Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[trainplane3]

At this point any multinational business will closely consider every aspect of exposure and liability before resuming anything resembling normal operations. I can imagine no conceivable timeframe for businesses to allow non-essential travel in the foreseeable future, for instance. That alone severely hampers any attempt of recovery in hospitality and travel markets.

I said it earlier in this thread but where I work, we were told leadership is following CDC guidelines. And this is a place that could and would most likely have an impact on the economy if things went extremely south. They're prioritizing health. Mainly because we're very functional with (nearly) everyone at home and there's very little local impact.

 

[UNCgolf]

I get it. I miss the office also. I wouldn’t want to do this forever, but I guess I misspoke with what I want. Which is workforce’s to be better prepared for this. Specifically mine.

No, I know -- that's what I was referring to in the second sentence. Every company should be prepared for this scenario with robust IT capabilities for people to work from home when necessary.

The rest of my comment was basically an aside because I see people talking about how easy it is and we should just get rid of offices and have everyone work from home all the time. I absolutely hate that idea.

 

[JoeT63]

Fear does funny things to folks.

 

[21stamps]

Every company should be prepared for this scenario with robust IT capabilities for people to work from home when necessary.

This isn’t possible for every company.

 

[Andrew C]

Apparently you missed the nugget quite a while ago where the CDC says EIGHT WEEKS and that's only if people actually freaking do it.

I am going by the current and official recommendations coming from the task force that includes Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx. They are supposed to be in discussions this week around updating these recommendations after these 15 days have ended.

 

[Disneyson]

All I have to say is, in China this process took apxx. 2 1/2 months of quarantine to isolate the virus, with measures just now being taken to allow eat-in at places like Starbucks (which is essentially operating at half capacity to maintain distance). This includes the “draconian” measures taken, and even still there are new cases being found every so often.

In the US, I fear we haven’t reached the peak of infection yet (the media, the scientists, and the doctors will tell us loud and clear when that happens), and it’s very possible that the country will “re-open” at the height of the spread. This is without the “draconian” measures, too.

I’m just scared for my parents, really. I have ties to China, and I know that EVERYBODY followed the rules for nearly three months, and are still following the rules. I know that freedom is a beautiful thing, but by refusing to believe in the strength of this virus, a lot of people are going to die, ESPECIALLY if Walt Disney World opens.

I worry about the older APs that really don’t understand the weight of this, and especially the older members of the the management teams and imagineering teams, as well as older cast members like Yeehaw Bob and the like. People that I know have died from this recently and it’s kinda scary to think of what’s gonna happen next.

 

[UNCgolf]

This isn’t possible for every company.

I didn't think I needed to say this because I thought it was obvious, but I meant all large companies and office work. Obviously some jobs cannot be done from home, and some small businesses cannot afford the necessary infrastructure.

 

[MaximumEd]

I miss the days when we could hear a thought from someone, toss it around in our head for a while, while neither a. taking it as gospel, nor b. being offended by it. It’s a rare skill these days. Everyone has their opinion and that’s cool with me.

 

[UNCgolf]

Only where the fed has actually has powers to start with...

Of course, but that's a separate issue.

 

[21stamps]

I didn't think I needed to say this because I thought it was obvious, but I meant all large companies and office work. Obviously some jobs cannot be done from home, and some small businesses cannot afford the necessary infrastructure.

Which is a humongous part of the economy.

 

[GoofGoof]

I just hope the people in charge continue to listen to the people with the most information and experience and do what needs to be done. This is not a partisan issue and politics shouldn’t play any part in this.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

At this point I dont care if it means there is a 21 day end date.
I'm in WNY where it's pretty much already locked down.
And the national guard is being deployed to help make people cooperate.
I think if there was a clear end instead of it being indefinitely people would be more likely to agree.

I'm in WNY too -- unfortunately, one of the biggest clusters in Amherst seems to shop near my house (not far from the Target plaza on Niagara Falls Blvd). Although I'm not thrilled with how Poloncarz dealt with this in those first few days, it seems like they're doing better now. It's ridiculous that we have a lab here and are out of supplies, though.

 

[Horizons '83]

So back to Covid-19 as it relates to Disney (per the thread title)

Do any Disney historians have an idea of what the typical budget/construction/maintenance cuts are after something like this? Although this isn't like anything we have seen in our lifetimes, I can think of a few crises that would could compare against. Is it something akin to this?

1) Payroll (reduction of corporate office 1st, Resorts next then CM's if needed)
2) Non-essential refurbishments (eliminating any "pluses" or nice to haves for the time being)
3) Overall Cap-Ex spend reduction on future projects

 

[21stamps]

I love politics, I love discussing politics. However, the COVID-19 response is NOT political, nor should it be used as a political talking point.

I wish everyone could hang up their partisan hats, for once. Look around and see what’s really going on.

 

[techgeek]

So back Covid-19 as it relates to Disney (per the thread title)

Do an Disney histricans have an idea of what the typical budget/construction/maintenance cuts are after something like this? Although this isn't like anything we have seen in our lifetimes, I can think of a few crises that would could compare against. Is it some akin to this?

1) Payroll (reduction of corporate office 1st, Resorts next then CM's if needed)
2) Non-essential refurbishments (eliminating any "pluses" or nice to haves for the time being)
3) Overall Cap-Ex spend reduction on future projects

We are in unprecedented territory that far eclipses any financial challenge the Walt Disney Company has ever faced historically. At this point, this list is a given... and far more extreme measures will likely be undertaken. Without knowing the extent of the overall situation it’s impossible to speculate at this point.

 

[HongKongFooy]

VIDEO - Caring for the animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom during coronavirus park closure

VIDEO - Caring for the animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom during coronavirus park closure

Hear from Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President of Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team.

www.wdwmagic.com

If this thing went 2 years and we see complete chaos, no gov't and a rearrangement of society as we know it and rampant food shortage, mass starvation I'm hoppin some fences with a sharpened stick......and that's all there is to it.

 

[Horizons '83]

We are in unprecedented territory that far eclipses any financial challenge the Walt Disney Company has ever faced historically. At this point, this list is a given... and far more extreme measures will likely be undertaken. Without knowing the extent of the overall situation it’s impossible to speculate at this point.

And I mean this in the most joking way, of course its possible to speculate, that's why we have a fine board like this one to discuss.

Outside of what I listed above, I can't really think of anything more drastic than actual park closings. I know putting current projects on hold would be one measure. Drastic price increases most likely wouldn't benefit them at this point.

 

[techgeek]

And I mean this in the most joking way, of course its possible to speculate, that's why we have a fine board like this one to discuss.

Outside of what I listed above, I can't really think of anything more drastic than actual park closings. I know putting current projects on hold would be one measure. Drastic price increases most likely wouldn't benefit them at this point.

I’ll bite. I think you could conceivably put almost any action on the table, up to and including selling or shuttering & writing off core assets.

 

[Horizons '83]

I’ll bite. I think you could conceivably put almost any action on the table, up to and including selling or shuttering & writing off core assets.

Curious, do you mean within the Parks division or are you talking company wide (like sell off ESPN, etc.)

 

[EricsBiscuit]

If Disney is smart, they’ll green light new stuff to draw people back to the parks. I suspect this will be like 9/11 and everyone will be scared of everything for a while. It’ll take a year and a half to get back to “normal.”