On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[DCLcruiser]

Correct. As a WWII buff, what most people don't realize is that Allied bombing raids pretty much flattened every building in every city in Germany. Most of the buildings you see in Germany now are either damaged ones that were fixed up or where totally rebuilt from scratch....

Understood. But, there are plenty of old churches, palazzos, castles, and just the natural beauty of the mountains, ocean (for some countries), etc that are so amazing.

 

[bpiper]

Understood. But, there are plenty of old churches, palazzos, castles, and just the natural beauty of the mountains, ocean (for some countries), etc that are so amazing.

Thank the planners after the war for rebuilding as many damaged buildings back to original instead of just putting up a new one and much less expense.

 

[legwand77]

Considering that most of the staff of the ship are foreign nationals, not as many as you would think.

Quite a bit more. The cruise industry in Florida has a huge impact on Florida economy. Numbers from 2018, $7.69 billion. Getting cruises back up will definitely help with Florida jobs.

Finally, these direct expenditures generated total economic impacts of 154,646 jobs and $7.69 billion in income throughout the Florida during 2018. Florida’s total employment impact increased by 3.8 percent while the total wage impact rose by 8.4 percent. These impacts accounted for 37 percent of the national employment impact and 33percent of the national wage impact.

https://cruising.org/-/media/research-updates/research/contribution-of-the-international-cruise-industry-to-the-us-economy-2018.pdf

 

[larryz]

Check your privilege.

Circumstances would be a better word to use. Ask all those new pilots in the training pipeline from last fall... looks like they made a badly timed choice to get into aviation.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Updated as of today, this is the most updated report of when cruise ships from around the world are planning on starting to sail again. These are estimate dates as of now. I would say almost half have postponed until next year, even into spring. About a quarter are planning November to December of this year with the others September or October but they are most River boats or others not traveling out of the country. These could all change of course depending on situations.

When Are Cruise Lines Around the World Expected To Resume Service?

Cruise lines around the world have suspended operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving travelers missing their favorite ships. Read on to find out when cruise lines will resume sailing.

www.cruisecritic.com

 

[Lilofan]

Circumstances would be a better word to use. Ask all those new pilots in the training pipeline from last fall... looks like they made a badly timed choice to get into aviation.

And college students who majored in Hotel and Restaurant Mgt. Cornell Univ in NY is the premier hotel school in the nation.

 

[JoeCamel]

And college students who majored in Hotel and Restaurant Mgt. Cornell Univ in NY is the premier hotel school in the nation.

Rosen is no slouch

 

[Lilofan]

Rosen is no slouch

I've heard a lot of good things on hotel exec Harris Rosen. He was heartbroken when a large amount of his staff were laid off from his hotels.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Correct. As a WWII buff, what most people don't realize is that Allied bombing raids pretty much flattened every building in every city in Germany. Most of the buildings you see in Germany now are either damaged ones that were fixed up or where totally rebuilt from scratch....

That's not completely true. Most of the major cities had at least their centers severely damaged, some much more heavily than others (compare, for example, Leipzig, that was only hit piecemeal, with Dresden, whose Altstadt was obliterated). Some cities, like Bonn, Weisbaden and Heidelberg escaped almost completely untouched. Many smaller towns and villages were left alone and bypassed. Very few unlucky cities were completely destroyed

So although some of the old buildings needed to be rebuilt from almost nothing (most of Dresden's Altstadt again, Munich's old Rathaus, Berlin's recently completed Stadtschloss), a lot of the preservation of old buildings you see today was performed to limit age-related decay, not necessarily rebuilding from war damage. Some of the old buildings actually look better today than they did before the war, mainly because historical preservation is more valued now than in the past. This process has really picked up since reunification, especially in the old east, where many of the older structures were left to rot, even without war damage.

 

[Lilofan]

That's not completely true. Most of the major cities had at least their centers severely damaged, some much more heavily than others (compare, for example, Leipzig, that was only hit piecemeal, with Dresden, whose Altstadt was obliterated). Some cities, like Bonn, Weisbaden and Heidelberg escaped almost completely untouched. Many smaller towns and villages were left alone and bypassed. Very few unlucky cities were completely destroyed

So although some of the old buildings needed to be rebuilt from almost nothing (most of Dresden's Altstadt again, Munich's old Rathaus, Berlin's recently completed Stadtschloss), a lot of the preservation of old buildings you see today was performed to limit age-related decay, not necessarily rebuilding from war damage. Some of the old buildings actually look better today than they did before the war, mainly because historical preservation is more valued now than in the past. This process has really picked up since reunification, especially in the old east, where many of the older structures were left to rot, even without war damage.

