Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[flynnibus]

The recruiters they contract in each country to manage this process were doing a lot of the vetting, face to face stuff, paper sifting, visa assistance, etc, so it has never been Disney doing this. These agents will have a vested interest in trying to keep the process going, because otherwise they won't get paid and will go out of business. However, the process has become more difficult.

• AUGUST 1st: Stacy submits her application on the first day applications are open.
• AUGUST 31st: Applications close.
• SEPTEMBER 15th: Yummy Jobs email Stacy to tell her that she has a pre-screen interview.
• OCTOBER 6th: Stacy attends her pre-screen interview at the Yummy Jobs offices.
• OCTOBER 20th: Yummy Jobs email Stacy to say that she's invited to a face-to-face interview.
• NOVEMBER 17th: Stacy attends her face-to-face interview at the Disney offices in London.
• DECEMBER 5th: Stacy's friend gets a start date of March 13th but she herself is told she's on the waitlist and that she'll hear more in April.
• APRIL 7th: Stacy is offered a program that starts on October 1st.
• AUGUST: 12th: Stacy attends the US embassy to get her visa.
• SEPTEMBER 30th: Stacy flys out a couple of days early.
• OCTOBER 1st: Stacy checks-in to Disney housing and her program begins.

(Edit: this is an example timeline from the UK recruiter)

And none of that really changes... Applications are online, screening interviews are done via phone or video chat... you do a face to face interview (or multiples)... and you make hiring decisions. There is no issue here. You may even see more of the face to face interviews simply move online but that's about the only delta I'd see.

As others have mentioned... actually getting the credentials and getting here are probably going to be a bigger constraint than Disney worrying about chosing who to hire. The thing probably impacted most is recruiting... which can be replaced to a degree with more targeted online efforts.

 

[Lilofan]

I work at a hospital in a non-clinical department. For weeks they complained about not being given masks, and now that they are required to wear them, I cannot get them to wear them correctly. No way are required masks going to work at Disney.

Also, and I know correlation is not causation but did anyone else notice that just as Disney World started to paint their castle pink again, a plague descended on the land?

It works at our sister park in China.

 

[Overlordkitty]

It works at our sister park in China.

Yes, but we're not in China. Way different cultural and political dynamics.

 

[thomas998]

For better or worse, Disney is a much bigger beast than it was when it opened. It costs much more to run nowadays and I'm sure they're way more dependent on international travelers than they used to be in order to keep it running. I definitely think they're going to have to cater to US visitors for now, no doubt about that. But in some shape or form, they're going to have to get international guests visiting, and soon. Even if it's just Canada or the UK.

Disney is bigger, but the tanked economy is going to allow them to bring costs down. Just think they will not be having to pay any premiums to get labor now, they will be able to pay the bare minimum and still have a big selection of people to choose from... then look at other cost that are also coming down right now... crude oil is so low that gasoline in some states is under a dollar, that will translate into lower price in other things as well, like any thing that uses fossil fuels whether in forms of energy to cook food or the cheap plastic cups and mouse ears that will be cheaper. Not saying they won't have harder times than before, but they will also find some benefits to help counter all the problems as well.

 

[celluloid]

EPCOT has the fixed cost of living seas, and The Land pavilion and makes money off of tours for those experiences and they are basically lure profit so no loss if the tour upcharges do not happen. The flora and fauna need work as as fixed cost regardless. If guests are seeing them or not.
Test Track needs to be open to keep GM playing there millions of dollars a year and their benefit of showcasing and potentially selling their models on the lot.
The rest of EPCOT besides journey and Spaceship Earth are the boat rides, and the films are films which are not costly to operate. The more costly attractions, resturants and shops can adjust services and staffing to help budget,such as running less theaters of Soarin or slower loading of Test Track/Mission Space.
EPCOT sl has the marketability of RAT and The Space Restaurant.
Even if there are phases, four parks will reopen quicker than some are thinking. It will just be operational changes to conserve budget.
Waterparks, parts of the resort hotels (such as Boardwalk, more obscure shopping and dining areasand some Disney Spring Venues)will likely have the larger gaps in reopening.

