Disney Parks laying off 28,000 cast members

[rteetz]

I’d like to know the definition of a “real park”

 

[skeeter31]

I’d like to know the definition of a “real park”

Yeah me too, but then I fear we’d just be feeding the trolls. I guess those parks you were just at last week and that I go to every month are “fake parks.”

 

[New Mouse]

Oh come on with the Six Flags nonsense - do you realize Disney's annual capital expenditures are 30 times greater than Six Flags? That's across all of Six Flags locations. Heck, the total value of Six Flags corporation is less than the improvements Disney puts into the parks annually. There really is no logical way to make the comparison.

Six flags has a lot more rides to offer than Disney. With Disney offering only rides right now, the comparison is accurate.

 

[Eric Smith]

The problem is the pandemic is temporary (though it feels never ending), The negative changes to the park are likely to be permanent which is why you have some long term members saying I'll dump it at a buck a point. I already sold our points nearly 4 years ago now because the value for money was no longer in positive territory.

Are you leaving money on the table if you've been a long time DVC member and passed your 'break even' point as if ENOUGH long term DVC members do this Disney will no longer have the resources to ROFR at a high price. They will simply buy the points at the 1.00 mark and that will blow up the DVC sales model as the high buy in price will no longer be supported by a robust resale market.

People keep asking why I think changes are permanent, In the WDW layoffs, Disney laid off all the seasonal workers as well now these people have NO benefits and no guaranteed hours and many of them are 'snowbirds' from colder climates they have no benefits I don't believe they even have a main gate pass unless they are working. But these people are primarily there for the sheer joy of working for Disney even just 1-2 hours a week.

If they had laid off "active CM's" only I'd say that the layoffs were temporary but when the seasonals were cut it spoke of vast numbers of positions being permanently eliminated.

These people cost disney NOTHING other than the periodic email the fact that their positions were eliminated points to WDW being run with FAR FEWER CM's going forward

Yes, you’re leaving money in the table no matter how long you’ve held the contract if you sell at $1 and you could get significantly more than that. In fact, you’re doing Disney a favor as they’ll just buy it back at $1 per point and sell it for much more. Kinda defeats your purpose right?

The changes aren’t permanent, Josh D’amaro has said as much.

 

[Eric Smith]

Six flags has a lot more rides to offer than Disney. With Disney offering only rides right now, the comparison is accurate.

Name a six flags park that has more rides than WDW.....for that matter name one that has more rides than Magic Kingdom.

 

[RivShore]

What is really sad is that there is such a discrepancy between the executives and the blue collar workers. Maybe if iger earned 5 mill a year instead of 60 million and the same for other top executives Disney could have created a rainy day fund to support their blue collar workers in an emergency like this. I hope all those who are laid off are able to find employment. I wish they would have allowed WDL to open too at reduced capacity

I agree there is a disconnection between large company CEO pay and everyone else and would love to see a free market solution to it. Having the government step in to fix it would not go well.

That being said, the math just doesn't work for Disney- I posted earlier in this thread that the payroll numbers for them are staggering - paying the CEO zero dollars in wages and bonuses for the last 10+ years would have not even covered a month's worth of payroll for those furloughed back in April. The exec pay numbers are just not big enough to make a dent.

 

[rteetz]

Six flags has a lot more rides to offer than Disney. With Disney offering only rides right now, the comparison is accurate.

Disney is offering more than just rides. I don’t think Disney attractions and Six Flags rides compare by any means either.

 

[afan]

Six flags has a lot more rides to offer than Disney. With Disney offering only rides right now, the comparison is accurate.

Even now I could be in a Disney park open to close with things to do. Under normal circumstances I'd have a hard time doing that at 6 flags. Course I'd also have a hard time doing that at universal as well under normal times. It's not just about rides and shows.

The horror, but I don't like the lion king or nemo shows at animal kingdom yet I find plenty of things to do there on every trip.

Everyone tours differently whether it's wdw or 6 flags but there's no way wdw is worse than 6 flags right now. Just saw a video from a friend having dinner at crt tonight that showed the magic is still there.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Six flags has a lot more rides to offer than Disney. With Disney offering only rides right now, the comparison is accurate.

Um, have you been to a Six Flags? It’s mostly exposed coasters with barely any theming (or none at all). How can you compare them to Disney? Disney has attractions. Themed lands. An entertainment-free WDW is still WAY more immersive than a Six Flags. You have to
just be trying to get a rise out of people at this point because you cannot be serious.

Have you ever taken small children to a Six Flags? The kids rides and offerings are absolutely pathetic. An hour and you’re done.

 

[New Mouse]

Name a six flags park that has more rides than WDW.....for that matter name one that has more rides than Magic Kingdom.

I count 19 rides at MK (not counting country bears, tiki, carousel of progress or similar shows). I count 49? At six flags great adventure.

Go to the other 3 parks and the difference is even more glaring.