I knew a guy from FL who had a German girlfriend. They both went to Dresden to visit her family. My friend said the Germans in Dresden hated Americans. He told me why.

 

[Miss Bella]

Wow half are talking about taking cruises the other half is talking 15% lay-off and 4 hour waits at food banks. Check your privilege.

My “privilege“ as you put it supports others people jobs. If we could cruise there wouldn’t be four hour waits at food banks would there?

 

[Miss Bella]

Have you been on cruises? Most that work on board are foreign nationals from all over the world.

The point is if cruises were operating so would everything else.

 

[Miss Bella]

Quite a bit more. The cruise industry in Florida has a huge impact on Florida economy. Numbers from 2018, $7.69 billion. Getting cruises back up will definitely help with Florida jobs.

Finally, these direct expenditures generated total economic impacts of 154,646 jobs and $7.69 billion in income throughout the Florida during 2018. Florida’s total employment impact increased by 3.8 percent while the total wage impact rose by 8.4 percent. These impacts accounted for 37 percent of the national employment impact and 33percent of the national wage impact.

https://cruising.org/-/media/research-updates/research/contribution-of-the-international-cruise-industry-to-the-us-economy-2018.pdf

I stayed at the deserted Mco Hyatt the night before we flew home. They are devastated by the lack of cruise passengers. DCl partnered with them for pre-cruise packages.

 

[Nubs70]

That's not completely true. Most of the major cities had at least their centers severely damaged, some much more heavily than others (compare, for example, Leipzig, that was only hit piecemeal, with Dresden, whose Altstadt was obliterated). Some cities, like Bonn, Weisbaden and Heidelberg escaped almost completely untouched. Many smaller towns and villages were left alone and bypassed. Very few unlucky cities were completely destroyed

So although some of the old buildings needed to be rebuilt from almost nothing (most of Dresden's Altstadt again, Munich's old Rathaus, Berlin's recently completed Stadtschloss), a lot of the preservation of old buildings you see today was performed to limit age-related decay, not necessarily rebuilding from war damage. Some of the old buildings actually look better today than they did before the war, mainly because historical preservation is more valued now than in the past. This process has really picked up since reunification, especially in the old east, where many of the older structures were left to rot, even without war damage.

I stayed in St. Goar right below Rheinfels Castle directly across the Rhein from St Goarhausen to the east just north of the Lorelei Straits. St Goar architecture was what one would expect as typical German architecture. St. Goarhausen directly to the east was entirely of 50's - 60's architecture.

I later looked up the history. Come to find out, St. Goar was 1 of 4 river crossings with Wesel, Remagen and another down south. The reason for the stark difference in architecture is that prior to the actual crossing multiple batteries of 105 howirzers were brought in 5 miles to the west and proceeded to pound St Goarhausen into dust. I found a photo in a record of the history where a US soldier was getting a haircut at the exact spot on the youth hostel patio where we drank the hostel out of wine.

 

[Miss Bella]

That's not completely true. Most of the major cities had at least their centers severely damaged, some much more heavily than others (compare, for example, Leipzig, that was only hit piecemeal, with Dresden, whose Altstadt was obliterated). Some cities, like Bonn, Weisbaden and Heidelberg escaped almost completely untouched. Many smaller towns and villages were left alone and bypassed. Very few unlucky cities were completely destroyed

So although some of the old buildings needed to be rebuilt from almost nothing (most of Dresden's Altstadt again, Munich's old Rathaus, Berlin's recently completed Stadtschloss), a lot of the preservation of old buildings you see today was performed to limit age-related decay, not necessarily rebuilding from war damage. Some of the old buildings actually look better today than they did before the war, mainly because historical preservation is more valued now than in the past. This process has really picked up since reunification, especially in the old east, where many of the older structures were left to rot, even without war damage.

My 16 year old is a huge history buff specifically WWII. If you had a week to spend in Germany what are the best places to visit. I will be flying into Frankfurt. Ive also never set foot in Germany. My son would also like to go to Krakow. Is that doable?

 

[Heppenheimer]

My 16 year old is a huge history buff specifically WWII. If you had a week to spend in Germany what are the best places to visit. I will be flying into Frankfurt. Ive also never set foot in Germany. My son would also like to go to Krakow. Is that doable?

With only a week, that wouldn't be much time to go all the way to Krakow.

For someone who has never been to Germany, and because you're flying into Frankfurt, I would recommend splitting your time between the Middle Rhine valley and southern Bavaria. These are two of the most instantly rewarding regions to visit. In the Alpine region of Bavaria, you'll see the direct influence of Disney's "fairy tale" style.

