The Disney Ambassador Hotel at Tokyo Disneyland is set to launch a unique Donald Duck-themed special room, titled “Donald’s Quacky Duck City,” available for guests from April 9 through June 30, 2024. This limited-time offering immerses visitors in a world inspired by the beloved Disney character, Donald Duck, complete with his signature blue and yellow color scheme and a plethora of cartoon elements reflective of Donald’s dream city.
The special room promises an exciting and interactive experience, featuring bed and wall art that depicts Donald Duck and his friends in various celebratory scenes, underlining the theme “Donald is number one!” The design elements are crafted to create a vibrant and joyful atmosphere, drawing guests into the fantasy world of “Duck City.”
The quack-tastic fun extends beyond the themed room via an array of themed food and drink offerings. Available from April 9 through June 30, 2024, this exclusive culinary offering includes a variety of room service options, drinks, and snacks, all inspired by Donald Duck’s signature colors and the whimsical world of “Duck City.”
Grab your camera, pack your bags, and get ready to explore Duck City – a place where Donald Duck’s dreams come alive, and every guest is invited to join in the fun!
Paul Rudd to Narrate National Geographic Secrets of the Octopus
National Geographic announced that it has tapped actor Paul Rudd to narrate the third installment of its Emmy-winning “Secrets Of…” franchise, SECRETS OF THE OCTOPUS, which will uncover the secret lives of one of the most alien-like animals on the planet. Paul Rudd follows National Geographic’s star-studded line-up of narrators, including Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, and Jeremy Renner.
From executive producer and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large James Cameron, the three-part docu-series follows the success of the Emmy-winning SECRETS OF THE WHALES, narrated by Sigourney Weaver, and most recently Emmy-nominated and Critics Choice Documentary Award-winning SECRETS OF THE ELEPHANTS, narrated by Natalie Portman. Like previous installments, SECRETS OF THE OCTOPUS will premiere in celebration of Earth Day on April 21, and streaming next day on Hulu and Disney+.
Octopuses are like aliens on Earth: three hearts, blue blood, and the ability to squeeze through a space the size of their eyeball. But there is so much more to these weird and wonderful animals. Highly intelligent, octopuses can use tools, transform their bodies to mimic other animals and even communicate with different species, including us. The secrets of the octopus are more extraordinary than ever imagined.
“It’s been an incredible journey learning about these mysterious creatures and their interconnected lives. I can’t imagine audiences won’t be as blown away with the secret lives of octopuses as I was working on this series,” said PAUL RUDD. “If you’re going to dive deep into natural history, you have to do it with National Geographic. I’m thrilled to be working with James Cameron and the Nat Geo team to deepen our connection with the ocean and all of its creatures and curiosities.”
“SECRETS OF THE OCTOPUS immersively takes the audience into the lives of one of the world’s most intelligent and mysterious creatures and features behavior never before captured on film,” said Tom McDonald, executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content, National Geographic. “It’s a joyful, illuminating series narrated by Paul Rudd with real warmth and humanity.”
Paul Rudd was recently in the third season of Only Murders in the Building and is nominated for a 2024 SAG Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Comedy Series.” He will next star in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire which will be released by Sony Pictures on March 22, followed by A24’s Death of a Unicorn. He is currently in production on Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship and will next begin production on Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ The Invite opposite Amy Adams.
To coincide with the premiere of SECRETS OF THE OCTOPUS, the May issue of National Geographic’s flagship magazine will also explore the series with a closer look into the latest findings about octopus behavior, cognition and social dynamics. Photographed by the iconic David Liittschwager, the visually stunning feature also dives into the challenges of ethical octopus research and shines a light on the fact that the U.S. Animal Welfare Act does not protect the species. The companion book to the highly anticipated special, written by The New York Times bestselling author Sy Montgomery, features vivid National Geographic photography, bringing us closer than ever to these elusive creatures.
You can see the trailer for Secrets of the Octopus below:
Disney Unveils Ambitious $60 Billion Investment Plan to Boost and Expand Theme Parks
In a strategic move unveiled during the Walt Disney Company’s first-quarter earnings report for fiscal year 2024, CEO Bob Iger outlined a bold vision for the future. Underscoring the profitability of every Disney park in Q1, Iger expressed confidence in leveraging this success to propel the company into a new era of growth.
