What's Still On and What's Now Off

[HauntedMansionFLA]

yes but there's no way the world can sustain "social distancing" forever

Can you imagine the rude guests that are always pushing their way through? How do you police it? You can’t baby everyone.

 

[Dukeblue1227]

This is in no way an attempt to trivialize the current pandemic, but don’t forget it’s not the first or deadliest the world has ever seen. The Spanish flu killed millions just 100 years ago. It’s aftermath didn’t prevent the growth of the resort/theme park/cruise model. Walt Disney himself lived through that pandemic but it didn’t stop him from beginning a tourism enterprise.

The Spanish Flu completely changed the landscape of Public Health across the world. It had incredibly far reaching impacts to every corner of the world, changed the way people thought about infectious disease, and there is a reason it’s been 100 years since an outbreak of that magnitude. Also, service based and entertainment businesses were massively hit financially from that outbreak and took them years to recover.

Walt would have been 17 at the time of that, he didn’t build Disneyland for another 37 years after the Spanish Flu. He hadn’t even moved to California yet or started any working as an illustrator. He didn’t even come up with the idea of Disneyland until the late 30s, 20 years after the Spanish Flu.

This is a very different situation, and I don't think it's a fair comparison to what happened 100 years ago, this is completely unique.

 

[drizgirl]

yes but there's no way the world can sustain "social distancing" forever

They won't. A vaccine will eventually be available and people will let down their guard. And the kids too young to remember will chastise all us old people for our ridiculous social distancing inclinations. Just like we made fun of our grandparents for reusing tin foil and rinsing out plastic baggies for reuse.

Heck, even in the last few days people were doing a terrible job of social distancing at the grocery store.

 

[_caleb]

This is in no way an attempt to trivialize the current pandemic, but don’t forget it’s not the first or deadliest the world has ever seen. The Spanish flu killed millions just 100 years ago. It’s aftermath didn’t prevent the growth of the resort/theme park/cruise model. Walt Disney himself lived through that pandemic but it didn’t stop him from beginning a tourism enterprise.

This certainly isn’t the first pandemic the world has ever faced. But it is the first in the internet age, where social media chronicles the spread in real time and magnifies every horror. It’s also the first Disney has experienced. With other outbreaks, hand sanitizer stations or bug spray seemed like reasonable responses on Disney’s part. This time, they had to completely shut down.

I’m not confident the current pandemic will pass and life will just be able to return to normal for another 100 years. If this lockdown lasts another 4 months and another wave passes through in the fall, or (heaven forbid!) we see another novel virus in a few years, Disney will have to choose between a new approach to themed entertainment or a different business altogether.

 

[peter11435]

Good grief...

It’s not WW1...we’ve “come up” with a few things since...like the refrigerator and sliced bread...

And I had thought the stupidity of the flu comparison was done by now? You’re not Teddy Roosevelt with the tough guy routine.

The entire United States - save for a few fools - is locked in their house...and at last count this country controls 80% of the money on earth through one form or another.

They’re looking for bodies to pile up over the next month...can we please not use dismissal as a bad replacement for intelligence?

Come on...talk about moving forward...not ignoring the present with a straw man.

I don’t think you understood the point of my post at all. I’m not comparing this outbreak to the Spanish flu nor am I saying this outbreak will not have devastating effects on the economy. I’m saying that inevitably people will move on and life will return to normal, albeit with some changes. Things will change but people will not be living in bubbles forever.

 

[_caleb]

yes but there's no way the world can sustain "social distancing" forever

The world, or in Disney Parks?

In most of America, people can get by with very little interaction with other human beings. They drive everywhere in their own cars, carry out and eat in their cars, work on computers, self-checkout at stores or order for delivery, play video games online, download movies, watch sports on their televisions, hang out in their back yards. We’re already fairly isolated, and that is increasingly possible.

Disney Parks, as they’re currently designed and operated, move lots of people into shared spaces (buses, monorails, shops, queues, rides, shows, restaurants, etc.). This is what I mean when I say that Disney is going to need to redesign the parks experience in the long run.

 

[GhostHost1000]

The world, or in Disney Parks?

In most of America, people can get by with very little interaction with other human beings. They drive everywhere in their own cars, carry out and eat in their cars, work on computers, self-checkout at stores or order for delivery, play video games online, download movies, watch sports on their televisions, hang out in their back yards. We’re already fairly isolated, and that is increasingly possible.

Disney Parks, as they’re currently designed and operated, move lots of people into shared spaces (buses, monorails, shops, queues, rides, shows, restaurants, etc.). This is what I mean when I say that Disney is going to need to redesign the parks experience in the long run.

both - I get what you're saying but social distancing cannot/will not occur in places like restaurants, shopping centers, conventions, sporting events, air travel, cruise ships, birthday parties, family reunions, school, heck even Halloween and a line to see Santa in some places.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Which is why I think all those things will not last unless they are redesigned for the pandemic age. I don’t think we’re going back to normal on any of these long-term.

The only way to get people away from each other is dismantle millennia of human civilization. We’re not going to start tearing down cities and all of the benefits that come from urbanism.

