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Brought to fans, investors, entrepreneurs, executives, teachers, professors, and students by columnist, economist, novelist, reviewer, podcaster, business reporter and speaker Ray Keating

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

California’s Orange County Theme Parks Can Move to 25% Capacity

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 31, 2021

 

This week’s news may be a cause for celebration for some California theme parks, while fostering jealousy at others. Los Angeles County and Orange County will be moving into California's Orange/Tier 3 COVID status. For the eligible theme parks, this means they now have the option to reopen at 25% capacity.  Disneyland is located in Orange County, and Universal Studios Hollywood is located in Los Angeles County. 

 

Orange/Tier 3 is labelled “moderate” risk, a less restrictive tier under California's pandemic rules, and while Disneyland and Universal are in that zone, other theme parks such as SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland are still in counties that are labelled “red,” or “substantial” risk, and they currently remain at 15% capacity.



Orange County’s move to the Orange/Tier 3 designation will take place today, March 31, while Los Angeles County will make the change on April 5.

 

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure were scheduled to open under Red/Tier 2 on April 30 with a 15% attendance capacity. This change would allow them the option to reopen at 25%. Disney is still planning an April 30 opening for both parks. 

 

California theme parks were permitted to begin operations on April 1, but Disney opted for an end of the month reopening. However, the Downtown Disney District is already open, and the sold-out “A Touch of Disney” festival at California Adventure will be underway until April 19.

 

According to the 13-page Covid-19 Industry Guidance: Amusement and Theme Parks bulletin, restrictions under the moderate, Orange/Tier 3 include:


• Parks must limit visitors to a maximum of 25% capacity.

 
• Indoor capacity limited to a maximum of 25%.

 
• Indoor dining limited to a maximum of 25% capacity.

 
• Walk-up ticket sales allowed. Park operators must collect complete name and contact information (including a phone number) of the ticket purchaser for necessary contact tracing.


(Note that while walk up ticket sales are permissible under California’s guidelines, Disney’s managed attendance system requires that in order to enter a park, guests must have both an advance park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date, a procedure similar to what is already in place in Disney World in Florida.)

Additionally, California theme park reopening guidelines limit attendance to California residents only at this time. The standard social distancing and mask requirements remain in effect. Weekly employee COVID testing will also be in place.

 

For California’s tiered guidelines blueprint, check here.

 

For details on what’s open and when at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, head to Disney’s website

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Just Released! EPCOT Food & Wine to Begin July 15

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 31, 2021

 

Foodies, mark your calendars! This year you’ll have four months to explore the 2021 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival!  From July 15 through November 20, you can feast your way through the Global Marketplaces around World Showcase and across six continents.  


Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog


“Dine on delectable dishes at delightful marketplaces, including returning favorites like Canada, Greece, Germany and Appleseed Orchard,” offers Disney. “Discover a cornucopia of cultures, cuisines and innovative cooking techniques from chefs worldwide. This food aficionado’s paradise is replete with delicious dishes, fine wine, craft beer, spirits and other beverages sure to satisfy every palate.”

 

In addition to the outdoor kitchens and unique food dishes at the marketplaces, Disney has announced just a few of the special activities being planned for the festival. Guests can:  

 

• Sample all sorts of delicious cheeses served in fun ways as part of Emile’s Fromage Montage – if you collect a stamp from five different Global Marketplaces, you’ll earn a prize!

 

• Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak will send you on a savory scavenger hunt in search of Remy statuettes hidden all over the park.

 

• Take a tasty souvenir home from the new merchandise collections, including a festival collection featuring a spirit jersey, baseball cap and so much more.

 

• Listen to musical favorites performed by Voices of Liberty, Mariachi Cobre and the Jammin’ Chefs.

