Category: Disney News

Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) Chief Executive Bob Iger fired back at Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, saying his apparent retaliation against Disney for taking a position on legislation was “anti-business.”

After initially trying to stay neutral, Disney opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act – referred to by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill – that restricts classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Soon after, DeSantis and the Florida legislature moved to eliminate the virtual autonomy the company enjoyed over a 24,000-acre (9,712-hectares) parcel surrounding the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Iger, answering a question at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, said Disney may not have handled its position on the bill well, but added that corporations have a right to express opinions. He said it appeared DeSantis “decided to retaliate against us.”

“To seek to punish a company for the exercise of a constitutional right, that just seems really wrong to me,” Iger said.

He also noted that Disney employs 75,000 people in the state and will welcome 50 million visitors to Disney World this year. Iger said Disney plans to deepen its investment in Florida, spending $17 billion over the next decade and creating an additional 13,000 jobs.

“These efforts simply to retaliate for a position the company took sounds not just anti-business, but it sounds anti-Florida,” Iger said.

In February, Florida lawmakers supported a bill that granted DeSantis effective control of a board that oversees development in the special taxation district. The governor signed the bill into law, and named five supervisors to have oversight where Disney had operated with a high degree of autonomy.

[1/4] Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger arrives at the world premiere for the film ‘The King’s Man’ at Leicester Square in London, Britain December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay1234

Before the takeover by DeSantis’ appointees, Disney pushed through changes to limit the board’s action for decades. On Monday, DeSantis asked Florida’s inspector general to investigate what he described as a last-minute attempt by Disney and the outgoing board to “usurp the authority” of the new board.

“These collusive and self-dealing arrangements aim to nullify the recently passed legislation, undercut Florida’s legislative process, and defy the will of Floridians,” DeSantis wrote in a letter seen by Reuters.

At the Disney shareholder meeting, one attendee said the company has evolved from “a place of magic for children” to an “ideological company serving the LGBTQ” community that promoted a “woke agenda.”

Iger said he was sensitive to that criticism.

“Our primary mission needs to be to entertain … and to have a positive impact on the world,” he said. “I’m very serious about that. It should not be agenda-driven.”

Iger said he was aware that “parents have different levels of comfort” with Disney content, adding “we’re committed to delivering age-appropriate content for family audiences, while also telling stories that reflect the world around us and that foster a greater understanding, greater perspective, greater acceptance of all people.”

Disney shareholders supported the 11 nominees to the company’s board including Iger and Chairman Mark Parker, the executive chairman of Nike (NKE.N) and its former CEO who replaces the retiring chairman, Susan Arnold at Disney.

Shareholders rejected a proposal that called for Disney to provide an annual report on its reliance on China for raw materials, finished products, theme park revenue and labor.

They also turned down a shareholder proposal asking the company to provide more information on charitable contributions.

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LOS ANGELES, March 27 (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) on Monday began 7,000 layoffs announced earlier this year, as it seeks to control costs and create a more “streamlined” business, according to a letter Chief Executive Bob Iger sent to employees and seen by Reuters.

Several major divisions of the company – Disney Entertainment, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and corporate – will be impacted, according to a person familiar with the matter. ESPN is not touched by this week’s round of cuts, but is anticipated to be included in later rounds.

The entertainment industry has undergone a retrenchment since its early euphoric embrace of video streaming, when established media companies lost billions as they launched competitors to Netflix Inc (NFLX.O).

Media companies started to rein in spending when Netflix posted its first loss of subscribers in a decade in early 2022, and Wall Street began prioritizing profitability over subscriber growth.

Iger said Disney would begin notifying the first group of employees who are impacted by the workforce reductions over the next four days. A second, larger round of job cuts will happen in April, “with several thousand more staff reductions.” The final round will start before the beginning of the summer, the letter said.

The Burbank entertainment conglomerate announced in February that it would eliminate 7,000 jobs as part of an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs and make its money-losing streaming business profitable.

“The difficult reality of many colleagues and friends leaving Disney is not something we take lightly,” Iger wrote, noting that many “bring a lifelong passion for Disney” to their work.

