Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Brianstl]

Yeah I’m not sure where she was going with that.

The reality is plenty of those making 6 figures have become unemployed. It seems she believe this has only hit the lower end of the economic spectrum. That’s not accurate at all. Many middle and upper middle class households lost one or both their incomes. Which is obvious by the rate of non payment of mortgages.

And it won't just be middle and upper middle class households having to deal with their employer telling them they are no longer needed. Many of those households are going to be put in a spot of having someone in the household having to quit or take leave of their jobs as schools in many areas won't be reopening. I know several families that are facing this dilemma as temporary solutions that have got them by to this point are or soon to be no longer options.

 

[mattpeto]

I guess only the wealthy and 10% go to Disney?

There are articles after articles about how the Covid economic crisis is ravaging the middle class right now.

You made some good points in your last few posts, I agree that the self-quarantining isn't the #1 factor. There's a bunch of things at work (economy, air travel, high Florida numbers, lesser experience at parks, etc.) that have been mentioned are also clearly in play.

I'm a unique spot, being forced to work from home has cut down our spending, improving our financial situation. But I realize I'm in the minority and I'm very fortunate. This won't work long-term for anyone, so we need to get to back to the norm.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I guess only the wealthy and 10% go to Disney?

There are articles after articles about how the Covid economic crisis is ravaging the middle class right now.

Not only the wealthy - but it is a luxury purchase and constantly stories about how Disney has priced out the middle class and caters to the upper class, etc.

and I don't mean it has no impact (even if one hasn't been impacted financially there is the worry you might) - just at least with every conversation I havd had with people is like 10x more not feeling safe traveling vs money being the challenge so why of that list I think it is way more #3 than the first 2 (not that the first 2 are zero impact)

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Would it really be a net add to revenue though? Having people park hop to Epcot to eat really just shifts dining revenue from the other parks to Epcot.

I think that it would more likely shift revenue from DS. It would also allow for an extended day of spending since Epcot is open later.
We are arriving next Friday for 2 weeks. I have booked every TS restaurant possible for dinner (that can be accomplished with the Park reservation system in place and resort closings), and I still have 2 nights at DS which I would prefer to avoid in the evenings. We are eating at restaurants that I normally don't book, but with limited menus a repeat performance at any of our go-tos isn't particularly enticing. I would happily return to Epcot for the evening and do a few more restaurants there.

 

[andyman8]

I wonder how many of those first two relate to people that would travel to WDW. I mean, a trip to Disney is already expensive so a lot of people with lower income jobs that were impacted weren't going anyway.

I think it’s really important to emphasize that, as this pandemic has drawn out, more and more individuals are being affected by the economic repercussions of it. At the beginning, yeah it was mostly lower income, hourly positions, but as this has persisted, its effects have slowly climbed up the income scale. In the last two months, I know a number of friends and former colleagues who have been placed on furlough or been laid off entirely, and I wouldn’t qualify any of them as lower income. In fact, I’d describe a few of them as closer to upper than middle class. For example, as the pandemic has persisted the entertainment/media industry has taken historic hits and has seen significant economic dislocation at almost all levels, including very high earners. Much like virus itself, the longer it’s around, the more industries and businesses will feel its effects and therefore the more industries and businesses it will force to make difficult decisions. If this stays with us long enough, it has potential to affect everyone. And even those who are fortunate enough to keep their jobs are seeing bonuses reversed and taking pay cuts. I think that, to me, has been one of the largest oversights or gaps in the coverage of this pandemic.

If I’m WDW right now, that’s what I’m worried about. A virus can be mitigated with a vaccine (and there’s a timeline for that at the moment), but the economic dislocation from it does not have a clear timeline. People will get over their fears of flying and want to travel again at some point (likely within the next 12 months if the vaccine timeline holds). History shows us that, but when that time comes, will they have the money to get there? How long until they do?

 

[MrsBooch]

Yeah I’m not sure where she was going with that.

The reality is plenty of those making 6 figures have become unemployed. It seems she believe this has only hit the lower end of the economic spectrum. That’s not accurate at all. Many middle and upper middle class households lost one or both their incomes. Which is obvious by the rate of non payment of mortgages.

I will tell you exactly where SHE was going with that.

Not everyone is being affected man - that's what i'm saying. You are referencing a huge portion of the population that I don't think would have been going to Disney World regardless of what happened with COVID. Some of them would have - of course. And I'm not downplaying this at all - it absolutely sucks. My DH works at a law firm that was one of three in our city that DIDN'T cut staff - they JUST cut percentage of pay. He just got his percentage reinstated but we saw huge groups of people just let go. Thousands. The legal field got slammed by this in the beginning.

