Latest in Walt Disney World

Disney CEO Bob Chapek anticipates Disneyland and other parks in 2022 may be mask free and without onerous social distancing for a Covid free, vaccinated populace. Theme parks have been hardest hit among Disney’s businesses. At a conference call to talk over the media giant’s latest earnings, execs said flagship…

Disney beat forecasts for its fiscal first quarter with revenue of $16.9 billion, versus $20 billion the year before. The media giant’s diluted earnings per share was 32 cents versus $1.53 as the pandemic continued to squeeze businesses from parks and live shows to production to theatrical revenue. However, It's fair…

Walt Disney said Wednesday a total of 32,000 employees, mainly in its Parks, Experiences and Resorts division — including 28,000 already announced — will be terminated in the first half of its fiscal 2021, meaning by March. The entertainment giant previously unveiled in September the 28,000 staff cuts at parks, which…

Disney CEO Bob Chapek blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom o Thuursday over keeping Disneyland closed despite what he said was the conglom’s proven ability to open parks safely and reopening support by unions representing nearly 100% of workers. Chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said the company anticipates…

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, said 720 of its 780 members employed by Walt Disney World have been laid off, part of the sweeping 28,000 staff reduction underway across the company's U.S. parks business. Before the pandemic, the…

Josh D'Amaro, the new chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Tuesday begged California officials to let Disneyland reopen and to "treat theme parks the way you treat other sectors." California Governor Gavin Newsom promised last week that news about Disneyland's reopening would be coming "very soon." But…

Walt Disney World’s still shuttered water parks won’t reopen until next March, the company said in an update on its plans for Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. “The water parks remain closed pending government approvals. We currently plan to reopen one of the two Disney water parks on March 7, 2021…

UPDATE, with Disney World statement Walt Disney World and Actors’ Equity Association have reached an agreement over COVID-19 testing that will allow actors to return to work at the resort following a two-month stand-off. News of the agreement comes after Walt Disney World notified the union that it had taken steps to…

Walt Disney World’s four Florida theme parks will see reduced hours come September 8. Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studio, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, are all set to scale back operating hours, nearly a month after opening in July. While the first three parks will see closing hours move forward by an hour…

Walt Disney’s chief executive and its CFO said the dramatic spike in Florida COVID-19 infections last month right when Walt Disney World reopened have resulted in higher cancellations at the park than they'd first anticipated  – and their expectations weren’t all that high to begin with. CEO Bob Chapek and chief…

UPDATE There’s no cheek-to-cheek dance or whispering of sweet nothings between Belle and the Beast in a new show attraction that’s the latest Walt Disney World production revamped for a park without actors. The resort yesterday replaced the long-running  Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage show, which featured actors…

With Florida and California both current COVID-19 epicenters, Walt Disney Parks said Friday that it has tweaked its mask policy for a second time in a week, while Universal canceled Halloween Horror Nights at its two theme parks for this year. Enhanced safety protocols for Walt Disney World in Orlando and Downtown…