Why is Eisner so bad for Disney?

[SoCalKDG]

Interesting. It looks like he did a good job for the first 15 years, but then has done a poor job the last 5 years, based on the opinions here.

It should also be noted that a Pixar-Disney deal is still pending.

Funny everyone complains about the new parks, but they still keep packing them in. The WDW parks are the top 4 parks around in attendance(thus dollars as well since Disney charges more than its competitors). Even DCA is in the top 10 after a couple years, and is increasing its business.

While the summer movies were flops in the U.S., both 80 days and Arthur are doing well in the rest of the world.

Profits are up dramatically this year as well.

Changes in leadership were also made for the California parks, and most people were happy with that.

It looks like Eisner should have kept a creative force as an equal at Disney in order to keep Disney balanced. It also looks like he changed his thinking a bit after the board meeting votes.

 

[Chicago526]

Originally posted by grinningghost
Before Nemo, think about the stinkers that Disney put out - Atlantis, Treasure Planet, hordes of direct-to-video junk sequels, and on and on. It's like the creative engines have all stopped running.

Hey, I LOVED Treasure Planet, it's one of my favs! And my brother loved Atlantis, he said it's the best Disney movie he's seen in a while (I've not seen it)!

I've been neutral on Eisner. He's done good and bad, the economy and 9/11 haven't helped, and there ARE a whole bunch of other board members, too. He doesn't work in a vacuum!

 

[diznygirl]

Other board members? They are all appointed by Eisner and are friends and associates of Eisner. Do you know he actually appointed his kid's teacher as a board member? These guys don't vote against Mike.

The lack of diversity on the board is one of Roy's biggest peeves. That and the fact that Disney closed the Feature Animation department in Florida (Roy was head of animation). The "powers that be" at Disney - Eisner - decided that computer animation was the way of the future and that the Florida department was basically obsolete. (Thank goodness a lot of these animators have gone on and started their own companies).

Meanwhile, the computer animation that is the way of the future is not even Disney's - it's Pixar's. And that deal should be a done deal by now, but Eisner's high-folutin' attitude killed it in the eyes of Pixar owner Steve Jobs.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I don't care for him. I've read the stuff on Roy's site and other places and I was a Disney Store CM for a short time and heard alot about the days before Eisner ran the stores into the ground and cut the cm's Disney benefits so much (they are a joke now), but mostly its just my own feelings on what I've seen of Disney (based on DisneyLand and the movies and merchandise) compared to how I've always remembered it. I don't think what its been becoming is what Walt envisioned. Whether thats Eisner causing that or not, the CEO should prevent it. But I'm scared about him getting replaced because one of the top people who keeps getting named as his possible replacement (even in the news today) is the CEO at dh's company. That CEO has done wonderful things for us and we don't wanna lose him!!!

 

[AnnetteF]

I absolutely agree with everything that has been said here. Michael Eisner doesn't have a creative bone in his body and his cost cutting and price gouging of the public are a direct conflict of Walt Disney's basic philosophy. Whatever Walt did (whether it was movies or the park attractions or whatever) he wanted to do it right and make it as wonderful and amazing as it could possibly be. His feeling was that in the end, the project would be successful because they made it so great. He really went out on a limb when making Snow White and again when building Disneyland, even taking a mortgage on his own home, I believe. He proved all of the doubters wrong when those projects were such great successes. Everything that Eisner does looks as if it was done very cheaply and as if someone said "it'll be good enough". Many parks have several old attractions that are no longer operating or are operating "Seasonally" and it is so sad. I also agree with the post about how they have abandoned the Audio Animatronics attractions. I think these were something that set Disney apart from other theme parks and am so sad that we see so few new attractions that feature them. I like a few of the recent attractions and I dislike others (Journey into Imagination with Figment first comes to mind) but when was the last time they did an attraction that was not a thrill ride and that created the sensation that Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean did? The Disney parks are still wonderful to visit and are a very unique vacation experience but I have been going almost every year since it opened and each year I see that quality has dropped a little more. I also have to say that it irritates me when Eisner does introductions to the Disney televison shows and movies like Walt used to. As if he could replace Walt. Ridiculous!

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I asked the same question on another thread. Under his time at Disney more resort rooms have been added, 2 new parks, I think the water parks and DTD, some of the best movies like Toy Story 1&2, the Lion king and the Little Mermaid have come out, and Disney Cruise Line was launched.

The responses I got were mostly gave me the impression that people think he did okay at first, but over the last few years has done too much cost cutting and it is ruining the quality of the parks, and films.

At least that's how I took the responses.

That's funny cuz that's how I always looked at it. I've been going to WDW since I was 2 yrs old and now my DH and I own a share of the DVC. I truly feel it is because of Eisner that I have been able to afford and become a part of the magic. I am grateful for all that he has done. And I believe the magic is still there.

On the other hand, it is interesting to read all of your posts on this subject matter. I hear how much everyone hates him so, and I never could understand why. I am beginning to understand why, and it is sad to see the 20,000 League area underutilized and the Dinosaur area so junky and the animatronics being neglected (probably a result of our youth looking for bigger, better, faster rides).

I do believe many corporations were hit hard after 9/11 and that many of them made cutbacks and such, not only WDW. That is very sad, but if it is done in an effort to survive, I'd rather the company as a whole pull through the tough times until it can afford to enhance the benefits again once the tourism industry picks up. I know I know, he probably paid himself a big salary during that time.

Anyway, thanks for the information. This thread is quite interesting.

 

[Feralpeg]

Not everyone feels that way about Eisner. The disenters tend to be louder.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
Not everyone feels that way about Eisner. The disenters tend to be louder.

That's refreshing to know.