DeSantis: Special session on Disney’s Reedy Creek expected next week
Ron DeSantis is expecting there to be a special legislative session next week on the future of Walt Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. @GovRonDeSantis’s press office confirms it anticipates a special session will be coming next week to address Reedy Creek among other items @WFTV — Chantelle Navarro (@CNavarroWFTV) February 1, 2023In 1967, Florida Gov. Claude Kirk signed into law the legislation creating Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. Reedy Creek currently has about $1 billion in outstanding bonds. READ: Manslaughter charge for Alec Baldwin in ‘Rust’ set shootingSo far, no Reedy Creek bill has been filed.
wftv.comDisney tries to bring back the magic, unveils park changes
The Walt Disney Co. is making several changes at its domestic theme parks, including some easier reservations, in order to improve the public perception of its business. Its theme parks were shut down for some time, with the closures causing delays in the construction of various projects. On Tuesday the company made a flurry of announcements that were largely met with great fanfare by theme park goers. Disney had started charging for overnight self-parking at its resorts at Disney World in 2018. Disney resort guests continue to receive complimentary standard parking at Disney World theme parks.
wftv.comDisney tries to bring back the magic, unveils park changes
The Walt Disney Co. is making several changes at its domestic theme parks, including some easier reservations, in order to improve the public perception of its business. Among the changes: it will cease charging for overnight self-parking at its Walt Disney World resorts; Walt Disney World annual passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation (except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom) and individuals buying its Genie+ service will receive digital downloads of their ride photos taken in the park on the day of their purchase for no additional charge. Like many companies, Disney struggled during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.
news.yahoo.comFlorida intends to keep Disney’s Reedy Creek, but under state control
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida lawmaker gave notice Friday that the legislature intends to partially reverse course on Disney’s Reedy Creek, though under conditions the company may find less appealing. “We will uphold Florida law so that no company, including Disney, receives special treatment,” Hawkins said in a press release. Disney and Reedy Creek representatives also did not respond to attempts to ask similar questions. READ: State announces plan for Disney’s Reedy CreekHowever, DeSantis’ move appeared to be an attempt to circumnavigate state law that would’ve required the state to seek Disney’s permission to enact a replacement for Reedy Creek and avoid the debt being passed on to area residents. READ: Florida lawmakers consider what to do after dissolving Reedy Creek Improvement DistrictRichard Foglesong, a retired Rollins College professor and author of Married to the Mouse, which delved into the history of Reedy Creek and its relation to Central Florida, said he didn’t believe Disney would simply roll over on this matter.
wftv.comWhat comes next? Experts weigh in on what Disney’s CEO switch means for company’s future
Former Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Bob Iger is returning to lead Disney as Chief Executive Officer. Senior leadership made the announcement this weekend saying Iger succeeds Bob Chapek, who stepped down from his position.
What Iger returning as Disney CEO could mean for Florida
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The 77,000 Disney cast members who call Central Florida home now have a new boss. In a surprise move, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek is out, and former CEO Bob Iger is in. READ: Bob Iger returns as Disney CEO, replacing Bob ChapekIger led the company for 15 years. “Cast members now have back in place the CEO that they loved,” said Dr. Rick Foglesong, who wrote the book “Married to the Mouse,” detailing Florida’s long history with Disney. READ: Walt Disney World to raise theme park ticket pricesVIDEO: Walt Disney World to raise theme park ticket prices Walt Disney World to raise theme park ticket pricesClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
wftv.comStocks end lower on Wall Street as tech weighs down Nasdaq
Stocks ended lower on Wall Street at the beginning of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Monday, while drops in tech companies helped pull the Nasdaq down 1.1%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences mortgage rates, slipped to 3.82%. Stocks slipped on Wall Street in afternoon trading Monday to kick off a holiday-shortened week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences mortgage rates, slipped to 3.82% from 3.83% late Friday.
wftv.comStocks slip; Disney soars after reinstating Iger as CEO
NEW YORK — (AP) — Stocks slipped in morning trading on Wall Street Monday to kick off a holiday-shortened week. Energy stocks were among the biggest losers in the broader market as U.S. crude oil prices fell 4.4%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences mortgage rates, slipped to 3.80% from 3.83% late Friday. The Fed remains a main focus for investors as it continues raising interest rates to fight stubbornly high prices on everything from food to clothing. Carvana fell 10.6% after saying it will slash its workforce by 8% as inflation and higher interest rates squeeze the auto market.
