Universal Puts Disney's Reopening on Defensive

[lumberguy5]

haha okay. Yeah, I realize it was supposed to be online. It was more a matter of why have a big fireworks show when the parks are closed if there is a fireworks shortage? Someone else said Disney was going to shoot off old fireworks during the closure, but that never seemed to happen. And then the other poster said Disney got big shipments of fireworks during the closure. Maybe something changed between then and now, but supply problems with fireworks have been reported for months.

For what it's worth Disney is re-airing old fireworks shows online already. I think Halloween is up next.

Fireworks don't expire, if stored in a dry location they are shelf stable. If the temp variations are large the chemical stabilizers will degrade but that is over years. Supply is an issue and the industry group for the manufacturers/wholesalers is predicting that there will be a 1/3 loss in total revenue this year for 1.3g professional display fireworks. The other issue is that shells people can buy right now are the better shells, the cheaper finale spam/simple effect shells are vanishing fast. The higher end multi effect shells are easier to buy as they are usually the non-Chinese suppliers and are cost restrictive for smaller town/city shows.

 

[Thelazer]

haha okay. Yeah, I realize it was supposed to be online. It was more a matter of why have a big fireworks show when the parks are closed if there is a fireworks shortage? Someone else said Disney was going to shoot off old fireworks during the closure, but that never seemed to happen. And then the other poster said Disney got big shipments of fireworks during the closure. Maybe something changed between then and now, but supply problems with fireworks have been reported for months.

For what it's worth Disney is re-airing old fireworks shows online already. I think Halloween is up next.

Once parks open, one or two nights of fireworks a week is what I'd expect and only at one park.
Might even be a up-charge event.. only because, they can get away with it now.

Any live stream would be something pre-taped before.
They know if they did some kinda "REAL" live stream half of Orlando would drive all over Disney property / rehems road to try to see it and they can't charge money for cars parked off property to see it... so no reason there. It's all about money here.

 

[Lilofan]

you can space out booths/fewer booths and keep distancing in place. Plus being outside the transmission risk is low. The hot spot cases have nearly all been in close proximity for a longer duration of time in enclosed spaces . With the space Epcot has seems to be “safest” in terms of being able to actually social distance. Of course that may mean way more tables so people aren’t hunched in larger groups around the precious few tables and trash cans.

I don’t think it’s that exactly- more of NYC and the nursing home situation ran rampant that doesn’t translate to a great part of rest of the country. No one should be dismissing those losses, but using it as an excuse to keep Montana locked down just doesn’t make sense. Just like some who want to dismiss it all there are some who are so locked into only Covid deaths that they refuse to see all the collateral damage extreme lockdown is causing and has caused.

Trying to make guests behave and social distance while they had too many drinks during Epcot Food and Wine could be challenging.

 

[rle4lunch]

Face masks are space magic.

 

[Touchdown]

Once parks open, one or two nights of fireworks a week is what I'd expect and only at one park.
Might even be a up-charge event.. only because, they can get away with it now.

Any live stream would be something pre-taped before.
They know if they did some kinda "REAL" live stream half of Orlando would drive all over Disney property / rehems road to try to see it and they can't charge money for cars parked off property to see it... so no reason there. It's all about money here.

As they learned with Fantasmic, restricting night shows to certain days only causes people to go on those days, they don’t want that now. Any night shows will either be on hiatus (most likely) or every night.

 

[Thelazer]

Well with the attendance cap set where it will be, wouldn't really matter though if everyone try's to show up on one night. They won't get in. It would be a GREAT way to boost ticket sales to special event nights though.

 

[GoofGoof]

As they learned with Fantasmic, restricting night shows to certain days only causes people to go on those days, they don’t want that now. Any night shows will either be on hiatus (most likely) or every night.

Night shows will definitely be back...eventually. Not likely when they first open the parks. Aside from social distancing issues, at very low capacity It’s gonna be bare, bare bones to keep costs down. Attractions with high costs to operate but aren’t necessarily headliners may be offline for a while too for the same reason. Hours will likely be shorter too so if the parks close early there’s no time for a night show. Chapek said they wouldn’t open the parks unless they had a positive contribution to operating margin so the variable costs need to be lower than revenue or it’s not opening.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Fireworks don't expire, if stored in a dry location they are shelf stable. If the temp variations are large the chemical stabilizers will degrade but that is over years. Supply is an issue and the industry group for the manufacturers/wholesalers is predicting that there will be a 1/3 loss in total revenue this year for 1.3g professional display fireworks. The other issue is that shells people can buy right now are the better shells, the cheaper finale spam/simple effect shells are vanishing fast. The higher end multi effect shells are easier to buy as they are usually the non-Chinese suppliers and are cost restrictive for smaller town/city shows.

