Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[TrainsOfDisney]

Pretty big development. Suggests that Disney's relationship with the California government has become irreparably strained.

I wonder if Iger will have any choice words for Mr. josh...

 

[MisterPenguin]

I wonder if Iger will have any choice words for Mr. josh...

Why are you imagining a rift between them?

 

[Stitch826]

Exactly. It's not that I don't value the lives of the elderly. I'm not saying not to try and protect the elderly from COVID. I'm saying that once somebody is elderly, they have lived a full life and, unfortunately for all of us, don't have a long life ahead of them like young people do. My dad recently passed at 80 (not from COVID). From watching ESPN, I often see reports of former athletes that pass in their 70's.

As I said in that post I dug up, if the mortality rate was high for children and young adults I would support taking every possible drastic measure to save as many lives as possible. However, since the fact is that the VAST, VAST majority of deaths are in elderly people I believe that things should be done to try and protect the elderly that don't involve shutting down life or significantly reducing the quality of life for billions of young people who have a long life ahead of them.

WDW is a perfect example. If WDW was still closed like DL, there would be tens of thousands of children and families deprived of enjoying their lives. I don't believe they should be deprived as a trade off for possibly extending the lives of some number of elderly people by a few months or a couple of years. In fact, I would expect that many grandparents would want their grandkids to take a trip to WDW and enjoy their childhood even with the small chance that they might contract COVID as the result of their grandkids taking the trip.

Some number of families have forever missed out on a once in a lifetime trip filled with lifelong memories because of the COVID shutdown. My underlying philosophy in this whole thing has been that, for humans, life is about more than just existing.

Another example is my friend's dad. He is 82 and has been battling cancer. He told my friend that he doesn't want to spend whatever life he has left locked up at home and that he'd rather take the chance of getting COVID and do things that he enjoys.

The average life expectancy in America is 78 years. If this way of “life” (I use that word in quotation marks because most Americans have spent the past 6.5 months merely existing rather than living) continues until at least March, we will have wasted an entire year out of our lives. Vacations canceled, family reunions canceled, weddings postponed or done with minimal guests, funerals not held, graduations and proms canceled, children’s first days of kindergarten held virtually instead of in-person. And this doesn’t even include the countless job losses across the country, permanently closed businesses, the increase in mental health issues including suicides and drug overdoses, child abuse and neglect, etc.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

The average life expectancy in America is 78 years. If this way of “life” (I use that word in quotation marks because most Americans have spent the past 6.5 months merely existing rather than living) continues until at least March, we will have wasted an entire year out of our lives. Vacations canceled, family reunions canceled, weddings postponed or done with minimal guests, funerals not held, graduations and proms canceled, children’s first days of kindergarten held virtually instead of in-person. And this doesn’t even include the countless job losses across the country, permanently closed businesses, the increase in mental health issues including suicides and drug overdoses, child abuse and neglect, etc.

I haven't wasted any of my time spent at home. I cleaned out our basement (not an easy task at all considering my family hates getting rid of stuff), we reassembled our pool table, and I actually set up my wood shop that has been delayed for years because of family members dumping furniture and other junk on us that took up all the space.

 

[sullyinMT]

"Walt Disney Co. chairman Bob Iger has quit Gov. Gavin Newsom’s economic recovery task force, a Disney spokesperson confirmed Thursday evening.

The spokesperson would not say why or precisely when Iger left the task force, but the news comes as the Newsom administration is preparing to release guidance on theme park reopening that the industry is criticizing."

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article246162370.html

Sets up the possibility that DLR, with their industry counterparts, could seek arbitration or other legal action. Iger on the task force is likely a conflict of interest. Also illustrates just how little Newsom appreciates the expertise of the industries he had on the committee.

 

[hopemax]

I haven't wasted any of my time spent at home. I cleaned out our basement (not an easy task at all considering my family hates getting rid of stuff), we reassembled our pool table, and I actually set up my wood shop that has been delayed for years because of family members dumping furniture and other junk on us that took up all the space.

Exactly. This hasn’t been a waste in our household either. Dialing down the noise has helped re-evaluate a lot of things. When my Mom got sick, I basically gave up a year to be with her. Leaving my house a dumpster fire. After she passed, it didn’t improve because I didn’t know where to start and motivation was hard to find. This pause has allowed me to empty out the baggage literally and figuratively, my house no longer looks like Hoarder stage 2. My goal was to get everything cleaned up before the winter weather hits. So then I can focus on being cozy, rediscovering the hobbies I set aside for the same reasons.

