Walt Disney Co

Lobbying efforts for a transportation hub near Disneyland to serve rail, bus, car-pool and other mass transit have been launched in Washington by a coalition of local and state public agencies and the Walt Disney Co. led by Gov. Pete Wilson's office.

Fiscal 1992 was a banner year for Walt Disney Co. CEO Michael D. Eisner helped it increase profit by 28.2% from a year ago and revenue by 23%. A new digitally restored version of "Snow White" was released last Friday--the first time the cutting-edge high-resolution technology has been applied to a feature-length film. Also last week, an environmental impact report for the Westcot expansion in Anaheim received unanimous approval from the City Council.

'Aladdin' Video Continues to Set Records: Walt Disney Co. said it has sold 16 million copies of the videocassette version of the animated movie in the three weeks since it went on sale. Burbank-based Disney said "Aladdin" has now passed its "101 Dalmatians" video in sales to rank second only to "Beauty and the Beast," which sold 22 million copies in North America.

Walt Disney Co., looking to rein in costs at its Hollywood studio as it focuses on mainstream movies, is slashing staff by 70% at its Miramax Films specialty label and is substantially reducing the number of pictures it releases. The retrenchment, which has been foreshadowed in Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger's strategy to emphasize family and "branded" films, comes quickly on the heels of the recent ouster of former Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook. The former movie chief left abruptly last month under pressure from Iger, who had been unhappy with the studio's direction and performance.

Disney unveiled plans today for the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, provided updates on its $1-billion expansion of Disney's California Adventure and said it would modernize the popular Star Tours ride at its domestic parks. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo chose the D23 Expo in Anaheim, the first-ever gathering of Disney devotees, to announce the ambitious new project in Orlando, Fla., that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland.

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger must act quickly to replace studio head Dick Cook to avoid further destabilizing the Burbank-based movie operation. Cook's abrupt departure Friday is upsetting employees, many of whom are finding it difficult to focus on work because they are anxious about their future. In addition, stars and filmmakers do not like to face uncertainty and want assurances that their projects will remain on track. Iger is not tipping his hand about whom he will name to fill the job. One executive that's a subject of speculation is Disney Channel President Rich Ross.