Editing The Walt Disney Company (section)

=== 2020–present: Bob Chapek's leadership, COVID-19 pandemic, Iger's return & 100th anniversary ===
{{further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Walt Disney Company}}
[[Bob Chapek]], who had been with the company for 18 years and was chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, became CEO after Iger resigned on February 25, 2020. Iger said he would stay as an [[Executive chairman]] until December 31, 2021, to help with its creative strategy.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Tyko |first1=Kelly |last2=Snider |first2=Mike |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Walt Disney Co. names Bob Chapek new CEO. Bob Iger to stay on as company executive chairman |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/02/25/disney-ceo-bob-iger-replaced-bob-chapek/4871705002/ |access-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723130943/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/02/25/disney-ceo-bob-iger-replaced-bob-chapek/4871705002/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=February 25, 2020 |title=In a surprise move, Disney chief executive Robert Iger steps down and is replaced by a theme-park lieutenant |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/02/25/disney-names-bob-chapek-ceo-robert-iger-become-executive-chairman/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606083205/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/02/25/disney-names-bob-chapek-ceo-robert-iger-become-executive-chairman/ |archive-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> In April, Iger resumed operational duties as executive chairman to help the company during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and Chapek was appointed to the board of directors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Ben |date=April 13, 2020 |title=Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He's Fighting for Disney's Life. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/business/media/disney-ceo-coronavirus.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413011004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/business/media/disney-ceo-coronavirus.html |archive-date=April 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=April 15, 2020 |title=Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek Takes A Seat On The Company's Board |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/walt-disney-ceo-bob-chapek-board-seat-iger-1202909347/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418234630/https://deadline.com/2020/04/walt-disney-ceo-bob-chapek-board-seat-iger-1202909347/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> During the pandemic, Disney temporarily closed all its theme parks, delayed the release of several movies, and stopped all cruises.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Julia |first=Alexander |date=March 12, 2020 |title=Disney closes all theme parks as coronavirus spreads globally |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/12/21176494/disney-parks-world-land-coronavirus-covid19-closure-california-florida-paris |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413033930/https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/12/21176494/disney-parks-world-land-coronavirus-covid19-closure-california-florida-paris |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Disney delays Marvel's 'Black Widow' debut due to coronavirus |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-movies-idUKKBN2143B8 |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730020222/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-movies-idUKKBN2143B8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Luscombe |first=Richard |date=March 16, 2020 |title=End of the cruise? Industry struggles through rough waters of coronavirus crisis |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/16/end-of-the-cruise-industry-struggles-through-rough-waters-of-coronavirus-crisis |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401165608/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/16/end-of-the-cruise-industry-struggles-through-rough-waters-of-coronavirus-crisis |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the closures, Disney announced it would stop paying 100,000 employees but still provide healthcare benefits, and urged US employees to apply for government benefits, saving the company $500&nbsp;million a month. Iger gave up his $47&nbsp;million salary and Chapek took a 50% salary reduction.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 20, 2020 |title=Disney stops paying 100,000 workers during downturn |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52349729 |url-access=limited |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421231122/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52349729 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the company's second fiscal quarter of 2020, Disney reported a $1.4&nbsp;billion loss, with a fall in earnings of 91% to $475&nbsp;million from the previous year's $5.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooks |first=Khristopher J. |date=May 5, 2020 |title=Disney lost $1.4 billion due to coronavirus last quarter |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disney-q1-earnings-1-4-billion-coronavirus-pandemic/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730020151/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disney-q1-earnings-1-4-billion-coronavirus-pandemic/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By August, two-thirds of the company was owned by large financial institutions.