Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[drew81]

Everyone knows how long it takes Disney to cast, plan, block and stage a show in the parks, right? News continues in a positive direction but it’s not like entertainment will return overnight. Don’t get me wrong. I want it to.

Do we really think Disney is going to bring back 600 more Equity performers?

 

[AEfx]

They also announced the return of the college program in June a few days ago which crushes the rumors that they wouldn’t be able to ramp up this Summer due to a lack of workers.

The return of the CP was the most shocking news I've seen in awhile, for a bunch of reasons.

I'm not sure that it crushes the rumors, though - more so, confirms them, because I don't think they would be bringing it back, and so quickly, if they didn't really need workers.

It's going to be interesting to see how many college kids out there are just raring to go work at WDW right now.

The labor market in Orlando is definitely in a troubled place. Basically, they have always relied on a sort of semi-transient 20's something worker that moves from somewhere else to Orlando for a few years (maybe even 5 or 10), works at the various theme parks, does the roommate thing, then moves back to wherever they came from, or somewhere else.

Right now, many of those workers have been forced to leave because the work has not been there. They had no choice, and have moved on. Now what usually happens, is enough new people think "Gee, wouldn't it be awesome to move to, like, Florida in the sun all the time and work at Disney!" that there has always been a fill of people to take the place of those who have left.

That cycle has kind of broken, which is the problem. All service based labor is facing this right now - not just WDW, it's just more acute there because of the specifics of the hospitality and theme park industry. It's going to be a lot harder to lure folks down to work in a hot theme park all day, taking care of guests from all over the world, having to smile and be magical all day, for minimum wage and all the BS you have to go through working at a theme park, particularly with Disney.

I'm betting next we are going to see hiring bonuses and/or higher starting pay. Disney has been facing this problem at some level for awhile now, the changes in the labor market have been a long time coming - they have just been accelerated tremendously due to the shockwaves of the pandemic.

 

[sullyinMT]

Will character meet and greets be the last to go or masks indoors?

Characters. Once everything else is normal, they’ll probably trickle characters as costumes first then faces. Getting Cinderella to be comfortable with Jane 6-pack in her face with three kids in tow all day is going to be a hard sell. Mickey might be a little more comfortable with it if they can wear a mask underneath. And Disney does still care about their CM, at least to that level.

 

[Patcheslee]

I’m convinced that this, more than anything, is why it’s so hard to bring rural Americans along. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that.

It's slightly surprising because county hospitals have a lower capacity vs urban areas with multiple hospitals for covid patients. We saw full capacity and the county hospital sending patients to other regions twice, yet we stand at only 40.6% partially vaccinated today, 34% completed. 11% of the county has had covid at some point vs 10% of the population in Indy Marion county has had it.

 

[GoofGoof]

The return of the CP was the most shocking news I've seen in awhile, for a bunch of reasons.

I'm not sure that it crushes the rumors, though - more so, confirms them, because I don't think they would be bringing it back, and so quickly, if they didn't really need workers.

It's going to be interesting to see how many college kids out there are just raring to go work at WDW right now.

The labor market in Orlando is definitely in a troubled place. Basically, they have always relied on a sort of semi-transient 20's something worker that moves from somewhere else to Orlando for a few years (maybe even 5 or 10), works at the various theme parks, does the roommate thing, then moves back to wherever they came from, or somewhere else.

Right now, many of those workers have been forced to leave because the work has not been there. They had no choice, and have moved on. Now what usually happens, is enough new people think "Gee, wouldn't it be awesome to move to, like, Florida in the sun all the time and work at Disney!" that there has always been a fill of people to take the place of those who have left.

That cycle has kind of broken, which is the problem. All service based labor is facing this right now - not just WDW, it's just more acute there because of the specifics of the hospitality and theme park industry. It's going to be a lot harder to lure folks down to work in a hot theme park all day, taking care of guests from all over the world, having to smile and be magical all day, for minimum wage and all the BS you have to go through working at a theme park, particularly with Disney.

