Michael Colglazier is the Disneyland Resort’s new President

Michael Colglazier, new Disneyland President. Picture Courtesy of Flickr.

Key Leadership Changes Announced at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2013) – Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs today announced key leadership changes across one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences to better position the organization for growth. Effective Feb. 1, Meg Crofton will fully assume her global role as president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France – a position she has held since July 2011 – while concurrently serving as president of Walt Disney World. With Meg’s transition complete, George A. Kalogridis is named president of the Walt Disney World Resort, and Michael Colglazier is named president of the Disneyland Resort. Both Kalogridis and Colglazier’s roles are also effective Feb. 1.

Was the Connecticut shooter inspired by Anakin’s attack on the Jedi Temple?

The disturbing massacre at a Connecticut elementary school yesterday, by a troubled 20-year old son of a substitute teacher, Adam Lanza, has left the media and police and FBI investigators scrambling for answers.  Lanza apparently had a form of autism called Asperger Syndrome.

Lanza showed up at the Sandy Hook elementary school dressed all in black, with body armor.  He killed twenty children and several adults before taking his own life.

The Walt Disney Company increases annual cash dividend by 25%

The Walt Disney C0mpany

November 28, 2012

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY BOARD INCREASES ANNUAL CASH DIVIDEND BY 25 PERCENT TO $0.75 PER SHARE

BURBANK, Calif., November 28, 2012 – The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) board today declared an annual cash dividend of $0.75 per share, up 25 percent, or $0.15 per share, from the previous year. The dividend is payable on December 28, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2012. The December payment represents the 57th consecutive dividend payment to shareholders.

Jay Rasulo, Disney CFO, to speak at the 40th Annual UBS Global Media Conference

The Walt Disney Company

Press Release: November 28, 2012

JAY RASULO, SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, TO SPEAK AT THE 40TH ANNUAL UBS GLOBAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE

BURBANK, Calif., November 28, 2012 – Jay Rasulo, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), will participate in a question-and-answer session at the 40th Annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at approximately 12:15 p.m. EST / 9:15 a.m. PST.

Never mind Disney, didn’t Lucas already mess up the Star Wars franchise?

Star Wars fans are worried that Disney will ruin their beloved Star Wars franchise with Star Wars Episode 7, which is slated for 2015.  However one could argue that George Lucas did that himself when he created the Jar Jar Binks character and when he cast the actors who played the younger and the older Anakin Skywalker.  Both of these actors were annoying but the fellow who played the older Anakin, Hayden Christensen, was beyond abominable. 

Lucas scored with his first three Star Wars movies – and let’s not forget he ripped off the classic Japanese film the “Seven Samurai” with his first Star Wars flick.  But his last three Star Wars movies were about as bad as anything Disney might muster up.

Residents swindled into a bad streetcar deal by the City of Anaheim and Disney

The Great Streetcar Incident of 2012

By Cynthia Ward, Think for Yourself OC blog

The Anaheim Resort’s millions of guests drive our local economy, but those visitors also create significant traffic congestion. Over the objections of Mayor Tom Tait, the Anaheim City Council approved a $318,000,000.00 publicly-funded streetcar system to transport Resort visitors and employees. Although Disney uses buses almost exclusively at their Florida property, and the price tag of $53,000,000.00 made buses comparatively more affordable, enhanced bus service was astonishingly dismissed as undesirable-read “not sexy enough.”

A recent study by transportation expert Randall O’Toole, debunks the arguments used by City Council, and a staff promoting their own obvious agenda.

Streetcars are more expensive to purchase and operate than buses. Their fixed track and power systems are costly and disruptive to existing traffic, and especially problematic for pedestrians. Buses offer greater flexibility, enabling the addition of vehicles for peak hours-critical to address the unique traffic patterns of Anaheim, with crunch time not driven by conventional issues like rush hour so much as variable influences like closing time at Disneyland, last innings at the Stadium, or events at the Honda Center. Buses are easily removed or replaced for service, while a disabled streetcar renders the system unusable, and leaving traffic clogged around a stalled streetcar.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

In related news – Trains Still Can Make Sense — ARTIC Does Not

The Walt Disney Company donates $2 million for Hurricane Sandy relief

November 1, 2012

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY COMMITS $2 MILLION FOR HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF AND REBUILDING EFFORTS

BURBANK, Calif., November 1, 2012 – The Walt Disney Company announced today a $2 million cash commitment to the relief and rebuilding efforts for those severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. One million dollars will be donated to the American Red Cross for immediate, critical assistance, and another $1 million will be designated for organizations working on rebuilding efforts. In addition, Cast Member and employee eligible donations to organizations involved in disaster relief will be matched, dollar for dollar, by Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation.