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☆ Disney reveals more on huge Magic Kingdom expansion, one part of a $60 billion investment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Glendale, California CNN —Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” sits at one edge of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park, the most visited theme park in the world. “It’s probably the largest expansion ever at Magic Kingdom,” Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World site portfolio executive, said Tuesday during a rare media event previewing new Disney attraction designs and technology at its Walt Disney Imagineering facility in California. Disney’s 10-year investment planThe Magic Kingdom expansion is one part of a $60 billion investment Disney has said it’s planning for its parks, cruises and experiences over the next decade. But any plans for expanding the theme park footprint at the Disneyland resort would need Anaheim city approval because of zoning issues. This is really a wild experience.”Charita Carter, executive creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, worked on the project from its inception about four years ago.

Persons: “ It’s, ” Michael Hundgen, Walt, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Josh D'Amaro, Iger, “ it’s, Disney, ” Iger, ”, Mike Pucher, Walt Disney Imagineering Iger, Imagineers, Darth Vader, Imagineer Lanny Smoot, ” Smoot, Smoot, Christian Thompson, Stella Reese Chase, Leah Chase, Chase, “ I’m, I’ve, ” Charita Carter, Walt Disney Imagineering, Carter, “ Organizations: California CNN, Railroad, Disney, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney, Walt, CNN, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal, Comcast, Anaheim City Council, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Research, Walt Disney Imagineering Research, Disneyland’s Locations: Glendale, California, ”, Central Florida, Disney’s Florida, Florida, Anaheim, New Orleans

☆ Disneyland’s Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy want to join a union
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The union said on Tuesday that about 60% of the 1,700 Disneyland employees in the characters and parades departments have signed cards seeking a union representation election. Performers doing the same work at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, are already in a union and have been for years. And until recently the Disney World performers were paid more than their Disneyland counterparts, according to the union. The Disneyland performers had been getting $20 an hour until the union organizing drive began late last year. “But magic alone doesn’t pay the rent.”The union already represents some of the Disney World performers.

Persons: Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, ” Kate Shindle, ” Disney, Nelson Peltz, –, Samantha Delouya Organizations: New, New York CNN, Disney, Actor’s Equity Association, Disneyland, Council for Community, Economic Research, Actor’s Equity, CNN Locations: New York, Los Angeles, Orlando , Florida, Orange County , California, Orlando .

Workers who bring Disneyland’s beloved characters to life — including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Cinderella — are looking to unionize. Labor organizers announced the campaign Tuesday, saying performers want better safety conditions and scheduling policies to help keep the magic alive for visitors. While most of the more than 35,000 workers at the Disneyland Resort already have labor unions, about 1,700 performers and character actors do not. “This isn't one of those situations where we're out making the employer the bad guy,” said Kate Shindle, president of Actors' Equity Association, which would represent the performers. Disneyland officials said in a statement that they believe cast members deserve the right to a confidential vote.

Persons: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, ”, Kate Shindle, Disney, — Taxin, Mike Schneider Organizations: Workers, Labor, Disneyland, Actors ' Equity Association, Disney, Disney California, Downtown Disney, Themed Entertainment, ’ Equity Association, Walt Disney Co, Associated Press, Actors, Equity, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Anaheim, Florida, Santa Ana , California, Orlando , Florida

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong Disneyland opened its first Frozen-themed attraction on Monday, with thousands of eager visitors turning up to experience the new rides, some lining up for hours to get an early start. Now that Chinese tourists are venturing abroad again after the pandemic, the pandemic, the new attraction is meant to be a game changer for a theme park that has run losses for years. Some of the hundreds of Disney fans who lined up hours ahead of time were dressed like characters from Frozen. “The World of Frozen is really well-designed and beautiful,” said Darmanic, whose family was making its first visit to the Hong Kong theme park. Hong Kong has been beefing up the park to try and draw more visitors.