I'm betting next we are going to see hiring bonuses and/or higher starting pay. Disney has been facing this problem at some level for awhile now, the changes in the labor market have been a long time coming - they have just been accelerated tremendously due to the shockwaves of the pandemic.

There was a poster here who insisted that there wouldn’t be much of a ramp up at WDW this Summer because the college program wasn’t back and they wouldn’t have enough workers. I have no doubt that the labor market was tight and there was a shortage of workers. I think that was at least partially addressed by the announcement. While some college students may have other work lined up this Summer they may be tempted to switch gears to have a little fun. I did read that they were opening the “dorms” but they were requiring CP participants to be fully vaccinated in order to live there with a roommate. I guess if you aren’t vaccinated you can find your own place to live or pay to have a single room if that’s even possible.

Everyone knows how long it takes Disney to cast, plan, block and stage a show in the parks, right? News continues in a positive direction but it’s not like entertainment will return overnight. Don’t get me wrong. I want it to.

Do we really think Disney is going to bring back 600 more Equity performers?

600? Not likely. Some, quite possible. I don’t think everything will be back for sure, some things may never come back. There’s still time to ramp up some entertainment before the start of the July 1 super peak Summer time. That also gives them almost 2 months to get things ramped up and for covid cases to come further down.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

There was a poster here who insisted that there wouldn’t be much of a ramp up at WDW this Summer because the college program wasn’t back and they wouldn’t have enough workers. I have no doubt that the labor market was tight and there was a shortage of workers. I think that was at least partially addressed by the announcement. While some college students may have other work lined up this Summer they may be tempted to switch gears to have a little fun. I did read that they were opening the “dorms” but they were requiring CP participants to be fully vaccinated in order to live there with a roommate. I guess if you aren’t vaccinated you can find your own place to live or pay to have a single room if that’s even possible.

600? Not likely. Some, quite possible. I don’t think everything will be back for sure, some things may never come back. There’s still time to ramp up some entertainment before the start of the July 1 super peak Summer time. That also gives them almost 2 months to get things ramped up and for covid cases to come further down.

You know what needs to come back before anything, IMO? The masks really were bad.. the shows closed were missed as was the nighttime Shows especially in MK and Epcot. But the thing that really bugged me was the regular CM’s selling goods in Epcot. Don’t get me wrong, the CM’s were great, friendly and helpful, at least the ones I dealt with but you don’t realize how much of the story disappears when there is no international cast members. Guess we all get used to some of the things that we love in Disney but when it’s gone we see how much it meant. My vote would be to bring them back as soon as possible.

 

[mickeymiss]

Things are moving fast at WDW. The Summer ramp up has been put into overdrive. The recent announcement about several large scale restaurants coming back on line is in keeping with the idea that the crowds are expected back. They also announced the return of the college program in June a few days ago which crushes the rumors that they wouldn’t be able to ramp up this Summer due to a lack of workers. In conjunction with that they released Summer room discounts as well. All signs point towards further changes on the way and bigger crowds. The removal of temperature screening is a no brainer to me, but what is more pressing is the pending decision on distancing and the return of people eating shows and night attractions. They added many more CMs, they added to the restaurant and resort capacity, a change to 3 feet of distancing will in all practical terms result in a return to full capacity at the parks. The only major thing left is the entertainment. Hoping to hear more soon.

When do or did they change resort capcity? I really wanted Port Orleans to be open before we booked but no such luck :

 

[Figgy1]

You know what needs to come back before anything, IMO? The masks really were bad.. the shows closed were missed as was the nighttime Shows especially in MK and Epcot. But the thing that really bugged me was the regular CM’s selling goods in Epcot. Don’t get me wrong, the CM’s were great, friendly and helpful, at least the ones I dealt with but you don’t realize how much of the story disappears when there is no international cast members. Guess we all get used to some of the things that we love in Disney but when it’s gone we see how much it meant. My vote would be to bring them back as soon as possible.

