According to a press release, KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken, but you probably already knew that) is adding a very popular food to its menu — chicken nuggets! The restaurant briefly tested out the “100 percent white meat” Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets in a test run last year and they were a wild success, so they’ll become a permanent addition to the menu on March 27th nationwide.
“People have been living in a nugget blandemic and settling for the same mediocre nuggets for far too long,” KFC said in a statement. “The fried chicken experts are empowering America to break up with bland and end it with cookie-cutter shapes and open their hearts and mouths to Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets.”
The pricing for the nuggets starts at $3.49 and you can order them in counts of 5, 8, 12, or 36. Sauces you can get at KFC include KFC Sauce, Honey BBQ, Classic Ranch, Honey Mustard, or Buffalo Ranch…because who doesn’t love dipping some nuggets?!
But wait, there’s more! The KFC Mac & Cheese bowl will also be returning to nationwide menus for $5 starting April 3rd, but it’ll only be around for a limited time so you’ll want to act fast. AND KFC is bringing back its “spicy, smoky Nashville Hot sauce” for a limited time too. This will be available for the $5 Spicy Mac & Cheese Bowl that’ll feature the new nuggets.
Even CEOs of the most influential companies in the world sometimes make McDonald’s runs, right? We don’t think anyone is exempt from the occasional french fry craving.
McDonald’s on Disney property!
And since Cardi B and Offset get their own celebrity Mickey D’s meal, why can’t Bob Iger have one?
During our last trip to the Golden Arches, we were wondering, What would Disney CEO Bob Iger order if he were having dinner here?
Do we really think Bob Iger is going through the McDonald’s drive-thru very often? Eh, probably not. Iger shared his strict morning regimen in a MasterClass, and we learned that he wakes up at 4:15AM every day and completes a morning workout before looking at his phone. Those healthy habits make us think that he’s probably not regular at McD’s. But if he WERE to have a McDonald’s celeb meal created, we’re pretty sure this is exactly what it would be:
Inside McDonald’s
4-piece Chicken McNuggets
Apple Slices
McRib
Spicy McCrispy Sandwich
Shamrock Shake
Vanilla Cone
Pretty obvious, right? OK, we can explain our reasoning so that the order makes a little more sense. Let’s start with the Chicken McNuggets.
According to CNBC, Iger sent an email to hybrid Disney employees and indicated that they MUST return to Disney’s corporate offices to work physically within the office at least four days aweek. This change went into effect on March 1st, 2023.
In the email, Iger shared that he had been “meeting with teams throughout the company over the past few months” and had been “reminded of the tremendous value in being together with the people you work with.” He went on to say that “creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney. And in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers that comes from being physically together, nor the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors.”
Marceline Missouri — Walt Disney’s office in his hometown
This return-to-office mandate is relatively strict compared to other companies that have only required hybrid employees to come into the office two or three days per week, and many Disney employees were not happy about it. According to the Washington Post, employees have signed a petition in the hopes of reversing the four-day return-to-office rule.
More than 2,300 employees signed the petition asking Bob Iger to reconsider, saying that it’s “likely to have unintended consequences that cause long-term harm to the company.” The signees include a variety of workers across Disney’s many businesses, including ABC, 20th Century Studios, Marvel Studios, Hulu, Pixar, FX, and more. It’s possible that this return-to-office mandate could serve as a soft layoff, as some employees may quit rather than come back to the office four days a week. Disney is in the midst of job cuts, so this change could be part of that plan.
WHO is ordering apple slices at McDonald’s?? Surely only someone who’s trying really hard to be healthy would swap the beloved french fries for a small bag of fruit.
During the first quarter earnings call of 2023, Iger announced that his top priority is to improve streaming at Disney, which could include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. It’s no surprise that the second-time CEO would choose streaming as his top priority, especially considering that area of the company has been a little rocky.
In November 2022, we got an updated look at the Disney+ subscriber numbers but we also learned that Disney’s streaming business as a whole had a loss of nearly $1.5 BILLION.This loss ultimately contributed in part to the ousting of Bob Chapek as CEO. In the Q1 earnings call on February 9th, we learned that the total number of Disney+ subscribers is now 161.8 million. As far as ESPN+ and Hulu go, both of those services are up in subscriber count as well, with 24.9 million and 48 million, respectively. Disney reported a $1.053 billion operating loss in its direct-to-consumer division this quarter compared to Q4 of FY 2022.
Disney+ Billboard
No sudden flipping of the Bob switch could magically make Disney’s streaming division healthy, and because of that, Iger is still choosing to focus on growth and profitability for streaming. Iger reiterated Disney’s previous comments that they expect Disney+ to be profitable by the end of fiscal year 2024.