One of the first areas targeted for cuts was television production and acquisition departments, resulting in the departure of senior executives, a source confirmed.

Details of the layoffs had been closely guarded by the company, though insiders anticipated reductions would happen before Disney’s annual shareholder meeting on April 3.

Anxiety has been building within Disney, as rumors swirled about areas of possible cuts.

“It’s a dark, black box,” said one Disney executive who spoke to Reuters last week.

Many had expected cuts to fall heavily on the Disney Media and Entertainment Division, which was eliminated in a corporate restructuring. The unit has been without a leader since the exit of Kareem Daniel in November, shortly after Iger returned as the company’s CEO.

“It’s been a long time in the making,” said SVB MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson, adding that the company first began “to whisper” about the need to take out costs last fall, when Bob Chapek was still Disney’s chief executive.

Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, sent a memo to theme parks employees in February warning that the profitable division would experience cuts.

Officials for two of the unions representing cast members at Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Florida, said “guest-facing” services were not expected to be affected by the layoffs.

“I don’t see where, when there are labor shortages in front-facing guest roles, it would be a good decision to lay off workers where the money train starts for the Walt Disney Co,” said Paul Cox, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 631.

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About 32,000 hourly workers at Disney World will get raises equal to $3 an hour by the end of the year, and most will get raises of about 37% of their current pay by 2026 under a tentative five-year labor deal reached with a group of unions on the property Thursday.

About 75% of the full-time hourly workers covered under the deal currently get about $15 an hour, according to the unions. The employees do everything from perform as characters to staff restaurants and shops, drive buses, trams and monorails as well as work at front desks and perform hotel housekeeping duties.

They would receive a retroactive pay increase to $16 an hour back to October of 2022, and see their current pay increase to $17 an hour upon ratification of the deal. It would go to a minimum of $18 an hour as of December 3.

They would also get a raise of 50 cents an hour in December of 2024, and an additional $1 an hour in 2025 and 2026.

The company’s previous offer would have given them only an initial $1 an hour raise, along with four subsequent raises of an additional $1 an hour over each year of the five-year contract.

So Disney isn’t agreeing to pay significantly more than that previous offer over the course of the five-year contract, with raises totaling $5.50 an hour rather than $5 an hour. But the unions were able to get a much more front-loaded pay package in this tentative deal.

About 96% of membership who voted on that previous offer rejected it, following the recommendation of their union leadership.

“The company finally heard voices of the cast members,” Matt Hollis, the president of the Service Trades Council Union, the collection of unions that are negotiating with Disney management, said in an interview with CNN Business. “I can’t help but believe the overwhelming result of the previous vote played a role in reaching this agreement. I think an overwhelming majority of cast members will see this as a win.”

The company said it was pleased to be able to reach the tentative agreement and hopeful that will be ratified.

“Our cast members are central to Walt Disney World’s enduring magic,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort in a statement. “Disney is proud to offer an industry-leading employment package that includes comprehensive benefits and affordable medical coverage, in addition to 100 percent paid tuition for higher education for hourly employees through the Disney Aspire program.”

Disney recently announced plans to cut about 7,000 jobs across the company. But Hollis said the unions don’t believe the hourly workers covered by this contract will be affected by the layoffs. In fact, Disney has been struggling to fill some of the job openings it has at Disney World.

The union has argued that the high cost of living and rapidly rising prices make living in central Florida unaffordable for many of the workers under the current wage structure.

While the company’s media and entertainment division lost $10 million in the most recent fiscal quarter ending December 31, its parks, experiences and products division reported a $3 billion operating profit. Attendance at its domestic parks was up 11% from a year earlier, and the average visitor was spending 8% more. Hotel occupancy rose to 88% from 73% a year earlier.

While the union had never scheduled a strike vote or threatened a strike, this was not a time that Disney wanted to risk bookings at the park by talk of a possible work stoppage.

The vote to ratify the contract is set to be completed by next Wednesday evening.

