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☆ A pastor invited to DeSantis' Disney board meeting quoted the Bible telling people not to 'resist authority' as it strips workers' park perks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A pastor invited to DeSantis' Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's meeting told attendees not to "resist authority." The pastor read from the Bible as the board discussed stripping park parks for Disney workers and retirees. Ron DeSantis to run the area around Disney World defended stripping park employees of their perks — moments after a pastor invited to speak urged attendees not to "resist authority." Last month, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board revoked all of the land's firefighters' free passes to the Disney parks and resorts. Disney responded with a lawsuit, and while DeSantis said he's since "moved on" from the fight, Disney is not backing down.

Persons: Firefighters —, Ron DeSantis, Pastor David Netzorg —, —, Netzorg, Pete Simon, DeSantis Organizations: Florida Tourism, Disney, Firefighters, Service, Gov, Emmaus Church, Disney World, Central, Miami Times, Disney firefighters, Improvement, Florida's GOP Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Winter Garden , Florida, Central Florida, Florida's

☆ Once upon a time, the 'Disney adult' was ridiculed. Now, kidless millennials and Gen Z-ers with money to burn are packing into the parks — here's how Disney is winning them over.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Newlyweds Natalie and Brett Schwartz exchanged vows at Walt Disney World in Orlando this summer. "Our approach was to shine a light on the beautiful tapestry of people that come to Walt Disney World," Trejo said. Francis Dominic, the former parks worker turned influencer, has also been tapped to promote Disney parks and films. It's a difficult tightrope to navigate, but it could define the future of Disney parks. Are you a Disney parks or Walt Disney Co. insider?

Persons: Sarah Rachul, I'm, Rachul, Orlando —, —, Molly May, Francis Dominic, Dominic, who's, Taylor, Ron DeSantis —, Japan pavilion's Takumi, Jonathan de Araujo, it's, Tara Goldstein, Ann van Oostendorp, Disney, Van Oostendorp, Natalie Schwartz, Brett, Schwartz, Sierra Keller's, Keller, Natalie, Brett Schwartz, Jason Petrina, he's, Disney's, He's, They're, Petrina, Mickey, Chris Evans, Zoe Saldaña, What's, Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine, she'd, welling, haven't, Neph Trejo, Walt, " Trejo, It's, Halle Bailey, Kent Phillips, Gaston, Jeremy Singh, I'd, Singh couldn't, he'd, Singh, they're, Patrick Dougall, Mark Eades, Eades, we've, Amanda Krause, Reed Alexander Organizations: Walt Disney, Epcot, Disney Vacation, Disney, Mouse, Disneyland, Disney Parks, Walt Disney Co, Florida Gov, Universal, Guardians, Galaxy, University of Tampa, Disney World, Honeymooners, Star Wars, Marvel, Magic, Cafe Orleans, Disney World's Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Studios, Star, Gucci, Dooney, Animal, Dole, Walt Disney World's, ABC, Getty, Management, Disney Imagineer, Disneyland Alumni Locations: Ohio, Disney, Orlando , Florida, Anaheim , California, Italy, China, Tuscany, Orlando, Florida, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo, Japan, Epcot, California, Anaheim, Belle Terrace, Hollywood

☆ 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

☆ Disney's wildest ride: Iger, Chapek and the making of an epic succession mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +88 min

Iger told Chapek that he lived for those "two-shower days," according to people familiar with the conversation. In January 2020, Iger told Chapek the plan was back on. During his 27 years at the company, Chapek had only attended one annual meeting — as a guest in the audience. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, during a CNBC interview, Feb. 9, 2023. WATCH: Disney CEO Bob Iger's exclusive July 2023 CNBC interviewTake the 'A'During Chapek's tenure as CEO, Disney lost more than a quarter of its market value.

