The Walt Disney Company

Who owns The Walt Disney Company?
Disney is a publicly traded company with no parent company and no controlling shareholder. The company trades on the NYSE under DIS. The largest shareholders are institutional investors including Vanguard and BlackRock, holding shares on behalf of their own clients.

Is Disney publicly traded?
Yes. Disney trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DIS. The company has been publicly traded since 1957 and is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

What were Disney's Q1 FY2026 results?
For Q1 fiscal 2026 (quarter ended December 27, 2025), Disney reported revenue of $26.0 billion, up 5% year over year. Streaming revenue was $5.35 billion, up 11%, with streaming earnings up over 50%. Sports segment revenue was $4.91 billion, up 1%.

Does Disney own Marvel and Star Wars?
Yes. Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009 for $4 billion, gaining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 billion, gaining the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.

What streaming services does Disney own?
Disney owns Disney+ (flagship streaming service), Hulu (general entertainment streaming, now integrated with Disney+), ESPN+ (sports streaming), and the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming platform launched in 2025.

How many Disney theme parks are there?
Disney operates 12 theme parks across three continents: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in California; Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida; two parks at Disneyland Paris; Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea in Japan; Hong Kong Disneyland; and Shanghai Disneyland in China.

Walt and Roy O. Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio on October 16, 1923, in Hollywood, California. The company created Mickey Mouse in 1928, who debuted in "Steamboat Willie," one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound. Disney pioneered feature-length animation with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937.

Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California in 1955, creating a new form of immersive theme park entertainment. Walt Disney World Resort opened in Orlando, Florida in 1971, five years after Walt Disney's death in 1966. The company acquired Capital Cities/ABC in 1996 for $19 billion, adding ABC and ESPN to its portfolio.

Transformative acquisitions reshaped the company: Pixar Animation Studios (2006, $7.4 billion), Marvel Entertainment (2009, $4 billion), Lucasfilm (2012, $4 billion), and 21st Century Fox entertainment assets (2019, $71.3 billion). Disney launched Disney+ in November 2019, reaching over 100 million subscribers within 16 months.

Bob Chapek replaced Bob Iger as CEO in February 2020. Iger returned as CEO in November 2022 after the Disney board removed Chapek. Under Iger's returned leadership, Disney restructured its operations, reduced content spending, and focused on streaming profitability.

For Q1 FY2026 (quarter ended December 27, 2025), Disney reported revenue of $26.0 billion, up 5% year over year. Streaming revenue was $5.35 billion, up 11%, with streaming earnings up over 50%. ESPN launched its direct-to-consumer streaming platform in 2025, allowing consumers to subscribe directly to ESPN without a cable subscription. Disney began integrating Hulu content into the Disney+ app in 2024, creating a combined streaming experience.

Disney's environmental sustainability strategy centers on ambitious 2030 goals across emissions reduction, water stewardship, waste elimination, and sustainable sourcing. The company has maintained a long-term commitment to environmental responsibility since 2009, with goals validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative and aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Climate action includes comprehensive emissions reduction targets. Disney commits to reducing absolute emissions from direct operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 46.2% by 2030 against a 2019 baseline, while achieving net zero emissions for direct operations by 2030. The company aims to purchase or produce 100% zero carbon electricity by 2030 and invests in natural climate solutions. Emissions primarily come from energy use in parks and resorts, corporate campuses, and cruise ship fuel, with Scope 3 emissions covering consumer products manufacturing, media production, and food operations.

Water stewardship programs recognize water as a highly local issue with unique considerations in each geography. Disney implements localized watershed stewardship strategies at seven highest-impact sites worldwide, focusing on water conservation within operations and investments to protect local natural water systems. The company's sustainable seafood program achieved 96% sustainable sourcing in U.S. parks, resorts, and cruise lines in fiscal 2024, demonstrating commitment to responsible seafood selection and sourcing.

Waste reduction initiatives target zero waste to landfill for wholly owned and operated parks, resorts, and cruise line by 2030. Since 2009, Disney has implemented comprehensive waste management programs including reduction, reuse, recycling, donation, and behavior change initiatives with guests and employees. The company works to reduce single-use plastics in parks and resorts while eliminating single-use plastics on cruise ships by 2025.

Sustainable sourcing extends across Disney's diverse operations, including consumer products, food and beverage, and construction materials. The company implements responsible sourcing guidelines for suppliers and licensees, focusing on environmental and social responsibility throughout the value chain. Disney engages suppliers and licensees to reduce Scope 3 emissions and improve sustainability performance across the supply chain.

The company's ethical framework encompasses comprehensive corporate governance, human rights policies, and responsible business practices. Disney maintains supplier codes of conduct, workplace safety standards, and diversity and inclusion initiatives across its global operations. The company implements ethical sourcing programs for merchandise, food ingredients, and construction materials while ensuring fair labor practices and workplace safety.

Social responsibility programs include the Disney Conservation Fund, which supports wildlife and environmental conservation projects worldwide, and community engagement initiatives focused on education, youth development, and local community investment. Disney employees participate in volunteer programs and the company provides significant support for disaster relief efforts and community development programs globally.

Disney has received consistent recognition for entertainment excellence, innovation, and corporate responsibility:

• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies (2025): Ranked #13 overall and retained the top-ranked media and entertainment company position for the 20th consecutive year, reflecting peer and analyst recognition of entertainment industry leadership
• Science Based Targets Initiative: Validation of climate targets aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement, demonstrating commitment to ambitious emissions reduction goals
• Environmental Leadership Awards: Recognition for sustainability innovation in theme parks, cruise operations, and entertainment facilities
• Entertainment Industry Awards: Multiple Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and industry recognition for creative excellence across film, television, and streaming content
• Theme Park Excellence Awards: Recognition for theme park innovation, guest experience, and operational excellence across global parks and resorts
• Workplace Excellence: Recognition as one of Fortune's Best Companies to Work For and similar workplace culture awards globally
• Diversity and Inclusion Awards: Recognition for workplace diversity, inclusion programs, and representation in entertainment content
• Corporate Governance Awards: Recognition for board structure, ethical business practices, and corporate responsibility
• Brand Value Recognition: Consistent ranking among the world's most valuable brands and global brand leadership awards
• Technology Innovation Awards: Recognition for streaming technology, digital innovation, and entertainment technology advancements
• Community Engagement Awards: Recognition for philanthropic programs, community investment, and social impact initiatives

Disney faced a high-profile public dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 and 2023 after Disney publicly opposed Florida's Parental Rights in Education legislation. The Florida legislature dissolved Disney's special self-governing district (Reedy Creek Improvement District) in response, though the dispute was subsequently resolved in 2023.

Bob Chapek's removal as CEO in November 2022 and Bob Iger's return attracted significant media attention and raised questions about Disney's board governance and succession planning. Disney has also faced criticism from some shareholders and content creators regarding the quality and commercial performance of recent Marvel and Star Wars content.