Peter Pirate
Its not the end of civilization...But you can see
- Joined
- Dec 19, 1999
- Messages
- 2,656
I had the privilage to meet and talk to a retired (20 years) employee of WDI. It was a meeting by happenstance and he requested that I not use his name here for reasons that were not clear to me. Let me add here that he was thrilled with his association with Disney for so many years.
Anyway, the conversation got interesting when I broached the subject of Michael Eisner not being the most popular guy anymore and that perhaps someone with more imagination should be in charge. I was quite diplomatic and low key in my comment but it darn near ended our talk there and then.
He went on to tell me how Eisner saved the Company (which most of us acknowledge) and how there was a very strong contingent in the previous administration to sell Disney off piecemeal. Further, he added that he was impressed by Eisner's personality and (listen up) love of the Company. He said that many of the old timers (this was in the late 80's) talked about how great it was to see a "boss" who went to DL and met the people. This gentleman told me he witnessed Michael out talking to famlies at DL more times than he could remember. The oldtimers said Eisner was the first since Walt to do this, according to my new friend.
At this time I brought up the subjct of the highly publicized mistakes and we talked of Katzenburg and Ovitz. He admitted Ovitz was a huge mistake from day one. He admitted that Katzenburg had talent but also had the penchant for stabbing you in the back when you weren't looking. He actually called Katzenberg a "petty and truly unlikable person". He had seen many instances of divisivness from Katzenberg and stated that the "section" he worked in feared for the Company when it appeared he may be next in line.
We then talked about Frank Wells. He told me he was the true genius of the two some (Eisner and Wells) and that Michael has never gotten over his death (they were more than just collegues). He recalled the day Frank was killed and spoke of the tears shed all around and in fact got a little "tight" speaking with me. He reiterated the effect he thinks this has had on Eisner.
He shared with me his understaning that Disney has been "troubled for the past "5 or 6 years" (his comment) but he remains optimistc that it will turn around. He remained firm that Michael Eisner is "a good man" and that most people simply don't understand the "breadth of the company and the impossibility of running it."
I realize this will carry very little weight here. After all it was one conversation between strangers (but I got his name and was able to verify who he was). I learned some things that I doubted previously and I have no doubt as to this gentlemans appreciation for Disney. It could be true that he's just a happy retiree loking back at his 'good ole days', but he really wasn't that old (had just put in his 20) and struck me as very intelligent but I also gathered his working knowledge of Disney was a bit dated. Further, I realize that some of the feelings he has for current management came from different places and times and this VERY WELL may be relevent but I still found it interesting to talk with this man and I am certainly glad that I did.
I'm not trying to start a big debate or change anyones feeling on current management. Heck, the conversation didn't change my feeling towards the mistakes of the past few years either. I'm just passing along some things I found interesting from a personal conversaton because I thought some of you might be interested as well.
Anyway, the conversation got interesting when I broached the subject of Michael Eisner not being the most popular guy anymore and that perhaps someone with more imagination should be in charge. I was quite diplomatic and low key in my comment but it darn near ended our talk there and then.
He went on to tell me how Eisner saved the Company (which most of us acknowledge) and how there was a very strong contingent in the previous administration to sell Disney off piecemeal. Further, he added that he was impressed by Eisner's personality and (listen up) love of the Company. He said that many of the old timers (this was in the late 80's) talked about how great it was to see a "boss" who went to DL and met the people. This gentleman told me he witnessed Michael out talking to famlies at DL more times than he could remember. The oldtimers said Eisner was the first since Walt to do this, according to my new friend.
At this time I brought up the subjct of the highly publicized mistakes and we talked of Katzenburg and Ovitz. He admitted Ovitz was a huge mistake from day one. He admitted that Katzenburg had talent but also had the penchant for stabbing you in the back when you weren't looking. He actually called Katzenberg a "petty and truly unlikable person". He had seen many instances of divisivness from Katzenberg and stated that the "section" he worked in feared for the Company when it appeared he may be next in line.
We then talked about Frank Wells. He told me he was the true genius of the two some (Eisner and Wells) and that Michael has never gotten over his death (they were more than just collegues). He recalled the day Frank was killed and spoke of the tears shed all around and in fact got a little "tight" speaking with me. He reiterated the effect he thinks this has had on Eisner.
He shared with me his understaning that Disney has been "troubled for the past "5 or 6 years" (his comment) but he remains optimistc that it will turn around. He remained firm that Michael Eisner is "a good man" and that most people simply don't understand the "breadth of the company and the impossibility of running it."
I realize this will carry very little weight here. After all it was one conversation between strangers (but I got his name and was able to verify who he was). I learned some things that I doubted previously and I have no doubt as to this gentlemans appreciation for Disney. It could be true that he's just a happy retiree loking back at his 'good ole days', but he really wasn't that old (had just put in his 20) and struck me as very intelligent but I also gathered his working knowledge of Disney was a bit dated. Further, I realize that some of the feelings he has for current management came from different places and times and this VERY WELL may be relevent but I still found it interesting to talk with this man and I am certainly glad that I did.
I'm not trying to start a big debate or change anyones feeling on current management. Heck, the conversation didn't change my feeling towards the mistakes of the past few years either. I'm just passing along some things I found interesting from a personal conversaton because I thought some of you might be interested as well.
I was just pointing out how lucky I was to meet so many of you's. If I'd wanted to be insulting I would have said "lawyers", but I'm certain the Mod's would have deleted my post and maybe banned my IP addy.
I'll be the first to agree, Eisn$r did a great deal to help disney, originally, back in the mid 80's to early 90's, but now he is just looking out for Eisn$ and taking as much as he can. On every single visit to WDW , {30 this year} We strike up conversations with CM's, well over a hundred of them, and have yet to hear a positive comment on the boss. And this includes the "shirts and ties"as well. 