Persons: ”, Josh D’Amaro, Bryan Darmanic, Darmanic, Winnie Ip, ” Ip Organizations: Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney, Tokyo DisneySea, Paris Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, California, Macao, Shanghai, Tokyo, Arendelle

☆ Disney agrees to settle Magic Key annual pass lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Walt Disney Company agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the entertainment giant of “deceptive business practices” in regard to its Disneyland annual pass program, according to a court filing Thursday. The suit alleges that “thousands of people” with Magic Key passes may have been affected and were eligible to participate in the class action suit. A statement attributed to Disneyland officials said they “are satisfied that this matter has been resolved.”The attorneys representing affected Magic Key pass-holders did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. Disney’s Magic Key pass program was introduced two years ago, replacing the theme parks’ legacy Annual Pass Program. Disneyland offers four Magic Key passes at different price points.

Persons: David Marcus, Marcus, they’ve, ”, “, ” Marcus Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney Company, University of California, Disney Locations: California, Anaheim , California, Los Angeles

☆ Rachel Bloom Enjoys the Ride
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Alexis Soloski | More About Alexis Soloski | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“My grandfather went on this one time,” Rachel Bloom effused on a recent afternoon. “He thought he was going to die.”A writer-performer best known for the cult musical comedy “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Bloom was standing at the base of Coney Island’s Cyclone, the 96-year-old wooden thrill ride designated as a landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts. “I just had this thought of, we’re all going to die someday,” she said. Something like riding the world’s second-steepest wooden roller coaster, which boasts 60-mile-per-hour speeds and an 85-foot drop. Bloom — brisk, animated, with a mind that sometimes outraces her mouth — apparently finds a 3.75 G-force relaxing.

Persons: ” Rachel Bloom effused, ” Bloom, ”, Lucille Lortel, Bloom Organizations: Coney Island’s Cyclone, American Coaster, New Locations: Coney Island’s

Every June, it seems more and more corporations are trying to speak to and for the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community during Pride Month. This year was no different, even in the face of rising homophobia and anti-trans legislation. Whether it was Bud Lite partnering with a prominent trans influencer or the C.I.A. posting a banal message of inclusivity or Disneyland’s Clarabelle Cow being called a rising queer icon after serving in a rainbow dress during the park’s inaugural Pride Nite, companies are clamoring for a chance to make Pride about them. But is this representative of a genuine interest in diversity, inclusion and furthering the acceptance of queer identities, or is it rainbow washing — an attempt at capturing the attention and business of a growing consumer demographic?

Persons: Bud Lite, Max Wittert Organizations: Pride

☆ Dragon at Disneyland’s ‘Fantasmic!’ Performance Catches Fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( April Rubin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When a fire-breathing dragon caught fire at Disneyland on Saturday night, some spectators thought it was part of the show. But the prop being engulfed in flames was accidental, and officials were investigating the cause, Sgt. Jon McClintock, a spokesman for the Anaheim Police Department and Anaheim Fire and Rescue, said on Sunday. At least six workers were treated for smoke inhalation but did not require further evaluation, he said. The fire was reported at about 11 p.m. local time, 30 minutes after the start of a performance of “Fantasmic!”

☆ Disneyland adds dolls in wheelchairs to ‘It’s a Small World’
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disneyland on Friday added two new characters in wheelchairs to its iconic “It’s a Small World” attraction, saying it wanted a “more accurate representation of diversity around the world.”The animatronic dolls are among some 300 costumed dolls representing singing children from many nations featured in the attraction. Erin Quintanilla, manager of accessibility for the Disneyland Resort, said the designs sought to combine authenticity with the colorful, cheerful style of the original standing dolls. “I teared up when I saw them in the attraction.”Similar dolls will be added next year to “It’s a Small World” rides at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris. Disney has added characters to “It’s a Small World” in the past. A new “Spirit of America” scene added in 2009 included Woody and other “Toy Story” characters along with dolls in Native American dress.

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