The West Side of the Kingdom
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Disney’s been in the news quite a bit recently. I couldn’t help but read the account of Michael Eisner and his small group of 20 visiting (with an entourage that large, once can hardly say that it’s a “visit”) Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Florida as featured on LaughingPlace.com a few days ago and laugh to myself. I was particularly bewildered by the portion of the article that described how, when the group was on Jurassic Park: The Ride, they all put on their yellow Mickey Mouse rain ponchos. I’m sorry, but how lame is that? It sounds more like playground antics than a rival company’s CEO enjoying a vacation at someone else’s park! Talk about Mickey Mouse business!
One more Eisner item on the agenda this month; how many of you read his letter to shareholders recently? It’s hefty, and if you read between the lines, it screams, “HERE COME THE BUDGET CUTS!” God bless each and every one of you who work at Disney; fight the good fight and keep your chins up! Me thinks there is a storm coming!
And, in the wake of such an upbeat and positive shareholder letter, Disney’s lost another top executive, Joe Roth. There goes the stock run-up! Turbulent times or just the daily grind in the wonderful world of Disney? You decide. As for me, I am going to sit back now and enjoy being 30 while our favorite theme park begins its 45th Anniversary.
It’s certainly going to be an interesting year for Disney, its employees and supporters. 2000 most likely will be complicated, exciting, disappointing and every other adjective you can imagine. That’s what Disney’s all about - and that mirrors the human spirit completely. It’s all very exhausting, so if you’ll excuse me, I am going to retire to my easy chair, turn down the lights and listen to some classical music while dreaming of flying whales, Noah’s Ark and a certain Sorcerer’s Apprentice…
-- Rick West (January 12, 2000)
Rick West is the publisher/editor-in-chief of Theme Park Adventure Magazine. Through his involvement with that he has been able to meet and interview some of the biggest names - past and present - in Walt Disney Imagineering. Rick draws on those experiences, and his experience in the theme park industry, for The West Side of the Kingdom.
The West Side of the Kingdom is published the second Wednesday of each month.
The opinions expressed by Rick West, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future of Disneyland and the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
©1999 Theme Park Adventure Magazine and LaughingPlace.com. All rights reserved.