WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MSDW Developing Growth Fund
Class A
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 936,587,879
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,166,207,892
<RECEIVABLES> 49,699,357
<ASSETS-OTHER> 121,831
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,216,029,080
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> (26,772,006)
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (5,429,690)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (32,201,696)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 705,278,212
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,166,103
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 484,939
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (12,944,770)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 261,873,982
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 229,619,960
<NET-ASSETS> 44,007,923
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 706,096
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,468,202
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (19,073,585)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (12,899,287)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 287,755,083
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 13,083,650
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 287,939,446
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (3,654,596)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,994,457
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,407,453)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 94,160
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 386,837,372
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (45,483)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 142,193,774
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (5,906,875)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (19,073,585)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 33,873,133
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 31.44
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.12)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 12.89
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (6.47)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 37.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.85
</TABLE>