Disney's Dilemma: Kids Aren't Clicking With Mickey

Mickey Mouse is still Mickey Mouse, but Disney is no longer the company it once was. The icon of American culture, which in its heyday regularly steamrolled Wall Street's expectations as it churned out top-notch entertainment, is struggling to redefine itself as an evolving society threatens to make its core business less relevant.

This five-part series, which runs through Friday, takes a look at the challenges facing Disney as it tries to reverse its recently flagging fortunes.

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Experts on children refer to the threat Disney (DIS Quote) faces as "age compression." That's a fancy way of saying that kids are growing up more quickly than they did a generation -- or even a decade -- ago.

Of course, for most of this century's second half, American parents have worried about controlling their children, especially as they enter adolescence. It's hardly a secret that many teenagers rebel against parental and societal structures by creating their own culture and heroes, some very disagreeable to adults. ...