Disney Lands Huge Blow as Billionaire Investor Attempts Hostile Takeover

Nearly one year ago, billionaire Nelson Peltz announced that he would be trying to gain a seat on Disney’s Board of Directors. He said that he didn’t think Disney was going in the right direction and wasn’t making its shareholders enough money. He gave up his fight when Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that he would be eliminating thousands of jobs and cutting $5.5 billion from Disney’s budget.

However, Peltz recently picked up the fight again, but this time, he announced that he wasn’t just targeting one seat on Disney’s board, he was going after several. Peltz said that he had given Iger a chance to “right the ship,” but the embattled CEO had not done so.

But Iger and Disney weren’t going to back down without a fight. The company released a statement, claiming that Peltz only wanted seats on the board because of his close relationship with fired Marvel executive, Ike Perlmutter. They said that Perlmutter had a vendetta against the company and was using Peltz to make that happen.

And now, Disney just got some big backup in its fight against Peltz and Perlmutter. According to Disney, the company has entered into an agreement with investment group ValueAct. Per The Hollywood Reporter:

Disney and ValueAct have entered into a “confidentiality agreement that enables the company to provide information to the investment firm and consult with ValueAct on strategic matters, including through meetings with the Disney board and management,” the company said on Wednesday.

As part of the arrangement, ValueAct also confirmed that it would support the Disney slate of nominees for the company’s board of directors at Disney’s upcoming annual shareholder meeting. The news comes amid Disney’s proxy battle with Nelson Peltz and his firm Trian Partners, an effort backed by ousted Marvel mogul Ike Perlmutter.

Ike perlmutter and marvel logo

Peltz is hoping to get enough shareholders to vote for him and his loyalists so they can have at least two, if not three, seats on Disney’s Board of Directors. Should they be successful, this could mean that massive changes might take place within the company. Ike Perlmutter is an outspoken conservative and a large supporter of Donald Trump.

donald trump

Disney has been making more content that reflects the world we currently live in — meaning more diverse characters and family units. The company has frequently been accused of being “woke”, which Peltz and Perlmutter might put an end to if they gain those coveted seats.

Nominations for new board members will take place until January 4, 2024.

Disney World Clarifies Its Free Dining Plan Offer

Disney World is clarifying the offer of free Disney Dining plans for Disney+ subscribers that the company first shared last Tuesday, and guests might not be happy with some of the newly-released details.

On Tuesday, the Walt Disney World Resort announced a brand-new promotional offer that includes free Disney Dining plans for Disney+ subscribers, following the announcement in May 2023 that the Disney Dining plan was scheduled to return to Disney World on January 9, 2024. Bookings including the new dining plans were available as of May 31, 2023.

This week, Disney World shared news about a new offer for Disney+ subscribers who purchase select vacation packages at Disney World. Per the announcement, the offer applies to non-discounted 4-night, 4-day vacation packages that include a room at select Disney Resort Hotels, as well as theme park tickets with the Park Hopper option added on. The promotional offer extends to packages purchased for travel between July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024.

dinoland usa entrance

But on Wednesday, Disney World made another announcement, this time clarifying the specifics about eligible stays that will net guests the free Disney Dining plans–and which Disney Dining plan is available to guests, depending on where they’re staying on property.

The following points are the highlights of Disney World’s clarification:

  • Guests who select a Disney Value or Moderate Resort Hotel or The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will receive the Quick-Service Dining plan, but they can pay to upgrade to the Disney Dining plan.
Art of Animation
  • Guests who book their stays at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels will receive the Disney Dining Plan.
  • Guests who book at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will not be eligible for the free Disney Dining plan promotion.
  • Guests who book three-bedroom grand villas at Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotels are also excluded from this offer.
  • The free Disney Dining plan promotion is only available to Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Subscribers in other countries are not eligible for the promotion.
disney plus star wars content streaming
  • It’s worth restating that in order to receive the free Disney Dining plan promotion, guests must include the park hopper option with their theme park tickets.

The following locations are available to guests as part of the Disney Dining plan. They are categorized by Disney World theme park. A notation of two asterisks (**) is included next to the name of each restaurant that requires two table-service credits.

Magic Kingdom Locations

  • Be Our Guest Restaurant**
  • Cinderella’s Royal Table**
  • The Crystal Palace
  • The Diamond Horseshoe
  • Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
  • Liberty Tree Tavern
  • The Plaza Restaurant
  • Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

EPCOT Locations

  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall**
  • Biergarten Restaurant
Biergarten Restaurant
  • Coral Reef Restaurant
  • Garden Grill Restaurant
  • La Hacienda de San Angel
  • Le Cellier Steakhouse**
  • Nine Dragons Restaurant
  • Rose & Crown Dining Room
  • San Angel Inn Restaurante
San Angel Inn Restaurante

  • Spice Road Table
  • Teppan Edo
  • Tokyo Dining
  • Tutto Italia Ristorante
  • Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • 50’s Prime Time Cafe
  • Hollywood & Vine
  • The Hollywood Brown Derby**
  • Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
  • Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Guests and cast member at Roundup rodeo BBQ
  • Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

  • Rainforest Cafe
  • Tiffins Restaurant**
  • Tusker House Restaurant
  • Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Disney Springs

  • The BOATHOUSE**
  • Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
  • City Works Eatery & Pour House
  • The Edison
The edison bar
  • Enzo’s Hideaway
  • House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
  • Jaleo by Jose Andres**
  • Mario & Enzo’s Ristorante
  • Morimoto Asia**
  • Paddlefish**
  • Paradiso 37
  • Planet Hollywood
  • Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
  • Rainforest Cafe
  • Splitsville Dining Room
  • Teralina Crafted Italian
  • T-REX
T-REX Restaurant

**Requires two Table-Service meal credits

Additional restaurants located at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels are also available to guests with the Disney Dining plan.

Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces His Resignation

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.

bob chapek and bob iger

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

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.

spaceship earth at night at EPCOT

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.

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

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.

two men look at picture frame

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.

Mighty Ducks', Joss Ackland, Star Dead at 95

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

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.

disneyland castle storm

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.”

jonah alexander edwards

“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 helpThere 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.