Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
My guess is Rat, Space 220, GotG, Moana/spine green space, and Tron will resume construction when this lets up. Everything else gets postponed of cancelled.
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Why is construction still happening at Universal, but not Disney?
- Thread starter ImNoImagineer
- Start date
jensenrick
Well-Known Member
The shame of it is- Disney is missing a golden opportunity to do the kind of rehab/refurb on particular older attractions that they hardly ever have the opportunity to do because they (did) open every day. Even just a fresh coat of paint or something, which can be a one or two man job.
For that matter, people talk about how the theaters won't be able to be used- Well, if they take this opportunity of being closed for months to take out that dated old seating that 50% of Americans can't even fit into anymore, and put in wide-spaced cushy seats, like at my local Regal theater- Problem Solved!!
Josh Hendy
Well-Known Member
If there really was a plan to re-open by date "X" in the next few months then they wouldn't have completely shut down all construction.
If it was safe to let 10,000 people into a theme park with social distancing, masks and wiping down stuff (which I don't believe) then it would also be safe to let 50 or so construction workers into some of the nearly-complete attractions and finish at least one or two of them.
And we've been repeatedly assured that Disney isn't running of money so it can't be lack of funds that's preventing the resumption of at least limited construction.
So I speculate:
1 ... Disney knows that it can't and won't reopen WDW for the foreseeable future.
2 ... It's scared of going broke in the unforeseeable medium to long term because of low revenues and high expenses
3 ... Disney will be dependent on handouts and loans from govt and banks from now until some unforeseeable date
4 ... Handouts and loans are dependent on falling in line with the "Official Story" that the curve is flattening, this or that drug or vaccine is just around the corner, it'll be a V shaped recovery, yadda yadda.
Hence, the 2 popular subjects on these boards: "Yay we're going to open soon!" and, "Why is there zero construction?"
If it was safe to let 10,000 people into a theme park with social distancing, masks and wiping down stuff (which I don't believe) then it would also be safe to let 50 or so construction workers into some of the nearly-complete attractions and finish at least one or two of them.
And we've been repeatedly assured that Disney isn't running of money so it can't be lack of funds that's preventing the resumption of at least limited construction.
So I speculate:
1 ... Disney knows that it can't and won't reopen WDW for the foreseeable future.
2 ... It's scared of going broke in the unforeseeable medium to long term because of low revenues and high expenses
3 ... Disney will be dependent on handouts and loans from govt and banks from now until some unforeseeable date
4 ... Handouts and loans are dependent on falling in line with the "Official Story" that the curve is flattening, this or that drug or vaccine is just around the corner, it'll be a V shaped recovery, yadda yadda.
Hence, the 2 popular subjects on these boards: "Yay we're going to open soon!" and, "Why is there zero construction?"
bartholomr4
Well-Known Member
pessimist
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pes·si·mism
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n.
1. A tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable or to take the gloomiest possible view: "We have seen too muchdefeatism, too much pessimism, too much of a negative approach" (Margo Jones).
2. The doctrine or belief that this is the worst of all possible worlds and that all things ultimately tend toward evil.
3. The doctrine or belief that the evil in the world outweighs the good.
Giss Neric
Well-Known Member
Not really. With all that is happening Epic Universe original plans may still change. Construction is still very far along and they can still cancel projects so as Disney so closing gaps is too early to tell.
No, it is not lack of funds. It is saving what funds they have.
And yes, there are multiple date “X” planned for.
Josh Hendy
Well-Known Member
Name-calling is the weakest form of argument.
UpAllNight
Well-Known Member
I’m seeing the positives in the construction sense, that we’ve enjoyed some major investment over the past few years and some projects are past the point where they can’t not be completed at some point. If this was a few years back, who knows what Galaxys edge would have looked like.
Let’s hope that when normality resumes we can enjoy these parks again, irregardless of new stuff. I’d be happy with what’s there right now.
How Disney comes out of this will be interesting, they’re losing major money right now. I can foresee a situation of years of stagnation for new projects. Maybe Epic Universe May alter that slightly, but the depth of the damage may make investment simply not an option.
When social distancing is over, people with the means, who’ve avoided financial hardship will flock for the escapism of tourist destinations, so they may not feel the need to invest. But there will simply be many people who will no longer be able to afford such a trip on a short/medium term basis.
Let’s hope that when normality resumes we can enjoy these parks again, irregardless of new stuff. I’d be happy with what’s there right now.
How Disney comes out of this will be interesting, they’re losing major money right now. I can foresee a situation of years of stagnation for new projects. Maybe Epic Universe May alter that slightly, but the depth of the damage may make investment simply not an option.
When social distancing is over, people with the means, who’ve avoided financial hardship will flock for the escapism of tourist destinations, so they may not feel the need to invest. But there will simply be many people who will no longer be able to afford such a trip on a short/medium term basis.
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Exactly this, so with their dollars more valuable to them than ever, especially those with the means, any edge over the competition will be better and chosen over the competition. If Universal has a new Raptor Encounter, JP Coaster/redo, than it has a better advantage than offering nothing that Disney is willing to gamble with. Of course Disney has the longer heritage and branding strength, but Universal wants to keep taking bigger cuts when many will visit the places with something new over the place that only made budget cuts while offering the same product for the next year.
plutofan15
Well-Known Member
With little cash influx happening, it is using existing funds to pay for the necessary expenses to keep WDC functioning. Construction is not necessary at this time .
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
I had thought they were still building, but construction at DLP stopped a month ago:
Giss Neric
Well-Known Member
Universal didn't have a string of good luck after Potter. In terms of movies, Disney and Universal are definitely affected too but since the Disney movies make way more in the box office than Universal then I don't think it's a big deal for them.
GhostHost1000
Premium Member
I don’t think Comcast/Uni is coming out of this any better off than Disney. It’s a mess for everyone and for the new Uni park it’ll be interesting to see especially if travel trends go way down for a year or so if that project will even continue on as planned at the pace they expected.
Sir_Cliff
Well-Known Member
It does seem unusual to me that Universal would be pushing ahead with a new park given the current circumstances. Even leaving aside the expenses in building it, I would have thought there would be serious concern about what the travel industry is going to look like when it opens.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I suspect if the number of tourists to Orlando really drops off over the coming years, Disney is best placed to suck up the bulk of those that do come. Beyond the general strength of WDW as a brand, Disney already has the infrastructure in place to accommodate and keep large numbers of people on property. They can also offer deep discounts and all sorts of other offers that will seem too good to be true after WDW being so over-priced for so long.
I guess Uni might be betting on still attracting a bigger share of a smaller market with a new park, but you'd have to question whether it makes sense to spend this much money to do so right now.
wdwgreek
Well-Known Member
I saw an article that comcast only makes somthing like 10 percent of its comapny revenue on theme parks and therefore is able to weather the storm better. The article said somthing like 30 percent of comcast income is from its cable and internet company which is seeing increased use and profits right now. So comcast actually has income coming in whereas disney has seen an almost full halt in every sector but ABC.
GhostHost1000
Premium Member
yeah I’ve seen that too but if Comcast only makes 10% from the parks I’d be surprised they’d be willing to continue massive spend there right now with an uncertain return anytime soon with the travel industry. We’ll see
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Because M O N E Y .....
plutofan15
Well-Known Member
You are entitled to your opinion.
GhostHost1000
Premium Member
I think we may see attendance and Disney and Uni drop for the next year or 3 for fear (even if there is a vaccine for this) and because so many lost income during this