<ref name="2/3Stock">{{Cite news |title=Walt Disney Company (The) Common Stock – DIS Institutional Holdings |publisher=[[Nasdaq]] |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/dis/institutional-holdings |url-status=live |access-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416163053/https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/dis/institutional-holdings |archive-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> In September, the company dismissed 28,000 employees, 67% of whom were part-time, from its Parks, Experiences and Products division. Chairman of the division [[Josh D'Amaro]] wrote; "We initially hoped that this situation would be short-lived, and that we would recover quickly and return to normal. Seven months later, we find that has not been the case." Disney lost $4.7&nbsp;billion in its fiscal third quarter of 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blair |first=Elizabeth |date=September 29, 2020 |title=Disney Lays Off 28,000 Workers, 67% Are Part-Time Employees |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/09/29/918384935/disney-lays-off-28-000-workers |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430101942/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/09/29/918384935/disney-lays-off-28-000-workers |url-status=live }}</ref> In November, Disney laid off another 4,000 employees, raising the total to 32,000 employees.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2020 |title=Disney to lay off 4,000 more employees amid pandemic |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/disney-lay-off-4000-california-florida-parks-74428660 |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329134951/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/disney-lay-off-4000-california-florida-parks-74428660 |url-status=live }}</ref> The following month, Disney named Alan Bergman as chairman of its Disney Studios Content division to oversee its film studios.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dang |first=Sheila |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Disney names Bergman as chairman of Studios Content division |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-walt-disney-chairman-idUSKBN28V2J6 |url-status=live |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221194939/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-walt-disney-chairman-idUSKBN28V2J6 |archive-date=December 21, 2020}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 recession]], [[Touchstone Television]] ceased operations in December,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holloway |first=Daniel |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Dana Walden Reorganizes Disney TV Team; Karey Burke Moves to 20th as Craig Erwich Adds ABC Entertainment |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dana-walden-disney-tv-karey-burke-craig-erwich-1234843308/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501081428/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dana-walden-disney-tv-karey-burke-craig-erwich-1234843308/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Disney announced in March 2021 it would be launching a new division called [[20th Television Animation]] to focus on mature audiences,<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Peter |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Disney Launches 20th Television Animation, Promotes Veteran Exec Marci Proietto To Run New Unit Responsible For ''The Simpsons'' & ''Family Guy'' |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/disney-launches-20th-television-animation-promotes-marci-proietto-the-simpsons-family-guy-1234723503/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531133756/https://deadline.com/2021/03/disney-launches-20th-television-animation-promotes-marci-proietto-the-simpsons-family-guy-1234723503/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Disney closed its third animation studio [[Blue Sky Studios]] in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=February 9, 2022 |title=Disney Closing Blue Sky Studios, Fox's Once-Dominant Animation House Behind ''Ice Age'' Franchise |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/blue-sky-studios-closing-disney-ice-age-franchise-animation-1234690310/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209175505/https://deadline.com/2021/02/blue-sky-studios-closing-disney-ice-age-franchise-animation-1234690310/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that month, Disney and [[Sony]] agreed a multi-year licensing deal that would give Disney access to Sony's films from 2022 to 2026 to televise or stream on Disney+ once Sony's deal with Netflix ended.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baysinger |first=Tim |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Disney Signs Licensing Deal for Sony Films |work=TheWrap |url=https://www.thewrap.com/disney-cuts-licensing-deal-for-sony-films/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801130955/https://www.thewrap.com/disney-cuts-licensing-deal-for-sony-films/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although it performed poorly at the box office because of COVID-19, Disney's animated film ''[[Encanto]]'' (2021) was one of the biggest hits during the pandemic, with its song "[[We Don't Talk About Bruno]]" topping the US [[Billboard Hot 100]] charts.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |date=January 18, 2022 |title=''Encanto'' song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' passes 'Let It Go' as highest-charting Disney animated hit in 26 years |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://ew.com/movies/encanto-we-dont-talk-about-bruno-biggest-disney-movie-song-billboard/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119045144/https://ew.com/movies/encanto-we-dont-talk-about-bruno-biggest-disney-movie-song-billboard/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=''Encanto'' (2021) |work=The Numbers |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Encanto-(2021)#tab=summary |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525172335/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Encanto-(2021)#tab=summary |url-status=live }}</ref>

