What Would Walt Think?

[Enjoying Life]

With the huge financial success that Disney has become, I wonder if what Walt would think. What drove him more; art or money?

 

[Happitoo]

He'd probably think "How do I get myself one of those Scrooge McDuck money vaults to swim in" followed by "holy cow I'm old" and then "why am I just a frozen disembodied head"

 

[larryz]

I think Walt is speaking to me through my MagicBand right now... and he's happy his company is doing so well, but he plans to visit Bob Iger on Christmas Eve along with three friends from the Haunted Mansion...

 

[danny1649]

He would kick Mr.Iger right in the butt , then send someone to nearest golf course to find surgeon to remove his foot.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

You know, we ask ourselves this a lot while wandering Disney World. Here is our consensus.

1. Rides like Tower of Terror and Kilamanjaro Safari would blow him away.
2. Some of his originals sure have withstood the test of time.
3. Disney sure is a profitable place.
4. Epcot didn't meet his expectations (although I'm not sure anything would have).
5. We don't think he would have a problem at all with things like FP+. After all, he was always trying to push the technological envelope.

 

[epcotty]

He would like that it was profitable but would probably take issue with some of the ways the executives are employing to increase profit (far outpacing inflation, closing attractions/entertainment w/o replacements for a long time, considering possible tiering, etc). I think art drove him more

 

[minnie mum]

Who knows what Walt would think if he was still alive. Peoples views and values change over time and with experience and with the changes in the society in which they live.

And if he was alive today, I wonder if he would even be a part of the mega corp that bears his name. Given the focus of the executives at the top only for the bottom line, I think he might well have been forced out of the company long ago. Plenty of precedent for visionary company founders who have been forced out of their own companies by greedy boards.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

From everything I've read, he was driven by art, but recognized the need for money to pay for the art he wanted. I think he'd be blown away, but would have a thousand new ideas for improvement.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

You know, we ask ourselves this a lot while wandering Disney World. Here is our consensus.

1. Rides like Tower of Terror and Kilamanjaro Safari would blow him away.
2. Some of his originals sure have withstood the test of time.
3. Disney sure is a profitable place.
4. Epcot didn't meet his expectations (although I'm not sure anything would have).
5. We don't think he would have a problem at all with things like FP+. After all, he was always trying to push the technological envelope.

Great answer. I think we DISers are too quick to canonize Walt Disney. He was a man, a businessman, not Jesus Christ.

 

[PSUGuy]

Early in his career as a cartoonist Walt lost the rights to a character he created due to lack of business savvy. He became more business oriented after that and his brother was also pretty sharp. I suspect Walt melded the concern for money with the desire to preserve control over his artistic creations, one leads to the other.

Bill From PA

 

[GreatLakes]

Walt had an ego so I think knowing his company has become a nearly $50 billion dollar multi-national corporation would probably make him quite happy. Had he lived I do believe the Florida property would have looked very different, and that could mean better or worse, but he didn't so there is no use in speculating on the specifics.

I really never understood the "What would Walt think" sentiment. The company was run with the "What would Walt think" mantra after his death and it didn't do very well. It was in real danger of a hostile takeover and being stripped down for parts. The companies that remain after the death of the founder really need to untie themselves from that legacy quickly to continue to grow IMO. I have never heard "What would John Pemberton think" when Coke does something or "William Procter would be spinning in his grave" when a new scent of Tide is rolled out. Why do we project Walt in such a way?

All just my opinion of course.