Disney CEO Bob Chapek Gets New Contract and Vote of Confidence

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 28, 2022

 

The Walt Disney Company announced today that it has extended Bob Chapek’s contract as CEO for three years. The vote by the Disney board was unanimous.

Chapek’s contract was set to expire in February 2023. The new contract extends his CEO tenure to July 2025.

 

Chapek’s time in the C-Suite has been one of many challenges – namely, guiding the company through the pandemic – various recent controversies, and a period of expanding opportunity for the company via streaming.

 

Susan Arnold, Chairman of the Board, said, “Disney was dealt a tough hand by the pandemic, yet with Bob at the helm, our businesses—from parks to streaming—not only weathered the storm, but emerged in a position of strength. In this important time of growth and transformation, the Board is committed to keeping Disney on the successful path it is on today, and Bob’s leadership is key to achieving that goal. Bob is the right leader at the right time for The Walt Disney Company, and the Board has full confidence in him and his leadership team.”

 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Chapek’s $2.5 million base salary will remain unchanged in the new deal, however, his annual long-term incentive stock grant will be increased from $15 million to $20 million, with 60% of that grant being performance-based RSUs.” Restricted stock units (RSUs) are compensation in the form of company shares issued via a vesting plan and distributed on set dates after reaching performance goals.

 

The Disney board recently backed Chapek’s dismissal of Peter Rice as the head of the company’s television content.

 

Chapek stated, “Leading this great company is the honor of a lifetime, and I am grateful to the Board for their support. I started at Disney almost 30 years ago, and today have the privilege of leading one of the world’s greatest, most dynamic companies, bringing joy to millions around the world. I am thrilled to work alongside the incredible storytellers, employees, and cast members who make magic every day.”

 

Many Disney fans have been less than thrilled with Chapek, and various people have already taken to Twitter (no surprise there) to declare their outrage. In the meantime, stockholders are waiting to see if Disney’s stock price will rebound after declining by 45 percent over the past year – although part of that decline obviously ties into the larger economy. The stock offered no reaction to the Chapek announcement, closing at $96.52 today.

 

__________

 

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?

 

Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is Ray’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Get all of Ray Keating Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries in paperback and for the Kindle at Amazon.com and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Get more out of the rest of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. It’s on sale and shipping is always free!

 

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

Take in the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

 by Beth Keating

Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 26, 2022

 

You only have a week left to enjoy the bounty of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival!  The event runs through July 4th, before cast members take a short break to prepare for the upcoming Food & Wine Festival.  

If you can't get there in person this week, enjoy a quick stroll through the festival topiaries with us. In addition to the beautiful gardens and floral sculptures, there are a dozen-and-a-half unique food booths with garden-inspired twists to enjoy at the park, and just a few "Garden Rocks" concerts remaining, including Daughtry, and local favorites Epic and the M-80s.

 

_______________

 

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!

 

Disney Announces Returning Holiday Festivities

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 24, 2022

 

The calendar may have switched to “summer” earlier this week, but in the Disney universe, they are already planning for the winter holidays.  (And Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween won’t kick off until August, so they are well ahead of schedule!)

 

Since we are now “#HalfwayToTheHolidays” in Disney parlance, here are some of the highlights of Disney’s holiday plans.

Most exciting for many Disney parks guests is the news that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be returning to the Magic Kingdom in its full form. The last time the full party took place was in 2019. Covid cancelled the event in 2020, and 2021 saw an abbreviated version of the party with “Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours Event.”

 

The Very Merry Christmas Party, a separately ticketed event, will take place from 7 pm until midnight on select evenings from November 8 – December 22, 2022. Among the offerings at the party, Disney Parks Blog lists:

 

·  Join Mickey and his pals at the Cinderella Castle stage for the ultimate must-watch Christmas extravaganza – “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.” The show features nostalgic and modern medleys of holiday music paired with dance performances.

·  Minnie Mouse orchestrates a sparkling spectacle over Magic Kingdom as a part of “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.” Full of holiday magic, the show includes dazzling castle projections, fireworks and seasonal songs. 

