The Walt Disney Company

When I used to think of Walt Disney, I thought of him as the mysterious and magical man behind the curtains of my favourite animated movies such as Snow White and Alice in Wonderland. I also thought of him as powerful, for his productions have caught the attention of millions of children and parents world wide. I didn't let my mind wander further then that but I've just recently learned, 10 years later, that Walt Disney and The Walt Disney Company sure do a lot more then just produce enjoyable films for children - they reel in billions of dollars from owning a variety of different things.
Walt Disney and his brother Roy Disney worked together for many years to provide entertainment to the world. The brothers brought smiles to children's faces with cartoon animation through a number of movies, and television shows. The brothers also brought in a lot of money by being a major media company.
According to Robert McChesney, Disney is one of eight transnational corporations that dominate the U.S media, so if you like I, thought that Disney just created movies and opened a theme park up in Florida, then you are incorrect.
So what exactly does The Walt Disney Company own? Aside from owning Walt Disney Pictures, they also own Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Films, and Pixar. The Walt Disney Corporation is also involved with television, owning broadcast television in over 10 states and cities, and over 20 channels in cable television. The Walt Disney Company also owns radio broadcasts over 55 states and cities across the U.S. Tons of books and magazine companies are also owned by The Walt Disney Company. They also created and own 8 theme parks world wide including in the United States, Japan, China and France. Disney also owns some retail: 720 stores world-wide, filled with merchandise. Disney owns music companies like Hollywood records and Disney records and also various theatrical productions like Lion King on stage. If all of that is not enough, the Walt Disney Company also own over 16 miscellaneous companies and productions such as The Baby Einstein Company, Disney on Ice, and the Walt Disney Internet group.
So I asked myself: "How does The Walt Disney Company not feel extremely bombarded with owning all of these companies and productions?" Then I found myself my own answer: that people like us, the public, are responsible for helping and funding this billion-dollar company. Without our attention and our money, there would be no company. There would be no progress. And that goes for any company in the world, but I did not realize until now that Mickey Mouse was reeling in our money and continues to do so. In my opinion I think large corporations such as The Walt Disney Company are unhealthy for smaller companies, but I still support them by watching Aladdin once in a while, and if it keeps children - and me happy, then why not?

McChesney, Robert. The Nation. "It's a Small World of Big Conglomerates". November 11th 1999. November 18th 2008. <http://www.thenation.com/doc/19991129/mcchesney/3>

Columbia Journalism Review. The Walt Disney Company. July 30th 2008. November 18th 2008. <http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=disney>