http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B549461DC%2DC5C2%2D4700%2D885B%2 D0C954E4AC657%7D&siteid=google

QuikQuote: In past years under former Chief Executive Michael Eisner the company was more guarded in its comments. On Friday, Iger seemed willing to mix candor with charm as he addressed the crowd. One shareholder asked Iger whether he would consider adding a third "gate", or theme park, next to Disneyland and the troubled California Adventure, which opened in 2001.

"We're still working to assure the second gate is successful", Iger said, referring to California Adventure. "In the spirit of candor, we have been challenged."

Disney often has been criticized for shortchanged the facility when it was built, leaving park goers unenthusiastic. It and the company's European park are considered the least successful in the company's chain.

Chatted with Russ on my way out. I have a feeling that everybody is going to be writing similar stories this year.

What DH and I loved was the extra clip of Pixar's Cars shown at the meeting. That was a special treat and was truly hysterical! Also special was the sneak peek at Ratatouille, the next picture being worked in by Pixar. That looks cute, too! The whole first part, the show, if you will, was really well put together, I thought, and is really what this company does well.

Afterwards we went to GCH for lunch at Storyteller's and as we walked in, walking in behind us were Roy and Patty along with another gentleman. I walked in first and DH held the door for them. I sooo didn't see them until after I put our name in. Then I turned around and lo and behold, there was Roy Disney right behind me! Took me by surprise! As he stepped up the hostess asked his party name to which he replied "Disney" and she flushed quick, she had no idea who he was!

There were quite a few parties of folks from the meeting there having lunch by the time we left.

We said hello and mentioned we had just come from the meeting, too, and thanked him profussly for everything he's done, EVERYTHING! We chatted amiably for a couple of minutes and when the hostess called our name to be seated, I said "Oh, please, take Mr. Disney and his party first." He smiled at us and and said "Thank you."

It was totally cool!

We said hello and mentioned we had just come from the meeting, too, and thanked him profussly for everything he's done, EVERYTHING! We chatted amiably for a couple of minutes and when the hostess called our name to be seated, I said "Oh, please, take Mr. Disney and his party first." He smiled at us and and said "Thank you."

That is soooo cool Karin :) -- what a great memory to take away from the day. And how embarassing that the CM didn't know who he was -- I mean he looks A LOT like Uncle Walt....

We chatted amiably for a couple of minutes and when the hostess called our name to be seated, I said "Oh, please, take Mr. Disney and his party first." He smiled at us and and said "Thank you."

And then the classy thing for him to do would have been to INSIST that you be seated first, for two reasons. One, you were in front of his party, after all. Two, you are actual guests of what is, in some small sense, his company. For him to slip in front of you, even by invitation, is rude and shows a lack of class.

And then the classy thing for him to do would have been to INSIST that you be seated first, for two reasons. One, you were in front of his party, after all. Two, you are actual guests of what is, in some small sense, his company. For him to slip in front of you, even by invitation, is rude and shows a lack of class.

I have to strongly disagree! In my etiquette training, after someone has Thanked You for things you have done and then offers some small gesture such as exactly Karin H-L did:

and thanked him profussly for everything he's done, EVERYTHING! We chatted amiably for a couple of minutes and when the hostess called our name to be seated, I said "Oh, please, take Mr. Disney and his party first." He smiled at us and and said "Thank you."

...it would have IMHO been rude of him not to accept the gesture. I would bet my bottom dollar he would have been more than happy to wait for the next table, but I bet he knew how happy it would make Karin H-L to feel like she had done him some small kindness for all he had done.

Which, I might point out...is exactly how it made her feel!

And that...IMHO...is true class and old-school "good breeding" all the way!

Further it should be pointed out that he arrived and put in his name just like anyone else would, when he very easily could have simply made a formal request or phone call, and been escorted in VIP style ahead of everyone else! I think this also goes very much to that old-school "It's a privilege to wait in line with our Guests" philosophy of Walt's, and is another indication of true class.

