Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[JaNelson38]

It's a pandemic people. It's not a static situation. Disney doesn't have a drop dead date for reopening. I'm sure if they will open as soon as they can when they feel it's safe for both cast members and visitors.

Nobody has said otherwise. But I guarantee they have a plan in place for June 1 opening. Otherwise they wouldn't be taking new reservations starting then....they would be just declining new reservations 'until further notice' if they were truly clueless as to when they were going to open up.

They have plans for any number of scenarios I'm sure. But its important to keep in mind that even a name like Disney doesn't have an endless checkbook. This idea that they are going to be closed long into the summer is a fallacy. They will be open sooner rather than later.

 

[C&Jx2]

It's the whole "I was right you were wrong mentally" pretty childish imo
Im of the belief the parks will open in June, if they do, I'm not gonna come here and say "see, I got it right"
If they don't, I won't pay any mind to posters who come here to say "see, I was right"

Yep. Lots of these people lately...

I think you'll hear something tomorrow one way or the other.

Can I ask why you predict tomorrow?

 

[KBoopaloo]

It's a pandemic people. It's not a static situation. Disney doesn't have a drop dead date for reopening. I'm sure if they will open as soon as they can when they feel it's safe for both cast members and visitors.

Exactly this. I think he is being an honest when he says they don’t have a set date to reopen. I know that is true of many organizations - mine is planning for at least 3 different possibilities right now and we honestly have very little idea which is the most likely. I am sure they have a date they would like to open (probably June 1) but they are still not sure if that is possible. They are also probably still working out a million different plans for what a reopening looks like. All of this is a giant planning challenge and nightmare - it’s not like reopening after a natural disaster or a fire or really any other scenario.

 

[Eric Smith]

Yep. Lots of these people lately...


Can I ask why you predict tomorrow?

They're making an earnings report tomorrow and they'll probably make an announcement about where they stand with re-opening the parks.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Yep. Lots of these people lately...


Can I ask why you predict tomorrow?

Earnings call is tomorrow.

 

[C&Jx2]

They're making an earnings report tomorrow and they'll probably make an announcement about where they stand with re-opening the parks.

Oh that’s right. Thank you

 

[SierraT]

Watched the part of the conference from today where the Disney guy would absolutely not commit to a date. This is just so typical of Disney so I’m not surprised. The Universal and Seaworld guys said they are waiting for the data and are all kind of just in limbo.

I didn’t take it as a negative after listening to it. It’s the same information we already know. In other words, absolutely of no help and I want my 10 minutes back.

 

[cakebaker]

I guess context would help. Did he say that in response to be probed & asked about a June opening date b/c they’re accepting reservations or was it just info he volunteered.

He was being pressured to give dates, as was Universal. The head of the task force also said Universal has said they were opening June 1. Their guy jumped in and said, nope, we are not announcing an opening date. That's really all this is- neither park is ready to announce an opening date. I'll look at the time stamp and try and post where to look for those comments. It was kind of hard to find exactly where they started talking.

 

[Tandy]

Nobody has said otherwise. But I guarantee they have a plan in place for June 1 opening. Otherwise they wouldn't be taking new reservations starting then....they would be just declining new reservations 'until further notice' if they were truly clueless as to when they were going to open up.

They have plans for any number of scenarios I'm sure. But its important to keep in mind that even a name like Disney doesn't have an endless checkbook. This idea that they are going to be closed long into the summer is a fallacy. They will be open sooner rather than later.

I assure you.
They have a plan for June 1, and June 2, and June 3rd, and so on...
The issue is they have to find out when to enact the plan safely. Whatever day that falls on they are not going to be blindsided with no reservations in place.

 

[Pickle Rick]

Watched the part of the conference from today where the Disney guy would absolutely not commit to a date. This is just so typical of Disney so I’m not surprised. The Universal and Seaworld guys said they are waiting for the data and are all kind of just in limbo.

I didn’t take it as a negative after listening to it. It’s the same information we already know. In other words, absolutely of no help and I want my 10 minutes back.

Why should he commit to a date if he or Disney aren't 100% sure if they will open on that date?

 

[Krandor]

They may not have a date yet. This is a very fluid situation.

Exacly. Mostly likely they are going to watch what happens to the numbers as rettaurants and things start to open up. They may have a current projected date they want to open that is subject to change based on the numbers.

 

[cakebaker]

I guess context would help. Did he say that in response to be probed & asked about a June opening date b/c they’re accepting reservations or was it just info he volunteered.

He was being pressured to give dates, as was Universal. The head of the task force also said Universal has said they were opening June 1. Their guy jumped in and said, nope, we are not announcing an opening date. Because the head of the task force mentioned the June 1 bookings, I think Disney felt forced to make sure that wasn't assumed to be the opening date. They don't want it announced yet, whether it's true or not. That's really all this is- neither park is ready to announce an opening date. I'll look at the time stamp and try and post where to look for those comments. It was kind of hard to find exactly where they started talking.

