Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[cakebaker]

Based on what I was told I don’t think it’s that laughable. My source could be wrong but...

It would depend on what kind of delay in opening it was, I suppose pushing to early July for any reason isn’t crazy to me. But to think they’d continue to be closed for several more months into August or September? I can’t imagine it. The blowback will be horrendous.

I’m as big a Disney loyalist as they come, but even I have my limits.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Even with the NBA coming several cast members would get to go back to work.

not nearly the amount if even one park were open.

 

[rteetz]

not nearly the amount if even one park were open.

No but at the same time it was always going to be a gradual bring back. It wasn’t just going to be 70,000 CMs show up on X date.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I don’t understand why it is so difficult for people to even consider the idea that Universal could be opening waaaaay before Disney planned to. And that they may have planned to have NBA fill the void while the parks and resorts were closed.

It is possible that Disney doesn’t think opening asap is the right choice, regardless of what Universal is doing.

Really, anything is possible.

 

[hertamaniac]

Gatorland showing how they opened today and their measures for safety. I do like the Skunk Ape as an enforcer.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/l...fter-covid-19-shuts-down-park-for-two-months/

 

[SierraT]

But I have been following the rules. Ive left my house 4 times (not including walking my dog) since March 14th, all of which to go to the grocery store. What I plan to do in the future is irrelevant because we dont know what travel guidelines will be in place by the time I go on vacation. But Ive been very vocal with having no issue with wearing a mask in the parks, or limited capacity, or certain experiences being limited. I am not sick, nor have I been since I started staying at home. That doesnt mean that I havent had the virus as I could have been asymptomatic. My flight out of Maryland, if I still go, is on June 15th. I did my 3 weeks worth of grocery shopping on thursday night meaning I wont be leaving my home until I drive down to Maryland, meaning if I did contract the virus on Thursday, I have more than enough time before I leave for Maryland to get over the virus. And if I didnt contract it on thursday, that leaves Maryland and Florida as the only places I would be able to contract it.

So you can call me hypocritical all you want, but I’m likely being as, or more safe than anyone that has a problem with how I decide to travel in the future

I haven’t been following the thread closely the last couple days but I will say as far as rules go, I had to wear a mask today for 2 hours and there is no way on God’s green earth I’m wearing one in 90 degrees. I felt like I was suffocating and ripped that baby off as soon as I could.

If the rules are to wear a mask in August (just rescheduled for the 3rd time), I will be waiting. Totally understand the rules and would not want to circumvent them, but masks are not for me.

 

[andyman8]

Based on what I was told I don’t think it’s that laughable. My source could be wrong but...

It would depend on what kind of delay in opening it was, I suppose.pushing to early July for any reason isn’t crazy to me. But to think they close for several more months into August or September? I can’t imagine it. The blowback will be horrendous.

That would be my question as well. If we're talking a delay from June until mid-or-late July, that wouldn't surprise me at all so they can see how things go at UOR and other parks. If we're talking about a delay until late August or late September (possibly waiting for the NBA season to be done, as has been speculated here), that would certainly surprise me. That kind of delay would certainly result in a larger loss for the Parks, Experiences, Products unit than what the NBA would be bringing in.

Disney has also said that they didn't expect the furlough to last more than six months, so that would mean they'd have all CMs back in some capacity by mid-October. That'd be hard to pull of with a September initial reopening. Obviously, that could've changed, but I have a hard time finding them keeping many CMs out of work (park, operations, and transportation CMs make up a huge chunk of CMs) until the fall because of the NBA. Just my two cents.

 

[rteetz]

That would be my question as well. If we're talking a delay from June until mid-or-late July, that wouldn't surprise me at all so they can see how things go at UOR and other parks. If we're talking about a delay until late August or late September (possibly waiting for the NBA season to be done, as has been speculated here), that would certainly surprise me. That kind of delay would certainly result in a larger loss for the Parks, Experiences, Products unit than what the NBA would be bringing in.

Disney is worried about compliance and entitlement. They are looking at taking backlash instead of people disobeying mask requirements and not listening to rules. Disney struggles with enforcement. Disney I think wants to wait until some requirements would be relaxed before opening up much.

 

[bb32]

By "admission" do you mean the higher room rate Disney charges people who stay in club level rooms? I also don't think pre-packaged food would up their cost, some of them actually do serve some amazing food for 3 meals and dessert, plus alcohol and other beverages throughout the day. It's not just lox and bagels, I've had pork belly, scallops, what my daughters believe is the best mac n' cheese in the world, and a fresh waffle bar (and that was just on my January trip to BWI CL, and that's not even all the food I had). Their cost in many of the CL, although they aren't all created equal in offerings, is still pretty high so replacing a lot of this food with granola bar and other snack packets isn't going to affect that price point at all. If anything people would be screaming they aren't getting what they paid for. I can see how it would be near impossible to impose restrictions with their services though, and I would understand if they stopped offering it in the time being to cut down on the headache it would bring.

Yeah essentially they’d charge a higher room rate as it’s bundled together. The CL price would be rack room rate + modifier whatever cost they deemed CL access worth. Some hotels will vary the modifier cost based on crowd control or peak/low seasons.

Never been to a WDW CL but that sounds awesome to have that level of food. Generally anything pre-made or packaged would be at a higher cost as the costs of bulk food items say beef, pork, rice can be split across multiple outlets at the resort.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Disney is worried about compliance and entitlement. They are looking at taking backlash instead of people disobeying mask requirements and not listening to rules. Disney struggles with enforcement. Disney I think wants to wait until some requirements would be relaxed before opening up much.