 

Disney promises to release “a full plate of details” soon, but at least now you have the dates! More information will also be available at TasteEPCOT.com.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Will “Streaming vs. Theaters” Be Bigger Than “Godzilla vs. Kong”?

 by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 30, 2021

 

Yes, I’m excited to see Godzilla vs. Kong, which will be released tomorrow (March 31). Hey, when it comes to movie monsters, this is the heavyweight title fight. If I get a basic story that makes sense (Note to blockbuster creators: It’s not that hard for your story to make sense!) and great battles between legendary monsters, I’ll be satisfied.



But a movie like Godzilla vs. Kong really is meant to be seen on the big screen, and while more and more people, thankfully, are being vaccinated, COVID-19 remains a thing. So, many of us will not be traveling to theaters to see this clash of titans, but instead will be watching on HBO Max.

 

While Godzilla vs. Kong is being released in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service at the same time, it appears to be just a bit early for gaining true clarity in terms of evaluating the titanic struggle between streaming and theaters. At best, if more people than expected show up at the theater to see King Kong slug Godzilla, we at least might get a bit of much-needed optimism for movie theaters.

 

According to The Wall Street Journal, prior to the pandemic hitting, there were 5,502 theaters opened on a Friday night. That compared to only 2,558 on March 26, 2021. Yikes. But more theaters will be opening in coming weeks. Will we get back to 5,500? Hmmm.

 

With each passing week ahead of increased vaccinations, and hopefully, increased normalcy, the big battle of “Streaming vs. Theaters” quickly approaches. 

 

Indeed, the first major engagement could be Disney’s Black Widow, which is scheduled for a July 9 release in theaters as well as via Disney+ with Premier Access (i.e., $29.99 in addition to the monthly Disney+ subscription fee).

 

Still, one analyst quoted by the Journal expected that theater capacity limitations are unlikely to be lifted before the fourth quarter of this year.

 

Major movie studios are not walking away from theaters. It was noted in the report that “Universal, Warner Bros. and Paramount all point to an exclusive U.S. theatrical window of 30-45 days for a post-Covid world,” which is “notably shorter than the 90-days the industry” used to operate under, but would still leave adequate time for the bulk of box-office receipts to accumulate – according to how the numbers traditionally break. But that’s assuming that consumer behavior will not change post-coronavirus. 

 

Make no mistake, if moviegoers want to watch movies in theaters, the studios will be more than happy to oblige, while moving films to their streaming services quickly. But what if a significant chunk of moviegoers simply want to see movies on their own big screens in the comfort of their own homes?

 

I’m not sure how much would be lost, for example, if I choose to simply go with Black Widow via Disney+. And then there’s the additional question of being willing to wait for it on Disney+ without the additional charge. Will Disney+ continue with the Premier Access extra thirty bucks for big movie releases even as services like HBO Max serve up Godzilla vs. Kong at no extra cost? 

 

All of the questions are being assessed by industry players, as they try to predict and read the consumer. In the end, the consumer will dictate some kind of mix between theaters and streaming. But discerning that balance at this point in time seems nearly impossible. Hence, we see why the CEOs of theater companies, studios and streaming services get paid the big bucks – and why, if they get it wrong, they’ll be tossed out of the C-suite.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.comPast Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Monday, March 29, 2021

OK with the Disney+ Price Hike?

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 29, 2021

 

On Friday, March 26, the monthly subscription price for Disney+ went from $6.99 to $7.99, which also meant that the bundle price for Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu increased from $12.99 to $13.99 per month.

 

By the way, the most popular subscription level for Netflix increased by $1 to $13.99 per month in October of last year.

 

So, what’s heading to Disney+ to help people feel better about paying $12 more a year for the service?


Courtesy of Disney+


Well, Disney announced today that its Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series, starring Ewan McGregor as the Jedi Master, will start shooting in April. It takes place a decade after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. In addition to McGregor, the cast includes Hayden Christensen returning as Darth Vader, along with Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie.

 

Also, new episodes of the popular Marvel series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which premiered on March 19, will arrive each Friday in April, running to the finale on April 23. That will be followed by Assembled: The Making of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on April 30.

