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☆ The least-visited national parks in the United States in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The state of Alaska — which covers 665,384 square miles (426 million acres) — is home to five of the 15 least-visited national parks for 2023. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska - 78,305 recreation visitsAmerica’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses 13.2 million acres — or about the size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, the Park Service says. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida - 84,285 recreation visitsThis island park in Florida is among 20 National Park Service sites that broke visitation records in 2023. Channel Islands National Park, California - 328,746 recreation visitsStretching over five islands and the surrounding ocean, Channel Islands National Park offer opportunities to hike, snorkel, kayak, birdwatch and more. While Pinnacles may rank among the 15 least-visited national parks, it gets very busy on weekends, holidays and throughout the spring, according to a notice on the park’s website.

Persons: Alaska’s Gates, “, ” Peter Christian, fa’asamoa, Gates, ”, Katmai, Brooks Camp, Elias, Lumir, Nabesna, McCarthy Organizations: CNN, &, CNN Travel, of, Park Service, National Parks, & Preserve, South Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines, Lake Clark, National Park Service, Getty, Isle Royale, NPS, Wolves, Elias, Park & Preserve, Yosemite National, Voyageurs National, Voyageurs National Park, ” Voyageurs, Voyageurs, Service, Channel Locations: Alaska’s, Fairbanks, Alaska, of American Samoa, South, Samoa, Smoky, Wild Rivers, American Samoa, Honolulu, , Alaska, Isle, Lake Superior, Isle Royale, Park , Michigan, Brooks, , Washington, Wrangell, St, Elias, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Switzerland, , Florida, Florida, Key, Fort Jefferson, , Nevada, Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park , Minnesota, Canada, Guadalupe, Park , Texas, Texas, Salt, , South Carolina, South Carolina, Congaree, There’s, Santa Cruz, , California, Southern California

☆ Disney earnings: Company plans to slash costs by $2 billion more
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The company announced it would slash expenses by another $2 billion, adding to the $5.5 billion reduction it had previously announced, which included thousands of job cuts. Meanwhile, the company continues to lose money in its Disney+ streaming business, but it managed to significantly reduce its losses in that division. The company reported revenue of $21.2 billion, coming in slightly below expectations of $21.3 billion, according to estimates from analysts surveyed by Refinitiv. The company said it was “aggressively managing its cost base,” planning to slash $2 billion more in costs than previously reported. “We are bullish about the future of our streaming business,” Iger said.

Persons: Los Angeles CNN — Disney, Bob Iger, Angus Mordant, Ron DeSantis, “, ’, Kevin Lansberry, Lansberry, ”, “ We’re, Iger, ” Iger Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Disney, Times, Bloomberg, Getty, Republican, Gov, Walt Disney World, ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, Geographic, “, ABC Network, CNBC Locations: New York, Central Florida, Disney’s, Canada, Hulu

☆ Disney is in trouble. Bob Iger has 5 big problems to solve
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Last quarter, Disney’s linear television revenue continued to slip, declining 7% compared to the same quarter last year. Disney World angstIt may not be all bad news for Disney, though. However, Disney World Resort in Florida has struggled with declining attendance in recent months. Over the summer, Disney World parkgoers experienced shorter-than-expected ride wait times and fewer crowds. Nearly one year ago, Iger unexpectedly came out of retirement to take over the role of Disney CEO once again after the board unexpectedly fired his successor, Bob Chapek.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Bob Iger, Hugh Johnston, Christine McCarthy, Iger, ” Iger, I’ve, expansively, Indiana Jones, Reynaud Julien, Bank of America’s Jessica Reif Ehrlich, Ehrlich, Jason Bazinet, Disney, Disney isn’t, ”, Vijay Jayant, underperformance, Bob Chapek, Johnston Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Disney, Republican, Gov, Warner Bros, CNN, Media, YouTube, ESPN, Wall Street, PepsiCo, ABC, Disney Channel, Geographic, “, Destiny, Cannes Film, APS, Bank of America’s, Citigroup, Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Locations: Florida, Refinitiv, Cannes, France, Canada, Hulu, Shanghai, Hong, Central Florida

