Latest in Walt Disney World

The waiting is the hardest part, sang Tom Petty. Visitors to the Walt Disney Co.’s theme parks would likely agree, as unplanned ride stoppages and wait times are increasing, even as ticket prices rise. A Wall Street Journal analysis of statistics from three amusement park data providers claims…

Walt Disney World will start park-specific pricing on Dec. 8. with Magic Kingdom, the most popular, becoming the costliest. Starting then, theme park reservations will be automatically included with one-day, one-park tickets. Depending on the date, here are the ranges: Disney's Animal Kingdom…

While over 60 thousand residents were without power in surrounding Lake and Orange counties this morning, Walt Disney World Resort was left relatively unscathed by the passing of Tropical Storm Nicole overnight. The system dropped 4-5 inches of rain on Orlando, portions of which were flooded six weeks ago…

2nd UPDATE, 12:24 PM: As the aftermath of still potent Hurricane Ian continues to discombobulate Florida, Disney World could reopen as soon as Friday, the House of Mouse says. “While the theme parks and many operating areas remain closed to guests today, we anticipate weather conditions to improve his…

Hurricane Ian was somewhere between a Category 2 and 3 storm lumbering toward Orlando on Wednesday night when guests at Walt Disney World hotels got some version of the following message: “For your safety, we ask that you shelter indoors and do not leave your resort building until further notice.” Deadline understands…

UPDATED with latest: The National Weather Service today upgraded its alert for the area in and around Walt Disney World from a Hurricane Watch to a Hurricane Warning. The new designation “means that hurricane conditions are expected over the next 36 hours.” The revised alert comes just two hours after Disney officials…

As western Florida is bracing for Hurricane Ian, which is making its way through the Caribbean and intensifying, Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida also could be impacted by the storm, projected to make landfall later this week. The park is “currently operating under normal conditions” but its management id…

Two Walt Disney World annual passholders have sued Disney Parks And Resorts in federal court, the second legal action by the highest tier of holders disgruntled by a reservation system and other new restrictions instituted during Covid. A similar suit filed against Disneyland is moving forward as the…

In his two-hour presentation at D23 today, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro rattled off a long list of coming (and potentially coming) movie-themed attractions. First and foremost is Frozen, which will be the subject of new lands at three of the company’s parks internationally. Next year…

Disney's chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said today, "We like the hand we have with ESPN," calling the sports network and streamer an important piece of the broader portfolio. She made the comments at a media conference in response to a question about investor Daniel Loeb of Third Point Capital, who last…

UPDATED, 5:10 PM: Just about a year ago, the Walt Disney Co. announced plans to move most Southern California-based jobs not fully dedicated to Disneyland in its Parks, Experiences and Products Division to a new regional facility in Central Florida. What a difference a year makes. Today, after months of less-than-ideal…

Walt Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said Wednesday that the company could record a $350 million squeeze on operating income in the current quarter – its fiscal third — from its Hong Kong and Shanghai theme parks, tempering a bit the parks division's upbeat narrative. Hong Kong Disneyland has…