Andrea Cheung’s Portfolio :: [email protected] :: @andreakycheung BACKGROUNDER The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company was founded as a cartoon studio in the 1920s and has grown into a global enterprise, building its business in both emerging and established markets. Disney’s next stop is Toronto, with plans to make the Ontario Place grounds its home for Disney North, its first theme park in Canada. The company's objective is to be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information, using its portfolio of brands to differentiate its content, services and consumer products. The Walt Disney Company operates a global entertainment portfolio of Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products. The Walt Disney Studios owns Marvel Studios, Touchstone Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios and the recently acquired Lucasfilm Limited. Disney has been entertaining Canadian families for 70 years and as a result, Canadians have a strong affinity for Disney brands. Historically, Canadians are one of the largest groups of visitors to North American Disney theme parks. Disney in Canada operates out of a corporate office in Toronto, Ontario. Disney also has businesses operating out of B.C. At the heart of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are five world-class vacation destinations with 11 theme parks and 43 resorts. A sixth resort, Shanghai Disneyland Resort, is currently under construction and is expected to open in late 2015. In 2009, the company’s theme parks hosted approximately 119.1 million guests, making Disney Parks and the world’s most visited theme park company. Behind Disney North’s construction is Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative force that imagines, designs and builds Disney’s theme parks, cruise ships and local entertainment venues worldwide. Walt Disney Imagineering is designing the Disney North’s Death Star, village and other features of the 96-acre complex. Lucasfilm Limited The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. in late 2012, for a total value of approximately $4.06 billion. Lucasfilm’s assets include the massively popular Star Wars franchise, businesses in live- action film production, consumer products, visual effects, animation and audio post-production. Star Wars is truly a global franchise with support from every division at The Walt Disney Company including the highly anticipated release of Star Wars: Episode VII in 2015, consumer products, and live theatre productions and park attractions at Disney North. Ontario Place Ontario Place is an internationally-acclaimed cultural, leisure and entertainment parkland that extends through three man-made islands along the Lake Ontario waterfront. Its construction took two years, from 1969 to 1971, and cost $29 million. The site currently includes the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, event facility Atlantis, a marina, and the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre, Cinesphere. Despite Ontario Place’s renovation, Disney is building a complex that stays true to Toronto’s roots and will maintain some core structures. .