· With his famous flying reindeer leading the way, Santa Claus will join Mickey Mouse and friends in the must-see “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” as it makes its way through the park.

·  Speaking of Santa Claus, he isn’t the only one who likes cookies during the holidays. Partygoers can indulge in complimentary cookies and hot cocoa at locations throughout Magic Kingdom.

· Magic Kingdom attractions will get a special dose of yuletide cheer. Holiday magic will once again transform the Jungle Cruise into the Jingle Cruise. And, as an exclusive treat for event attendees, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Mad Tea Party will all receive a special holiday makeover.

·  Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café becomes the coolest place to get down when denizens of the North Pole drop by for an intergalactic dance party!  

· Also at Magic Kingdom, dance the night away alongside favorite Disney characters during an out-of-this-world holiday show, “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas” on the Rockettower Plaza Stage.

·  The fun continues for young partygoers and Disney Junior fans of all ages at Storybook Circus during the “Disney Junior Jingle Jam” as Disney Junior characters take part in a fun-filled dance celebration.

· NEW! In honor of the 50^th Anniversary celebration, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party attendees will discover three jolly new photo opportunities. Guests will also receive a special 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake, themed for the holidays.

 

Tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party go on sale online beginning July 7, 2022; however, Walt Disney World hotel guests can purchase tickets as early as June 30, 2022. Ticket prices vary according to the party date, and range from $149 – $199 per person. 

 

This year’s party dates include:

 

• November: 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 27, 29
• December: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22

 

Among the most anticipated holiday events elsewhere in the parks is EPCOT’s “Candlelight Processional” during the International Festival of the Holidays. The Processional is an annual tradition kicking off the holiday season for many families, and this year the shows at the America Gardens Theatre begin November 25. A celebrity narrator shares the Nativity story, while a massed choir and live orchestra perform accompanying music to underscore the readings.  If you haven’t been to the show, you have missed an absolutely inspiring evening.

 

Also at EPCOT, the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride will swap out its six classic hits playlist for a mash-up of seasonal jams during your efforts to save the galaxy.

 

Over at Hollywood Studios, Olaf the Snowman will be bringing back the special seasonal finale at “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.”

 

And at Animal Kingdom, the Merry Menagerie, the life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets featuring winter animals will again visit with guests.

 

All four parks will continue to transform their park icons into Beacons of Magic this year with a rotation of unique holiday-themed displays.

 

If you were hoping to run into Santa Claus among your Disney friends, you’ll be able to catch him in his red convertible at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade, or on the Discovery River as part of the flotilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. At EPCOT, you can enjoy holiday tales from around the world as Santa joins storytellers at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, beginning November 25. 

 

The Holiday Cookie Stroll will return to EPCOT during the festival as well, and holiday dishes from around the world will be available for munching at dozens of Holiday Kitchens.

 

If you are hoping for a picture with the Jolly Old Elf himself, hop on over to Magic Kingdom or Disney Springs, where guests will have an opportunity to take pictures and hand off their Christmas lists.  (Times to be announced.)

 

And speaking of Disney Springs, if you’ve enjoyed the Christmas Tree Stroll in the past, the elaborately decorated trees will return to the shopping mecca, as will the nighttime magical snowfalls.  Need a snack boost to keep you going while you shop till you drop?  Pop in to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, which becomes Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, serving up special festive food and craft cocktails. Jock’s is just one of the Disney dining locales that will feature limited time holiday goodies.

Disney has set aside a dedicated holidays page for news of updated offerings and menus as they become available in the coming weeks.

 

_______________

 

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!

Disney Wish Arrives in Port Canaveral in Preparation for Inaugural Sailing

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 23, 2022

 

The Disney Wish, with its Tangled-themed ship décor, arrived with much fanfare in Port Canaveral this week, but promptly headed back out to sea again, making a test trip to Disney’s private Castaway Cay island in the Bahamas. The Wish will return to Port Canaveral as it prepares to welcome cruise guests for its July 14th maiden voyage.

The Disney Wish is the first new ship in the Disney fleet in more than 10 years, but it is just the first of three anticipated ships being added to the Disney Cruise Line family over the next few years. The additional Triton-class ships are expected to launch in 2024 and 2025.

