Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Eric Smith]

true but is it a proportionate response? Eventually we will know those numbers - how much they lost, how much of a lift they created by cutting these positions. And it can't be that hard to figure out how much they save by not paying people. I'm just wondering if this slash and burn is totally necessary for park survival as far as the numbers go or if it is just a corporate/exec strategy.

I think this is due to the uncertainty about when any semblance of normal will be possible in the US. The virus situation is continuing to get worse and we're heading in to a season when it was originally supposed to get even worse. It could get really bad. It may take more than a year to be able to get to a point where there is more park capacity than demand. I think these cuts are more reflective of this uncertainty than anything else. For a comparison with live entertainment, look at Broadway. Those shows aren't going to start back up until at least next June. This isn't a short term disruption.

 

[SaintsManiac]

My planned Nov/Dec 2021 trip is absolutely on pause right now. Not going back to this version of Disney World.

I don’t blame Disney completely for all of this. I have no doubts that the Parks are more in survival mode than we all thought. Look at Disneyland for crying out loud. That park might not open next year.

Look at the projects paused.

This is a unprecedented time, but it’s all a bitter pill.

Don't give up hope yet. My trip has been pushed from May 2021 to June 2021 to Thanksgiving next year. It's over a year away. Let's wait and see what happens before giving up!

 

[Justrose]

My heart is broken. So sad.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

lol, all this while SWO just put an audition notice through their 3rd party entertainment co for a holiday show at the Nautilus Theater.
Disney could've cut the entertainment offerings, I think we were all expecting CoH and CoMS to be cut for good, but they could've gone to less shows for FotLK and FNtM, LF still baffles me, they have like 4 actors in there only at a time, they could've gone where they offered these things maybe only on certain days, they did that with F! for about 2 years I believe

They absolutely could have, but from their standpoint, why? Parks are clearly getting close to the reduced maximum capacity, theyhave data for hotesl to know what is coming in the near future - to the point they felt the need to reopen All Stars in February, there is a rediculously long line right now at Magic Kingdom to get Minnie Mouse merchandise .... just why, for the short term at least, do they need entertainment? That is just added expense with next to no added revenue (and not saying I dont' want the entertainment, I absolutely do and this is making me want to cancel our next trip - or at least not visit Disney when there - but just trying to look at it from the $ point of view, which is managements' focus, for the near term especially)

 

[jlwhitney]

I think this is due to the uncertainty about when any semblance of normal will be possible in the US. The virus situation is continuing to get worse and we're heading in to a season when it was originally supposed to get even worse. It could get really bad. It may take more than a year to be able to get to a point where there is more park capacity than demand. I think these cuts are more reflective of this uncertainty than anything else. For a comparison with live entertainment, look at Broadway. Those shows aren't going to start back up until at least next June. This isn't a short term disruption.

But there are many areas of the country that people Are living like 80% normal now and aren’t exploding with cases or issues. Disney can do more now bottom line they are choosing not to and we may never know why. I’m not hopeful Disney will ever be the magical place it once was or if it does it’s years away but rest assured there are so many places to explore in this country alone that people will find fun and excitement.

 

[Farro]

Did Mariachi Cobre survive this? I also wonder if the Boardwalk performers are gone for good?

 

[MickeyWaffles]

But there are many areas of the country that people Are living like 80% normal now and aren’t exploding with cases or issues. Disney can do more now bottom line they are choosing not to and we may never know why. I’m not hopeful Disney will ever be the magical place it once was or if it does it’s years away but rest assured there are so many places to explore in this country alone that people will find fun and excitement.

What area of the country is operating at 80% normal and not exploding with cases? Most states are exploding with cases right now, so please be specific. This is a ridiculous claim.

My state is not anywhere near 80% normal and cases are spiking astronomically.

 

[Moliphino]

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

We never really did any of the shows, so these cuts don't have any affect on my trips aside from them not being there to absorb crowds. I miss the streetmosphere type things more, though we didn't often stop to watch them, either.

 

[yulilin3]

They absolutely could have, but from their standpoint, why? Parks are clearly getting close to the reduced maximum capacity, theyhave data for hotesl to know what is coming in the near future - to the point they felt the need to reopen All Stars in February, there is a rediculously long line right now at Magic Kingdom to get Minnie Mouse merchandise .... just why, for the short term at least, do they need entertainment? That is just added expense with next to no added revenue (and not saying I dont' want the entertainment, I absolutely do and this is making me want to cancel our next trip - or at least not visit Disney when there - but just trying to look at it from the $ point of view, which is managements' focus, for the near term especially)

Because they are "supposed" to care about the guest experience, that's the whole reason we all love Disney. This just confirms what some have been saying for years that the goal is no longer create a memorable vacation and get returning guests, the goal now is to cater to first comers that will spend a lot of money and might not return.
And before anyone jumps in I understand this is a company, I don't fault them with trying to stop the bleeding, but there were less severe ways to do that, they just chose this one which will impact the guest directly

 

[Eric Smith]

I analyzed their financial reports for their fiscal year 2019 for my accounting class this summer. They seemed fine financially so while I don't think they're close to bankruptcy, I do think having Disneyland closed still is putting a huge financial strain.