The plan involves a staggering $60 billion investment in Parks and Experiences over the next decade, with a particular focus on expanding capacity and unlocking untapped storytelling potential across Disney parks worldwide.
Iger articulated the company’s commitment to fortifying its position in the industry, stating, “Every one of our parks was profitable in Q1, giving us an incredibly solid foundation to build upon as we invest significantly to turbocharge growth in this business.” This assertion sets the stage for a comprehensive strategy aimed at capitalizing on the success of Disney’s parks, positioning them as a cornerstone for future expansion.
The CEO went on to emphasize the wealth of untapped stories waiting to be brought to life in Disney parks across the globe. This creative potential aligns with Disney’s storied legacy of storytelling, promising a new wave of immersive and captivating experiences for visitors.
Newly appointed Disney CFO Hugh Johnston provided further insights into the ambitious investment plan. Johnston detailed the intention to inject approximately $60 billion into the business over the next decade. Notably, around 70% of this substantial investment is earmarked for incremental capacity expansion on a global scale. This strategic allocation underscores Disney’s commitment to meeting increasing demand and enhancing the overall guest experience.
This visionary approach reflects Disney’s broader initiative, announced last year, to accelerate and expand investment in its Parks, Experiences, and Products segment. The goal is to nearly double capital expenditures over the next decade, reaching approximately $60 billion. This substantial financial commitment encompasses expanding and enhancing both domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity, solidifying Disney’s dedication to long-term success.
As Disney positions itself for a transformative decade, the company’s visionary leaders, Bob Iger and Hugh Johnston, lay the groundwork for unparalleled growth and innovation. The substantial investment underscores Disney’s commitment to providing magical experiences for guests globally while fortifying its position as an industry leader in the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment and experiences.
The Walt Disney Company reported its financial results for the first quarter of FY 2024, which ended December 30, 2023. The report showcases a mix of steady revenues, improved earnings per share (EPS), and significant progress towards strategic cost savings and streaming service profitability.
Revenues remained consistent year-over-year at $23.5 billion.
Diluted EPS increased to $1.04 from $0.70, with adjusted EPS (excluding certain items) rising to $1.22 from $0.99.
The company is on track with its cost reduction strategy, realizing over $500 million in savings this quarter toward a $7.5 billion annualized target.
The following table summarizes first quarter results for fiscal 2024 and 2023 (taken from the Walt Disney Company FY24 First Quarter Earnings Report):
Quarter Ended
($ in millions, except per share amounts)
December 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Change
Revenues
$
23,549
$
23,512
—
%
Income before income taxes
$
2,871
$
1,773
62
%
Total segment operating income(1)
$
3,876
$
3,043
27
%
Diluted EPS
$
1.04
$
0.70
49
%
Diluted EPS excluding certain items(1)
$
1.22
$
0.99
23
%
Cash provided by (used in) operations
$
2,185
$
(974
)
nm
Free cash flow(1)
$
886
$
(2,155
)
nm
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Segment:
The DTC segment, encompassing Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, is nearing its profitability milestone with a reduced operating loss and improved performance.
Disney+ Core experienced a decrease in subscribers by 1.3 million due to price adjustments but saw an increase in ARPU, signaling a strategic pivot towards revenue quality.
Disney+ Hotstar added 700,000 subscribers, contributing positively to the overall subscriber base.
Hulu saw an increase of 1.2 million subscribers, indicating robust growth in this segment.
ESPN and Sports Streaming Venture:
ESPN’s domestic operations reported growth in both revenue and operating income, reaffirming its position as a key player in the sports content arena.
The announcement of a new sports streaming venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery signifies Disney’s ambition to expand its footprint in sports broadcasting and streaming.
Experiences and Products Segment:
This segment reported record-breaking revenue, operating income, and margin, driven by strong performance at its parks and resorts.
Experiences noted a 7% increase in revenue over the Q1 in FY 2023, with a 4% increase in the performance at domestic parks and a 35% increase in the international parks segment.
Notable openings like the World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort have been well received, contributing to the segment’s success.
