Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[csmat99]

Not necessarily true. I would be surprised if all 75K employees return to work at WDW. And the benefits is on a company-by-company basis.

They all will return if they choose to. What will happen is after the furlough is over. Disney may and within their right then choose to have layoffs and/or try and get people in early retirement. But this is why Disney negotiated with union leaders. The unions wanted to protect health benefits and also protect positions knowing disney will need majority of employees back. Union understands some people will get laid off when this if over. Disney will not be opening all rides, concession stands, etc when they do reopen. That is the reality.

 

[_caleb]

As it applies to WDW, the rapid test takes too long to try and test everybody. It's 13 minutes per person plus the time to get the sample. The machine only does 1 at a time so you'd need at least several hundred at each park entrance.

Then there's the cost. I found an article that said the cost of the rapid flu test is around $45 per test. I assume that takes into account amortizing the cost of the machine. Neither Disney nor the insurance companies are going to eat that cost for everybody to get tested at WDW. Would you be willing to pay $45 a day extra to be allowed to enter? I wouldn't.

Which is why I imagine they would likely employ a progressive series of checks.
Immunity cards/negative verification apps upon arrival. Cameras to take initial temperatures as groups of people walk though (no waiting, no cost) screening points. Secondary screening for folks who are flagged with out-of-normal temps (short wait/instant results, small relative costs). Actual tests only for those who fail all screenings and still want to get into the parks (longer waits, more invasive, higher costs).

 

[Polynesia]

I believe it...I am 95 percent sure I had it...it started with a cough then a fever of a 104..then came the shortness of breath...I even mentioned to my wife I feel like I am dyeing and even mentioned to her someone tested positive for that Coronavirus from China in Wisconsin...she said I was being dramatic(which I tend to do sometimes)you have the flu and that was 1 person who came back from China. I did not get tested for the flu, but it did not feel like the flu.

My doctor and I think I may have had it, too. Had a temp of 102 for almost a week, nauseated beyond belief, horrible cough, pneumonia and a PE which was seen in China. I was hospitalized but it was very end of January and the virus wasn’t on anyones radar. Since I had just been to a theme park earlier who’s to say it is impossible. I live as though I’m still susceptible and take all precautions. Like mentioned by you, I went to the ER twice because I had never felt so bad.

 

[imsosarah]

Yes, but surely even then, the government would want to make sure the money is going for what it's supposed to, would they not? Point being, my husband's company isn't applying for federal money because they don't want to have to prove anything. My husband being high-risk, they actually laid him off a week before anyone knew non-essential businesses were going to have to close.

Then that is just his company making a decision and they may not understand how that works fully. Or they realize that the 8 weeks was not going to be enough to stay afloat and they were going to have to lay off people. In any event, have him apply ASAP for unemployment - that is exactly why we pay into unemployment - it is an insurance policy.

 

[Bismuth]

My doctor and I think I may have had it, too. Had a temp of 102 for almost a week, nauseated beyond belief, horrible cough, pneumonia and a PE which was seen in China. I was hospitalized but it was very end of January and the virus wasn’t on anyones radar. Since I had just been to a theme park earlier who’s to say it is impossible. I live as though I’m still susceptible and take all precautions. Like mentioned by you, I went to the ER twice because I had never felt so bad.

I'm glad yall are okay!!! My coworker pal had the same thing happen to her before COVID was on the radar. A horrible cough and a fever, etc etc, and doctors didn't know what it was.

 

[note2001]

One of my kids is a florist. Her mom & pop shop just went through $2000 in unprocessed flowers in 3 days. Almost all were sympathy arrangements. To put that in context, the shop usually goes through about $600 a week, $2000 is akin to mother's day week which is still about a month off.

And we haven't hit the peak of this thing yet

 

[imsosarah]

The government would easily know if the money wasn’t being used properly. If any employee was laid off, furloughed, or wasn’t being properly paid, that employee would report that.

@ImperfectPixie

Also, we have to report and prove what the money was used for at the end of 8 weeks in order to get the loan turned into a grant. If you want it to be a grant, then 75% has to be used for payroll. And anyone high income has to cut and max their income out at 100k for those two months.

 

[imsosarah]

And then wait for the investigation and finally get their money months after they needed it.

No, if they are laid off they get unemployment.... the companies owe them nothing if they are laid off... the only thing is the grant is then a loan. no investigation needed. Its a literal excel doc that gets reviewed. Easy.

 

[Lilofan]

They all will return if they choose to. What will happen is after the furlough is over. Disney may and within their right then choose to have layoffs and/or try and get people in early retirement. But this is why Disney negotiated with union leaders. The unions wanted to protect health benefits and also protect positions knowing disney will need majority of employees back. Union understands some people will get laid off when this if over. Disney will not be opening all rides, concession stands, etc when they do reopen. That is the reality.

