Disney to remove McDonald's spots from California theme park

Published Friday August 8th, 2008
B4

Walt Disney Co., the world's biggest theme-park operator, is eliminating McDonald's Corp. fast-food restaurants at its Disneyland resort.

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Adam Berry/Bloomberg News
A Big Mac hamburger, large fries, and soft drink are displayed on a tray at a McDonald's fast-food restaurant franchise in the Kreuzberg neighbourhood of Berlin, Germany. McDonald's Corp., the world's largest restaurant company, reported a second-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' estimates as it sold more hamburgers in Europe and the dollar declined against foreign currencies.

Three McDonald's locations at the Anaheim, Calif., park will close on Sept. 2 as part of planned refurbishments, Disneyland spokeswoman Lisa Haines said today in an interview.

Disney, seeking to promote healthier eating habits among children, said in 2006 it would license its characters to sell fruits and vegetables. The company also has stopped promoting its films with Happy Meals from Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald's. Disney said in 2006 it would remove foods containing so-called transfats, an artery-clogging ingredient now banned in New York City, from its theme parks by the end of 2007.

"We are considering a number of concepts that will offer our guests a wide variety of food options,'' Haines said. "Disney's parks continue to have a relationship with McDonald's.''

McDonald's spokesman William Whitman confirmed the Disneyland outlets will close. Walt Disney World, near Orlando, Fla., will continue to operate three restaurants that serve McDonald's burgers and fries, Haines and Whitman said.

Kid's meals at fast-food restaurants including McDonald's are too high in calories and fat, the Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest said in a report this week.

Disney, based in Burbank, California, fell 20 cents to $31.22 at 1:33 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares had fallen 2.7 percent this year before today. McDonald's rose 66 cents to $62.80 and had gained 5.5 percent this year before today.

The Orange County Register earlier reported the Disneyland McDonald's restaurant closures.

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