Magical or Just Mickey Mouse?

There are two prevailing myths about Walt Disney. The first is that he is presently in a frozen state. Sorry cryogenic novelists, Mr. Disney is resting peacefully under six feet of California dirt. The other myth is that there is only one way to look at the company he founded with his brother Roy.

Bring on the Dueling Fools! This week, our bull Jeff Fischer (TMF Jeff) squares off against our bear Rick Munarriz (TMF Edible) in a battle of the brands.

Is Disney <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: DIS)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: DIS)") end if %> a Mickey Mouse investment? From animated classics to ESPN, from the world's most popular theme parks to ABC, Jeff and Rick are at opposite ends as to where the future will take the entertainment powerhouse.

Check the listbox to the right for the arguments and rebuttals. While it all started with a mouse, it all ends with your vote.

You Get to Vote!

After reading all of the arguments, cast your vote for the winner of the Duel. We'll tabulate the results each week and revisit them from time to time to see whether you were right! As always, we invite you to join us in the Disney message folder and continue this duel for generation after generation.

[Any suggestions, comments, praise, or flames, please send them along to the Dueling Fools Team.]

The Bull... Since the acquisition-strewn 1980s that were pushed along by the proliferation of cable television, media and entertainment companies have been building empires that rely heavily on brand name recognition. Mind share is just as important as market share if a media or entertainment company wishes to succeed in new and increasingly large (and, therefore, risky) initiatives, such as Disney's now-popular Disney Store and recently launched ESPN sports retail store, its soon-to-be launched ESPN Grill restaurant, and ESPN magazine. Continue...

The Bear... This one hurts. I walk past the extensive Disney video collection in my son's room, past the animated cels and sericels hanging on the wall, and think back to the first stock I ever owned. Back in 1986 my girlfriend bought me a share of a company I had been fascinated with since my first visit to Walt Disney World in 1972. Granted, I eventually framed the certificate and married the girl -- and have made the short drive to Disney World a quarterly ritual ever since. Continue...