Disney and Long-Term Investors Celebrate the Company Turning 100

 by Ray Keating

News/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 2, 2023

 

October 2023 is a big month for the Walt Disney Company. It marks the company’s 100th birthday. One hundred years in business is truly amazing for any company. But with Disney, of course, we’re talking about one of the largest entertainment companies on the planet, and one that has had a historic impact on popular culture.

Specifically, it was October 16, 1923, when the brothers Walt and Roy Disney formed the Disney Brothers Studio. In 1940, Walt Disney productions issued over-the-counter stock, and later, on November 12, 1957, the company did an IPO (initial public offering) on the New York Stock Exchange at a price of $13.88.

 

Disney has announced that it will be celebrating its birthday throughout October in a variety of ways. For example, Disney+ will be decked out in a special 100 anniversary logo, and will offer a special collection of films and series from throughout the decades. And the short film Once Upon a Studio will make a broadcast debut on Sunday, October 15, during ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney: Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration!

 

Also, as part of the celebration, Disney is having theatrical re-releases for The Lion King, from September 29 to October 12, and for Moana, from October 13–26.

 

There’s more about the 100th celebration here.

 

By the way, what would an investment in the Disney IPO in 1957 be worth now? Well, Benzinga.com did the calculations as of November 2022, and it concluded:

 

“Disney shares were priced at $13.88 at the time of the 1957 IPO. A $1,000 investment could have purchased 72.05 shares at the time. Over the years, Disney has completed numerous stock splits. The original 72.05 share investment would be 28,896.18 shares today after stock splits. The $1,000 investment would be worth $2,635,042.65 today, turning Disney IPO investors into millionaires if they kept the investment over the last 65 years.”

 

And when adjusted for inflation that initial $1,000 equates to about $11,000 in today’s dollars – so that’s still a fantastic return on Disney’s stock since 1957.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael 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 is a Disney shareholder.)

 

Consider books by Ray Keating, including…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 18 books in the series now.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is at Amazon. 

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Disney to Re-Release 8 Disney Favorite Films to the Big Screen

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 3, 2023

 

While many of us wouldn’t necessarily label them “classics,” Disney certainly calls them so, and has announced that it will be re-releasing eight “classic” fan-favorite Disney films to theatres this summer.

This is a great selection of Disney movies, but none of the films were around in Walt’s day, nor do they span a great variety of eras in Disney’s “100 years of magic,” so it really depends on how you define “classic.”  But that doesn’t stop me from being excited about seeing some of these top-grossing Disney films in theatres again.

To celebrate the Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, eight films from Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar will be showing in the United States for a limited period of just two weeks each between July and October.  If you’ve only seen your favorites on your home television, now’s your opportunity to see the films as they were meant to be seen.  Tickets are available through Fandango.

 

The titles being re-released for limited engagement runs include:

 

• Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (July 7 – 20, 2023)
• Toy Story (July 21– August 3, 2023)
• Frozen (August 4 – 17, 2023)
• Beauty And The Beast (August 18 – 31, 2023)
• The Incredibles (September 1 – 14, 2023)
• Coco (September 15 – 28, 2023)
• The Lion King (September 29 – October 12, 2023)
• Moana (October 13 – 26, 2023)

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Is the Family Complete Now?

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 23, 2023

 

It’s been several years in the making, but the trio is finally together.  Does that mean the grouping is complete, or is Disney going to try to sneak another critter into the mix on me? I’m referring, of course, to the loyal and musical pals from The Lion King, of which I have unabashedly acquired all three. (I know, it’s a popcorn bucket addiction. I’m sorry.)

Over at Animal Kingdom, Disney has been slowly dropping popcorn buckets and sippers in the likenesses of the trio of furry friends from the animated Lion King movie.  First came the Simba popcorn bucket, introduced in 2020 with a return post-COVID, and while he looked cute working on his roar, he was a bit on the wobbly side and hard to position once you got him home. Whatever, he was adorable, and a perfect souvenir from the Animal Kingdom. I ended up hanging him on a wall from his shoulder strap because he just couldn’t stand up on his own. And he’s just hung around there for the past few years, not knowing that his Pride Rock companions would be joining him later.

 

Along came Earth Day 2023, and Disney began offering the accompanying merch. Short-legged Pumbaa showed up in time to help kick-off Animal Kingdom’s 25th anniversary festivities. Cute and goofy looking, he joined Simba in the room, sitting nearby on a shelf, because his thick-skinned warthog self was well-balanced for sitting and waiting. And he didn’t have to wait long, because a mere few weeks later, a certain meerkat (see what I did there?) arrived, and the duo was now a trio.