The new organizational structure announced by Iger during the call will hopefully help by relinking the creative process with the financial results. As Iger put it, Disney is putting content back into the hands of the creatives. Disney will be focusing on its core brands and franchises, which have historically delivered higher returns. They’re working on curating content and adjusting as needed, adjusting pricing and marketing strategies, and fine-tuning streaming advertising.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
When asked about how exactly Iger plans on improving and growing Disney’s streaming division, he had a few ideas in mind:
Seeking loyal subscribers for the long-term
Reviewing pricing and making sure services are priced correctly
Rebalancing marketing on the platform versus marketing of the programs
We’ve got the nugs (yum) and the apple slices (less yum), so next up on Iger’s order is the McRib. … Anyone else see the problem with this item? Yeah, it doesn’t actually exist on the McDonald’s menu anymore.
But this isn’t the first time the McRib has disappeared. Yes, it had a whole farewell tour…but it’s done that before and then returned to McDonald’s once again. Basically, we can’t seem to get rid of the McRib, and the more it comes and goes, the more fans seem to latch on to it. You can probably see why we this sandwich is part of our fantasy celeb McDonald’s meal for the boomerang CEO.
Bob Iger first became the Disney CEO back in 2005, and he stayed in that position until 2020. But even once he “retired,” he didn’t really leave. In 2020, he became the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board and remained there through 2021. At that time, Bob Chapek was the Disney CEO.
Want to know another connection between Iger and this sandwich? When we asked about the McRib at McDonald’s, we were told that they “don’t know if it’s coming back, but if it did, it’d likely be in November.” Iger returned in November as well. Bob Iger IS the McRib!
We got Iger a sandwich that doesn’t exist, so we probably should get him one that does exist to make up for it. We think Iger would like the Spicy McCrispy Sandwich. Why, you may ask? Let us tell you!
Disney already owns 67% of Hulu, and Comcast’s NBCUniversal owns the remaining amount. According to Yahoo, under the deal made back in 2019, Disney got “full operational control” of Hulu. And, as early as January 2024, “Comcast can require Disney to buy NBCUniversal’s interest in Hulu and Disney can require NBCUniversal to sell that interest to Disney for its fair market value at that future time.”
So what does all of this have to do with the Spicy McCrispy Sandwich? McDonald’s seems to have acquired this idea from several other fast food chains that found success selling spicy chicken sandwiches.
They weren’t the first to think of it!
Popeyes is famous for its version, and Chick-fil-A has one as well. It’s not just the restaurants that specialize in chicken that have hopped on this train — Arby’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, and Whataburger all have their own versions of the popular item.
Spicy McCrispy Sandwich
McDonald’s saw the value in selling this sandwich, and so they grabbed the idea and ran with it, adding a few different kinds of chicken sandwiches to the menu. Acquisition ahoy.
To drink, Iger is clearly grabbing a Shamrock Shake, and it’s not just because this fan-favorite minty treat is super tasty.
Shamrock Shake
Like the Shamrock Shake, Bob Iger hasn’t stayed at Disney for one continuous run. Instead, he was the CEO, left, and then returned again. And also like the Shamrock Shake, many people were very excited when he came back.
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced a restructuring of the company during his first earnings call back at the helm of the business in 2023. He touted the reorganization as a way to return creativity to the center of the company. “Our company is fueled by storytelling and creativity,” he said. “Virtually every dollar we earn…emanates from something we created.”
Iger told investors that the restructuring at the company — effective immediately — is “aimed at returning greater authority to our creative leaders.” Disney is now organized under three divisions: (1) Disney Entertainment, (2) ESPN, and (3) Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products.
Cinderella Castle
Iger stressed that the reorganization will provide “a more cost-effective, coordinated and streamlined approach” to the company’s operations. The new structure will “re-establish a direct link between content decisions and financial performance,” he said.
Finally, for dessert, Bob Iger would get a simple vanilla cone. But as anyone who has made a midnight run to McDonald’s for some ice cream will tell you, this treat is actually far from simple. In fact, to find a restaurant that has a functioning ice cream machine when you’re craving the creamy goodness is something of a miracle. McDonald’s ice cream machines are notorious for breaking down, and that problem actually came up when we were ordering Iger’s meal!
McDonald’s Vanilla Cone
We went to one McDonald’s location and found out that their ice cream machine was down, so we wouldn’t be able to get the cone (or the Shamrock Shake, for that matter). So we hopped back into the car and found a different location which — incredibly — had a functioning ice cream machine.
Hooray!
Ice cream is McDonald’s fatal flaw. Bob Iger also has a fatal flaw: succession. The first time that Iger “retired” as Disney’s CEO, he seemed to put off the issue of succession and then recommended that Bob Chapek take the position. Chapek did guide the company through an unprecedented time with the worldwide pandemic, but ultimately it was reported that Iger regretted his decision in a successor.
