Two weeks into his new job, Michael Eisner suggested building a hotel shaped like Mickey Mouse. It wasn't feasible, but to Disney Insiders, the freshly hired CEO's willingness to swing for the fences signaled a whole new ball game in terms of setting. Shortly thereafter, Eisner scrapped plans for two new, but architecturally mundane, hotels at Walt Disney World. It was a gusty move that risked a long-term relationship with a valued development partner, but it paid off. The 1514-room Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and the 758-room Swan Hotel replaced the canceled hotels. Designed by world-renowned architect Michael Graves, they created a new standard for setting at Walt Disney World.
The Swan and the Dolphin signaled a renaissance in Disney Architecture. Soon, the best architects in the world were working on commissions for the company. At Walt Disney World, resorts such as the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, and the Yacht and Beach Club (the latter designed by Robert A.M. Stern) took settings to a whole new level. "Our hotels became experiences and entertainments onto themselves," wrote Eisner in his book Work in Progress, "successful as our hotels are in artistic terms, the simplest tribute to them comes from our guests. To this day, the occupancy rate at each of them runs in excess of 90 percent - the highest in the world."
---- Be Our Guest - Perfecting the Art of Customer Service
Say whatever you like about Michael Eisner, but I almost take personal offense when people start to say he wasn't willing to spend money. I mean, I would hate to let facts get in the way of the pure jealousy that a so-called "Disney Fan" shows whenever they bash Michael Eisner. But being unwilling to spend money isn't one of those. Look at the things that were created in Eisner's time. Excellent movies which caused the second golden age in Disney animation. Disneyland Paris is a symbol of Eisner's willingness to put money where his mouth is, seeing that the castle itself cost 56 million dollars. Theme parks? Disney-MGM studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom (the largest Disney theme park I might add) Attractions? Mission:Space (still the most expensive theme park attraction to date. Soarin... Mickey's Philharmagic. Tower of Terror and Rock N' Rollercoaster... Where is the unwillingness to spend money here.
But most importantly, ever stayed at a Disney Resort? You like the Animal Kingdom Lodge? Or the service provided at all Disney Resort, and enjoying the perks involved there? Then you like Eisner... You like to see the Disney company go big? Look at the grandest opening we ever did , opening a theme park, a water park, and an entertainment/shopping district, all within a month.
I can see some of you "Disney Fanatics" oiling your keyboards now, ready to respond with some charactheristic lies and rumors about a man who saved the company you claimed to love. My response to you is thank god you are not C.E.O. Thank god you never were in a position to make decisions affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Know this.. whether you want to believe it or not... You can't be C.E.O. and it is the jealousy of that fact that makes you write such vitriol against Michael Eisner.
And, you know what... It is also alright to support Eisner, and Iger... and Lasseter, because they are all important to the company you claim to love... and I really do.
The Swan and the Dolphin signaled a renaissance in Disney Architecture. Soon, the best architects in the world were working on commissions for the company. At Walt Disney World, resorts such as the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, and the Yacht and Beach Club (the latter designed by Robert A.M. Stern) took settings to a whole new level. "Our hotels became experiences and entertainments onto themselves," wrote Eisner in his book Work in Progress, "successful as our hotels are in artistic terms, the simplest tribute to them comes from our guests. To this day, the occupancy rate at each of them runs in excess of 90 percent - the highest in the world."
---- Be Our Guest - Perfecting the Art of Customer Service
Say whatever you like about Michael Eisner, but I almost take personal offense when people start to say he wasn't willing to spend money. I mean, I would hate to let facts get in the way of the pure jealousy that a so-called "Disney Fan" shows whenever they bash Michael Eisner. But being unwilling to spend money isn't one of those. Look at the things that were created in Eisner's time. Excellent movies which caused the second golden age in Disney animation. Disneyland Paris is a symbol of Eisner's willingness to put money where his mouth is, seeing that the castle itself cost 56 million dollars. Theme parks? Disney-MGM studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom (the largest Disney theme park I might add) Attractions? Mission:Space (still the most expensive theme park attraction to date. Soarin... Mickey's Philharmagic. Tower of Terror and Rock N' Rollercoaster... Where is the unwillingness to spend money here.
But most importantly, ever stayed at a Disney Resort? You like the Animal Kingdom Lodge? Or the service provided at all Disney Resort, and enjoying the perks involved there? Then you like Eisner... You like to see the Disney company go big? Look at the grandest opening we ever did , opening a theme park, a water park, and an entertainment/shopping district, all within a month.
I can see some of you "Disney Fanatics" oiling your keyboards now, ready to respond with some charactheristic lies and rumors about a man who saved the company you claimed to love. My response to you is thank god you are not C.E.O. Thank god you never were in a position to make decisions affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Know this.. whether you want to believe it or not... You can't be C.E.O. and it is the jealousy of that fact that makes you write such vitriol against Michael Eisner.
And, you know what... It is also alright to support Eisner, and Iger... and Lasseter, because they are all important to the company you claim to love... and I really do.