  
Did Disney plan it that way, spreading out the arrival of my Timon sipper so that he was just a few weeks removed from the Earth Day arrival of Pumbaa, or was it meer-ly a coincidence of delays in supply-chain shipping that caused the gap? Was he supposed to be an Earth Day celebration drop as well? I’d like to think the Parks, Experiences and Products cast members were kindly spreading out my popcorn bucket addiction costs, rather than just trying to make me crazy by instigating my quick return to the parks to snatch up Timon. Timon’s carry strap even matched Pumbaa’s, with a special “Hakuna Matata” wonderful phrase and Animal Kingdom’s 25th  anniversary logo printed on it.  

 

Incidentally, Timon was $18.00 if you chose him with a bottled water, or $19.25 if you chose him with a bottled soda or Powerade.  He was available at a number of the snack carts throughout the Animal Kingdom, and as of my purchase of Timon, Pumbaa was still available at several popcorn carts. (Pumbaa was $22.) There were a few kiddos walking through the park with both buddies hanging around their necks.

 

Am I free to assume that our Lion King-themed food bucket series is complete now?  Or will Disney add a new personality to the group?  Perhaps Nala will show up… or maybe Mufasa! Now that would be a great addition. Be prepared!

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

“Disney 100 Years of Wonder” Marathon Comes to AMC for New Year’s Day

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 22, 2022

 

If you are exhausted from all the holiday festivities, and need a chance to veg for the day, AMC may have the answer for you. On January 1, 2023, AMC Theatres will host “Disney 100 Years of Wonder,” a four-movie marathon featuring 3 movies of the Disney Renaissance, and one newer, yet insanely popular, animated classic.  For many younger audience members, this is a great opportunity to see some of Disney’s best animated feature films on the big screen.

Courtesy of AMC Theatres

The marathon is a $30, one-price ticket that includes Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and the newbie (sort of) of the group, Frozen.  Guests at this one-day-only presentation also receive a free collectible mini-poster.

 

The event will be available at select theatres, including the AMC Dine-In at Disney Springs, beginning at noon. (Seats are selling quickly). There is a 6 hour and 40 minute total run time, so settle in!  You can check AMC listings for availability in your area.

   

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Animal Kingdom’s “KiteTails” Ending September 30

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 16, 2022

 

Disney World’s Animal Kingdom will be saying good-bye to its brightly colored KiteTails show on September 30, so if you haven’t already seen it, you only have a little less than two weeks to catch the critters while they are still in the air.

 

The show first took flight in October 2021 as part of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, with larger-than-life, 30-foot-long kites filling the skies above the Discovery River Lagoon.  In its original iteration, there were two different sit-down shows that merged the beautiful kites with upbeat Disney music from the respective movies.  Before the kites took off, colorful props paraded through the amphitheater, supported by dancing cast members.

Guests could experience either The Lion King show, featuring kites inspired by Simba, Zazu, and more; or The Jungle Book, featuring kites inspired by King Louie, Baloo and friends. The show lasted about fifteen minutes, and while guests were awed by the enormous character kites being hauled around the waterway by jet skis, it took some guests off-guard when the kites crash landed (on purpose) into a landing zone in one of the empty sections of amphitheater benches.

 

In recent months, though, the shows were trimmed down into shorter, five-minute displays, and guests did not need to sit down to watch the kites, but could see the performances from various points along the lagoon. The pre-show dancing cast members were also missing since the spring.

 

The final shows run from 9:10 am to 3:10 pm, approximately every twenty minutes, through the end of the month.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for 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!

 

Broadway’s Lion King To Offer Opening Night Live Stream

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 13, 2021

 

Broadway shows are slowly returning to the theatres of New York, and among them is Disney’s The Lion King, the stage adaptation of the 1994 Disney animated classic. The Lion King first opened on Broadway in 1997.

According to Playbill, on September 14, 2021, in partnership with TikTok, the cast will live stream their opening number, "Circle of Life," to celebrate Broadway’s return to live theatre following 18 months of COVID shutdowns. There will also be a behind-the-scenes pre-show hosted by Adrienne Walker, who plays Nala in the show.  The “re-opening” night show is sold out, so this is your chance to take a sneak peek.

 

The live stream will begin at 7 PM ET on the Disney on Broadway TikTok account, @DisneyOnBroadway, and will support The Actors Fund.

 

The six-time Tony Award winning musical took home the 1998 Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical award for Julie Taymor, making her the first woman to receive that accolade.  The Lion King also earned more than 70 other major arts awards including a NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; a 1999 Grammy; and Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

 

The Lion King features Elton John and Tim Rice’s original songs from the animated film, along with additional musical material including three new songs by John and Rice. The show is known for its elaborate costuming, with oversized “puppets” often donned by the actors to help tell the tale, including actors on stilts serving as giraffes.

