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☆ I dined at Disney World's only Michelin-starred restaurant for $375. You'll want to snag a reservation even if you don't care about the theme parks.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Casey Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I spent $375, including the tip, to dine at Disney's only Michelin-starred restaurant . Victoria & Albert's in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers an upscale prix fixe meal. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The famed restaurant, Victoria & Albert's inside the Grand Floridian Resort, offers prix fixe tasting menus starting at $295 a person with optional drink add-ons. I've been visiting Disney World for 20 years but never stepped foot inside the Grand Floridian restaurant until this month.

Persons: —, I've Organizations: Michelin, Floridian, Spa, Service, Disney, Business Locations: Disney's, Victoria

☆ Former Disney World employees share 8 of their favorite places to eat in the theme parks
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Jenna Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Business Insider spoke with former Disney World employees about their favorite places to eat on the property. AdvertisementFlame Tree Barbecue at Animal Kingdom is a must-tryFor former Magic Kingdom employee Kaitlyn Cahalen, Flame Tree Barbecue is the main Animal Kingdom restaurant she frequents. Jenna ClarkIf you're traveling to Disney World with picky eaters, Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios can be a lifesaver. AdvertisementKalyn Breisch, a former Disney College Program participant who worked at Epcot, told Business Insider that she can be picky. First, because it's always delicious, and second because it reminds me of very happy memories of when my parents came to Disney World."

Persons: —, Kaitlyn Cahalen, Jenna Clark, Kalyn, Le Cellier, Josie Maida Aguirre, Matt Stroshane, Walt, Joyce Wingate Boyden, Wingate Boyden, Breisch, Brown, Carly Caramanna, Hollywood Brown Organizations: Service, Business, Disney, Magic, Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney College, Epcot, Disney World, Walt Disney, Vine, Hollywood Brown Derby, Brown Derby, Hollywood Locations: Animal Kingdom, Canada, Magic, California

☆ These are Wall Street's favorite S&P 500 picks for the second half
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The second half of the year is around the corner, and some stocks are primed to outperform, according to a screen of Wall Street analysts' favorite picks. The following names have 20% or more upside to their analyst price targets and are already in the green for 2024 — indicating their price targets are elevated not just due to a drop in share price. To note, the price targets are 12-month estimates. Out of the four analysts covering the stock, three rate it a buy or a strong buy. Around three-quarters of analysts covering the stock have a strong buy or buy rating.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, Guggenheim, Hess Organizations: Street, Nvidia, ISI, Citi, CNBC Pro, CNBC, Argus, Disney, Coterra, UBS, Chevron, Exxon Mobil Locations: Warren, Chevron, Guyana

☆ Opinion: If Dolly Parton can be canceled, we’re in serious trouble
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Opinion Allison Hope | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The most uncancellable person in US History — iconic American singer, songwriter and actress, Dolly Parton — has been caught in the crosshairs of cancel culture. Have the haters run afoul and gone and ruined Dolly Parton as the magical unifier that she has long been known for? But Dolly Parton slid through over the past years, decades even, largely unscathed by the polarization and division. Indeed, the pitchforks coming for Dolly Parton serve as an apt reminder of America’s decline and sheer terror of the evitability of civil war. That is, if we can heal from this episode and uncancel Dolly Parton.

Persons: Allison Hope’s, Dolly Parton —, Barbie, Parton, Allison Hope, Allison Hope Parton, Ericka Andersen, ” Andersen, ”, Dolly, “, Dolly Parton, “ Jolene, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, —, Dolly Patron, “ Jolene ” Organizations: CNN, Yorker, The New York Times, Washington, Federalist, Democratic, Twitter, Alabama hillbillies Locations: Slate, Switzerland, Conservative, Covid, California, Forge , Tennessee, America

☆ 5 Times Tourists Misbehaved in National Parks in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Tourists have been flocking to US national parks in droves in recent years. But as more visitors crowd into national parks, some behave badly and disrespect the environment. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In 2023, the National Park Service (NPS) recorded over 325.5 million recreational visits to the 63 parks in the United States, 13 million more than the previous year. The surge in national park tourism is partially a return to prepandemic levels of domestic travel — the number of visits in 2023 was about 2 million shy of 2019's.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, National Park Service, Business Locations: United States

