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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Below are some photo's from my son's trip July 19-23 (Sunday to Thursday).

Multiple headliner rides were walk-on. He experienced Flights of Passage 5 times (was even allowed to cut through the FP+ line at one point), Smuggler's Run 5 times, Test Track 3 times, Space Mountain 5 times, Rock n Roller Coaster 5 times, Expedition Everest 5 times. For most, it was a matter of his group simply getting bored with the attraction and deciding to move on.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Train was the longest line, followed by Slinky Dog Dash. (This last because it was down for most of the day.)

Crowds were light throughout the trip, with Disney Hollywood Studios feeling the most crowded, by far.

As his photos show, it was possible to encounter moments of modest crowds but also see the parks nearly empty, with many of his contrasting photos taken within an hour of each other.

These give you a sense of what it was like for my son during his weekday trip in mid-July.

Epcot Sunday Evening:

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Bridge to Pandora Monday Midday:

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Leaving Animal Kingdom Monday at 5:30 PM:

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Magic Kingdom Tuesday Opening:

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Walkway To Tomorrowland Tuesday Noon:

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Waiting for Rise Of The Resistance Wednesday at 1 PM:

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Galaxy's Edge Less than 1 Hour Later:

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Disney's Hollywood Studios Wednesday Afternoon:

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One of the more crowded images of Disney's Hollywood Studios:

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Our recent trip from July 12-22 was the same. I have a couple pics I took when walking into Liberty Square from FL. One each direction toward Frontier and Mansion. They were taken at noon and there’s barely anyone in the shots. One day the MK opened at 9. By 11 we rode Space, 7D, Pooh, Small World, Peter Pan, Mermaid, and HM. 2 hours flat.

Thanks for the posts...very informative.

Yeah...this place is gonna close. I’ll remind this is in the middle of the summer on the academic calendar.

WDPR will save an enormous amount of expense once they officially sever ties with Actors Equity.

No they won’t...but I applaud you for getting an opinion shot in under cloaking device

Huge WDI and Creative layoffs happened this week.

The undeniable first step in the plan where you build NOTHING for a very long time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney is still paying for their benefits (e.g insurance). If they get laid off, Disney will save that money. No idea how many people are still furloughed though. I’d assume most are back now since the parks reopened.

If they received any covid bailout money (likely)...they are required to until 9/30...and not one second longer

10/1

 

[Polkadotdress]

Disney is still paying for their benefits (e.g insurance). If they get laid off, Disney will save that money. No idea how many people are still furloughed though. I’d assume most are back now since the parks reopened.

There are still many thousands furloughed. From
Just (1) Union alone, there are 12K still furloughed (as of earlier this week):

From the Orlando Sentinel:
Walt Disney World reopened July 11, recalling an undisclosed number of their furloughed 77,000 cast members.

Unite Here Local 737 represents more than 19,000 Walt Disney World workers.

“Only 7,000 have returned to work, leaving 12,000 workers and their families at the mercy of the broken unemployment system," the union said in a statement pushing for an extension to unemployment benefits.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

I know we love our cast members but most of them make horrible life decisions.

But it's ok for them to make them because otherwise who would do the work to provide you with the service you want, right?

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Disney needs to be expanding the CP model, not eliminating it. No grown *** adult should be running a theme park ride for a "career" but people are desperate to work for Disney.

Because full turnover and training every six months made up of a workforce primarily of 18-20somethings looking for a semester off school to party just screams consistently high quality service.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

Here I agree...cape May is DISGUSTING. Has been since day one. And never quite “fit” for my tastes.

Plus...seafood should never be mass produced. It’s not meant for it.

I can’t eat shrimp again, after eating there.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

Looks like it was pretty decent today based on pictures and wait times...curious to see what tomorrow holds.

 

[Rich T]

If WDW has been declining since the 1990s how does one explain the increasing levels of attendance year after year?

Because it’s still better than Six Flags. But even the most casual repeat visitors notice that they’re paying more for lesser quality each year.

 

[flynnibus]

America is a slaves to debt, you can't take it with you mindset. That's why some even I know have no retirement savings or plan to, and complain they can't get ahead.

that would not cover the change in spending.

people are buying more big luxury items

 

[flynnibus]

because people aren’t traveling. Whatever discretionary income that is available is being re-routed to other safer forms of entertainment at the expense of the travel industry amongst others

spending 5k on a vacation is not the sand as spending 10k for a spa or 60k on a pool.

these are not sideways shifts

 

[flynnibus]

I'm not done with the preposterous claim.......

Atlantis in Bahamas is doing just fine right now and its Cove has sold out the random days I checked.

No guest mask requirement there.

i guess you haven't looked attravel to the bahamas before you make stuff up

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If WDW has been declining since the 1990s how does one explain the increasing levels of attendance year after year?

Because of a continued trend of increasing airline travel and spending beyond means...

...and it’s still better than six flags or myrtle beach

America is a slaves to debt, you can't take it with you mindset. That's why some even I know have no retirement savings or plan to, and complain they can't get ahead.

i think you’re right

Because it’s still better than Six Flags. But even the most casual repeat visitors notice that they’re paying more for lesser quality each year.

Correct

that would not cover the change in spending.

people are buying more big luxury items

I think you’re right too

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

spending 5k on a vacation is not the sand as spending 10k for a spa or 60k on a pool.

these are not sideways shifts

Travel goes first in a recession...it’s by far the most “painless” Sacrifice...and that’s WITHOUT the unprecedented spectre of an invisible boogeyman germ

And here we are. The movie hasn’t even started to run yet.

 

[flynnibus]

But I also reject the notion that everyone should trade in pursuing their dreams in favor of something they don't enjoy just because it is a safer choice. Not everyone wants that.

I don't care if its your dream.., know what hou are getting into and be prepared for what it will extract of you.

you can't deny the numbers that go in and fail because they let their dream turn off their brain

 

[MisterPenguin]

Huge WDI and Creative layoffs happened this week.

This is the first I've seen a report that such layoffs did happen.

But... it's odd that this wasn't more well known. People who get laid off tend to post about it on social media. Then it gets picked up by mainstream mass media.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well I guess at least a decent amount of people are still visiting from Cuba!

That's where Florida Man thinks he lives... in Southern Florida.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I don't care if its your dream.., know what hou are getting into and be prepared for what it will extract of you.

you can't deny the numbers that go in and fail because they let their dream turn off their brain

I would rather spend my life working jobs that I enjoy. If that’s turning off my brain I’m ok with that!

 

[brianstl]

This is the first I've seen a report that such layoffs did happen.

But... it's odd that this wasn't more well known. People who get laid off tend to post about it on social media. Then it gets picked up by mainstream mass media.

don’t know if the layoffs happened or not, but the level of the employee would impact the likelihood of them going on social media and talking about it. The higher up they are, the more likely they are to realize it is better to keep that stuff out of your social media to protect your future job prospects. Plus, there could be specific things in a severance package forbidding the employee from certain actions if they want to get everything in the severance package.

 

[mkt]

If WDW has been declining since the 1990s how does one explain the increasing levels of attendance year after year?

Two reasons:
1- A well integrated communications strategy that has made regular visits to Disney a rite of passage in the US (as well as other countries).
2- Making the parks more accessible to people that are a reasonably short drive away (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama) with monthly payment plans on annual passes

 

[flynnibus]

I would rather spend my life working jobs that I enjoy. If that’s turning off my brain I’m ok with that!

The point is they can't live their life doing it... hence the "failure" part of my post