 

The production currently makes its home at the Minskoff Theatre on West 45^th Street. Tickets for future Broadway performances are available at Broadway.com, or at The Lion King 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!

The Lion King Show Returning … In Two Places!

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 12, 2021

 

Simba and his pride are back, and they will be performing on two savannas.

 

New York’s Broadway will be bringing the stage lights back on this fall, and Disney on Broadway has released the return dates for its New York shows. The Lion King, performing at the Minskoff Theatre, roars back into life on September 14, 2021. Aladdin, Disney on Broadway’s second NY show, returns September 28, 2021, to the New Amsterdam Theatre.  Tickets are now on sale for both productions.

At the Florida location of Pride Rock, soft performances have begun for “A Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King,” a version of the Broadway-caliber “Festival of the Lion King” that celebrates Simba and his friends in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The adapted version of the live show, with its elaborate costuming, fire twirlers and stilt walkers, has been slightly revamped for both the performers and the audiences’ safety, but still maintains all the energy of your favorite Lion King songs. Sadly, the tumble monkeys and their comical hijinks haven’t been added back to the show just yet.

 

“A Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King” officially opens to park guests on May 15 at the Harambe Theater. Theme park admission and park reservations are required for the show. Social distancing is in effect in the theatre, with certain benches closed off, thus limiting audience size, so “Be Prepared” to wait for your chance to see the show.

 

The Lion King is the third longest running show on Broadway, with six indigenous African languages included in the performance. New York Daily News called the production, “A perfect marriage of entertainment and art.” Tickets and information about The Lion King on Broadway are available here.  Information on Aladdin, with its famed flying carpet and more than 84 special effects, can be found here.  

 

Disney is currently offering a “Double the Magic” deal celebrating the return of Disney on Broadway. The package allows guests to purchase a ticket to both The Lion King and Aladdin for a combined price starting as low as $149. Disney is also paying the service fees on ticket purchases for the shows, so there are no per-ticket service fees. Exchange and refund policies are also very generous right now, with exchanges permissible up to two hours before the start of the show. (This policy is subject to change as pandemic conditions adapt as well).

 

Incidentally, if you are a teacher, Disney on Broadway offers an excellent The Lion King teacher’s guide and educational videos for using the Broadway show in your classroom, but the guide is easily adaptable to the movie, integrating lots of cross-discipline opportunities for your classes.

 

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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!

New York’s Broadway Shows To Reopen September 14

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 7, 2021

 

It has been nearly fourteen months since the lights were dimmed on Broadway stages due to the pandemic, but with the coronavirus showing signs of allowing people to return to some sense of normalcy, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week announced that Broadway will be able to reopen on September 14, 2021. Tickets for a few shows even went on sale yesterday, and The Phantom of the Opera goes on sale today for performances beginning October 22.  Phantom is Broadway’s longest running show.

According to a statement from the Governor’s office, theaters will be able to open at 100% capacity. The governor’s announcement was met with enthusiasm, as the return of Broadway means not only high-quality entertainment for theatre patrons, but the return of numerous jobs for the industry, from actors to support staff to local restaurants which depend on show traffic each night.  The Governor’s office reports that nearly 100,000 jobs are supported by the Broadway shows, with $14.7 billion dollars tied to the New York economy, and prior to the pandemic, nearly 250,000 patrons a week attended Broadway shows.

 

“We are thrilled that Governor Cuomo clearly recognizes the impact of Broadway’s return on the city and state’s economy and the complexity of restarting an entire industry that has been dormant for over a year,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “Nothing beats Broadway. The theatre owners, producers, and other League members will continue to work with the NY State Department of Health and the Governor to coordinate the industry’s return and the related health and safety protocols required to do so.  We remain cautiously optimistic about Broadway’s ability to resume performances this fall and are happy that fans can start buying tickets again.”

 

But while some shows might be prepared to raise their curtains in September, others may need more time to reopen, due to rehearsal schedules, staffing concerns, and theatre logistics. The Music Man and Diana: The Musical have both reported December starts for their performances. It is expected that each Broadway show will announce their sale dates, performance schedules and timelines on a show-by-show basis.  A number of the theatres, however, are expected to share their plans in the next few days, including Hamilton and The Lion King.

 

According to the Broadway League, when Broadway shut down on March 12, 2020, thirty-one productions were running, including eight new shows in previews, with another eight productions in rehearsals for spring openings. Disney had three shows performing: Frozen, The Lion King and Aladdin.  Sadly, Frozen saw its final performance the evening of the shutdowns, and will not be returning to the New York stage.

