Disney CEO Bob Iger Shares How Disneyland is Helping With Wildfire Relief, How Disney Wants to Go Beyond $15 million Donation

Disney is actively working to support those affected by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. In a recent interview, Disney CEO Bob Iger shared actions the company is taking to help the area rebuild and big ideas to help with long term recovery.

Disneyland is not in the area threatened by the Los Angeles wildfires—we discuss what you will want to consider about the impact of the wildfires on Disneyland if you have a trip planned in the immediate future. We are keeping in our thoughts everyone who is impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and the firefighters who have been working to contain them.

Below, we will share how Disney has supported its Cast Members and the Los Angeles community during the Los Angeles wildfires.

Disney Offers Support During Los Angeles Wildfires

At the time of writing, there are three wildfires active in Los Angeles County including the Palisades Fire which has burned 23,713 at 19% containment, the Eaton Fire which has burned 14,117 acres at 45% containment, and the Hurst Fire which has burned 799 acres at 97% containment. In our Disneyland This Week update, we shared some links where you can donate to support the wildfire relief efforts.

According to the New York Times, at least 64 Disney Cast Members have lost their homes to the Los Angeles fires, and hundreds more are evacuated. Disney has made a $15 million donation to the Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts, and the company is working to find more ways to support the community.

About 100 displaced Cast Members are staying at Disneyland hotel rooms, according to the New York Times. Those employees range from “assistants to the company's general counsel”.

The NYTimes shares that “Disney’s employee relief fund provides up to $1,500 for basic household necessities. Disney is also giving some employees an additional $2,500 as a lump sum for incidental expenses.” For those who are not able to return home due to the impact of the fires after the evacuation orders are lifted, “the company is providing two months of free furnished housing, among other benefits.”

Disney has also opened its studio wardrobe warehouses to employees who need clothes and shoes.

Disney CEO Bob Iger is among those who have been evacuated due to the wildfires. In an interview, Iger shared some of his thoughts on how Disney can continue to help the community rebuild from the devastation of the wildfires. “We want to help rebuild,” he said. “Can we help in setting up temporary schools? Can our Imagineers help design new town centers? Rebuilding is not just about money. It’s about ingenuity and determination.”

I am pleased to hear Iger express this dedication to the city and hope to see Governor Newsom work with Iger on this rebuild. Disney is the most iconic and globally known film studio. Their dedication to the state and city will be critical for both city morale and the film business economy. Below is some related commentary on leaning into film production here.

We also wanted to include this commentary from Matthew Belloni of Puck News regarding how Disney can further support Los Angeles in the aftermath of the wildfires. This seems like a clear move that Disney and California could make together to further bolster the Los Angeles recovery:

“Commit to shooting in L.A.: Disney’s announcement that it will donate $15 million to relief efforts included this line: ‘We will be working closely with the business community to find ways to support important rebuilding efforts in the region.' One way Disney C.E.O. Bob Iger could go beyond simply helping rebuild structures: Boost the economy by making more films and TV shows in the region.

I know. It’s become fiscally irresponsible to shoot in L.A. because of better incentives elsewhere, though California will now likely pass a new tax-credit package worth $750 million. But Iger and Gov. Gavin Newsom could certainly work something out to guarantee that Southern California’s most famous company produces a few more Marvel or Star Wars projects locally, as both a vote of confidence and a big boost to a local production economy and middle-class industry community that were already struggling pre-fires. It might be the difference between some talented people rebuilding or moving elsewhere.”

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