December 2023 – A Walk With The Mouse

Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces His Resignation

Posted on December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

In an unexpected but perhaps understandable turn of events, Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced his resignation from The Walt Disney Company, though his departure will not be effective immediately.

Bob Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005 and continued in that role until February 2020, when he abruptly stepped down, effective immediately, just before the dawn of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Then-Disney Parks President Bob Chapek was appointed to step in as Iger’s replacement, becoming Disney’s CEO on the same day.

In December 2021, Iger finally stepped down from his position on Disney’s board, and retirement loomed on the horizon. During that time, Iger, ever the savvy businessman, considered various ventures with partners before following through and partnering in several of them.

In December 2021, just weeks before he stepped away from his position on Disney’s board following his resignation as CEO, Iger was in talks to consider becoming part-owner of the Phoenix Suns. Then, in May 2022, the former CEO began talks to partner with eBay in the nearly $300 million purchase of the Funko toy company.

But after a tumultuous tenure, Disney’s board removed Bob Chapek from his post, reinstalling veteran CEO Bob Iger at the helm, effective November 20, 2022.

Only days later, Iger found himself tasked with cleaning house at Disney, firing those closest to Chapek, including his former chief of staff, Arthur Bochner, assistant Jackie Hart, and his right-hand man, Kareem Daniel.

During his first term as Disney’s CEO, Iger proved he had a knack for overseeing major acquisitions. He is credited with the successful completion of the following acquisitions by The Walt Disney Company:

Miramax – 1993; $60 million
Capital Cities/ABC/ESPN – 1995; $19 billion
Starwave – 1998; undisclosed amount
Infoseek – 1999; undisclosed amount
Fox Family Worldwide (Freeform) – 2001; $2.9 billion
Baby Einstein – 2001; undisclosed amount
The Muppets – 2004; $75 million
CrossGen – 2004; $1 million
Avalanche Software – 2005; undisclosed amount
Pixar – 2006; $7.4 billion
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit – 2006; traded for the rights to sports broadcaster Al Michaels
Junction Point Studios – 2007; undisclosed amount
Marvel – 2009; $4 billion
Hulu – 2009; 30% purchase (increased to full ownership in 2019)
Wideload Games – 2010; undisclosed amount
Tapulous – 2010; undisclosed amount
Playdom – 2010; $563 million
UTV Software Communications – 2011; $297 million
Lucasfilm (Star Wars) – 2012; $4.06 billion
Maker Studios – 2014; $500 million
Sphero – 2014; unknown minority investment
BAM – 2016 & 2017; $2.58 billion total
21st Century Fox – 2019; $71.3 billion

On Wednesday, Disney’s boomerang CEO announced his resignation from the company, though his departure from the Mouse House won’t be immediate. In an interview in September, Iger said that his departure wasn’t too far off, though at the time, he did not give details about the date on which he would step away.

On Wednesday, during an interview at the New York Times Dealbook Conference, Disney’s CEO said that he will “definitely” step down from his role when his current contract expires in 2026. He also talked specifically about the ABC television network, owned by The Walt Disney Company, saying that despite talk of the potential for a sale, ABC is not for sale.

As part of the interview, Bob Iger further said he was “bullish” about the potential for Disney’s Shanghai park, Shanghai Disneyland, as he explained that he expects The Walt Disney Company to expand the park “relatively soon.”

As for his resignation from his role at The Walt Disney Company, Iger’s employer for a combined total of nearly 50 years, Iger says that he will remain at his post, continuing in his current responsibilities as the company’s chief executive officer until the expiration date of his current contract with Disney.

In November 2022, when he was called back to the role of CEO following Disney’s removal of then-CEO Bob Chapek, Iger signed a two-year contract, set to expire in December 2024. But shortly after Disney’s CFO Christine McCarthy announced her departure in June 2023, Disney renewed Iger’s contract, extending his agreement through the end of 2026.

On Wednesday, Iger said he would step down when that contract expires, which is reportedly on December 31, 2026.

Famed Disney Actor, Dead at 95, Leaves Behind Legacy to 34 Grandkids & 30 Great-Grands

Posted on December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

A famous Disney actor who appeared in more than 130 productions during his lifetime has died at the age of 95, leaving behind an enormous and far-reaching legacy, quite literally.

When it comes to a career as a Hollywood actor and performer, the goals are often simple: make an impression, make a mark, leave a legacy. And since the birth of the film and television industry, countless actors, actresses, and other performers have accomplished those goals, though by varying methods with varied performances and varying degrees of success.

Occasionally, there are actors and actresses who are capable of making their mark in Hollywood while never sacrificing their personal lives and families, and those individuals have a rare talent indeed, and one Disney actor who passed away only days ago was one of those individuals.

Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland, better known as actor Joss Ackland, was born on February 29, 1928, in London. He attended London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, and shortly thereafter, at the young age of 17, Ackland made his acting debut in The Hasty Heart in 1945.

As part of his acting career, Ackland appeared alongside other memorable actors in the business, including Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, and Dame Judi Dench, whose voice can be heard as the narrator in the Spaceship Earth attraction at EPCOT at Walt Disney World.

The acclaimed English actor enjoyed nonstop acting opportunities in the 1960s and 1970s, and over the course of his decades-long career, Ackland appeared in more than 130 radio, television, and film roles, including some for Walt Disney Pictures. According to BFI, Ackland “had a fine line in villainy and accents over many decades of memorable supporting turns in film and television.”

In 1979, he worked on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a television special in which he played a sports journalist and British spy. But his career wasn’t over yet, as he continued to build on his acting prowess throughout the 1980s, during which he enjoyed some of his most memorable roles, including those in The Sicilian, Lethal Weapon 2, The Hunt for Red October with Sean Connery, and White Mischief.

He also played the role of author CS Lewis in the made-for-television iteration of Shadowlands before it was turned into a stage play and then a theatrical film in which Sir Anthony Hopkins played the same role. In addition to his film and television roles, Ackland, known for his warm and rich-toned voice, lent that voice to numerous television commercials for Yellow Pages, The Kellogg Company, and others, which aired in Great Britain.

To Disney fans, Ackland will best be remembered for embodying the role of Hans, the owner of the Mighty Ducks hockey team in The Mighty Ducks film franchise, which starred actor Emilio Estevez. The series includes The Mighty Ducks (1992), D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996), and a television show titled The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Mighty Ducks', Joss Ackland, Star Dead at 95

And while Ackland will long be remembered for his contributions to the stage, film, television, and radio, it’s the personal legacy he leaves behind that’s perhaps the most impressive.

Joss Ackland married Rosemary Kirkcaldy on August 18, 1951. He was 23 years old, and she was one year his junior. When she died in 2002, the couple had been blissfully married for 51 years, and Ackland was quoted as saying that though his work saw him traveling often, he and his wife were rarely apart.

Together, Joss and Rosemary had seven children. Ultimately, the English actor became a grandfather of 34 and a great-grandfather of 30, and there’s just something about those achievements that seems to trump even Ackland’s more than 130 performances as part of his decorated career.

Ackland died on November 19, 2023, and our sympathy extends to those who knew and loved him best.

Brother of Young Man Who Took His Own Life at Disney Park Speaks Out

Posted on December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The brother of a young man who ended his life at a Disney Park before the Thanksgiving holiday has spoken out about who his brother was, his loss, and about the comfort his faith has brought him since his brother’s untimely death.

The apparent suicide of a 24-year-old man at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California on Wednesday evening, November 15, has left an empty place in the lives of those who knew him and loved him best and resulted in unspeakable grief and emotional pain for his family and friends.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, officers with the Anaheim Police Department responded to a call at 1100 West Magic Way about someone having jumped from the Pixar Pals parking structure at Disneyland Resort, according to a spokesperson for the department, Sgt. Jon McClintock. Upon their arrival, officers found a man at the scene. He was deceased following an apparent jump or fall from the parking structure.

According to the police officers, the death of the young man, later identified as 24-year-old Jonah Alexander Edwards by the Orange County Coroner’s Office, is being investigated as a suicide.

News of the tragedy at Disneyland Resort spread quickly, though details were few about the young man who lost his life on that Wednesday evening. Most media outlets only reported briefly on the incident, and many included his name.

But since the time of his passing, very few, if any, outlets have reported about who the young man was, and such an approach to this tragedy threatens to continue an already egregious problem in the world today–and especially in the United States: a lack of open conversations about depression, anxiety, mental wellness, and self-harm.

The first step in opening the door to communication about these topics is exactly that: opening the door.

The young man who lost his life on the 15th of November this year was 24-year-old Jonah Alexander Edwards, and, according to a post on Instagram from Micah Edwards, Jonah’s brother, he was a beautiful and kind person with a vibrant smile.

Several days after Edwards’ passing, his brother, Micah Edwards, took to Instagram to share news of the loss of his brother and to ask that his friends and family keep the Edwards family in their prayers. He shared the grief of his loss and talked about the “privilege” of knowing Jonah.

“We lost our beautiful brother this week,” Micah Edwards wrote in a post on Instagram. “Jonah Alexander took his own life on Wednesday, November 15. He was a pure light to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and I miss him so much.”

“In the last few days,” Micah Edwards continued, “the love and comfort of Jesus has been overwhelming through the hands of our community. If I could find any sliver of hope, it’s that his suffering is no more.”