 

Also, installments of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, a 10-episode season, will continue to be released on Fridays in April and into May.

 

And a new series, Big Shot, starring John Stamos, will tip off on April 16. The series features Stamos as Coach Korn, a hothead coach who lost his NCAA men’s basketball coaching job, and has to take a position as coach at an all-girls high school. (Can anyone say some kind of spin on Hoosiers – which, if you’re going to go that route, would be mighty shoes to fill given that Hoosiers ranks as one of the all-time great sports movies? John Stamos is likeable, but he’s no Gene Hackman.)

 

A good deal more comes to Disney+ in April, but these clearly are the big highlights. Of course, much more has been announced for Disney+ over the coming months – including the Marvel Loki series, starring Tom Hiddleston, arriving on Disney+ on June 11 – and even years. So, it seems pretty clear that especially fans of Marvel and Star Wars will not have much of a problem forking over the extra buck a month.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.comPast Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

Friday, March 26, 2021

DisneylandForward for the Entire Economy

 by Ray Keating

Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 26, 2021

(This piece originally was published at KeatingFiles.com) 

 

Whenever a large company pitches government on a proposal that’s supposed to help that firm and the economy in general, this economist’s free-market radar goes up. After all, most of the time, such proposals involve a business looking for taxpayer handouts, but trying to dress up such welfare as being great for everybody, including the taxpayers footing the bill.



That’s why the Walt Disney Company’s new pitch to the City of Anaheim – called  DisneylandForward – to expand, well, Disneyland is so refreshing. It also should serve as a template for policymaking related to entrepreneurs, businesses, their employees, and investors, as we all work to climb out of this pandemic mess.

 

Disney is not looking for any kind of government aid, subsidies, or handouts in this proposal. In fact, in its various materials on the undertaking, the company explicitly declared: “To be clear, Disney is not seeking any public funding for DisneylandForward, nor are we seeking additional square footage or hotel rooms beyond what is currently approved and allowed.”

 

This is music to the ears of this economist. Please, tell me more!

 

Instead of seeking handouts, Disney is looking for Anaheim to be more flexible in terms of how it regulates the company. Specifically, Disney is looking for flexibility in terms of zoning regulations so that the company can move ahead and make investments in expansion that will serve new and current customers, boost the region’s economy, and create jobs. Disney is beginning a process of explaining and illustrating to Anaheim that a shift in its zoning from traditional, specific-use approval to zoning that allows for increased flexibility and integration in terms of uses – such as allowing a hotel, restaurants, attractions and entertainment in one area or facility, as opposed to just one of those options – not only makes sense for Disney and its business, but how the House of Mouse ties in with the rest of the regional economy and beyond.

 

Disney pointed out, “While Disney has the development rights and the desire to continue investing in Anaheim, the space to develop integrated offerings is severely limited. Without broadening the uses allowed within each district or demolishing and replacing many beloved theme park attractions, further integrated development and theme park investment are not possible.”

 

I’m always frustrated when government stakes out overtly hostile stances against entrepreneurs, businesses and investors. Such misguided actions spring from failures to grasp how the economy and business work; and how growth, wealth and jobs are created; as well as political philosophies rooted in fantasy, and/or politics built on cynicism and special-interest favors. And then there are businesses that seek government handouts, which only serves to gin up further hostility toward business. So, I wonder if the vast costs of the pandemic might change things, at least somewhat. 

 

Disney put its DisneylandForward effort in the proper context of what we have been suffering through for the past year-plus:

 

“While no one could have predicted just how far-reaching the job loss and economic impacts would be as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know this past year has been incredibly difficult. It has taken a major toll on our cast, The Anaheim Resort, Anaheim residents and families, Orange County, and California. But, with time, we will recover, and we’ll do it together. We believe in the future of this great city, and we are ready to join hands as even stronger partners. With continued investment, we can make an even larger impact on short-term recovery, enhance long-term growth, and help address some of Anaheim’s more difficult problems in the future.”

