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☆ Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy file for union vote at Disneyland
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Chris Isidore | Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The group had announced a union organizing effort in February, but very often such campaigns fall short of filing to hold a vote. Union organizing efforts have picked up in the last year, especially in the wake of a number of high profile contract wins by unions that provided union members with large pay raises. There are more than 21,000 Disneyland “cast member” employees, who are represented by more than a dozen unions. But it doesn’t include the performers who dress up as characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy and interact with visitors. Vo said it’s difficult for cast members to afford living on their own, and many have roommates.

Persons: “, ”, Kate Shindle, Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Disney, Mai Vo, Vo, Zach Elefante, Elefante Organizations: California CNN, Actor’s Equity Association, National Labor Relations Board, Disneyland, Disney, Union, Workers, CNN, showtime, Magic Kingdom Locations: Anaheim, California, Los Angeles, Orlando , Florida, Orlando, Southern California, Vo

☆ Disney’s Annual Meeting Will Include a Thrill Ride
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

“Disruptive and destructive.” That is how Disney has referred to the activist investors who are pushing for seats on its board and influence over its strategy. In return, the activists have called Disney “stupid” and mocked its purported turnaround as “a fanciful tale.”Which side will prevail? One of the largest, priciest and nastiest proxy contests in history will come to a head on Wednesday, when Disney is scheduled to virtually host its annual shareholder meeting. A smaller activist investor, Blackwells Capital, is seeking three seats. Disney has put forward its own slate of 12 directors and has said its get-out-the-vote campaign would cost up to $40 million.

Persons: Nelson Peltz, — Organizations: Disney, Trian Partners, Blackwells

☆ Disney to acquire remaining stake in Hulu for $8.6 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Oliver Darcy | Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Disney will acquire Comcast’s one-third stake in Hulu for an expected $8.61 billion, the company said Wednesday, in a deal that will put the streaming service entirely inside the Magic Kingdom when the transaction closes later this year. “The acquisition of Comcast’s stake in Hulu at fair market value will further Disney’s streaming objectives,” the company said in a short statement. Disney’s bid to acquire the remaining shares in the platform began in 2019 under an agreement between the two companies that gave Hulu a value of at least $27.5 billion. In 2020, NBCU launched its own subscription-based streaming platform, Peacock, and Comcast began shifting programming from Hulu onto the new platform, including Bravo and NBC shows. Disney has also bundled the Hulu service as part of its larger portfolio of streaming services, including Disney+ and ESPN+, offering it at a discounted rate as part of the larger package.

Persons: CNN —, Disney’s, Bob Iger, Disney “, Iger, ”, NBCU, Hulu, “ I’ve, ” Iger Organizations: CNN, CNN — Disney, Hulu, Disney, ABC, ESPN, Century Fox, Comcast, Time Warner, Bravo, NBC Locations: Hulu

☆ Disney sued over ‘severe’ injuries allegedly caused by ‘wedgie’ from water slide
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is facing a lawsuit related to an “injurious wedgie” that court documents allege resulted from riding a 214-foot water slide in the resort’s Typhoon Lagoon water park in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The suit pertains to an incident that took place on October 14, 2019, on the Humunga Kowabunga water slide during a two-week visit to Walt Disney World by plaintiffs Emma and Edward McGuinness and their family. CNN has reached out to Walt Disney World Resort for comment. In addition to the count of negligence, a second count, “loss of consortium,” relates to Emma McGuinness’ husband, Edward McGuinness. Emma and Edward McGuinness are suing for compensatory damages and taxable costs and are demanding a jury trial.

Persons: Emma, Edward McGuinness, Emma McGuinness ’, Disney, ’, ”, Walt, Disney “, McGuinness, “, Wagner, McLaughlin Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney, Whittemore Locations: Lake Buena Vista , Florida, Orange County , Florida

☆ Disney drops part of its lawsuit against DeSantis to focus on free speech claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has amended its lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his hand-picked oversight board, dropping all of its claims except one. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, now focuses solely on the claim that DeSantis and his allies allegedly weaponized their political power to retaliate against the company for exercising its First Amendment right to free speech. The amended lawsuit claims that DeSantis has illegally punished the company since it spoke out. In May, the oversight board voted to file its own lawsuit against Disney to maintain its control of the district. The amended lawsuit comes less than one month after DeSantis encouraged Disney to drop its lawsuit in an interview with CNBC.

