Best Disney Links for February 2021
The Walt Disney Company is finishing another crazy month.
In February, Disney released details about an upcoming park anniversary, plotted a course for Disney+, and even won a lawsuit.
Yes, Disney beat Bill Nye, the Science Guy, in court! For that reason alone, you’ll want to read the best Disney links for February 2021.
The Best Park Links
By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the 50th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World.
What you may not realize is that Disney’s doing something similar at Disney California Adventure starting next month.
While the news hasn’t received much publicity, that park just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Nobody noticed because it was, you know, closed at the time.
However, Disney knows and wants to commemorate the event as much as it can. So, A Touch of Disney will start on March 18th.
This turn of events represents the latest positive news for Disney, only a few days after Hong Kong Disneyland reopened.
Currently, the only two Disney parks that remain closed are Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.
The latter park will reopen on April 2nd, but we’re still awaiting word on the original park. Unfortunately, California’s COVID numbers remain high.
Similarly, Disney Cruise Line just acknowledged that it won’t operate any cruises through the end of May.
Simultaneously, the Disney Magic confirmed it won’t run again until at least August 10th.
Meanwhile, Disneyland fans continue to wonder about the future of the annual pass program. The Orange County Register enumerated the concerns.
Speaking of Hong Kong Disneyland, some of your favorite Toy Story characters have received a makeover!
I find them equal parts adorable and nightmare-inducing. Your mileage may vary.
The Best Disney+ Links
Wow, Disney+ has become arguably the most exciting topic for internet writers in 2021.
In fact, I could fill this section with nothing but WandaVision links. Some argue it’s the most popular TV series on the planet.
Everyone has grown obsessed with it, even Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. For that matter, a cast member’s mother relishes fan theories about the show.
Some of the speculation is pretty insane, too. Here’s someone tying together the show with a Full House character’s fate.
Meanwhile, many other folks are just now realizing that Elizabeth Olsen is the younger sister of the Olsen Twins, which blows my mind. That’s Pop Culture 101, people!
The popularity of WandaVision has triggered speculation about an (admittedly unlikely) season two. Is that even possible?
Whatever happens next, cast members have received well-deserved media attention. Here’s Kat Dennings on her surging popularity.
Then, there’s Kathryn Hahn, a longtime favorite of mine. BuzzFeed threw together an appreciation thread for the actress.
I should warn you that the link comes with some foul language and a spoiler for WandaVision episode 1-7.
Lost in the WandaVision hype is the fact that it’s just the first of 13 (!) upcoming Marvel TV series on Disney+!
In fact, we now have a release date for the much-anticipated Loki. This spinoff series will debut on June 11th.
The Verge points out that this is mere days after the scheduled debut of Black Widow!
Meanwhile, Star Wars fans will be thrilled to learn that The Bad Batch will begin on May 4th. That’s just two months from now!
The Best Disney Business Links
“Whoever wins, we lose.”
This movie quote feels particularly relevant to the discussion about a bidding war between the NFL and Disney.
The NFL’s group of billionaire owners would like to get even more money.
Their initial offer for the next batch of NFL distribution rights asked for twice as much as the old contracts.
You may remember that the NFL, like everything else on television, has sagged in the ratings, especially during the pandemic.
Even the Super Bowl suffered its lowest ratings in 15 years. So, the requested price increase seems poorly timed.
Experts suggest that the gap between Disney and the NFL covers more than $1 billion per year. This situation may turn acrimonious.
Presumably, the two parties will meet somewhere in the middle, probably closer to Disney’s offer. And that means rate increases on ESPN+ et al.
In an update, a story leaked that the two parties had agreed to terms on a renewal that favored Disney. Interestingly, the NFL denied this.
On the plus side, Disney’s launch of Star in many foreign markets has been full of win.
The Star tile on some international versions of Disney+ brings much more content to the service.
A Canadian friend hilariously recounted some of his new options. On Disney+, he can now watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Predator.
Those movies don’t seem very Disney, do they? Well, Wall Street couldn’t care less, as shares spiked due to the launch of Star.
Disney is somehow cornering the entire content market, and it’s spiking the stock.
The company has won the PR war by presenting Star as grown-up fare, the kind somewhat lacking on Disney+.
While Americans won’t get the Star tile for a while, if ever, Disney definitely wants to monetize its Fox content that it purchased in that acquisition.
The Best Disney Entertainment Links
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, called Disney on a longstanding practice that does seem kinda shady.
You see, technology has evolved over the years, yet entertainment contracts remain the same.
For decades now, Disney has listed its videocassette and DVD sales for TV programming as “home video.”
Under those contracts, Disney takes 80 percent off the top before splitting the other 20 percent among the talent.
Disney has maintained this practice on streaming platforms, even though they’re not home video in any conventional sense.
Nye, who has performed in some of these TV programs, took Disney to court over the matter. Interestingly, he lost the most recent ruling.
So, the ethics may seem questionable, but it’s apparently legal.
In other entertainment news, I plan to write an incredibly nerdy article about this later, but here’s the gist.
Ronald Moore, the genius behind Battlestar Galactica’s early 2000s reboot, is a Disney superfan. And he’s agreed to create the Disney Parks Cinematic Universe.
Yes, plans call for some of your favorite attractions to receive standalone movies and Disney+ TV series!
Fittingly, the first series will focus on The Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.), establishing a baseline for future stories.
I previously wrote about several rides that already connect to S.E.A. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I say that most will in a decade or so.
Finally, here’s a Tweet you should watch ONLY after you have seen WandaVision episode 1-7. It’s sure to put a smile on your face.
Good morning here’s everyone in the MCU havin’ a dance to our new favorite song bc why not pic.twitter.com/l9XZu5Aexl
— Slayerfest 98 (@slayerfestx98) February 23, 2021