INSIDER
DeSantis appointees seek Disney communications about governor, laws in fight over district
Read full article: DeSantis appointees seek Disney communications about governor, laws in fight over districtAppointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are seeking communications between Disney and local media, as well as documents related to the company’s position on Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Disney World workers criticize DeSantis appointees' decision to eliminate free passes
Read full article: Disney World workers criticize DeSantis appointees' decision to eliminate free passesEmployees of Walt Disney World’s governing district are criticizing new board members appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis for a decision to eliminate free passes and discounts to the theme park resort for 400 of its district workers.
Free Disney World passes are latest front in war between Disney and DeSantis appointees
Read full article: Free Disney World passes are latest front in war between Disney and DeSantis appointeesGov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees to a board that oversees Disney World’s governing district have launched a battle against the company on a new front — free passes and discounts for employees.
Florida ethics commission chair can't work simultaneously for Disney World governing district
Read full article: Florida ethics commission chair can't work simultaneously for Disney World governing districtThe new administrator of Walt Disney World’s governing district can’t continue to work in his new job and be chair of Florida’s ethics commission at the same time.
Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Disney’s efforts to neutralize governing district takeover
Read full article: Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Disney’s efforts to neutralize governing district takeoverA judge in Florida has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees against Disney’s efforts to neutralize a takeover of Disney World’s governing district by the Florida governor.
Disney extends CEO Bob Iger's contract 2 more years through 2026
Read full article: Disney extends CEO Bob Iger's contract 2 more years through 2026Bob Iger will remain as CEO of The Walt Disney Co. through the end of 2026, agreeing to a two-year contract extension that will give the entertainment and theme park company some breathing room to find his successor.
DeSantis proposes Disney trial schedule that puts start date in 2025, after elections
Read full article: DeSantis proposes Disney trial schedule that puts start date in 2025, after electionsAttorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis have asked that a trial involving Disney be postponed until the middle of 2025, well after the GOP presidential nomination race wraps up and voters have picked a winner in the November 2024 general election.
Disney self-government in peril after Florida House vote
Read full article: Disney self-government in peril after Florida House voteThe Florida House of Representatives has given final passage to a bill to dissolve a private government that Walt Disney World has been allowed to operate on its properties for more than five decades.
4 springtime activities we love at Walt Disney World
Read full article: 4 springtime activities we love at Walt Disney WorldThe resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration, and now is the perfect time to celebrate the season and upcoming Easter holiday. If you plan on visiting, we have uncovered a number of fun activities for families to experience while out exploring the theme parks and nearby resort hotels.
Nice to meet you, again: Disney brings back non-distanced character meet-and-greets
Read full article: Nice to meet you, again: Disney brings back non-distanced character meet-and-greetsIt’s perhaps one of the last things that guests at Walt Disney World have been waiting to see return: an up-close moment, picture or autograph with Mickey Mouse and other popular characters.
Disney ‘regrets’ performance by visiting Texas school drill team
Read full article: Disney ‘regrets’ performance by visiting Texas school drill teamOfficials at Walt Disney World say a performance by a visiting Texas high school drill team that used American Indian stereotypes, including chants of “scalp them,” doesn’t reflect the resort’s values.
Disney shares details about all-new nighttime spectacular ‘Disney Enchantment’
Read full article: Disney shares details about all-new nighttime spectacular ‘Disney Enchantment’Walt Disney World shared more details Friday about the all-new nighttime show coming to Magic Kingdom for the 50th anniversary celebration.
Disney 1Q profit falls but beats expectations due to Disney+
Read full article: Disney 1Q profit falls but beats expectations due to Disney+FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2019, file photo, guests watch a show near a statue of Walt Disney and Micky Mouse in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. But the results Thursday surpassed Wall Street's expectations thanks to subscribers flocking to Disney+ and other of the entertainment giant's streaming services. Disney+ subscribers totaled 94.9 million at the end of the quarter, more than double the subscriber base a year ago, when the service had been operating for only about two months. For Disney's fiscal first quarter, net income totaled $17 million, or 1 cent per share, compared with $2.1 billion or $1.16 cents per share a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, net income totaled 32 cents per share, compared with $1.53 per share in the prior-year quarter.
Disney to lay off 28,000 at its parks in California, Florida
Read full article: Disney to lay off 28,000 at its parks in California, FloridaFILE - In this March 16, 2020, file photo, the entrance to the parking lot at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is closed in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Squeezed by limits on attendance at its theme parks and other restrictions due to the pandemic, The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, it planned to lay off 28,000 workers in its parks division in California and Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Report: Attendance flat at Disney parks, grows at Universal
Read full article: Report: Attendance flat at Disney parks, grows at UniversalAttendance at the parks could be anywhere from a third to half of normal business volume, according to the report. Attendance at Disney theme parks around the world fell less than 1% in 2019 from the previous year. It was followed by Disneyland in California with 18.6 million visits, Tokyo Disneyland with 17.9 million visits and Tokyo DisneySea. Competing in many of the same markets as Disney, Universal Parks and Resorts had an attendance jump of 2.3%, with 51.2 million visits. Rides based on Harry Potter intellectual property continued to drive growth at the Universal parks, the report said.
What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbers
Read full article: What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbersORLANDO, Fla. – Walt Disney World is set to once again open its gates to the Magic Kingdom following a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. But with most families staying inside and not traveling, how crowded will the theme parks really be when they reopen? Park Capacity Capacity at 25% Magic Kingdom 57,000 people 14,250 people Epcot 34,093 people 8,523 people Hollywood Studios 30,843 people 7,710 people Animal Kingdom 37,671 people 9,417 peopleA park at 25% capacity would mean very minimal wait times. As we can all imagine, visiting a Disney theme park when it reopens will be a new experience for all -- no matter how many times you’ve visited. The Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom parks will open first July 11, with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening July 15.
NBA teams at Disney had tough travel-party decisions to make
Read full article: NBA teams at Disney had tough travel-party decisions to makeWalt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are reopening Saturday, while Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios will follow four days later. (Gabrielle Russon/Orlando Sentinel via AP)The 22 teams participating in the NBA restart were all at the Disney campus together for the first time Friday. Some teams left player development coaches behind, some even left assistant coaches, and all teams traveled with only one media relations staffer and one equipment manager. In normal circumstances, some teams travel with as many as three people to handle media requirements and two for equipment. That left 20 spots for coaches, assistant coaches, player development, video, security, strength and conditioning, athletic training, media relations and content creators.
Dreaming of a theme park Christmas? This advice will help you plan your whole trip
Read full article: Dreaming of a theme park Christmas? This advice will help you plan your whole tripEat Christmas cookies until you feel like you’re going to burst, see a special Christmas parade roll down Main Street U.S.A. -- and did we mention there will be tons of cookies? Visit Disney’s website for more info. Insider tip: Want to catch the Christmas parade but avoid paying for a special ticket? Some resorts also will have special holiday presentations, such as a walk-through gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian. Other festivities include the Sea of Trees, which is a show filled with synchronized Christmas trees shimmering and twinkling set to holiday music.