Carpool Update

[All Aboard]

In Car #1 we have: DisDuck, Peter Pirate/Captain Crook, dscoop, JeffH (honorary passenger, no doubt it's his choice of cars), gcurling, babar & 17 nameless passengers

In Car #2 we have: Sarangel & 17 nameless passengers

In Car #2.5 we have: hopemax, dannnzzz & larworth

In Car #3 we have: DVC-Landbaron, ww52, toefungus, Space42, Johare, Noblemickey & 14 nameless passengers

In Car #4 we have: 1 nameless passenger

If you haven't signed up for a ride Do so here! (http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58576)

[Captain Crook]

Can "We" ride shotgun?

:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth:

[DisDuck]

gcurling you left me out of car#1. I voted but did not post a reply because having been at this game for almost a year I know just pick and choose what to respond to.

I spend more time on the debate board. It is not as repetitive.

I still find The Magic. Wish I was going this year but chose DL/DCA instead having never been there. Back to WDW next April or June.

[Captain Crook]

DisDuck, when are you going to DL & DCA? We'll anxiously be awaiting your return you know!
:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth:

[babar]

I voted for #1. I was there last year, but I hadn't been there since the year Epcot opened. So, to me it was still very magical. I'm going again in December, so I guess I can give you a better opinion then. Although, I think my opinion will probably stay the same. Any vacation to me is pretty great!!;)

andrea

[All Aboard]

DisDuck, I feel remiss for not including you. I should have known your choice. I have edited the lineup, accordingly.

[DisDuck]

Captain, going the first full week of November. Bummer wish it was NOW but sent daughter to Europe with a group called American Music Abroad, to sing in their chorus.

By the way folks, she is your teenager (16 yo) who is suppossed to consider WDW (or anything Disney) not cool. I guess she just doesn't get the teen thing. Disney is very 'cool' to her and loved Atlantis, she saw it twice but would not see Shrek twice.

So maybe there is still hope for the future.

[HBK]

and my teenage nephew saw both films and saw Shrek twice and Atlantis once. Apparently from the box office numbers, he wasn't the only one. Which leads me to ask....

So what?

Your daughter is not representative of the general public. Based on the numbers, the general public has taken to Shrek....whereas Atlantis has not caught fire as your daughter would have hoped.

I know it bothers you that Disney isn't winning this war (it bothers me too), but based on the numbers....Shrek has won this battle. It's outlived Disney's two latest flicks. Disney isn't even fighting in this war. They sent up the white flag.

[Captain Crook]

HBK, so maybe you've decided it's over but not all of us have. There have been so many ups & downs in Eisner's tenure alone that it would nearly impossible to make accurate predictions while we're smack dab in the middle of something. Kind of like the economy, recession or not? The signs will have been there when we look back in retrospect but to discern them right now would take divine intervention, just like with Disney.

SO WHAT if Shrek beat Atlantis. That gives Dreamwork Animation a streak of one in a row! That hardly seems insurmountable.

Remember that Disney only released three animated features during the entire 60's, was it dead? Well, it seemed so at the time but we know the history tells a different story, don't we?

So we'll all admit that Disney has taken it on the chin with Atlantis & PH (in live action) but changes can be made. If Eisner's under the gun as has recently been reported, if the Board is no longer going to rubber stamp the same ole same ole, then maybe we'll be seeing some big changes.

Another point I've made before is regarding Eisner and his ego. Does anyone here believe he wants his legacy to be the "man who killed Disney?" No way! He wants to be remembered favorable...Like Walt and I think this ego may now play in our favor!
:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth:

[ww52]

Captain Crook - I heartily agree that Eisner will not let the negative publicity last much longer. I have had a hunch for a while that he will make an announcement or two coupled with Walt's 100th that will please most if not all of us. My personal hope continues to be BK - but whatever it is, I am thinking like you - his ego will want it to be truly grand. Though I'm in car #3, I'm still a believer. (Whoops - sorry for the Shrek reference.) If Eisner does make a grand announcement before the year is out, I would ask car 2 and car 1 to slow down and make room for all of us jumping out of car 3 at full speed.

[HBK]

I believe you both, but I'm wondering how Ei$ner can get back into the war since he just gave half of his troops to the enemy.

It's one thing to lose a battle. We all do. And I know one battle doesn't make a war (although Shrek has been an impressive feat).

But when you're in battle, and you cut loose half of your troops, how can an outsider see that as anything other than a white flag?

I hope and pray that Disney turns things around. I just can't see it happening ANYTIME soon.

P.S. Do you really think Ei$ner worries about his legacy? He's taken 3 Quarter of a BILLION dollars over the past few years....he's openly pandered to the stock analysts, and to date he hasn't shown ANY signs of changing....

