Walt Disney Co. news stories on Newser

Shanghai Disney Under Way

Matt Cantor — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:41:05 CDT

After a long wait , Mickey’s new home in China is officially under construction. The iconic mouse joined Disney CEO Robert Iger and top Shanghai officials—as well as Goofy, Princess Jasmine, and other friends—for a groundbreaking ceremony today at the future site of Shanghai Disneyland, the Los Angeles Times...

Disney's New Plan: Stalk the Maternity Ward

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:19:02 CST

Picture this touching moment: You’re in the hospital, aglow from the birth of your first child … when a Disney rep accosts you, offering you free stuff in exchange for joining an email list. That’s basically the plan Disney came up with after realizing, to its utter dismay, that many...

Watchdog: Disney Bags Have Too Much Lead

John Johnson — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:00:00 CST

An environmental watchdog group says two versions of plastic Disney shopping bags go way over the federal limit for lead in kids' products. The Center for Environmental Health tested the reusable Toys Story and Cars bags sold by Safeway—the chain says the bags are no longer for sale—and...

Now You Can Live in Disney World

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:22:00 CDT

For the child in all of us who happens to have a very adult-size bank account, Walt Disney Co. will offer vacation homes in its Florida theme park. The company, which unveiled the proposed 980-acre Golden Oak development today, is gambling on a rebounding luxury real estate market in a...

Hulu to Add $9.95 Subscription Plan

Kevin Spak — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:34:22 CDT

Hulu is done giving out all its content for free. The web's second most popular video site plans to implement a $9.95-per-month subscription service as soon as May 24, sources tell the LA Times . But don't panic, cheapskates; the most recent five episodes of most shows will still be...

Disney Reinventing Stores as 'Imagination Parks'

Rob Quinn — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:25:48 CDT

Disney has unveiled ambitious plans to bring the theme park to the shopping mall by turning its network of stores into interactive "Imagination Parks." The overhaul—designed using the expertise of Steve Jobs and his Apple Stores team—will cost some $1 million per store and focus on providing entertainment...

Disney to Buy Marvel for $4B

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:35:13 CDT

The Walt Disney Co. says it is acquiring Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the Disney family. Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash plus...

DreamWorks Nails Down Disney Deal

Nick McMaster — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:10:05 CST

Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks has secured a distribution deal with Disney, the Wall Street Journal reports. Under the agreement, Disney will handle marketing and distribution for six live-action DreamWorks films per year and give Spielberg’s studio access to $150 million in financing.

Disney's Worldly Approach Makes HSM a Global Smash

Michael Roston — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:21:20 CDT

The success of High School Musical 3 proves that 293 million tweens can't be wrong. The series’ third installment debuted No. 1 in 19 international markets, confirming Disney's success with a strategy that marries the franchise’s universal themes to local cultures, Time reports. “You weave it together, forming a partnership...