After Iger's term as executive chairman ended on December 31, he announced he would resign as chairman. The company brought in an operating executive at [[The Carlyle Group]] and former board member [[Susan Arnold]] as Disney's first female chairperson.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Susan Arnold Will Take Disney Chairman Role After Bob Iger's Departure |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/susan-arnold-disney-chairman-bob-iger-1235123402/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609011609/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/susan-arnold-disney-chairman-bob-iger-1235123402/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 10, Disney ceased operations in Russia because of [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]], and was the first major Hollywood studio to halt release of a major picture due to Russia's invasion; other movie studios followed.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |last2=Patten |first2=Dominic |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Disney Expands Russia Pause To Include "All Other Businesses" |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/disney-ends-russia-business-ukraine-war-1234975481/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314220318/https://deadline.com/2022/03/disney-ends-russia-business-ukraine-war-1234975481/ |archive-date=March 14, 2022}}</ref> In March 2022, around 60 employees protested [[Disney and Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act|the company's silence]] on the [[Florida Parental Rights in Education Act]] that was dubbed the Don't Say Gay Bill, and prohibits non-age-appropriate classroom instruction on [[sexual orientation]] and [[gender identity]] in Florida's public-school districts. The protest was dubbed the "Disney Do Better Walkout"; employees protested near a Disney Studios lot, and other employees voiced their concerns through social media. Employees called on Disney to stop campaign contributions to Florida politicians who supported the bill, to help protect employees from it, and to stop construction at Walt Disney World in Florida. Chapek responded by stating the company had made a mistake by staying silent and said; "We pledge our ongoing support of the LGBTQ+ community".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Richwine |first1=Lisa |last2=Chmielewski |first2=Dawn |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Disney employees stage walkouts to protest company response to Florida bill |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/disney-employees-stage-walkouts-protest-company-response-florida-bill-2022-03-22/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523203500/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/disney-employees-stage-walkouts-protest-company-response-florida-bill-2022-03-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Schneider |first1=Mike |last2=Brendan |first2=Farrington |date=March 22, 2022 |title=Disney in balancing act as some workers walk out in protest |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-travel-arts-and-entertainment-florida-lifestyle-be24e5ea65acff3e1cfe94649c26e023 |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728092828/https://apnews.com/article/business-travel-arts-and-entertainment-florida-lifestyle-be24e5ea65acff3e1cfe94649c26e023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Amid Disney's response to the bill, the [[Florida Legislature]] passed a bill to remove Disney's quasi-government district Reedy Creek.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitton |first=Sarah |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Florida Republicans vote to dissolve Disney's special district, eliminating privileges and setting up a legal battle |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/21/florida-set-to-dissolve-disneys-reedy-creek-special-district.html |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421182727/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/21/florida-set-to-dissolve-disneys-reedy-creek-special-district.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 28, Disney's board members unanimously agreed to give Chapek a three-year contract extension.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Embattled Disney CEO Bob Chapek Gets Contract Extension |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/disney-ceo-bob-chapek-contract-extended-1235305477/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720064555/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/disney-ceo-bob-chapek-contract-extended-1235305477/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August, [[Disney Streaming]] exceeded Netflix in total subscriptions with 221 million subscribers compared to Netflix's 220&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Disney's Streaming Services Passed Netflix In Total Subscriptions – Update |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/disney-just-passed-netflix-in-total-streaming-subscribers-1235089361/ |access-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813002219/https://deadline.com/2022/08/disney-just-passed-netflix-in-total-streaming-subscribers-1235089361/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 20, 2022, Iger accepted the position of Disney's CEO after Chapek was dismissed following poor earnings performance and decisions unpopular with other executives.