I agree in thinking the delay has to do with all the people saying no way to masks more NBA keeping parks closed. if Disney looked at just this board they would see a number of people saying no way to masks.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I agree in thinking the delay has to do with all the people saying no way to masks more NBA keeping parks closed. if Disney looked at just this board they would see a number of people saying no way to masks.

The comments on the parks blog were brutal.

 

[AmberMV]

I live in central Florida. It's been 90* and humid and I'm not having a problem. I wear it with sun glasses, and other than glasses fogging up a bit occasionally it really hasn't been a big deal at all. I think it's more about finding the right mask for you. I've tried a few different ones, and by far the ones that loop around my ears are the most comfortable and don't require adjusting, as opposed to the ones that go around the back of your head. I also just got the next gaiter ones and because of the print on them I'm not about to wear a tiger face or shark face to the store But those are comfortable and breathable. And yes, I've worn it inside like the grocery store, and outside while I clean up my garden just to test it out in the heat. I am healthy, with no medical conditions, not on any medications for anything, but I don't work out and I'm not what I would consider "fit", for reference.

 

[cakebaker]

I agree in thinking the delay has to do with all the people saying no way to masks more NBA keeping parks closed. if Disney looked at just this board they would see a number of people saying no way to masks.

And yet Universal is doing it.

 

[Eric Smith]

Even with the NBA coming several cast members would get to go back to work.

It wouldn’t bring nearly as many back as opening the resorts and parks would.
I absolutely agree that Disney would be crapping all over their fans by bringing the NBA on property to finish the season at the expense of opening parks. They’d have to bring up a much better reason than money for doing that. I’m sure people could go a lot of different destinations with the fortune it costs to go to Disney.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

And yet Universal is doing it.

they seemed to have better wearing of masks at City Walk opening than Disney Springs. i don't follow Universal so I don't know how it has been at their site but they knew it was a given when they announced.

 

[rteetz]

And yet Universal is doing it.

On a smaller scale. Universal and Disney are not the same. Both places have seen non-compliance.

 

[Spridell]

Based on what I was told I don’t think it’s that laughable. My source could be wrong but...

Whats your thoughts on how Disney would spin this though?

Lets say we get through July with UO open full force with no major problems and no major spikes and 90% of World is still closed.

Surely at that point the stock would take a big hit no? Shareholders wouldn't be too happy either I am guessing.

This of course all speculation we get through ALL of july with most still shut.

Just curious on your thoughts, Thanks

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I am thinking that CL availability has more to do with the need to socially distance in the lounge. In order to keep the tables far enough apart to meet the requirements of the local public health unit they will need to remove about half of the tables, maybe more in the smaller lounges.

Can you imagine the outcry from the CL guests who’ve come back from a park day needing an adult beverage and something to nibble on — only to be told that the lounge is at covid capacity and the line up to get in starts right here.. but stay 6 feet apart please. And put on your mask until you are seated with your wine/beer/tequila

If i’m paying CL prices for the amenities - I want what i’ve paid for (at a hefty premium) and I don’t want to line up through the halls to get it.
smh..

 

[JacknSally]

Disney is worried about compliance and entitlement. They are looking at taking backlash instead of people disobeying mask requirements and not listening to rules. Disney struggles with enforcement. Disney I think wants to wait until some requirements would be relaxed before opening up much.

Completely agree with this.

I've seen a lot of mention of "Disney would never", but 2020 clearly picked "unprecedented" to be its Word of the Year. All the rules are out the window.

I agree with you @rteetz that all of this could very well make people extra frustrated. Disney is such a unique beast - their brand is so ingrained in people's lives (especially for the level of Disney fans here on the boards) that I think some people sometimes forget that Disney isn't a friend and the best move for the company may not always line up with what fans want or think they should do. When the decisions don't line up, some people take it very personally.

A lot of people here have said Disney is hemorrhaging money and will never survive if they don't get some income flowing ASAP. Maybe the NBA deal allows that to happen, even if it incurs some guest backlash. If it comes down to NBA-income-to-keep-the-business-afloat-but-upsetting-some-people vs. better general PR, they might be willing to take the PR hit if they think they can turn the PR around down the road. They might not. I won't pretend to know how their pro/con list is weighted right now.

Disney faces a PR backlash no matter what they do. Anything they announce will be too soon and too late, too much and too little. Some people will be thrilled, some people will swear off ever going back. That will either stick or it won't. If it sticks, other people will take their places over time.

Disney'll do their best to predict what kind of financial and non-financial response they'll get from hosting the NBA vs. not hosting the NBA vs. opening everything vs. only opening some things vs. having masks in the summer vs. waiting so maybe people won't need masks vs. enforcing all the rules vs. just being magical and fun, and then they'll weigh all that information and all of the many pros and cons that go with EVERY option, and then they'll decide what they're going to do.

And that decision will definitely upset some people, no matter what the decision is.

 

[gwynne]

I am thinking that CL availability has more to do with the need to socially distance in the lounge. In order to keep the tables far enough apart to meet the requirements of the local public health unit they will need to remove about half of the tables, maybe more in the smaller lounges.

Can you imagine the outcry from the CL guests who’ve come back from a park day needing an adult beverage and something to nibble on — only to be told that the lounge is at covid capacity and the line up to get in starts right here.. but stay 6 feet apart please. And put on your mask until you are seated with your wine/beer/tequila

If i’m paying CL prices for the amenities - I want what i’ve paid for (at a hefty premium) and I don’t want to line up through the halls to get it.
smh..

I'd doubt the plan is to line up. I could see them doing some sort of room service.