DVC-Landbaron
What Would Walt Do?
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2000
Larworth:
I totally agree with almost everything you say, with one major exception. And I suppose this exception really counters my first sentence and causes me to disagree somewhat. Confused? Me too!!
First let's cover the agreeing bit:
And lastly the whole ABC thing I totally agree with (too long for even me to quote). You sized it up perfectly.
Now for the major disagreement.
And second, the culture Ei$ner has set up within the company. In any corporation, or group structure, a certain culture takes shape, FROM THE TOP DOWN. Either through tacit approval or overt action, the head (boss, leader, CEO) sets up the culture. And his subordinates either go along with this culture or they don't stay around very long. In other words, do you really think that an employee of Ei$ner's would, even if given sole administrative responsibility of WDW, actually do anything that he didn't think his boss would approve of? Do you suppose that this person would be oblivious of Ei$ner's business philosophy? I think he would totally understand his job and his position within the company. Simply put, maintain as much as possible, but SHOW A PROFIT!!!!
OK. I haven't told a Walt story in a long time (Alright. No eyeball rolls. It's not very long). I think it may clarify things:
Seems there was a particular time in the building of Disneyland when money was especially tight. Roy was trying his absolute best to keep things under control. The banks were breathing down his neck, business investment were drying up and his personal bank account didn't look much better. While musing about his lot in life on this particular dreary day, he was handed an invoice. The invoice was for a chandelier for one of the fast food restaurants. It cost thousands of dollars. In 1954 it was a small fortune. Roy was fed up. Time to have it out with Brother Walt. He found Walt and went off on him. He told Walt that he'd never sell enough burgers to ever get a pay back. He said that it was frivolous and a waste. Walt, so the story goes, listened and tried to explain that it was his goal to give the guest something that he wouldn't get anywhere else in the world. And if someone, sitting eating his fast food, admired this chandelier and it added to their experience just a little bit, the company would get a bigger payback than could ever be noted on a balance sheet. Roy and Walt didn't talk for weeks after that. But Roy paid for the chandelier.
Now tell me. If Ei$ner's hand picked man did run the parks and when doing some renovations had the audacity to think in Walt's terms, do you really think that Ei$ner would do what Roy did? And do you think that his hand pick "park manager" would be there two months from then?
OK, I'm through for a while. I suddenly have a desire to go to Crown Book Store. The title Quotable Walt Disney keeps going through my head!!!
I totally agree with almost everything you say, with one major exception. And I suppose this exception really counters my first sentence and causes me to disagree somewhat. Confused? Me too!!
First let's cover the agreeing bit:
Not only is it overblown today, it was overblown when it was happening. And the really sad fact is that we were taken over. From the inside. And it was a slow process that no one saw coming. Some are even still in DE NILE (denial, for Safari Steve. lol). But it happened all the same. We are no better off today than we would have been if raider from the outside had snatched Disney up. We merely traded outside raiders for inside raiders.I think the corporate raider fear is way overblown.
Absolutely!! Same then as today. Do you really think the would have turned the castle into condos? Not on your life!! They would have raised prices, cut costs, built up the property and kept as much brand name magic as bottom line, short term profit would allow. Hmmm. Sounds like Ei$ner to me!!I think their first inclination would be how can we protect and preserve the brand, rather than to rape and plunder.
Yeah! It could have been the greatest thing that ever happened. Or not. But certainly no worse!!Why, one of the reasons they may even buy it is to bring Disney's old-time customer and quality focus to the rest of their organization
And lastly the whole ABC thing I totally agree with (too long for even me to quote). You sized it up perfectly.
Now for the major disagreement.
Two thoughts. First, what makes you think it wouldn't be Pre$$ler himself?! Hmmm. Come to think of it, it could be worse!! lolAt some point Eisner will come to the realization that he doesn't have the time, or his attention is better spent trying to fix the broken parts, to be creative oversight for the parks anymore. He will turn it over to someone who can at least counter, if not totally return us from, the Presslerite era.
And second, the culture Ei$ner has set up within the company. In any corporation, or group structure, a certain culture takes shape, FROM THE TOP DOWN. Either through tacit approval or overt action, the head (boss, leader, CEO) sets up the culture. And his subordinates either go along with this culture or they don't stay around very long. In other words, do you really think that an employee of Ei$ner's would, even if given sole administrative responsibility of WDW, actually do anything that he didn't think his boss would approve of? Do you suppose that this person would be oblivious of Ei$ner's business philosophy? I think he would totally understand his job and his position within the company. Simply put, maintain as much as possible, but SHOW A PROFIT!!!!
OK. I haven't told a Walt story in a long time (Alright. No eyeball rolls. It's not very long). I think it may clarify things:
Seems there was a particular time in the building of Disneyland when money was especially tight. Roy was trying his absolute best to keep things under control. The banks were breathing down his neck, business investment were drying up and his personal bank account didn't look much better. While musing about his lot in life on this particular dreary day, he was handed an invoice. The invoice was for a chandelier for one of the fast food restaurants. It cost thousands of dollars. In 1954 it was a small fortune. Roy was fed up. Time to have it out with Brother Walt. He found Walt and went off on him. He told Walt that he'd never sell enough burgers to ever get a pay back. He said that it was frivolous and a waste. Walt, so the story goes, listened and tried to explain that it was his goal to give the guest something that he wouldn't get anywhere else in the world. And if someone, sitting eating his fast food, admired this chandelier and it added to their experience just a little bit, the company would get a bigger payback than could ever be noted on a balance sheet. Roy and Walt didn't talk for weeks after that. But Roy paid for the chandelier.
Now tell me. If Ei$ner's hand picked man did run the parks and when doing some renovations had the audacity to think in Walt's terms, do you really think that Ei$ner would do what Roy did? And do you think that his hand pick "park manager" would be there two months from then?
OK, I'm through for a while. I suddenly have a desire to go to Crown Book Store. The title Quotable Walt Disney keeps going through my head!!!