Those were some of the best CMs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AEfx]

Characters. Once everything else is normal, they’ll probably trickle characters as costumes first then faces. Getting Cinderella to be comfortable with Jane 6-pack in her face with three kids in tow all day is going to be a hard sell. Mickey might be a little more comfortable with it if they can wear a mask underneath. And Disney does still care about their CM, at least to that level.

That's another good example of something that isn't just going to be so easy flip back some "normal" switch at WDW. And a chunk of that is the wage factor, as well. Someone with more current knowledge - please jump in and correct me - but I am pretty sure that characters are only making a few bucks above FL minimum wage, and that face characters only get like a buck more extra an hour. That's not very much when you have to press flesh with 100's of guests an hour from all over the globe. At least with the full costumes with heads you get some level of barrier.

 

[GoofGoof]

When do or did they change resort capcity? I really wanted Port Orleans to be open before we booked but no such luck :

May 30 = Beach Club
June 6 = Wilderness Lodge
July 2 = Boardwalk
July = Polynesian

No date yet for Port Orleans or the rest of the All Stars but BW just got added recently so who knows.

 

[Starcrane]

Yes, the post-9/11 atmosphere is exactly what it feels like here, again.

Yes! Work and in town you feel it… the end. Roaring twenties anyone?

 

[TTA94]

Hope for fireworks by July 4th?

Just saw this though:

 

[disneygeek90]

Apparently Universal is moving to 3 ft tomorrow. No one listens to the markers anyway so we’re basically back to normal there. Meh

 

[mickeymiss]

Apparently Universal is moving to 3 ft tomorrow. No one listens to the markers anyway so we’re basically back to normal there. Meh

No word on disney doing the same thing?

 

[DCBaker]

Apparently Universal is moving to 3 ft tomorrow. No one listens to the markers anyway so we’re basically back to normal there. Meh

They've now announced it -

"With new guidance from the CDC and other health leaders in mind, Universal Orlando Resort is doing away with temperature screenings and reducing social distancing requirements at its theme parks.

Effective Thursday, guests will no longer have their temperature checked before entering the property and the social distancing markers will be scooched closer from 6 feet to 3 feet.

While those two changes are taking place, the theme park doesn’t have plans to make amendments to its other coronavirus safety precautions just yet, including its mask mandate."

“The health and safety of our guests and team members is always our top priority. We continue to review the CDC guidelines and work with local health officials as we update our health and safety protocols,” a Universal spokeswoman said in a statement. “Based on guidance from government and local health officials, as of Thursday, May 6, we are implementing three feet of social distancing throughout our destination and are no longer conducting temperature checks. All other existing health and safety protocols will remain in place.”

Universal Orlando to stop temperature screenings, reduce social distancing requirements

With new guidance from the CDC and other health leaders in mind, Universal Orlando Resort is doing away with temperature screenings and reducing social distancing requirements at its theme parks.

www.clickorlando.com

 

[DisneyFan32]

is NJ and NYC will have a fourth of July fireworks this year as case will be low enough by July, August and September-December?

 

[disneygeek90]

No word on disney doing the same thing?

Not that I’ve seen. As expected, Universal will likely lead with protocol changes.

 

[sullyinMT]

No word on disney doing the same thing?

If it’s successful at UOR, I give it a month at WDW. If not sooner.
It will make for a much better park strolling experience until capacity inevitably increases as a result, not being forced to snake between lines.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

is NJ and NYC will have a fourth of July fireworks this year as case will be low enough by July, August and September-December?

No one has any clue about 4th of July fireworks anywhere yet.

 

[mickeymiss]

Did I hallucinate that FOTLK was supposed to return this month? Have they said when? We will be there next in a week and would LOVE to see that show again in any capacity but it seems unlikely to resume when we're there.