 

[Lilofan]

If they have F&W, they could make it mobile order only.

FL has a lot seniors. Some only have a flip phone.

 

[Lora Baines Bradley]

I thought about that but the other classic issue arises: where will people eat? Oh right, on trashcans like always.

Since my April trip is sunk at this point, I'm debating a fall trip before the "big" December trip. Is it bad I'm hoping there's no festivals? Aside from a few unique food offerings, I won't miss the drunks and stupid amount of booths strangling WS's walkway.

Maybe add more tables? Again not a perfect solution. But if Epcot is open then, they simply make too much money to not have F&W. Not saying I’m for or against it. Personally I enjoy the festivals and people-watching, though I do find it sad that people feel the need to get absolutely wasted when they’re around small children. But I digress.

So visiting the parks would require owning a smartphone?

I’m sure they will make a big push for mobile ordering and even without that push more people will use it. Which will create its own set of problems. Many time when I use mobile order it creates a bit of a mess because people waiting for their order block the counter for people who’s order is ready.

I mean, doesn’t it require a smartphone now?

It’s not absolutely necessary, but if you want the best experience it is. Maybe one CM with a MO iPad to take orders. Limits the amount of contact as well as staffing.

And I definitely agree on the MO crowd thing, as someone who has been the CM calling out orders lol. Unfortunately I think that’s a people problem rather than a Disney problem.

 

[Lilofan]

Yes, but we're not in China. Way different cultural and political dynamics.

Some also thought a theme park in a hot humid central Florida would not work either.

 

[Overlordkitty]

Some also thought a theme park in a hot humid central Florida would not work either.

You're still missing the political and cultural differences between the two countries and citizen action as a result. There's a reason why lockdown/ stay at home looks radically different in comparison.

There are a number of people in the US that will automatically not wear masks, just because it comes as a recommendation from the government.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

And I definitely agree on the MO crowd thing, as someone who has been the CM calling out orders lol. Unfortunately I think that’s a people problem rather than a Disney problem.

Oh my... I feel for you. At least when I get my food I can get out of there!!! Ha.

When it works good it’s like a dream though.

 

[Lilofan]

You're still missing the political and cultural differences between the two countries and citizen action as a result. There's a reason why lockdown/ stay at home looks radically different in comparison.

There are a number of people in the US that will automatically not wear masks, just because it comes as a recommendation from the government.

Private companies can make up their own rules and Disney sure has a lot of them. Whether it can be enforced consistently that's another topic.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

What Food an wine?

You mean extra queue lines and an extra 500 employees handling food and receipts and passing it along?

they will find some way to open back up with a festival...even if it is festival lite.

 

[Calmdownnow]

As others have mentioned... actually getting the credentials and getting here are probably going to be a bigger constraint than Disney worrying about chosing who to hire. The thing probably impacted most is recruiting... which can be replaced to a degree with more targeted online efforts.

I just amended my post to add reference to costs -- one of the costs is a UK "disclosure and barring" check -- which confirms your lack of criminal record/sex offence history, something of obvious importance to Disney, but also a factor in visa decisions. I think the "Stacy" example is also indicative of the fact that, thankfully, Disney has been very choosy about who it brings on property as an International CM. I would hope their standards aren't lowered.

In the meantime, Disney is asking would-be International CMs from UK to invest around $1250 up-front to join the next cadre of International CMs without any guarantee that the program will go ahead in August or that they won't be sent home in a matter of weeks if there is another outbreak.

