Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[xuxa777]

It didn't have to be this bad. Other parks like Dollywood still has entertainment going.

Dollywood laid off 630 employees or over 20% of their employees during the pandemeic and most remaining took a 50% pay cut for quite some time. They are being brought back slowly. I have been to both parks and it is about the same as far as entertainment. Let just say mask wearing in the area is very lax as well.

 

[Jrb1979]

I understand some layoffs happening and likely being necessary. 32,000 is not necessary. Disney isn’t bankrupt and isn’t on the brink of such. They did not need to be this deep.

Like I said earlier. Whats really telling is how other parks have entertainment offerings but yet Disney can't. That is what I really don't understand.

 

[unbanshee]

I understand some layoffs happening and likely being necessary. 32,000 is not necessary. Disney isn’t bankrupt and isn’t on the brink of such. They did not need to be this deep.

Didn't Iger say he wanted a leaner workforce?

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. - The New York Times

 

[rteetz]

Like I said earlier. Whats really telling is how other parks have entertainment offerings but yet Disney can't. That is what I really don't understand.

Disney does have entertainment offerings. Could they have more? Yes. 32,000 aren’t just entertainment though and not all of entertainment has been laid off (although a very good majority has). The additional 4000 includes other areas of the company such as ESPN, ABC, studios, etc.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Didn't Iger say he wanted a leaner workforce?

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. - The New York Times

For sure, but I don't think it would be this bad ... And I think that leads to how many of that 32,000 will be brought back in the future?

 

[rteetz]

Didn't Iger say he wanted a leaner workforce?

Bob Iger Thought He Was Leaving on Top. Now, He’s Fighting for Disney’s Life. - The New York Times

Yes but that can be done more methodically. This is a full wiping out. Parks suffering the most. Parks need employees more than anything.

 

[xuxa777]

Lol, what? You're happy with one representation of math but not another?

Also, did you read it? If you did, you would know that Disney is "cutting back" more than 16% of their employees

No, the numbers have all been out there and reported on, but they express it as 1 and 6 because it is more emotional, 16% is the same as everyone else or less. Where in the article are does it state they are cutting back more than 16%?

 

[unbanshee]

No, the numbers have all been out there and reported on, but they express it as 1 and 6 because 16% is the same as everyone else or less. Where in the article are does it state they are cutting back more than 16%?

A little more than halfway through:

"In addition to the 32,000 layoffs, Disney said that there were approximately 37,000 Cast Members still on furlough – not collecting a paycheck, but receiving some benefits such as medical. When factoring in furloughs and layoffs, Disney is writing 34% fewer checks as a result of COVID-19. "

This means that they are cutting back on more than 1/3rd of their workforce. Whether the CMs are laid off or they are not getting paid, Disney has made major cuts and the math supports that

 

[xuxa777]

I understand some layoffs happening and likely being necessary. 32,000 is not necessary. Disney isn’t bankrupt and isn’t on the brink of such. They did not need to be this deep.

Disney employees losing their job is terrbile, we all can agree on that and I hate to see it anymore than anyone else. Disney strategy to get through the most challanging time in their history can be debated, however they know the numbers better than any of us. Bottom line is the pandemic sucks.

 

[New Mouse]

Disney employees losing their job is terrbile, we all can agree on that and I hate to see it anymore than anyone else. Disney strategy to get through the most challanging time in their history can be debated, however they know the numbers better than any of us. Bottom line is the pandemic sucks.

The bottom line is the ceo cares more about the bottom line than he does about the people who helped him get where he is.

34% with most likely not coming back is insane. The corporate talk of entertainment will be back.... with no details...is the feel good twisting.

Are other businesses cutting? Yes....do other businesses have billions in cash lying around? No.

 

[xuxa777]

A little more than halfway through:

"In addition to the 32,000 layoffs, Disney said that there were approximately 37,000 Cast Members still on furlough – not collecting a paycheck, but receiving some benefits such as medical. When factoring in furloughs and layoffs, Disney is writing 34% fewer checks as a result of COVID-19. "

This means that they are cutting back on more than 1/3rd of their workforce. Whether the CMs are laid off or they are not getting paid, Disney has made major cuts and the math supports that

Oh , ok "cutting back", you are conflating layoffs with furloughs, which is fine but not the point I made. I was just talking about the 1 and 6 number, and being 16%. Look around many many companies are going through layoffs and furloughs and a lot much more than Disney. Talk about entertainment, look at the live music sector, much more than 16%. It is going to get much worse. Disney is actually gettting ahead of it as painful as it is.

