Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Parker in NYC]

Projections like this scare me, and only PARTLY because of obviously implications. But there is already a growing base of people against these lockdowns and ordinances and rules, etc, and there are already protests scheduled for May 2 to “open the country back up.” I’m not saying they’re right or wrong, but this is only after a month of social distancing and quarantine. The number of people who start to agree with these protestors are only going to grow as more and more time goes on. I greatly fear for mass civil unrest and worry about what this could mean for us as a society in the future.

And yes. I know social distancing can still be done without full on quarantine like we’re in now...but social distancing still will impact jobs and the economy as a whole in a not-great way as well, and I still think there will be large populations of the country against SD.

Anyway, Im just saying that the virus isn’t the only thing to be afraid of right now.

I don't want to get into an economic discussion here -- that's for the politics thread -- but these studies are conducted by people I trust with no agenda whatsoever. I take it for what it is - separate and apart from everything else.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Forever or just temporary. Assuming there is a vaccine at some point I would hope some or all of those things come back. You guys are depressing me now

I would say... both?

As business improves entertainment would come back, but at a different level of quality. For example... maybe you bring back a character castle show but without equity. You bring back Fantasmic, but without stunt performers and half of the cast.

That’s all guesses... but I see that coming at this point.

 

[trainplane3]

Highly subjective; but also false.

I mean, thrill rides? Sure.
Themed experiences, food, and (sometimes) employees? No way.

I'm a huge Cedar Point fan. Great rides, great park, tons of thrills. I don't go there to be immersed. They're two different kinds of parks and really can't be compared fairly.

 

[wdwmagic]

Yes. It seems we had crossed wires. Your furlough and ours are very different; when furloughed we’re paid 80% of our basic pay by the government (With the £2500 limit) and It’s up to employers if they want to top up the other 20%. All benefits and national insurance paid as normal. We also get paid directly by our employer as usual, they then do the 80% claim back theirselves.

We are expressly forbidden to do any paid work for our employer - or any other employer - when furloughed.

I think the system is largely the same in the US and UK, with the difference being that in the UK, there is the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which lets the company claim 80% of an employee's PAYE up to 2500gbp from the government, which it can then use towards paying the furloughed employee. The final pay for the employee could be anywhere between 80% and 100% if the employer also contributes.

In the USA, the furloughed employee retains various company benefits, but is no longer paid by the company. They are then able to file for unemployment, which in Florida pays up to $275 a week, with a limited time additional $600 per week due to Coronavirus law.

That is how I understand it at least.

 

[Parker in NYC]

I would say... both?

As business improves entertainment would come back, but at a different level of quality. For example... maybe you bring back a character castle show but without equity. You bring back Fantasmic, but without stunt performers and half of the cast.

That’s all guesses... but I see that coming at this point.

I mean, thrill rides? Sure.
Themed experiences, food, and (sometimes) employees? No way.

I'm a huge Cedar Point fan. Great rides, great park, tons of thrills. I don't go there to be immersed. They're two different kinds of parks and really can't be compared fairly.

Completely random aside but who else gets these two trains mixed up? One could say, it drives my train of thought off the rails.

 

[King Panda 77]

A true hero

Coronavirus: Captain Tom Moore raises more than £9m for NHS

Tom Moore's efforts to raise money for NHS Charities Together give him "new purpose".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[DCBaker]

"Today, we’re getting reports that Disney has begun to send cancellation emails to guests with reservations through May 16th. This is a two-week extension of the previous cancellation period."

Disney Is Now Canceling Vacations Through Mid-May

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

 

[Jrb1979]

I mean, thrill rides? Sure.
Themed experiences, food, and (sometimes) employees? No way.

I'm a huge Cedar Point fan. Great rides, great park, tons of thrills. I don't go there to be immersed. They're two different kinds of parks and really can't be compared fairly.

No they can't be compared but for me I equate Disney more of a family park with people with as I all then littles. My nieces who are 9 and 10 prefer Cedar Point over Disney as they like roller coasters over meeting characters and slow moving rides.

 

[Kamikaze]

I think the system is largely the same in the US and UK, with the difference being that in the UK, there is the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which lets the company claim 80% of an employee's PAYE up to 2500gbp from the government, which it can then use towards paying the furloughed employee. The final pay for the employee could be anywhere between 80% and 100% if the employer also contributes.