The following table summarizes first quarter segment revenue and operating income (loss) for fiscal 2024 and 2023 (taken from the Walt Disney Company FY24 First Quarter Earnings Report):
Quarter Ended
($ in millions)
December 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Change
Revenues:
Entertainment
$
9,981
$
10,675
(7
)%
Sports
4,835
4,640
4
%
Experiences
9,132
8,545
7
%
Eliminations(2)
(399
)
(348
)
(15
)%
Total revenues
$
23,549
$
23,512
—
%
Segment operating income (loss):
Entertainment
$
874
$
345
>100
%
Sports
(103
)
(164
)
37
%
Experiences
3,105
2,862
8
%
Total segment operating income(1)
$
3,876
$
3,043
27
%
(1)
Total segment operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure. The most comparable GAAP measure is income before income taxes. See the discussion on pages 18 through 21.
(2)
Reflects fees paid by Direct-to-Consumer to Sports and other Entertainment businesses for the right to air their linear networks on Hulu Live and fees paid by Entertainment to Sports to program sports on the ABC Network and Star+.
Strategic Cost Management and Efficiency:
Disney’s aggressive cost management strategy is yielding significant savings, putting the company on track to exceed its ambitious savings target.
These efforts are crucial as the company aims to streamline operations and enhance profitability across all business units.
Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns:
The board’s approval of a new $3 billion share repurchase program for fiscal 2024 underscores Disney’s commitment to delivering shareholder value.
An increase in the cash dividend to $0.45 per share reflects confidence in the company’s financial health and future prospects.
CEO Robert A. Iger emphasized the transformative strides Disney has made, pointing to a new era of growth and shareholder value creation. The focus on fortifying ESPN, achieving streaming profitability, rejuvenating film studios, and turbocharging the parks and experiences segment are central to Disney’s strategy.
Overall Summary:
Disney’s Q1 2024 earnings report illustrates a company in transition, making significant headway toward strategic cost savings, streaming profitability, and a stronger, more focused operational model. Through targeted investments in content, strategic pricing adjustments, and a keen eye on cost efficiencies, Disney is poised for sustained growth across its diverse portfolio of businesses.
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With over 110 million hours streamed to date, the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” has been officially renewed for a second season. The announcement was made today by Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, during the company’s first quarter earnings call for the fiscal year 2024. The upcoming season will feature the return of Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri, who will embark on a new adventure based on “The Sea of Monsters” – the second installment of Rick Riordan’s best-selling “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” book series, published by Disney Hyperion.
“Rich in magic, wonder, adventure and heart, ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ captivated the imaginations of viewers of all ages everywhere,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. “We’re thrilled to embark on an exciting new quest and a season two with Rick Riordan, our fantastic partners at 20th Television, and the exceptional ensemble of cast and creative talent that bring this story to life.”
Said Riordan: “I can’t wait to bring the next season of Percy Jackson to Disney+! Raise anchors. Hoist the mainsail. All hands on deck, demigods. We’re heading for the Sea of Monsters!”
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” was one of the top 5 season premieres of 2023, with the first episode garnering 26.2 million views in its first three weeks on Disney+ and Hulu. On social, the #percyjackson hashtag earned over 1 billion views on TikTok in the U.S. over the last 30 days, while series-owned social handles have amassed a cumulative 4.6 million followers.
The domino effect of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians’’’ success has continued with Disney Hyperion publishing, with the “Percy Jackson” books returning to the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list for Middle Grade series following the series’ debut. For Disney Consumer Products, Hot Topic launched an assortment of apparel, while Barnes & Noble released a variety of stationery alongside the published books, inspired by the hit show. More pieces will continue to be revealed in the coming weeks from Hot Topic and Barnes & Noble.
Created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg, season one of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is executive produced by Steinberg and Dan Shotz alongside Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Bert Salke, The Gotham Group’s Jeremy Bell and D.J. Goldberg, James Bobin, Jim Rowe, Monica Owusu-Breen, Anders Engström, Jet Wilkinson and Craig Silverstein.
Season one of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is now streaming on Disney+.
Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces Full Slate of Upcoming Disney Movies
Today during the Disney Earnings Q1 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger unveiled the complete lineup of upcoming Disney theatrical films during the Q1 2024 earnings call on Wednesday, surprising fans with a first look at “Moana 2.”