Persons: Elham, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, Iger, wasn't, Chapek, Michael Eisner, —, who's, he's, Clint Eastwood, Eastwood, Arthur Bochner, Jackie Hart, Kareem Daniel, Chapek —, Eisner, Michael Ovitz, Ovitz, Bob, Disney's, Kevin Mayer, Mayer, Bryan van der Beek, he'd, Tom Staggs, Staggs, Staggs —, Steve Jobs, cajoled Ike Perlmutter, George Lucas, Rupert Murdoch, Iger's, Susan Arnold, Arnold, Peter Rice, David Paul Morris, Rice, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Mark Parker, Mary Barra, Michael Froman, Willow, Parker, John Donahoe, Roy Disney, Walt Disney, Stanley Gold, David A, CNBC Eisner, Big Bob, Little Bob, Christine McCarthy, Patrick T, He'd, McCarthy, Iger —, Coronavirus, Gavin Newsom, Michael Kovac, curtly, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Ben Smith, Smith, Disney, Randy Shropshire, Agnes Chu, Ricky Strauss, Chu, Strauss, Kevin Feige, Kathleen Kennedy, Who's, Alan Bergman, Bergman, Bob Kyncl, Daniel —, Iger didn't, Daniel rankled, Daniel, Chapek didn't, James Pitaro, Jesse Grant, CNBC Chapek, Jimmy Pitaro, Zenia Mucha, didn't, Mucha, Barbara Walters, Charles Eshelman, Scarlett Johansson, Scarlett Johansson —, Florence Pugh, Natasha, Yelena, " Johansson, Bryan Lourd, Johansson, Lourd, Steven Spielberg, Al Michaels, David Muir, Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, Spielberg, Geoff Morrell, Alan Braverman, Alan Horn, Jayne Parker, Bochner, Claire Lee, Paul Richardson, Josh D'Amaro, Ron DeSantis, Morrell, Disney Animation —, George Floyd, Reba Saldanha, Reuters Chapek, DeSantis, Nicholas Maldonado, Octavio Jones, Chapek she'd, we're, " Morrell, CNN's Chris Wallace, Kristina Schake, John Skipper, Daniel steamrolled, Latondra Newton, Newton, Charles Krupa, Pitaro, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Dana Walden, Thomas Murphy, Josh Kushner, Privately, Schake, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama's, David Dee Delgado, Kara Swisher, hadn't, Netflix's, overhiring, McCarthy hadn't, Safra Catz, Kareem, DMED, Horacio Gutierrez, Justin Warbrooke, Alexia Quadrani, Bryan Castellani, Michael Buckner, Quadrani, Lindsay Lohan, Winnie, Nelson Peltz, Catz, Donald Trump's, they'd, Walden, Gutierrez, D'Amaro, Rich Polk, Walden he'd, Iger she'd, Mickey Mouse, Mark Rightmire, haven't, Indiana Jones, Halle Bailey, Ariel, Hamilton Faber, Rich Greenfield, Bob Iger's, — Mayer, McCarthy —, doesn't, they'll Organizations: Disney, Marvel, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty, Walt Disney, Indiana University, Michigan State University, Shanghai Disney, Man, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Pixar, Fox, Chapek, Nike, General, Mastercard, Foreign Relations, University of Pennsylvania, Grogan, Disney's, Fallon, ABC, ESPN, ABC News, California Gov, New York Times, Disney confidants, Hollywood, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney Studios, Hulu, HBO Max, Walt Disney Company, YouTube, Companies, Netflix, Apple, Disney Media, Entertainment, Stanford, Rights, Junior, petulant, Filmmagic, Brunswick Group, Covid, CAA, onetime Defense Department, Century Fox, Human, Florida Gov, Republican, Disney Animation, Reuters, Human Rights, HRC, Walt Disney World, Employees, American Foundation for Equal Rights, AP, Amazon Prime, Paramount, South Pacific, Capital Cities, Dow Jones, CVS, Kingdom, Variety, Trian Partners, Charter Communications, U.S, Comcast, Charter's, MediaNews, Orange, Allen, Co, Candle Media, Advisors Locations: Burbank , California, Midwestern, Brentwood, Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Iger, Hammond , Indiana, Shanghai, China, Hong, Fox, Willow Bay, Raleigh , North Carolina, Orlando, U.S, Hulu, Iger's Brentwood, coronavirus, Brunswick, Hollywood, Hawaii, Disney's, Marvel's, Anaheim , California, Montana, Florida, Rye , New Hampshire, Chapek, Hong Kong, California, missteps, South, DMED, Burbank, New York, India, Atlantic, Sun Valley , Idaho, America

☆ Disney's firefighters backed DeSantis as he feuded with the company. Now his new board ignored their pleas and stripped away their park benefits.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Brent D. Griffiths | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Disney World's firefighters were once in support of DeSantis' plan to assume control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. A number of firefighters confronted DeSantis' board last week at a meeting about this. But now firefighters are having second thoughts after the new oversight board moved to strip them of special Disney perks they've had for decades. Last week, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the rebranded Reedy Creek board, revoked all of the firefighters' free passes to the Disney parks and resorts. I'm totally fine with that," DeSantis told CNBC, encouraging Disney to drop the suit.