☆ For a Story on Disney, a Writer Tests New Waters
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. I suppose I qualify as a Disney Adult, the pejorative term for grown-ups who visit Disney theme parks without children in tow. Disney has 12 theme parks and two water parks around the world, and I’ve been to all of them. I was at Walt Disney World in Florida when the theme park reopened in July 2020 after closing for four months during the coronavirus pandemic. And this month, when Disney World began testing its newest ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, I was on it.

Persons: I’ve, Mickey Mouse Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Locations: Florida, California, Turkey

☆ My kids go to summer camp in Taipei. They get to learn Chinese and it's cheaper than in the US.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Virginia Duan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Every year, it seems like the rush to sign my kids up for summer camp begins earlier and earlier. Related storiesInstead, I send my kids to summer camp in Taipei because not only will my children have fun and learn, but they'll be doing so in Chinese. AdvertisementThe author can afford to send her kids to camp in Taipei thanks to the exchange rate and lower costs. Truthfully, many Taiwanese people will try to speak English to my kids even though my kids understand Chinese just fine. For an 8-day, 7-night sleep-away camp for teenagers, the cost for the entire camp would be $711.

Persons: they'll Organizations: Service, Business, UN Locations: Taipei, Taiwan

☆ Why These Chinese Working Mothers Don’t Want More Babies
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Isabelle Qian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Her boss, a woman who had been advocating for her to be given a leadership role, left the team while Ms. Zhao was on a five-month maternity leave. After college, Ms. Zhao set aside her dream of becoming a civil servant to pursue a higher-paying job. (Nearly a third of Chinese women have college degrees now, up from fewer than 1 percent in 1990.) Six months after Ning was born, Ms. Tang returned to her office, leaving the baby in the care of a grandmother. Her husband and in-laws oppose the move, but Ms. Tang doesn’t want to be held back.

Persons: doesn’t, Xi Jinping, —, ” Joyce Zhao, Joyce Zhao, Ming, Zhao, Ms, “, Ming’s, ” Ms, ”, ” Guo Chunlei, Guo Chunlei, Guo, Tianyi, ” Tang Pingjuan, Tang Pingjuan, Tang, Ning, Tang doesn’t Locations: Beijing, China, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen

CNN —Two fast-growing fires are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on a village “like a pair of tongs,” prompting thousands of residents to evacuate, officials say. An estimated 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the village area due to the approaching South Fork Fire, New Mexico Forestry spokesperson George Ducker told CNN. A second blaze, the Salt Fire, is also burning on tribal land south of Ruidoso and has scorched 2,000 acres. The South Fork Fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and is zero percent contained, according to an overnight update from the New Mexico Forestry Division. Both fires are acting like “a pair of tongs, and Ruidoso is in the middle,” Ducker said.

Persons: George Ducker, Ducker, ” Ducker, Jesus Figueroa, Ruidoso, Rebecca Dennis, ” Dennis, Roswell –, Ruidoso –, ” PNM, CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Dave Alsup, Amanda Jackson, Robert Shackelford Organizations: CNN, New Mexico Forestry, Mescalero Apache, New, New Mexico Forestry Division, New Mexico State Police, Facebook, Apache Summit, Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico State Fairgrounds, Storm, US Drought Monitor Locations: New Mexico, Ruidoso, Snow, Whitetail, Chihuahua, Lane, Summit, Los Angeles County, Northern California’s Sonoma County, Oklahoma, Sudderth, Roswell, lockstep, Lincoln County

Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that he would activate the city’s heat emergency plan starting on Tuesday. “The first heat wave of the season is here, and New York City has a plan to beat the heat — but we want all New Yorkers to have a plan as well,” Mr. Adams said. The city’s Heat Vulnerability Index — an effort spearheaded by the health department in conjunction with Columbia University — analyzes the neighborhoods that face the most danger during a heat wave. If everybody’s doing it, you’re multiplying it by millions.”Are heat waves in New York City becoming more common? The only heat wave to hit New York City last year happened in September, said David Stark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of New York.

