What can I do????

[raidermatt]

I'm of the opinion that if you care about something, you should make an effort. If it doesn't work out, at least you can walk away knowing you did what you could. A tremendous lesson for those of us who want our children to become adults who will fight for what they believe in, and not become someone who accepts what anyone else puts on them.

So, if we care about what happens to the Walt Disney Co., what should we do?

Let Roy and Stanley know you support them. Sign the internet petitions, send email to sgold@shamrock.com ... make sure that when Roy or Stanley talk about the "groundswell of support", you are included.

Are you a shareholder?

Let the Disney company know how you feel. Send letters or emails. True, you may not do anything to convince the higher-ups to change, but there are plenty of employees within Disney that want to see Roy and Stanley succeed. If they see a lot of support coming through, it will encourage them to do what they can as well.

When the time comes, vote your shares. You can do it on-line.

Are you a customer?

Let Disney know you're going to express your disapproval of the current regime through purchase decisions. While avoiding a trip to the theme parks would certainly carry weight, other smaller decisions will as well. Don't spend as much on souvenirs, or don't buy any Disney DVDs. Skip that trip to the Disney Store. Whatever, spend your money elsewhere, and ideally, tell Disney about it.

Do you have money in a 401k, or in a mutual fund?

Find out if your fund(s) own Disney stock. Check your annual report, or email or call the fund to ask. If it does, let the firm know who you support. Tell the firm (Dreyfus, Fidelity, etc) that you want the fund manager to know you are not happy with Eisner and support Roy and Stanley. Email, call, or write them a letter.


Write a letter to the editor of your local paper... if it gets published, its free advertising for the cause.

Write a letter or send email to the analysts out there. Let them know what you think. If they're out of touch with what Disney's customers really want, educate them.


I'm not saying that this is the most important cause in the world. Far from it. But if it is a cause you care about, DO SOMETHING.


Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[hopemax]

In the "Are you a customer?" category, it's good to keep in mind that it doesn't have to be an "all or nothing" thing. And it doesn't have to be about depriving your family or yourself. It may be something like watching a Disney video you already own instead of going out to watch a new release at the theater. It may be turning ABC off and playing your copy of Disney Monopoly that you already own with your family instead. It can be about looking at the shelf of Disney videos and deciding that the shelf is full enough, and we don't need to buy Lion King 1 1/2. It could be deciding that the closets and toy chests are full enough.

Not partaking in some current Disney activities, or not making some Disney purchases, doesn't have to mean that you have to give up Disney.

 

[Peter Pirate]

No offense...But how exactly will that help? Big well orchastrated boycotts have never phased Disney how could turning off ABC or not buying a video by single families do anyting other than deprive that single family?

I guess (as Matt said) I am defeatist in this regard because I feel only a big 'stink' is going to work. I'm not against petitions (I've signed one) or speaking your mind with regard to what you've done (or more specifically, what you haven't done and why) at a Resort or Park but for the most part I think not partaking in some aspects of whats offered in protest is merely cutting off your nose to spite your face...

 

[raidermatt]

It all depends what you need to get out of the process in order to feel you have achieved something.

If the only way you will feel better is if the end result is a new CEO, then its a pretty big risk, and you're right, one family not buying LK 1 1/2 isn't going to make that much of a difference. (That's a real title, by the way)

But if you feel that making a small sacrifice for something you believe in is satisfaction in and of itself, and further, you want your children to learn such a lesson, then not buying a box of Mickey Mouse cereal, or another Mickey golf polo, is well worth it no matter what the outcome.

And who knows, maybe one of these times you'll actually make a difference in that outcome.


Let me put it another way...

Do you vote, or think people should vote?

 

[YoHo]

The Voting analogy is perfect.

There are plenty of uneducated blind consumers out there who would take a stand if those of us who are educated and aren't blind took a stand. Organized boycotts like this fail, because there is no groundswell of support, because and no offense to you Peter, people who can only make a microscopic difference choose not to.

Plus, come on, Brother Bear was good and all, but I've got dozens of videos on my shelf that are better.

 

[MiknMinMouse]

That's all fine and dandy, but there are those of us who have planned vacations to WDW who aren't planning on cancelling. My 6 year old daughter could care less if Michael Eisner is CEO, all she knows is that she's going to WDW in January. I think the best route is the letter route. There aren't enough people who will boycott to make a sales boycott really work. Disney will make money.

 

[Peter Pirate]

M&M makes a good point. My kids don't care if Eisner or PeeWee Herman is head of Disney...They only know in this regard from me.

Yes, sometimes examples need to be made and I wholeheatedly agree. I, for one, have boycotted Nike ever since the wage issue came about...Has it made a difference? Not at all, but I feel better...Of course there is no shortage of New Balance for me to buy either.

Further, voting may be a good example, but depending upon which side of the fence you sit it could be argued that voting no longer makes any difference either...I mean the winner doesn't always win anymore, does he???

 

[YoHo]

Well now see the trick there is to not get your chads all in a bunch.............Hey, at this place, that's a pun











off topic, I don't boycott Nike, because what's good for Nike is good for Beaverton Oregon and what's good for Beaverton Oregon is good for me.

 

[WEDWAY100]

Matt,

Thanks for the suggestions. I sent an email expressing my support for a management change. I'll be looking at some of the other ideas you presented as well.

It takes a lot, but you got me off my a**. (Well, not literally; I'm still sitting here).

 

[freediverdude]

What I would like to know is, do you think, or do Roy and Stanley think, that I should cancel my future trips to Disney World? I mean, if this company is really that badly run, then my conscience tells me that I shouldn't go. And with this trip coming up in two weeks, it kind of puts a damper on that trip. For the first time, I feel funny about going. For the first time, I've been asking myself, "should I really spend all this money, when it will just go to line the pockets of board members and not be reinvested in the magic?" What are your opinions? Should I keep going? It's really sad to feel this way.

 

[raidermatt]

Should you still go to WDW?

That's a tough question, depending on your circumstances.

If this is a rare occurence for you, or you have kids who, as MM and PP said, don't know Eisner from a hole in the ground, I can understand why it would be rough to cancel.

Of course, if the issues are important enough to you, this might be a good time for a trip to grandma's house, New York, Hawaii, or wherever.

Certainly there are some things you would not support no matter how much your children might want you to. You just have to decide on whether this is one of those cases.

But even if you are not willing to give up or delay a trip over the current situation, you can still do something. Like I said before, spend less on souvenirs while you're there. Get snacks at an off-property grocery store instead of buying them on property.

Don't buy that Disney DVD you were thinking about, or whatever other Disney product you can do without.

Something else I thought of:

If you have the Disney Visa, keep it in your wallet and use another card. If you've got another rewards card, this shouldn't even be that much of a problem. Then, tell BankOne (as well as Disney) why you aren't using their card anymore.

You have to decide what you are willing to do.

 

[raidermatt]

There aren't enough people who will boycott to make a sales boycott really work. Disney will make money.

Writing letters is great. But if you change some kind of purchase decision, even things like not watching an ABC show, your letter will carry even more weight.

Let's face it, whether any real change is going to occur is dependent first and foremost on what Roy and Stanley put together for a plan. But each and every action we take to support them will give their plan that much more chance of success.

Again, I'm not saying we can change the world here. We're talking about one company. Maybe the only company who truly has FANS, not just customers. What's more, the changes we want are based on a proven business model used by Disney in th past. One the got away from not out of necessity, but out of convenience.

Roy and Stanley are giving us a chance to contribute. I think we should take it.