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The Walt Disney Archives has opened its vaults to mark 100 historic years of making magic. In honor of this global celebration of a century of Disney storytelling, the ABC Owned Television Stations will present a 30-minute special, Disney100: The Exhibition – Making the Magic, hosted by Alicia Vitarelli and TaRhonda Thomas of 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia. The special will debut Thursday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on 6abc and across the ABC Owned Television Stations on linear, digital, and streaming platforms, as well as on the Localish network and for Hulu subscribers. For participating stations, viewers can check local listings.

The special will go behind the scenes of Disney100: The Exhibition, which debuted in February at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Created for the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company, the exhibition—which is open to the public and where people can see many rare Disney artifacts for the very first time—runs through August 27, 2023, before it travels to other destinations across the United States. A second unit of the exhibition opens in Munich in April.

Disney100: The Exhibition – Making the Magic is a dazzling journey through this immersive exhibit, featuring more than 250 artifacts and works of art, costumes and props, and memorabilia from the Walt Disney Archives’ vault of treasures, including many of its “crown jewels,” such as:

• Disneyland Employee Badge No. 1, issued in 1955 to Walt Disney
• Costumes from Black Panther, Jungle Cruise, Cruella, Enchanted, and more
• Prop storybooks featured in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty
• Skywalker Lightsaber Hilt from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, used by Daisy Ridley
• Attraction vehicles from Matterhorn Bobsleds and Peter Pan’s Flight at Disneyland Park

Through the special, viewers will pay a visit to the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank to see how this incredible 15,000-square-foot exhibition was produced and get an insider’s look into how Disney has created some of its most popular characters, films, series, and attractions. The special also documents how the Walt Disney Archives crafted the 10 magnificent and imaginatively themed galleries at The Franklin Institute, featuring moving stories, unique interactive installations, and exciting insider details, which take guests on a virtual journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company.

Disney100: The Exhibition – Making the Magic will reveal how the philosophies of visionary filmmaker and innovator Walt Disney laid the foundation for The Walt Disney Company. From the contract that established the company and the creation of Mickey Mouse to immersive theme parks and blockbuster films such as Frozen and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, viewers will experience incredible moments from Disney’s rich legacy.

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One man can officially scratch visiting every Disney theme park in the world off of his bucket list.

Nathan Firesheets, an avid Disney fan, successfully completed his Disney Global Ride Challenge – which was to visit 12 Disney parks in 12 days.

FOX 35 News introduced you to Firesheets when he set off on this trek across the globe last week. 

Man plans to visit 12 Disney theme parks in 12 days

Nathan Firesheets loves a good challenge, and he loves Disney theme parks. He’s using that love to take on something that’s never been done before.

He started the challenge at Disneyland Paris, then it was off to Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.

He documented his journey on social media and on Sunday night it came to a finish at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He rode more than 200 rides in total. 

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“Twelve days ago, I set out to ride every operating ride at all 12 Disney parks around the world. I started with the Orbitron at Disneyland Paris and tonight I finished with the Astro Orbiter at the Magic Kingdom, ride number 216. Twelve parks, 12 days. The Disney Global Ride Challenge is complete,” Firesheets said in a video posted on Twitter. 

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Thank you so much, everybody. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate all the love and support,” he added.

Walt Disney World is finally phasing out its complimentary plastic bags in favor of reusable shopping bags. Themed reusable shopping bags were introduced for purchase at World of Disney in Disney Springs in 2018, and then at the theme parks and resorts in 2019. Complimentary plastic bags were supposed to be phased out soon after, but the COVID-19 pandemic apparently delayed the change.

We are now hearing from Cast Members at merchandise locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort that the plastic bags are being phased out, and guests will be offered reusable shopping bags for purchase instead. The reusable shopping bags cost $1.00 for small, $1.50 for medium, and $3.00 for large (the prices have increased and decreased multiple times).

The messaging regarding bags has been inconsistent, however. We have been told that once a location is out of plastic bags, they are not being restocked, but also told that shops will still have a limited amount of plastic bags available to guests who ask for them. Other Cast Members have told us they haven’t heard anything about a change.

