The Eisner Decade ?

[worldshwcasefan]

Since this is almost the end of Michael Eisner tenure what do you think were his greatest accomplishments and or faliures?

 

[Merlin]

Accomplishments:

-Expansion of WDW (hotels, 2 theme parks, water parks, Downtown Disney)
-Animated hits (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hunchback)
-Cutting edge technology (at the time) used on new attractions


Failures:

-ABC (Disney's biggest blunder in my opinion)
-Disney's California Adventure (a close second)
-Losing Katzenberg
-The Ovitz fiasco
-Disney Vacation Club
-Allowing Cynthia Harris and Paul Pressler to destroy the Disney Stores and nearly destroy Disneyland
-Celebration
-The Disney Institute
-Disney's Wide World of Sports
-Disney Quest
-Defacing Disney park icons (remember the Castle cake?)

 

[Rinxman]

Keeping everything beautiful.

 

[General Grizz]

Many successes 1984-1994... which allowed animation and theme parks to flourish.

Fastfoward to 2004, and well, WDI and Animation are NOT the happiest of places...

 

[Wilt Dasney]

As Grizz just noted, Eisner was in charge for two decades. Just wanted to point that out, in light of the thread title.

 

[donvincenzo]

I'm almost finished DisneyWar (would recommend it, very interesting and entertaining) and from reading it, I learned many things I didn't know went on. Just a couple things I'll mention is about some of the TV shows that could've been on ABC but were rejected, i.e. "C.S.I"; and "Survivor". And just one thing about a movie, the fact that he almost rejected Pirates of the Caribbean from being made, which is one of my personal favorites, along with millions of other people.

 

[Cliffordsmon]

The first decade was one of growth and creativity. The second decade was one of paranoia and destruction.

 

[wedway71]

I think Eisner took the helm of Disney in 84 along with Frank Wells and did alot of great things for Disney with the first best thing which was keeping Disney in one piece.Eisner grew Disney bigger and better than Walt himself could fathom.I truly think he created the"Disney Decade".

Just like in science class "Everything that goes up must come down".I think the biggest problem that Eisner faced is that he wanted to grow the empire too big.All of the other business units were doing great so he felt why not get into other types of things like building towns,baseball and hockey teams etc.The problem was Disney had too much on the plate.The company was trying to balance too many other non-core businesses and lost focus on its core-ANIMATION,FILMS, AND THEME PARKS.Thats where Eisner went wrong in my opinion.

 

[Hakunamatata]

The first decade was one of growth and creativity. The second decade was one of paranoia and destruction.

It doesnt get said much better than that.....


DisneyWar was an awesome look into a paranoid little man....

 

[KumbaRider]

I think Eisner took the helm of Disney in 84 along with Frank Wells and did alot of great things for Disney with the first best thing which was keeping Disney in one piece.Eisner grew Disney bigger and better than Walt himself could fathom.I truly think he created the"Disney Decade".

Just like in science class "Everything that goes up must come down".I think the biggest problem that Eisner faced is that he wanted to grow the empire too big.All of the other business units were doing great so he felt why not get into other types of things like building towns,baseball and hockey teams etc.The problem was Disney had too much on the plate.The company was trying to balance too many other non-core businesses and lost focus on its core-ANIMATION,FILMS, AND THEME PARKS.Thats where Eisner went wrong in my opinion.

Very true. I do miss the days of the early 90s, I think those were the best Disney years with overall park and film successes.

 

[General Grizz]

Theme Park Attractions (New Shows, Refurbishments) 1992-1995
Splash Mountain
Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Disney's Old Key West
Dixie Landings
Osprey Ridge & Eagle Pines Golf Courses
Hall of Presidents
Carousel of Progress
The American Adventure
Legend of the Lion King
Tomorrowland
The Land
Spaceship Earth
Astro Orbiter
Galaxy Palace Theater Show
Sonny Eclipse
Snow White's Scary Adventures
The Timekeeper
Innoventions
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Food Rocks
The Circle of Life
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Blizzard Beach opens
All-Star Sports and Music Resorts
Wilderness Lodge Resort
Planet Hollywood opens
Alien Encounter
Disney's Wedding Pavilion
Walt Disney World Speedway
The Flower and Garden Festival
The Food and Wine Festival
The Spectacle of Lights
Closed: 20K

2002-2005
Chester and Hester’s DinoRama
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Pop Century
Mission: SPACE
Mickey’s Philharmagic
Wishes
Stitch’s Great Escape
Soarin’
The Land
Cinderellabration
Lights Motors Action
Small World Rehab
The Living Seas
Saratoga Springs
Expedition Everest
Closed: Timekeeper, Wonders of Life Pavilion, Diamond Horseshoe Revue

(Just compare the new IMAGINEERING between the two decades... a big focus on already-existing Disney attractions in the latter saves "brain money." Also note how 90s "clones" - i.e. Splash Mountain - were specifically tailored to fit in its new themed area (improvements, new score) v. the copy/paste or cutback clones of today (i.e. Identical Soarin, cut-back Cinderellabration) )

And films...well...we already know abouts them.

 

[MysticOrient]

Let's not forget about the Pixar debacle! What's up with that! You've got a sure money-maker in movies like Toy Story, Nemo, Incredibles, etc., and you let it slip away?

I'm a big Eisner fan from the early days (as the great posts have pointed out about his first decade), but as you've all pointed out, I think he just tried to get his mitts in way too many pies and not focus directly enough on the founding reputation / business of Disney.

 

[marni1971]

As sad as it was, Frank Wells` death was the worst thing professionally to happen to Eisner. Frank held Eisners reigns, had a better judgement about expansion in the parks, wasn`t afraid to spend for quality, and most of all Eisner would listen to and believe him. It all started to slide after `94. Some of the biggest changes to plans; WESTCOT became DCA, Imagination, Energy, 20K, no new MK builds, ABC, Rocket Rods, Light Magic...

RIP Mr Wells.

 

[Cliffordsmon]

When Frank Wells died all checks and balances were thrown out. There was no one dared to say no to Michael. He couldn't recognize a good idea when it crossed his desk.

He lost his focus and solely concentrated on the money being unreasonable, demanding loyalty but showing no loyalty to anyone.