 

Again, how will we recover and grow? Not via government subsidies. Not by some big governmental undertakings with commensurate tax and regulatory costs. Not thanks to the us-vs.-them mentality that dominates too much of our public discourse and manifests itself in public policies. Instead, it will be accomplished by government thinking clearly and providing flexibility – dare I say: providing relief? – from burdens that make no sense, and only serve to raise the costs of or block productive, private-sector investment. In turn, entrepreneurs and businesses, including Disney, will be better able to make growth-generating investments.

 

Let’s call it the DisneylandForward agenda for Anaheim, for California, for other states and for the nation: No subsidies. Provide flexibility and relief from government regulations and other actions that make no sense. And thereby, free up the private sector to invest, innovate and drive economic, income and job growth.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.comPast Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

Thursday, March 25, 2021

DisneylandForward Plans for Disneyland Expansion Seeks Flexibility by Government

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 25, 2021

 

Apparently, the business and Imagineering minds at Disneyland haven’t exactly been dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Far from it. Disneyland made a splash today with big expansion plans for the resort. Or more specifically, the company announced plans for a path to major expansion.



The Walt Disney Company’s DisneylandForward plan appears to be chock full of potential for those who enjoy Disneyland, but the central effort, at this point in time, is to gain flexibility from local government, i.e., the City of Anaheim, so that investments by Disney – investments that would help the region’s economic recovery and growth – are able to move ahead. That kind of common-sense flexibility, however, often is in short supply in politics and government, especially in places like California. So, time and negotiations in coming months will tell the tale. But initial responses should please Disney and other local business representatives.

 

As Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland Resort, put it, “Thinking big and leading the way is both our legacy and our best path forward. Now is the time to be bold, to dream, to believe, and to lead! The world-renowned Disneyland Resort is poised to bring back jobs to our community as well as new entertainment and experiences to loyal fans and new audiences for generations to come.”

 

Disney is looking for Anaheim to essentially shift its zoning from traditional, specific-use approval to zoning that allows for increased flexibility and integration in terms of uses, such as hotel and entertainment. As Disney explains, “While Disney has the development rights and the desire to continue investing in Anaheim, the space to develop integrated offerings is severely limited. Without broadening the uses allowed within each district or demolishing and replacing many beloved theme park attractions, further integrated development and theme park investment are not possible.”

 

Considering that most plans like this from large companies seek taxpayer backing, Disney states that this is not the case. The goals are summed up as follows:

 

“To be clear, Disney is not seeking any public funding for DisneylandForward, nor are we seeking additional square footage or hotel rooms beyond what is currently approved and allowed. Rather, we are simply working with the city and community to update our existing approvals to allow for integrated development to be located and built throughout Disney properties.”

 

Where might such increased zoning flexibility take Disneyland? Well, there’s a great deal to consider in what Disney put forward today, but at the same time, the company said, “We are not announcing any future projects at this time.” Still, possibilities have been dangled: “With DisneylandForward and more flexibility within our existing properties, new lands and adventures like those underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland could inspire new experiences here.” Mentioned were lands coming to Tokyo DisneySea, such as Frozen, Repunzel’s tower from Tangled, and Peter Pan’s Neverland, along with Shanghai’s Zootopia and Tron ride, and Hollywood Studio’s “Toy Story Land.” 

 

The following is a general map of possibilities presented by Disney.



Regarding the new Disney entertainment area, the company put forth: “This property could be the perfect location to cater to locals, conventioneers, hotel and Disneyland Resort guests with restaurants, hotels, live music, shopping, ticketed shows and theme park experiences modeled after the popular Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.”

 

The plan also calls for enhanced parking, transportation and transit options.