 

[Lora Baines Bradley]

Disney is bigger, but the tanked economy is going to allow them to bring costs down. Just think they will not be having to pay any premiums to get labor now, they will be able to pay the bare minimum and still have a big selection of people to choose from... then look at other cost that are also coming down right now... crude oil is so low that gasoline in some states is under a dollar, that will translate into lower price in other things as well, like any thing that uses fossil fuels whether in forms of energy to cook food or the cheap plastic cups and mouse ears that will be cheaper. Not saying they won't have harder times than before, but they will also find some benefits to help counter all the problems as well.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "pay the bare minimum"? Maybe for CPs, but IIRC they just bumped up the base pay for CPs to $12/hr, but I could be wrong. Reducing pay after just increasing it would be bad PR. Also, they just made a deal with the union that included paying for programs such as Aspire (tuition payment) during the closure.

Disney has some creative bean counters working for them. I'm sure if they just let CMs into HS, they'll make up a lot of money in no time, lol.

FL has a lot seniors. Some only have a flip phone.

Very fair. Like I said in another post, maybe there could be a CM outside the booth who can take MO transactions? Similar to the Guest Experience Team.

 

[Lora Baines Bradley]

Oh my... I feel for you. At least when I get my food I can get out of there!!! Ha.

When it works good it’s like a dream though.

Haha. It got pretty crazy at my location, but I enjoyed the fast pace. Made the time go by fast.

Also, I forgot to mention that during peak times, we'd have a CM on the other side of the MO counter to help distribute orders, so that might become more common.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Well I remember going there in the early days and it wasn't always targeting international visitors to begin with it was expected to only cater to the US market, it was only when the rest of the world's standard of living rose to the point that you had a significant number of people from overseas capable of affording WDW that they started catering to them, so it isn't as if they can only exist based on international traffic, they have in the past existed solely on US traffic and could again if that was the only market available. Things change and a business will often have to adjust their business plan when things beyond their control smack them in the face... I would say this virus and the impact on the world is one of those things that could force them to make adjustments.

Your right for the most part. Disney World was put in Florida to get the east coast crowd it was missing out on because back in the 70’s not a lot could afford the plane trip over to California.
Then Epcot came along and that’s when the push started for foreign visitors. Each park just added more and more visitors from around the world.
I don’t ever remember hearing different languages back in the early to late 70’s. I was a teen then and I’m sure there were a few but I don’t recall.

 

[John Hendershot]

Disney is bigger, but the tanked economy is going to allow them to bring costs down. Just think they will not be having to pay any premiums to get labor now, they will be able to pay the bare minimum and still have a big selection of people to choose from... then look at other cost that are also coming down right now... crude oil is so low that gasoline in some states is under a dollar, that will translate into lower price in other things as well, like any thing that uses fossil fuels whether in forms of energy to cook food or the cheap plastic cups and mouse ears that will be cheaper. Not saying they won't have harder times than before, but they will also find some benefits to help counter all the problems as well.

Ummm - Cost of labor will not change. They may have less employees but their wages will remain at the current $13 - then $14 in October - and $15 next June due to Union negotiations. Merit/Annual raises may be suspended for the immediate future but that’s about it besides potential reduction in their workforce.

Regarding the cost of goods - supplies and products costs may not go down as suppliers have been hit just as hard or harder and will need to recoup those costs somehow.
I don’t believe there is any scenario where DISNEY will come out ahead as a result of coronavirus related cost savings. Their cost of doing business will remain the same or be higher in the new post pandemic economy.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Some also thought a theme park in a hot humid central Florida would not work either.

Disney wasn't scared off by weather, as they were thinking east coast decades before. The spectacular failure of Freedom land gave them pause. In their own words, they were afraid the east coast was too sophisticated for Disney. It's also one of the reasons Disney jumped at the NY World's Fair. It gave them other peoples money to build new attractions, and they could safely test out how New Yorkers would take Disney attractions.
The rest is history

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Some also thought a theme park in a hot humid central Florida would not work either.

The people that showed up in 1971 were the WW2 generation and baby boomers...

People were tougher/more tolerant of less than ideal conditions then

 

[Calmdownnow]

Disney wasn't scared off by weather, as they were thinking east coast decades before.

Do you think climate issues might change thinking if they were considering the same issues in the 21st century? Might they have gone further North, or more mid-west when they were considering buying land knowing what we know now?