wftv.comStocks open lower; Disney lifts Dow after reinstating Iger
NEW YORK — (AP) — Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street at the beginning of a holiday-shortened week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was just barely in the green, thanks largely to a surge in Disney’s stock price. The entertainment giant jumped 9% after announcing that it had ousted CEO Bob Chapek and brought back his predecessor, Bob Iger, to replace him. European and Asian markets were mostly lower and oil prices fell, pulling energy companies lower. Wall Street is following global stock markets lower to open a holiday-shortened week as anxiety over Federal Reserve plans for more interest rate hikes continues to weigh on investors.
wftv.comCloudy and cool with spotty showers Monday
ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida will be cloudy and cool Monday. Our area will have a 50% chance of seeing spotty showers. The highest temperature in Orlando should reach around 74 degrees today. The damp weather pattern should continue for a few days, but things are looking better for Thanksgiving. Read: Here are the Thanksgiving closures and changes to services in your countyThe highest temperature Thursday should reach the mid-to-upper 70s.
wftv.comBob Iger returns as Disney CEO, replacing Bob Chapek
BURBANK, Calif. — Bob Iger will return as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company less than a year after he retired. The board of directors at Disney announced Sunday evening that Bob Iger would replace Bob Chapek as CEO effective immediately, according to The New York Times. The company said that Iger would head the company for two more years. “We thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” she added. Chapek was named CEO in 2020 after Iger stepped down.
wftv.comDisney announces ex-CEO Bob Iger to return for 2 years
BURBANK, Calif. — (AP) — The Walt Disney Company announced late Sunday that former CEO Bob Iger would return to head the company for two years in a move that surprised the entertainment industry. Disney said Bob Chapek, who succeeded Iger in 2020, had stepped down from the position. “The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the Company through this pivotal period,” board Chair Susan Arnold said in a statement from Disney. Earlier this month, Disney posted lower than expected results for its fiscal fourth quarter. Iger led Disney for 15 years before stepping down in 2020.
wftv.comIger back on top in a Disney plot twist that few saw coming
Bob Iger, the enterprising entertainment executive who brought Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel under the Disney marquee and challenged the streaming dominance of Netflix, will replace his handpicked successor, CEO Bob Chapek, whose two-year tenure has been marked by clashes, missteps and a weakening financial performance.
Disney planning hiring freeze, possible layoffs
Cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, limited travel and possible layoffs, are coming to Disney, according to a memo sent Friday by the company’s CEO. Days after Disney posted lower-than-expected profit and revenue for its fourth quarter, CEO Bob Chapek sent a memo to executives detailing cost-cutting initiatives at the company. “We are limiting head count additions through a targeted hiring freeze. In addition to a hiring freeze, Chapek wrote in the memo that business travel would be limited. Chapek said in the memo that he also expects some layoffs to save money at the company.
wftv.comDisney CEO Bob Chapek weighs in on reservation system, Parental Rights in Education bill
Disney CEO Bob Chapek said Wednesday that he expects the Walt Disney Company to continue to evolve by creating opportunities, focus on customized storytelling, build transformative moments and take bold risks to move forward in the marketplace.
Elton John doc ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ lands at Disney
Sir Elton John is preparing to say goodbye in fabulous splendor, with the help of a documentary crew and the Walt Disney Co. Disney Original Documentary and Disney+ said Wednesday that the film, entitled “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years that Made his Legend,” will serve as the definitive and official feature on John’s life and career.
Disney in balancing act as some workers walk out in protest
With some workers across the U.S. staging a walkout, The Walt Disney Co. finds itself performing a high-wire act of balancing the expectations of a diverse workforce against demands from an increasingly polarized and politicized marketplace.
With walkout threat over Florida’s parental rights bill, Disney finds itself in balancing act
Even though only a small percentage of Walt Disney Co. workers participated in a walkout, organizers felt they had won a moral victory with the company issuing a statement denouncing the anti-LGBTQ legislation that sparked employee outrage.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek denounces ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill week after protests
Disney CEO Bob Chapek publicly opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill—dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics—Wednesday at a shareholders meeting, nearly a week after people protested and asked the company to share its views on the controversial piece of legislation.
Walt Disney World’s reservation system staying in place through early 2023
ORLANDO, Fla. – Guests making reservations for future trips to Walt Disney World now have the opportunity to make theme park reservations in 2023. According to Walt Disney World’s reservation system, slots are now available for all its theme parks through Jan. 14, 2023. (Walt Disney World)Officials said the new system was put in place to manage capacity limits in the parks while also following health and safety guidance. The new reservations in 2023 follow the Walt Disney Company’s 2021 quarter one earnings report, which was released last week. Absolutely not.”AdNo word on if the reservation system will stay in place following these new reservation dates.
