Bob Iger says Disney as a Company has Freedom of Speech
Today during the annual meeting of shareholders of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger took questions from shareholders. One of the questions had to do with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Iger finally addressed Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District and the ongoing rift with the State of Florida. He stated that Disney, as a company has freedom of speech, and it’s petty and anti-business to retaliate against a company’s constitutional right.
Iger said, “We love the state of Florida,” and said he respected and appreciated what the state has done for Disney in the past.
He referenced former-CEO Bob Chapek denouncing the Parental Rights in Education bill last year and said that though the position was not handled well, however, the company still has a right to free speech.
He directly accused Governor DeSantis of retaliating against Disney and punishing them for exercising a constitutional right.
Earlier today it was announced by Governor Ron DeSantis that he is ordering an investigation into the last-minute agreement Disney made with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson to Play Maui in Live-Action Moana Movie
It was just announced in the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders of The Walt Disney Company that Disney will be working on a Live-Action Moana movie starting Maui himself Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson!
Dwayne Johnson revealed today in a recorded message from Hawaii that a live-action reimagining of Disney Animation’s 2016 hit feature film “Moana” is in development. The announcement was shared by Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger during The Walt Disney Company’s Meeting of Shareholders Webcast.
The new feature film is produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia via their Seven Bucks Productions and Beau Flynn via Flynn Picture Co. Executive producers include Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film, and Scott Sheldon of Flynn Picture Co. Jared Bush and Samoan industry pro Dana Ledoux Miller will also take part in the production. Bush, who was a director and co-writer of Disney’s Oscar®-winning feature “Encanto” and a writer and co-director on Disney’s Oscar®-winning film “Zootopia,” wrote the screenplay for 2016’s “Moana.”
Like its animated predecessor, the film will celebrate the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.
Johnson, who plans to return to the fictional world to set sail with Moana, said, “I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.”
Native Hawaiian actor Cravalho, who helped shape Moana in the original film, said the beloved protagonist’s reach is sweeping. “She has had such a profound impact on how we think of Disney princesses,” Cravalho said. “Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring—to audiences around the world, to me and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.”
Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production (Disney Live Action), said the film would join a successful lineup of live-action adaptations that include 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast,” 2019’s “Aladdin” and the highly anticipated live-action version of “The Little Mermaid,” opening May 26. “It’s still early, but the idea of working with these fantastic partners to tell such a meaningful story on a live-action canvas, particularly as we celebrate 100 years of storytelling at Disney, is thrilling,” said Bailey.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” debuted in theaters on Nov. 23, 2016, grossing nearly $644 million in global box office. The title, which debuted on Disney+ with the streamer’s 2019 launch, is among the top 15 movies streamed in the United States in 2022. The film’s soundtrack, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina, was lauded worldwide. Miranda won a GRAMMY® for best song written for visual media (“How Far I’ll Go”), and an Oscar® nomination for best achievement in music written for motion pictures – original song (“How Far I’ll Go”). In 2021, the “Moana” soundtrack broke a Billboard Soundtrack chart record for the amount of time spent at number one (52 weeks). Additionally, the film was nominated for an Academy Award (best animated feature film of the year), a BAFTA (best animated feature film) and a pair of Golden Globes® (best motion picture – animated and best original song (“How Far I’ll Go”)).
New Walt Disney World Joey Chou Spirit Jersey Spotted At Disney Springs!
New whimsical Walt Disney World Joey Chou Spirit Jersey now available at Disney Springs! You can get it for $79.99 and feel extra magical every time you wear it.
The design is beautiful with a light pink ombre color, Dumbo on the top front and the Cheshire Cat riding the Mad Tea Party tea cups on the bottom front. The back features the Walt Disney World logo across the back in puffy white letters and Cinderella Castle with Minnie & Mickey in the tea cups and Tinkerbell spreading some pixie dust.
A very cozy and cute spirit jersey for sure! You can take a closer look at it in our Instagram post:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Ordering an Investigation Into Reedy Creek Improvement District Agreement with Disney
The Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis is ordering an investigation into the last-minute agreement Disney made with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
DeSantis is accusing Disney of “overreach” and pursuing legal action regarding agreements publicly approved at a Reedy Creek meeting on February 8th just before House Bill 9-B was enacted.
One of Reedy Creek’s agreements includes the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants and the Developer’s Agreement which outlined Disney’s rights over District property for the next 30 years, regardless of what the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight board says.
