Fox Reportedly Favoring Deal with Disney Over Other Suitors

WDWNT on December 11, 2017

Bloomberg is reporting that Rupert Murdoch and his sons James and Lachlan, who control 21st Century Fox Inc., are favoring Disney as buyer of most of Fox’s assets, because it’s thought to be a better strategic fit and presents fewer regulatory hurdles. News first broke in early November about the potential asset sale. Talks apparently broke down, but then ramped up again this past week.

Although Fox is also in talks with Comcast, insiders are saying the Murdochs are favoring Disney as the buyer of the 20th Century Fox film and TV studio and Fox’s stake in the U.K. pay-TV provider Sky Plc. Fox will retain ownership of Fox News, the Fox broadcast network or the Fox Sports 1 channel.

Fox’s current CEO, James Murdoch, could potentially join Disney in a C-suite role, which would make the issue of Iger’s successor take a new twist. Iger is set to retire in 19 months. Chatter within the company is currently that Bob Chapek, Chairman of Parks and Resorts, is being groomed for the CEO role.

Sky Plc adds an interesting twist to Disney’s plans to launch new streaming services. If Disney buys Fox’s 39 percent stake in Sky, it would trigger a mandatory offer for the rest under U.K. Takeover Panel rules.

RUMOR: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to Be Gutted to Become Modern Luxury Resort

WDWNT on February 6, 2017

This rumor is out there, but seems to be picking up some steam…

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has remained for the most part the same since 1988, with the exception of new lobby floor installed in the last decade.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has remained for the most part the same since 1988, with the exception of new lobby floor installed in the last decade.

It appears Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek is not a big fan of the current Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Walt Disney World’s flagship hotel and often most expensive per night. Similar to the recently initiated shakeup in housekeeping for Disney World, Chapek feels as if the Four Seasons Resort Orlando is putting them to shame when it comes to what a luxury resort on-property should be. So, what’s the solution? To completely gut the 28-year-old Magic Kingdom area resort, of course.

A room at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Walt Disney World

A room at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Walt Disney World

Obviously, many executives at Walt Disney World are trying to talk Chapek out of this massive remodeling as the Grand Floridian makes quite a bit of money and is often well-liked by those who stay there. One of the proposed alternate plans would involve constructing a new flagship hotel for Walt Disney World just north of the Transportation and Ticket Center. Reportedly, they have had no luck in changing his mind as of yet and Chapek is still moving full speed ahead with his plan.

Should it come to fruition, all of the rooms and the lobby of the resort will be completely gutted and rebuilt with a more modern-luxury theme, perhaps along the lines of the new hotel being constructed at the Disneyland Resort.

As it stands now, this project may not even be in the design phase as of yet, but it seems as if it will come to fruition should Chapek remain at helm of Parks and Resorts for the foreseeable future.