Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Krandor]

It is STILL very early. Only this week is there REASONS to travel to Orlando for vacation. Disney opening in July will definitely hurt the Orlando tourism for June.

Who knows when people will be comfortable doing vacations again. A lot of people are ready to get out there (as indicated by my local beaches) . .but a lot of people (even those that are young and healthy) are not and may not be until there is some sort of "protection" from the virus.

I'm ok going to local retaurants and currently have a six flags reservattioon for a few days after they open but I can try to keep my space at those locations and if it gets more crowded then I like leave.

I'm not ready to get on a plane for several hours contact with the same people with no ability to leave and likely little ability to spread out.

 

[tinkerhon]

I think this is possibly a bit of an overreaction. This is very different from past recessions and I think it’s likely we recover from it much quicker. Of course anything is possible.

Also, the more we learn about the virus, the better we are getting at knowing how to live with it. And if the WHO statement yesterday about asymptomatic transmission being rare is true, then things could go back to normal much quicker.

Though I do really hope we keep practice social distancing most of the time. I’ll squeeze in for parades or fireworks for a short amount of time but I hope we never return to the days of “move allllll the way forward in line. Fill in alllll available space.”

I know we probably won’t keep the 6 foot space markers, but I really enjoyed waiting in line with them. It was almost like a game, and you get to appreciate the queues in ways that I normally don’t.

Agree, we have not exceeded Great Depression numbers at this point - the unemployment rate was in the 20-25% range during the great depression, and those numbers lasted for years - the current numbers, tho not good at all, are still lower, and it's been months, not years

 

[cakebaker]

Its being done as a combination of both. Why would you expect Disney to come out and say it due to budget cuts?

Right now it is a combination of both, but I don't rule out the possibility that they may well keep high cost experiences shut down or at least cut back on the frequency of them for a extended period of time. Fireworks being the main one I'm thinking of. As long as they can use safety as a reason they will. I wouldn't be surprised though to see them start back up with just a few times a week or only during special events.

From what I've experienced, it would seem to me right now their priority is cutting costs. I think that's going to last for a good long time. Possibly into next year. That's not to say they aren't very concerned with guest safety, they certainly don't want a resurgence to be traced back to them, but everything they cut saves them money too and at some point, that's going to be the only reason to keep them closed.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Any inklings of news dropping today?

 

[Krandor]

Right now it is a combination of both, but I don't rule out the possibility that they may well keep high cost experiences shut down or at least cut back on the frequency of them for a extended period of time. Fireworks being the main one I'm thinking of. As long as they can use safety as a reason they will. I wouldn't be surprised though to see them start back up with just a few times a week or only during special events.

From what I've experienced, it would seem to me right now their priority is cutting costs. I think that's going to last for a good long time. Possibly into next year. That's not to say they aren't very concerned with guest safety, they certainly don't want a resurgence to be traced back to them, but everything they cut saves them money too and at some point, that's going to be the only reason to keep them closed.

A lot stems from reduced capacity. Reduced capacity is less money and less money means they can't do as many things and have a positive impact on the books. There are likely to be fewer retaurants and food carts and stuff open for the same reasons. It all kinda cascades.

As they can increase capacity safely is when they'll likely also be able to bring more of that stuff back.

So yes it is a combination of safety and money and they said that was day 1. They will only open if the parks can have a postivie impact to the books.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I can't tell if people are making Disney the bad guy for cutting some costs. What choice do they have? They're losing millions every day.

 

[Farro]

I can't tell if people are making Disney the bad guy for cutting some costs. What choice do they have? They're losing millions every day.

I'd rather transparency is all. Don't say we can't have fireworks due to social distancing if that's not truly the case, rather hey, we lost money can't afford it. Or don't say anything at all. But don't disguise it as a safety measure for the guest.

And at this point I don't even know if they ever even gave social distancing as a reason before, or if someone on here did!

I understand cost cuts due to loss of revenue.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'd rather transparency is all. Don't say we can't have fireworks due to social distancing if that's not truly the case, rather hey, we lost money can't afford it. Or don't say anything at all. But don't disguise it as a safety measure for the guest.

And at this point I don't even know if they ever even gave social distancing as a reason before, or if someone on here did!

I understand cost cuts due to loss of revenue.

Chapek was pretty transparent about what they have to do. I know not everyone paid attention to that. I also figured it was common sense.

