I know there are those who were never fans of the whole Disney experience and the whole Disney franchise…, and I always felt sad for those people…, but I was not one of those people.

I grew up in a time when Walt Disney and the world of Disney represented something of the highest quality…, something with the best intentions…, something that always exceeded our expectations…, something that was “magical.”

My children were raised on Walt Disney videos. They loved The Little Mermaid. They loved Nemo and Dory. They watched in amazement at Woody and Buzz. And they cried when Dumbo and Bambi lost their moms, and when Simba’s dad died.  

Actually taking a trip to Walt Disney World was the pinnacle of all vacations. Heck, my wife and I even spent a good portion of our honeymoon there!

I always felt that spending time at Walt Disney World was like spending time at a place that I aspired every place to be like and strive for. In my mind, it was a “kingdom” full of magic.  

When I was a grade school teacher in Florida, I took our class to Walt Disney World every year to visit EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) to help spark their imaginations and inspire their desire to learn, not to mention the additional cultural experiences of all of the countries in “The World Showcase.”

Amazingly enough, my feelings towards Disney have now all changed in the span of a few short months.

The Walt Disney Company has over 190,000 employees worldwide…, most of whom, I believe, strive to keep the magic of Disney alive. But it is apparent now, based on recent political stances taken by the company, and by statements and discussions that have surfaced by various individuals in Disney’s leadership, that The Walt Disney Company has been betrayed by its leadership and has lost its way…, and in turn lost its magic.    

For the record, here is a list of those people responsible for the betrayal of Walt Disney’s vision, either by their actions or by their silent acceptance of the vile actions of others.

Current Board of Directors:

Susan E. Arnold

Bob Chapek

John S. Chen

Judith L. Estrin

Fred H. Langhammer

Aylwin B. Lewis

Monica C. Lozano

Robert W. Matschullat

Sheryl K. Sandberg

Orin C. Smith

Current Senior Corporate Officers:

Susan Arnold – Chairwoman

Bob Chapek –CEO

James A. Rasulo – Senior Executive Vice President and CFO

Alan N. Braverman – Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Kevin A. Mayer – Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development

Christine M. McCarthy – Executive Vice President, Corporate Real Estate, Sourcing, Alliances and Treasurer

Zenia B. Mucha – Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer

Jayne Parker– Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Ronald L. Iden – Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer

Brent A. Woodford – Senior Vice President, Planning and Control

Current Principal Business Executives Walt Disney Studios and Entertainment:

Alan F. Horn – Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios

Alan Bergman – President, (also in charge for Franchises) The Walt Disney Studios

Sean Bailey – President Production, The Walt Disney Studios

Edwin Catmull – President, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios

John Lasseter – Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios

Jean-Francois Camilleri – President, Disneynature, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France

Thomas Schumacher – President, Disney Theatrical Group

Ken Bunt – President, Disney Music Group

David Agnew – President, Walt Disney Records

Abbey Konowitch – General Manager, Hollywood Records

Kathleen Kennedy – President, Lucasfilm Limited

Lylle Breier – The Muppets Studio 2006–present, SVP World Wide Special Events

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts:

Josh D’Amaro – Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Michael Colglazier – President of Disney Parks International

Rebecca Campbell – President, Disneyland Resort

Vice President, Disneyland Park – Jon Storbeck

Vice President, Disney’s California Adventure Park – Mary Niven

Vice President, Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels – Daniel Delcourt

Jeff Vahle– President- Walt Disney World Resort

Senior Vice President of Operations and Next Generation Experiences, Walt Disney World Resort – Jim MacPhee

Vice President, Magic Kingdom – Kevin Myers

Vice President, Epcot – Melissa Valiquette

Vice President, Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Phil Holmes

Vice President, Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Djuan Rivers

Vice President, Downtown Disney – Keith Bradford

Vice President, Resort Operations – Thomas Mazloum

Vice President, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney Water Parks – Kristen Osborne

Vice President, Transportation Operations and Maintenance – Jim Vendur

Vice President, Global Promotions, Disney Destinations LLC.– Greg Albrecht

Natacha Rafalski – CEO, Euro Disney S.C.A. (Disneyland Paris)

Senior Vice President of Operations, Disneyland Paris – Joe Schott

Bill Ernest – President and Managing Director, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Asia

Stephanie Young – Managing Director, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Vice President, Park Operations – Noble Coker

