Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[woody337]

Exactly. We arrive July 5 and our final payment is due June 6. If Disney hasn't announced anything at that point and is still cancelling week to week, I am going to have a really hard time making that final payment...

I don’t see how anyone would make the final payment 30 days prior to a place that isn’t sure what they are doing, other than catering to the nba

 

[chad_1138]

I don’t see how anyone would make the final payment 30 days prior to a place that isn’t sure what they are doing, other than catering to the nba

I posted this in another thread, but we decided last night that if they cancel due to the NBA, we are going to take our money and purchase annual passes to Universal.

 

[woody337]

I posted this in another thread, but we decided last night that if they cancel due to the NBA, we are going to take our money and purchase annual passes to Universal.

My wife and I discussed moving our anniversary trip to universal last night and including sea world and the space center.

 

[cakebaker]

Next Sunday/Monday will be 30 days out for July arrivals, and our payments are still due 30 days out. If nothing is said, that is going to put July tips in a really rough spot.

Concerns for those with payments due and trips planned does not seem to be a priority for Disney right now. Email them, voice your opinion there. It's all you can do. I hope everyone who is contemplating cancelling their trips or making the switch to Universal and all the other parks opening to guests would at least shoot off an email telling them exactly why you're doing it.

 

[woody337]

Concerns for those with payments due and trips planned does not seem to be a priority for Disney right now. Email them, voice your opinion there. It's all you can do. I hope everyone who is contemplating cancelling their trips or making the switch to Universal and all the other parks opening to guests would at least shoot off an email telling them exactly why you're doing it.

That’s a great idea.

 

[BrerMama]

Not sure I get why people are saying the NBA wouldn’t go to the parks. Don’t a lot Of the have kids they’d be traveling with? I would think a big part of the deal would be a semi private Magic Kingdom.

The whole point of the NBA creating a "bubble" by staying and playing at WDW is to limit contact with the outside world. The players are going to work and finish playing their games. I would imagine if family is allowed to join them, they would be expected to also stay in the bubble. You can't have Player A taking daily rapid tests, not leaving the hotel, being bussed to WWOS, and then back, but his family going out to play in the parks and be exposed to the general public. I would expect Disney to have children's activities, maybe show movies in a conference room, etc., but the whole purpose is for the players to finish their work and contracts. It is not for them to go play at Disney when they're off.

 

[KittyKitty]

Comply with mask or don't go....should be simple. I have no problem calling someone out

I agree.
Living in the Seattle area, I have worn a mask every time I leave my home, for over 2 months. Is it a pain, yes. But I see the reason. Respecting my fellow man/woman to protect them and me. I'm willing to do it so I can go to WDW.

 

[yulilin3]

No schedules. When it comes without times i post that the schedules were posted with no shifts. I expect them to come out on Wednesday again

Also to add on the schedules front, Universal has announced they are switching their days to Tuesdays, they usually release their schedules on Thursdays. Obviously with them opening in a week, they have to release the schedule sooner, so Tuesday we will know who's been called back for Universal. My future DiL is a character performer at Universal and she's really hoping to get called back, she also sings with the Frog Choir but as of yesterday, their contract has not been extended

 

[KBoopaloo]

Oh wow another 30 pages to catch up on!

I think there are two very critical unresolved and very contentious issues for disney still to resolve.

1. They agreed with the union everyone would wear masks. CMs, guests, everyone. Now with DS open and before the full peak of summer there is already non-compliance and the comments from potential guests are brutal. How does disney get around that when they promised the union as part of safety of CMs returning??

2. Disney used a very clear phrase for the financial condition of reopening - positive financial contribution I think it was? Disney and universal have no real clue how many people will arrive, and even more critical how much they will spend on food and merch. For DS on opening day there were people, but in the 30 minute video I saw after they had been open several hours I think I saw one person with a shopping bag. Apparently numbers have dropped off since then?

Maybe disney is convinced opening now will cost more than staying closed with all staff furloughed. Maybe they'll wait it out and see how universal goes with actual guest spending first.

I think the financial part may be a big part of it. Managing people in a different way than you normally operate often requires higher staffing levels even with fewer guests (we are determining this at my organization). I think this is especially true at Disney with transportation - if they want to limit the number of people on buses so they can spread out, they will still need a lot of buses. If they contract with Advent Health to administer temp checks that is another additional cost. Custodial costs will also be higher. Limiting seating space in TS restaurants really only means you can cut back on serving staff - the kitchen staff will likely have to be close to the same as for a full restaurant or just slightly reduced. So I think their operational costs will be very similar or not much less than than operating at regular summer attendance levels even with only 20-30% of guests.