[Captain Crook]

I do believe legacy is important to this man, I think ego pretty much dictates that. The money is great and I'm sure he maximizes it at every opportunity but people with ego's want to be liked, loved, remembered and, like I said, that may be working in our favor, now.

Shrek certainly was a HUGE hit and a big surprise but it's still just onw movie...

On your other point, letting the troops go, well, I have always been of the opinion that the truly great creations artistically will come from the young and hungry. Thats why I don't get too concerned about the loss of established talent when I am sure there is much, much, talent out there looking for the opportunity to make their mark. I don't see the loss of the talent as nearly as big of problem as will they (Disney) let them create it, mold it & craft it without falling for any of the pitfalls AV has educated us about...
:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth:

[Another Voice]

But the lack of talent is exactly the issue. Not only is the seasoned talent leaving, but there’s no one coming in to replace it. When I first began, Disney was known as either your first job or your last job in Hollywood. The situation is very similar right now. All of established talent has moved one (even Bruckheimer!) and the few young filmmakers that fall in with the mouse all have horror stories of management interference (like the ones surrounding ‘crazy/beautiful’). Very few people will put themselves into a situation that forces them to make a bad movie or television series. Pride is an important part of any job whether it’s directing a feature film or, as F.C. Fan knows, keeping the theme parks running. And you certainly don’t get a sense of pride walking around the Disney lot these days.

As for the carpool – put me in #5. Thelma and Louise have already driven us over the cliff, but I’m in the backseat desperately searching for a pair of wings to make this Thunderbird fly.

[F.C. Fan]

Car #4 for me but I'd rather be riding my motorcycle :p :p

BTW thanks AV :bounce: :) :p :p :p

[lisapooh]

Car pool #1 for me please. Can't wait until my trip next month.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/bigfam.gif

[HorizonsFan]

He's taken 3 Quarter of a BILLION dollars over the past few years....

He was paid that money in accordance to the terms of his contract. I don't care if you don't like Eisner, but he didn't "take" anything. Bash him if you want, but let's be fair...

[JustBob]

Not that this will "win the war", but the previews for Monsters, Inc. look great - perhaps that'll put a few shots over Dreamworks' bow. (Couldn't resist the pirate reference, Captain and YoHo.)

[YoHo]

Argh, I could use some good Disney news this mornin.

Fairly warned Ye be Says I that my morning Grog did not sit too well. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[HBK]

He was paid that money in accordance to the terms of his contract. I don't care if you don't like Eisner, but he didn't "take" anything. Bash him if you want, but let's be fair...

I'm sorry, I don't know the terms of his contract....and maybe you do, but if my feeble memory serves, a HUGE portion of that money has come in the way of bonuses which his HAND PICKED, partisan board approved for him.

His salary is totally out of whack when compared to other CEOs. No board should have been that generous.....

On your other point, letting the troops go, well, I have always been of the opinion that the truly great creations artistically will come from the young and hungry. Thats why I don't get too concerned about the loss of established talent when I am sure there is much, much, talent out there looking for the opportunity to make their mark. I don't see the loss of the talent as nearly as big of problem as will they (Disney) let them create it, mold it & craft it without falling for any of the pitfalls AV has educated us about...

AV answered this for me...Disney isn't replacing the laid off animators for Young, Hungry talent. They're just raising the white flag. They feel they can't create successful feature animation anymore since the only movies which appear to be entering the pike are sequels.

I guess Ei$ner's got a problem with the line "and they lived happily ever after".

[JeffJewell]

He was paid that money in accordance to the terms of his contract ...at least once, Eisner had the board amend his contract so that he would receive bonuses he would have failed to earn under the original terms.

To a great extent, the board currently serves the same approximate function as a rubber stamp.

Jeff

[DVC-Landbaron]

Finally, his bonuses. These are also tied to company numbers.

Wrong! Until several years ago that would have been a true statement. He had the Board change it. JeffJewell is right. And this is one example of the change.

[JeffJewell]

...Eisner's bonus is determined and awarded by the board, and is no longer tied to specified business goals.

We actually went over this ground fairly recently on the boards. Someone even found old Disney proxy statements on the web with more details.

Jeff

[YoHo]

Slightly off topic. Options do have a very negative effect on company health as well. They Dilute the stock when excorcised. For those wishing Disney was more closely held, you need only turn to the executive compensation plan (If Disney operates like a tech company, just about every salaried employee gets options, so it isn't even just the execs)

[Another Voice]

The proxy statements and changes to the executive compensation plan are all public record. Just go to disney.com and click on Investor Relations. You can see all of the rule changes there.