Here is a look at the Upcoming Disney Movies:
“The First Omen” – April 5, 2024 (20th Century Studios)
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” – May 10, 2024 (20th Century Studios)
“Inside Out 2” – June 14, 2024 (Pixar)
“Deadpool 3” – July 26, 2024 (Marvel Studios)
“Alien: Romulus” – August 16, 2024 (20th Century Studios)
“The Amateur” – November 8, 2024 (20th Century Studios)
“Moana 2” – November 27, 2024 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
“Captain America: Brave New World” – February 14, 2025 (Marvel Studios)
“Elio” – June 13, 2025 (Pixar)
“Avatar 3” – December 19, 2025 (20th Century Studios)
“Avatar 4” – December 21, 2029 (20th Century Studios)
“Avatar 5” – December 19, 2031 (20th Century Studios)
Iger pointed out that the company has “an incredibly robust slate of new releases as we continue revitalizing our creativity.” That includes Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Inside Out 2, Deadpool 3, Alien: Romulus, and Mufasa: The Lion King this year alone.
Disney will also release a feature-length animated sequel to Moana this November, Iger revealed.
“This was originally developed as a series, but we were impressed with what we saw, and we knew it deserved a theatrical release,” he added. “The original Moana film from 2016 recently crossed 1 billion hours streamed on Disney+ and was the most streamed movie of 2023 on any platform in the U.S.”
Iger went on to say that “along with the live-action version of the original film that’s currently in development, Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise, and we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters this November.”
After mentioning Disney’s slate of upcoming films such as Captain America: Brave New World, Fantastic Four, and Avatar 3, Iger pointed out that these films will “not only reach global audiences in theaters, but as we’ve consistently demonstrated, they will become important anchors on our global streaming platforms, driving subscriptions and engagement while also continuing to fuel growth in our Experiences businesses.”
“After all, one of the things that truly sets Disney apart is our unique ability to turn top quality IP into top quality experiences, leading to significant growth,” he added.
Do any upcoming Disney Movies stand out to you? Let us know in the comment box below.
The Walt Disney Corporation released its first quarter earnings today, which revealed a mixed bag of results for its direct-to-consumer streaming services, including Disney+. While the average revenue per user is up thanks to price hikes, the number of Disney+ subscribers has declined by over 1 million users.
In the first quarter of Disney’s FY 2024, which is the period from October-December 2023,, Disney’s direct-to-consumer unit experienced a $138 million operating loss. However, the combined losses for all of Disney’s streaming operations, including ESPN+, were reported at $216 million, a significant reduction from the $1.05 billion loss recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. This demonstrates an improvement in the financial performance of Disney’s streaming services.
The reduction of 1.3 million Disney+ core subscribers from the previous quarter was attributed to price increases implemented by the company. Despite this decrease in subscriber numbers, Disney reported a rise in average revenue per user (ARPU) for the period. This increase in ARPU was a direct result of the subscription cost hikes, indicating that while the subscriber base shrank, revenue per remaining subscriber improved.
Disney recently announced the launch of a new sports streaming venture, a collaboration among ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery. This venture, revealed the day before the earnings report, aims to expand Disney’s offering in the sports streaming domain. Disney also announced Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour will stream exclusively on Disney+. These new ventures should serve to shore up Disney’s subscriber base in future quarters.
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All Aboard! Celebrating classic Americana, the picturesque Main Street U.S.A. station for the Walt Disney World Railroad welcomes guests into Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, Photographer)
(Matt Stroshane, Photographer)
Disney Theme Parks Soar with $6.3 Billion Domestic Revenue in First Quarter of 2024 with 7% Overall Growth
Disney’s theme park division reported a robust performance in Q1 2024, generating an impressive $6.3 billion in domestic revenue. The overall parks and experiences revenue reached $9.1 billion, marking a notable 7% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
While the segment experienced a decline in operating income, particularly at Walt Disney World Resort, higher results from Disney Cruise Line helped offset the reduction. Factors contributing to lower results at Walt Disney World Resort included decreased attendance and occupied room nights compared to the prior-year quarter, which included the 50th-anniversary celebration. Higher costs influenced by inflation, partially mitigated by cost-saving initiatives and lower depreciation, also impacted the operating income.
(Jenna Henderson, photographer)
Disneyland Resort’s results mirrored those of Q1 2023, with revenue growth counterbalanced by increased costs attributed to higher average ticket prices, attendance growth, and inflation-driven expenses.
