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

[Chef Mickey]

What airlines have you been on that were full? I know SW is operating on at least a 2/3 capacity, if not lower.

American flight to Orlando was at least 90% full. On the way back it was over 80%, I asked.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Well... just today Dunkin Donuts announced 800 stores are closing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You are correct.....

When the Fed , State and local gov'ts force businesses to follow rules that restrict gatherings and force a shut down of a business then ....everything going forward is COVID related. Some of the "pixie dust" people do not want to admit or hear that fact and just want Disney to be back "normal". I understand the "pixies dust spreaders" want but reality is that businesses were forced to close for a long time and at a minimum change the way they do business due to the COVID regulatory reaction. Adults will have to figure out how to deal with from a business perspective and it is going to be a huge challenge

Disney is doing their best to adapt in this new REGULATORY world for gatherings of a certain size and the fear that accompanies that regulatory action. I hope they do not cut too heavy but I anticipate ~30% of the workforce. We will see very soon.

Ive said it for months (so what’s one more time gonna hurt? ):

This new business reality - as it stands - doesn’t fit Disney parks at all. Not one bit. Limits, caution, apprehension is anathema to their mass consumption model.

The profits are made on the extra people...and the extra purchases...the two extra days you didn’t need...the extra character buffet where you don’t really eat because the DDP has stuffed you for 7 days already.

That’s the game. The large numbers and profit excesses.

I recommend everyone read Harrison “Buzz” Price’s book on the theme park revolution. I’ll send anyone a kindle copy if they want...it’s about numbers...strategically placed in the 50’s and 60’s, on steroids with Eisner and exploited to no end to “the end” by Bob.

 

[Dave B]

What businesses are closing left and right? I mean, of course small business has been hit some, but was talking about US brands like Disney because people act like they are screwed over a bad quarter.

I watch zero press conferences or news (can't stand it), but I've seen this "doom and gloom" story before. America always rebounds and I have a lot of confidence in our companies to adapt and innovate.

There will be a vaccine...mark it down and it changes the game. We are going to manage this, just like we are managing it now, with precautions and process until we have a permanent solution. If that takes 12 months, so be it. We will be OK and so will Disney Parks.

Yeah a vaccine that normally takes 8-10 years to develop will be ready in 8-10 months, cant see it being that effective, and it will only be available to a tiny portion at first, and you have to take three shots over the course of a week, doesn't sound to promising

 

[Jrb1979]

What businesses are closing left and right? I mean, of course small business has been hit some, but was talking about US brands like Disney because people act like they are screwed over a bad quarter.

I watch zero press conferences or news (can't stand it), but I've seen this "doom and gloom" story before. America always rebounds and I have a lot of confidence in our companies to adapt and innovate.

There will be a vaccine...mark it down and it changes the game. We are going to manage this, just like we are managing it now, with precautions and process until we have a permanent solution. If that takes 12 months, so be it. We will be OK and so will Disney Parks.

No one said Disney is going to close or go bankrupt but a lot of the projects are being delayed or cancelled all together. I love the optimism but it's going to be awhile for the economy to come back even years. A lot of people are going to be hurting for money soon if not already.

 

[pheneix]

37 pages. I shoulda logged in and caught up last night.

I *will* be back shortly.

 

[celluloid]

Its being delayed for next year as with all their 150th anniversary plans.

That is great news. It seemed like another great move by Cedar Fair beyond just coasters.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

American flight to Orlando was at least 90% full. On the way back it was over 80%, I asked.

All of them?

Sales Statistics

View a wealth of data at a glance with ARC's key sales and airline ticketing data trends, updated monthly.

www2.arccorp.com

FYI: I know this person has me on ignore...but when you’re this obtuse...it’s just too much fun to NOT hit the ball back over the net

 

[Jrb1979]

That is great news. It seemed like another great move by Cedar Fair beyond just coasters.

They are trying to add in more family oriented attractions along with coasters.

 

[Q_Division]

Ive said it for months (so what’s one more time gonna hurt? ):

This new business reality - as it stands - doesn’t fit Disney parks at all. Not one bit. Limits, caution, apprehension is anathema to their mass consumption model.

The profits are made on the extra people...and the extra purchases...the two extra days you didn’t need...the extra character buffet where you don’t really eat because the DDP has stuffed you for 7 days already.

That’s the game. The large numbers and profit excesses.

I recommend everyone read Harrison “Buzz” Price’s book on the theme park revolution. I’ll send anyone a kindle copy if they want...it’s about numbers...strategically placed in the 50’s and 60’s, on steroids with Eisner and exploited to no end but “the end” by Bob.

Sounds like an intresting book. What is it called?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They are trying to add in more family oriented attractions along with coasters.

Too bad Disney can’t get someone like Matt... oh wait....

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You can have that escape staying at Hotel Breakers. When I go to Cedar Point its where I stay and have just as much fun staying there and being in the Cedar Point bubble then the Disney one. Give me Steel Vengeance over RoTR any day.

I still think magnum is my most favorite/pure enjoyment ride on any roller coaster...and it’s a long list of rides.

It's based on Disney's record of posting incredible park numbers for over a decade. Irrefutable. This virus didn't change the perception people have for Disney, their love for the brand, or their desire to go to the parks. Travel in general is down because of the virus. It will come back when the virus is no longer a thing. Which will happen sooner or later. People want to travel, go on vacation, and do stuff.

If we have viruses and pandemics that shut down the world economy every year, we are all screwed anyway. This is a once in a while event and we'll get through it, like we always do.