Persons: Eric Adams, “, Mr, Adams, Ashwin Vasan, Anna Watts, Sandee, Columbia University —, Brian Ourien, ” Mr, Ourien, Zach Iscol, Vasan, ”, Con Ed, Brittainy Newman, Patrick McHugh, Con Ed ., McHugh, David Stark, Elijah Hutchinson, Hutchinson Organizations: Fire Department, National Weather Service, The New York Times, “, New York Public Library, Columbia University, Department of Health, Human Services, Bowery, Emergency Management, Workers, Con, New, New York City, Environmental Locations: New York City, New York, New, York, Bronx , Brooklyn, Queens, Mott Haven, Fordham, Jamaica, Hollis, St, Albans, In Brooklyn, Brownsville , East Flatbush, East New York

☆ Gen Z wants jobs that help solve the climate crisis but has no idea how to get them
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen Z is considered the most climate-conscious generation, with nearly two-thirds saying they want a "green" job within the next five years. And while the skills shortage is most acute among Gen Z, it is part of a broader trend across the labor market. AdvertisementSome 63% of Gen Z workers said the top barrier was a lack of available opportunities. "The data tells us that Gen Z has that in spades," Bycer said, noting that two-thirds of Gen Z said they were interested in training programs. "If you think the universe of climate jobs have sustainability in the title or are at a climate tech company, that's a limited view," Bycer said. "

Persons: Z, Gen, Efrem Bycer, Bycer, Gen Z, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Business, LinkedIn, United, American Climate Corps, Corps Locations: Europe, Brazil, United Arab Emirates

☆ Split by Politics and Protests, Georgia Lets Soccer Carry the Flag
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Tariq Panja | Ivan Nechepurenko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Georgia’s road to its first game in the European soccer championship had been a long one, more than 30 years in the making. So when it finally arrived on Tuesday, no one wanted to miss out. In Tbilisi, thousands more braved the heat to gather in the city’s parks and squares to watch their team play Turkey. More pressed into one of the main stadiums in the capital, where giant video screens had been erected. He had surprised Georgia’s national team at its German training base on Saturday, puttering to a stop after a 12-day journey that had covered more than 4,000 kilometers (about 2,500 miles).

Persons: Georgia’s, puttering Organizations: Turkey Locations: Germany, Dortmund, Tbilisi

☆ During summer my family moves from New York City to Illinois. Summer camp is more affordable there.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I've always wanted my kids to experience the joy of summer camp — hiking, singing, and weaving colorful friendship bracelets. Thankfully, I'm an educator who doesn't work full-time during the summer, so we usually pursue an economical option, the DIY "Mama Camp." The author — who has summers off — would do "mama camp" with her children in New York City. Courtesy of the authorMy kids never complained about Mama Camp — but I still wanted them to see what camp was like with other kids. This year, "Mama Camp" will allow some time for Mama to play too.

Persons: I've, —, Mama Camp —, I'm, Mama Organizations: Service, Business, Parks Department Locations: New York, New York City, Queens, —, Illinois, Chicago, Manhattan, sister's

☆ Oppressive heat wave will broil huge swaths of the East with record-breaking temperatures this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Mary Gilbert | Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Some areas could endure the longest heat wave they’ve seen in decades, the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said. Tens of millions of people who aren’t used to heat this intense will be sweating in temperatures well into the 90s this week. Through the rest of the week, the most extreme heat risk is in place from the Great Lakes into the Northeast, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity will also join forces with extreme heat to create triple-digit heat indices – measurements of how hot the human body feels – in some areas. Chicago residents could feel heat indices between 95 and 105 degrees through next week, the NWS in Chicago warned.