Disney Cruise Line witnessed growth, fueled by higher average ticket prices and increased passenger cruise days. Shanghai Disney Resort experienced growth compared to the previous year when it was temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reported higher operating income, while Disneyland Paris results remained comparable to the previous year.
Taylor Swift Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) to Stream Exclusively on Disney+ Beginning Next Month
Disney+ has revealed that “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version),” the complete concert film featuring the song “cardigan” and four additional acoustic tracks, is set to make its streaming premiere exclusively on Disney+ on March 15, 2024.
This cinematic experience, directed by Sam Wrench, has etched its place in history as a top-grossing concert film, amassing over $260 million in global box office revenue. The film showcases the artistic brilliance of the 14-time Grammy®-winning artist, Taylor Swift, offering fans a unique and captivating journey through her illustrious musical journey.
In making the announcement Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “The Eras Tour has been a true phenomenon that has and continues to thrill fans around the world, and we are very excited to bring this electrifying concert to audiences wherever they are, exclusively through Disney+.”
Disney teaming up with Fortnite maker Epic Games with 1.5 Billion Investment
The Walt Disney Company and Epic Games are set to join forces in creating an innovative games and entertainment universe, marking an expansion of Disney’s cherished stories and experiences. Disney is set to make a significant investment of $1.5 billion to secure an equity stake in Epic Games as part of this multiyear venture. The completion of the transaction is contingent on meeting standard closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
This collaborative project aims to deliver an exceptional gaming experience that integrates seamlessly with Fortnite. The newly established persistent universe will not only provide a top-tier gaming experience but will also present various opportunities for users to play, watch, shop, and interact with content, characters, and narratives from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more. Players, gamers, and enthusiasts will have the chance to craft their own stories, express their Disney fandom uniquely, and share content with fellow fans in a manner they truly appreciate—all powered by the cutting-edge Unreal Engine.
“Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortnite in a transformational new games and entertainment universe,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can’t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways.”
“Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of bringing their worlds together with ours in Fortnite, and they use Unreal Engine across their portfolio,” said Tim Sweeney, CEO and Founder, Epic Games. “Now we’re collaborating on something entirely new to build a persistent, open and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities.”
“This will enable us to bring together our incredible collection of stories and experiences from across the company for a broad audience in ways we have only dreamed of before,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “Epic Games’ industry-leading technology and Fortnite’s open ecosystem will help us reach consumers where they are so they can engage with Disney in the ways that are most relevant to them.”
Deepening the Epic Games & Disney Relationship
Disney and Epic Games have engaged hundreds of millions of players through Fortnite content integrations, season collaborations, in-game activations, and live events, including the Marvel Nexus War with Galactus, which drew more than 15.3 million concurrent players.
Unreal Engine is used to produce assets and content across the Disney portfolio including in the development of video games like Kingdom Hearts 3 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; in cinematic editing and animation for film and streaming; and in the creation of more than 15 Disney Parks attractions like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
This all builds on Epic Games’ participation in the 2017 Disney Accelerator program, which seeks to impact the future of technology and entertainment.
Games Industry Growth & Disney Games Success
The digital world is growing and evolving with more than 3 billion video game players worldwide who want to move safely and seamlessly between the worlds they love, unleash their own creativity, and experience great gameplay.
Disney’s games business continues to deliver strong results since it shifted to a licensing business model in 2016. Disney is a leading games licensor working with best-in-class developers and publishers, including on the best-selling superhero game of all-time, Marvel’s Spider-Man. Licensed games from Disney garnered more than 150 award nominations, wins and other accolades in 2023, including multiple Game of the Year nominations for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Disney mobile games have 1.5 billion global installs, and to date, nine Disney games franchises have each grossed more than $1 billion in sales. In the U.S., the world’s largest games market, licensed titles from Disney regularly hit the annual top-10 best-sellers list.
The highly anticipated sequel, “Moana 2,” a new feature-length film from Disney Animation, is set to hit theaters in 2024. Building on the success of the 2016 Oscar-nominated original, Iger expressed enthusiasm for bringing more of Moana and Maui to audiences when the sequel premieres in November of this year.
The announcement reflects the enduring popularity of the “Moana” franchise and promises another captivating adventure for fans to enjoy on the big screen.
The mug is sculpted as the iconic poison apple the Evil Queen gives Snow White in the movie. Add hot liquid and watch this cup change color from black to green just like magic!
