Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Farro]

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.

Well, we don't watch the shows either, just not our thing.
I wasn't going to say that because it doesn't seem right at the moment, but we won't exactly notice the cuts in a way that will affect our trip that much as far as attractions we go to.
We will notice the smaller scale things - Green Army Men, Citizens of Hollywood - although I admit I only actually sat down to watch them for the first time in 2017. It was an impromptu parade commentary with the guests being (unknowingly) the actual parade and it was hysterical!

But that doesn't mean I'm happy with the cuts. I hate when anyone loses their job and it's a very scary time right now for a lot of us, not just those who work at Disney.

 

[anthony2k7]

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

I was thinking the opposite, obviously.

 

[rteetz]

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

He had some comparisons in following tweets too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1321435124634947585

 

[SaintsManiac]

The entertainment is also a big deal to us.

But there have 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.

The only show we do every trip is FotLK. And we always catch Voices of Liberty. We are not show people, but I know they are an important part of the experience. I loved the storm trooper march, too and I was sad when they cut it.

 

[rteetz]

I was thinking the opposite, obviously.

As noted in the second tweet I just shared it is pretty good.

 

[mattpeto]

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)

Disney is either absolutely convinced that they will be able to maintain the approximate capacity limits at the limited experience or they really are in dire straits. I tend to think it's probably more in the middle of those extremes somewhere.

People can speak up with their wallet.

 

[Farro]

I was thinking the opposite, obviously.

If you are looking for ANYTHING to have 100% compliance, your life will be full of disappointments.

 

[SaintsManiac]

As noted in the second tweet I just shared it is pretty good.

It's very good. We always have what I call the "mask freedom fighters" every where we go. You're just never going to see 100% compliance. I bet there are times when the CMs have them below their noses, too.

 

[mattpeto]

Well, we don't watch the shows either, just not our thing.
I wasn't going to say that because it doesn't seem right at the moment, but we won't exactly notice the cuts in a way that will affect our trip that much as far as attractions we go to.
We will notice the smaller scale things - Green Army Men, Citizens of Hollywood - although I admit I only actually sat down to watch them for the first time in 2017. It was an impromptu parade commentary with the guests being (unknowingly) the actual parade and it was hysterical!

But that doesn't mean I'm happy with the cuts. I hate when anyone loses their job and it's a very scary time right now for a lot of us, not just those who work at Disney.

The shows is a bit microcosm of everything gone.

You don't watch the fireworks, parades, etc.? You just go to Disney for the rides and the food?

 

[yulilin3]

Well, we don't watch the shows either, just not our thing.
I wasn't going to say that because it doesn't seem right at the moment, but we won't exactly notice the cuts in a way that will affect our trip that much as far as attractions we go to.
We will notice the smaller scale things - Green Army Men, Citizens of Hollywood - although I admit I only actually sat down to watch them for the first time in 2017. It was an impromptu parade commentary with the guests being (unknowingly) the actual parade and it was hysterical!

But that doesn't mean I'm happy with the cuts. I hate when anyone loses their job and it's a very scary time right now for a lot of us, not just those who work at Disney.

but this will affect your visit directly. When the hundreds of people that would've been at Harambe Theater or Theater in the Wild or Theater of the Stars are in line for attractions instead, your wait time will grow.
When the dozens of people that would've been watching a CoH set on Sunset are now waiting for food at The Market, your wait time will grow
When you have a fp or VQ for something and have nothing else to do but wait without any entertainment to pass the time, you will notice
And I'm not coming down on you at all, is that a lot of people think these things don't affect the general ebb and flow of park day but they do

 

[jamos14]

I was thinking early summer 2021 would be when Disney was back to normal. This would be a few months after "hopefully" multiple vaccines have begun distribution. I have no clue what will trigger the return to normal Disney but I'm sad for all the cast members and my own vacation that was cancelled in March (postponed until NOV) and now delayed indefinitely.

 

[Lake183]

People like most of these entertainers could theoretically be brought back to work in some capacity but because they're not deemed corporate priorities, they're out of a job. That's a conscious choice on Disney's part. We now have at least one whole generation of kids who has seen this happen at least twice within 15 years, and what do we tell them? It is what it is? And then people wonder why you have so many young people disillusioned with or radicalized by the system.

And to add another layer of confusion to an already rambling post: one can be put off bt their decisions and still love the parks, the people who work in them, and give them business. The two are not mutually exclusive.

I love these two statements. I have a high schooler and a college kid
and I have been surprised by how strongly their political views have been affected by current events. One can vote this year and the other one will be a voter soon. Watching Disney's accountants make decisions that affect, not only the heart and soul of the parks, but people's ability to pay the bills, put food on the table and lose their health care, while shareholders watch the bottom line and executives get full pay is only solidifying their beliefs.

I just canceled our trip for January. The coveted deluxe hotel stay w full pay tickets as my AP will be expired. We may still go, we may head to Universal. I want Disney to know I'm angry, but I also want to support the cast members. It makes my head spin.