Persons: CNN’s Robert Shackelford Organizations: CNN, National Weather Service, Prediction, NWS Locations: South, Midwest, Great, Chicago, St, Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh , New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, New England

☆ 6 people injured in shooting at park in Round Rock, Texas, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Paradise Afshar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —At least six people, including two children, were injured in a shooting at a park in Round Rock, Texas, the Austin-Travis County EMS said. “We are investigating a shooting incident with multiple victims that occurred at Old Settlers Park tonight,” Rick White, with the Round Rock Police Department, told CNN. “We don’t have a suspect in custody but we’re searching for suspects.”First responders transported the six people to local trauma facilities, “all with potentially serious injuries,” the Austin-Travis County EMS said. A Juneteenth Festival was scheduled at Old Settlers Park on Saturday night, according to the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page. Round Rock is located about 20 miles north of Austin.

Persons: ” Rick White, ” Organizations: CNN, Austin, Round Rock Police Department, Parks, Recreation Locations: Rock , Texas, Travis County, Austin

☆ A millennial and her husband left San Francisco and embarked on 'a grand nomadic tour of the US.' She shares why they ended up moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Rachel Pohl, 34, who lived in San Francisco for several years, and her husband, Jesse Rosenthal, are just two of the people who left. They had been considering moving away from California for quite some time before leaving San Francisco in the fall of 2020. She has also found the people are more diversified in terms of jobs, as opposed to the dominance of tech in the San Francisco area. Realtor.com noted both San Francisco and Chattanooga as buyer's markets at the moment, where the "supply of homes is greater than the demand for homes." Have you moved out of San Francisco or somewhere else in the US?

Persons: —, Francisco, It's, Rachel Pohl, Jesse Rosenthal, they're, Pohl, she's, let's, " Pohl, hadn't, Chattanooga Pohl, it's, Realtor.com Organizations: Service, Chattanooga, Business, ., San Locations: San Francisco, Chattanooga , Tennessee, California, . Montana, Chattanooga, Durham , North Carolina, Francisco, Tennessee, San Franciso, there's, mhoff@businessinsider.com

☆ Disney is mailing checks after a $9.5 million class action settlement. Here's how to know if you are owed any money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Disney agreed to a $9.5 million settlement with guests who purchased a Dream Key pass in 2021. A lawsuit claimed Disney misled guests into believing the annual pass had no block-out dates. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDisneyland guests who paid nearly $1,400 for a Dream Key annual pass can soon expect a check from Disney. Payments from the $9.5 million settlement were sent to eligible class action lawsuit members through the mail and digitally on June 14.

Persons: Disney, —, Jenale Nielsen Organizations: Disney, Service, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Business Locations: California

☆ Singapore races to clean oil spill as luxury beach resort coated in slick
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An oil spill affecting Singapore has spread beyond a luxury beach resort to a marine reserve and other parts of the island as the authorities intensify cleanup efforts. The oil spilled into the city-state’s waters after a Netherlands-flagged dredger, Vox Maxima, hit Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, Marine Honor, on Friday afternoon, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. The oil spill has spread from the busy Pasir Panjang Terminal cargo port, less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from Sentosa, the country’s popular resort island home to luxury hotels, golf courses and Universal Studios Singapore. Oil covers Sentosa's Tanjong Beach in Singapore on June 16, 2024. Measuring about 13 kilometers long (8 miles) long, 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) wide and dotted with several small islands, it is one of the world’s busiest commercial waterways where around 1,000 ships pass through every day.

Persons: Vox Maxima, Hari Raya Haji, John’s, Lazarus, Kusu, Roslan Rahman Organizations: CNN, Maritime, Port Authority of, Universal Studios Singapore, National Parks Board, Friends, Marine, Getty Images Authorities, Marine Stewards Locations: Singapore, Netherlands, Port Authority of Singapore, Pasir Panjang, Sentosa, Hari, Tanjong, Palawan, Siloso, St, Beach, AFP, China

☆ Inside America's Fastest-Growing City, a Little-Known Gem in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Just about 41 miles north of Dallas lies Celina, a small North Texas town that is America's fastest-growing city. Downtown Celina, Texas. Their metamorphosis into sprawling suburban metropolises has been greatly influenced by the ongoing expansion of the North Texas Tollway, which has increased accessibility to the previously remote cities. AdvertisementNew businesses are moving into the cityWith more people living in the city, Celina's economy is also growing as local businesses and services benefit from increased demand. However, Joe Monaco, director of marketing and communications for the city of Celina, told BI that there were "countless volunteers who came out."

