From: http://nova.bsuvc.bsu.edu/~ANJUNGBAUER/profile.html

Walt Disney is a large media conglomerate ranking number three in the world. The company has many divisions such as film theme parks, television, and the internet. Walt Disney has many subsidiaries/affiliates such as ABC, Inc., Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Anaheim Angels Baseball Club, Inc., Lifetime Entertainment Services, and Walt Disney Internet Group to name a few. Walt Disney is a Global company, with Euro-Disney in Paris, and another theme park in Japan. Walt Disney also makes profits in other ways then just these mentioned above, they also sell merchandise such as stuffed animals, figurines, action figures, and many other child oriented products promoting their films.

While Walt Disney has many divisions in the film and entertainment industry, they also have divisions in the travel and leisure industry. Walt Disney owns resorts and cruise liners.

* Annual Income: 23,402 million
* Number of Employees: 120,000
* Ticker Symbol: DIS
* Link to current stock price
* Link to current stock chart
* Link to SEC 10-K


History

Walt Disney Company, was formally called Walt Disney Productions from 1929-1986. The company was started by a motion picture animator named Walt and his businessman brother Roy. In 1930 Disney cartoons gained popularity featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto. Their early success gave Walt Disney the encouragement to produce their first full-length film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. With Snow White being a success, Disney went on to make several other full-length films including Dumbo in 1940, Fantasia also in 1940, and Cinderella in 1950.

As the late 1940’s approached, rising labor costs of animation forced Disney productions to focus on other things instead of just full-length animated cartoons. So the Disney company began to make nature documentaries, and live action motion pictures. In 1955 Walt Disney Productions opened Disneyland amusement parks in Anaheim, California. Over the years this amusement park has become one of the world’s most famous amusement parks. Due to the success of Disneyland, Walt Disney Productions decided to open another park in 1971 just out side of Orlando, Florida.

After the death of Walt Disney, the corporation had a great decline due to the loss of their chief innovator. In the 1980’s, the corporation was revitalized by new management. By 1989 the company went back to making many full-length animated cartoons such as The Little Mermaid. In 1995 Disney introduced to the world the first ever full-length computer animated film, Toy Story. In 1996 the Disney Corporation acquired Capital Cities/ABC Inc., which owned the ABC television network.


Officers

The executive officers of the Company are elected each year at the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors, which follows the annual meeting of the stockholders, and at other meetings as appropriate. Each of the executive officers has been employed by the Company in the position or positions indicated in the list and pertinent notes below. Messrs. Eisner, Disney, Litvack and Murphy have been employed by the Company as executive officers for more than five years.

At September 30, 1997, the executive officers were as follows:

Executive Officer
Michael D. Eisner, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 1984

Roy E. Disney, Vice Chairman of the Board since 1984

Sanford M. Litvack, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief of Corporate Operations since 1991

Richard D. Nanula, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1996

John F. Cooke, Executive Vice President-Corporate Affairs since 1995

Lawrence P. Murphy, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer and Chairman of Disney Cruise Line since 1985


Walt Disney
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, Ca 91521-9722
Phone: 818-560-1000
Fax: 818-560-1930