Walt Disney Company

Operates theme parks and entertainment networks.

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Headquarters:
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Employees: 133,000
CEO: Robert Iger
Stock Symbol: DIS

Website: http://www.disney.go.com

Career Site

Walt Disney is one of the world's best known entertainment companies, home of Mickey Mouse and the owner of theme parks, the ABC television network and its own movie studio.

Disney is divided into four major business segments: Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, Consumer Products, and Media Networks.

The Walt Disney Studios distributes motion pictures under Walt Disney Pictures - which includes Walt Disney Feature Animation and DisneyToon Studios - Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Films and Dimension Films.

Disney Parks and Resorts operates or licenses 11 theme parks on three continents, along with 35 resort hotels, two luxury cruise ships and a wide variety of other entertainment offerings. The newest Disneyland opened in Hong Kong last September at a cost of $3.5 billion.

The Media Networks segment encompasses a vast array of properties on the television, cable, radio and Internet landscape. The ABC Television Network includes ABC Entertainment, ABC Daytime, ABC News, ABC Sports, ABC Kids and the Disney-owned production company Touchstone Television. ABC Owned Television Stations operates 10 stations in top markets across the country, ABC Radio owns 72 stations nationwide, and the company's expansive radio offerings include Radio Disney, ESPN Radio and ABC News Radio.

Media Networks incorporates a suite of cable networks, including ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney, and SOAPnet. The segment also operates Walt Disney Television Animation and Fox Kids International, and holds the company's equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks.

Disney acquired Pixar Animation in 2006 for $7.4 billion in stock. Disney has been a long-time distribution partner for Pixar's hit movies including Toy Story, Finding Nemo and the Incredibles. Pixar and Apple CEO Steve Jobs is now a board member of Disney and one of the company's largest shareholders.

In July, Disney announced it would reduce the number of movies made per year from 18 to 12-13 annually and lay off 650 jobs as a result.

In October, Disney sold off its 50% stake in US Weekly magazine for $300 million.

In November, the company sold its 39.5 percent ownership stake in E! Networks to Comcast for $1.23 billion.

For fiscal 2006, Disney reported revenues of $34.2 billion and net income of $3.3 billion.

Upcoming Attractions at Disney Resorts

Disney announced the following new attractions opening at its resorts in 2007:

- Cinderella Castle Suite (Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort) - On most days, a randomly chosen guest will be invited to spend the night, with his or her family, in the new royal bedroom suite inside Cinderella Castle. (Opens January 2007)
- "Finding Nemo - The Musical" (Disney's Animal Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort) - The Great Barrier Reef comes to colorful life in this all-new musical by a Tony Award-winning composer, inspired by the hit Disney-Pixar film. (January 2007)
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends (Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort) - Guests will join Nemo's friends to search for the playful clownfish in one of the world's largest saltwater aquariums. (January 2007)
- Rockin' Both Parks (Disneyland Resort) - With new lighting and all-new soundtracks, Space Mountain and California' Screamin' are being temporarily transformed into unique rock 'n' roll experiences. (January 2007)
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club (Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort) - Guests will find the power of laughter in an engaging, interactive adventure inspired by Disney-Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." (Spring 2007)
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort) - Inspired by the Disney-Pixar film, this all-new attraction will take guests on a real (and unbelievable) underwater excursion. (June 2007)
- Animation Academy (Hong Kong Disneyland) - Guests get the chance to pick up a pencil and be part of the Disney creative experience - through art. (Summer 2007)
- Mickey's WaterWorks (Hong Kong Disneyland) - In this day parade designed uniquely for Hong Kong Disneyland, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy show how they keep the landscape looking so lush. (Summer 2007)
- Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Resort Paris) - Guests take a spin through the desert landscape on a wild, figure-8 racecourse inspired by the Disney-Pixar film "Cars." (Summer 2007)
- Crush's Coaster (Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland Resort Paris) - Guests surf the East Australian Current onboard a spinning turtle shell in this new attraction inspired by the film "Finding Nemo." (Summer 2007)
- Disney Cruise Line - For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will set sail for Europe with itineraries from the port of Barcelona, Spain, to eight Mediterranean ports of call, including stops near Rome, Florence, Pisa, Marseilles and Cannes. (Summer 2007)
- Adventures by Disney - Disney's guided group vacation program will expand its list of itineraries in 2007 to include such exciting destinations as Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the American Southwest and an American heritage tour through the Northeastern U.S. (Summer 2007)
- Disney Vacation Club - Disney's vacation ownership program will open the first phase of its eighth resort: Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, which will be part of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort. (Late 2007)
- Dream Along with Mickey (Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort) -- In this new, 20-minute live stage show, Mickey and friends treat guests to a dreams-inspired party on the forecourt stage of Cinderella Castle. (Opened October 2006)
- Mickey Mouse Penthouse (Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Resort) - Most days, a randomly chosen guest is invited to bring his or her family to spend the night inside the all-new Mickey Mouse Penthouse, with magical views overlooking both the Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks. (Opened December 2006)

History

Brothers Walter and Roy Disney established the Disney Brothers studio in 1923 to develop cartoons. The first cartoon was known as Alice Comedies based on Alice in Wonderland. The company's name was changed to Walt Disney Productions in 1929.

Disney developed a new cartoon character in 1928 known as Mickey Mouse in the first cartoon with sound and dialogue. The cartoon movie, known as Steamboat Willie, became an immediate hit and Mickey Mouse remains an American icon today.

Walt Disney decided to build a theme park in Anaheim, CA for families which opened in 1955 and was called Disneyland. The park became a huge success and drew visitors from around the world.

In 1971, the company expanded to Florida and opened the Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando. The Disney World resort would add Epcot in 1982, Disney-MGM studios in 1989 and Animal Kingdom in 1998.

In 1983, the first international Disneyland park opened in Japan and EuroDisney opened in France in 1992.

Hong Kong Disneyland opened in September, 2005.

Benefits

Here are some of the benefits offered to Disney employees:

- Health, Dental, Life Insurance and more
- Complimentary Theme Park Passports
- Educational Reimbursement
- Learning and Development Opportunities
- The Walt Disney Company Foundation Scholarship Program
- Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Disney TEAM Discounts, including Disney products and merchandise
- Credit Unions
- Educational Matching Gifts Program
- Disney VoluntEARS
- Service Awards
- Personal Assistant Network
- Employee & Cast Member Contests
- Childcare Centers in Burbank and Orlando
- Employee Stores in Several Locations

Updated January 4, 2007

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