 

The 4,000-passenger, 1,119 feet long, 144,000-gross-ton vessel made its transatlantic voyage to Florida from Germany’s Meyer Werft Shipyard, where it has been under construction since 2020. COVID delays pushed back delivery of the Disney Wish, originally scheduled for January, with an additional delay in June.

Among the Wish’s offerings is a new 760-foot-long “AquaMouse” water coaster with immersive show scenes and special effects. It takes riders out over the side of the ship before landing in a lazy river on board. Ten pools await guests, and a Toy Story Splash Zone features larger than life rubber bath toys to amuse swimmers. 

 

Frozen, Marvel, and Star Wars will also feature prominently on board, with the Frozen characters and Marvel’s Ant-Man and Wasp making appearances in interactive theatrical dining shows, and an adult-themed Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge open for guests.

Several Broadway theatre-style shows will also come aboard, including “The Little Mermaid,” and original productions of “Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” and “Disney Seas the Adventure.”

 

The fleet’s Disney Dream, which arrived in Florida’s Port Canaveral in 2011, left for Port Miami earlier this month to make room in Canaveral for the slightly larger new Disney Wish.  Dream will continue to offer sailings from Miami, but the Dream’s eventual destination is Europe, where it will offer new sailings next year. Among the specialties on the Disney Dream is the “AquaDuck” water coaster, as well as the immensely popular fine-dining locations Remy and Palo and the colorfully creative Animator’s Palate.  The Dream’s sister ship, the Disney Fantasy, will remain at Port Canaveral with the Disney Wish.  

 

Disney will christen the Wish on June 29, followed by a short preview sailing for media, before welcoming its first official maiden voyage guests on July 14.

 

_______________

 

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!

A Whole New View of Harmonious

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 22, 2022

 

When Disney’s current nighttime show, Harmonious, debuted in EPCOT in October 2021, it was met mostly with a resounding chorus of “meh” and shoulder shrugs. And while it did have its share of fans, albeit a group that was on the smaller side, many people still longed for the days of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

Sadly, Harmonious may have suffered in part due to a really poor showing by Disney on their first livestream presentation of Harmonious’ debut.  The camera coverage, and even the sound, was not up to Disney’s usual televised standards, and indeed, many Florida-based vloggers had better videos in their media coverage of the event. Those who saw it live, in person at EPCOT, seemed to have a higher opinion than those who watched that first televised livestream.

 

Fast forward to last night (June 21, 2022), and Disney’s presentation of Harmonious Live! in honor of World Music Day. Wow, what a difference!  The new livestream of the show aired on Disney+, and is now available on replay for subscribers of the streaming service. Go watch it, because it is worth the 28-minute investment of your time.  Part concert and part fireworks show, the event was well done, the camera coverage terrific, and the vocalists extraordinary. The accompaniment by a live orchestra, and music from multiple locations throughout the park, gave last night’s Harmonious an entirely different feel, and brought back all the emotion that seemed to be missing from the earlier show. The evening certainly rose to the quality level we normally expect from Disney.

 

Hosted by Idina Menzel (Frozen), with an appearance by Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) and a number of other celebrities, the tribute to World Music Day featured the talents of 240 artists from around the world, and incorporated thirteen languages and a variety of unique instruments, all while sharing music from fifteen of your favorite inspirational Disney stories and songs, including Hercules, Coco, Aladdin, The Lion King, Moana, and Beauty and the Beast.

 

In all honesty, I’m one of those folks who wasn’t wowed by Harmonious during my visits to the park. Our family saw the nighttime offering at the park on two occasions, once to experience it live for ourselves (and we were underwhelmed), and again a second time when we had out-of-town guests who hadn’t seen the show yet.  They, too, just said, “It was fine, but it was one and done.” That may indeed be the opinion of a lot of park guests, because we had no problem getting front row viewing spots in World Showcase a mere five minutes before showtime during our last outing. 

