Author: Jack Burgin
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Must Disney Parks Do More to Accommodate Visual Impairments?
A federal judge’s decision to certify a class in a disability lawsuit brought by visually impaired theme park visitors has generated considerable confusion in the Disney blog-o-sphere. Some confusion is understandable given the highly technical nature of class action rules. These rules require a court to decide the class action issue as early as practical. …
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Disney Releases Second Quarter Earnings
The Walt Disney Company released its second quarter earnings statements on May 10, 2011. For Disney, the second quarter includes (essentially) the first three months of 2011. These months are, as any listener of the DIS Unplugged Podcast knows, a slower time for the Parks and Resorts (and most other segments of Disney’s business) making…
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Settlement Approved in Walt Disney World Segway Lawsuit
A federal judge in Orlando has approved Walt Disney World’s efforts to settle the long-running lawsuit brought by individuals who sued for the unrestricted right to use Segways during regular hours in Disney’s theme parks. The effect of the ruling is to put to rest (absent an appeal) a lawsuit filed in November 2007. Photo…
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Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue subject of copyright battle
A new lawsuit over a 60 year-old song challenges Walt Disney World’s use of the “Hoop Dee Doo” Polka, the song that gives the Hoop-Dee Doo Musical Revue its name. The Revue (as I’ll call it) is one of the most popular dinner shows at the Walt Disney World Resort. Chuck Mirarchi, DIS Contributing Columnist,…
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DOJ: WDW Must Permit Segways in Theme Parks
post by Jack Burgin The Justice Department says Disney must permit Segways in their theme parks. Disney, in turn, tells the Justice Department its revised ADA regulations are invalid. Ostensibly settled two years ago, the Segway lawsuit against Walt Disney World Co. (WDW) is far from over. In November 2007, three individuals filed a lawsuit…
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Disney’s 2010 Earnings – Good for Investors or Theme Park Guests?
post by Jack Burgin The Walt Disney Company released its final quarter earnings report on November 11, 2010. The report is, of course, chocked full of large dollar amounts (Disney’s figures start at a million dollars). Others can and already have better analyzed Disney’s earnings. I will try to go behind the numbers and…
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The Clash Between the “Disney Look” and Religious Customs
There has been considerable consternation and confusion about the Disneyland employee who charges that Disney discriminated against her because of her religion. It may seem to be a simple issue but federal discrimination laws on when an employer must accommodate a religious custom are exceedingly complex. Imane Boudlal, the employee, works at the Grand Californian Hotel’s…