The Florida Governor’s Executive Office shared the following letter from Governor DeSantis to Melinda Miguel, Chief Inspector General of the State of Florida outlining the ordered investigation:
Dear Ms. Miguel:
On February 27, 2023, I signed House Bill 9-B, Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange, and Osceola Counties, which replaced the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) with a new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), and appointed five new members to the CFTOD board. Recently, the new board members informed the public that they had uncovered that, immediately before the enactment of House Bill 9-B, the RCID Board of Supervisors attempted to enter into last-minute development and restrictive covenant agreements with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. (Walt Disney World), designed to usurp the authority of the CFTOD board. These collusive and self-dealing arrangements aim to nullify the recently passed legislation, undercut Florida’s legislative process, and defy the will of Floridians. In addition, based on initial observations of counsel, the RCID board’s actions appear to suffer from serious legal infirmities, including, among other things, inadequate notice, lack of consideration, improper delegation of authority, and ethical violations, such as conflicts of interest and self-dealing.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 14.32, Florida Statutes, I formally request that you, as the Chief Inspector General of the State of Florida, in consultation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, launch a thorough review and investigation into the actions of the RCID Board of Supervisors described above. Such investigation should include analysis of the following:
RCID’s adherence to applicable Florida civil and criminal laws and ethics requirements;
The qualifications of RCID’s prior Board of Supervisors and the legal validity of their actions;
The involvement of Walt Disney World employees and agents in the execution of RCID’s actions;
Any financial gain or benefit derived by Walt Disney World as a result of RCID’s actions and RCID’s justification for such actions;
All RCID board, employee, or agent communications related to RCID’s actions, including those with Walt Disney World employees and agents; and
All RCID board, employee, or agent communications related to House Bill 9-B, Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange, and Osceola Counties, and the CFTOD.
Those agreements gave Disney wide-ranging powers over the territory where the theme parks operate, and prohibit the new board members from changing the terms.
In the announcement of the investigation, DeSantis says the agreements were “designed to usurp the authority of the CFTOD board.”
“These collusive and self-dealing arrangements aim to nullify the recently passed legislation, undercut Florida’s legislative process and defy the will of Floridians,” the letter states.
Three New Disney100 Collections Arrived To shopDisney!
The 100 years of wonder celebration continues with three new Disney100 Collections available now at shopDisney and Disney Parks! These new collections feature characters from Star Wars, Pixar and of course beloved Disney classic characters, take a look:
This collection features apparel, accessories, pins and more themed to some of the incredible characters and stories across Disney like Grogu, Woody, Moana and Mickey! The items are also very eye-catching and colorful making them extra magical!
New pieces landed on shopDisney as part of the platinum celebration collection that launched back in December! The new items includes new Disney100 Minnie Ears and Loungefly backpack plus two home decor pieces: Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Castle Figures that would look amazing in your house.
Disney Removes All 50th Anniversary Rugs from Walt Disney World. Sometimes we walk around the resorts and never notice what’s under our feet. Until something stands out as different. Like the rugs entering and exiting the Walt Disney World Resorts.
When you enter a resort you are normally greeted by amazing Cast members and resort-specific scents. If you spend a moment looking down you will notice that each resort has its welcoming mats. They have been missing for the past 18 months during the Disney World 50th Anniversary.
The resort rugs have returned and the 50th rugs have been removed. No word on where these rugs will end up. I am hoping we will see them at Cast Connections, the Cast Member-only store here at Disney World. I need one of these rugs!
The design is very simple with white breezy all cotton Swiss dot fabric and colorful embroidered bands accent all around. It also features ruffled wing sleeves and a tri-tiered pieced skirt. It’s a great option for Spring and Summer!
You can take a closer look at this dress in our Instagram post:
New Toy Story Summer Collection Available At shopDisney And Disney Parks!
Take adventure to infinity and beyond with this Toy Story Summer Collection! It features a perfect combination of our favorite Pixar pals and bright colors with apparel, kitchenware and accessories, take a look:
How fun is this new spirit jersey? Perfect for those chilly summer nights! It features a beautiful mint green color with Woody on the front and text that reads “Reaching for the fries!”, totally agree with that!
On the back Ducky and Bunny are featured across the back with text reading “Chilling and Grilling.” The rest of the bottom part of the jersey features an all over pattern with Rex, the aliens plus Pizza Planet and Pixar icons.