I doubt this has anything to do with safety because they could just have the actors wear a mask as Universal does but oh well.

I also don't think people are taking the issues with the film side of Disney seriously. Soul is basically a loss a this point with them going straight to Disney+ and I'm sure Mulan didn't do what they wanted it to do. With no clear path forward for theaters to open domestically any time soon, I think they're going to have issues there for at least the next year.

 

[yulilin3]

Did Mariachi Cobre survive this? I also wonder if the Boardwalk performers are gone for good?

Mariachi Cobre seems to have survived, for now, they already had them slated for the holiday event at Epcot

 

[Eric Smith]

But there are many areas of the country that people Are living like 80% normal now and aren’t exploding with cases or issues. Disney can do more now bottom line they are choosing not to and we may never know why. I’m not hopeful Disney will ever be the magical place it once was or if it does it’s years away but rest assured there are so many places to explore in this country alone that people will find fun and excitement.

What Disney is trying to avoid is a headline that says something like: "COVID outbreak at Disney World! Is it really so safe?" That would be devastating to the parks long term. It's a unique risk that Disney has which doesn't apple to Universal, Sea World, Six Flags....etc.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1321434073873686528

 

[Eric Smith]

Did Mariachi Cobre survive this? I also wonder if the Boardwalk performers are gone for good?

Does anyone know if the Boardwalk Performers are cast members? I always thought they were just local entertainers who came out with the approval of Disney.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Because they are "supposed" to care about the guest experience, that's the whole reason we all love Disney. This just confirms what some have been saying for years that the goal is no longer create a memorable vacation and get returning guests, the goal now is to cater to first comers that will spend a lot of money and might not return.
And before anyone jumps in I understand this is a company, I don't fault them with trying to stop the bleeding, but there were less severe ways to do that, they just chose this one which will impact the guest directly

I understand what you’re saying. I cried over these cuts last night. And it’s hard to imagine the parks feeling the same again.

DVC is a big deal for them, the whole concept of returning guests. That is a huge target group that they’ll still want to lock in long term, and part of that is keeping the parks attractive to potential members. I don’t think they will abandon the DVC strategy.

 

[mattpeto]

We never really did any of the shows, so these cuts don't have any affect on my trips aside from them not being there to absorb crowds. I miss the streetmosphere type things more, though we didn't often stop to watch them, either.

I don't mean this in a condensing way at all, but I think you are really the exception here. We all love the attractions, but it's the entertainment that separates Disney and your local amusement park.

 

[anthony2k7]

It all really makes me wonder if Disney is in worse shape financially than we all realize and is beginning to panic? In the extreme could we be looking at bankruptcy?

If they can carry on as they are right now, no, but there is huge uncertainty about the long term virus and economy.

If they had to shut parks again and no movies having full releases for maybe another year at least then I'd say anything is possible.

They need to get into a position where they are confident of making debt payments no matter how many more years the impact of this drags on.

 

[Farro]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1321434073873686528

That's pretty darn good! At least I think so...

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I don't mean this in a condensing way at all, but I think you are really the exception here. We all love the attractions, but it's the entertainment that separates Disney and your local amusement park.

The entertainment is also a big deal to us.
And I think for many others too.

But there have also been a lot of people who would say HS (pre SWGE/TSL) or AK was a half day park and I’d say HOW? They’d say shows were one and done for them. We love the shows & they are must do for us on our trips. We usually have trouble fitting them all in Unfortunately I do think many people skip the shows or view them as one and done.

 

[anthony2k7]

I think this is due to the uncertainty about when any semblance of normal will be possible in the US. The virus situation is continuing to get worse and we're heading in to a season when it was originally supposed to get even worse. It could get really bad. It may take more than a year to be able to get to a point where there is more park capacity than demand. I think these cuts are more reflective of this uncertainty than anything else. For a comparison with live entertainment, look at Broadway. Those shows aren't going to start back up until at least next June. This isn't a short term disruption.

Another comparison is Vegas. Some might say its a good comparison and others bad. Regardless.

I hear at least one of the big casino/resort operators there are looking to get out of there entirely at the worst possible time to be selling up. They clearly think there isn't going to be much improvement for a long time.