This year has been different, but it isn’t wasted.

 

[GoofGoof]

The average life expectancy in America is 78 years. If this way of “life” (I use that word in quotation marks because most Americans have spent the past 6.5 months merely existing rather than living) continues until at least March, we will have wasted an entire year out of our lives. Vacations canceled, family reunions canceled, weddings postponed or done with minimal guests, funerals not held, graduations and proms canceled, children’s first days of kindergarten held virtually instead of in-person. And this doesn’t even include the countless job losses across the country, permanently closed businesses, the increase in mental health issues including suicides and drug overdoses, child abuse and neglect, etc.

I certainly haven’t wasted a year of my life. I wake up every day with plenty of stuff to do. I hang out with my wife and kids a lot more than we probably would have without Covid, I play with the dog (she’s a fan of lockdowns), we do plenty of fun stuff all the time. It’s not ideal and it wouldn‘t be my choice to live this way but I certainly wouldn’t call it a waste. It’s not like I’ve been a POW locked in a prison for 9 months. Every day is precious, I‘m not going to sit around moping because the bar isn’t open or I can’t go on a cruise. I’ve found plenty of things to do that are meaningful and enjoyable experiences.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m so confused... who is wasting a year of there life and why?

Edit by me: several posts around this were deleted, this sounds a bit cold all on its own, that wasn’t my intent.

 

[Miss Bella]

I thought you went to Disney world?

I did but that I supposed to go to Europe and Japan. WDW was just a fill in trip because I need something to do.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Did you enjoy the “signature dining”?

The long hours?

The parades?

The fireworks?

The new ride they have sitting complete opening?

None of those were necessary for my trip in August. I hardly ever stayed for fireworks before COVID, I always skipped parades, and I could care less about the Rat ride and other upgrades.

I'd trade all that in for empty parks. It was great. An entire Soarin' theatre to myself? Absolutely!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

None of those were necessary for my trip in August. I hardly ever stayed for fireworks before COVID, I always skipped parades, and I could care less about the Rat ride and other upgrades.

I'd trade all that in for empty parks. It was great. An entire Soarin' theatre to myself? Absolutely!

You got really lucky... those aren’t the trip reports I’m reading now and cast morale is going to be at an all time low.

I don’t regret playing it safe with the virus, Florida numbers were crazy high at that time, but that would have been a good time for me to get a quick trip in.

 

[note2001]

In the process of cancelling our December trip. The Dec 4th date would be falling mid-stream to our trip, and with the reduced hours, experiences, dining locations, overworked employees, and stress of Florida just letting it all hang out between the airport and grocery shopping, I've decided to move our trip to the 50th.

 

[SamusAranX]

I’m so confused... who is wasting a year of there life and why?

Would I use the word waste?

No. But this year has been tough for me.

I live alone. I can't see my parents much as they are both higher risk.

Without delving into religion, my faith is being extra cautious on this; all meetings in person have been suspended for the forseeable future, and we are on virtual meetings. I am appreciative for the spiritual instruction but miss seeing my friends in person dearly. My volunteer work for my faith has been suspended, so I am doing methods that require me to be alone. Our yearly large gatherings were virtual; this is where i usually see friends who I haven't seen in forever, catch up, make new friends, etc.

I will be missing my close friend's wedding; I already missed one this year.

I am excited to get "back on the saddle" and travel late this year finally, as traveling is my fav thing to do.

I won't say I've wasted this year, but it certainly feels like time has been "lost" in some ways, and that 2021 won't be much different, at least the first half.

It's different for everyone. I am glad that some have been able to experience different things and I don't discount that experience.

But the social and mental costs of this pandemic, while not as great as the suffering of those who are severely ill or who lose loved ones, are there.

 

[Communicora]

Would I use the word waste?

No. But this year has been tough for me.

I live alone. I can't see my parents much as they are both higher risk.

Without delving into religion, my faith is being extra cautious on this; all meetings in person have been suspended for the forseeable future, and we are on virtual. I am appreciative but miss my friends dearly. My volunteer work for my faith has been suspended, so I am doing methods that require me to be alone. Our yearly large gatherings were virtual; this is where i usually see friends who I haven't seen in forever, catch up, make new friends, etc.

I will be missing my close friend's wedding; I already missed one this year.

I am excited to get "back on the saddle" and travel late this year finally, as traveling is my fav thing to do.

I won't say I've wasted this year, but it certainly feels like time has been "lost" in some ways, and that 2021 won't be much different, at least the first half.