Persons: DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, Tim Stromsnes, they've, Pete Simon, Idalia Organizations: Disney, Service, Florida Gov, Improvement, Firefighters, Orlando Sentinel, Central, Miami Times Online, Times, Times Online, CNBC Locations: Reedy, Wall, Silicon, Central Florida

☆ Disney's quarter wasn't clean, but we see evidence that CEO Bob Iger's turnaround plan is working
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Disney (DIS) reported fiscal third-quarter results after the closing bell Wednesday, and it was another mixed quarter even against low expectations. Still, there were enough pockets of optimism in the company's restructuring plan and streaming strategy to believe CEO Bob Iger's turnaround is working. Indeed, global Disney+ subscribers declined to 146.1 million from 157.8 billion, but nearly all of that was associated with Disney+ Hotstar and not Disney's core markets. Quarter over quarter, that loss of $512 million was narrower by $147 million. Thanks to the ongoing strength of Disney's international parks and cruise line business, Disney expects fourth-quarter operating margins at DPEP to exceed the prior year.

Persons: Bob Iger's, we've, Kevin Lansberry, Iger, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Bob Iger, CNBC's David Faber, David A Organizations: Disney, Refinitiv, DIS, Consumer, Hollywood, Indian Premier League cricket, Netflix, Disney Media, Entertainment, Linear Networks, ESPN, Penn Entertainment, Disney Parks, Walt Disney, Star Wars, CNBC, Allen, Grogan Locations: India, Florida, Europe, Canada, DMED, Sun Valley , Idaho

☆ Jim Cramer's plans for Disney stock after everything we learned from CEO Bob Iger
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Hulu As part of Disney's future streaming business, Hulu is expected to be a strategic asset. "I don't think that Bob's going to get out of paying very little for Hulu," Jim said, which could lead to further pressure on the entertainment giant's balance sheet. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. Disney CEO Bob Iger speaking with CNBC's David Faber at the Allen&Co.

Persons: Walt Disney, Bob Iger's, —, Jim Cramer, Bob, Jim, Bob Iger —, Iger, Bob Chapek, ESPN Iger, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Iger's, Jim Cramer's, Bob Iger, CNBC's David Faber, David A Organizations: Disney, CNBC, Sun, ESPN, Apple, Apple Vision, Hulu, Comcast, Parks, Flordia, Netflix, Disney Entertainment, Allen, Grogan Locations: Idaho, Wells Fargo, Hulu, Florida, Sun Valley , Idaho

☆ Disney extends CEO Bob Iger’s contract through 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Walt Disney Company’s board has unanimously voted to extend CEO Bob Iger’s contract through the end of 2026 — an extension of two years. “Because I want to ensure Disney is strongly positioned when my successor takes the helm, I have agreed to the Board’s request to remain CEO for an additional two years,” he said. In 2020, Bob Chapek, the company’s former chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, was named CEO after Iger unexpectedly announced his retirement. In November 2022, Chapek was ousted just months after signing onto a new three-year contract with Disney, and Iger stepped back into the role as CEO. Iger’s first term as Disney CEO lasted 15 years, from 2005 to 2020.

