Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[DGsAtBLT]

They have though? They keep saying their decision will be driven by data and not a date. I know no one wants to believe it but I 100% believe that they have multiple working plans and each one’s likelihood changes by the day. This is true in my own organization where we are waffling between multiple potential reopening dates. One seems to be the most likely but is far from being set in stone and we will not discuss any of them publicly until we are more certain. We truly thought we were working towards one date this week and now that appears to be a bit upended and we are back to a lot of .

This also helps explain why usually reliable sources can’t be counted on like in the past.

For example, I 100% believe Pete had trustworthy sources that pointed to June 1st as the hard opening date, but the problem here isn’t the sources it’s the frequency plans change.

 

[fla4fun]

They have though? They keep saying their decision will be driven by data and not a date. I know no one wants to believe it but I 100% believe that they have multiple working plans and each one’s likelihood changes by the day. This is true in my own organization where we are waffling between multiple potential reopening dates. One seems to be the most likely but is far from being set in stone and we will not discuss any of them publicly until we are more certain. We truly thought we were working towards one date this week and now that appears to be a bit upended and we are back to a lot of .

I agree. I won’t say where I work, or the line of business, but I will compare it to something a lot of people here would understand. Let’s say I worked for a company that provides third party housekeeping for Orlando hotels. We might want to open now, but if the hotels are closed, they don’t need our housekeepers and we have no choice but to stay closed. So say half of the hotels we service want to open on June 1 but the rest want to wait until June 30. Then we may partially open on one date and then ramp up as needed. Sometimes the final decision is made by circumstances out of our control.

We really don’t know all the interrelated decisions that come into play when reopening something like WDW. Between suppliers of all types and getting enough staff and training them on any new protocols, there are lots of things that could cause a delay. It didn’t shut down in one fell swoop, and it likely won’t open that way either. I am in the group of people who will hear this week if their June trip is a no go, so I understand the point of wanting to know. I would guess they have a few dates in mind but are still gathering information regarding whether those dates are realistic based on what they need to do behind the scenes.

 

[Pickle Rick]

Well last I checked, Seaworld is also experiencing a pandemic.

Seaworld didn't necessarily commit to an opening date either, only what they'd hope to do. And if News 6 is correct, they aren't presenting anything tomorrow either, apparently only UO (and what they will present is anyone's guess).

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/l...-june-interim-ceo-says-at-tourism-roundtable/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Orange County Mayor stated in Q&A just now that they expect all reopening plans to be submitted and he will be reviewing for compliance to CDC recommendations. He said he is waiting final recommendations from the task force tomorrow after close of business.

I’m glad all the ducks are lined up. And by lined up I mean in a scatter plot form.

 

[brockash]

No cancellations for the week yet (we have an AKL stay starting on June 12th so we are on deck) - but not expecting it for another hour or so at the earliest? If UO or Sea World drops an opening date in our range and Disney doesn't follow, we'll try for there instead assuming we can get park tickets.

This was the decision we made this morning as well. We're booked 6/8-6/13... I'm sure Disney won't be open, just waiting on the cancellation, but if Universal and/or SW and/or even Busch Gardens at this point opens; we'll still go but do that and stsy somewhere elsr instead of Disney. This is the 3rd time we've rebooked and we're just sick of playing the waiting game.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

After these rolling cancellations & lack of transparency (Even with some of it being out of Disney’s control), if they publicly announce they’re going to hold off the opening, so the NBA can have the property to themselves, it would be a breaking point for a lot of people. Yes, Disney is a business, and their shareholders come first. However, Disney is also a brand and social media would have a field day with that. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but I think it would be a bad PR move and definitely a bad guest recovery move. If my money is not good enough for you, there’s another park in town.

Having the NBA (&MLS) won’t mean the parks wait to open. It would mean they’d be opening at a smaller capacity if multiple disney resorts are being used. But... There was an article last week about MLS at WDW - it referenced “resorts close to WDW”

 

[skeeter31]

Disney also has a lot more to lose with announcing an opening date before they’re ready. The amount of resort rooms that would have people calling wanting refunds. SeaWorld and Universal don’t have anything close to the amount of rooms a Disney does. Disney will want to continue on the week by week cancellation so as to not overwhelm the phone centers.

 

[Jrb1979]

Well last I checked, Seaworld is also experiencing a pandemic.

I think it's easier to implement social distancing at SeaWorld then Universal or Disney as it's mostly shows. Its easy to keep people apart in outdoor theatres. Not to be rude but you see more Karen types at Disney then SeaWorld.

 

[AmberMV]

Since I spent almost a decade in the Florida hospitality sector, I have hundreds of friends who still work in Florida hospitality. One just said she got a phone call today for coming into work starting tomorrow...though she works in a third party Disney Springs restaurant, so not owned by Disney. But this could be an indicator how little notice some people may get for certain positions...

 

[Tandy]

Having the NBA (&MLS) won’t mean the parks wait to open. It would mean they’d be opening at a smaller capacity if multiple resorts are being used. There was an article last week about MLS at WDW - it referenced “resorts close to WDW”

That is true. They could easily stay at the Waldorf or Hilton

 

[OnceUponATime15]

That is true. They could easily stay at the Waldorf or Hilton

Or the giagantic Gaylord Palms, lol..

No shortage of places to stay in Orlando

 

[Darklord77]

Not to be rude but you see more Karen types at Disney then SeaWorld.

Everyone loves a "Karen." As long as the "Kyle's" stay away I'm good with it.

 

[KBoopaloo]

Since I spent almost a decade in the Florida hospitality sector, I have hundreds of friends who still work in Florida hospitality. One just said she got a phone call today for coming into work starting tomorrow...though she works in a third party Disney Springs restaurant, so not owned by Disney. But this could be an indicator how little notice some people may get for certain positions...

I think the unions require at least a 5 or 7 day notice for Disney CMs working at Disney owned locations though.

 

[BryGuy415]

I have not gotten cancelled for June 10 yet...but I'm pretty sure it is coming. I think I may just miss the opening by a week.

I think you're right - I think there's at least one more round of cancellations

 

[cakebaker]

That is true. They could easily stay at the Waldorf or Hilton

The fact that the Tower is completely unavailable, when nothing else is sold out means something- the convenience of being in the bubble is the draw to WDW to start with.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Well last I checked, Seaworld is also experiencing a pandemic.

I don’t think you can compare Sea World & WDW. WDW is a huge web of parks, resorts, transportation and has many more visitors than Sea World. WDW is so much more complicated. Completely different scale.

Sea World is used to having lower attendance, as their own CEO stated in early May.

 

[fla4fun]

I’m glad all the ducks are lined up. And by lined up I mean in a scatter plot form.

. . . and six feet apart . . . with masks on

 

[Jrb1979]

SeaWorld also referenced Busch Gardens Tampa in the discussion.

Both parks would be easier to implement physical distancing measures in place. SeaWorld has already been testing Mako and Kraken with employees wearing masks. I can see both parks opening with out the pet show as it's indoors.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1263210676195069953