Roy kisses and makes up with Disney

[Ghoulish Delight]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8513961/

The company said Friday it has named former director Roy E. Disney as a director emeritus and a consultant.

In exchange, Roy Disney and ex-board member Stanley Gold have agreed not to run a challenge slate of directors or submit shareholder resolutions for the next five years. The two also pledged to back the leadership of Robert Iger, who succeeds longtime chief executive Michael Eisner in September.

Does this seem kinda hollow to anyone else? Once again, this shows none of the dramatic promise that "SaveDisney" hinted at through all of this. The whole time, as one deadline after another passed with no definitive move from Roy, it was always, "Be patient, he's just picking his spot." And this is the end result? Feh, seems pathetic to me.

[Name]

looks like he was just jockeying for a position in the company and nothing more. Nothing but a charade to get a position of some sense of power back in the company. A mask of selflessness to cover the selfish desire to just have a position within the company. IMNSHO.

[flippyshark]

*sigh*

I was afraid of this.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Position? What position? "We'll listen to you, but you can't actually do anything." Even if his goal was a selfish attempt to climb the ladder, he failed at that too.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

:( :mad: :(

Oh well. Things are better at Disneyland now. That's all I really care about, in the end.

[Name]

I didn't say, or mean to imply it was a brilliant move, just that it appears that he was looking to get any hold of the company he could, as meager as it may be. Poorly played as it may be, he doesn't even have them by the little toe, he got nothing from the looks of it.

[Prudence]

I've long wondered what his actual motivation or objective was.

A cynical part of me says that he was pissed off at being kicked off the board of a company that bears his name.

In which case, this solution suits everyone perfectly.

[Gn2Dlnd]

I'm not sure what anyone was expecting. Eisner's on his way out due to pressure from Roy and Stanley, Disneyland sparkles again, Space Mt. is open and a success long earlier than originally planned, etc. Public opinion and scrutiny is what SaveDisney brought to the table. We may even see Iger fix things with Pixar. Which, of course, would leave people scratching their heads and saying, "That was it?"

Roy Disney vs. Michael Eisner on Celebrity Deathmatch would have possibly been a more satisfying resolution, but I'll take the increased public pressure causing the company to make changes as good enough.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm not sure what anyone was expecting. SaveDisney had VERY high goals and screamed them from the rooftops. Ousting Eisner IMMEDIATELY, getting rid of the board as well, not dumping hand-drawn animation depts, fixing the problems in merchandising, no more cheap sequels, etc etc. I'd agree that they brought forward enough pressure to push Eisner to not renew his contract, but Iger as his replacement and no turn over on the board is definitely not a victory.

[innerSpaceman]

Feh, it looks to me that Walt was right after all about his opinion of his nephew.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The wholesale changes necessary to give me confidence that this is a permanent, or at least long-lived turn around were never accomplished. Yes, they've slapped a nice coat of paint on the park, but all we've got for the future is vague promises of revived old attractions. With Eisner Jr. in charge, and no significant change in how the board runs, I have no reason to be confident that the money will be put up for much needed new and original attractions. The state of 2D animation remains nill. Straight to video shlock is still top priority.

Roy's stated goal: "to restore Disney to its position as the preeminent entertainment company in the world." His result? A shiny new paint job. Color me a skeptic, but he went out with a whimper.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

You know, I think Roy just wanted to be present on DL's bday.
http://savedisney.com/red_message.asp
I think the guests arriving for the big celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary will be generally delighted with what they find, especially if they haven't been there in a few years.

Having been present on Opening Day, July 17, 1955, it will be sad for me not to be around for this momentous piece of history, and certainly this July I'll feel a pretty strong pang of nostalgia.

[Not Afraid]

May take on it is that, it's easier to foster change from the inside than battling from the outside. I'm not sure Roy and Stan's "outside" tactics were all that successful. So, on to Plan 2.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Yes, they've slapped a nice coat of paint on the park, but all we've got for the future is vague promises of revived old attractions.

You are kidding, right?

The Teacups called, they want their spin back.

[Ghoulish Delight]

More like plan 8 or 9. For 3 years it's been, "That wasn't the right opportunity, we'll get them next time." Ever since the "revolt", he's been floundering. Disney turned the tables on him, throwing him a bone every once in a while ("Okay, Eisner will leave in a little bit, just give him a minute to pack his things, empty the fridge, take some money from mom's wallet, and find a clone to replace him") and pat him on the head. All the while, the same group of bottom line, short sighted thinkers are on the board and still want the same thing...short sighted, short term, bottom line numbers. Roy had every opportunity to take action and change that, but he didn't. He wrote letters and hoped it would change itself.

[wendybeth]

I just got home from work and haven't had any time to really read about this, but the e-mail from SaveDisney left me with a negative impression. Then again, I agree with Gn2- a lot has been done, but there is still a lot more to do. And what about Iger? :rolleyes: I'll sort out my feelings on the matter later, but initially I feel that Roy and Stan dropped the ball, sold out, whatever you want to call it. I am disappointed.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sold out like a Madonna concert in West Hollywood.

Wow.

:(

[flippyshark]

More like plan 8 or 9.

"Plan Nine... that would be the resurrection of the dead."

John "Bunny" Breckinridge

[Hades]

The state of 2D animation remains nill. Straight to video shlock is still top priority.

So true GD, but given the current state of the box office, it may be the most profitable road to go. Disney is and will always be about profit margin, as much as we would like it not to be. :rolleyes:

[Gn2Dlnd]

From the New York Times -

The timing of the reconciliation seemed just right. In a recent posting to his Web site, Mr. Disney had expressed nostalgia that he would not be attending the 50th-anniversary celebration of Disneyland. He had been there on opening day, July 17, 1955.

Though Mr. Disney would now be welcome to attend, he has already made other plans for the day. He will be participating in a yacht race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

The Commodore, however, will be attending in Roy's stead. Having been banned from any yacht races involving actual seacraft. Toot!

[Kevy Baby]

Having been banned from any yacht races involving actual seacraft. Toot!And I think we all agree that is in the best interests of everyone.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Great. He can't even dump his stupid yacht thing to be there.

Screw Roy.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Great. He can't even dump his stupid yacht thing to be there.

Screw Roy.Umm, can't really fault him for that. He made a commitment, and has been part of that "stupid yacht thing" for years. It be pretty petty of him to just up and back out a week before someone's event that they put a lot of effort into after promising to be there.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Interesting article at MP today.
http://www.mouseplanet.com/dan/bm050714mg.htm

Perhaps we'll all be happier about Roy's "performance" via Save Disney when we look back on it in 5 years.

[mhrc4]

time for a militaristic coup....

[TigerLily]

yep, it was all about money and position...oh well.