Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[paradesintherain]

Things are very bleak right now and people are suffering, but I have to believe that when things with the pandemic improve we will start seeing the entertainment we know and love begin to return. Time will tell, I suppose.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Things are very bleak right now and people are suffering, but I have to believe that when things with the pandemic improve we will start seeing the entertainment we know and love begin to return. Time will tell, I suppose.

Yes. Entertainment will return.

But what is absolutely devastating is that many entertainment CMs only live in the Orlando area because they are WDW entertainment CMs. They have come from all over the US (and world.) They will be forced to move on and in many cases move away. These are incredible talents that Disney has curated from far and wide. It’s very sad to think that this is the last we’ll see of many of these performers at WDW. Many of them will never return. Casting will start from scratch again. Many of these performers have been with WDW for years and years. It’s really a lot to comprehend and it’s a great loss.

 

[paradesintherain]

It’s really a lot to comprehend and it’s a great loss.

Definitely. I said that people are suffering. In no way am I trying to diminish the loss going on here.

 

[mattpeto]

I think these tragic cuts is pretty telling that Disney isn’t expecting to raise capacity significantly anytime soon.

They are counting on 2021 being just like now.

I really wouldn’t expect much to return now. Disney kind of made its point tonight. All entertainment smoked with no sense of a rapid reversal.

Park Hopping, Nighttime, extended hours- we are pretty to naive to think Disney is going to add these things now. Even the fireworks rumors were targeted by Summer.

There isn’t a plan to do anything until this thing is under control.

 

[anthony2k7]

Yes & ppl will put up with a lack of entertainment for now b/c of the situation & for the trade off of hoping for lower crowds, but that’s not going to last.

People will keep going. They always do no matter what is cut and no matter how much ticket prices go up by.

 

[anthony2k7]

So now I also read the dancers from Move it Shake It and the Castle show are gone.

Would they ever go as far as cutting face characters?

What about all the other parade performers?

 

[anthony2k7]

The year end earnings report next week will be telling. 28,000 salaries gone surely saves them millions. They did take out a lot of debt if needed too. Like I have said I think some of this is warranted and expected. All of this? I don't think that is the case.

Its all about the debt. They know they have commitments to that debt no matter what happens over the next few years. If there are more shutdowns or slowdowns they can control variable costs, but they have to be generating the cash to cover that debt no matter what.

 

[anthony2k7]

I think these tragic cuts is pretty telling that Disney isn’t expecting to raise capacity significantly anytime soon.

They are counting on 2021 being just like now.

I really wouldn’t expect much to return now. Disney kind of made its point tonight. All entertainment smoked with no sense of a rapid reversal.

Park Hopping, Nighttime, extended hours- we are pretty to naive to think Disney is going to add these things now. Even the fireworks rumors were targeted by Summer.

There isn’t a plan to do anything until this thing is under control.

Looking at cases around the world, international travel isn't going to change much until mid next year I suspect and even then it will be a slow return rather than a sudden surge.

2022 is where companies should be looking to for any kind of normality.

 

[yulilin3]

I tend to agree, as devastating as tonight is. Those theaters won’t be left to rot.
IMO, as soon as WDW moves to 40% capacity (whenever that is), we’ll see things like Castle shows, legit parades, and some form of streetscape.
Let’s not forget they perform in and around storefronts. Stop and watch, and have an itch for ears.
I picked 40% because I think that will mean limited social distancing (maybe 1m instead of 2) and a real improvement in travel feasibility.

They have proven in the past that they have no problema leaving spaces empty for years.
The trust and the morale inside the company is gone. They have made some questionable decisions in the past that were kept under wraps but this is all very public now , and sure new visitors will still come and fall in love with batuu or tsland or fantasyland but there will be all of us out there that won't forget and all the performers that have been with the company for multiple decades that now find themselves with a unique set of skills that are not hireable right now, everyone is very eager to point out that these offerings will likely come back but what do the actors do in the meantime?
Theater can be done safely like andy said it's the companies choice to cut them for profit

 

[Henwen88]

We had an awesome interaction with him last summer in Brown Derby. They have to bring this kinda stuff back once things are normal. This is the kinda stuff that sets wdw apart from other theme parks.

Ours was Evie Starlight. She sat down with our family at the Brown Derby several years ago, and gave my daughter (an 8 or 9 year old at that time aspiring actress) a great pep talk - full of inspiration, confidence, and lots of humor - didn't break character once. These actors and actresses were our favorite reason to visit HS and were/are talented beyond compare.