Persons: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, —, Governor DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, Sergio FLORES, SERGIO FLORES, Sergio Flores, DeSantis, Disney “, Disney’s, Disney, ”, “ They’re Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Florida Governor, Republican Party of, Iowa, AFP, Getty, Disney, DeSantis, ” Disney, Walt Disney World, CNBC Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, AFP, Florida

☆ US Open champion can’t watch tennis because of Disney’s dispute with his hotel’s cable company
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Tennis champion Daniil Medvedev is competing at the US Open, but there’s a problem: He can’t watch any of the matches on his TV. “I cannot watch it on TV anymore,” Medvedev said about the tennis tournament. “I don’t know if it’s legal or illegal, but I have to find a way because I cannot watch it on TV. I got internet, probably this, how you call it, pirate websites, so I watch tennis there … I have no other choice.”Last week, Disney-owned channels like ESPN were pulled from 15 million Spectrum cable subscribers in prime time, angering fans trying to watch tennis and college football. However, its anchors didn’t acknowledge the carriage dispute or mention the irony that Spectrum subscribers can’t watch tennis on its own cable service.

Persons: Daniil Medvedev, “, ” Medvedev, Disney “, Disney, We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN — Tennis, Walt Disney Company, ESPN, Disney, Charter, Spectrum, Hulu, NY1 — Locations: New York, Queens , New York

☆ ‘Haunted Mansion’ Review: A Disney Ride to Nowhere Fun
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Manohla Dargis | More About Manohla Dargis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

That’s pretty much all there is to say about “Haunted Mansion,” a live-action branding opportunity from Disney “inspired by” its theme-park attraction of the same name. “Haunted Mansion” is unlikely to do the same. (A 2021 Halloween special, “Muppet Haunted Mansion,” is streaming on Disney+.) The first film, “The Haunted Mansion” (2003), starring Eddie Murphy, was widely panned but made millions. I hope that Disney paid Simien truckloads of money to direct “Haunted Mansion,” and that he had more fun making it than I had watching it.

Persons: ”, Eddie Murphy, Elvis Mitchell, Mario, “ Barbie ”, Justin Simien, “, Simien, it’s Organizations: Disney, Pirates, New York Times, ‘, Mario Bros, Netflix Locations: Disneyland, Anaheim , Calif, ’, Orleans, ”

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis to countersue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) -An oversight board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday said it would file a countersuit against Walt Disney Co in state court, according to prepared remarks seen by Reuters. Slideshow ( 2 images )The decision, which further escalates tensions between Disney and the state of Florida, comes in response to a lawsuit Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. The skirmish began last year after Disney criticized a Florida measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney’s virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. “The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business,” Martin said.

☆ Disney has a ‘strong case’ against DeSantis over his ‘retaliatory campaign,’ First Amendment experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Disney just cast Ron DeSantis as the villain in a story of good versus evil. DeSantis responded to the lawsuit by issuing a statement through his communications director, Taryn Fenske. “It’s a serious First Amendment case,” Floyd Abrams, the renowned First Amendment attorney of Pentagon Papers fame, told me. The truth is that characterizing Disney as a creepy company that aims to morally bankrupt kids has become a mainstream position in GOP media circles. DeSantis knows this — which is why he was happy to pick this battle with the company.

☆ How Disney and DeSantis started feuding
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Ron DeSantis won praise from the right for retaliating against Disney for its CEO’s decision to (rather timidly) wade into the public discourse over a contentious state law. In that first round of Florida’s GOP vs The Walt Disney Company, DeSantis landed a body blow that ultimately cost Disney CEO Bob Chapek his job. DeSantis signed the bill into law, and then set his sights on punishing Disney for daring to challenge him. “This essentially makes Disney the government,” said Ron Peri, a DeSantis pick for the new board, last week. Last week, Iger announced Disney would lay off 7,000 people as part of a $5.5 billion cost-reduction plan.

☆ Nelson Peltz lays out his case for Disney proxy fight, slams Fox acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Disney is facing a proxy fight as Nelson Peltz's activist firm Trian Fund Management pushes for a seat on its board. Fox turned what was once a pristine balance sheet into a mess," Peltz said Thursday. On Thursday, the activist firm filed a preliminary proxy statement looking to put Peltz on Disney's board. Disney's board will now have 11 members. The activist firm said it owns about 9.4 million shares valued at approximately $900 million, which it first accumulated a few months ago.

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