No, what they collect from the NBA will not come close to the parks being fully open and operational but it may be enough to buy them some time so they can reopen later at a point when restrictions may not have to be so plentiful which would likely help their balance sheet.

 

[yulilin3]

I confess I haven't followed the whole NBA bubble discussion. But they can always close the parks earlier and then leave them open an hour for the players and families, just like DAH parties, plus of course they would also have to comply to whatever guidelines day guests have

 

[Lewisc]

I confess I haven't followed the whole NBA bubble discussion. But they can always close the parks earlier and then leave them open an hour for the players and families, just like DAH parties, plus of course they would also have to comply to whatever guidelines day guests have

Maybe not just an hour. Maybe NBA pays for fireworks or ar least castle projections

 

[mmackeymouse]

Not sure I get why people are saying the NBA wouldn’t go to the parks. Don’t a lot Of the have kids they’d be traveling with? I would think a big part of the deal would be a semi private Magic Kingdom.

Well the whole point was to be in a bubble. The more places that are ventured out to, the more there is a chance of exposure, which defeats the purpose of the bubble.

Here's the thing about the kids. And I know this might be harsh. But, this is not a vacay. This whole thing isn't some situation to boost goodwill and humanity across the world. It's a JOB. It's an opportunity for these players to earn their salary. This isn't summer league. This isn't All Star game weekend.

Now, I'm not heartless. If players want their families to be there to come watch them play....come watch them be in the playoffs, be in the finals, that's completely understandable. But, as a chance for your kids to get free rein of the parks and some free family vacation? No.

 

[gwynne]

Well the whole point was to be in a bubble. The more places that are ventured out to, the more there is a chance of exposure, which defeats the purpose of the bubble.

Here's the thing about the kids. And I know this might be harsh. But, this is not a vacay. This whole thing isn't some situation to boost goodwill and humanity across the world. It's a JOB. It's an opportunity for these players to earn their salary. This isn't summer league. This isn't All Star game weekend.

Now, I'm not heartless. If players want their families to be there to come watch them play....come watch them be in the playoffs, be in the finals, that's completely understandable. But, as a chance for your kids to get free rein of the parks and some free family vacation? No.

Disney has lots of experience providing after hours events and private parties. I would expect such events if the deal goes through.

 

[Lewisc]

The original "leaked" plans suggested players only. Subsequent "leaked" info suggested union wouldn't agree to isolate players from their families for months.

 

[Jroceagles]

I'm truly hoping that Disney releases their plan on Wednesday as Mayor Demmings indicated. Something has to be said this week, for many reasons, but here is one. Guest who have June arrivals have the option to make their final payment 7 days before arrival. Next Sunday/Monday will be 30 days out for July arrivals, and our payments are still due 30 days out. If nothing is said, that is going to put July tips in a really rough spot.

Agreed. They could come out Wednesday and say we are opening June ____ or July _____ and then the "what are they waiting for" debates can stop. They do need to say something....its the right thing to do when everyone else is opening

 

[mmackeymouse]

Disney has lots of experience providing after hours events and private parties. I would expect such events if the deal goes through.

Again, that's not the point of all this.

It's not about bringing Junior and the rest of the family to Disney World for a vacation. It's about having a controlled environment to finish their season, and earn their wages.

 

[yulilin3]

Again, that's not the point of all this.

It's not about bringing Junior and the rest of the family to Disney World for a vacation. It's about having a controlled environment to finish their season, and earn their wages.

I agree, but if the families need to come there's an option to continue having them in the "bubble"

 

[Sarahslay]

I don’t think people fully grasp the effect the potential NBA deal will have on WDW opening to the public. It’s not like they’ll cram the entire league into Coronado Springs and call it a day. The NBA would likely take over the entire resort and push the public opening (at least on the resort side) back significantly. That being said, I think there are too many reasons for this not to happen...

I also don't think that Disney is necessarily housing all of them in their resorts. There are MANY hotels nearly WWOS that are nice and big, and who usually house conventions which have no been cancelled leaving them with vast amounts of empty rooms. They could go any number of ways with this.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

It’s not about taking their kids to Disney, but if their families come their kids will be in Disney and while I think whenever they want it access to the parks or even one isn’t happening, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of park time worked into the deal, even just at the end.

 

[gwynne]

Again, that's not the point of all this.

It's not about bringing Junior and the rest of the family to Disney World for a vacation. It's about having a controlled environment to finish their season, and earn their wages.

Yes, and two things can be done at about the same time.
Resume the NBA as well as provide some enjoyable recreation. Disney is pretty good at this stuff. For a price, of course.
(And the recreation opportunities will happen with or without families.)