Other than a few museums, monuments to the war dead and the victims of fascism and some subtle hints scattered around the country, there's actually very little remaining of the Third Reich. Germany isn't keen on preserving this part of their history. Don't expect anything like a preserved Civil War battlefield.

 

[Nubs70]

My 16 year old is a huge history buff specifically WWII. If you had a week to spend in Germany what are the best places to visit. I will be flying into Frankfurt. Ive also never set foot in Germany. My son would also like to go to Krakow. Is that doable?

You can spend a week in Berlin and not scratch the surface of things to see. I am a WWII nut myself. Of all the places I have been, standing at the Brandenburg Gate was literally an out of body experience. All that newsreel footage I have seen over the years and I was there where it happened.

Fat Bike Tours has a great 1/2 day tour around Berlin with lunch.in the Tiergarten.

A day trip to San Souci in Potsdam is really good accessible by S Bahn and bus transfer

A day trip by train from Berlin to Koln and climb the catherdral. Pay attention to the topography between Berlin and Koln. You will understand why Montgomery tried Operation Market Garden.

Transportation in Berlin is very easy. Language is not a huge issue. Germans tend speak better English than US natives. Hotels, I stayed at Hampton West Berlin on combo points plus money for $50/night, have a huge breakfast spread included with room (Covid may kill that). The trip for family of 3 was less/same as
an equivalent duration at WDW moderate with park tickets, airfare included.

 

[duder]

We did a little over a week in Germany in May 2019.

We flew into Frankfurt, took the train down to Nuremberg, where we stayed 2 nights. We spent a lot of time just walking around old Nuremberg and visited the museum at the Nazi rally grounds and the zepplinfeld.

Took the train down to Munich. Stayed 3 nights there. Spent a day walking and touring around Munich. Went to the concentration camp at Dachau. Hard to call that enjoyable, but it was definitely an experience that I think everyone owes to themselves to do if possible; out of respect to those who went through it, and to ensure that we dont forget how horrible human beings can be to each other.

We did a day trip from Munich over to Salzburg in Austria. Simply one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

Finally, we took the train from Munich back to Frankfurt for dinner and stayed one night there. Enjoyed a half day walking around the city before catching out flight back home.

The whole trip was spur of the moment because we stumbled upon a great airfare. I wasnt opposed to going to Germany, but there were definitely other places in Europe higher on the list. However, it was an amazing experience and depending on when you ask me, could be my favorite overseas trip that we have ever done.

Highly Recommend it, at least the Bavarian part of the country.

 

[Nubs70]

With only a week, that wouldn't be much time to go all the way to Krakow.

For someone who has never been to Germany, and because you're flying into Frankfurt, I would recommend splitting your time between the Middle Rhine valley and southern Bavaria. These are two of the most instantly rewarding regions to visit. In the Alpine region of Bavaria, you'll see the direct influence of Disney's "fairy tale" style.

Other than a few museums, monuments to the war dead and the victims of fascism and some subtle hints scattered around the country, there's actually very little remaining of the Third Reich. Germany isn't keen on preserving this part of their history. Don't expect anything like a preserved Civil War battlefield.

I concur on the Civil War battlefield comment. The topic of WWII is pretty much not discussed other than with tour guides. However, with one's knowledge of WWII, you will know what and where to look more so than even your tour guides.

Another interesting aspect on my first trip to Berlin was the difference in affluence between what was East and West Berlin just in the automobiles parked on the street. In Charlottenburg, there were Bugattis and Audis while in Prenzlauerberg there were simple mid sized cars. Another neat contrast is between the Berlin Hbf and Ostbahnhoff. Berlin Hbf is a gleaming glass encased train station with the Ostbahnhoff being of what you would expect of East German construction, narrow hallways with 7ft ceilings. Fredrichstein station is what you would expect of.1920's construction.

In summary, when the opportunity returns, GO.

 

[Tom P.]

About that...

DeSantis extends eviction moratorium again, but since he changed its wording hundreds of cases have been filed

Since Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly changed the wording of Florida’s eviction moratorium, landlords in Orange County have filed hundreds of cases to remove tenants, outpacing the entirety of fili…

www.orlandosentinel.com

Eviction bans are not a solution. As a very shot-term stopgap, perhaps, but it is not sustainable over any period of time. You simply cannot expect landlords to carry tenants for months and months with no rent. Without that income, many landlords would not even be able to pay the mortgage, taxes, and insurance on their properties.

I feel bad for renters who are affected by COVID-19, but if the government really wants to offer a solution, then it needs to actually cover those people's rent. Simply saying everyone can stay in their homes rent-free is going to end up bankrupting a lot of landlords.