Category: Entertainment

A strong performance from Walt Disney World and other Disney theme parks helped the company reach another profitable quarter last winter. The company reported Tuesday that while total sales were up just 1 percent to $8.07 billion, profit reached $931 million for the second quarter of the 2007 fiscal year, 27 percent better than profits…

Disney CEO Robert Iger threw cold water Tuesday on the disclosure by Comcast COO Steve Burke earlier in the week that he was in discussions with studios to make movies available on pay-per-view cable on the same day they were released in theaters for $30-50. Iger insisted that Disney was "not in discussions to sell…

Disney's quarterly earnings announcement and subsequent analyst call paint a picture of a company that's on top of its game when it comes to taking advantage of both the Internet and digital media. First, the numbers: Disney earned $931 million during the first quarter of 2007 (the second quarter of its fiscal year) on revenues…

Chinese Delegation to Buy Billions of Dollars of U.S. Goods in Attempt to Ease U.S. Anger BEIJING (AP) — That round-eared mouse dancing with kids? Not a copy of Disney's Mickey Mouse, the Shijingshan Amusement Park insists. And that raven-haired woman with seven men in elf suits? Not Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the…

Looking to profit directly from the growing market for music downloads, Disney (DIS) has launched an online store for kid-focused singles, albums and music videos. "This is the first direct-download service (Disney) has done," says Chris Heatherly, the consumer products unit's head of electronics. Disney Mix Central (disneymixcentral.com) initially will offer about 1,500 songs and…

LOS ANGELES – The Walt Disney Co. exceeded second-quarter profit expectations, but its performance for the rest of the year is largely up to a pirate captain named Jack Sparrow and a gourmet animated rat named Remy. The Burbank-based media conglomerate said Tuesday that net profit rose 27 percent in the quarter that ended March…

S&P says the media and entertainment giant has several catalysts for growth and a solid balance sheet, and rates the shares a strong buy With a collection of strong media and entertainment brands, we expect Walt Disney (DIS; recent price, $36) to further benefit from continued underlying momentum in its core businesses. In our view,…

The Walt Disney Company said in a regulatory filing on Monday that it will resolve issues with employee stock options in a similar fashion to Apple. The amendments involve options on 15.47 million shares and US$31.1 million in payments to employees and are based on a Disney internal investigation that found evidence of [option] backdating…

*A rep for Disney has reportedly released a statement clearing up some rumors about the studio’s upcoming animated feature, “The Princess and the Frog,” formerly known as “The Frog Princess.”           As previously reported, the 2009 release is to be Disney’s first fairytale featuring an African American princess. Although no contracts have been…

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Councilwoman Lorri Galloway wants the city to stop paying $205,000 a year to the Chamber of Commerce because the business group has taken a lead role in helping Disney fight a zoning decision allowing low-income housing near Disneyland. "The chamber is supposed to be promoting businesses, not pitting them against each…

National Raisin Co. in Fowler is hoping to take advantage of a new emphasis by Walt Disney Co. on healthier foods and will soon sell snack packs that showcase such characters as Mickey Mouse, Lilo & Stitch, Nemo and the Pirates of the Caribbean. The specially packaged fruit will be sold in grocery stores nationwide,…

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Wall Street expects second- quarter profits at The Walt Disney Co. to be about even with a year earlier, driven by movies such as "Wild Hogs" and strong ABC television advertising sales. Total earnings are expected to rise, but the infusion of new shares from Disney's $7.4 billion all-stock acquisition of…

It's so easy to get Lost these days. No, I'm not telling you to go away. I'm just pointing out the growing number of alternatives to gluing yourself to the television on Wednesday nights to catch the latest episode of ABC's hit series Lost. In a deal between ABC parent Disney (NYSE: DIS) and cable…

Eating at the Walt Disney World restaurants is part of what makes a trip to Orlando memorable. But for some families, a couple of meals a day in the Disney parks might become so expensive they feel they can't afford the experience.For a limited time, however, United Vacations has an offer that throws in the…

In a digital age, the third 'Caribbean' movie is full of actual stuff. UNDER a high, hot September sky, Disney Studios has clearly surrendered. Deep in the heart of the back lot, all those striding, BlackBerry-monitoring employees give way to denizens of a different sort. Pirates of every hue, hair configuration and state of personal…

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – "Wild Hogs" star Tim Allen is attached to the comedy "Yosemite Three," a Disney project set at a corporate retreat. Plot details are being kept under wraps. The script was written by Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert, who wrote "Mr. Woodcock," an upcoming comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton and Seann…

If you've been one of the 40 million annual visitors to Walt Disney World, you've probably seen a few frustrated, map-clutching guests trying to navigate their way through the parks. Maybe you've even been one of them. Julie and Mike Neal's new "The Complete Walt Disney World" (Coconut Press, $24.95) can help. The couple logged…

Back by popular demand, "Pirate and Princess Parties" return to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom late this summer.After running the dual-themed, after-hours events for 13 nights this past winter, Disney is bringing them back for eight nights starting Aug. 11. Tickets, $32.95 in advance for children ages 3-9 and $38.95 for older children and adults,…

Eating at the Walt Disney World restaurants is part of what makes a trip to Orlando memorable. But for some families, a couple of meals a day in the Disney parks might become so expensive they feel they can't afford the experience. For a limited time, however, United Vacations has an offer that throws in…

UNDER a high, hot September sky, Disney Studios has clearly surrendered. Deep in the heart of the back lot, all those striding, BlackBerry-monitoring employees give way to denizens of a different sort. Pirates of every hue, hair configuration and state of personal hygiene. Pirates in velvet, silk and leather. Chinese pirates and African pirates, French…

If you've been one of the 40 million annual visitors to Walt Disney World, you've probably seen a few frustrated, map-clutching guests trying to navigate their way through the parks. Maybe you've even been one of them. Julie and Mike Neal's new "The Complete Walt Disney World" (Coconut Press, $24.95) can help. The couple logged…

A memorial service will be Sunday for Earl Raymond Jackson, dubbed "the voice of Disneyland," who died April 30. He was 72. He moved with family to California in 1967, working in the Entertainment Division at Disneyland. After producing and announcing many live shows, including the premier of Disneyland on Parade, Jackson was dubbed "the…