“Words can’t begin to describe the pain I’m feeling right now,” Micah said. “Please keep our family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

Jonah Alexander Edwards’s passing is the ninth reported suicide at Disneyland Resort, the first of which took place on September 3, 1994, and the third to have taken place in less than one year.

There have now been 13 people take their lives at Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort, leading to questions about whether The Walt Disney Company has a responsibility to take steps to help deter individuals from committing suicide on Disney property, perhaps by hiring more security personnel and the implementing physical barriers in areas where individuals have jumped to their deaths from high structures, thus making those areas less accessible, which, according to University of California at Irvine psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, could mean the difference between an act carried out and ideation upon which no action is taken.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Jonah Alexander Edwards during this difficult season of grief, and our prayers continue to be with all of those who loved him and find themselves in the midst of the emotional pain of loss at this time.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, there is help. There is hope at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to civilians and veterans. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line). Those searching for help can also dial 988 to be relayed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Disney CEO Bob Iger Reaches Out to Actors Tim Allen, Tom Hanks for Help With ‘Toy Story 5’

Posted on December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

An upcoming film in the studios has Disney CEO Bob Iger reaching out to the talent for help.

Disney’s getting back to its roots–or so fans would be led to believe. During The Walt Disney Company’s 2023 fiscal first-quarter earnings call with Wall Street’s finest in February of this year, during which better-than-expected returns were shared with investors and analysts, CEO Bob Iger had a few more surprises up his sleeve.

He began by announcing a massive $5.5 billion cut in spending across the organization, part of which included a major restructuring of The Walt Disney Company’s various divisions. Though Disney’s quarterly results were impressive, Iger couldn’t keep his viewfinder set to only that three-month period at the end of the 2022 calendar year.

The boomerang CEO, who at the time had been back at his post for less than three months, stressed the importance of Disney’s ability to trim its spending drastically in numerous areas, and in addition to Disney’s restructuring, Iger also announced plans for 7,000 layoffs company-wide.

It was no secret that The Walt Disney Company had failed miserably at the box office throughout 2022. Disney’s three film offerings that year–two of which came from Pixar Animation Studios–simply didn’t resonate with many who saw them, and in addition to that, many usual moviegoers simply skipped Disney at the theater in 2022, citing Disney’s “woke ideology.”

Pixar’s Turning Red debuted in March on Disney+, followed by Pixar’s Lightyear in theaters in June, and in November, Disney’s Strange World made its theatrical debut. It was a record-breaking year for Disney at the box office, and not in a good way.

But after the proverbial dust had settled from Bob Iger’s seemingly continual onslaught of bad news during the earnings call, a silver lining seemed to emerge as Iger announced three new films in production that could serve to right the ship of box office flops for the company–but in order to do so, Disney would have to call in the heroes–namely, Woody and Buzz, Anna and Elsa, and Judy Hopps.

Iger announced the return of three fan-favorite film franchises–Pixar’s Toy Story, Disney’s Frozen, and Disney’s Zootopia, each of which had performed well and resonated with fans over the years. Though Iger didn’t use the exact terminology, the announcement came with the clear hope that getting back to Disney’s roots could be what turned the tide for the company at the box office.

Now, however, months after Iger’s initial announcement about the three savior productions at Disney, actor Tim Allen, who voices the action figure space ranger Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, has revealed that CEO Bob Iger recently called on him and Tom Hanks, who voices Sheriff Woody in the same franchise, to share their thoughts about a fifth Toy Story installment.

While details about the new film are scarce, the new film will reportedly be a back-to-basics take centered on Woody and Buzz rather than a spinoff like Pixar’s Lightyear (2022). Perhaps that’s why Disney CEO Bob Iger reached out to Allen and Hanks to get their take on a fifth film

Before Thanksgiving, Tim Allen appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, during which he talked about Toy Story 5, saying that Iger chose to “reach out” to him and Tom Hanks as well.

“Bob Iger, head of Disney, said [the film] was on and actually said it was going to happen,” Allen said. “They have reached out to Tom and I to reprise the roles. They’re not saying anything about it. You wonder if four was too many. Is five going to be too much?”

“According to the scuttlebutt,” he continued, “the writer that’s doing it wrote one of the better ones and said, ‘If I didn’t get this right, I wouldn’t do it.’ It could be a very, very interesting way to reunite it.”

Though the storyline for Toy Story 5 has yet to be revealed, one thing is certain: Pixar absolutely needs a hit, and if any of the studio’s franchises can pull it off, it’s Toy Story, Pixar’s first and oldest franchise, the initial installment for which debuted in 1995, with sequel installments debuting in 1999, 2010, and 2019.

Following Pixar’s major flop in June 2022 with Lightyear, the studio is in desperate need of a home run.