A decade?

Sorry to say that the parks have been open for more than a decade. And they’ve been empty/discounted before WITHOUT people fearing their lungs or killing their grandmothers.

Well... just today Dunkin Donuts announced 800 stores are closing.

Saw that. 8% of stores. And their business is the most likely to rebound quickly...if you think about it

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Sounds like an intresting book. What is it called?

Walt’s Revolution: By the Numbers!

He was a consultant that crunched numbers and analyzed demographics for Disney...particularly for WDW...

People forget they were cash strapped then...they had to make tons of money or they would have bankrupted.

Knowing the “why” they built what they built still holds today...it’s just amplified.

 

[Phil12]

The Japanese have a completely different concept of “quality” compared to the rest of the world.

My Honda and Toyota are proof of that.

 

[Jrb1979]

How many families visiting WDW include a grandparent over 60? At least one member is obese. My observations suggest a lot. Now add those with diabetes, heart and respiratory issues. That's a lot of groups. How many conventions and business groups have canceled? I've read about 10% of guests are international and cant visit. Some guests have quarantine requirements.

Its amazing how many posters in Disney fan sites are surprised at low attendance.


Add economic issues and dissatisfaction with modified experiences

What's even more surprising is how many don't think Disney is hurting financially right now. Its like they have their fingers in their ears and don't want to hear it. When more then a few people have said they aren't doing well it's good possibility that it's true.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What's even more surprising is how many don't think Disney is hurting financially right now. Its like they have their fingers in their ears and don't want to hear it. When more then a few people have said they aren't doing well it's good possibility that it's true.

That’s the subconscious talking....

Because the demons inside their heads know:

1. No new parks
2. No new hotels
3. No new rides (not already under major construction...for along time)
4. Major price squeezes to “get it back”
5. Reduction in quality/investment in tv, movies, products, etc.


And I’m not sure I’m even disagreeing with the optimism? Because it’s a natural human response mechanism.

We’re not getting any younger...and it’s gonna SUCK to be a Disney fan.

 

[Jrb1979]

That’s the subconscious talking....

Because the demons inside their heads know:

1. No new parks
2. No new rides (not already under major construction...for along time)
3. Major price squeezes to “get it back”
4. Reduction in quality/investment in tv, movies, products, etc.


And I’m not sure I’m even disagreeing with the optimism? Because it’s a natural human response mechanism.

We’re not getting any younger...and it’s gonna SUCK to be a Disney fan.

Maybe it's time people went to the dark side. At least Universal and most other regional parks are adding new attractions next year. Most of them are just delaying their plans a year. Disney is outright cancelling things.

 

[hopemax]

37 pages. I shoulda logged in and caught up last night.

I *will* be back shortly.

Skip the reading, just post.

You haven't missed any park discussions of substance. Just more riffing on the "is the virus serious or not." Wrapped in a bit of," Disney will bounce back just fine." "No they won't." The longer you wait to post something new, the longer the rest of us have to deal with nonsense, and it will be another 20 pages.

 

[38053WDW]

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.

Disney World is our "go to" vaca when we splurge.. talking up to $10k for 8 days! This rona is killing everything.. my spirit .. my happy place... even work atmosphere .... Disney is becoming too big a corporation and his having to cave to the "mob" mentality (my opinion). Is ESPN even sports anymore? Don't take away splash mountain, put in another ride/restaurant for Princess & the Frog! We need more rides.. Can you imagine a Tiana's Place Restaurant character breakfast with Beignets! They have the room! Everything has to be "politically correct" for our children. They will cut back but prices don't seem to be cutting back.. this is why I will not return for sometime .. I cannot pay those prices and noting open / don't touch / pre rides shows shut down.. etc... I do agree.. Disney cannot survive with these crowd levels and it may get worse before getting better. Again my two cents so don't kill me..

 

[Tom Morrow]

I’m fine with the whole “Super-Team of Insiders dropping in to convince all the hoaxers that things are indeed really bad inside of Disney” thing because I agree with their message. But it seems more and more like I’m reading a reputation management campaign than a fan forum here.

I asked Steve if multiple members posting here (on this thread, in particular) from the same IP address—which would indicate that it’s a few people posing as a larger number of members—something that would help me as a member and casual participant know how to interact on here.

It seems to have been pushed out of the forum's collective consciousness or forgotten, but not too long ago there was that big expose that leaked on here that shook the community. It essentially laid out that many alleged "insiders" are actually people paid from within the company to purposely leak the inside information and opinions they tell them to, in an attempt to sway public opinion, and that this practice has gone on since the early 00's. Was it concrete proof? No, but it's something I and many others had suspected for a long time, and we have little reason to believe it any less than the other "insider" info dumps.

As I said in my previous post in here, I've been here almost 20 years, and it's absolutely a recurring pattern on this forum. Some major event or announcement happens, and sure enough, not too much later, a big spectacle of an expose thread appears and all the "insiders" crawl out of the woodwork to drop a boatload of insider info with a heavy dose of Doom & Gloom. Every time, you'd think the company was going to collapse, the parks were going to be sold, etc. Never happens.

Why do all the insiders always show up at the same time? Why do they all have a very similar style of posting and communicating?

Option B: Often, the "insider info" is just the collective news, rumors, and opinions already known and expressed throughout the online community, only wrapped up and written in a way that implies official-ness. As in, anyone who pays close enough attention could reasonably write something up that sounds like insider info leak.

Things to consider before blindly trusting threads like this and panicking.