TOY STORY BUTTON UPS
If you are into Hawaiian button ups, these two shirts are a great option! One features teal and hot pink colors with artwork featuring Rex, Space Aliens, Pixar Ball and other summer icons.
The other design is bright yellow with an all over pattern featuring Forky, Bo Peep, Ducky & Bunny and summer icons.
Carry all your essentials with this fun and colorful backpack in a soothing light blue color with hot pink accents and an all over pattern of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Ducky and Bunny, Forky and more. It also comes with a Pixar Ball coin purse! So cute.
Enjoy some fun in the sun with your favorite Pixar pals while using this pitcher and cup set! It features Bo Peep with her sheep and Rex having fun snorkeling plus Woody, Buzz, Space Aliens and Ducky on the stacking colorful cups.
Around the pool or on a drive, this Toy Story tumbler will make a splash without spilling a drop of your drink! It features a beautiful pink color with an all over pattern of Rex, Bunny, Ducky and Forky enjoying some summertime treats.
This plate set will add a splash of color and fun to your summer bbq! It features 4 different designs with Woody, Buzz, Rex and Ducky & Bunny artwork, so cute.
You can find these pieces and more online at shopDisney and retail stores around the Walt Disney World Resort!
All New Tower of Terror Slush Now Available at Hollywood Studios. At the exit of Disney’s Icon, there is a kiosk that sells Joffrey’s Coffee. This is our favorite coffee stand to hit because of its shorter lines and vibe. Nothing better than to hit up the Tower gift shop and then grab an iced coffee specialty drink after plunging to your doom!
Now you can get a new drink to cool down during these hot Florida days with a new Frozen in Fear slushy.
“Introducing Frozen In Fear, an all-new bone-chilling beverage featuring a combination of frozen lemon and wild grape. Exclusive to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® Theme Park at our kiosk located outside of the exit of the TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR™ attraction.”
Experience Joffrey’s artisan roasted coffees, teas, and signature specialty beverages in a variety of ways including lattes and espressos, cold brew, iced tea, blended specialty drinks, and spirited beverages, where served. Visit Joffrey’s at Disney Springs® and locations throughout Walt Disney World® Resort.
Last night was the final performance of Disney Enchantment in the Magic Kingdom. Disney Fans (myself included) are excited for the return of Happily Ever After!
Early this morning Disney Cast Members pulled down the Main Street USA Poster for Enchantment and replaced it with Happily Ever After to signal the change.
Go on a dazzling journey of color, light, and song that captures the heart, humor, and heroism of favorite Disney stories. Watch in awe as Cinderella Castle is magically transformed through amazing state-of-the art projection technology you have to see to believe.
This astounding fireworks extravaganza uses lights, lasers and special effects, plus a soaring score featuring contemporary versions of beloved Disney songs.
Discover the magic of stories—and be inspired to find your own happily ever after.
For the dedication of the Tron Lightcycle Run on March 22nd we were given a sneak peek of Happily Ever After ahead of its official return to the Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After Fireworks Spectacular will return tonight at 9pm!
Indiana Jones will return to the Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of Lucasfilm’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” starring Harrison Ford as the legendary hero archaeologist and directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Logan”), on Thursday, May 18.
The highly anticipated final installment of the beloved franchise–a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure—will screen out of the competition. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” will open in theaters on June 30th.
Mangold said, “In 1995, I was honored to come to Cannes with my first film as part of Director’s Fortnite. Twenty-eight years later, I am proud to return with a slightly larger spectacle. My legendary collaborators and I are very excited to share a brand new and final Indiana Jones adventure with you!”
Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), John Rhys-Davies (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”), Toby Jones (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”). Directed by James Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981, has once again composed the score.
The Lake Nona Headquarters project passed this pivotal step with a unanimous vote
Last month, we reported Disney’s Lake Nona Headquarters Project was on the agenda with the Orlando Development Review Committee. Minutes from last month’s meeting have been posted on the committee’s website, and reflect the project passed through the committee via a unanimous vote.
The meeting minutes note the proposed complex consists of eight (8) office/flex space buildings, totaling 1.8 million square feet and three (3) parking garages on Lake Nona Parcel 20(A). Now that the master plan has been approved, the next steps for the project include receiving approval for an official site plan, obtaining building permits, and groundbreaking.
The Lake Nona campus, which will be located in the Lake Nona section of Orlando (just under 20 miles east of Walt Disney World resort), is slated to bring approximately 2,000 Disney jobs from California to Florida once complete.
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