered a storm of his own earlier this year. In February, an investor conference at Walt Disney World was overshadowed by an unsolicited takeover bid from cable-TV giant Comcast Corp. A month later, Eisner was narrowly re-elected to the board after 45 percent of shares voted withheld support amid investor concerns about the company's governance and performance.
Since then, Eisner has won some breathing room. Comcast pulled its offer after being rejected by the Disney board. And investors have been encouraged by the company's improved earnings, driven in part by a rebound in business at Disney World.
Eisner said the hurricane and high gas prices would have a minimal effect on the continued recovery of the parks-and-resorts division. "We're optimistic," he said in a brief interview after his meetings. "The pent-up demand for our product is still there."
Michael Eisner (far left) greets employees Wednesday at the command center of Disney-MGM Studios. Eisner visited Disney World's Orlando parks to thank workers for doing ‘an amazing job' preparing for and cleaning up after Charley.
(JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
:lol: :lol: :lol:
EDIT: I just realized that this had already been posted in the 'Mikey visits WDW' thread. My apologies.