:)

Damn, now I wish we had gone to Storyteller's for lunch.

It was way cool!

I agree that I think we would've felt a little let down if he hadn't accepted our offer to be seated before us. We were trying in some way to thank him for all his hard work with the company and this was a very small way of showing our individual thanks.

IMHO the man doesn't have a classless bone in his body. If he had refused our gesture to be seated first, I probably would've reiterated our insistence that they be seated first.

Besides, we got a fairly crappy table next to a computer station and I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if we'd been seated first and they'd have gotten that table.

It's kinda cool to say "We gave up our table for Roy Disney."

I could only listen in to the webcast.

I've been listening to the webcasts of the Disney Shareholder's Meeting for the past three years. It's always disappointing, and amusing too, that whenever the Disney executives start discussing, or showing, proprietary intellectual property, on the webcast they start playing Disney music instead with announcements they'll rejoin the shareholders' meeting shortly. It's maddening when you want to hear all the information, including hearing audio of movie previews, yet for legal reasons they must switch away. Yet the music they choose includes "Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test..." It's frustrating and funny at the same time, but I do understand they don't want all their secrets out.

I missed Evelyn this year, a shareholder activist who makes a point to go to a lot of companies' meetings and raise points to be put to votes. The management of Disney was very kind to allow an issue to be brought up even though she couldn't make it to this year's meeting. I hope she's OK. When you merely hear her speak (via webcast audio) and you're not there to see the whole context, she comes across as, um, very interesting and amusing.

In the questions and answers afterward I was very very disappointed to hear that Robert Iger is not considering releasing "Song of the South" to home video this year. I believe, according to a fan site/advocacy website about this film, this year would have been the 60th anniversary year of this charming movie with such great music. Iger cited some sensitivity he has about how the movie would be received in contemporary times, even when it's historic context is explained to audiences. He's never saying never, so there is some hope. However, that one Q & A disappointed me in Mr. Iger a great deal.

Otherwise, I think generally Mr. Iger and company sounded the notes that Disney fans have been wanting to hear. He seems forward thinking regarding technology and keeping Disney titles and characters alive in those formats. He seems like he truly wants to restore Disney to what it had been, particularly in feature animation and putting Disneyland as the crown jewel of the theme parks.

And it sounds like John Lasseter is so passionate about the possibilities that are coming up in his role at Disney that the emotion just poured from his voice and between the lines. I truly believe Walt Disney's guiding spirit is within John Lasseter, not like reincarnation but Lasseter clearly understands the rationales that went behind the creative legacy of the parks and movies, and he can bring Walt's spirit and rationales into the 21st century while keeping it all humane and reaching audiences' emotions.

And that meeting only lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes or so! Compared to the last couple, when Michael Eisner was CEO and being challenged the last two years, it was like an affection fest going on inside the convention hall.

You can still listen to the audio of the Annual Meeting online, at the Disney Investor's section of the official Disney website. They will remove the audio shortly though, so it's up only for a limited timeframe after the meeting.

And that meeting only lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes or so! Compared to the last couple, when Michael Eisner was CEO and being challenged the last two years, it was like an affection fest going on inside the convention hall.


well, 2.5 hours of broadcast, and 2 hours before waiting, all sitting on the floor of the pond with just a thin sheet of insulation and carpet between you and the ice..

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR

well, 2.5 hours of broadcast, and 2 hours before waiting, all sitting on the floor of the pond with just a thin sheet of insulation and carpet between you and the ice..

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I was only on the floor until Staggs started speaking, at which point the cameras had to go away. So I went back up to the press booth and my laptop for the rest of the meeting. It was a little warmer up there.

I was only on the floor until Staggs started speaking, at which point the cameras had to go away. So I went back up to the press booth and my laptop for the rest of the meeting. It was a little warmer up there.

i guess i was numb from the cold and did not think about that..... :rolleyes:

Very cool story. I really hope to make it to one of the shareholder meeting someday.