Persons: Walt Disney, Bob Iger’s, Iger, Disney’s, ”, ” Iger, Disney, Bob, Mark Parker, “ Bob, Bob Chapek, Chapek, Scarlett Johansson, Iger’s Organizations: CNN, Walt, Disney, Disney Parks Locations: Florida

☆ Disney World has a bigger problem than Ron DeSantis: people aren't going
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney's ongoing feud with Ron DeSantis is certainly a factor. Ron DeSantis, it's pretty clear that the park's problems run deeper than a political beef. While crowd sizes are down in the US parks, revenue is up at international Disney parks such as Disneyland Hong Kong. Despite the DeSantis dust-up, the park's biggest issue has nothing to do with politics — Disney World is damn expensive. Ron DeSantis Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesIt's also clear that a cut back on vacationing is not the issue.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Disney execs, Li Zhihua, execs, DeSantis, —, Ron DeSantis Paul Hennessy, Courtney Garcia, Garcia, Samantha Delouya, Bob Iger Organizations: Disney, Service, Walt Disney, Florida Gov, Wall Street Journal, Hollywood Studios, Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, China News Service, — Disney, Getty, TSA, Payne Capital Management Locations: Wall, Silicon, Magic, Shanghai, Paris, Hong, Hong Kong, Florida

☆ Disney's parks division is driving big profits, a bright spot as the streaming biz struggles and ESPN's future is unclear. Here's how that could factor into Bob Iger's CEO succession plans.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger has reorganized the company into 3 core units: entertainment, ESPN, and parks. Parks' growing prominence comes as the company faces looming decisions over Iger's CEO. Travel bans "dramatically impacted" results for Disney Parks during the intense early years of the coronavirus pandemic, Heger noted, adding that parks are now generating more revenue and operating profit than they did in pre-COVID times. The parks' success is "helping to offset" losses from Disney's "DTC," or direct-to-consumer streaming business, Heger added. Josh D'Amaro, the current chairman for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, would be a likely figure appearing on any shortlist of CEO contenders.

Persons: Bob Iger, Parks, It's, Dave Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, AECOM, Iger, Josh D'Amaro, Christine McCarthy —, Iger's, Bob Chapek, Ron DeSantis, Chapek, Hollywood creatives, Tom Staggs, Iger —, —, Chapek's, it's, you've, Jeffery Merola, he'd, DeSantis, Reed Alexander Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Disney Parks, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Products, Florida Gov, Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Sunshine State Locations: Tokyo, Shanghai, Orlando , Florida, Anaheim , California, execs, Chapek, Syracuse , New York, Orlando

☆ Disney finance chief Christine McCarthy to step down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 15 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) said on Thursday Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy would be stepping down. Kevin Lansberry, Executive Vice President of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products will serve as the company's interim CFO effective July 1. McCarthy is taking family medical leave of absence and will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to ensure a successful transition, the company said. Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Walt Disney, Christine McCarthy, Kevin Lansberry, McCarthy, Chavi Mehta, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Disney Parks, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Disney CFO Christine McCarthy, who was seen as a possible successor to Bob Iger, is stepping down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Disney CFO Christine McCarthy is stepping down and taking a family medical leave, the company announced. McCarthy has been instrumental in helping CEO Bob Iger tackle Disney's challenges since his return as CEO in 2022. Disney SVP and CFO Christine McCarthy, who was seen as a contender to replace CEO Bob Iger, is stepping down to take a family medical leave of absence, the company announced. Kevin Lansberry, EVP and CFO of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, will serve as interim CFO, starting July 1. McCarthy joined Disney in 2000 and served as treasurer before becoming CFO in 2015.

Persons: Christine McCarthy, Kevin Lansberry, McCarthy, Bob Iger, Iger, he's, Bob Chapek, Chapek's, he'd, She's Organizations: Disney, Longtime Disney, Morning, Disney Parks, Walt Disney Company, Wall Locations: America

☆ Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Is Stepping Down
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Christine M. McCarthy, who in her eight years as Disney’s chief financial officer helped stabilize the company during the pandemic, when most of Disney was shut down, and played a key role in the ouster of Bob Chapek as chief executive last year, will step down on July 1, she said on Thursday. Ms. McCarthy, who has twice battled cancer during her Disney career, has a contract that runs until next June. He has served as chief financial officer for Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Products since 2017. “He has my complete confidence,” Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, said in a statement. Mr. Iger called Ms. McCarthy “one of the most admired financial executives in America” and said her impact on Disney could “not be overstated.”