 

For the most up-to-date new performance schedule for the shows, head to each show’s own website, or to the Broadway League’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!

 

Broadway League Announces Continuing Closures for NYC Theatres

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 9, 2020

 

The Broadway League today (October 9) announced that New York City’s Broadway theatres will extend the suspension of performances through May 30, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.  Individual theatres will then determine the start dates and performance schedules for their respective shows.  As more information becomes available and theatres solidify the dates for raising their curtains, The Broadway League will make the schedules available to theatre patrons. 

After closing March 12 due to rising coronavirus numbers and state restrictions, the theatres hoped to reopen sometime in January.  (The first reopening had been anticipated for Labor Day 2020... but obviously that didn’t happen.)  Some shows, such as Disney’s Frozen at the St. James Theatre, announced that they had taken their final curtain calls, and would not return post-pandemic. (See the DisneyBizJournal story here.)

 

“With nearly 97,000 workers who rely on Broadway for their livelihood and an annual economic impact of $14.8 billion to the city, our membership is committed to re-opening as soon as conditions permit us to do so. We are working tirelessly with multiple partners on sustaining the industry once we raise our curtains again,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League.

 

Shows on hiatus right now include Disney’s Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre and The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre. The Broadway on Tour version of Disney’s Frozen has touring dates scheduled in a number of cities beginning in February, as does The Lion King tour (beginning in March), but performances of the tours may be canceled or postponed due to the evolving coronavirus situation. Check with the specific theatre’s box office or website for clarifications, refunds and information.

 

Guests who purchased tickets for Broadway performances through May 30, 2021, should contact their point of purchase for refunds or exchanges.  For additional COVID-19 theatre updates, go to The Broadway League website here.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Livestream Broadway at Disney World Tonight!

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

January 25, 2020

So, what’s on your Saturday (January 25) night schedule? Well, at just before eight o’clock EST, you could tune in to the Disney Parks Blog to catch the livestream of a “Disney on Broadway” concert direct from Walt Disney World.

Tonight’s concert will feature Broadway performers Alton Fitzgerald White and Kissy Simmons from “The Lion King,” Heidi Blickenstaff from “The Little Mermaid.” and Gavin Lee from “Mary Poppins.”

The “Disney on Broadway” concert series is a big hit as part of the “2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts.”

Tune in at 7:55 PM EST at the Disney Parks Blog.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney Will Have Seven $1-Billion-Plus 2019 Releases

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 16, 2019

Over the weekend, Disney’s Frozen 2 topped $1 billion in box office receipts. That makes the sixth Disney release in 2019 to exceed the billion-dollar mark.

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Frozen 2 has now raked in $1.03 billion worldwide. The other five billion-dollar babies so far this year for Disney have been:

• Captain Marvel at $1.13 billion

• Aladdin at $1.07 billion

• The Lion King at $1.66 billion

• Avengers: Endgame at $2.8 billion

• Toy Story 4 at $1.07 billion

But, of course, the next billion-dollar earner opens later this week – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That, too, will top a billion (perhaps $2 billion?).

Much has been made of Disney fumbling Star Wars. But The Mandalorian on Disney+ and the huge demand for the Disney World ride Rise of the Resistance tell another story. If director J.J. Abrams erases the failure (or at least reduces the sting) of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, most negative talk about Star Wars will give way to excitement about what’s next.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney Hits Annual Box-Office Record ... in July

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 29, 2019

Disney hit a box-office record for the entire year, but it’s only July, according to a Hollywood Reporter article.

Keeping in mind that these comparisons are in nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation (my standard economist disclaimer), Disney has pulled in a total of $7.67 billion globally so far this year, according to the Reporter, which surpasses the previous full-year record of $7.61 billion, which also was held by Disney for 2016.

For good measure, Disney’s $5.09 billion internationally ranks as the first time international revenues have moved beyond $5 billion for a studio.

Disney also is on track to break its 2016 record of having four films break the $1 billion mark – with Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin and both Toy Story 4 and The Lion King are on track to do so shortly.

And there’s more to come, including Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Frozen II and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as well as films moved under the Disney umbrella with the Fox merger, such as to be Ad Astra, Terminator: Dark Fate, and Ford v. Ferrari.

One of the interesting questions looking ahead is: Will Disney in future years be able to match what it has accomplished at the box office in 2019? Although, how much will Disney care given its investment in the Disney+ streaming service and the ongoing shift of video entertainment from the theater to the home?

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

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