 

When Harmonious debuted last year in time for Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration, Disney Parks Blog wrote, “‘Harmonious’ illuminates our shared humanity, bringing to life the vision of EPCOT through a celebration of our world and its promise. Over the years, cultures from around the world have provided inspiration for Disney films and music. In ‘Harmonious,’ a global community of musical artists has come together and reinterpreted those familiar stories and songs in their own voice, honoring their respective cultures. Collectively, they contribute to a unique experience that could only happen at EPCOT, a place where the impossible becomes possible through the power of human imagination and the magic of Disney.”

 

Last night’s livestream was as if Harmonious was a whole different show than the show we’d seen in person in prior months, and I actually went back and watched the livestream again this morning.  I have an enormous appreciation for the talented vocalists, who stayed completely in synch with the fireworks, moving fountains, lasers and floating giant screens going on behind them.  Of particular note were mother-daughter gospel duo Kierra Sheard-Kelly and Karen Clark-Sheard with “Dig a Little Deeper,” backed by a fabulous choir, performing from the Italy Pavilion, and amazing violinists Lindsey Stirling and Mairead Nesbitt from the main stage.

 

Harmonious Live! was indeed a spectacular extravaganza, celebrating music from around the world.  Give it a half hour of your time from the comfort of your own home. It just might change the way you feel about the in-park version of the show. 

 

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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!

Daily Dose of Disney on Humility, Values, Opportunity and More!

 Are tuning in to the “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast. It serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Some to the latest episodes hit on humility, values, lifelong learning, your conscience, America and opportunity, teamwork, and more!

 

Listen today!

What’s Going on at Disney? Rice Fired and Walden Promoted

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 10, 2022

 

Shake-ups happen in business all of the time. Sometimes they make sense, and others amount to head-scratchers. On occasion, the real reasons don’t get revealed for a bit of time. It’s unclear which will be the case with Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s firing of Peter Rice as the head of the company’s television content.

 

The move was referred to as “shocking” and “head-spinning” by Variety, for example. News reports were filled with statements of outrage for those who support Rice and/or dislike Chapek.  And as is clear from widespread reports, the firing came out of nowhere for Rice, and it could not be tied to his performance, as his division was performing well.

In a company announcement, it was noted that Dana Walden would be Rice’s replacement as chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content. As a result, she “will have oversight of ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and Onyx Collective. Walden previously served as Chairman, Entertainment, Walt Disney Television and succeeds Peter Rice, who is leaving the Company.”

 

Rice and Walden came to Disney via the Fox acquisition, with Walden reporting to Rice.

 

So, what’s the deal with the Rice firing? Speculation swirls, with additional, resulting controversy coming Chapek’s way. The Hollywood Reporter relayed the following: “Industry insiders believe Rice was perceived as angling to replace the embattled Chapek… It is notable that the board issued a statement in support of Chapek, who has only a few months left on his contract. The move comes as a shocker considering Chapek re-upped Rice to a new long-term deal last summer.”

 

Along those lines, The New York Times pointed out, “Mr. Rice, who has also overseen ABC News, most recently renewed his contract at Disney in August. It ran until the end of 2024. Disney will pay him out, the people said… In April, Mr. Chapek fired the company’s most senior communications and government relations executive; the executive, Geoff Morrell, had joined Disney in January under a multiyear contract. Disney also paid him out.” 

 

Is this a strange trend developing, or just coincidence?

 

Meanwhile, CNBC reported: “While generally well liked personally, Rice has irritated some co-workers at Disney for monopolizing information rather than sharing it with co-workers — a style that may have worked at Fox but was ill-fitting at Disney, according to a person familiar with the matter.”

 

Finally, as for Walden, DisneyBizJournal highlighted in a piece titled “Disney on How NOT To Do Diversity” a rather bizarre comment she made in early 2021:

 

The statement kind of hits like a cold bucket of water over the head: “I will tell you for the first time we received some incredibly well-written scripts that did not satisfy our standards in terms of inclusion, and we passed on them.”

