THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300527
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DALE EISMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Bubbling, almost drunk with happiness and surprise, the unlikely coalition of working stiffs, old-money aristocrats and academics who derailed Disney's America celebrated its triumph here Thursday.
``This is not a defeat for Disney, but a victory for common sense,'' Robert T. Dennis, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, told a gathering of reporters and Disney opponents.
About 100 opponents of the theme park jammed a meeting room at the National Trust for Historic Preservation to hear Dennis and other leaders of their movement hail Disney's withdrawal.
``It is good for Disney, it is good for Virginia and it is good for the country,'' said Richard Moe, president of the national trust. ``We would like in particular to commend (Disney chief executive) Michael Eisner. He has served both his company and his country very well in making this decision.''
Moe said the Disney boss, who had vowed never to give in to park opponents, phoned him Wednesday evening to capitulate. ``We had a very nice chat,'' he said, offering no further elaboration.
Moe and some other park foes insisted they wish Disney well in its announced plans to find another site for the American history park and the residential and commercial development that would surround it. If Eisner and the company want help in finding a suitable location, Moe said, Thursday's celebrants will be happy to provide it.
``If the Disney company can bring history to more people, and can do so with imagination and can do so with integrity, we can only wish them success,'' said historian David McCullough.
McCullough said he is not among the historians who question the ability of a company best known for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to do justice to subjects like slavery and civil war.
``Location, not content, has been the issue,'' he insisted.
But asked his opinion of the ``Hall of Presidents,'' a much-criticized exhibit the firm planned to move from its Florida theme park to Disney's America, McCullough first demurred - ``This is a great day,'' he said, smiling - then suggested Disney's leaders ``can learn from their mistakes.''
Other anti-Disney activists on hand disputed claims by park supporters that the company's decision was a victory for elite landowners who put their desire for pastoral surroundings ahead of their neighbors' need for new jobs.
``The fattest cat in this whole thing was the Disney company,'' Dennis said to cheers. MEMO: Main story on page A1 and other related stories on page A2.
KEYWORDS: WALT DISNEY CO. DISNEY AMERICA by CNB