I'm saying that the economic impact is not going to be what moves the needle for Disney. I think it will be the perception of safe travel. That's all. That's where SHE was going with that.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I'm not discounting the veracity of what you've written but i would argue that the people most affected by this economic downturn are not the percentage that typically spends money on Disney vacations.

As far as the bolded portion - yeah - a lot of people aren't comfortable flying. That's part of it I'm sure.

Huh? Many who are very well paid who are either experiencing a significant pay cut, furloughed, or have been laid off. People who would all normally travel frequently. I alone can think of 4 very successful family members or friends who have been significantly affected by this either lay off, furlough or pay cut.

You really don’t think highly paid folks are feeling the effects of this right now? Nearly every industry is feeling this.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think it’s really important to emphasize that, as this pandemic has drawn out, more and more individuals are being affected by the economic repercussions of it. At the beginning, yeah it was mostly lower income, hourly positions, but as this has persisted, its effects have slowly climbed up the income scale. In the last two months, I know a number of friends and former colleagues who have been placed on furlough or been laid off entirely, and I wouldn’t qualify any of them as lower income. In fact, I’d describe a few of them as closer to upper than middle class. For example, as the pandemic has persisted the entertainment/media industry has taken historic hits and has seen significant economic dislocation at almost all levels, including very high earners. Much like virus itself, the longer it’s around, the more industries and businesses will feel its effects and therefore the more industries and businesses it will force to make difficult decisions. If this stays with us long enough, it has potential to affect everyone. And even those who are fortunate enough to keep their jobs are seeing bonuses reversed and taking pay cuts. I think that, to me, has been one of the largest oversights or gaps in the coverage of this pandemic.

If I’m WDW right now, that’s what I’m worried about. A virus can be mitigated with a vaccine (and there’s a timeline for that at the moment), but the economic dislocation from it does not have a clear timeline. People will get over their fears of flying and want to travel again at some point (likely within the next 12 months if the vaccine timeline holds). History shows us that, but when that time comes, will they have the money to get there? How long until they do?

I agree long term that is a bigger concern. At some point there will be a vaccine or some sort of treatment or someway that people are comfortable living their lives "normally" to some extent (although, who knows - maybe that will never happen).

Guess I am thinking more for right now, this summer and I know a lot of people that won't travel to Florida (either Floriday specifically or just something that far from home) because they don't feel it is safe and can't think of many that could afford it prior but now can't afford it

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I'm saying that the economic impact is not going to be what moves the needle for Disney. I think it will be the perception of safe travel. That's all. That's where SHE was going with that.

Why does it have to be one or the other? It’s pretty obvious that it will probably be a mix of both.

 

[MrsBooch]

Huh? Many who are very well paid who are either experiencing a significant pay cut, furloughed, or have been laid off. People who would all normally travel frequently. I alone can think of 4 very successful family members or friends who have been significantly affected by this either lay off, furlough or pay cut.

You really don’t think highly paid folks are feeling the effects of this right now? Nearly every industry is feeling this.

I didn't say it has no impact.

Originally this stemmed from my suggestion of what can Disney do? Or what can be DONE to increase attendance and remain within the boundaries of safety (i.e. you can't bring back fireworks).

People that travel bans being lifted would help and I agreed that it would have the largest impact.

then someone said no, they disagree, it's all economic.

Well i disagree. It's not ALL one thing.

 

[MrsBooch]

Why does it have to be one or the other? It’s pretty obvious that it will be a mix of both.

....we are saying the same thing.

 

[Wreckem]

Yeah staying at deluxe at full rack rate and spending a week in the parks is expensive. But Disney doesn’t get its level of attendance off that. Or people on this board.

There are plenty of low income and middle class people that go to Disney World. They stay off site and only spend a day or two at the parks. It’s usually as an add on to something else.

I think people on this board somehow believe a week long stay on site is the average for people attending Disney. It’s not.

 

[Vern60]

Boy oh boy there is a lot of doom and gloom in this thread today, whew. Sounds like everyone needs a break, how bout a Disney vacation?