☆ Gatorland gives alligator missing top half of its jaw a name
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Forrest Brown | Macie Goldfarb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The alligator that was taken to Gatorland after being reported wandering around Central Florida with the top half of its jaw missing now has a name, the park announced in a social media video Wednesday. “Jawlene,” named for the 1973 Dolly Parton song “Jolene,” continues to receive treatment in isolation from the other Gatorland animals. The female gator has gained about 0.3 grams, or 0.01 ounces, according to crocodilian enrichment coordinator Savannah Boan. Gatorland, which took in the gator earlier this month, chose Jawlene from a list of names submitted by parkgoers and fans of the viral reptile, park CEO Mark McHugh said in the video. McHugh also shared that Jawlene reached a new milestone Wednesday by eating two mice completely on her own using the back of her tongue.

Persons: “, ”, Dolly Parton, Jolene, Savannah Boan, parkgoers, Mark McHugh, McHugh, Jawlene Organizations: CNN, gator, Savannah Locations: Central Florida

☆ Photo Essay: A Historic Dallas Neighborhood Grapples With Gentrification
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Azul Sordo | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +19 min

Raul Gutiérrez Alvarado (left) and his nephew, William Domínguez Gutierrez, pose for a portrait outside of their Oak Cliff home. At the time, the local media narrative was one of positive change for the neighborhood, Valderas says. (Azul Sordo for USN&WR)Before the BarrioOak Cliff was once a majority-white, working class neighborhood, annexed by Dallas in 1903. South Oak Cliff, which is largely Black and Hispanic, has a long record of neglect, well documented by Texas Monthly . This is the only photo she has of herself, which adorns the living room of her South Oak Cliff home.

Persons: Cliff, Seattle –, Ferguson, Raul Gutiérrez Alvarado, William Domínguez Gutierrez, Oak Cliff, Gutierrez, Manuel Sordo, Giovanni Valderas, Valderas, “, Ezekiel Garcia, Brianna Hinguanzo, Jose Melendez, Diana Melendez, ”, . Sandoval, Sandoval, Strausz, ” Sandoval, Tereso Ortiz, they’ve, They’ve, ” Ortiz, Claudia Rangel, Damien Olguin, Rangel, Pearlina Bates, she’s, Bates, ” Bates, ‘ Let's, Todd Williams, Sam Moss, Moss, Cliff Valderas, –, ” Valderas, Chad West, Gloria McCoy, Joann, McCoy, SaCarol Ford, Shaun Montgomery, She’s, Charles Strain, Noah Penn, ” Montgomery, Robert L, Thornton, ” Kathryn Holliday, that's, Tomorrow Bates, it’s, ‘, ” Pearlina Bates Organizations: DALLAS, U.S ., U.S . As Texas, USN, Dallas Morning News, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Dallas, San, Texas Woman’s University, Oak Cliff, cleats, Bishop Arts, Institute, Ku Klux Klan, D Magazine, “, Penn State University, Bishop Arts District, Casa, Blacks, New York City, Texas Woman's University, Dallas County, City Council, Chad, Greater El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Tenth, Historic, Tenth Street Residential Association, Greater El Bethel Church, Ninth Ward School, Ku Klux, Dallas Observer, American Institute of Architects, University of Illinois, Tenth Street, Greater El Bethel Baptist Missionary Church, Sunday, Texas Monthly, Cliff Locations: Dallas, U.S, U.S . As, Seattle, Lawndale, Chicago, Missouri, Dover , New Jersey, Michocán, Mexico, Oak, San Francisco, Denver, Boston, North Oak, Jefferson, “ Texas, Black, “ Barrio America, American City, South Dallas, Oak Cliff, ”, Casa Guanajuato, Dallas from Louisiana, –, Kiest Park, Texas, Melba, Greater El Bethel, Van Buren

Wait times for rides and attractions at both resorts have shortened, according to analysts who track theme park attendance. Disney CEO Bob Iger attributed Disney World’s recent decline in wait times to an overall slump in Central Florida tourism. Iger told CNBC he did not have “long-term concerns” about Disney’s theme parks. For Universal’s Florida parks, every month since March has seen lower average wait times, according to the site. Pareti said she spends between four and six days per week at Disney’s parks and visits Universal parks, as well.