 

[Krandor]

I'd rather transparency is all. Don't say we can't have fireworks due to social distancing if that's not truly the case, rather hey, we lost money can't afford it. Or don't say anything at all. But don't disguise it as a safety measure for the guest.

It's probaby both. It is an expensve they may not be able to do with lower capacity but also something they can't do safely while they need lower capacity. Doesn't have to be one or the other. Answer can be both.

 

[SaintsManiac]

It's probaby both. It is an expensve they may not be able to do with lower capacity but also something they can't do safely while they need lower capacity. Doesn't have to be one or the other. Answer can be both.

This. If anything, they are still going to be losing money with this reopening. Not as much, but they will.

 

[Mit88]

I can't tell if people are making Disney the bad guy for cutting some costs. What choice do they have? They're losing millions every day.

Unprecedented times. These aren’t your typical money grabbing cuts. These are cuts to help keep the company flowing. I think people need to understand that just because they’re one of the biggest businesses in the world doesnt make them immune to lost revenue. I’m also not going to judge them on their procedures until all of the cards are on the table. Theres still a lot that we dont know and will receive more information in the coming days/weeks.

 

[Farro]

Chapek was pretty transparent about what they have to do. I know not everyone paid attention to that. I also figured it was common sense.

Guess I'll have to work on that.

I attributed it to not having large gatherings due to social distancing.

 

[westie55]

I'd rather transparency is all. Don't say we can't have fireworks due to social distancing if that's not truly the case, rather hey, we lost money can't afford it. Or don't say anything at all. But don't disguise it as a safety measure for the guest.

Fireworks and parades are not being held for exactly this reason. They bring large crowds together, which is not safe at this point in time. Yes, this happens to also save money, but covid is 100% the reason these things are cancelled right now.

 

[Krandor]

This. If anything, they are still going to be losing money with this reopening. Not as much, but they will.

Correct.

Here is how to look at it based on what Chapek has said.

There are two type of costs in question here.

One are fixed costs. These are costs they have regardless of if parks are open or not. This is real estate costs, minimal utilities, miimal security, maintenace.

Then there are variable costs. This is what it costs to open the park up. This is labor, utilities to run the rides, food costs, cost of fireworks, janitorial, etc.

Right now the goal is to open at reduced capacity and be able to cover the variable costs. If they can't it isn't worth opening. That is going to take some cuts short term and the easiest places to start are those that cannot be done safety right now anyway like fireworks and parades. They are unlikely at this stage to be able to cover the fixed costs - they will still lose money there but that loss will be there regardless. They just want to cover the variable costs right now. If it costs more to open then you bring in no reason to open. In the disney springs thread it looks like planet hollywood has shut back down again and this is likely why.

 

[Farro]

Fireworks and parades are not being held for exactly this reason. They bring large crowds together, which is not safe at this point in time. Yes, this happens to also save money, but covid is 100% the reason these things are cancelled right now.

I'm discussing in the future. Reading here some people expect these cuts/restrictions to last a long time due to saving money, not Covid.

I'm not speaking of social distancing guidelines right now.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Guess I'll have to work on that.

I attributed it to not having large gatherings due to social distancing.

For fireworks and parades it's absolutely to stop crowding. Main St and the Hub are a nightmare during HEA. It would be irresponsible to have them.

I think some just want to accuse Disney of "money grabbing" and "cost cutting" no matter what. My point was that it has to come into play because of the millions they are losing.

So yeah, it's both. I wasn't trying to attack you. I am surprised that anyone thinks they are evil for reducing experiences for either reason.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

I looked back a bunch of pages but I didn't see this. As of today, I was able to order my Magicbands for my 8/7 arrival for pick up my resort...whichever that turns out to be, LOL!

 

[Sandiz08]

So does anyone think we will be seeing news on the reservation system this week?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I can't tell if people are making Disney the bad guy for cutting some costs. What choice do they have? They're losing millions every day.

I don't think just for making the cuts (though I do see some questioning why Disney appears to be cutting more and taking longer to get their "less" open than Universal) - but more for the lack of guest recovery and lack of communication and ability to adjust people who are vacations schedule a month out and aren't yet sure how everything will function

If they were really upfront with working with people and carrying over discounts to future bookings, etc I think it would be less negative thoughts going on

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm discussing in the future. Reading here some people expect these cuts/restrictions to last a long time due to saving money, not Covid.

I'm not speaking of social distancing guidelines right now.

I am not thinking beyond July and August. I just don't want to get into that until we see what happens then.