Nelson Peltz of Trian Fund Management thinks The Walt Disney Company could achieve profitability in streaming by bundling ESPN+ with a larger player in the streaming arena like Netflix.

Nelson Peltz Suggests New Streaming Profitability Plan for Disney

Disney’s three streaming services are Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. They are currently available individually or bundled together. Disney CEO Bob Iger has indicated he is looking for a partner for ESPN, which has seen a decrease in profits.

The report comes from Bloomberg, who spoke to sources familiar with the matter. They also said Trian will publish a white paper with their recommendations for Disney after the company’s next earnings report is released on February 7. Trian reportedly believes Disney’s management structure should be simplified, and that Disney should release more details about cost cuts and budgeting.

Trian controls nearly $3 billion worth of Disney shares. They are pushing for two seats on Disney’s Board of Directors, one for Peltz and one for Jay Rasulo, former CFO of The Walt Disney Company.

Disney announced their own Board nominees, consisting of current members, and recommended shareholders not vote for Peltz or Rasulo.

The Board does not endorse the nominations of Nelson Peltz and James Rasulo put forth by Trian Fund Management, L.P. and its affiliates, led by Nelson Peltz and supported by former Disney executive Isaac Perlmutter (collectively, the “Trian Group”). The Board recommends that shareholders do not vote for the Trian Group nominees, and that they reject a related proposal from the Trian Group to amend the Company Bylaws.

The Walt Disney Company

Trian outlined their own goals for Disney and what they think the company’s problems are in an SEC filing.

Peltz said in a statement earlier this month:

Instead of having a boardroom that would include directors with an ‘ownership mentality’ that can bring fresh perspectives to the company’s challenges, Disney is resisting change and asking shareholders to endorse a board comprised mainly of legacy directors (and their hand-picked successors) who have repeatedly failed to properly plan for CEO succession, misaligned the incentives of management, and failed to oversee or drive a strategy to get the streaming business to profitability or the studios to produce good content.

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Tokyo Disney Resort has announced their full fiscal year 2024 event calendar, including holiday celebrations into early 2025.

Tokyo Disney Resort 2024 Events

As previously announced, Tokyo Disney Resort will celebrate “Dreaming of Fantasy Springs” at Tokyo DisneySea. The celebration begins on April 9 and lasts through June 30. Fantasy Springs opens on June 6.

At Tokyo Disneyland, a second “Disney Pal-Palooza” event will also run from April 9 through June 30. The current event is Minnie’s Funderland, which lasts through March 19.

“Celebrating Space Mountain: The Final Ignition!” will run from April 9 through July 31, the closing date of the current iteration of the ride at Tokyo Disneyland. The new Space Mountain is set to open in 2027.

The first-ever Tokyo DisneySea Food & Wine Festival will take place from April 1 through June 30. The festival will be inspired by the ports of Tokyo DisneySea and offer specialty food from around the world.

Newly announced are the summer plans for Tokyo Disney Resort, for July 2 through September 18. The “Baymax’s Mission: Cool Down” cavalcade, Splash Mountain Get Soaked MAX, and “Get Soaked Toontown” will all return.

A new nighttime spectacular will debut at Tokyo Disneyland on September 20. It will include the first appearance of Marvel characters in Tokyo Disney Resort entertainment.

Disney Halloween will run from October 1 through November 7. Tokyo Disney Resort stated there will be new theming and new entertainment, implying Spooky “Boo!” Parade is no more.

Disney Christmas will be from November 8 through Christmas Day on December 25.

The last event is Tokyo Disney Resort’s New Year’s Special Event, from January 1 through 13, 2025.

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Be advised — a fire in a nearby county is affecting the air quality at Disney World.

Disney World is no stranger to inclement weather and mishaps that can throw the resort for a loop. Unfortunately, it looks as though this may be another one of those circumstances. A nearby chemical fire has created issues with air quality that have begun to plague the Disney parks.

According to WFLA News Channel 8 in Tampa, a 2,000-square-foot barn full of chemicals caught fire early Tuesday morning in Plant City (about 25-35 minutes from Disney World) located within the nearby Hillsborough County. Although Disney World is not in any imminent danger from the fire itself, the fire seems to have been powerful enough to affect the resort’s air quality.

Fire Rescue was dispatched a little before 5:30AM after receiving calls about the fire, per WFLA. Fortunately, no one was inside the barn and the flames were put out in roughly 25 minutes.

Plume Labs lists the Disney World Resort’s air quality as “fair” but also notes the air is moderately polluted greater than the maximum limit established for one year by the World Health Organization (WHO). The warning also notes that “long-term exposure constitutes a health risk.”

It’s also worth noting that controlled burns do frequently happen in the area, but as of now, no cause of the fire has been determined by investigators.

We’ll continue to update you as this story develops and bring you the latest corresponding news out of Disney World. 

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On Tuesday, January 30, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel officially became Pixar Place Hotel. We were there for an opening ceremony featuring Disney and Pixar executives, as well as characters.

Pixar Place Hotel Opening Ceremony

Pixar Place Hotel first opened in 1984 as the Emerald of Anaheim. It was operated by the Tokyu Group and at one point renamed The Pan Pacific Hotel Anaheim. Disney bought the hotel in 1995 and renamed it the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. To coincide with the opening of Disney California Adventure in 2001, it was renamed again as Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. The corresponding Paradise Pier land in the park eventually became Pixer Pier.

Upon visiting Pixar Place Hotel, guests will see the creative process behind Pixar animated films come to life in new ways. From the giant Luxo Jr. and Luxo ball statue in the lobby to the depth of theming in the guest rooms, Pixar Place Hotel serves as a “living gallery” that celebrates the art of Pixar.

The ceremony began with Edna Mode from “The Incredibles” taking the stage with a “stage manager,” as they discuss the design for the hotel. Eventually, they are joined by Frozone and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, who arrive to help “bring a Luxo ball” to the lobby. At this point, Lightning McQueen and Mater arrive alongside the event’s host, Disneyland Ambassador Jada Young.

Both Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland Resort, and Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, made appearances during the ceremony and spoke about the work that it took to bring this reimagined hotel to life — and included a quick nod to Disneyland Forward:

We are looking to turbocharge expansion at Disneyland Resort over the coming years, and the transformation of Pixar Place Hotel is a demonstration of how we’re creating high-quality guest experiences infused with our most popular stories.

Ken Potrock, President of Disneyland Resort

Docter was next to take the stage, and used his moment to celebrate both the teams from Pixar and Walt Disney Imagineering that worked on Pixar Pier Hotel:

At Pixar, our mission is to tell great stories. And nothing is mor exciting than when we see those stories come to life in Disney parks. Pixar Place Hotel at the Disneyland Resort is the perfect example — it’s like walking into a world of Pixar. It’s truly immersive, and we’re thrilled to have collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to make such an experience possible for guests.

Pete Docter, Pixar Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer

Docter then called for more Pixar friends to join the celebration. Miguel from “Coco,” Woody and Buzz from “Toy Story,” Russell and Carl from “Up,” and Joy and Bing Bong from “Inside Out;” this marks Bing Bong’s Disney Parks debut.

Disney also revealed during the ceremony that Bing Bong from “Inside Out” will appear exclusively at Pixar Place Hotel. Joe Gardner from “Soul” will also perform for guests.

Watch our full video of the opening ceremony:

Check out our tour of a standard room at Pixar Place Hotel. New Pixar Place Hotel merchandise was also released.

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