Persons: There's, Katy, Ryan Tubbs, Celina, Celina Alcynna Lloyd, Taylor Morrison, Toll, Tubbs, Bankrate, Casas, Aaron Graham, Graham, They're, Tracy Miller, Celina —, Miller, Alcynna Lloyd, —, Sandy Lewis, It's, Celina ., Joe Monaco Organizations: Business, Downtown, Houston, homebuying, North Texas Tollway, Tollway, North Texas Tollway Authority, Celina, Highland Homes, Texans, Homes, Olympic, JC, Real, Group, Mustang, Highland, Little Elm, Troubadour, Celina's, Centurion American Development Group, Dallas, WFAA Locations: Dallas, Celina, North Texas, Collin County, Texas, California, Florida, Georgia , Illinois, Missouri, Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Downtown Celina , Texas, Celina Texas, United States, Austin, Celina , New Braunfels, Prosper, Frisco, Plano, Frisco ., Highland, Celina —, Wilson Creek, Cambridge, East Coasts, New York

☆ The Fastest-Growing City in the US Is a Tiny Spot No One's Ever Heard of
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

About 40 miles north of downtown Dallas lies America's fastest-growing city: Celina, Texas. Highland Homes, which specializes in luxury homes within master-planned communities, has built several neighborhoods in Celina since 2020. Downtown Celina, Texas. New businesses are moving into the cityWith more people living in the city, Celina's economy is also growing as local businesses and services benefit from increased demand. However, Joe Monaco, director of marketing and communications for the city of Celina, told BI that there were "countless volunteers who came out."

Persons: Katy, Ryan Tubbs, Celina, Prosper, Alcynna Lloyd, Taylor Morrison, Toll, Bankrate, Casas, Aaron Graham, Graham, wasn't, Redfin, They're, Tracy Miller, Celina — it's, Miller, Tubbs, Dallas —, Sandy Lewis, It's, Joe Monaco Organizations: America's, Business, Houston, North Texas Tollway, Tollway, North Texas Tollway Authority, Celina, Highland Homes, Texans, Olympic, JC, Real, Group, Highland, Dallas, Troubadour, Development Group, WFAA Locations: downtown Dallas, Celina , Texas, Celina, Collin County, Texas, California, Florida, Georgia , Illinois, Missouri, Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Celina Texas, United States, Austin, Dallas, Celina , New Braunfels, North Texas, Frisco, Plano, Frisco ., Prosper, Highland, Celina ., Mustang, Cambridge, Wilson, Celina's, East Coasts, New York, Little Elm , Texas

☆ US Navy warships are stuck in a Red Sea battle they can't fight forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Components of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group steam in formation with the Italian navy in the Red Sea on June 7. A fighter jet parks on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on June 11. Elements of the Eisenhower strike group have already left the Red Sea once to be rearmed and resupplied, and the Pentagon recently extended its monthslong deployment for a second time. A fighter jet is launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during a strike against Houthi military targets in Yemen on Feb. 3. A commercial ship in the Red Sea in March.

Persons: —, they've, Dwight D, Navy Carlos Del Toro, What's, Eisenhower, Bernat, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Joseph Votel, John Kirby, Jorge LeBaron, Haines, Biden, Brian Finucane, Finucane, Votel, Mohammed Hamoud, That's, Nadimi Organizations: Service, US Navy, Business, Washington, Eisenhower Carrier Group, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Ike, Navy, Pentagon, US Central Command, AP, National Intelligence, White House National Security Council, BI, Handout, US, Crisis, US State Department, Screengrab, Ministry of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency, Galaxy Leader, The Washington Institute for Near East Locations: Gulf of Aden, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Western, Africa, Gaza, Persian, Bab, Red