Some sources indicate that Chapek and Iger had a falling out at one point, and they struggled to work together when Iger stayed on as the Chairman of the Board. Overall, we can say that Iger’s first go at succession wasn’t a roaring success, much like our first trip to McDonald’s didn’t result in any ice cream.
Ice Cream
Now, Iger has another chance to choose a good replacement, and this time he doesn’t seem to be taking any chances. He has stated that he has no plans to stay longer than his current two-year contract, and both he and the Board of Directors are focused on the issue of succession.
Iger seems committed to his responsibility to choose a great replacement. And if our success in obtaining ice cream at the second McDonald’s location is any indicator, he’ll likely succeed this time around.
So whose McDonald’s order should we build next? Maybe we need to dive into what Mickey Mouse would get at the drive-thru…and surely that order has to involve plenty of cheese.
If you want to learn more about the current Disney CEO, check out these posts:
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
Minnie ears — there are DOZENS of them. You might very well have a couple pairs in your home or lining your walls, but will you be tempted to buy one more?
EARS!
Disney is constantly releasing new ears including ones for the Disney100 celebration and strange ears too. But now a new set of Minnie ears have finally made its way to Disney World and we’ve got all the details you need to know right here.
Disney’s purple Minnie Mouse Sequin Ears were some we first spotted online near the beginning of March. We later saw them released in Disneyland. But now they’ve arrived in Disney World too! We spotted these over at Celebrity 5&10 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios initially but later saw them at The Emporium and Big Top Souvenirs in Magic Kingdom too.
The New Ears
The ears themselves are lavender and COVERED in sequins.
Sequins EVERYWHERE
From the ears to the headband and the bow — it’s a sequin explosion!
Seriously, The Sequins Never End
On the back of the ears, you’ll find…you guessed it, more sequins!
The Back
Basically, these are a great set of ears for those who love lavender, can’t get enough sequins, and are looking for a simple set that doesn’t have too many other things going on with it.
Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
If you are a fan of Disney’s merchandise series, Munchlings, then take a seat because the new Daisy Duck Tripleberry Compote Cheesecake Disney Munchling Scented Plush – Micro 4 1/2” – Limited Edition, has arrived at Disney and shopdisney.com.
This micro Munchling is $19.99 and smells like berry-flavored baked goods. Even the ones I haven’t collected myself, I can’t help but smell them every time I walk past!
The Disney social media team made an unfortunate error in a recent Disney+ sponsored post, including a photo of siblings Luke and Leia from “Star Wars” among “Couples we will forever ship.” “Ship” is a colloquialism derived from “relationship,” and is used as a verb to mean a want for two individuals to be in a relationship together.
Twitter user @madteamichelle shared a screenshot of the sponsored post, which reads, “Couples we will forever ship… again and again. Who’s your pick? All of these and more are now streaming on #DisneyPlus.”
The other three couples are Kat and Patrick from “10 Things I Hate About You,” Wanda and Vision from “WandaVision,” and Giselle and Robert from “Enchanted.” The photo of Luke and Leia labels them as Han Solo and Princess Leia, specifically, from “Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back.”
A couple of kisses shared by Luke and Leia before they knew they were siblings, and before Leia and Han solidified their relationship, have led to decades of jokes, but not usually from Disney. It seems more like someone who doesn’t know the characters chose the image.
As is the trend of any project with Walt Disney Imagineering involved in this day and age, the new Storyliving by Disney Community, Cotino, will feature influences from Disney intellectual property with some “Incredible” details infused in the main club house. What’s Happening: When Cotino, the first Storyliving by Disney community opens in Rancho Mirage, […]
Two new sailings have been added to Disney Cruise Line’s schedule. Will you be booking either of these cruises? Disney Cruise Line It is an exciting time for Disney Cruise Line. After the debut of their newest ship, the Disney Wish, Disney has not stopped with the exciting news for their cruise industry. Earlier this […]
In 1967, Disneyland celebrated one of its major historical improvements when it opened an updated version of Tomorrowland dubbed “a world on the move.” The truth is, Tomorrowland – and Disneyland as a whole – were moving right from the beginning days in 1955. Walt Disney surrounded himself with a great many talented artists, and […]
Characters are signing autographs again at Walt Disney World. Here are some fun ways you can collect them. Character Interactions are Back! Here at Kenny the Pirate, we have all been celebrating the return of character interactions to Disney World. After all, locating characters is an entire mood. And that mood has gotten brighter and […]
Disney Vacation Club has announced their 2024 Member Cruise aboard the Disney Cruise Line, this year setting sail for a voyage on the Mediterranean. What’s Happening: Disney Vacation Club has announced their 2024 Member Cruise, taking place in Europe for a sailing on the Mediterranean aboard the Disney Dream. Disney Vacation Club Members who join […]
.)
