On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[mkt]

Where is Grizz

I know!!

and can't tell you.

 

[Horizons '83]

I actually think they will move forward with Christmas parties, in some capacity. Maybe it's a much lower price (think $25). Maybe it's only 1 night a week. Truth is we don't know what the next day brings us anymore much less the next 2 months.

Rumor is its cancelled. There is a thread on it as well on the first page of the forum.

 

[Parker in NYC]

I actually think they will move forward with Christmas parties, in some capacity. Maybe it's a much lower price (think $25). Maybe it's only 1 night a week. Truth is we don't know what the next day brings us anymore much less the next 2 months.

And I'm the Queen of the Romania Scene.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

I know!!

and can't tell you.

 

[mkt]

Because of pollution...same as china

That’s kinda an important detail.

Bad air quality, bad face day, feeling ill, face it cold... plenty of reasons to wear it.

 

[Parker in NYC]

We are honored by your presence Your Majesty.

I'm not, but I guess you missed the yolk.

 

[mkt]

Chapek has a lot to fix from Iger’s regime, yet Chapek himself led the years of P&R price gouging as they pursued a high-end clientele that didn’t consider the resorts or parks to be worth the hassle.

I've said this for quite some time - there aren't enough high end clientele to fill the resort capacity at the parks consistently. What you're likely having are regular middle class families going into debt for a Disney vacation.

 

[mkt]

People in Japan wear face masks anytime they feel like they are sick. They do not wear them every time they go to a theme park at least up until Covid. If I ever felt sick I was never going to go walk around MK but people in Japan do or did with a mask.

I'm glad you saw my point. They don't suffer from American hyper-individualism and denial of science. At least not to the ridiculous levels we do in the US.

 

[mwf5555]

Oh man. I have logged in, written drafts, deleted them, and swore I would never do this. Yet here I am. And I'm ready to start some ****.

The Walt Disney Company is about to experience some of the deepest layoffs I have ever witnessed in my adult life. I would call attention to the 2002 and 2009 layoffs after those respective crises. Those separations from the company were orderly. Often via generous voluntary packages. Hell, to his credit, Al Weiss was militant about never laying off a CM against their will after 9/11. I respect that. He was basically a dumbass otherwise.

In 2009, there was a similar "orderly" exit of excess personnel. However, much of this labor was brought back remarkably fast as Disney's business was in far better shape in 2009.

We also have other, smaller layoffs that hit project teams at WDI. These are bull**** layoffs. Flim Flam. Just some accounting tricks. Almost everyone is brought back.

Well, these days are no more. What you are about to see from WDC will be shocking and it will permanently change their business forever. The bloat is about to be gone. The mediocrity that's failed upward all our lives is about to be purged. A new company is emerging.

And no, Bob Chapek is no hero. But he does recognize the value in taking out the trash.

Now, lets talk about attendance at WDW. It's effing bad. Its Hard Rock Park bad. It's Dubai bad. Its the worst attendance in the history of the resort. Epcot is lucky to hit 2500 a day and usually is only hosting a few hundred at a time. Magic Kingdom is tormentingly under performing. There is simply no demand to fill the park out even to its limited capacity. The other two parks are also in dire straits, but due to their smaller size, there are certain days they can make a go of it. And yet still, the resort business is the iceberg and WDW Parks are the titanic. This will not end well.

The situation is dire. Unsustainable. WDW parks will be dropping to five day weeks soon. They will likely not be alone in this practice.

And that brings me to Bob Iger. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gotta Put Yoda on His Wife's Dress to Bury Some Search Engine Leads. That guy. It is my pleasure to announce that he will be soon tossed on his ***. In disgrace. His sins, his poor judgement, his poor treatment of subordinates. His malicious temper and outrageous displays of "toxic masculinity" as the kids call it. All this and more is coming out. Good riddance.

I am one of thousands on furlough yet to be called back, In fact I am on a small team within our department whereas the other 6 Teams have been back for weeks now. Do you know if behind the scenes departments salaried/office and technical are going to see the biggest cuts? After going through the 2009 layoffs after 27 years, it doesn't seem too hopeful after coming back for a total of 35 years. The unknown just really sucks right now...

 

[Parker in NYC]

I'm joking as well Your Majesty.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Perhaps for some people enforced masks is why they may consider going

Some...but I bet “FFB”

They should...that’s a load of crap for people who actually want to visit.

Did I miss the headline that says Disney has unmet demand?

Half of Orlando tourists had a Brazilian or English accent...so yeah.

Incorrect...that’s one of the biggest myths out there.

International Drive and the shopping outlets must be a ghost town with the international tourists.

They would be anyway...and always SHOULD be

 

[Parker in NYC]

Yeah, Gordon Ramsey belongs as much in a conversation with Julie Andrews as I do with you. But alas, life is cruel and we're fools to resist.

