Disney Appologizes Over “Offensive Joke”

Disney recently apologized for a joke they made in an internal newsletter. A dad joke is a regular feature in Stay Connected, the internal newsletter for Disney General Entertainment. This time, however, it seems the joke of the day offended people in not just one but two different ways!

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The joke said, “My four-year-old son has been learning Spanish all year, and he still can’t say the word “please” which I think is poor for four.” They later sent out an apology after apparently receiving complaints about the play on words stating, “In today’s Stay Connected newsletter, there was an inappropriate joke. It was never our intention to marginalize a language or a young person’s learning skills, and we apologize to anyone offended. We strive to maintain a sense of belonging and uphold our belief in diversity, equality, and inclusion within the company. We will do better.”

It’s unclear exactly who was offended by the joke or if Disney was simply attempting to be proactive by issuing the apology. The original memo and apology both made their way to Twitter, and as usual, Twitter had some thoughts on the matter.

One user astutely commented that comedy is impossible in today’s world, with a nod to Orwell’s novel 1984:

Disney apologizes for joke

Another made an attempt at comedy themselves:

Disney apologizes for joke

Still, some believe it was a publicity stunt:

Disney apologizes for joke

While others perhaps took the joke a bit too seriously:

Disney apologizes for joke

Meanwhile, one user found something entirely different to be offended about:

Disney apologizes for joke

Others blamed “wokeness” for the apology and, it seems, took some joy in what they considered to be poetic justice:

Disney apologizes for joke

It seems, like all things, opinions on the subject were varied. Most commentators were simply confused as to why the “dad joke” warranted an apology in the first place. The joke and subsequent apology can be found here:

Disney General Entertainment forced to apologize for…I’m not really sure what. Remember, you can never be woke enough so it’s always better not to try. pic.twitter.com/qJHHnbN4xA

— Karol Markowicz (@karol) October 5, 2022

Encanto Interactive Experience Opening Soon

Disney is finally bringing the hit film Encanto (2021) to life with an all-new interactive experience opening soon!

Since the hit film’s debut, fans have been eager to see Disney bringing this beloved story to life at Disney Parks, being beyond thrilled when Mirabel debuted at Disneyland Resort and later at Walt Disney World Resort, which was also home to several breathtaking Encanto-inspired topiaries during EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival.

And while Disney teased a possible project bringing a massive new land inspired by Coco (2017), Encanto, and even Disney Villains to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, there is still no official timeline for an actual project inspired by the heartwarming Colombian story just yet.

However, Disney just announced an all-new immersive Encanto-themed experience welcoming Guests soon!

Fans can say “¡Hola, Casita!” in the latest collaboration between CAMP and Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Disney Encanto x CAMP.” This 6,000 6,000-square-foot experience, inspired by the film and created in partnership with Disney, will open its doors in New York City on October 8, transporting families into the colorful world of Disney Animation’s Encanto and enjoy an exciting hour-long visit filled with candlelight, cumbia and – most of all – magic.

Per Disney Parks Blog:

Guests will be able to climb up and around Antonio’s room and join the rainforest adventure, spin through Isabela’s flower-filled room, or slide down into the Courtyard. Fans will find new interactive scenes, uniquely created for this experience, including Luisa’s and Pepa’s never-before-seen rooms, and even cousin Dolores’ Soundscape Door!

Disney encanto x camp store

And fans can shop until they drop in La Placita for exclusive, bespoke, customizable clothing, books, and colorful felt jewelry, all displayed in a series of beautiful, themed merchant carts.

CAMP describes this unique experience as follows:

For the first time ever, La Familia Madrigal are opening their doors … and you’re invited! It’s the world’s first immersive Disney Encanto experience: a real-life Casita, complete with secret passages, interactive magic, live music, and surprises behind every magic door.

From Antonio’s rainforest to Isabela’s floral wonderland and Luisa’s happy place, CAMP’s Disney Encanto experience is bursting with magical fun. Oh, and we don’t talk about this, but you might see Bruno’s room, too!

On top of all that, we brought the fun of the Disney Encanto town square to CAMP. All kinds of merchants have cooked up custom-made, exclusive goods inspired by the world of Disney Encanto, from chain-stitched apparel to handmade flower crowns that you’ll only find at CAMP.

Casita x camp store

The Disney Encanto x CAMP Experience opens on October 8 at CAMP’s Flagship Store located at 110 5th Avenue, New York. Tickets for this exclusive experience are limited and can be purchased here. The immersive experience will be available in New York for a limited time before moving to another CAMP location near you. You can click here for more information on the experience.

Get a First Look at Halloween on the High Seas on the Disney Wish

It’s officially 25 days until Halloween, which means the celebration of this spooktacular holiday is in full swing across the entire Disney Cruise Line fleet! We have a first look today at the all-new Halloween décor aboard our newest ship, the Disney Wish!

The enchantment of the already-gorgeous Grand Hall is elevated with beautiful garland ordained with pumpkins and fall florals.

The highlight of the décor is the all-new Pumpkin Tree. Every Disney Cruise Line ship features a signature Pumpkin Tree in its atrium with a unique look and personality, and the tree on the Disney Wish features lighter bark, graceful branches and a mystical face, setting it apart from the rest. As the tale would have it, this enchanted tree – named Boo! – grew perfect gourds with the help of a Wishing Star at night, producing the perfect pumpkin that became the coach that carried Cinderella to the Prince’s Ball.