In the USA, the furloughed employee retains various company benefits, but is no longer paid by the company. They are then able to file for unemployment, which in Florida pays up to $275 a week, with a limited time additional $600 per week due to Coronavirus law.

That is how I understand it at least.

There is the Payroll Protection Program here in the US, which allows employers to keep people on and get a loan which can later be discharged by the lender (and paid for by the federal government). Amounts vary based on the employers post-shutdown payroll.

 

[imsosarah]

Just sat here thinking, which is always a dangerous situation, it is possible that my husband and I will never be able to make it back to WDW which is an awful thought. My husband is nearly 72 and it’s a long and tiring flight from the U.K.. At least we have been a few times and have some very happy memories. The people I feel sorriest for, apart from those that have lost people to this disease, are the hundreds maybe thousands of children whose end of life wish is to visit Disney. Now they may not live long enough or be well enough to do so and can’t even visit anywhere similar in their own country. It must be heartbreaking for them and unbearable for their parents who wanted to create one last happy memory. Can’t even think of a way to help.
Sorry to be morbid but just wanted to illustrate that there are people worse off than us who want Disney open so we can go. Even if they were able, temperature screening and suchlike would probably rule them out.

@Flugell have you and your husband done the paris disney? I don't see it opening anytime soon but we were there right before it was shut down for first time and was really impressed. More a long weekend vs 2 week destination, but really surprised at how much we liked it!

 

[hopemax]

There is the Payroll Protection Program here in the US, which allows employers to keep people on and get a loan which can later be discharged by the lender (and paid for by the federal government). Amounts vary based on the employers post-shutdown payroll.

Speaking of which, I was listening in on DH’s Company meeting. Like I said, they already received their funds. But they said that for the next 8 weeks, any money spent on payroll does not have to be paid back.

In light of some of the discussion yesterday about why didn’t we use existing payroll systems instead of the unemployment system to distribute funds, I thought that was interesting. Looks like it’s sort of a patchwork of both.

 

[DKampy]

When I watch the local Orlando news there is a sense that the cases are flattening in our area. It’s been like that for a few days. We’re cautiously optimistic that this is the case. Testing has also been ramped up in the area with more testing stations, more tests at each station and allowing more without strict guidelines to be tested. We’ll see what happens day by day. I’m originally from Wisconsin, too. My daughter still lives there in Waukesha county and my husband is currently working at a Milwaukee hospital. So I hear what’s happening there daily. Keep safe.

Wishing the best for your husband. Milwaukee is the hardest hit area...it more than doubles the amount of cases in the rest of the state.

I am a manger at a Pick N Save in Milwaukee. People seem to be very careful almost all customers are wearing gloves and masks as well as trying to social distance. Compare that with North of Milwaukee in Ozaukee county where I live...I see very few masks and people walk right next to you why I try to social distance. So I actually feel more nervous going out where live...I guess people don’t feel as cautious since we have 73 cases and from what they are reporting most are in nursing homes...it was being spread from place to place through the workers... there is a new rule here...you can only work for 1 nursing home. We have not had any new cases for a few days...hopefully that continues. Actually the states curve seems to flattening the rate of new cases is decreasing

 

[Polynesia]

"Today, we’re getting reports that Disney has begun to send cancellation emails to guests with reservations through May 16th. This is a two-week extension of the previous cancellation period."

Disney Is Now Canceling Vacations Through Mid-May

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

I think it’s been widely publicized that June 1 would be the earliest they open.

 

[imsosarah]

According to articles it did, as funding dried up after they disappeared.

RIght, because no point in having a vaccine for something that isn't a concern. Both were able to be contained in a small area with limited infections...

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Not everybody is just scraping by as you say. Many cast members are already working part time at grocery stores and such. I’d bet unemployment will also be extended as it was several years ago. If I’m not mistaken it extended up to a year and perhaps beyond. If Disney and other businesses are shut down for a year there won’t be an economy anyone can go back to. People who have seemingly safe jobs now may not have them a year from now either. Something to think about.

Working part time at a grocery store isn’t scraping by?

 

[TheDisneyDaysOfOurLives]

Not everybody is just scraping by as you say. Many cast members are already working part time at grocery stores and such. I’d bet unemployment will also be extended as it was several years ago. If I’m not mistaken it extended up to a year and perhaps beyond. If Disney and other businesses are shut down for a year there won’t be an economy anyone can go back to. People who have seemingly safe jobs now may not have them a year from now either. Something to think about.