 

[New Mouse]

Disney is offering more than just rides. I don’t think Disney attractions and Six Flags rides compare by any means either.

Most coasters and thrill rides at six flags trump Disney easily. Different markets and Disney is not in that league.

 

[Eric Smith]

Most coasters and thrill rides at six flags trump Disney easily. Different markets and Disney is not in that league.

It sounds like you should go to six flags then...

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I agree there is a disconnection between large company CEO pay and everyone else and would love to see a free market solution to it. Having the government step in to fix it would not go well.

That being said, the math just doesn't work for Disney- I posted earlier in this thread that the payroll numbers for them are staggering - paying the CEO zero dollars in wages and bonuses for the last 10+ years would have not even covered a month's worth of payroll for those furloughed back in April. The exec pay numbers are just not big enough to make a dent.

I would never want the government to step in and fix it as that would only create a bigger mess. I do think of there were less corporate greed the blue collar workers would fare much better and perhaps not be hit as hard. I really hope disney is able to return to normal soon so that their workers can return.

 

[Moliphino]

Um, have you been to a Six Flags? It’s mostly exposed coasters with barely any theming (or none at all). How can you compare them to Disney? Disney has attractions. Themed lands. An entertainment-free WDW is still WAY more immersive than a Six Flags. You have to
just be trying to get a rise out of people at this point because you cannot be serious.

Have you ever taken small children to a Six Flags? The kids rides and offerings are absolutely pathetic. An hour and you’re done.

And the ones I've been to have all seemed kind of run down. There's a Six Flags 20 minutes from my house and I never go because it's a pit.

 

[rteetz]

Most coasters and thrill rides at six flags trump Disney easily. Different markets and Disney is not in that league.

Disney is a theme park about experiences. They are not a thrill/amusement park like Six Flags. I don't even think the two are comparable.

 

[afan]

Disney is a theme park about experiences. They are not a thrill/amusement park like Six Flags. I don't even think the two are comparable.

I'd also say there's a good number of people that go to Disney that don't want the thrill rides. I still enjoy them but my body doesn't so I appreciate the great coasters that Disney does have. I loved CA screamin when I was 22 and it first opened but almost 20 years later this past March I was ready to get off before we even hit the loop. But I'd ride space, btm and everest all day long.

 

[New Mouse]

Disney is a theme park about experiences. They are not a thrill/amusement park like Six Flags. I don't even think the two are comparable.

Thats exactly my point and Im glad youve all come around through your defense. Six flags and disney both currently offer mainly rides. Most of the experience that disney sells is out the window for at least the next year. When it comes down to it, both places generally offer a different type of rides, but six flags does offer significantly more. The better bang for your buck right now is six flags, the only difference being Disney has 4 parks for an extended vacation.

 

[AvidDisReader]

I'd also say there's a good number of people that go to Disney that don't want the thrill rides. I still enjoy them but my body doesn't so I appreciate the great coasters that Disney does have. I loved CA screamin when I was 22 and it first opened but almost 20 years later this past March I was ready to get off before we even hit the loop. But I'd ride space, btm and everest all day long.

Exactly. After my health scare a couple of years ago my cardiologist instructed me no more roller coaster type rides (I tried to sneak Splash Mountain as not a roller coaster but even that was not allowed). Yet, I still love going to WDW. The whole atmosphere just makes me feel happy, Seeing my grandkids on the rides, even ones I cannot go on, is still well worth it. Cannot say I feel the same at Six Flags. Even at Universal, only in the Harry Potter sections is there a good vibe to just walk around and soak up. There are no other Theme parks or Thrill parks that give me the same satisfaction as WDW.

 

[yulilin3]

Thats exactly my point and Im glad youve all come around through your defense. Six flags and disney both currently offer mainly rides. Most of the experience that disney sells is out the window for at least the next year. When it comes down to it, both places generally offer a different type of rides, but six flags does offer significantly more. The better bang for your buck right now is six flags, the only difference being Disney has 4 parks for an extended vacation.

I confess to not have read previous responses to this topic so sorry if this has already been said.
For me, if both any Six Flags park was 40$ ticket and the four WDW parks were 100$ tickets I would still chose WDW simply because I don't go to theme parks for the rides, I go for the feels, and that is hard to quantify in clear numbers. I'm sure many come to WDW for the rides and that's great, personally I would pic WDW every time This is why I haven't gone to Bush Gardens in so long, and I get in for free, they have a gorgeous park too, also lots of animals but the main draw are the coasters and I just don't do that

 

[Moliphino]

Thats exactly my point and Im glad youve all come around through your defense. Six flags and disney both currently offer mainly rides. Most of the experience that disney sells is out the window for at least the next year. When it comes down to it, both places generally offer a different type of rides, but six flags does offer significantly more. The better bang for your buck right now is six flags, the only difference being Disney has 4 parks for an extended vacation.

No. The rides aren't even comparable. You don't find anything with the theming Disney has at a Six Flags park. The ride and land theming IS the Disney experience.