Recently there has been some disussion about Walt (the man), and his focus on quality and innovation, vs. the current Walt Disney World Management.
Here is an interesting quote from this web site:
A Tale of Two Brothers Business Development Seminars in New Jersey
“Roy was to money what Walt was to creativity. And I think it’s fair to say that without Roy, there would be no Disney Empire today. Roy, a banker by trade, was the one who finagled the loans, took out the mortgages, and begged and borrowed from relatives when Walt told him how much his next idea or initiative was going to cost.”
“Did Roy like it? Heck no! Being frugal by nature, he often fought with Walt tooth-and-nail, claiming how they couldn’t possibly incur any more debt. It got to the point where the two brothers wouldn’t talk for weeks at a time, instead sending handwritten notes to each other from their separate offices in Disney studios when they needed to communicate.”
“But through it all, Roy loved and believed in his brother and somehow made it happen.”
Walt was a unique combination of artist and visionary. As the face and front-man for his company, he let those qualities shine through. But there was a balance in the Disney family and the Disney company – and that was Roy.
Like any organization – whether it is a family or a business – there is a natural and necessary tension for balance: save vs. spend, dream vs. plan, explore vs. execute.
We can argue if it has gone too far one way or the other at The Walt Disney Company. But I think we need to recognize that the management and employees at Disney are very very smart people doing a good job with all their heart.
I actually know a few Disney employees personally. When you talk to Disney employees, you see that their employer does something very special as seen through the employee’s eyes.
And I think the general public agrees – and they vote that agreement with their dollars.
Just my two cents…
Disney World Pictures
