News Round Up 2020

[Gusey]

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/disney-cast-members-from-polynesian-luau-included-in-layoffs/

 

[MissGina5]

The layoffs have me feeling pretty down. I know that Disney is often a mirror to what is happening in the rest of the country. Makes me feel like things are going to get worse across the country not better...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The layoffs have me feeling pretty down. I know that Disney is often a mirror to what is happening in the rest of the country. Makes me feel like things are going to get worse across the country not better...

also I think when it is something one is personally invested in, it makes it feel more *real*. Like I know for mea at least the whole scale of the pandemic seems more real/significant when the Disney parks first closed ... this feels similar

 

[jknezek]

also I think when it is something one is personally invested in, it makes it feel more *real*. Like I know for mea at least the whole scale of the pandemic seems more real/significant when the Disney parks first closed ... this feels similar

Proximity definitely has an effect on perception. The pandemic was problematic in March when our schools closed, when my M-I-L almost ended up on a vent in May and was bed-ridden for 3 weeks with COVID it became a lot more real. Meanwhile my wife's nephew was asymptomatic positive, the vector for my in-laws, and my father-in-law had a basic persistent cough and was positive, it really sunk in what a huge and varied challenge this disease presents. So yeah, your perception is definitely impacted by your proximity to the events...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Proximity definitely has an effect on perception. The pandemic was problematic in March when our schools closed, when my M-I-L almost ended up on a vent in May and was bed-ridden for 3 weeks with COVID it became a lot more real. Meanwhile my wife's nephew was asymptomatic positive, the vector for my in-laws, and my father-in-law had a basic persistent cough and was positive, it really sunk in what a huge and varied challenge this disease presents. So yeah, your perception is definitely impacted by your proximity to the events...

For sure with the virus, how it impacted you personally impacts ones view (I live outside NYC, multiple people in my company have died from it, multiple people on my immediate team were hospitalized from it, so it's very real to me), but I think the escapism many associate with the Disney parks is just a different element when it gets impacted to such a degree

 

[TheMaxRebo]

New Pre Fixe menu coming to Chef de France when it reopens in Oct 8th

https://blogmickey.com/2020/09/chef...ixe-meal-upon-reopening-october-8th-at-epcot/

 

[rteetz]

News

https://dvcfan.com/2020/09/30/verbi...cXm0-DUiqDc5FWdgf8h-bc08o-dXTJrI67s6WUvRVnPjA

 

[CastAStone]

News

https://dvcfan.com/2020/09/30/verbi...cXm0-DUiqDc5FWdgf8h-bc08o-dXTJrI67s6WUvRVnPjA

This is extremely weird. There's a thread on the DVC board on it that goes into why but it seems at least as likely to be a mistake as to be a real change.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/resale-resorts-riv-eligibility.3814611/

 

[scrappinginontario]

New Pre Fixe menu coming to Chef de France when it reopens in Oct 8th

https://blogmickey.com/2020/09/chef...ixe-meal-upon-reopening-october-8th-at-epcot/

Does this mean guests may choose either the prix-fixe meal or order a la carte? I was surprised to see prices for both on the menu. Are other prix-fixe restaurants and either/or situation?

 

[rteetz]

News

Lovepop opens at Disney Springs

https://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/l...s---lovepop-store-opens-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Does this mean guests may choose either the prix-fixe meal or order a la carte? I was surprised to see prices for both on the menu. Are other prix-fixe restaurants and either/or situation?

In the past they have had a limited pre-fixe, but this seems to be a change to include the entire menu - wasn't clear to me if there is ala carte as well, or just doing thing (overall, for Disney prices, not a bad price for what you get there)

 

[jlundeen]

..., for Disney prices, not a bad price for what you get there

I think the price ($49.50) is great unless they serve smaller portions... calculating the least expensive app, entree and dessert, it comes to close to $50, and that's without a wine/soft drink,

 

[rteetz]

News

Helen Reddy, Star of “Pete’s Dragon,” Passes Away at 78

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Disney Announces breakdown of layoffs of the 6,700 non-union Walt Disney World positions lost

https://blogmickey.com/2020/09/disney-announces-breakdown-of-walt-disney-world-layoffs/

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1311348585187938313

 

[mikeamizzle]

I do wonder (as many analysts have posited) if the business model of parks will be changed forever as a result of this pandemic. Thinking much higher ticket prices, a fraction of the max capacity that existed in 2019 and prior, and a fraction of the employees.

I don't believe for a second that the parks are profitable currently even with them maxing "covid capacity". Neither are any of DIS other divisions (besides disney+).

 

[rteetz]

News

https://blogmickey.com/2020/09/over...jUECMDPGcS9X_WYZLDDRIpMQ-UrEqw00vyipG83jiZFNA

 

[CastAStone]

I do wonder (as many analysts have posited) if the business model of parks will be changed forever as a result of this pandemic. Thinking much higher ticket prices, a fraction of the max capacity that existed in 2019 and prior, and a fraction of the employees.

I don't believe for a second that the parks are profitable currently even with them maxing "covid capacity". Neither are any of DIS other divisions (besides disney+).

I’m quite certain that Disney is now at least close to what they hoped to operate at when reopening.

Also TV, Disney’s most profitable division, I’m quite certain is making an absolute killing this quarter.

Disney+ loses money and probably will for a few years as they burn down their startup costs.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

ESPN president named Sports Executive of the Year

https://twitter.com/x/status/1311470661630652416

 

[OSUZorba]

I do wonder (as many analysts have posited) if the business model of parks will be changed forever as a result of this pandemic. Thinking much higher ticket prices, a fraction of the max capacity that existed in 2019 and prior, and a fraction of the employees.

I don't believe for a second that the parks are profitable currently even with them maxing "covid capacity". Neither are any of DIS other divisions (besides disney+).

It's not changing forever. This is not the world's first rodeo with a pandemic, once we get past it, people will quickly move on, like they always do.

Disney could also never raise prices enough to make up for the loss of half the customers. I don't believe Disney publishes the per-caps, but I'm going to guess they are at least 2x the ticket value, probably more when you include hotels. If 2x is right, you'd have to triple ticket prices to make up for half the people that stopped coming.