Persons: Los Angeles CNN —, Walt, Universal Orlando parkgoers, Bob Iger, ”, Iger, Shorter, July’s, Don Munsil, he’s, Munsil, “, Kayla Pareti, Mickey Travels, Mickey, You’re, Pareti, she’s, “ Don’t, it’s, Comcast’s, Disney’s, That’s, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Pete Werner, Christine McCarthy, ” Werner, It’s, Disney Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Central, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Disney, CNBC, CNN, Universal, Disney’s, Universal Studios, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Company, Comcast, UBS, DIS Universal, Republican, NAACP, Human Rights, League of United Latin American, Walt Disney, Disney Cruise Locations: Florida, Central Florida, “ Florida, Disney’s Florida, Universal Studios Florida, Bay Lake , Florida, Orange County, Orlando

☆ 6 National Parks You Don’t Know About (But Should)
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Emily Pennington | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

MAKE WAY FOR A MOOSE A hiker in Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park yields the right-of-way on the Minong Ridge Trail. Photo: Jim West/imageBROKER/ShutterstockWITH THEIR mile-deep sandstone canyons, glacier-polished granite domes and herds of charismatic megafauna, it’s no wonder that America’s national parks received nearly 312-million visits in 2022. A staggering 25% of those visitors descended upon just nine of the Park Service’s 424 designated areas. Too often, these crowds funnel into narrow byways, creating headaches and traffic jams—and negating the very thing most parkgoers crave: solitude.

Persons: Jim West Locations: Isle

☆ 10 fascinating theme parks that have closed forever
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In April, we’re taking a thrilling ride into the world of theme parks. “We think of amusement parks as vibrant, colorful, noisy, cheerful places,” says Jim Futrell of the National Amusement Park Historical Association. Pripyat Amusement Park (Ukraine)The Pripyat Amusement Park was built right before the Chernobyl disaster. Yongma Land (South Korea)Once in a blue moon, abandoned theme parks find new life by adopting totally new functions. Faced with increased competition from Orlando’s modern theme parks, Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 and was eventually absorbed into LEGOLAND Florida.

☆ Why fans say trips to Disney World are now 'incredibly complicated' to pull off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

But some travelers aren't thrilled about what it takes to pull off a trip to Walt Disney World these days. He said he goes to Disney World about "once a month." They will leave thinking food at Disney World is a "cheeseburger and a hot dog … which could not be farther from the truth," he said. Walt Disney World comprises four theme parks, two water parks and dozens of themed hotels, plus a shopping and entertainment area called Disney Springs. He called Disney World an "amazing spa destination" and said Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney, has shopping, live music and fantastic restaurants.

☆ Disneyland reopens Toontown, designed to be inclusive of 'every single guest'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Parkgoers at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, will finally be able to return to Mickey's Toontown this weekend after a yearlong closure for refurbishment. The reimagined Toontown honors the space that first opened in 1993, keeping existing structures like Mickey and Minnie's houses in tact, albeit with a paint touch-up. But there's also quite a bit of new infrastructure for kids to explore — with an eye toward inclusivity. "We wanted Toontown to not only be exciting, but also decompressing and relaxing and welcoming." With that in mind, the Imagineers have introduced more green spaces within the land, places to have picnics, sit and unwind, or play freely.

☆ Look inside Super Nintendo World, which just opened at Universal Studios Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Mario poses at the "SUPER NINTENDO WORLD" welcome celebration at Universal Studios Hollywood on February 16, 2023 in Universal City, California. Princess Peach's castle in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. Mario Kart visors from Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. Merchandise available at 1-UP Factory inside Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. Toadstool Cafe during a media preview of Super Nintendo World theme park at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California, US, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

☆ Disney's U.S. theme park ticket hikes point to continued strong demand and pricing power
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The hikes are also happening when there have been questions about how well demand at Disney's theme parks will hold up in the face of persistent inflation and worries of an economic slowdown. The popularity of Genie+ has exceeded management's expectations and helped to boost per capita spending at the theme parks. We think the market is getting this all wrong based on the strength of the company's underlying businesses, especially the highly profitable division that includes theme parks. In the near term, these latest price hikes at the theme parks may point to continued theme park-strength, based on Chapek's August comments to CNBC: "If consumer demand keeps up, we act accordingly." We'll get a more detailed look at how Disney's theme parks did in its fiscal fourth quarter when the company's official quarterly results hit the tape after the Nov. 8 closing bell.

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