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Toonkel |first1=Joe Flint, Robbie Whelan, Erich Schwartzel, Emily Glazer and Jessica |title=Bob Iger vs. Bob Chapek: Inside the Disney Coup |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bob-iger-bob-chapek-disney-coup-11671236928 |access-date=April 27, 2023 |work=WSJ |date=December 17, 2022}}</ref><ref name="la_times_megjames">{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Meg |title=Behind the stunning exit of Disney CEO Bob Chapek |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-11-21/bob-chapek-disney-ouster-bog-iger |access-date=April 27, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 22, 2022}}</ref> The board announced Iger would serve for two years with a mandate to develop a strategy for renewed growth and help identify a successor.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dominic Patten, Dade |last2=Patten |first2=Dominic |last3=Hayes |first3=Dade |date=November 21, 2022 |title=Disney Shocker! Bob Iger Back As CEO, Bob Chapek Out |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/disney-bob-iger-returns-ceo-bob-chapek-out-1235178223/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

In November 2022, a group of [[YouTube TV]] subscribers in four states filed a [[Class action|class-action]] antitrust lawsuit against Disney, alleging that Disney's control of both ESPN and Hulu allowed the company to "inflate prices marketwise by raising the prices of its own products" and by requiring streaming services including YouTube TV and [[Sling TV]] to include ESPN in base packages, forcing subscribers to pay more for subscriptions than they would in a competitive market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Disney Hit With Antitrust Suit Claiming Hulu & ESPN Deals "Inflate Prices" Of Live Streaming TV |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/disney-sued-antitrust-hulu-espn-deals-inflate-prices-live-streaming-tv-1235180597/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123050347/https://deadline.com/2022/11/disney-sued-antitrust-hulu-espn-deals-inflate-prices-live-streaming-tv-1235180597/ |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |access-date=July 2, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=June 26, 2024 |title=Disney Fails Again To Get Antitrust Class Action Over ESPN & Hulu Ownership Tossed Out |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/disney-lawsuit-espn-hulu-antitrust-1235983302/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626012436/https://deadline.com/2024/06/disney-lawsuit-espn-hulu-antitrust-1235983302/ |archive-date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=July 2, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2023, Disney announced that [[Mark Parker]] would replace Arnold as the company's chairperson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/disney-appoints-mark-parker-as-chairman-of-the-board-replacing-susan-arnold/|title=Disney Appoints Mark Parker As Chairman of the Board, Replacing Susan Arnold|first=Jackie|last=Galley|publisher=www.wdwinfo.com|date=January 11, 2023|accessdate=January 14, 2023}}</ref> In February 2023, Disney announced that it would be cutting $5.5&nbsp;billion in costs, which includes eliminating 7,000 jobs representing 3% of its workforce. Disney reorganized into three divisions: [[Disney Entertainment|Entertainment]], ESPN, and Parks, Experiences and Products.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rizzo |first1=Lillian |last2=Whitten |first2=Sarah |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Disney to cut 7,000 jobs and slash $5.5 billion in costs as it unveils vast restructuring |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/08/disney-reorganization.html |access-date=February 9, 2023 |website=CNBC}}</ref> In April 2023, Disney implemented the second and largest wave of job cuts, affecting Disney Parks, Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and the Experiences and Product division. This move was part of the plan to cut costs by $5.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/24/media/disney-begin-layoffs/index.html |title=Disney begins largest wave of layoffs, targeting thousands at ESPN, Parks, and other divisions |work=CNN}}</ref>
[[File:Disney 100 Years of Wonder.svg|thumb|right|Disney's promotional logo for its centennial.]]
In 2023, Disney began its "100 Years of Wonder" campaign in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the company's founding. This included a new animated centennial logo intro for the Walt Disney Pictures division, a touring exhibition, events at the parks and a commemorative commercial that aired during [[Super Bowl LVII]].<ref>{{Cite press release|last=Zachary|date=February 12, 2023|title=Disney Debuts Super Bowl LVII Commercial Celebrating 100 Years of Storytelling and Shared Memories|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-debuts-super-bowl-lvii-commercial-celebrating-100-years-of-storytelling-and-shared-memories/|access-date=February 12, 2023|publisher=The Walt Disney Company|language=en-US|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213035323/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-debuts-super-bowl-lvii-commercial-celebrating-100-years-of-storytelling-and-shared-memories/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://advanced-television.com/2023/02/13/disneys-super-bowl-ad-rated-most-effective/ | title=Disney's Super Bowl ad rated 'most effective' | date=February 13, 2023 }}</ref>