Some shops, like Pin Traders at EPCOT, are supposedly not offering plastic bags anymore, although we have yet to encounter this consistently. A Cast Member at Big Top Souvenirs told us that they will be switching to only reusable bags much later this year, and they still have plenty of plastic bags.

Regardless of exactly how, when, and where the rollout is happening, it does seem that Walt Disney World is hoping to push reusable bags more than plastic going forward.

Check out the reusable shopping bag designs available at Walt Disney World:

• New Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Reusable Shopping Bags Debut at the Magic Kingdom
• Magic Kingdom Park Specific Reusable Bags Now Available
• EPCOT Park Specific Reusable Bags Now Available
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios Releases New Reusable Bags with Updated Park Logo
• Animal Kingdom Park Specific Reusable Bags Now Available
• Disney Springs Exclusive Reusable Bags Now Available
• Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Reusable Bags Now Available

Alternately, guests can skip the bag or bring their own.

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Walt Disney walks a fine line at its theme parks. The company wants to maximize its revenue while also delivering a positive guest experience.

Disney’s solution for that has been variable pricing. Tickets at each of the four Disney World theme parks are priced based on demand. Disney can use varied pricing to drive people to parks with lower attendance and theoretically discourage people from visiting at all. On slow days, a single-day ticket can be purchased for as little as $109 while the busiest days cost $154.  That’s a major difference that in theory should smooth out crowds.

To put it bluntly, that plan hasn’t worked, at least partly because while many families would want to visit on the cheaper days, those days never line up with when kids aren’t in school. That’s why Walt Disney’s (DIS) – Get Free Report Florida theme park complex has seen packed crows in March.

It’s spring break at many colleges and a vacation week for some K-12 schools. Ticket prices have hovered around the top of the range and Disney’s Genie+ service, which costs extra but gives visitors faster access to some rides, has sold out multiple times. 

Given that variable pricing has not, at least recently, cut down on crowds, Disney has decided to pull another lever to deliver a positive experience for park visitors.

Disney CEO Admits That Prices Can Get Too High

Delivering a positive experience at its theme parks is actually something that’s top of mind for CEO Bob Iger. He talked about it during his remarks at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference.

“One of the things that we had to do is we had to improve the guest experience by reducing crowding. And it’s tempting to let more and more people in. But if the guest satisfaction levels are going down because of crowding, that doesn’t work,” he shared.

The CEO did acknowledge that while price increases can help. there’s a limit to that.

“We had to figure out how we reduce crowding but maintain, obviously, our profitability. And we did that well, but we have to be careful about that as well because, in doing that, you’re actually — you actually end up increasing the price or putting features into your pricing that are viewed by some consumers as perhaps being a little too aggressive, and that’s where we’re being careful about,” Iger added.

Disney World Theme Parks Expand Hours

If you can’t drive people away with higher prices, there’s really only one step Disney can take to reduce crowding (and it’s an expensive one). The company can expand the hours its parks are open, which it has done at three of the four Disney World theme parks, according to BlogMickey.com.

Magic Kingdom

• April 2-29: Park hours extended to 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (previously 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Hollywood Studios

• April 2-12, 14-15, 17-29: Park hours extended to 8:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m. (previously 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• April 13, 16: Park hours extended to 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (previously 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• April 2-16, 21-23, 28-29: Park hours extended 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (previously 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• April 17-20, 24-27: Park hours extended 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (previously 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Epcot has already been operating from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and its hours remain unchanged.

Extending park hours should, in theory, spread crowds out more as at least some visitors won’t choose to be in the parks from rope drop to close. At the very worst, being open longer allows ticketholders to experience an extra ride or two even if they have to wait in line for an extended time.

In addition to increased operating hours at the park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also keep running its nighttime show, “Fantasmic,” twice a night at 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Previously, the show only ran at 8:30 p.m. 

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Westfield today announced the arrival of Disney Store Pop-Ups, an exclusive retail experience created for customers and Disney fans, opening in selected Westfield centres across the country for a limited time.

In celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary, Disney Store Pop-Ups featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars merchandise will be brought to life through a custom retail space created for fans. The pop-ups will appear in select Westfield destinations across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland for a limited time before ‘popping up’ at the next location.

Customers will be able to shop at Disney Store Pop-Ups for official Disney100 Celebration Collections including Disney100 The Decades Collection and Disney100 The Eras Collection. Many other ranges that are traditionally available at Disney Parks and on shopDisney.com.au, will also be available for purchase at the pop-up events.

Each Disney Store Pop-Up will offer new product releases every few weeks, fun photo moments and a very special Disney100 Mickey Mouse statue. Opening today, March 14, at Westfield Bondi Junction (NSW), followed by Westfield Fountain Gate (VIC) on March 16 and Westfield Chermside (QLD) on March 18; Disney Store Pop-Ups will deliver an exciting range of products like Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars collectibles, Disney Store Japan ranges, plus a selection of accessories for all ages, including homewares, dolls, plus and apparel for children and adults.

Items available at Disney Store Pop-Ups will excite customers, with fan favourites like the Loungefly Platinum Celebration Minnie Mouse Mini Backpack, Disney100 Celebration Ears and the Mickey Mouse and Friends Celebration Spirit Jerseys, bringing iconic Disney Parks style to Australia. With new products arriving in store, there’ll always be something new to discover and shop.

Scentre Group spokesperson Jacqui Waine said the pop-up retail experience will be an inspiring and enchanting place to shop, designed to showcase the best of Disney’s storytelling beyond the screen in an exciting new way.

“We’re delighted to welcome Disney Store Pop-Ups to Westfield destinations, offering a one-of-a-kind shopping experience that reinforces our ambition to deliver unmissable and unique moments for our customers. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to welcoming our customers in-centres to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary throughout the year.”  she said.

All products featured are available for a limited time and available only while stocks last.

The celebrations will continue throughout March, with 25 family holidays to Disneyland® Resort in California to be won by Westfield Plus members until 23 March. Winners will experience this magic with prizes including flights, airport to hotel transfers, three nights’ accommodation, and three-day Park Hopper Passes.

A full calendar of amazing Disney moments at Westfield destinations will take place throughout the year, including larger-than-life LEGO installations, competitions, events, activations and more.

DISNEY STORE POP-UPS DATES: 

NEW SOUTH WALES

• Westfield Bondi Junction from March 14 until May 1
• Westfield Miranda from May 16 until June 16

• Westfield Parramatta from July 4 until August 18
• Westfield Chatswood from August 24 until October 16

VICTORIA

• Westfield Fountain Gate from March 16 until May 5

• Westfield Southland from May 20 until July 10
• Westfield Doncaster from August 1 until September 22

QUEENSLAND

• Westfield Chermside from March 18 until May 8

• Westfield Carindale from May 18 until July 12
• Westfield Mount Gravatt from August 8 until October 2

Disney Legend Rolly Crump, an Imagineer who was instrumental in the design of early Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions, passed away Sunday in his Carlsbad, California, home. Crump was 93.

Described as a “true original,” Crump brought his artistic talent to a multitude of Disney projects, most famously during his time at Walt Disney Imagineering. He served as a key designer for Disney’s attractions at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, as well as beloved classics like Haunted Mansion and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.

Disney Legend Tony Baxter, who worked alongside Crump on EPCOT and other Imagineering projects for Walt Disney World Resort, said, “Rolly was always able to see a different way of doing things. I think that fascinated Walt Disney, who was always looking for innovations. When Rolly was right with his innovative approaches, they often turned out to be among the most memorable aspects of Disney Parks. Another thing that distinguished Rolly was his total enjoyment of creative work, and being around other creative people at Imagineering.”

Kim Irvine, Executive Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering, added, “Rolly was a quintessential element of my, and many others’, mentorship at Imagineering. Of all the original art directors of the 1970s, Crump was the ‘fun guy.’”

