The worst problem in making a meaningful comparison between the two polls right now is the sample size of the new poll. There just aren't enough responses yet to make many accurate conclusions.
it's interesting to see how the Threemees have split themselves
That's the kind of conclusion we really can't draw quite yet; we need to get the sample sizes much closer (and within the same overall pool; you'd have to post a link to the poll on the same "other" boards as before) before we can assume that it's a split of Car #3 that led to the particular results we've gotten. With the relatively puny sample size, the theory that "the Car #1 population is the same, but some 2's have slipped to 3's and some 3's have slipped to 4's" explains the current results at least as well as the theory "the populations of Cars #1 and #2 are the same, but some 3's have slipped to 4's."
the majority of them find themselves concerned rather than doubtful.
I haven't voted in this poll yet for a couple of reasons, but one of them is the difficulty I'm having deciding that question for myself.
I'd wager that the main difference between the "concerned" and "doubtful" groups (and to a certain extent, at least some of the "optimistic" group on Car #2) is how they view Eisner's future with the company. Whatever anyone thinks of Eisner personally, I think it's clear that he represents, engenders, and promotes a business philosophy that is not conducive to many folks' idea of "Magic."
I believe that, to a large extent, Car #4 is filled with those people who believe Eisner (or at least the business philosophy he champions) is here for the long-term, whereas Car #3 contains more folks who believe Eisner's welcome is thoroughly worn out, and the only question remaining is whether the new Grand High Muck-A-Muck has the inclination and the ability to redirect some of the Company's goals.
As it stands, I'm trying to decide between Car #3 and Car #4, but if Eisner retired tomorrow, I'd very likely be deciding between Cars #2 and #3, based on my perception of how closely such an executive would mirror Eisner's mission (of course, it could still be Car #4, if the next Big Dog is Iger or Pressler).
Jeff
PS: I posted mainly because Peter's post sounded to me like "well, the poll shows that folks aren't as upset as some of us may have thought." I wanted to chime in mostly because I honestly think consumer confidence in Disney is slipping at a dangerous rate. Peter (and the others who know who they are), I still don't mean to try to convince you personally that Disney is anything less than what you perceive it to be. Even so, I think it's important to acknowledge (what I believe to be) the fact that, overall, Disney's brand loyalty is slipping.
(think about it) I could be wrong, it could be someone else, but I suspect not.
