By Emma Clark BBC News Online business reporter

A Mickey Mouse company failed by its chief Mouseketeer might be one such jibe.

Monster DVD sales offer some hope

Over the past few months, entertainment leviathan Walt Disney has faced increasing criticism for its diving share price and dwindling profits.

In the three months to June, profits slumped by 31% - and analysts are expecting a drop of about 40% for the fiscal year to September.

Meanwhile, Disney's shares are hovering between $12 and $16, having traded at $40 in early 2000.

No surprise, then, that Michael Eisner, Disney's charismatic and highly paid chief executive and chairman since 1984, is starting to feel the heat.

More independence

Shareholders have also complained about not enough independent directors on the board able to challenge Mr Eisner's authority, as well as the absence of a succession plan.

Disney divisions

Media Networks: includes ABC TV and radio networks Parks & Resorts: includes Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line Studio Entertainment: produces live-action and animated motion pictures, musical recordings and TV programmes Consumer Products: licenses the company's characters and other intellectual property

More damaging is mounting speculation that Roy Disney, the company's largest individual shareholder, is considering ousting his chief executive.

And as if Disney did not have enough problems, the economic slowdown, exacerbated by the 11 September attacks, has hit advertising on its ABC television network and kept visitors away from its theme parks.

Advance bookings at Disney's theme parks have fallen 10% year on year.

"There are problems brought about through the economy and terrorism... and there are problems that are self-brought," says Tom Wolzien, an analyst at Alliance Capital in New York.

Plunging ratings

The "self-brought" problems mainly relate to the company's ABC network, which failed to wow audiences with any hit shows after cutting its development budget.

Traders react after Disney announces a hiring freeze in Florida

The audience for ABC's scheduled prime-time programmes fell by 20% last season.

Recently, the company has changed tack and ploughed more money into new shows, but Mr Wolzien says it will take a couple of years before any turnaround.

And in the meantime, the company's shareholders are not going to be easily mollified.

Shareholder activism?

Discontent has found a figurehead in Herbert Denton, head of Providence Capital, a New York-based investment firm, and a small shareholder in the company.

Mr Denton and a group of fellow shareholders want the board to split the chief executive and chairman role and to draw up a succession plan for Mr Eisner, among other demands.

In fairness to Disney, the board has promised to increase director independence, and is discussing improving its corporate governance.

And as a recent charm offensive by Mr Eisner on Wall Street suggests, the company is also keen to appease its rattled investors.

In addition, Alliance Capital's Mr Wolzien believes Disney "has done a good job" with the theme parks under the circumstances.

A turnaround?

Further signs of hope can be derived from the early success of ABC's new TV show 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.

"It's a little bit of a spark," says Mr Wolzien.

Mel Gibson's Signs had a strong opening

A new hit would bolster Disney's leverage with advertisers and boost revenues.

Disney's studio entertainment division also has high expectations for its film Signs, starring Mel Gibson, which had a strong opening at the box office.

Meanwhile, DVD sales of the animated Disney/Pixar film Monsters Inc. have broken records set by The Lion King.

But despite these reasons for cheer, investors still want to be convinced that the board can bring about a sustainable recovery.

Disney, famously, sells itself as the place "where the magic comes to you".

Getting the firm back on track will demand the most from Mr Eisner's conjuring skills.