Michael Eisner's been given an ultimatum: improve the bottom line in a year.

He can't do this with strategy, he has to do this with deep cuts.

The first to go, today, was nearly the entire R&D team in Burbank, California.

Oh my goodness -- this is such tragic news... and so short-sighted! :(

[BTW if you have anything more you'd like to share, feel free to post it here or contact Al directly at al@mouseplanet.com.]

Originally posted by Lani
[BTW if you have anything more you'd like to share, feel free to post it here or contact Al directly at al@mouseplanet.com.]

I'd love to tell Al a thing or two. I just sent him an email asking him to contact me.



[Mod. note: Fixed vBcode in quoted material. -- Andrew]

*major sigh* why is that I have this yucky feeling in the pit of my stomach that this year is NOT going to be pretty for the important parts that keep Disney DISNEY...and then in the end whomever they find to replace Uncle Mike is going to have even more damage to repair :crying: :crying: :crying:

...going to have an amazing eBay sale! ;-)

LOL PM me the link since we aren't supposed to 'Advertise" on here :)

This is an extremely bad idea. No long-term vision in this move, just a way to make numbers on paper. What an idiot.

On another note:
Originally posted by mammasilva
LOL PM me the link since we aren't supposed to 'Advertise" on here :)

Me too please! :)

...about the eBay sale! I just have a house full of Disney crap, and I don't want to look at it anymore.

Originally posted by RealDisneyLegend
...about the eBay sale! I just have a house full of Disney crap, and I don't want to look at it anymore.

Big tease! ;)

Sorry to hear about the bad news though. Like I said above, such a stupid decision. Innovation and new ideas are what Imagineering is all about! Firing your R&D department is like sentencing your company to a slow death. :(

Originally posted by RealDisneyLegend
...about the eBay sale! I just have a house full of Disney crap, and I don't want to look at it anymore.

Oh, geeze, I thought you were serious. I've done several consignment lots for ex-Imagineers who just can't stand to live with Disney any more. I get all kinds of strange phone calls whenever the layoffs happen.

(Anybody want a real Mr. Toad car? That was one of the more interesting items I've been offered recently)

AVP

I don't even know what to say to this. The depth of his stupidity and shortsightedness knows no limits.

Could he simply be being spiteful? I mean, maybe he sees the writing on the wall, knows that he's used up every ounce of creative decission making he ever had, and is well aware that he has no chance of being around in a year, so why not screw over the company that has made him independantly wealthy in his death throws :rolleyes: This is the only reasonable (if you can call it that) explanation I can think of. Because even if it does work, and he does increase profitability in the short term, he can't possibly be stupid enough to think he can continue with no R&D, can he? Or am I giving him too much credit?

Do we even know if this is true?

-Jeff

Originally posted by JeffG
Do we even know if this is true?

-Jeff Good point. I did question it, but Lani's response kind of validated it for me (I don't know why, but somehow when a moderator accepts it as fact, I do. Probably a dangerous policy ;) ). Can anyone post any link to a story? Some sort of proof?

Sorry I can't go into details but trust me guys this story is true :(

Originally posted by mammasilva
Sorry I can't go into details but trust me guys this story is true :( I figured. Normally when someone posts something like this with absolutely nothing to substantiate it, the mods are all over it, urging some proof. When Lani just responded with Al's email address, I assumed there was some "in the know" stuff going on.

Sad, sad thing to hear.

Originally posted by Ghoulish Delight
Could he simply be being spiteful? I mean, maybe he sees the writing on the wall, knows that he's used up every ounce of creative decission making he ever had, and is well aware that he has no chance of being around in a year, so why not screw over the company that has made him independantly wealthy in his death throws.

I think you're on to something, Goulish. Judging from how he's been shredding things over the last few years, it doesn't surprise me at all that he's pulled such an asinine act. I mean, especially with the 50th coming up, what sense does getting rid of R&D make? Considering all the rumors going around that they're secretly shopping for a successor, I think he's aware that the writing is on the wall.

If they let him stick around for a year to "make things better", he's going to tear the company apart so that it's an even bigger mess for a successor to clean up... if there's anything left when he's done.

Not only is this sad news shortsighted for the immediate future, it does not bode well for the future of the company - even without Eisner. A company with the type of layoff history that Disney has has a hard time attracting new, quality employees - if and when they are ready to repair the damage. Look at how many animators jumped the Disney ship and have gone on to other things. Some of these people are irriplacable. I know that, in general, the entire business environment has changed. The concept on company loyality has gone. But the rammifications seem HUGE in this case.

It is very, very sad.

I'm not going to belive this until I hear it from a legitimate news source.

Oh, man....:(

Originally posted by zedizdead
I'm not going to belive this until I hear it from a legitimate news source. Well, others might not agree, but many consider Al Lutz (http://www.mouseplanet.com/al/docs/update.htm) a legitimate news source. While he is definitely opinionated and expresses those opinions early and often, his facts are always factual. So there ya' go.

Originally posted by Ghoulish Delight
Well, others might not agree, but many consider Al Lutz (http://www.mouseplanet.com/al/docs/update.htm) a legitimate news source. While he is definitely opinionated and expresses those opinions early and often, his facts are always factual. So there ya' go.

Ehh, I don't recall too many 'legit' news-sources mumbling under their breath about the 'carnie' rides, or some such nonsense of the day..

I think he reports information, but it's a stretch to call it a 'legitimate news source'.

Thomas

Originally posted by mrcoffee
Ehh, I don't recall too many 'legit' news-sources mumbling under their breath about the 'carnie' rides, or some such nonsense of the day..

I think he reports information, but it's a stretch to call it a 'legitimate news source'.

Thomas Ooookay, let's put it this way. Mouseplanet is considered a legitimate news source. Al Lutz is a contributing member. Even the New York Times has editorial columnists. His information is accurate, and his sources reliable. That is all I'm trying to get across.

Editorials are OPINIONS - not factual news. I appreciate a voice of concern, and even constructive criticism, but to add the "this is Disney and they could change their minds at a drop of a hat folks" disclaimer to his inside "facts" should put it in perspective for you. Plus, when are they gonna start selling hotdogs on the Mark Twain?? I had a really weird daydream this summer that I was riding Splash Mtn. Guess I was getting hungry sittin' on that boat waiting lol.

Originally posted by thckst
Editorials are OPINIONS - not factual news. I appreciate a voice of concern, and even constructive criticism, but to add the "this is Disney and they could change their minds at a drop of a hat folks" disclaimer to his inside "facts" should put it in perspective for you. Plus, when are they gonna start selling hotdogs on the Mark Twain?? I had a really weird daydream this summer that I was riding Splash Mtn. Guess I was getting hungry sittin' on that boat waiting lol. Sigh. Look, I don't want to get in a debate about all of Al's columns. I am simply pointing out that this proves the validity of the "rumor" in this thread. What Al reported in his update today was NOT a rumor in any way shape or form. It was not "Disney can change their mind." This is people Al personally knows who were handed their walking papers. That's fact, not rumor.

Point taken GD...

I guess I just didn't want to believe this is true. Al isn't always wrong and in the latest D-I-G he certainly doesn't use any disclaimers. In fact, regarding R&D his analogy using other businesses is dead on.

And now I have tears in my eyes because I just got off the phone with someone who was able to confirm this. I honestly believe that this one act will pretty much kill morale in every department in the company. I am so in shock - this is completely unbelievable. Stupid. Assanine. Unthinkable. Unimaginable. I can not at this moment get over the blow this will be to Disney. Probably the most very saddest day for anyone who loves things Disney. This will surely become an object lesson of how not to run a company.

9/18/02 - The Day The Magic Died