 

Disney does in fact hit on the need for investment to get the economy moving again. It specifically addresses the impact of the pandemic, and what’s needed:

 

“While no one could have predicted just how far-reaching the job loss and economic impacts would be as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know this past year has been incredibly difficult. It has taken a major toll on our cast, The Anaheim Resort, Anaheim residents and families, Orange County, and California. But, with time, we will recover, and we’ll do it together. We believe in the future of this great city, and we are ready to join hands as even stronger partners. With continued investment, we can make an even larger impact on short-term recovery, enhance long-term growth, and help address some of Anaheim’s more difficult problems in the future.”

 

The Orange County Register quoted Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu saying: “In the past year, we have seen what the Disneyland Resort means to Anaheim’s economy and the role it plays in helping us provide vital public services for our residents, neighborhoods and businesses… I welcome fresh thinking about how the Disneyland Resort evolves and how we best maximize this resource for our city.”

 

Flexibility by government in allowing private investment to move ahead would, indeed, be fresh thinking – and that’s needed in Anaheim, in the rest of California, and across the nation.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.comPast Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Disney Undertakes Facial Recognition Technology Test

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 25, 2021

 

No doubt you’ve probably ordered groceries online in the past few months, done drive-up pick-ups at your local Walmart or Target, and had food delivery services drop your dinner outside your front door and just ring the bell to get your attention. In this era of COVID, every company is looking for ways to “go contactless” to deliver their services to customers. Disney World is firmly in that camp as well.



From MagicBands that just tap and go, to Mobil Ordering for meals at quick-serve locations, Disney has been working toward limiting the number of high contact points for their guests.  Some lucky iPhone and Apple Watch customers are even set to implement the first phase of the new MagicMobile service to integrate their devices into the My Disney Experience app process to limit touchpoints.


Now, Disney is testing out a new Facial Recognition Technology at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.  Through April 23, 2021, guests can volunteer to help the Disney company improve this technology for possible future use.


The test is a limited 30-day test (with the length of the test window subject to change), and guests’ information will be discarded within 30 days after the conclusion of the test. The information will not be shared with third parties. Participation in the test is completely voluntary, and a separate lane at the park entrance has been set aside for guests who would like to take part in the technology test. (If you don’t want to participate, you can choose a different lane.)

 

In a nutshell, guests will approach the technology-linked tapstyles, stand on a special logo on the ground, face the camera on the tapstyle, hold their admission media (MagicBand or park admission ticket) up to the Mickey logo on the scanner, and wait momentarily while the process captures an image of the guest’s face. The technology will convert the facial image into a unique number, which is then linked with the form of admission the guest is using. Guests should remove accessories, hats and sunglasses before taking their snapshot, but should leave face masks on for safety. After your image is created, off you go into the park! 

 

If you come back to the park on another visit during your stay, you can reuse the same test lane to help Disney gather additional data on how the technology works.


Children under the age of 18 who wish to participate may do so with the consent and in the presence of a parent or guardian.


If you’d like further information on this technology test, head to the Disney World website.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Florida Drivers Can Celebrate Walt Disney World at 50

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 24, 2021

 

Starting on October 1 of this year, all kinds of ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World promise to kick into overdrive. Indeed, it’s billed as “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”



But things certainly have started. For example, Florida residents have the opportunity to celebrate the anniversary with a Walt Disney World specialty license plate. The plate will feature, as Disney put it, “our ‘EARidescent’ 50th anniversary castle logo on a majestic royal blue background,” which is “inspired by the color scheme of Cinderella Castle.”

 

Florida drivers can buy a presale voucher for $25, plus applicable state fees, through their county tax collector’s office, DMV license plate agencies across the state, or online at https://www.octaxcol.com/specialty-license-plate-vouchers/. By the way, a minimum of 3,000 vouchers will need to be purchased to greenlight the manufacturing of the specialty plate.

 

One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida. Disney has had a relationship with Make-A-Wish dating back to 1980.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.comPast Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!