Katie Rice
Orlando Sentinel
Des Moines, IA, United States
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Past articles by Katie:
Crews start dismantling Orlando Free Fall ride, where Tyre Sampson died
Cranes arrived Tuesday to take down the Orlando Free Fall drop tower at ICON Park, where tourist Tyre Sampson died last year. → Read More
Disney CEO Iger says his crowded theme parks cost too much
Disney’s theme parks have become too expensive and crowded, CEO Bob Iger says, and he wants to fix that. → Read More
New Disney Reedy Creek board chair vows ‘broader representation’
The new Reedy Creek board chairman said the group is committed to listening to constituents even though it has “a lot to learn.” → Read More
Orlando Free Fall ride, where Tyre Sampson died, to start coming down next week
Orlando Free Fall, from which 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fatally fell last March, will start coming down next week. → Read More
Universal Hollywood Super Nintendo World is a hit, a good sign for Epic Universe
Analyst Dennis Speigel said the Hollywood opening went “exceptionally well,” with “smiles from ear to ear by everyone.” → Read More
SeaWorld’s revenue keeps flowing, but visitor, staffing worries remain
Higher prices helped boost guest spending at SeaWorld parks, but concerns about lagging visitor numbers and staffing persist. → Read More
Comcast bets on Universal theme parks during ‘bullish’ 2023
But it is still looking to recover lagging international guest numbers at its U.S. theme parks as it continues building new attractions. → Read More
Orlando Free Fall gets final inspection before dismantling; ride killed Tyre Sampson
Orlando Free Fall inspection is a crucial step before the ride can be taken down in response to the death of Tyre Sampson. → Read More
Universal increases starting pay to $17 an hour as Disney wage talks go on
Universal Orlando is raising its minimum wage from $15 to $17 an hour starting June 4. → Read More
$15,000 for ‘Splash Mountain water?’ Some Disney fans gulp it up
Splash Mountain speculators have earned as much as $15,099, $13,100 and $7,100 selling water they claim came from the ride. → Read More
The Wheel at ICON Park reopens after New Year’s Eve power failure
The Wheel at ICON Park has reopened, nearly six weeks after being shut down when it lost power. → Read More
Disney’s job cuts affect theme parks, but frontline workers spared
Disney does not expect the layoffs to affect workers in hourly frontline roles at the theme parks, a top executive said. → Read More
Disney’s Iger reveals 7,000 layoffs in restructuring move
Disney World CEO Bob Iger revealed plans Wednesday to lay off 7,500 workers, about 3% of the workforce. → Read More
Will Disney, Universal affordable housing projects lead the way for more?
“Workers don’t need affordable housing, they need to be able to afford their housing,” said union president Jeremy Haicken. → Read More
Disney World unions turn down contract, plan to pursue better pay
Unionized Disney World employees overwhelmingly vetoed the company’s most recent offer in ongoing contract negotiations Friday, signaling the groups will return to the bargaining table as the unions continue their push for better wages. → Read More
ICON Park’s Wheel is still closed after New Year’s Eve power failure
Technicians have been looking at “thousands of components” on the attraction to determine what caused the ride’s power failure and sudden stop on Dec. 31. → Read More
Disney unions urge ‘no’ vote on proposed contract, seeking better pay
The unions that represent Disney employees are urging workers to vote to reject Disney’s most recent wage offer. → Read More
SeaWorld promotes 8 executives in a bid for more growth
SeaWorld CEO Marc Swanson said in a statement that the transitions will help SeaWorld increase revenue, improve its theme parks and better manage operations and costs. → Read More
Comcast looks toward expansion of Universal theme parks
The company plans to increase its theme park spending budget by $1.2 billion this year compared with 2022. → Read More
‘A new standard:’ Workers at Convention Center OK contract for $18 minimum wage
Sodexo food service workers will earn at least $18 an hour, the first Orlando hospitality workers to reach that minimum wage. → Read More