☆ Rochester Hills, Michigan shooting: At least 9 shot, including an 8-year-old, at recreation center; suspect contained in home nearby, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Emma Tucker | Sara Smart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —At least nine people were shot at a recreation area in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on Saturday, and a suspect is contained at a home surrounded by officers near the crime scene, police said. One of the victims was 8 years old, said Bouchard, who added he could not comment on the age of the other victims. Bouchard said it appears the suspect pulled up to the recreation area, exited a vehicle and opened fire roughly 20 feet away, reloading multiple times. Authorities are bringing in additional assets, including SWAT teams and armored vehicles to assist officers at the scene, Bouchard said. “A vehicle that matched what had been described as a vehicle leaving the scene was there,” the sheriff said.

Persons: Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, “, Bouchard, ”, Bryan Barnett, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Brooklands, Oakland County Sheriff, Rochester Hills, Authorities, ” Investigators, Sheriff’s Locations: Rochester Hills , Michigan, Rochester Hills, Oakland County, Rochester, Detroit, Oxford, Oakland

☆ DeSantis tourism board approves $17 billion development deal with Disney that could pave the way for a 5th theme park
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCentral Florida's tourism district unanimously approved a $17 billion development deal with Disney that could mean a new era for the company's profitable theme parks. Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's board of supervisors pushed through the landmark deal on Wednesday evening during a meeting at its Lake Buena Vista headquarters. "This agreement is a big win for central Florida and will lead to numerous jobs and improved guest experiences." It will also permit Disney to build a fifth major theme park and two minor theme parks — something Disney fans have fantasized about for years. The development deal also authorizes Disney to add more rooms to its Central Florida hotel and expand its retail and restaurant space.

Persons: —, Ron DeSantis, Joe Burbank, Brian Aungst, Charbel Barakat, DeSantis, Bryan Griffin, Disney hasn't, George Miliotes Organizations: Service, Disney, Central, Central Florida Tourism, Business, Florida Gov, Orlando Sentinel, Tribune, Getty, Walt Disney, Communications, Wine Bar Locations: Central Florida, Buena Vista, Disney, Florida, Disney Springs

☆ Disney and DeSantis-backed board ‘come to their senses’ in new agreement
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“Walt Disney World is inextricably intertwined in the fabric of the state of Florida. And the success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida, and vice versa,” he said. The Disney World resort is currently home to four theme parks and two water parks. It’s been 26 years since Disney has opened a new theme park in Florida,” said Dennis Speigel, owner and founder of International Theme Park Services, a global consultant for theme park projects. Orlando is the Mecca of the theme park industry, and for it to function, Disney and Florida have to function together.”

Persons: Disney, Ron DeSantis, “, ”, Aubrey Jewett, Brian Aungst Jr, Walt, Jeff Vahle, CFTOD, It’s, Dennis Speigel, DeSantis, Bob Chapek, Walt Disney, ” Jewett, Reedy, Jewett, Speigel Organizations: CNN, Disney, Walt Disney, University of Central, Walt Disney World, Walt, World, Park, Universal, Improvement, ” Locations: Florida, Central Florida, University of Central Florida, Reedy, Disney, Orlando, Mecca

☆ Disney and DeSantis Reach Agreement, Ending Protracted Fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida have finally ended their feud, clearing the way for $17 billion in planned development at Walt Disney World near Orlando. On Wednesday night, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — an entity that Mr. DeSantis took over in 2022, ending 55 years of Disney control and sparking multiple lawsuits — gave the company a big part of what it wanted all along: a locked-in, long-term plan for expanding Disney World. At least for the next 15 years, the length of the new agreement, Disney can develop the resort without worrying about interference by Florida politicians. Put bluntly, state leaders can no longer use growth at the 25,000-acre resort as a political weapon, as Mr. DeSantis did two years ago after Disney said it would fight to repeal a state education law that opponents called anti-gay.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, —, Disney, Jeff Vahle Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney, Central Locations: Florida, Orlando, Central Florida

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