Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Thegoatfeeder]

A lot of the debate is around when Disney will reopen, so for example lets say 4 months from now, parks, resorts everything. So the 21st August, what are peoples thoughts on the parks actually operating as intended though? We're kicking about this 3-6 month time-frame as a possibility, fantastic, but I think as other people have said, wold non-locals really want to visit if more than 50% of the 'stuff' to do is missing (Parades, shows, fireworks, character meets etc)?

I just wonder if we'll see normal park operation before the end of 2020? It seems likely parks will be open, but it still seems really unclear when they will be fully functioning again. I wonder how many more months they'll operate with a severely restricted offering.

 

[HuskieJohn]

Isn't there a DVC specific forum to ask these question. I had comments deleted by the Moderator for not staying onto task, so please keep comments to what is on this board.

I went looking through the DVC threads and I did not see any with any rumor info, so if someone knows what thread we should look please post a link.

 

[anthony2k7]

If i called my furloughed employees back today..they wouldnt ask when they would ask what time. people want to get back to work

Perhaps, but some might need to go through quarantine.

 

[Jroceagles]

Perhaps, but some might need to go through quarantine.

some might and some have....that doesnt stop business and we make do until that point

 

[anthony2k7]

How will Disney sell merchandise in Disney Springs ? The virus sticks to everything, will we need to use glows and face masks ?

Merch is an interesting problem for disney. They will have a huge backlog of stock - some of it with 2020 on that they need to get rid of.

 

[KBoopaloo]

Here is Video this morning of the Gov. of Florida talking about Disney. Saying that "Disney is so far ahead of the curve" on reopening. In constant talks with Disney.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1252593593916817411

Why on earth would Miami hotels be the choice for “leading the way back” when Miami has been one of if not the biggest hotspot in the state? Miami should be one of the last places to re-open, no?

 

[foreUT]

Why on earth would Miami hotels be the choice for “leading the way back” when Miami has been one of if not the biggest hotspot in the state? Miami should be one of the last places to re-open, no?

My understanding of the Governor's statement is Miami hotels are being creative and innovative on how to proceed to opening.

 

[yulilin3]

Isnt there potential that CMs are more displaced than usual week to week? Potentially gone home to family etc. So perhaps a little more notice would be needed than usual on the schedule?

Most cm live in central Florida, we've been under stay at home since mid March, and being furloughed means they can call you back at any time

 

[sromanello815]

All of the Executive Orders addressing travelers from various hot-spot States (EO-80, -82, -86) expire w the State of Emergency (EO-52) on 5/8, unless specifically extended.

Thank you for the info! We're traveling in August so wanted to check

 

[mattpeto]

Really not trying to add anything to the rumor mill, but I believe the NBA in Disney is the story we should be watching closely in terms of Disney of re-opening.

If a deal gets struck, I would assume that Disney would believe they won't be opening in any immediate time frame. It also sounds like the NBA commissioner is not quite ready to pull the trigger on something, but I'd expect closure on that situation over the next couple of weeks.

 

[JacknSally]

A lot of the debate is around when Disney will reopen, so for example lets say 4 months from now, parks, resorts everything. So the 21st August...

Another thing to consider is that Disney's fiscal year is not the same as the calendar year. @Thegoatfeeder, I know you threw out August as a hypothetical (it's all a hypothetical right now ) and this isn't really directed at you specifically, your post was just handy to quote.

Disney's fiscal year starts over in October... the longer this goes, the more sense it makes for them to just stay closed for the remainder of the fiscal year. It allows them more time to get their ducks in a row, see how everything pandemically and economically is shaking out, see what can be implemented across the parks, come up with replacements for anything that has to be eliminated, work out any supply chain issues, etc. - and they may be able to write this fiscal year off as a net operating loss (I think that's the right term, I'm not a tax professional so forgive me if I use the wrong jargon). Writing off the year as a loss may help them financially, and we all know they'll be looking for all the financial help they can get. July starts their fourth quarter and it may not make sense for them to reopen in the fourth quarter, especially the later into the fourth quarter things get. Maybe they stay closed to guests, but recall some CMs over the summer and get maintenance projects and some construction finished up.

October is also an anniversary month for WDW, so from a marketing/PR perspective, if Florida is in phase 4 by October, they can also spin the timing as a reason to have a larger "parks grand reopening" ceremony, and maybe promotion, in an anniversary month. The marketing really writes itself. WDW originally opened on October 1, and now it poignantly REopens, after an unprecedented closure, on October 1 - the magic never dies, come see our freshly painted castle, our new rides, our new merch, etc., etc.

A recent article posted in the thread mentioned an email from Disney that said they "didn't expect the furlough to last longer than 6 months", which at face value puts the furlough ending around October (though an October reopening would obviously mean CMs likely start being recalled in August or September to prepare for reopening).

