Things To Do In SW Florida

Walt Disney Co. is planning a theme park resort for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the company confirmed Wednesday. The attraction will be on the waterfront of Yas Island, already a leisure travel destination.

The new resort will be built, financed and operated by Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based developer. Walt Disney Co. and Walt Disney Imagineering will lead creative design and operational oversight. It will use Disney-licensed properties.

“Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati. It will serve as an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment for millions and millions of people in this crossroads of the world, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe and beyond,” Disney CEO Robert Iger said from the UAE during a call with market analysts Wednesday.

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, touted the opportunity.

“The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways,” D’Amaro said in a news release. “This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before.” read more

A class-action lawsuit accusing Burger King of misrepresenting the size of its Whopper sandwiches in advertisements and in-store menu boards is moving forward after a federal judge declined, for a second time, to dismiss the case.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Miami in March 2022, alleges that Burger King deceived customers by using photos in its ads and on in-store menu boards showing burger patties substantially larger than what were actually served.

Whopper and Big King patties in the ads were 35% larger and double the meat that consumers received, the lawsuit alleges.

The photos began appearing in 2017, the lawsuit says, replacing photos that showed smaller patties.

A spokesperson for the Miami-based fast food chain said following the ruling, “The plaintiffs’ claims are false. The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to guests across the U.S.”

U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman said that at this stage of the case, he was required to assume that the plaintiffs’ claims were true. Under that assumption, he said he agreed with the plaintiffs’ assertion that Burger King’s “advertisements — when compared to other, similar advertisements — have a greater capacity to deceive or mislead reasonable consumers.” read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday, brushing off President Donald Trump’s demands to lower borrowing costs, and said that the risks of both higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen, an unusual combination that puts the central bank in a difficult spot.

The Fed kept its rate at 4.3% for the third straight meeting, after cutting it three times in a row at the end of last year. Many economists and Wall Street investors still expect the Fed will reduce rates this year, but the sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump have injected a tremendous amount of uncertainty into the U.S. economy and the Fed’s policies.

During a press conference after the release of the policy statement, Powell underscored that the tariffs have dampened consumer and business sentiment but have yet to noticeably harm the economy. At the moment, Powell said, there’s too much uncertainty to say how the Fed should react. read more

Brightline, South Florida’s higher speed railroad, on Tuesday announced its long-awaited new round of bundled travel passes for customers after halting an earlier program last year.

The Miami-based company said its new Brightline Passes, which will give passengers a choice of 10-, 20-, and 40-ride options at fixed prices, are now on sale and are hooked up with the railroad’s nascent Brightline Rewards program, where passengers can earn points for future travel.

Prices for the passes start at $239.

“Whether it’s for weekday commutes or weekend escapes, the new Brightline Passes offer a reliable, modern ride with a fixed-rate fare to get frequent travelers where they need to go,” Barbara Drahl, senior vice president, marketing and commercial strategy, said in a statement.

Customers can purchase and manage their passes through the railroad’s website or app. They can also save 5% for future pass purchases by selecting an auto-renew option at checkout.

More options in South Florida

A pricing grid released by the company shows there are multiple pass options for intra-South Florida travel, but only one for travel between the tri-county area and Orlando. In an apparent bid to keep revenue yields higher on its long-haul trains, Brightline is offering only a 10-day pass between all South Florida stations and Central Florida. It sells for $799. read more

By TOM MURPHY, Associated Press

Rite Aid customers can expect their local store to close or change ownership in the next few months, as the struggling drugstore chain goes through another bankruptcy filing.

The company plans to sell customer prescription files, inventory and other assets as it closes distribution centers and unloads store locations. Stores will remain open for now, but the company isn’t buying new inventory so bare shelves are likely become more common.

“I think what we’ll progressively see is the stores will become more and more spartan,” said retail analyst Neil Saunders.

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