Things To Do In SW Florida

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN (AP Business Writer)

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group closed lower Friday after swinging wildly over the course of the day following the conviction of former President Donald Trump in his hush money trial.

After the U.S. stock markets closed Thursday, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

After rising more than 2% at the opening of trading Friday, the shares ended the day down 5.3%.

The stock, which trades under the ticker symbol “DJT,” has been extraordinarily volatile since its debut in late March, joining the group of meme stocks that are prone to ricochet from highs to lows as small-pocketed investors attempt to catch an upward momentum swing at the right time.

The stock has tripled this year, in the process frequently making double-digit percentage moves either higher or lower on a single day. It peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. For context, the S&P 500 is up almost 10% year to date. read more

The Walt Disney Co. is gearing up to spend billions of dollars in Central Florida as part of a new development plan, ramping up speculation that the company could be eyeing a major Disney World expansion.

The agreement unveiled Wednesday calls for a $17 billion investment into Disney World over the next 10 to 20 years.

Company officials have been tight-lipped on their vision for the future, but industry insiders wonder if something big is in the works, perhaps even a fifth theme park. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney officials are striking a conciliatory tone after a two-year feud over what critics called the “don’t say gay” law with dollars and cents trumping culture war issues.

“What you’ve seen is a huge kiss and make up between Florida and Disney,” said Dennis Speigel, CEO and founder of International Theme Park Services, which provides management and development services.

Speigel predicts at least $10 billion could go to build a new theme park, something that industry insiders and Disney fans know as the “fifth gate.” Disney officials have not announced such a plan, but he anticipates it could come within the next 18 months. read more

Disney is providing more peeks – inside and outside, virtually and literally – of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the “Princess and the Frog”-themed ride opening at Magic Kingdom next month.

Scenes from inside the new attraction, a replacement for Splash Mountain, can be seen in the latest installment of “We Call It Imagineering,” a video series on YouTube.

A day after the episode’s debut, construction walls were removed from around the Tiana ride. It’s an obvious milestone to parkgoers, giving improved visual access to the attraction, which has been given a makeover since Splash Mountain permanently closed in January 2023. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens to the public June 28.

In the Imagineering video, viewers can see glimpses of the attraction queue and assorted animatronics, including one of Tiana as passengers go up a lift hill in the log ride. There are other hints of murals and artwork from Tiana’s Foods, the business started by the heroine in the attraction’s storyline, which is set in the year after the events of the 2009 “Frog” film. read more

Art

Kayli R. Rideout was appointed Hugh F. McKean Curator at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park.

Construction

Keith Evans, construction observer, has joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Orlando regional office.

Law

Jenna Barbato has joined Dean Mead, Orlando, as an attorney in the firm’s real estate department.

Alicia M. Chiu has joined the Orlando office of Greenberg Traurig, P.A. as a labor and employment shareholder.

Public relations

Rebecca Kleha was hired as public relations director at Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management, Orlando.

Submit professional appointments, management-level promotions and significant awards for individuals, along with photos as .jpg attachments, to peopleonmove@orlandosentinel.com.

By Ryan Brady | NerdWallet

For a lot of people, buying car insurance is like buying sliced bread. It’s not the most exciting purchase, and the options all seem similar. So thrifty shoppers might simply reach for the cheapest thing on the shelf. But like cheap bread, cheap car insurance may leave you wishing you spent a little more on quality.

“The cheapest is not always the best,” warns Jessica McNally, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Dallas. That’s because there are lots of factors that make up a car insurance company. And while price is one of them, it’s best to look at the bigger picture.

Here’s what to look for when picking the best car insurance company.

1. Choose a financially stable company

The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers’ claims. It’s important to check an insurer’s financial stability before buying a policy, especially if it’s a smaller insurer you’ve never heard of.

There are several independent agencies that evaluate the financial strength of insurance companies. One example is A.M. Best. You can use its online search tool to find an insurer’s financial strength rating. Companies with a rating of A or higher are considered to have an excellent ability to pay out customer claims. read more