 

[_caleb]

The only way to get people away from each other is dismantle millennia of human civilization. We’re not going to start tearing down cities and all of the benefits that come from urbanism.

Apparently you’ve not spent much time in the suburbs.

 

[peter11435]

I think a lot of this will be a wait and see game. Obviously things like this can and do change the world in multiple ways. This will likely and hopefully lead to globally rethinking how we handle healthcare. Planning for it, paying for it, funding it; and how we treat, staff, and compensate healthcare workers. It should also force us to reevaluate health insurance and how it’s provided, structured, regulated, and funded. There will also likely be changes to the way many of us and the commercial world handle sanitation. And yes many businesses will out of necessity during the event find new means of operations that work well for them and their customers. These will be born out of a temporary need but remain due to long term benefit. However I think it’s a bit extreme to think that humans will completely change their behavior and cease socializing in groups without protective bubbles.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Apparently you’ve not spent much time in the suburbs.

Suburbs have a lot of problems which make them cheap but not really sustainable. Cities have existed and continue to exist for a reason. Even suburbs have places with close contact, like Walmart.

 

[_caleb]

So now we are in the “pandemic age?”

I think a lot of this will be a wait and see game. Obviously things like this can and do change the world in multiple ways. This will likely and hopefully lead to globally rethinking how we handle healthcare. Planning for it, paying for it, funding it; and how we treat, staff, and compensate healthcare workers. It should also force us to reevaluate health insurance and how it’s provided, structured, regulated, and funded. There will also likely be changes to the way many of us and the commercial world handle sanitation. And yes many businesses will out of necessity during the event find new means of operations that work well for them and their customers. These will be born out of a temporary need but remain due to long term benefit. However I think it’s a bit extreme to think that humans will completely change their behavior and cease socializing in groups without protective bubbles.

I wasn’t trying to be dramatic, I didn’t know what else to call it!
(I‘m not advocating protective bubbles, by the way.)
I completely agree with your post. Well put!

 

[havoc315]

Theme parks are important but I would say specifically to Orlando area. The state of Florida has other benefits.

Of course there are lots of other benefits. But the theme parks are a significant contributor to the entire state economy. Especially in the Orlando area, a massive proportion of employment is tied directly and indirectly to the theme parks.

 

[_caleb]

Suburbs have a lot of problems which make them cheap but not really sustainable. Cities have existed and continue to exist for a reason. Even suburbs have places with close contact, like Walmart.

For the record, I HATE suburbs! My point was that they are an example of a completely different way of life (one that did not exist 100 years ago) that isolates people by individualizing everything. Walmart and Target are quickly adding in-car pickup lanes and home delivery. I think the isolation trend will continue.

I love cities and agree about their value. The pandemic, however, will likely be considered by many as another reason to prefer the suburban lifestyle.

 

[peter11435]

Theme parks are important but I would say specifically to Orlando area. The state of Florida has other benefits.

Florida has other benefits, but the loss of the theme park industry and its associated direct and indirect jobs would devastate the state and its economy for a long long time.

 

[pdude81]

Of course there are lots of other benefits. But the theme parks are a significant contributor to the entire state economy. Especially in the Orlando area, a massive proportion of employment is tied directly and indirectly to the theme parks.

Yeah, I wonder if WDW and UO close if they'd have to add an income tax.

 

[lazyboy97o]

For the record, I HATE suburbs! My point was that they are an example of a completely different way of life (one that did not exist 100 years ago) that isolates people by individualizing everything. Walmart and Target are quickly adding in-car pickup lanes and home delivery. I think the isolation trend will continue.

I love cities and agree about their value. The pandemic, however, will likely be considered by many as another reason to prefer the suburban lifestyle.

Suburbs did exist a century ago, but many have since been annexed and are now considered part of the city. They sell the illusion of isolation but they’re not, even with a push towards the “gig economy” that works even less in low density.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

7 days plus.

”Busy” has so many variables as has talked about numerous times before. This the is park where they built two “headline” attractions based on arguably the most popular IP ever - that combined have less capacity than the Peoplemover, in the smallest park for walking space.

Marni, I love you documentaries and appreciate your immense knowledge of the parks. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but I do enjoy reading your posts. However, I don’t know how anyone could deny the popularity of DHS’ new attractions. I understand the low capacity, however Pandora has a low capacity and no one is denying that land’s success.

 

[marni1971]

Marni, I love you documentaries and appreciate your immense knowledge of the parks. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but I do enjoy reading your posts. However, I don’t know how anyone could deny the popularity of DHS’ new attractions. I understand the low capacity, however Pandora has a low capacity and no one is denying that land’s success.

I don’t think I said they weren’t popular. Just not as popular as expected but hey. My other comment about a busy park as a poor measure of popularity still stands though.

And thank you.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

They won't. A vaccine will eventually be available and people will let down their guard. And the kids too young to remember will chastise all us old people for our ridiculous social distancing inclinations. Just like we made fun of our grandparents for reusing tin foil and rinsing out plastic baggies for reuse.

Heck, even in the last few days people were doing a terrible job of social distancing at the grocery store.

Yeah, and I can't wait until a vaccine becomes available and the anti-vaxxers start up again...some people just won't learn their lesson...