I believe the agreement was that the cast that will be furloughed are covered by health insurance up to 12 months if the furlough lasts that long. That cannot be realistic because if that is remotely the case, Central Florida businesses will be devastated beyond belief.

 

[Polynesia]

I'm glad yall are okay!!! My coworker pal had the same thing happen to her before COVID was on the radar. A horrible cough and a fever, etc etc, and doctors didn't know what it was.

Interesting you say that. The ER doctor said she was confused because I tested negative for the flu and was very sick. Ten days later when I was admitted to the hospital I then tested positive for type A flu. People who get covid also get the regular flu at the same time. Since I was sick for at least four days I surely would have tested positive at my first ER visit.

 

[imsosarah]

Except.. what if I got a $100 million grant... but only spent $50 million on payroll...

You are allowed to take out 2.5x your monthly payroll in the LOAN

Your monthly payroll numbers have to be adjusted down so no worker can make more than 100k/year

You have to report the number of workers you start with, and number of workers you end with. They must match

You then have to turn over your payroll report showing you paid in payroll, benefits, etc 75% of the loan towards those costs. 25% of the loan can be used towards rent, utilities, etc.

If you do not do the 75/25 then you get NO grant. it is all a loan.


(Just got approved and had to learn way more than I wanted to in this process)

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[imsosarah]

I am seeing ads for masks every time I go to Facebook.

Any experience with these masks advertised as keeping the virus out? I know surgical masks and homemade bandana masks don’t do that.

I am high risk but still have to venture out. If they really work, it could be a good purchase.

A lot of them have been proven fraudulent. Try and find a n95 when possible otherwise a the others are your best bet..

 

[Lilofan]

One of my kids is a florist. Her mom & pop shop just went through $2000 in unprocessed flowers in 3 days. Almost all were sympathy arrangements. To put that in context, the shop usually goes through about $600 a week, $2000 is akin to mother's day week which is still about a month off.

And we haven't hit the peak of this thing yet

Florists and businesses selling home gym equipment have sales going through the roof.

 

[DKampy]

My doctor and I think I may have had it, too. Had a temp of 102 for almost a week, nauseated beyond belief, horrible cough, pneumonia and a PE which was seen in China. I was hospitalized but it was very end of January and the virus wasn’t on anyones radar. Since I had just been to a theme park earlier who’s to say it is impossible. I live as though I’m still susceptible and take all precautions. Like mentioned by you, I went to the ER twice because I had never felt so bad.

I agree with you it is better to take precautions just assume that you have not had it or are susceptible...I am hoping an antibody test is available soon I would take it in a heartbeat just to see

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Then that is just his company making a decision and they may not understand how that works fully. Or they realize that the 8 weeks was not going to be enough to stay afloat and they were going to have to lay off people. In any event, have him apply ASAP for unemployment - that is exactly why we pay into unemployment - it is an insurance policy.

I just wanted to get the example out there - he was among the first laid off as of March 9th due to his high risk status, and he applied for unemployment right away.

 

[imsosarah]

The economy is not going to pick up quickly. You are talking about years to recover. It's not like all businesses are going to be able to open all the same time. Some businesses will never open again, some will be forever altered, some like Disney parks will be lucky if they are allowed to open by July/August and they definitely will be very limited capacity. The more I'm thinking about it I think we are looking at the amount of people that are sold tickets to special event like Halloween/xmas party.

The reality is most companies were operating with way more employees than were necessary given the amount of automation and technology that could be brought in.

We saw the same thing in 01-03 and again in 08-11, not all jobs will come back, many that do will change and there will be more technology impacting things that a person previously did and isn't needed for anymore. Ex. Self check out machines, HR people, sales people, accounting roles, etc.

 

[imsosarah]

Is US furlough not the same as UK furlough?

It is the same. And it is not like being laid off because you keep your full benefits and are first to be called back.

 

[Lilofan]

The reality is most companies were operating with way more employees than were necessary given the amount of automation and technology that could be brought in.

We saw the same thing in 01-03 and again in 08-11, not all jobs will come back, many that do will change and there will be more technology impacting things that a person previously did and isn't needed for anymore. Ex. Self check out machines, HR people, sales people, accounting roles, etc.

Another item is if more and more people work from home. Many small businesses will miss their spending dollars and will have difficulty surviving.

 

[marni1971]

It is the same. And it is not like being laid off because you keep your full benefits and are first to be called back.

I thought so, but furlough means minimum wage over there doesn’t it ?