I wish the best for them and sincerely hope that management will realize that their most loyal customers attend for the 'magic.' I'm not a teenager anymore and can only ride so many rides before my neck hurts and my meclizine wears off, lol.

Oh, and Geaux Tigers

 

[anthony2k7]

They have proven in the past that they have no problema leaving spaces empty for years.
The trust and the morale inside the company is gone. They have made some questionable decisions in the past that were kept under wraps but this is all very public now , and sure new visitors will still come and fall in love with batuu or tsland or fantasyland but there will be all of us out there that won't forget and all the performers that have been with the company for multiple decades that now find themselves with a unique set of skills that are not hireable right now, everyone is very eager to point out that these offerings will likely come back but what do the actors do in the meantime?
Theater can be done safely like andy said it's the companies choice to cut them for profit

There's a lot more phases for this impact to go through yet.

With so many of the current visitors to wdw being local, once the economic impact truly hits FL then many of those locals won't be going.

International visitors won't be back by then. Parks are likely to get pretty quiet again after Christmas I think. Then what do wdw do? More cuts?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Someone not on here, Twitter or Facebook I can’t remember, shared a chart showing approximately what 25% of max capacity is as a percentage of actual average daily guests. For some parks it was quite high. And then of course we have factors now like distancing and less to do that exasperates the issue.

25% under the current conditions is not going to feel empty.

 

[jlwhitney]

People will keep going. They always do no matter what is cut and no matter how much ticket prices go up by.

but what is going on now is extreme.AP holders aren’t renewing as is. People may stop coming. This is not sustainable. In the end Right now people are going to get their fix see the new stuff they hadnt yet but how many of them will return in the short term? People
Are canceling. Disney is gonna struggle with the balance of discounting and not getting people to use to it like back in after 9/11 and 2008 time.

 

[NJlauren]

This is a real blow to me, we will still go on our planned trip as it’s paid for and we have APs and I will still go on my 50th anniversary trip I booked, but other then that I’ll just monitor what’s going on.

I really don’t get monsters inc, it’s all behind the scenes right? Is there a reason they couldn’t distance? I understand it’s indoors but I don’t understand how that’s harder to distance them the frozen sing along

 

[anthony2k7]

but what is going on now is extreme.AP holders aren’t renewing as is. People may stop coming. This is not sustainable. In the end Right now people are going to get their fix see the new stuff they hadnt yet but how many of them will return in the short term? People
Are canceling. Disney is gonna struggle with the balance of discounting and not getting people to use to it like back in after 9/11 and 2008 time.

Agree. As I said above. Many Local APs will stop going once the full effect is felt on local economy. Current Disney exec mentality is to then cut more it seems. Where does that end? Probably not with the virus alone as economic impact will have its own variables and long term impact even when the virus is eventually gone.

 

[JaxDad]

One of the funniest men i know, he made famous Snig during SWW, most recently he was Marlin at FNtM
I need a job...but first, a week of diving in the Bahamas (11/8-15.) I’m available for rehearsals November 16th...PM me!

Just keep swimming, literally.

I feel so sad for all of you so deeply affected by this—the CMs, their families and friends, and also the children (and adults) that will miss the joy of these wonderful performances.

 

[Jennasis]

This is a real blow to me, we will still go on our planned trip as it’s paid for and we have APs and I will still go on my 50th anniversary trip I booked, but other then that I’ll just monitor what’s going on.

I really don’t get monsters inc, it’s all behind the scenes right? Is there a reason they couldn’t distance? I understand it’s indoors but I don’t understand how that’s harder to distance them the frozen sing along

It's not about virus safety. They were laid off so they wouldn't have to be paid. It's money.

 

[jlwhitney]

Agree. As I said above. Many Local APs will stop going once the full effect is felt on local economy. Current Disney exec mentality is to then cut more it seems. Where does that end? Probably not with the virus alone as economic impact will have its own variables and long term impact even when the virus is eventually gone.

I agree, and not even just economic impact people that could afford to pay why would they when so many other places out there much closer to the full experience. We are going to Dollywood in Nov, while I know its a smaller park they are actually starting to bring back indoor shows with their Christmas season. People that are able to are gonna find new places to travel and some may find they like it and won't be back at Disney as much also.

 

[Farro]

Are the powers that be at Disney going to release any kind of statement about this massive entertainment cut? Or is the original statement about the 28,000 employees all we are getting?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Are the powers that be at Disney going to release any kind of statement about this massive entertainment cut? Or is the original statement about the 28,000 employees all we are getting?

they have an earnings call coming up, might just wait until then to talk about this and other moves, etc.