 

[SierraT]

Edit - Scroll down for a better link to the conference.

 

[cakebaker]

Here's the archived video. Start at around 29:20 for the start of the theme park discussion. https://netapps.ocfl.net/Mod/meetin...AjSwKC_VoK1JdvnpkVjvk1nRYWnVUkjoHpCQKvX9-uijA

 

[woody337]

I mean I don’t know where it was posted, but I can confirm this as a fact since I drive by there a couple times a week since the shutdown.

So basically no change

 

[MickeyWaffles]

The "we are taking reservations starting in June but that doesn't mean we're opening" comment is what I was saying is depressing. I don't have a trip in June, mine is in July, but this isn't a very good PR statement for Disney to make. If they were that uncertain about their opening dates they should have set the rebooking period for those with canceled/affected trips for later. If I had a trip in June I would be very disheartened by that statement, especially if I had an affected trip. People have confidence in Disney, that's why they rebooked for that time period when Disney said they could starting June 1, if Disney had said "we may not be open in June" people probably would have been like "they're not confident so I'll book for later". All they had to say this morning was "we do not have an opening date set at this time, we will inform everyone when we have made a decision."

And yet, I can’t imagine anyone booking for June 1 thinking their trip was 100% safe, even if Disney allowed them to book it. I know I wouldn’t. I think it was good for him to say that one thing doesn’t mean the other. It’s transparent. Anyone uncertain can move their trip later. But, I also truly believe they don’t know exactly when they will open. I think they’re planning for different timing scenarios.

I’ve always thought this June 1 stuff was optimistic, but a distant possibility that it was a goal for opening resorts. I don’t think they want to cancel reservations that could *potentially* happen.

Honestly, I think people need to be looking at the situation as a whole. Everything is fluid. Even if Disney made a statement and announcement, things could still change during this historic and unprecedented event.

 

[Pickle Rick]

Exacly. Mostly likely they are going to watch what happens to the numbers as rettaurants and things start to open up. They may have a current projected date they want to open that is subject to change based on the numbers.

They probably have a few "dates" where they may want to open. If one falls through, then onto the next. Probably why they won't commit yet.

 

[Lewisc]

It's the whole "I was right you were wrong mentally" pretty childish imo
Im of the belief the parks will open in June, if they do, I'm not gonna come here and say "see, I got it right"
If they don't, I won't pay any mind to posters who come here to say "see, I was right"

Aren't people just making guesses? Has Disney even made a decision yet? The medical advice keeps evolving. I'm assuming Disney will have to start recalling CM's 2-4 weeks before opening. I don't know how long it will take to install the plexiglass shields protecting cashiers. They went up overnight in NY area stores.

It sure looks like June 1 the earliest, and possibly target date.

Some random thoughts.

I keep reading about disposable menus. I'm not sure why restaurants can't either have a menu board or app based menus.
I keep reading about a minimum contact time necessary for transmission. If social distancing is less important if people are near for under 15 minutes running resort buses might be doable.

Most experts suggest masks help protect others. Many posters don't think mask use will be widely ignored and not enforced. Not sure how that will work for Disney. IF Disney thinks masks are needed and doesn't enforce it Disney might have moral, and possible legal, liability

 

[cakebaker]

The "we are taking reservations starting in June but that doesn't mean we're opening" comment is what I was saying is depressing. I don't have a trip in June, mine is in July, but this isn't a very good PR statement for Disney to make. If they were that uncertain about their opening dates they should have set the rebooking period for those with canceled/affected trips for later. If I had a trip in June I would be very disheartened by that statement, especially if I had an affected trip. People have confidence in Disney, that's why they rebooked for that time period when Disney said they could starting June 1, if Disney had said "we may not be open in June" people probably would have been like "they're not confident so I'll book for later". All they had to say this morning was "we do not have an opening date set at this time, we will inform everyone when we have made a decision."

Universal refused to give any opening date either. I always knew just because they were booking starting June 1, it didn't mean they would definitely open. They offered that in late March. Things can change. I think what he said was completely appropriate. To say that there were opening when they aren't ready to announce it would be irresponsible. Do I think they have an opening date target? Yup, and I think it's June 1. Nothing in this meeting changes my mind about that.

 

[SierraT]

Why should he commit to a date if he or Disney aren't 100% sure if they will open on that date?

I don’t believe I said that.

I will say that I also did not take the conference as a negative as is being portrayed here. Disney is very noncommittal and secretive so this should be of no surprise to anyone. There are no guarantees and most people are aware of that fact.