Just something to consider.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

How will Disney sell merchandise in Disney Springs ? The virus sticks to everything, will we need to use glows and face masks ?

I am not sure that merchandise will be an issue. People have been ordering merchandise like crazy online. That merchandise has been handled by a lot of people to get it to people who ordered it.

Most of what I have seen lately says don't worry too much about packaging and merchandise you receive in the mail. They think the biggest transmission is person to person contact. At least, that is what I have seen lately. These things keep changing.

 

[anthony2k7]

some might and some have....that doesnt stop business and we make do until that point

In disneys case they will already be making do without many international CMs and DCP.

So CMs will probably need to be working in areas they perhaps dont usually work in - how multi skilled are CMs? Potentially additional training needed?

 

[jerry557]

I agree with all of this except I'd add that the government absolutely can require vaccination. And I fully expect that they will do so. A disease this deadly and this contagious is not something that people are going to be allowed to be inconsiderately ignorant about given the risk unvaccinated people will pose to everyone else including those with weakened immune systems who can't get a vaccine.

Considering the vaccine will be rushed, it's very unlikely it will be forced on people on day one. Maybe after several years of proof that the vaccine is safe and effective and easily distributed, then they may be able to enforce it some. But keep in mind, scientists have never found a vaccine that works against any virus in the coronavirus family. There is a lot of work that needs to be done before they get a vaccine. And 18 month time frame everyone keeps repeating is likely an optimistic estimate.

 

[anthony2k7]

I am not sure that merchandise will be an issue. People have been ordering merchandise like crazy online. That merchandise has been handled by a lot of people to get it to people who ordered it.

Most of what I have seen lately says don't worry too much about packaging and merchandise you receive in the mail. They think the biggest transmission is person to person contact. At least, that is what I have seen lately. These things keep changing.

Most stuff ordered online though has been in the outer packaging over 24 hrs before it reaches the customer. So the inner item is probably safe after 24 hours.

So the only risk is from the outer packaging which I would hope most people wash their hands after they have opened and disposed of the outer packaging.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Why on earth would Miami hotels be the choice for “leading the way back” when Miami has been one of if not the biggest hotspot in the state? Miami should be one of the last places to re-open, no?

He didn't say that at all. He's talking about innovation coming out of that region

 

[andyman8]

Most cm live in central Florida, we've been under stay at home since mid March, and being furloughed means they can call you back at any time

While that’s technically true, Disney is going to have give their CMs a little notice (a day or two).
As a former CM, I still know many CMs, and most of the younger ones (which make up a disproportionate part of their workforce) have left the area to be with family (as many young people are doing right now, regardless of the industry). While Disney definitely has the “right” to call those workers back on a moment’s notice, they’re realistic enough to know a little notice will be necessary for a smooth return to work. That said, I fully expect it to be a rolling callback of workers (based on lines of business, seniority, etc) as they ramp up towards an initial reopening and then reopening other elements of WDW.

I think an overlooked element of that six month furlough timeline is that when Disney anticipates no more ongoing furloughs, not when the first sets of furloughed workers return to work. I think we can all agree that WDW will reopen in phases in some way (DS and some resorts, MK, other parks, etc), which means that not all CMs are going to be needed back to work when WDW accepts it first guests since March. If only one of the four parks is operational for example, you only need 25% of your park ops workforce. Given the financial situation Disney Parks are now in, they’re not going to bring individual workers off furlough unless they need them. What Disney, to me, essentially is saying in that leaked email is that by six months, we expect to have most operations at WDW resumed in enough of a capacity that no CMs are on furlough. Now, those places all can be operating at a limited capacity and with limited hours and each CM may not necessarily be getting their 40 hours, but they’re not anticipating them to be furloughed.

I remain in the June camp about some sort of operations resuming at WDW, not saying what or how much.

 

[DavidHobart]

Another thing to consider is that Disney's fiscal year is not the same as the calendar year. @Thegoatfeeder, I know you threw out August as a hypothetical (it's all a hypothetical right now ) and this isn't really directed at you specifically, your post was just handy to quote.

Disney's fiscal year starts over in October... the longer this goes, the more sense it makes for them to just stay closed for the remainder of the fiscal year. It allows them more time to get their ducks in a row, see how everything pandemically and economically is shaking out, see what can be implemented across the parks, come up with replacements for anything that has to be eliminated, work out any supply chain issues, etc. - and they may be able to write this fiscal year off as a net operating loss (I think that's the right term, I'm not a tax professional so forgive me if I use the wrong jargon).

Write-offs on the income statement matter less than cash flow.

 

[2Lunds]

Article I posted earlier was behind a paywall. Here's another version.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/d...s-parks-may-not-open-until-january-2020-04-20

 

[e_yerger]

If they open the parks to locals only, how will this work with APs? I live out of state.