Disney theme parks will likely require masks through 2021
Disney CEO Bob Chapek said he expects the strict safety precautions at the parks to last through the end of the year. He hopes there are vaccines for everyone who wants them by April, Chapek said that could be a ‘gamechanger’ for the theme parks. “But do we think we will be in the same state of 6-foot social distancing and mask-wearing in 2022? Absolutely not.”Disney parks in Central Florida are also expected to stay at some level of limited capacity. The battered cruise industry continues to rock Disney’s business plan, and the parks division alone reported a $119 million loss last quarter.
Bergman succeeds Horn as Disney Studios chairman
In this combination photo, Alan Bergman, left, and Alan F. Horn, attend the premiere of "The Mandalorian" in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 2019. The Walt Disney Company announced Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 that Bergman has been named Chairman, Disney Studios Content, effective January 1, and Horn will continue to serve as the divisions Chief Creative Officer. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, file)Walt Disney Co. veteran Alan Bergman has been named chairman of Disney Studios, the company said Monday. “The Walt Disney Studios’ achievements under the leadership of Alan Horn and Alan Bergman have been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Bob Chapek, Walt Disney Co. CEO, in a statement. Bergman has worked at Disney for 24 years and served as president of Walt Disney Studios from 2005 to 2019, helping to integrate Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel and Twenty-First Century Fox into the Disney stable of brands.
Disney+ subscribers reach 86.8 million worldwide
Chapek said Disney+ subscribers worldwide have reached 86.8 million, up from 74 million last month. But Disney also kept its biggest films — including Marvel's “Black Widow," Pixar's “Luca,” a “Lion King” prequel — on course for theatrical release. Jenkins becomes the first woman to direct a “Star Wars” film. Among the “Star Wars” series are two spinoffs of “The Mandalorian,” set during the series' timeline: “Rangers of the New Republic” and “Ahsoka,” with Rosario Dawson. Seven Disney films topped $1 billion worldwide.
Disney World plans to increase capacity to 35%
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Disney CEO Bob Chapek told investors they are seeing high demand and strong attendance at the parks in Orlando. [RELATED: Disney posts 4Q loss as parks business, costs drag results]Additionally, Thursday was the release of Disney’s fourth quarter and full fiscal year earnings. Disney’s quarter four revenues were over 14.7 billion, that’s down 23 percent from last year. The report shows Disney’s fiscal year revenue was 65.3 billion, down about 6 percent from last year. If you take a look at Disney’s parks, experiences, and products, the number is down 61 percent in quarter four and down 37 percent for the fiscal year.
Disney reorg to further bolster company’s focus on streaming
The company said in August that its Disney Plus service has more than 60 million subscribers, and subscribers to its main combination of streaming services — Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu — top 100 million. It still plans to launch another international streaming service called Star. Disney has released several major titles on streaming services that would traditionally have appeared at cinemas, like a live-action remake of "Mulan" and the upcoming Pixar film “Soul" that will hit Disney Plus at Christmas. Their primary focus will be on making shows and movies for streaming services, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said in a statement. Disney Plus is considered one of the most successful so far.
Pixar's 'Soul' bypasses theaters, will stream on Christmas
NEW YORK – The Pixar film “Soul” will skip theaters and instead premiere on Disney+ on Christmas, the Walt Disney Co. announced Thursday, sending one of the fall's last big movies straight to streaming. The successive delays of the film industry's would-be blockbusters has only made the dire circumstances of movie theaters more acute. Without aid, the organization said, 69% of small and mid-sized movie theater companies will close or go bankrupt. “The stark reality is that many movie theaters will not be able to open again if they don’t receive government help,” says Esther Baruh, director of government relations for the association. It recently announced that it would lay off 28,000 workers, most of them at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
After a long slumber, U.S. cinemas awaken on pivotal weekend
This combination shows Yifei Liu in the title role of "Mulan," left, and John David Washington in a scene from "Tenet." On Thursday, Christopher Nolans Tenet will arrive in U.S. theaters, the first big movie to head to cinemas since the pandemic began. I didnt expect that many people to show up.More Americans will make their way back to the movies this weekend than any since the pandemic shuttered theaters in March. After debuting in Europe, Canada and Korea last weekend, Tenet on Thursday lands in the 75% open U.S. theaters, along with cinemas in China on Friday. As long as its done in a sensible way.As difficult as the circumstances are, Warner Bros. also sees opportunity.
What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbers
ORLANDO, 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.
What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbers
[MORE: Here’s a glimpse at theme park reopening plans | Behind the closed gates: What’s been happening at Central Florida theme parks during pandemic closures]Disney is opening its Shanghai park cautiously as it evaluates reopening other parks around the world. (Disney)During a roundtable discussion, Disney executive George Kalogridis said the company is considering reopening its U.S. parks with 20% to 30% capacity. 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. Chapek has said it’s ultimately up to how comfortable people are and how they react to the parks reopening their gates. The next time we visit a Disney theme park, it’ll be like going for the first time.