Originally Posted By pixiedust1 As stockholders we enjoyed going to DL and WDW every year. Then Disney bought ABC, and since then they no longer hold their meetings at the parks anymore.. They have been everywhere in the country but DL or WDW.. Does anyone know why, and if there is a chance they will ever have them at the parks again.. There must be somebody out there that knows the answer. Thanks...
Originally Posted By imadisneygal The stockholders meeting this year was in Anaheim. One of the main reasons I was given in 1998, and I imagine it was certainly not the only reason, for stopping the shareholder meetings in the Park cities was that shareholders were going to the meetings for the free passports to the Parks and not staying for or participating in the meetings. In 1997 the meeting was at the Pond of Anaheim, like this year, and shareholders were out the door waiting on their free tickets to the Parks. Even though the tickets were supposed to be used on a specific day MANY shareholders presented the passports once they had expired and caused many a scene at the Main Entrance trying to use the expired tickets. I am sure there are plenty of other reasons for holding the meetings in different areas of the country, including trying to accommodate shareholders in varying areas. I do know that the free passports given to shareholders at the meetings - in CA at least - were causing problems at the Park. My personal guess as to one reason is that holding the meeting in obscure places like Minnesota ensures that only shareholders who are really interested in participating in the meeting, and who have the money, will arrange to fly there. I know this isn't the definitive answer you were looking for, but it is one reason I was told several years back.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 Thank you imadisneygal, you could be right.. It could also that since the aquisition of ABC there were added millions of shareholders that weren't interested on coming to WDW or DL for a stockholders meeting.. It's a shame though that they don't at least give some of the ABC shareholders a chance to discover Disney while at a meeting at one of the parks. It's their loss...
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney The only reason the meetings were moved was because after the 1997 meeting at the Pond in Anaheim, where Eisner was attacked for some of his horrible business decisions like the payouts to Ovitz and Katzenburg, he swore he'd never return them to Anaheim or Orlando where his cast and critics were likely to go after him. So he ran and hid and placed the meetings in some very far away and obscure places. Thankfully, Bob Iger showed some (can I say balls here?) and returned the meeting to Anaheim. Hopefully, Orlando will get it next year. Had nothing to do with people showing up for free tickets at all.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^ I think you just did....so far no Admin. I mean there are baseballs , basketballs etc
Originally Posted By imadisneygal "Had nothing to do with people showing up for free tickets at all." According to Disneyland upper management, you're wrong. At least in part. Those tickets were a HUGE issue from the early morning when people lines up and fought over their space in line up until they tried to use the expired tickets weeks later. I was at that meeting and it was awful, but that hasn't stopped critics from attending the meetings no matter where they are. The reason that the meeting was back in Anaheim this year was for the big 50th marketing push, not because he has chutzpah. It's all about the bottom line - the almighty dollar.
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney ^^I don't want to get into an endless online debate. I know I have my facts right here. I don't doubt there may have been ticket issues, but they didn't play into the decision. ANd why would people line up and fight for position in line? EVERYONE got tix. That's how it's always been. In the old days, you could bring five guests with you -- even if you only owned a single share -- and everyone of your guests would get free passes. As to your reasoning for moving the meeting back this year, if marketing the 50th -- which ends in Sept -- was the reason, why wouldn't Eisner have held it there last year to kickoff the celebration? It certainly has been a huge success and having the meeting in Anaheim won't add anything significant to the bottom line.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal I don't doubt your reasons regarding Eisner getting away from many hecklers. I know that some of them followed him no matter where he went. I just happen to know that the tickets were ONE of the reasons the meetings were moved. And I do think that the 50th had something to do with Iger being back in Anaheim this year. I don't think it necessarily adds to the bottom line, but it's in line with promoting the original theme park. I have no idea why people fought for positions in line, but I watched it happen. Most of those people walked in the door, took their ticket, and left out the other door. Most of them did not stay for the meeting. I don't remember the days when each shareholder could bring 5 Guests with them but that year each Guest received only one ticket. Like you said, I don't want to debate it either. I just think there was more than one facet to the decision and I offered my experience.