Very aware of that, thanks. Going to be really fun if all of us are out of a job collecting unemployment.

 

[imsosarah]

Wishing the best for your husband. Milwaukee is the hardest hit area...it more than doubles the amount of cases in the rest of the state.

I am a manger at a Pick N Save in Milwaukee. People seem to be very careful almost all customers are wearing gloves and masks as well as trying to social distance. Compare that with North of Milwaukee in Ozaukee county where I live...I see very few masks and people walk right next to you why I try to social distance. So I actually feel more nervous going out where live...I guess people don’t feel as cautious since we have 73 cases and from what they are reporting most are in nursing homes...it was being spread from place to place through the workers... there is a new rule here...you can only work for 1 nursing home. We have not had any new cases for a few days...hopefully that continues. Actually the states curve seems to flattening the rate of new cases is decreasing

I live in Ozaukee county also! Talk to the dr's here and they will tell you they had ~70 cases, many hospitalized that were all denied testing as early as mid-february. A lot of families went to Europe for travel over the winter mid break late January and Early February...and many returned sick but only China was still valid for testing at the time per cdc rules...

Yesterday at a local grocery store, the workers weren't wearing masks and most men 55-75 were not in masks. The 30 somethings were either in masks or in camo, no mask and coughing.... ugh

 

[Patcheslee]

Would I prefer them to all be laid off already? No. My concern is that it gives them a false sense of security when they should be actively looking for another job in the event they are not brought off (was going to say laid off, but it appears they will receive health benefits until April 2021 from WDC).

I agree the benefits will be extended, but until they are, I wouldn't count on it happening. Maybe that's just how I was raised, but if I was in their shoes, I would be applying for the next job in the event I'm not asked back (due to seniority, etc.). But you can't just sit there and expect everything to work out for you in the end. You can look for jobs from the comfort of your home and I imagine employers are doing Zoom meetings if they're hiring.

What that doesn't take into account is each person's finances, additional costs, and recall rights/position. It's all having to be weighed by each household to what is best for them at the time.
When school closed my childcare rate went from $35/week for 2 hours before school to $100/week for an 11yo. Furlough began this week, which means I don’t have to pay the childcare cost. If I immediately had another job that paycheck would be deducted from the $390 unemployment before taxes, so at $9.75/hour I could possibly no longer be allowed anything, and still have to pay the $100 in childcare, making my take home pay much less than being able to stay at home and not create a higher risk of exposure for my family because it is the grocery stores and health clinics that are hiring here.
If it was financially smarter to find another job I'd be on it because this staying home drive me nuts. At this point we are to return in 3 weeks, it may extend, it may not.

 

[Polynesia]

Wishing the best for your husband. Milwaukee is the hardest hit area...it more than doubles the amount of cases in the rest of the state.

I am a manger at a Pick N Save in Milwaukee. People seem to be very careful almost all customers are wearing gloves and masks as well as trying to social distance. Compare that with North of Milwaukee in Ozaukee county where I live...I see very few masks and people walk right next to you why I try to social distance. So I actually feel more nervous going out where live...I guess people don’t feel as cautious since we have 73 cases and from what they are reporting most are in nursing homes...it was being spread from place to place through the workers... there is a new rule here...you can only work for 1 nursing home. We have not had any new cases for a few days...hopefully that continues. Actually the states curve seems to flattening the rate of new cases is decreasing

I think Wisconsin did peak already this week. I actually understand the mindset of Ozaukee. It’s so totally different than Milwaukee County. I really miss Pick ‘N Save. Lol. My husband takes all the necessary precautions as I’m sure you do. My daughter said in Waukesha County there weren’t a lot of folks wearing masks either. She’s actually terrified to go out to the store because of this. My grandson is high risk so she’s got her family on a tight lock down. The nursing homes seem to be a hot spot in a lot of the states. In Florida they’re going to start testing them specifically with the help of the National Guard. Stay safe

 

[DisneyDebRob]

If this lasts as long as it might... I think there will be massive cuts to entertainment. An example.... I don’t think we will see Fantasmic again on either coast as we saw it before. Nemo, festival of lion king, frozen sing along, Indiana Jones, castle shows, - basically anything requiring equity will get cut.

With all that being cut, I’m guessing the 25 dollar ticket to the parks is right around the corner then.