Persons: Christine M, McCarthy, Bob Chapek, Ms, Disney, ” Disney, Kevin Lansberry, ” Robert A, Iger, America ”, ” Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Parks Locations: America

☆ Disney is bringing back a 24-day private jet tour of its 12 theme parks – but it'll cost you a whopping $115,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Disney is relaunching a 24-day private jet tour of its global theme parks for $115,000 per person. $115,000 Guests will visit 12 theme parks while also taking in sights like the Great Pyramid of Giza. Disney is relaunching its 24-day private jet tour, offering wealthy customers the chance to visit 12 of its theme parks around the world. The "Disney Parks Around The World" tour will take guests to six countries — the US, Japan, China, France, Egypt, and India — on a "VIP-configured" Boeing 757 operated by Icelandair. Travelers have to be at least 12 years old, but Disney also provides a suggested age of 14 and over.

Persons: Becky Cline Organizations: Disney, Boeing, Icelandair, Morning, Walt Disney Archives, Travelers Locations: Japan, China, France, Egypt, India, Giza, Los Angeles, Orlando

☆ The new judge in the Disney-DeSantis lawsuit is a Trump-appointee who gave the governor a win in his 'Don't Say Gay' law
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Rebecca Harrington | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Allen Winsor, 46, has been a US District Judge in the Northern District of Florida since 2019. Before he became a US district judge, Winsor was a judge in Florida's First District Court of Appeal from 2016-2019. Winsor previously dismissed a lawsuit challenging the 'Don't Say Gay' billIn February 2023, Winsor issued a 21-page ruling dismissing a lawsuit challenging Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, which opponents called the "Don't Say Gay" bill. In the hour-and-a-half-long conversation, four state solicitors general discussed various federal laws and lawsuits that they felt impeded states' rights. "He does not possess the neutrality and fair-mindedness necessary to serve in a lifetime position as a federal judge."

Persons: Allen Winsor, He's, Ron DeSantis, Winsor, —, Mark Walker, Insider's Kimberly Leonard, Donald Trump, Sen, Joe Manchin, — didn't, Trump, Mr, Pam Bondi's Organizations: Northern District of, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Gov, Service, Walt Disney Co, Disney, US Senate, Florida's, Auburn University, University of Florida, Plaintiffs, Federalist Society, Committee, Walt Disney World, Conference, Civil, Human Rights, Associated Press Locations: Northern District, Northern District of Florida, Florida, West Virginia, Orlando, Lake Buena Vista , Florida

☆ The judge assigned to hear Disney's lawsuit against Ron DeSantis just disqualified himself from the case because a 'third-degree' relative owns stock in the company. A Trump appointee will replace him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Obama-nominated Judge Mark Walker recused himself from the Disney lawsuit. The case will now go before Judge Allen Winsor, a nominee of President Donald Trump — who is challenging DeSantis for the 2024 nomination for president. Walker denied that specific request, calling it "meritless" and accusing DeSantis of "rank judge-shopping," but he still disqualified himself from hearing Disney's lawsuit over the ethical conflict. Walt Disney Co., the parent company of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, is headquartered in Burbank, California, but the company holds powerful sway in Florida through Walt Disney World, which has roughly 70,000 employees and is the state's biggest tourist attraction. Neither a representative for the board, the governor's office, nor Disney immediately responded to a request for comment from Insider.

Persons: Obama, Mark Walker, Judge Allen Winsor, —, Ron DeSantis, Walker, Allen Winsor, Donald Trump —, Winsor, Pam Bondi, DeSantis, Barack Obama, Disney, Governor DeSantis Organizations: Disney, Trump, Service, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Florida Gov, Walt Disney Co, British, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney, Circuit Locations: Florida, Northern District, Northern District of Florida, Burbank , California, Central Florida

☆ Breakingviews: Disney can play Scrooge with Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) isn’t mickey-mousing around. Disney’s threatened retreat from the state is meaningful, and it can get worse for the state’s leader, Governor Ron DeSantis. But overall, Disney is one of the largest employers in Florida, and a massive contributor to the tourism economy. Follow @thereallsl on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSWalt Disney is cancelling plans to build a nearly $1 billion corporate campus, according to an email to employees on Thursday. Disney parks chief Josh D'Amaro said "changing business conditions" prompted Disney to reconsider its 2021 plan to relocate employees.

