Disneyland General
Topic: Rhett Wickham: To All Who Come To This Happy Place

#	Author	Message
1	Doobie Mon 9/19/2005 10:23p	This topic is for Discussion of: Rhett Wickham: To All Who Come To This Happy Place
2	TomSawyer Mon 9/19/2005 10:23p	Great column, Rhett. Organizations who lose a truly visionary leader seem to inevitably lose track of what that leader taught. It happens in religion, in government and in corporations. Today's Disney is driven by shareholder value, not by the creativity that once drove the company when Walt and Roy were at the helm. But then that seems to be the way society is going these days - it's about the money and not about the work or the pride of doing a good job. That dedication really doesn't seem to be a reference point for today's management or Imagineers, does it? Those of us who might count as aged are reliving fond memories of our past... but our past in Disneyland. And I don't think that today's youth are finding any place to savor the challenge and promise of the future. I am afraid for the future of this company and this place we love so much, but at least we can say we knew a Frontierland that actually felt like a Frontier, a Tomorrowland that actually looked to the future, and Imagineers that truly created magic.
3	trekkeruss Tue 9/20/2005 12:05a	<<Today's Disney is driven by shareholder value, not by the creativity that once drove the company when Walt and Roy were at the helm.>> Ultimately all companies are driven by profit motivations. I am certain though that there is still plenty of creativity happening within the WDC. <<But then that seems to be the way society is going these days - it's about the money and not about the work or the pride of doing a good job.>> Sometimes I think this myself, but assuming most LPer's take pride in their work and do a good job (raise your hand if you do) , I would have to conclude that most people really do more than work for money alone. <<That dedication really doesn't seem to be a reference point for today's management or Imagineers, does it?>> While the company has made some blunders in the recent past, I won't say that these people are any less dedicated to bringing me joy and inspiration. <<I am afraid for the future of this company and this place we love so much>> I am not.
4	Just Peachy Tue 9/20/2005 8:34p	Isolation, non-sustainable growth, and exclusion seem to prevail within the current Walt Disney Company leadership. To me, this dedication sign embraces the new, and unknown, while mindful, and utilizing the past. Such chemistry creates what has never been imagined before, and it takes instinct, faith and vision to know that the new path is right. It takes risk, great risk, to forge a new path to conclusion. Faith requires also requires respect of self and fellow workers, or a dream can't be realized. Current leadership excludes and isolates, shows no trust or faith in employees. Leadership among the common, takes faith and embracing many perspectives to see what works the best. I cannot recall the last time the Walt Disney Company forged a new path, hocked up to its neck, leveraged to the edge of sanity to embrace, and imagineer the new, unknown and untried. I am so glad I heard Harrison "Buzz" Price at the NFFC Convention, and read his book, "Walt's Revolution". It seems that non sustainable growth options were always included as optional feasibility studies. Walt Disney never chose those non-sustainable, limited potential, optional paths, but I believe current leadership does. I think if any of the current Walt Disney Company leadership read the Dedication Plaque aloud, it would sound hollow and meanlingless to any audience. I think that is why only the Diane Disney Miller, and the original recording was played during the 50th Anniversary festivities. I hope that someday, Rhett writes a column, 'what's old is what's new' that Walt's faith, embracing nature and vision, returned to the leadership of the Walt Disney Company.
5	Jim Tue 9/27/2005 2:52p	Like the Bob Thomas biography, I think Walt Disney was an original. It's hard to criticize someone for not being Walt Disney . . . but I don't think its hard to criticize someone for not being original. Part of me is very sad in reading your column, Rhett, because it reminds me that much of what made Disney magical is gone. And those who run the company are so distant from that originality and vision that they are operating from a third generation dupilication. If Internet rumors are true that MBAs want RAPUNZEL to have more SHREK-like humor, to me, that is an example of the sad loss of the magic of Walt Disney . . . that his visionary studio of art and entertainment would be reduced to chasing other artist's visions. That isn't to say that there aren't a lot of great things going on at Disney. I think the Disney live-action output of the recent years, for example, has been examplary and the closest to Walt's vision today as could be. While I'm sad hand-drawn animation is on the outs, I am excited that CHICKEN LITTLE is coming out. I think even the daring qualities of ATLANTIS, TREASURE PLANET, and BROTHER BEAR (all films I loved) are exciting in expanding boundaries. When I was younger, I never really cared about Walt Disney himself, but as I got older, I realized that the rare qualities of his films, art, and other adventures (like Disneyland) are linked directly to his vision and talent. And I think a lot of that came from his lack of education and his small town simplicity. Perhaps he lacked the education to know that the roads on the map are the only paths, that having vision implies the ability to follow the person walking ahead of you, and that it's best to leave having dreams to the eight hours when you can't remember them.

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