Vice President, Hotel Operations – Peter Lowe

Vice President, Marketing – Maple Lee

Vice President, Sales and Travel Trade Marketing – Aliana Ho

Philipe Gas – Chairman and CEO, Tokyo Disney Resort (Oriental Land Company)

President and Chief Operations Officer, Tokyo Disney Resort (Oriental Land Company) – Kyoichiro Uenishi

President of Walt Disney Attractions Japan – Nick Franklin

Vice President and Executive Managing Director, Walt Disney Attractions Japan – Dave Vermeulen

Karl Holz – President, Disney Cruise Line

Senior Vice President of Operations, Disney Cruise Line – Tom Wolber

Claire Bilby – President, Disney Vacation Club

Chief Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering – Bob Weis

Chief Design and Project Delivery Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering – Craig Russell

Senior Vice President of Operations Integration/line of Business – Erin Wallace

Senior Vice President, Conservation & Environmental Sustainability – Jerry Montgomery

Senior Vice President of Global Sports Enterprises – Ken Potrock

Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility – Kerry Chandler

Senior Vice President of Worldwide Travel Operations – Kevin Lansberry

Senior Vice President of Corporate Alliances & Operating Participants – George Aguel

Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion – Tami Garcia

Executive Vice President, Public Affairs – Alannah Hall-Smith

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer – Jim Hunt

Executive Vice President, Global Marketing – Leslie Ferraro

Executive Vice President, International Development – Mike Crawford

Executive Vice President, New Business Development and Next Generation Experiences – Nick Franklin

Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment – Jackie Ogden, PhD

Disney Media Networks and Television:

Anne M. Sweeney – Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, President, Disney–ABC Television Group

Rebecca Campbell – President, ABC Owned Television Stations

Paul Lee – President, ABC Entertainment Group

Michael Riley – President, ABC Family

Brian Scott Frons – President, ABC Daytime

Ben Sherwood – President, ABC News

Diane Sawyer – Chief News Anchor, ABC News

Gary Marsh – President, Disney Channels Worldwide

Ellen Archer – President, Hyperion Books

John D. Skipper – Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, President, ESPN, Inc.

Sean Bratches: Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Christine Driessen: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Ed Durso: Executive Vice President, Administration

Charles Pagano: Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Norby Williamson: Executive Vice President, Production

Russell Wolff: Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International

George W. Bodenheimer – Executive Chairman, ESPN, Inc.

Disney Interactive Media:

John Pleasants – Co-President, Disney Interactive Media Group

James A. Pitaro – Co-President, Disney Interactive Media Group

Bruce Gordon – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Larry Shapiro – Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

Garry Randall – Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Courtney Simmons – Vice President, Communications

Lane Merrifield – Executive Vice President, Disney Online Studios

Bart Decrem – Senior Vice President and General Manager, Disney Mobile

Disney Consumer Products:

Robert A. Chapek – President, Disney Consumer Products

Anne Gates – Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Disney Consumer Products

Jessica Dunne – Executive Vice President, Global Licensing, Disney Consumer Products

Michael Horn – Managing Vice President, Counsel, Corporate Legal, Disney Consumer Products

Pamela Lifford – Executive Vice President, Global Fashion & Home, Disney Consumer Products

Susan Garelli – Senior Vice President Human Resources Worldwide, Disney Consumer Products

Gary Foster – Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Disney Consumer Products

Luis Fernandez – Senior Vice President, Global Creative, Disney Consumer Products

J.D. Edwards – Senior Vice President, Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Consumer Products

Vince Klaseus – Senior Vice President, Global Toys, Disney Consumer Products

Günther Hake – Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Disney Consumer Products and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, China

James Fielding. – President, Disney Stores Worldwide

Russell Hampton, Jr. – President, Disney Publishing Worldwide

Robert Langer – General Manager of Disney Consumer Products EMEA

Mary Beech – Vice President and General Manager, Global Studio Franchise Development

Lisa Avent – Vice President and General Manager, Global Television Franchise Development

Kazuo Nakazawa – Vice President and General Manager, Disney Consumer Products, Japan

Julie Sneddon – Vice President and General Manager, Disney Consumer Products and Retail, Europe, Middle East and Africa

Walt Disney International:

Andy Bird – Chairman, Walt Disney International     

So, there you have it. Congratulations to all of these people for their parts, big or small, in crushing the belief of children, and adults, all around the world, that the world of Disney was something special.

Why do these people feel they have to ruin everything?

It’s probably a good thing that Walt isn’t around to witness how all of these fools are mishandling the spirit and the legacy of his vision.

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Thank you, MrEricksonRules.