In October 2023, Disney announced its entrance into sports betting through a partnership with [[Penn Entertainment]], launching the ESPN Bet app, despite internal debates and concerns over brand image. This move marked a significant pivot from Iger's earlier stance against gambling, driven by the potential to attract younger audiences and secure a financial future for ESPN, amidst declining traditional television viewership and increasing online sports gambling revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whelan |first=Robbie |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Disney Agonized About Sports Betting. Now It's Going All In. |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/disney-agonized-about-sports-betting-now-it-s-going-all-in-11697140295777.html |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> In November 2023, Disney shortened the lengthy name of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products to Disney Experiences.<ref name="2023Rebrand">{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=November 16, 2023 |title=Disney's "Turbocharging" of Theme Park Business Gathers Pace With 'Frozen Land' Launch in Hong Kong |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-frozen-land-hong-kong-disneyland-resort-1235648764/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116193929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-frozen-land-hong-kong-disneyland-resort-1235648764/ |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

In February 2024, Debra O'Connell, a longtime executive at Disney, was appointed president of a new news division that would include [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] and local stations. O'Connell is responsible for ABC News's signature properties, including ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and ''[[ABC World News Tonight|World News Tonight]]''. It will serve as an intermediary between Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment and [[Kim Godwin]], the ABC News president. Other online news units have similar processes.<ref>{{Cite news|language=en|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/business/media/debra-oconnell-news-disney.html|title=Debra O'Connell to Oversee News at Disney|work=The New York Times |date=February 14, 2024 |access-date=February 27, 2024|archive-date=February 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216211542/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/business/media/debra-oconnell-news-disney.html |last1=Koblin |first1=John }}</ref> In February, Walt Disney and Reliance Industries announced the merger of their India TV and streaming media assets.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Frater |first1=Naman Ramachandran, Patrick |last2=Ramachandran |first2=Naman |last3=Frater |first3=Patrick |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Disney, Reliance Seal $8.5 Billion Deal to Merge Indian Media Businesses |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/disney-reliance-merger-deal-indian-media-1235925129/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In July 2024, Ryan Mitchell Kramer, a Californian man, hacked and leaked over a [[Byte|terabyte]] of the company's [[Slack (software)|Slack]] messages while pretending to be part of a hacktivist group "Nullbulge". Kramer managed to get access to the company's accounts by using a Trojan to steal the login credentials of the employee's work and personal accounts. Kramer claimed that the motive for the breach was the group's dislike of [[Artificial intelligence art|art generated by artificial intelligence]], though it was later discovered that Kramer tried to extort the employees.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Lily Hay |title=Hackers Claim to Have Leaked 1.1 TB of Disney Slack Messages |url=https://www.wired.com/story/disney-slack-leak-nullbulge/ |access-date=July 17, 2024 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-03 |title=California Man Pleads Guilty to 2024 Disney Slack Hack |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/california-man-pleads-guilty-to-2024-disney-slack-hack |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}</ref>

Members of [[Generation Z]] were notably absent from the D23 fan event held in August 2024 in Anaheim, which was dominated by [[millennials]] representing all 50 [[U.S. state]]s and 36 countries.<ref name="Beckett">{{cite news |last1=Beckett |first1=Lois |title=Honey, I lost the kids: is generation Z done with Disney? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/18/disney-generation-z-younger-fans |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> Disney chief brand officer Asad Ayaz pushed back against the idea that this was a symptom of a broader trend: "Our [[fandom]]s and our fans and different generations show up in different ways".<ref name="Beckett" />  Theme park experts noted that the true test of the enduring power of the Disney brand will be whether Generation Z takes [[Generation Alpha]] to Disney theme parks.<ref name="Beckett" />

In October 2024, Disney announced [[James P. Gorman]] would replace Mark Parker as chairman in January 2025. It also announced a successor to CEO Bob Iger would be named in early 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Alex |date=2024-10-21 |title=Disney will name Bob Iger's replacement in early 2026; James Gorman to become board chair next year |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/21/disney-ceo-succession-plan-board-chair.html |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

On May 7, 2025, Disney announced their seventh resort, [[Disneyland Abu Dhabi]], planned for [[Yas Island]]. Similar to [[Tokyo Disney Resort]], it will not be owned or managed by Disney, but instead by [[Miral Group]].<ref name="Abu Dhabi announcement">{{Cite web |date=7 May 2025 |title=Disney Announces Plans for New Theme Park and Resort with Miral in Abu Dhabi |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-announces-abu-dhabi-theme-park/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=The Walt Disney Company |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Natasha |date=7 May 2025 |title=Disney announces a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first new resort in a generation |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/07/travel/disney-earnings-new-themepark-abu-dhabi |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>