 

[Imagineer Figment]

On Splash Mt... I don't think its ever gonna happen.

We can only hope...

 

[mkt]

I highly doubt Orlando will fall into the state of despair that Detroit did in the 80s.

I have. A few times, either transiting to/from a visit to Cedar Point, meeting with clients and suppliers at my previous job, or attending NAIAS.

Orlando won't, because Orlando never reached the level of Detroit at its peak. Before it collapsed, Detroit was a city where blue collar automotive workers could earn good wages that allowed their kids to go to college and move forward. Orlando has always been a low wage city tied to a single industry.

 

[doctornick]

Sure, all hypotheticals that could happen, but the statements made on this thread insinuate bankruptcy is imminent for Disney. "Teetering on bankruptcy" is not a term to describe a business that will kinda, sorta, maybe go bankrupt in a few years if _____ , _____ and ______ occur.

Yeah. Disney could really suffer if this COVID lockdowns and travel restrictions continue throughout 2021 and beyond. That's obvious. But the same would be true about many industries and companies. Saying they could go bankrupt in a worse case scenario isn't some bold prediction, it's just common sense. Doesn't say anything about the situation right now.

The entertainment industry has certainly been hit hard by COVID. Disney is in a better place than most of its industry peers simply by being in a stronger baseline position. I guess I'm confused by the doom and gloom as it refers to Disney in particular. Is there some reason why Disney specifically is in bad shape compared to their peers in the entertainment and hospitality industries?

 

[mkt]

A question:

If Disney's financials are cratering such that there will be massive layoffs or sell-off of part of the company, then how can they afford to make all the 'woke' changes that is claimed to be coming since that will require huge outlays of money?

Debt.

Lots of debt.

Or they don't do them.

 

[socalifornian]

I know nothing about sitcoms or dramas, but you're just wrong on live-action films. But you can wait to read it next month from THR. I have nothing to prove here.

The wait’s over!
>>The Atlanta-based mogul opens up about how he was able to complete the first quarantine TV production in the U.S.

Tyler Perry Talks "Camp Quarantine" and Challenges of Filming Amid a Pandemic

The Atlanta-based mogul opens up about how he was able to complete the first quarantine TV production in the U.S., the challenges he faced on set and the advice he'd give to others trying to start up again.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Only things I’ve seen for here in LA are limited commercials, four days to finish up production on Ryan Murphy’s movie, and a day of pick-ups for Adam Sandler’s movie

 

[doctornick]

Disney's own internal reservation controls are their own worst enemy. They actually *believed* there was so much pent up demand that people would be overcrowding the resort clamoring to return. They were wrong. Disney is no more special than anyone else in a pandemic.

Fair enough. What I don't understand is if the parks are so undercrowded given their staffing levels/expectations, why aren't they (1) letting APs reserve more days to encourage them to go, (2) letting people park hop (by reserving a second park if they have the appropriate type of pass), and (3) relaxing restrictions on the CM's passes?

I don't know if any of those things have changed in recent weeks. I get they'd want to be safe and not have the system flooded with demand for slots so that resort guests would be able to reserve as desired. But as time goes on and they have real world data about utilization, they should be able to allow more relaxed booking guidelines to get to the park attendance numbers they want.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I've said this for quite some time - there aren't enough high end clientele to fill the resort capacity at the parks consistently. What you're likely having are regular middle class families going into debt for a Disney vacation.

Among faculty, in higher education, and executives for a lifestyle brand, I regularly hid my Disney affinity because trips, to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, were viewed as either a one and done or laughable.

At Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, a standard view room averages $700-$800 per night, without any discounts or promotions. A 6-night room only stay can easily exceed $4,800. I have never known anyone with the ability to stay in a premium room on property to have the interest in doing so.

Honestly, one could easily assume that the recent in park experiences, such as the cabanas and express bus service, have failed because guests are already at ceiling for their spending limit. How many times can a family of four spent $10,000 - $15,000 for a week at Walt Disney World?

 

[mkt]

Among faculty, in higher education, and executives for a lifestyle brand, I regularly hid my Disney affinity because trips, to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, were viewed as either a one and done or laughable.

At Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, at standard view room averages $700-$800 per night, without any discounts or promotions. A 6-night room only stay can easily exceed $4,800. I have never known anyone with the ability to stay in a premium room on property to have the interest in doing so.

Honestly, one could easily assume that the recent in park experiences, such as the cabanas and express bus service, have failed because guests are already at ceiling for their spending limit. How many times can a family of four spent $10,000 - $15,000 for a week at Walt Disney World?

For less than a week in the parks, my wife and I spent two weeks in Europe last year, went to five countries, stayed in excellent hotels, ate awesome meals, got drunk nightly, and saw several historic sights.