"Disney's overriding objective is to create shareholder value by continuing to be the world's premier entertainment company from a creative, strategic, and financial standpoint."

The Walt Disney Company is a multi-billion dollar corporation that earned over $23 billion in sales revenue for the fiscal year ending September 1999. The Walt Disney Corporation can be segmented into three different business units: animated motion pictures and movies, theme parks and resorts, and television broadcasting. The Walt Disney Company also derives a portion of its profits from the paraphernalia associated with the animated movies. According to the 1998 statistics, creative content accounted for 45 percent of revenues, theme parks and resorts for 24 percent, and broadcasting 31 percent.

Since Walt Disney's first animated picture, "Steamboat Willie," was first released on November 18, 1928, there have been numerous animated films released. Some of Walt Disney's more popular animated films include: Pinocchio, Snow White, Fantasia, Winnie the Pooh, and The Little Mermaid.

One of Walt Disney Company's best-known operations is the theme park and resort business the company operates. Disney World and Disneyland entice millions of visitors each year with the belief that they are going to the "Happiest Place on Earth." The Walt Disney Company has expanded internationally into Asia, with Tokyo Disneyland, and into Europe with Euro Disney SCA. Instead of having direct ownership in Tokyo Disneyland, royalties from sales are remitted to the Walt Disney Company. Conversely, the Walt Disney Corporation has an equity holding of 39 percent in the Euro Disney theme park.

The third business unit within the Walt Disney Corporation operates the ABC Television Network. Beyond the ABC network Walt Disney also owns 10 television and 30 radio stations.