Also new this season, we’re putting a spell on Disney Cruise Line guests with a wickedly fun character meet and greet opportunity. While all characters on board adorn Halloween costumes as part of the festivities, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Clarabelle Cow can be found running amuck on each ship as their favorite Halloween sisters, the Sandersons from the movie “Hocus Pocus.”

And that’s not all! Other special experiences for these sailings include:

  • Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party: Join favorite Disney characters in Halloween attire for a fun-filled costume party.
  • Halloween Isn’t Just For Kids: Adult-exclusive venues across the fleet become a ghoulish setting for costume contests and a Villainous Takeover on the dance floor.
  • Spooky Movies: To get guests into the spirit of the season, Halloween-themed movies will be shown on Funnel Vision by the family pool and in staterooms.
  • Ghoulish Delights: Enjoy special themed food and beverage items around the ship — and don’t forget about the trick-or-treating.

These spooky cruises will continue throughout the month, or guests can start planning now for their perfect seasonal sailing in 2023 with cruises from Florida, California and New York next fall. 

Disney Film is the First in History to Bypass the $2.9 Billion Mark at the Box Office

For the first time ever, a film has bypassed the $2.9 billion threshold at the global box office, and the prized film just happens to be owned by Disney.

Nearly 70 years ago, a boy was born in the tiny town of Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. As a child, he had a voracious appetite for science fiction books that only grew stronger as he aged. He grew up to become a talented filmmaker who made a name for himself with a film based on one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, Titanic, which hit the box office in 1997 boasted an all-star cast, led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

But even before Titanic was complete, Director James Cameron had already begun work on his super-blockbuster, Avatar.

Avatar was the first film to ever gross more than $2 billion worldwide. At that time, it was the only film to have ever achieved such a feat. Soon after, however, Avatar was in good company with Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Cameron’s original Oscar-winning gold mine, Titanic, which had finally been able to break the $2 billion glass ceiling thanks to a re-release of the film.

In 2017, Cameron’s CGI-heavy film had amassed $2.7 billion at the global box office from its initial theatrical run and a short re-release in some areas only a few months later.

And it would seem that Cameron is a fan of the re-releases, as the re-release of Avatar is responsible for putting the film over the $2.9 billion mark worldwide, and it’s the first film in history to earn these accolades. The recent re-release ahead of the upcoming release of the film’s sequel, was only in 40 markets and was a very limited engagement, lasting only 2 weeks.

But it was long enough to gain another $18 million domestically and $39 million in overseas markets, pushing the global box office total to $2.905 billion.

How Avatar Became The Most Popular Movie No One Remembers

Per IMDb, the story of Avatar is as follows:

A paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge’s intentions of driving off the native humanoid “Na’vi” in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland.

In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers knowledge, of the Indigenous Race and their Culture, for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na’vi people with the use of an “avatar” identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand – and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.

The long-awaited sequel to Avatar, titled, Avatar: The Way of WaterRotten Tomatoes says the sequel is set 10+ years after the original film and continues the story of Jake and Neytiri as they have started a family and must explore the regions of Pandora:

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

Avatar: The Way of Water debuts at the box office on December 16.

Abigail Disney’s Production Company Is Shutting Down

Years ago, Abigail Disney — granddaughter of Roy O. Disney and great-niece of Walt — walked away from the company that had shot her family to fame and fortune. Ms. Disney got rid of most of her stock in the company, saying that she did not feel like the money was hers, as she did nothing to earn it. In the years since, Ms. Disney has kept a few shares of the company, but has been on less-than-friendly terms with the people running it and has frequently criticized The Walt Disney Company for its low Cast Member (employee) wages and sky-high executive salaries.

When it comes to salaries, Ms. Disney has taken aim at both current CEO Bob Chapek, as well as past CEO Bob Iger. Ms. Disney has indicated that, while she used to have a decent relationship with Iger, her relationship with both men is now non-existent.

Ms. Disney has always called upon the Walt Disney Company to increase the pay of its Cast Members. Especially after surveys revealed that a number of Cast Members had experienced homelessness and food insecurity while working for the House of Mouse. Ms. Disney has even gone so far as to make a documentary film — called The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales — detailing the company’s low employee pay and high executive salaries — including a $20 million per year bonus that Bob Chapek receives.

The documentary — which will soon be widely released — was produced by Ms. Disney’s production company, Fork Films. Unfortunately, we are now learning that Fork Films will be closing its doors. The decision was made a while ago, but is now being made public. News of the closure was first shared by Variety:

As part of the closure, fewer than 10 positions have been eliminated. Abigail, a filmmaker and philanthropist, is also the granddaughter of Roy Disney, the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company.

A spokesperson for Fork Films said the staff was notified of the closure in February, and have been working to wind down the company by Sept. 30, 2022. Disney’s most recent film, “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales,” which she co-directed with Kathleen Hughes, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and was recently released digitally. The film examines the issue of economic inequality and ballooning CEO compensation packages. The movie made headlines as Disney drilled down on the employment and union practices at the theme parks run by The Walt Disney Company. In the film and dozens of subsequent interviews, Disney has consistently and unflinchingly taken the company to task, describing the corporation’s promises of “upward mobility” as “neoliberal claptrap.”

After much reflection, Abigail decided to close Fork Films,” the spokesperson said, adding, “several Fork Films’ staff members will continue working on ‘The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales,’ its release and impact campaign in the coming months. She plans to continue making films.”

Although the production company is closing down, Ms. Disney said that she will keep making films and will keep calling out the company and corporate behavior that she feels is unjust.