☆ Disney can play Scrooge with Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DeSantis, who is expected to soon announce that he will seek the 2024 Republican nomination for U.S. president, then moved to strip Disney of its long-standing self-governing power over Walt Disney World in Orlando. Democratic State Sen. Linda Stewart, who represents part of Orange County, called it "disappointing" that Florida would lose jobs. Iger's predecessor announced plans in July 2021 to relocate jobs from Southern California to a new facility in central Florida, citing its "business-friendly climate." "I remain optimistic about the direction of our Walt Disney World business," D'Amaro wrote. We have plans to invest $17 billion and create 13,000 jobs over the next ten years.

LOS ANGELES, May 18 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) is scrapping plans to relocate 2,000 jobs to Florida in part because of "changing business conditions" in the state, according to an e-mail to employees seen by Reuters on Thursday. Disney parks chief Josh D'Amaro said "leadership changes" and "changing business conditions" prompted Disney to reconsider its 2021 plan to relocate employees, including its Imagineers who design theme park rides, to a new campus in Lake Nona. The original decision to relocate employees to Florida from California had prompted complaints from many employees who did not want to move across the country. DeSantis, who is expected to soon announce that he will seek the 2024 Republican nomination for U.S. president, then moved to strip Disney of its long-standing self-governing power over Walt Disney World in Orlando. Iger's predecessor announced plans in July 2021 to relocate jobs from Southern California to a new facility in central Florida, citing its "business-friendly climate."

☆ Scarlett Johansson is a full-fledged Disney adult despite that lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Scarlett Johansson may have sued Disney in 2021 for breach of contract, but the “Black Widow” star still is – and always has been – a full-fledged Disney adult. (A Disney adult can be defined in many ways depending on one’s level of fandom, but the term tends to refer to a grown person that is a dedicated Disney fan.) “We had annual passes to Disney World, and I have a real passion for the Disney parks,” Johansson said, adding that the obsession with Disney began when her family lived in Florida for two years when she was younger. The star even said her dream job is to have a “corner office” on the Disney studio lot when she appeared on Bruce Bozzi’s “Table for Two” podcast in 2022. Johansson sued the studio in 2021, alleging Disney breached her contract by releasing “Black Widow,” a 2021 Marvel film she starred in, on home streaming platform Disney+ the same day it was released in theaters.

☆ Ron DeSantis' memoir could come back to bite him in Disney legal battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Statements in DeSantis' bestselling memoir may hold the proof Disney needs to win its case. Ron DeSantis may have inadvertently handed Disney key evidence it needs to beat him in their escalating legal and political battle. In addition to supporting legislation against Disney, DeSantis has also frequently and fervently railed against the "woke" company. Ron DeSantis is again going after Walt Disney World, after the company launched a stealth power play. Executive Office of the Governor, State of FloridaAs promotion for his memoir, DeSantis also penned a February Wall Street Journal editorial entitled "Why I Stood up to Disney."

☆ Rubio warned politicians against going after companies for 'political purposes' after Disney sued DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marco Rubio said lawmakers should avoid looking like they are going after companies for "political purposes." Disney has sued Florida Republican Gov. Fox host Brian Kilmeade asked Rubio about comments by some Republicans, who criticized DeSantis for targeting the company. Disney sued DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president, on Wednesday, saying that the governor was trying to "weaponize government power" by targeting the company. But when it comes to Disney, Rubio said he doesn't think the company is going to leave Florida.

Disney alleges that DeSantis tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. It alleges that DeSantis' continued action against Disney "threatens Disney's business operations." Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that he tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. As retaliation to the Disney executives' pledges, DeSantis took aim at a decades-long provision that gives Disney special self-governing privileges in Florida. Unlike rival parks Universal Studios and Sea World, Disney doesn't have to run their plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments.

It will not work,” said Martin Garcia, chairman of the DeSantis-picked Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors. Wednesday’s moves are the latest escalation in the fight between DeSantis and Disney as DeSantis moves toward a 2024 presidential bid. Disney responded by suing DeSantis, the board and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity acting secretary Meredith Ivey, seeking to block the board’s moves. But the special district also freed Disney from bureaucratic red tape and made it cheaper to borrow to finance infrastructure projects around its theme parks, among other significant advantages. DeSantis then targeted Disney’s special governing powers.

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