And it's SUPER convenient that this is happening at a time where it's impossible to get a trending argument together on social media to influence the company or its shareholders. Anything Disney related is going to be glossed over by the news and social media for the next week. And I don't think that's a coincidence.

 

[Farro]

The shows is a bit microcosm of everything gone.

You don't watch the fireworks, parades, etc.? You just go to Disney for the rides and the food?

I mean, do I have to defend how we do Disney?

No, never saw Wishes, we saw HEA on our way out. Of course I saw Illuminations and I believe it will come back in another form.

We watched the day parade once or twice, but no, we rode rides during the night one. We did not go to stage shows.

We are there for the rides, the food/shops, the hotels, the background music at the parks, the boat horns, the monorail (even though it's buggy) the atmosphere which is more than just the characters, etc. for us - the lights, the theming, the decor, the ambience, especially at AK.

Again, I said I'm not happy they are gone.

 

[Eric Smith]

The shows is a bit microcosm of everything gone.

You don't watch the fireworks, parades, etc.? You just go to Disney for the rides and the food?

We pretty much just go for rides, food and atmosphere. Atmosphere meaning just the feeling of being in the parks. We never went to any of the shows. We would watch fireworks occasionally but that was usually watching Illuminations after dinner around World Showcase or catching HEA from California Grill or the beach at the Poly. I expect fireworks will come back at some point in the next 6 months. I'm hopeful that will happen before our trip in April. I do appreciate that the shows do absorb a lot of guests which keeps them from crowding the walkways and rides. It's an unfortunate situation, but it doesn't fundamentally alter my enjoyment of the parks. In the current environment, we can't really vacation anywhere and have it be like it was pre-pandemic. Everything I've looked in to is a diminished experience. I totally understand people who don't want to spend their money on a trip right now, but for us it's a choice between going to Disney or sitting in our house. I'd choose Disney every time.

 

[Farro]

but this will affect your visit directly. When the hundreds of people that would've been at Harambe Theater or Theater in the Wild or Theater of the Stars are in line for attractions instead, your wait time will grow.
When the dozens of people that would've been watching a CoH set on Sunset are now waiting for food at The Market, your wait time will grow
When you have a fp or VQ for something and have nothing else to do but wait without any entertainment to pass the time, you will notice
And I'm not coming down on you at all, is that a lot of people think these things don't affect the general ebb and flow of park day but they do

This is why I wasn't going to bring it up.

I'm sorry everyone lost their job and of course I wish it didn't happen. And I am concerned about how the crowds will be affected and personally affect my trip, but I didn't think now was the time to talk about it, that's all.

 

[zemmer]

The shows is a bit microcosm of everything gone.

You don't watch the fireworks, parades, etc.? You just go to Disney for the rides and the food?

We have watched fireworks once in about 15 trips. We haven’t ever watched any of the shows listed. We are definitely food and attractions people. However I am saddened at the lost jobs. Years of work and devotion just gone. So sad.

 

[anthony2k7]

If you are looking for ANYTHING to have 100% compliance, your life will be full of disappointments.

It is what it is.

I'd prefer it to be 100% but accept its not gonna happen. That doesn't stop me being angry at the few who think they are too special to have to comply.

 

[Moliphino]

The shows is a bit microcosm of everything gone.

You don't watch the fireworks, parades, etc.? You just go to Disney for the rides and the food?

We would do fireworks every night of a trip, those I miss. Usually avoided parades in recent years (did love Spectro and Tapestry of Nations).

There have been some shows I liked and saw (or would like to see) multiple times, just not any of the current ones. Sometimes we'd go to Tarzan Rocks multiple times in a day. Mickey and the Magician at DLP is fantastic and I would see that more often if I could.

 

[yulilin3]

This is why I wasn't going to bring it up.

I'm sorry everyone lost their job and of course I wish it didn't happen. And I am concerned about how the crowds will be affected and personally affect my trip, but I didn't think now was the time to talk about it, that's all.

I don't think anyone is saying you are happy about the job loss, I'm just saying that this decision will affect every visitor that comes through the tapstiles if you stopped to watch these shows or not.

 

[mattpeto]

but this will affect your visit directly. When the hundreds of people that would've been at Harambe Theater or Theater in the Wild or Theater of the Stars are in line for attractions instead, your wait time will grow.
When the dozens of people that would've been watching a CoH set on Sunset are now waiting for food at The Market, your wait time will grow
When you have a fp or VQ for something and have nothing else to do but wait without any entertainment to pass the time, you will notice
And I'm not coming down on you at all, is that a lot of people think these things don't affect the general ebb and flow of park day but they do

My parents are in their 70's and basically visited Disney World for the first time in February. There was a reason why Mom declared "It was my favorite vacation of all-time." and she's itching to get back.

She skipped the coasters. And she didn't say that because she enjoyed Soarin'.

The entertainment is off the charts there. It appeals to everyone at all ages.