 

As noted by the Hollywood Reporter, Walt Disney Television chairman of entertainment Dana Walden made this declaration recently during a panel discussion. And it’s the direct result of a set of inclusion standards – i.e., actual percentage breakdowns of “groups” populating on-screen presentation, creative teams and behind the scenes – set up in the fall 2020 by ABC/Disney…

 

Diversity as an objective for a business is not new and can be beneficial, such as by bringing various viewpoints and perspectives to decision-making. When done thoughtfully and constructively, it can send positive messages beyond the firm as well. 

 

At its best, corporate efforts to improve diversity and inclusion mean opening more doors, and expanding the number of chairs at the table. The point is that business is not a zero-sum game. The right decisions mean growth and expanding opportunities, hopefully, for all.

 

But that is not the message behind Walden’s comment. That drips of zero-sum, us-vs.-them thinking, with diversity and inclusion efforts resulting in the exclusion of certain people. How tragically ironic…

 

With assorted controversies cropping up seemingly on a regular basis, it’s understandable that observers might wonder what’s going on at the House of Mouse these days. Questions are further fueled by the fact that Chapek’s contract expires at the end of February. Just as the Disney board issued a statement of support regarding Chapek’s decision regarding Rice and Walden, the ultimate support would come with an announced contract extension for the company’s CEO.

 

__________

 

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?

 

Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is Ray’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Get all of Ray Keating Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries in paperback and for the Kindle at Amazon.com and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Get more out of the rest of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. It’s on sale and shipping is always free!

 

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

Discoveries During a Cool Visit to The American Adventure at EPCOT

 by Ray Keating

Commentary/Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 6, 2022

 

Maybe it’s one of those hot days at EPCOT. You know, Florida hot. And you need a cooling break. There are plenty of places where you can stick your head in for some wonderful air conditioning. I’m going to suggest The American Adventure in World Showcase for three main reasons.

First, there’s the retelling of America’s history in the theater. The presentation features, as Disney World’s website notes, “35 Audio-Animatronics figures, digital rear-projection images on a 72-foot screen and stirring patriotic songs.” The main hosts are Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. Franklin plays the role of the American realistic optimist, while Twain is more the questioning skeptic. While there obviously are plusses and minuses in a short history presentation at a theme park, I enjoy this for two reasons (besides resting in air conditioning). One is that it might spark an interest in American history in a young mind visiting EPCOT. Two is that this fits with Walt Disney’s own appreciation for America and its history. Though not explicitly stated, it’s a wonderful link to who Walt Disney was.

Second, “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” continues on exhibit in The American Adventure, to the left as one enters through the main doors of the building. (See DisneyBizJournal’s story on when this exhibit first opened.) There’s a great deal to appreciate about the history of jazz – that truly American genre of music – in this presentation.

That includes brief bios on various jazz greats, the cities where jazz was born and/or thrived, as well as museum pieces, from a Louis Armstrong trumpet to Gene Krupa drum sticks.

 

Again, this is a great break from the heat that hopefully refreshes or sparks an interest in jazz.

 

Third, and finally, is something that has long struck me as a small oddity in the rotunda of this building. Two of the quotes on the walls come from, in my mind, unexpected sources. One is from Wendell Willkie and the other from Ayn Rand. I don’t think I’m stretching things to say that these are not exactly two names with which many theme park visitors might be familiar.

Willkie was a businessman who lost the 1940 presidential contest against Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And Rand was a Russian-born writer, who spoke out strongly against communism, and was a strong advocate for free markets. (As a free market economist myself, I’ve never been a fan of Rand’s arguments and emphasis, but that is a discussion for another time.)

Whenever I read these quotes – and both are on the mark – I wonder about who gave the final thumbs-up for their inclusion at The American Adventure.

Again, my hope is that a visitor not knowing either Rand or Willkie, or tennis player and professional golfer Althea Gibson, who also has a quote displayed, might venture to discover more.

 

And all of this might result by just seeking a break from the Florida heat. Perhaps that’s a little Disney magic.

 

__________

 

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?

 

Two great ways to pre-order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is Ray’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Get all of Ray Keating Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries in paperback and for the Kindle at Amazon.com and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Get more out of the rest of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. It’s on sale and shipping is always free!

 

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