The Walt Disney Company held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, with CEO Bob Iger showcasing the company’s “perfect marriage of exceptional creativity and groundbreaking technological achievement” which, Iger noted, “has always set Disney apart.”
“Since the company’s earliest years under Walt, technology has always been viewed as a powerful storytelling tool, and innovation has been in our DNA since the start,” Iger said in a video message from the headquarters of Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California.
Iger was then joined by an ideal example of this “perfect marriage:” a flock of BDX droids. These droids, which have greeted guests at Disneyland, will now make their way to the big screen in The Mandalorian and Grogu — next year’s highly anticipated Star Wars film.
“Imaginative technology like this allows us to expand our creative abilities and tell our stories in compelling new ways, both in our parks and in our films and series,” Iger said.
This seamless integration of innovative technology and world-class storytelling, further enhanced by the company’s multiple consumer touch points, contributed to Disney’s many successes over the last year.
Studios: An Outstanding Year
Iger continued his remarks by noting that in 2024, Disney’s theatrical business had an “outstanding year at the global box office following our reorganization that restored creativity to the center of our studios.”
That success was fueled by the company’s popular franchises, including the top three movies of 2024: Pixar’s Inside Out 2, Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2.
Disney had a big year critically as well.
“Our renewed focus on quality over quantity has also resulted in outstanding critical success,” Iger said, noting that the company won a record-breaking 60 Emmy® Awards, led by Shōgun and The Bear. Iger also pointed out that Disney received 15 Oscar® nominations, with Kieran Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Searchlight Pictures’ A Real Pain.
Looking ahead, Iger announced that a sequel to Coco, Pixar’s 2017 Academy Award winning film, is in the works.
“While the film is just in the initial stages, we know it will be full of humor, heart, and adventure,” he said.
Streaming: All In One Place
One thing all these films and series have in common, Iger added, is that ultimately “they will all be accessible on Disney+,” which expands Disney’s “rich library of a century’s worth of storytelling.”
“By giving subscribers the option to watch what they love most from across the worlds of Disney, all in one place, we are turning Disney+ into the ultimate streaming destination,” Iger said. “With the recent additions of the Hulu and ESPN tiles on Disney+, we’ve created a seamless streaming experience that is both convenient and user-friendly, resulting in higher engagement for our bundle subscribers.”
And when ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer offering launches in early fall, subscribers will have the option to access the full suite of ESPN’s networks, as well as ESPN+, from inside Disney+.
Disney Experiences: Projects Underway
Iger then shifted to Disney’s Experiences segment.
“Last year we talked about our plans to turbocharge growth in this segment through strategic investments. Today I’m proud to share some of what we’ve been up to,” Iger said. “Right now, we have more projects underway around the world than at any time in our history.”
That includes Magic Kingdom undergoing its largest expansion ever (including a new area inspired by Cars and the much-anticipated Villains-themed land), A Monsters Inc. themed land coming to Hollywood Studios (featuring the company’s first-ever vertical lift coaster), a new Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom (with attractions based on Encanto and Indiana Jones), doubling the size of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, and much more.
“Guests are going to love the many new offerings coming to our theme parks, and we’re proud of the positive economic impact these projects will have in the communities in which we operate, including creating thousands of new jobs in Florida and California,” he said.
At sea, Disney Cruise Line is also growing, which will allow Disney to “double our capacity to reach millions more people around the world,” according to Iger.
“All of these projects, as well as our $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games to bring a transformational new games and entertainment universe to Fortnite, reinforce how we are giving consumers the opportunity to experience our popular IP in exciting and innovative ways,” he said.
Positive Impact
Iger then explained that “at Disney, we’ve always believed it’s important to be one of the world’s most admired companies — not only for what we create, but for the positive impact we have.”
He noted that in the wake of the devasting wildfires in Southern California, the company committed $15 million to the recovery efforts, adding that it’s “been especially inspiring to see how our employees have stepped up to assist their neighbors in need, with the Disney VoluntEARS team quickly mobilizing to put on one of the largest disaster relief drives in our company’s history.”
He also spoke about Disney’s enduring commitment to supporting veterans, the company’s longstanding relationship with Make-A-Wish, and the impact of a years-long initiative supporting children’s hospitals.
“We remain the No. 1 wish-granter in the world for children facing critical illness, and on average Disney grants a child’s wish every hour of every day,” he said. “In addition, last year we fulfilled our $100 million commitment to enhance the children’s hospital experience for both patients and their families. Walt believed deeply in the power of happiness and imagination to lift children’s spirits, even in the most difficult times, and that continues to guide us today.”
There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be a Storyteller
Iger concluded his remarks by returning to the theme of technology.
“Thanks to modern technology, there’s never been a better time to be a storyteller,” he said. “Today, we have the ability to greatly enhance the quality of our storytelling and to reach more people, in more places, in more ways than ever before.”
He continued, “As you reflect on everything we’ve shared with you today — from the renewed creative momentum at our studios, to the bold direction of our streaming and sports strategies, to the focused investments we’re making in our Experiences business, to how we’re expertly leveraging technology in all that we do, I hope you are inspired and energized by the limitless possibilities before us.”
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