In June 2023, Elemental debuted at the box office, setting records as Pixar’s worst box office debut in history. But several weeks following its theatrical release, Elemental began to take off, surprising even the head of Pixar Animation Studios–Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, who admitted they simply didn’t know why the film started low and then saw an exponential boom at the box office.

Breaking News: Pete Docter Named Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios - Pixar Post

But that boom was enough to convince Pixar execs that it’s time to return to the studio’s roots.

Docter said that PIXAR’s classic stories, including Toy Story, are often anchored on “ideas that we all carried around as kids.” That focus shifted in films like Elemental, and now, the studio feels that it needs to take a closer look at the stories it’s creating and “double down on what allowed [them] to speak to audiences” in the first place, per Docter.

“I always felt that Elemental would speak to a lot of people, and I’m so happy it has,” Docter said. “But we have also taken another look at the projects we’re working on now. What are the kinds of films we want to be making? I really think I want to double down on what allowed us to speak to audiences, to begin with.”

No release date has been announced for the fifth Toy Story film, but diehard Woody and Buzz fans–this writer included–are thrilled that the newest story in the franchise will get back to where it all began–the unlikely friendship between a pull-string cowboy doll and a space ranger action figure. “Dieharder” Toy Story fans take it one step further, hoping that the fifth film will undo the awful tragedy that was the story of Toy Story 4 (2019).

Only time will tell if we “dieharders” will be so lucky.

New Restaurant Coming Soon to Disney Springs: Four Exciting Things to Expect from Summer House on the Lake

Posted on December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

Summer House on the Lake is a new restaurant that is opening soon at Disney Springs. The restaurant has shared details on what to expect from its newest location opening this winter at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, from the restaurant’s first-ever “Cookie Bar” to its signature Rosé Cart, and more. Summer House on the Lake will be the fourth location of the California-inspired restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, joining existing locations in Chicago, IL. and North Bethesda, MD., and Las Vegas, NV., opening this winter. From the decor to menu, here are four exciting things guests can look forward to at Summer House on the Lake.

Summer House on the Lake will introduce the brand’s first-ever “Cookie Bar,” featured front and center at the restaurant’s entrance. The Cookie Bar will serve a variety of the restaurant’s beloved oversized cookies, bars, and other sweet specials. Guests can indulge in flavors like Sea Salt Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, Oatmeal Scotchie, Apple Oatmeal and Vegan Snickerdoodle, as well as rotating seasonal flavors. The bar will offer a selection of coffee, wine and beer on draft, as well as specialty cocktails such as the Tropical Dreams with vodka, Pamplemousse liqueur, and habanero honey, all available to enjoy at the restaurant or take to-go around Disney Springs. Guests will also be able to purchase a bottle of the restaurant’s own private-label wine, Summer House Rosé, to take home with them.

Another reminder that it’s always summer at Summer House is the Rosé Cart. Summer House on the Lake’s Rosé Cart will offer more than six varieties of rosé by the glass or bottle, including the restaurant’s star Summer House Rosé, made in partnership with California-based BonAnno Wines. The Summer House Rosé serves as a standout in the robust rosé program, offering a delicate and floral taste with tart cherries and watermelon, complementary to the lively and fresh menu and representative of the restaurant’s overall beverage approach. A selection of spritzes, summery cocktails (including zero-proof options), fresh juices, and a largely California-sourced wine list add to the laidback West Coast vibes.

Summer House on the Lake’s West Coast-inspired menu will feature celebrated favorites and signature items exclusive to Disney Springs. Brunch will be served Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with options including: Mexican Hash Browns; Breakfast Pizza with applewood bacon, a sunny side up egg and parmesan cream; and Breakfast Tostadas. Fluffy pancakes and waffles, salads, and sandwiches will also be available, alongside a selection of other items from the lunch and dinner menus. Guests can also expect seasonal salads, artisan pizzas and entrees like Herbed Chicken Paillard and local Grouper Fish ‘n’ Chips with malt vinegar fries and tartar sauce. An extensive kids menu will be available all day – with a choice of vegetables or fries on the side.

Summer House’s design brings the beauty of a summer day indoors, welcoming guests to enjoy sweeping views and a relaxing lakeside breeze. The space, which boasts three bars, an airy, natural light-filled dining room centered around a lush tree reaching toward a skylight, and greenery throughout, was designed in collaboration with renowned architecture and design firm Rockwell Group. Seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor dining, Summer House offers both freestanding tables and banquettes ideal for families and large groups. An iconic centerpiece of each Summer House location that will be included at Summer House on the Lake is the bright blue “YES” sign located in the dining room. It symbolizes the entire team’s commitment to “saying yes” to the guest, making each dining experience a memorable one.