 

[xuxa777]

The bottom line is the ceo cares more about the bottom line than he does about the people who helped him get where he is.

34% with most likely not coming back is insane. The corporate talk of entertainment will be back.... with no details...is the feel good twisting.

Are other businesses cutting? Yes....do other businesses have billions in cash lying around? No.

You do not know the CEO personally , nor do I, so no basis on the claim he doesn't care about people. The business with 100 employees a million "lying" around gets a pass. Where is the line?

Scratch that , getting off topic.

I am glad they had pyro last night, nice Disney touch, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[New Mouse]

You do not know the CEO personally , nor do I, so no basis on the claim he doesn't care about people. The business with 100 employees a million "lying" around gets a pass. Where is the line?

Scratch that , getting off topic.

I am glad they had pyro last night, nice Disney touch, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I dont but actions are pretty telling when you have all the power to whats right.

 

[Oldnewfan]

I understand some layoffs happening and likely being necessary. 32,000 is not necessary. Disney isn’t bankrupt and isn’t on the brink of such. They did not need to be this deep.

Looking out for the stockholder. ONLY responsibility felt. They are looking at the Parks as its own business unit. They have to bring the Parks up as fast as possible or they will dig deeper.

 

[unbanshee]

Oh , ok "cutting back", you are conflating layoffs with furloughs, which is fine but not the point I made. I was just talking about the 1 and 6 number, and being 16%. Look around many many companies are going through layoffs and furloughs and a lot much more than Disney. Talk about entertainment, look at the live music sector, much more than 16%. It is going to get much worse. Disney is actually gettting ahead of it as painful as it is.

"Cutting back" is your term, not mine.

Also, if you're arguing that other companies are doing worse, I agree. That said, you won't find news about Best Buy or something like that on a Disney forum.

All that to say that this headline and article isn't clickbait in the slightest. It represents facts within the scope of the website that wrote it

 

[Oldnewfan]

Considering the layoffs that the moderator is referring, does anyone know how much the Parks are off in overall capacity (density of guests) AND resort closures. I would assume greater than 65% since Paris and DL are shuttered. How does that square with labor required? Are they actually holding into more than what it would take to keep the machine running at this level of reduced capacity. I assume so they could quickly reopen a resort or park? I guess my question is that as a business (emotion out) based on what is actually open or allowed in capacity, could tge numbers be much higher compared to what I saw when there for the 2019 holidays as a full out, jam packed, fully open business?

 

[Jrb1979]

Disney does have entertainment offerings. Could they have more? Yes. 32,000 aren’t just entertainment though and not all of entertainment has been laid off (although a very good majority has). The additional 4000 includes other areas of the company such as ESPN, ABC, studios, etc.

All I'm saying they could have easily kept the majority of the equity actors and brought in more entertainment. They didn't need to cut this much is all I'm saying. Its frustrating to see so many defend almost everything Disney does.

 

[Mit88]

There’s been a lot of clickbait-y headlines today regarding the layoff news. Some have made it sound like 32k additional CMs are getting laid off by March. Daily Mail has a misleading headline like that, but they normally do. Media outlets love to misrepresent any bad Disney news to make it even worse than it actually is. Yes the layoffs are awful, but it’s only 4K more by March, not 32k more.

Was actually coming here to say that. CNN was reporting he lay offs exactly like that, an additional 32,000 employees on top of the 28,000. And people still believe Universal gets the same share of media criticism as Disney.

 

[Mit88]

All I'm saying they could have easily kept the majority of the equity actors and brought in more entertainment. They didn't need to cut this much is all I'm saying. Its frustrating to see so many defend almost everything Disney does.

Most of the entertainment they could have provided would generate crowds which is a no-no in this current climate. It’s not defending Disney, layoffs are happening everywhere. Unfortunately right now Disney has no need for the employees they have, and will continue to lay off or else they’d keep them. What would be your plan, just throw CMs into the parks that are just there to stand around and do nothing but take up space?

 

[Jrb1979]

Most of the entertainment they could have provided would generate crowds which is a no-no in this current climate. It’s not defending Disney, layoffs are happening everywhere. Unfortunately right now Disney has no need for the employees they have, and will continue to lay off or else they’d keep them. What would be your plan, just throw CMs into the parks that are just there to stand around and do nothing but take up space?

No I wouldn't bring them into the parks to stand around. I understand the laying off if 28,000 CM's. I agree with Pete when he says the laying off of all the equity performers wasn't needed. I take it you haven't seen videos of what Dollywood or other parks have done. You can easily have entertainment in this current climate. They could have taken some of them and put them where the orchestra was and put on a Christmas performance.