Born Roland Fargo Crump on February 27, 1930, in Alhambra, California, Crump always had his eye on The Walt Disney Company. First, Crump took a pay cut as a “dipper” in a ceramic factory to join The Walt Disney Studios in 1952—then, he started building sewer manholes on weekends so he could pay his bills and continue working at Disney. His early work at Disney Animation included serving as an in-between artist and (later) assistant animator, contributing to Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959), and others.

In 1959, he joined show design at WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering, or WDI) and became a key designer from some of Disneyland’s most iconic attractions and shops, including the Haunted Mansion, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar. While helping design “it’s a small world,” he created the famed Tower of the Four Winds marquee. He continued to design striking entrances for “it’s a small world” when the attraction moved to Disneyland in 1966; the larger-than-life animated clock at its entrance, which sends puppet children on parade with each quarter-hour gong, is straight from Crump’s imagination.

His unique nickname of “Rolly” was born during his time with Disney. Crump recalled Walt’s struggle to recall his real name: “I started off as Roland, then I was ‘Owen’ for a while, and then I became ‘Orland,’ but of course, I would answer to anything he called me,” he remembered, laughing. “But the crowning glory was when he called me ‘what’s his name.’” Eventually, Walt landed on “Rolly” as a nickname, and so Rolly he remained.

His peers at Imagineering considered him an accomplished collaborator—a skill that his son, Chris Crump, took note of as he followed in his father’s footsteps to join WDI. As Chris explained, “What I observed was that Rolly had really great relationships with the people that he worked with. It is important to know the skills of your co-workers, and to trust and respect them. I watched Rolly interact with his peers and was impressed with how well-respected he was.”

As the world of Disney Parks expanded, so did Crump’s creations. Besides working on the initial designs for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, he contributed to EPCOT Center (later known as EPCOT) after a brief period away from the company. Crump served as project designer for The Land pavilion and developed concepts for the Wonders of Life pavilion, later redesigning and refurbishing The Land and Innoventions.

“In the 1980s, as WED [now Walt Disney Imagineering] was seriously concentrating on other projects around the world, [Imagineering leaders] Marty Sklar and John Hench asked Rolly to develop a team that would stay focused on Disneyland,” Irvine recalled. “Three colleagues and I would drive down to Disneyland at least two times a week and walk the park with Rolly. It was such a wonderful experience, as he knew the backstories of so many elements of Disneyland. Today, our team is 45 cast members strong and still providing the new designs and direction for the Disneyland Resort!”

Crump participated in master planning for an expansion of Disneyland until 1981, when he again left Disney to design for other companies—and to launch his own firm, the Mariposa Design Group, developing an array of themed projects around the world, including an international celebration for the country of Oman.

Crump “retired” from The Walt Disney Company in 1996, but continued to work on a number of creative projects. He published an autobiography, It’s Kind of a Cute Story, in 2012.

Crump’s career has served as an inspiration for many future artists and Imagineers—including Disney Legend Marty Sklar. “Rolly’s very personal, sometimes outrageous art and design style continue to flow,” Sklar once said, “and the many collectors of his art, including me, continue to be inspired by his talent and his sense of humor.”

“This Earth is sorry to lose him,” Irvine said. “But I can only imagine the party that all the original Imagineers that have gone on before him are having in the Great Hereafter. Rolly’s back in town!”

Crump, who was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2004, is survived by his wife, Marie Tocci; his children Christopher, Roxana, Theresa; and three grandchildren.

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Tonight, Disney’s The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy debuted the film’s trailer on ABC’s live broadcast of The Oscars^®. The live-action reimagining of the studio’s animated musical classic opens exclusively in theaters on May 26, 2023.

The Little Mermaid is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life—and her father’s crown—in jeopardy.

The film stars Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, and Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, with Oscar winner Javier Bardem as King Triton and two-time Oscar® nominee McCarthy as Ursula.

The Little Mermaid is directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall, from a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee. The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award winner and Disney Legend Alan Menken and lyrics by Disney Legend Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award^® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is produced by two-time Emmy^® winner Marc Platt, Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca, and Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver serving as executive producer.

The soundtrack for Disney’s The Little Mermaid is now available now to pre-save, pre-add, or pre-order.

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