Thanks for the info.

Once parks open, one or two nights of fireworks a week is what I'd expect and only at one park.
Might even be a up-charge event.. only because, they can get away with it now.

Any live stream would be something pre-taped before.
They know if they did some kinda "REAL" live stream half of Orlando would drive all over Disney property / rehems road to try to see it and they can't charge money for cars parked off property to see it... so no reason there. It's all about money here.

Yes, I think what I saw was that it would be from one of last year's Halloween parties.

I think the same point was made when the other poster said Disney would be launching "old" fireworks. It would seem to attract a big crowd, which goes against their distancing efforts too.

 

[GoofGoof]

Well with the attendance cap set where it will be, wouldn't really matter though if everyone try's to show up on one night. They won't get in. It would be a GREAT way to boost ticket sales to special event nights though.

I don’t think there’s an issue with more people trying to get in then are allowed, more of an issue with all the people in the park converging on one location. Disney parks have the blessing of size which allows people to social distance a little better than some smaller attractions. If for example everyone at EPCOT goes to WS to watch a night show it’s going to get dicey trying to keep people 6 feet apart along the front row then if they need to form a second row keep them 6 feet back. MK is also a problem with the bottleneck on Main Street. They could try fireworks outside MK over the lake or something but there’s not a full path around the lake. That might give them more space but outside the gates you can’t control crowd size.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Well with the attendance cap set where it will be, wouldn't really matter though if everyone try's to show up on one night. They won't get in. It would be a GREAT way to boost ticket sales to special event nights though.

MNSSHP at the MK. Star Wars nights at DHS. F&G with no flowers or garden when they open leading into F&W, Avatar night at DAK. Everything is special ticketed.
Fireworks and parades can be watched on their phones spread out throughout the park to make sure everyone is safe.

 

[po1998]

MNSSHP at the MK. Star Wars nights at DHS. F&G with no flowers or garden when they open leading into F&W, Avatar night at DAK. Everything is special ticketed.
Fireworks and parades can be watched on their phones spread out throughout the park to make sure everyone is safe.

Sounds awesome...for $100+ I get to be in the park, but I have to watch the parade and fireworks on my phone. Where do I sign up?

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Sounds awesome...for $100+ I get to be in the park, but I have to watch the parade and fireworks on my phone. Where do I sign up?

Hey, it’s the new normal so you will be safe.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

For what it’s worth I’ve heard of plans to include the MK on opening.

It would be a PR failure not to.

So... buses from TTC to MK?

I'm curious about transportation from Poly and GF to MK. The boats are too small that they still require either monorail or TTC or a bus. I guess WL could still use boats but severely limit capacity?

The boats are open air vehicles.

 

[zengoth]

. Of course that may mean way more tables so people aren’t hunched in larger groups around the precious few tables and trash cans.

you mean my favorite eat-at trash cans are only a health risk if they’re not spaced 6feet apart?

 

[JenniferS]

MNSSHP at the MK. Star Wars nights at DHS. F&G with no flowers or garden when they open leading into F&W, Avatar night at DAK. Everything is special ticketed.
Fireworks and parades can be watched on their phones spread out throughout the park to make sure everyone is safe.

Pass.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

I don’t think there’s an issue with more people trying to get in then are allowed, more of an issue with all the people in the park converging on one location. Disney parks have the blessing of size which allows people to social distance a little better than some smaller attractions. If for example everyone at EPCOT goes to WS to watch a night show it’s going to get dicey trying to keep people 6 feet apart along the front row then if they need to form a second row keep them 6 feet back. MK is also a problem with the bottleneck on Main Street. They could try fireworks outside MK over the lake or something but there’s not a full path around the lake. That might give them more space but outside the gates you can’t control crowd size.

They could actually try to keep off site people from corralling the poly beach every evening, that would help, as well.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

you mean my favorite eat-at trash cans are only a health risk if they’re not spaced 6feet apart?

I feel sorry for someone that has to eat over a trash can...I just can’t.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

They could actually try to keep off site people from corralling the poly beach every evening, that would help, as well.

What about ma and pa who brought Bubby and Sissy over from Pop Century? What about them??

 

[zengoth]

I feel sorry for someone that has to eat over a trash can...I just can’t.

It comes down to capacity. Too many folks, not enough tables. I can count on one hand the number of times i’ve been able to sit and have a snack. It usually involved rain.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They could actually try to keep off site people from corralling the poly beach every evening, that would help, as well.

Even for NYE and the 4th I’ve always been able to get a good spot at the poly down by the TTC which is my favorite view of the fireworks.

I feel sorry for someone that has to eat over a trash can...I just can’t.

It’s an Epcot festival tradition!!!