Former Senior VP of Concept Design for Walt Disney Imagineering, Eddie Sotto, has confirmed that Disney is fully aware of fan backlash over its plans to demolish the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom—and simply doesn’t care.
Marvin Montanaro
Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary.
Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture.
Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership.
He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com
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Shrek Donkey at Universal Studios Orlando Mocks Shrek 5 Trailer to Guests, ‘Donkey Looks Homeless’
The hype for Shrek 5 has taken an unexpected turn, as the highly anticipated sequel trailer is getting roasted across the internet. But the latest round of mockery isn’t just coming from social media—it’s coming from inside Universal itself. A performer voicing the animatronic meet-and-greet version of Donkey at a Universal theme park recently took jabs at the Shrek 5 trailer in front of guests, openly expressing disappointment over the animation quality.
Captain America: Brave New World Suffers Another Brutal Box Office Drop in Third Weekend, Marvel Film Will Struggle to Reach $400 Million
Captain America: Brave New World has managed to hold onto the #1 spot at the box office for a third weekend in a row, but there’s little to celebrate. The film brought in just $15 million domestically—a staggering 85% drop from its opening weekend and a 46% decline from its second weekend, making its top of the chart status more an indictment on the current state of Hollywood that an accolade for the troubled movie.
Kotaku Grossly Misquotes MrBeast Leading to Dogpile on YouTube Star, Outlet Quietly Edits Article and Buries Correction With No Apology
Kotaku, the gaming website notorious for misleading headlines and a diminishing staff, has been caught spreading misinformation—this time about YouTube’s biggest creator, MrBeast.
This most recent controversy stems from an article written by Kotaku writer Zack Zwiezen, originally headlined “MrBeast: Life Is ‘So Much Easier When You’re Broke.'”
The problem? MrBeast never actually said that.
Disney-Owned Hulu Cuts Off Oscars Before Major Awards, Disney Drops the Ball on Big Live Streaming Opportunity as Viewers Rage Online
Hulu subscribers expecting a seamless Oscars viewing experience were left frustrated Sunday night as the Disney-owned streaming service suffered major outages and—worse—cut off its live broadcast before the most anticipated awards of the evening were announced.
Oscars Avoid Trump, Hollywood Elites Break From Recent Tradition and Actually Focus on Movies Over Politics
The 97th Academy Awards AKA the Oscars, made headlines, not for grand political statements, but for what was missing—any mention of President Donald Trump.
While Hollywood has long relished taking jabs at the current president, this year’s ceremony was eerily silent on political matters. Despite being one of the longest Oscar broadcasts in recent history, not a single presenter, winner, or host uttered Trump’s name. A stark contrast to years past, when late-night comedians and Hollywood elites openly ridiculed him at every opportunity.
Alyssa Mercante Legal Team Scrambles to Defend Smash JT Lawsuit as Ron Coleman’s Motion to Dismiss Stands Strong
The legal battle between YouTube personality Smash JT and former Kotaku Senior Editor Alyssa Mercante has taken another turn, with Mercante’s legal team filing a response to Ron Coleman’s motion to dismiss her lawsuit.
RUMOR: Chris Gore Reports Disney Has Been Trying to Sell Star Wars for 7 Months, But No One Will Buy It, Film Threat Seeks Additional Information
A new rumor has surfaced from Film Threat’s Chris Gore and Alan Ng, suggesting that Disney has been quietly looking to sell Star Wars for the past seven months—but reportedly, there have been no takers.
CNN Kathleen Kennedy Source Revealed, News Network Reportedly Fed PR Spin From Kennedy’s Publicist and Reported it as News
CNN took another credibility hit this week after it seemingly ran defense for Kathleen Kennedy in what now appears to have been a blatant PR move, according to information shared by Puck’s Matt Belloni. The network published an article contradicting Puck’s report that Kennedy is planning her exit from Lucasfilm—citing a vague, anonymous “source close to the situation” who claimed there was “nothing there right now.”
Now, Belloni has exposed exactly who that source likely was—Kennedy’s personal publicist, Simon Halls.
Kathleen Kennedy Potentially Leaving Star Wars Becomes a Media Battleground as Puck’s Matt Belloni and Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. Trade Blows
The ongoing Kathleen Kennedy leaving Star Wars saga has taken an amusing turn as two Hollywood journalists, Puck’s Matt Belloni and Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr., are now publicly feuding over the story of her rumored exit from Lucasfilm.
Doctor Who Former VFX Studio The Mill Closes After 35 Years as Rumors Swirl Over Series Cancellation
It’s an uneasy time for Doctor Who. With growing speculation that the series could be shelved after its next season and uncertainty surrounding Disney+’s long-term commitment, fans are left wondering whether the TARDIS is about to go dark. Now, another piece of Doctor Who’s legacy has come to an end, as The Mill, the visual effects studio responsible for the revived series’ early VFX success, has officially shut down after 35 years.
Kathleen Kennedy Denies Retirement Rumors in Deadline Interview, Claims She’s Not Leaving Anytime Soon ‘I Will Die Making Movies’
After weeks of speculation about Kathleen Kennedy and her rumored retirement Lucasfilm, Deadline has now published an exclusive interview in which Kennedy flatly denies she is leaving anytime soon. This comes after Puck first reported that Disney was planning for her departure by the end of 2025, with The Hollywood Reporter and Variety following suit.