It's different for everyone. I am glad that some have been able to experience different things and I don't discount that experience.

But the social and mental costs of this pandemic, while not as great as the suffering of those who are severely ill or who lose loved ones, are there.

I'm sorry you are having a tough time. It has been really challenging for me too.

However, I do disagree with people who are saying we all wasted a year in order to protect people who were going to die anyway. If you get right down to it, who among us wouldn't give up a trip to Walt Disney World if we knew doing so would protect someone from harm? That seems like a no brainer for all of us. And now we aren't even being asked to give up that trip -- we just have sensible precautions to follow.

 

[GoofGoof]

Would I use the word waste?

No. But this year has been tough for me.

I live alone. I can't see my parents much as they are both higher risk.

Without delving into religion, my faith is being extra cautious on this; all meetings in person have been suspended for the forseeable future, and we are on virtual. I am appreciative but miss my friends dearly. My volunteer work for my faith has been suspended, so I am doing methods that require me to be alone. Our yearly large gatherings were virtual; this is where i usually see friends who I haven't seen in forever, catch up, make new friends, etc.

I will be missing my close friend's wedding; I already missed one this year.

I am excited to get "back on the saddle" and travel late this year finally, as traveling is my fav thing to do.

I won't say I've wasted this year, but it certainly feels like time has been "lost" in some ways, and that 2021 won't be much different, at least the first half.

It's different for everyone. I am glad that some have been able to experience different things and I don't discount that experience.

But the social and mental costs of this pandemic, while not as great as the suffering of those who are severely ill or who lose loved ones, are there.

I agree 100% it’s different for everyone. Many people are out of work, some people got very sick or died. I have a good friend who got separated from his wife during this. Although he’s enjoying tinder (which didn‘t exist before he got married) he misses his kids terribly and coordinating things is infinitely more difficult with Covid. Although I don’t consider the last 9 months as time wasted for me it hasn’t been easy all the time either. I’m hoping that when I look back at this time I’ll remember the good times more than the struggle, but I certainly hope it’s at least another hundred years before this happens again. Once in a lifetime events should only happen once a lifetime, unless its something good like winning the powerball then I‘d welcome a repeat

 

[seascape]

Sets up the possibility that DLR, with their industry counterparts, could seek arbitration or other legal action. Iger on the task force is likely a conflict of interest. Also illustrates just how little Newsom appreciates the expertise of the industries he had on the committee.

If California won't allow DLR to reopen, The Walt Disney Company should move their headquarters out of the State. Actually, they should move anyway. The movie industry actually does more filming out of the state than in it and why should their high paid executives pay the insanely high taxes California charges?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If California won't allow DLR to reopen, The Walt Disney Company should move their headquarters out of the State. Actually, they should move anyway. The movie industry actually does more filming out of the state than in it and why should their high paid executives pay the insanely high taxes California charges?

I’m cool with them paying taxes...more actually.

 

[GimpYancIent]

If California won't allow DLR to reopen, The Walt Disney Company should move their headquarters out of the State. Actually, they should move anyway. The movie industry actually does more filming out of the state than in it and why should their high paid executives pay the insanely high taxes California charges?

Fully agree. Retain DL as a relic of the past, a static display museum of what once was. Move the whole operation out of Cali, I am sure many great states would love to have Disney set up operations within their borders. Oh yea, about taxes, those loud, big talking, wealthy celebs spouting nonsense, that have properties in Cali. Where are their real primary residences located, what states are they primary residents of and what state do they pay taxes in? More taxes have obviously not solved any problems but rather exacerbated them.

 

[seascape]

I’m cool with them paying taxes...more actually.

It's not just the executives that pay the high taxes, California charges The Walt Disney Company too much too. As a stockholder, I find what California is doing to them and the other themepark companies outrageous. Six Flags Great Adventure has been operating under the strict NJ rules and regulations with no problems so why can parks open in California? All the companies is California, New York and elsewhere that are being harmed by too many restrictions must move or sue the states harming them.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It's not just the executives that pay the high taxes, California charges The Walt Disney Company too much too. As a stockholder, I find what California is doing to them and the other themepark companies outrageous. Six Flags Great Adventure has been operating under the strict NJ rules and regulations with no problems so why can parks open in California? All the companies is California, New York and elsewhere that are being harmed by too many restrictions must move or sue the states harming them.

Great adventure...really? That’s your bell weather.

Stock gains are free money. You are a passive participant. Nothing should be “free”...tax away.

Tax me...fair share. Just spend it wisely.

That’s a big ask...I know