 

[osufeth24]

I think it’s really important to emphasize that, as this pandemic has drawn out, more and more individuals are being affected by the economic repercussions of it. At the beginning, yeah it was mostly lower income, hourly positions, but as this has persisted, its effects have slowly climbed up the income scale. In the last two months, I know a number of friends and former colleagues who have been placed on furlough or been laid off entirely, and I wouldn’t qualify any of them as lower income. In fact, I’d describe a few of them as closer to upper than middle class. For example, as the pandemic has persisted the entertainment/media industry has taken historic hits and has seen significant economic dislocation at almost all levels, including very high earners. Much like virus itself, the longer it’s around, the more industries and businesses will feel its effects and therefore the more industries and businesses it will force to make difficult decisions. If this stays with us long enough, it has potential to affect everyone. And even those who are fortunate enough to keep their jobs are seeing bonuses reversed and taking pay cuts. I think that, to me, has been one of the largest oversights or gaps in the coverage of this pandemic.

If I’m WDW right now, that’s what I’m worried about. A virus can be mitigated with a vaccine (and there’s a timeline for that at the moment), but the economic dislocation from it does not have a clear timeline. People will get over their fears of flying and want to travel again at some point (likely within the next 12 months if the vaccine timeline holds). History shows us that, but when that time comes, will they have the money to get there? How long until they do?

Not talking about people on this board, but this is why it infuriated me when people were mocking those that were worried about the economy back in March. Saw so many posts like "BuT MAh eCoNOmY" like they couldn't believe they were worried about the long term affects of these shutdowns.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I didn't say it has no impact.

Originally this stemmed from my suggestion of what can Disney do? Or what can be DONE to increase attendance and remain within the boundaries of safety (i.e. you can't bring back fireworks).

People that travel bans being lifted would help and I agreed that it would have the largest impact.

then someone said no, they disagree, it's all economic.

Well i disagree. It's not ALL one thing.

I totally agree with the part I bolded, there are a lot of factors keeping people away from Disney right now. Numbers in Florida, risk of travel, risk of the virus in general - some people are still primarily home, international guests aren’t coming, quarantines in effect for many US guests, financial reasons, perceived lack of value in the current Disney experience, to name a few.

A lot is out of Disney’s hands, IMO.

 

[MrsBooch]

Yeah staying at deluxe at full rack rate and spending a week in the parks is expensive. But Disney doesn’t get its level of attendance off that. Or people on this board.

There are plenty of low income and middle class people that go to Disney World. They stay off site and only spend a day or two at the parks. It’s usually as an add on to something else.

I think people on this board somehow believe a week long stay on site is the average for people attending Disney. It’s not.

Yeah staying off site and spending a day or two at the parks increases attendance but Disney doesn't get it's profit off that.

 

[anthony2k7]

Not talking about people on this board, but this is why it infuriated me when people were mocking those that were worried about the economy back in March. Saw so many posts like "BuT MAh eCoNOmY" like they couldn't believe they were worried about the long term affects of these shutdowns.

Almost everywhere is open. There are no where near enough customers. Disney would probably be losing less money if they had stayed shut.

 

[andyman8]

I agree long term that is a bigger concern. At some point there will be a vaccine or some sort of treatment or someway that people are comfortable living their lives "normally" to some extent (although, who knows - maybe that will never happen).

Guess I am thinking more for right now, this summer and I know a lot of people that won't travel to Florida (either Floriday specifically or just something that far from home) because they don't feel it is safe and can't think of many that could afford it prior but now can't afford it

I absolutely agree. Especially at the moment, it’s a combination of many factors to create sort of a perfect storm. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, even after those safety concerns fade, WDW doesn’t just flip back to normal. WDW has always been very much affected by any economic downturn (see 2008), and both the economic and psychological residual effects just don’t have as clear a timeline as a vaccine. My gut is that’s why they’re starting to take this much more seriously (business-wise, not health and safety).

 

[Mit88]

Boy oh boy there is a lot of doom and gloom in this thread today, whew. Sounds like everyone needs a break, how bout a Disney vacation?

Today is Tuesday? Yeah, its doom and gloom day on the DISboards.

Wait, I’m just now being informed its Wednesday and Doom and Gloom days have stretched to 7 days a week on the DISboards.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Not talking about people on this board, but this is why it infuriated me when people were mocking those that were worried about the economy back in March. Saw so many posts like "BuT MAh eCoNOmY" like they couldn't believe they were worried about the long term affects of these shutdowns.

It’s not just shutdowns, it’s the virus itself. I don’t know what people think happens to the economy when the virus is left to rage virtually unchecked. Sorry if too OT.