Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[rteetz]

Wasn’t FotLK being used for a couple days as KS overflow? I think it discussed earlier that the comedians’ booth in Laugh Floor is tight, too.

Also, don’t kill my dreams

It was but given the distance it probably is easier to re-route than buzz with laugh floor.

 

[Mit88]

When does Wilderness Lodge reopen? I’d be surprised if Hoop De Doo wasn’t part of the first wave of entertainment coming back

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The Finding Nemo Show has always been a hit with my grand kids. It is just such a great show with the characters in the aisles and all the kites. Watching their faces always gave me the greatest joy.

feels like that is one show the actors could wear masks and it wouldnt' really be super noticable

 

[andyman8]

When does Wilderness Lodge reopen? I’d be surprised if Hoop De Doo wasn’t part of the first wave of entertainment coming back

WL is scheduled to reopen on 6/6. FW is already open but Trails End (the Fort’s only sit-down) remains closed.

Personally, I think HDDR won’t be back until at least 2022 (maybe the holiday season this year) given that A) it’s a large indoor environment where they can’t feasibly ask people to wear masks (since they’re eating) and B) because of the cost of the Equity entertainment, they need to fill more tables to break-even or make a profit than your typical Disney restaurant.

I think it’s interesting they’re announcing FotLK “lite” (which is likely being done for CM health and safety reasons) in January for a summer return.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Modified FotLK announced to be returning somewhere around a year (depending what summer is) after the parks opened back up while much of the entertainment remains gone is hardly a signal that all the worry was for nothing, IMO. No doubt people should and will be happy it’s returning in some fashion and it’s always good to see addition not subtraction, but yeah. Low bar. Last summer entertainment returning NEXT summer was the negative view .

Reminder that like rteetz said (I think it was him), much of the concern was the more minor entertainment, not the huge attraction-like shows. I also am personally (meaning, not based on some rumour or source) concerned for the future of nighttime entertainment and (daytime) parades as far as frequency goes, not whether or not they come back. I think we have had this conversation before, but I think much of it is semantics. Forever is a long time, but something shut down or heavily modified for years before returning sure feels like a loss of that thing related to Covid.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

Modified FotLK announced to be returning somewhere around a year (depending what summer is) after the parks opened back up while much of the entertainment remains gone is hardly a signal that all the worry was for nothing, IMO. No doubt people should and will be happy it’s returning in some fashion and it’s always good to see addition not subtraction, but yeah. Low bar. Last summer entertainment returning NEXT summer was the negative view .

Reminder that like rteetz said (I think it was him), much of the concern was the more minor entertainment, not the huge attraction-like shows. I also am personally (meaning, not based on some rumour or source) concerned for the future of nighttime entertainment and (daytime) parades as far as frequency goes, not whether or not they come back. I think we have had this conversation before, but I think much of it is semantics. Forever is a long time, but something shut down or heavily modified for years before returning sure feels like a loss of that thing related to Covid.

I’m with you on “team lost streetmosphere.” The one thing that gives me pause on all of it being gone is the reminder that WDW could have included the Dapper Dans and MS Philharmonic in the layoffs. Aerials show that F! Theater is getting some attention, and those behemoths of barges are making their way to WS Lagoon. I know we’re a long way off, and don’t dispute today’s bar is a little low, but Disney is moving forward, and I’ll take it.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I’m with you on “team lost streetmosphere.” The one thing that gives me pause on all of it being gone is the reminder that WDW could have included the Dapper Dans and MS Philharmonic in the layoffs. Aerials show that F! Theater is getting some attention, and those behemoths of barges are making their way to WS Lagoon. I know we’re a long way off, and don’t dispute today’s bar is a little low, but Disney is moving forward, and I’ll take it.

To the bolded, absolutely.

Addition not subtraction or just being stagnant is great. There are some who scream Six Flags every time something is lost at Disney, and I strongly disagree with those who feel that Disney is going to become primarily a ride park without the touches that make them Disney. They’re not going to strip it of all entertainment. I just think that we are going to see tangible effects from or relating to the pandemic for a long time, and FotLK returning does not change that.

 

[mshanson3121]

That blog ain’t having a good day with baiting people

Aviary is being refurbished and there’s a new, temporary path.

I wish they would add an option to feed the birds, like other places do.

 

[firefly_ris]

I wish they would add an option to feed the birds, like other places do.

They could charge... tuppence a bag.

Good night everybody!

 

[mshanson3121]

They could charge... tuppence a bag.

Good night everybody!

Ba dum TSH!
(Really wish I could figure out how to add .gifs!)

 

[Mit88]

To the bolded, absolutely.

Addition not subtraction or just being stagnant is great. There are some who scream Six Flags every time something is lost at Disney, and I strongly disagree with those who feel that Disney is going to become primarily a ride park without the touches that make them Disney. They’re not going to strip it of all entertainment. I just think that we are going to see tangible effects from or relating to the pandemic for a long time, and FotLK returning does not change that.

But you have to start somewhere. Bringing back every form of entertainment with as much money Disney has lost with the parks being closed just wasn’t realistic. But it doesn’t mean that most of it will never come back. Even streetmosphere will likely come back in some form at some point. Maybe not the schticks you remember, and probably not even within the next few months, but just because it was taken away never meant it was never coming back. Rides that get rethemed or demolished is different, those almost certainly will never come back. But streetmosphere where it’s just hiring the talent to bring a little extra magic to the parks and guest experience, I can hardly say there’s no chance at that stuff coming back at some point

 

[TikiTikiFan]

I would have bet the Indiana Joes came back before FotLK......out doors with more space and a way to alleviate some crowd levels in HS.....prob production costs might be the reason IDK

My son is a huge Indiana Jones fan (that’s his favorite ride at DLR) and I’d be ecstatic to see this return when we visit next- we’ve never seen it. We walked by it with such sadness when we were there in November because we want to see it so bad haha.

You’d think Hollywood Studios could benefit from that too to eat up some of the crowds. But hey, one thing at a time I guess. But I’d love some definite dates as someone coming this summer with a flexible schedule... I wouldn’t mind rearranging dates to not miss things like this. The type A among us don’t do well with ‘soon’ or ‘this summer.’

 

[Krandor]

Modified FotLK announced to be returning somewhere around a year (depending what summer is) after the parks opened back up while much of the entertainment remains gone is hardly a signal that all the worry was for nothing, IMO. No doubt people should and will be happy it’s returning in some fashion and it’s always good to see addition not subtraction, but yeah. Low bar. Last summer entertainment returning NEXT summer was the negative view .

Reminder that like rteetz said (I think it was him), much of the concern was the more minor entertainment, not the huge attraction-like shows. I also am personally (meaning, not based on some rumour or source) concerned for the future of nighttime entertainment and (daytime) parades as far as frequency goes, not whether or not they come back. I think we have had this conversation before, but I think much of it is semantics. Forever is a long time, but something shut down or heavily modified for years before returning sure feels like a loss of that thing related to Covid.

Yeah I missed the entertainment in WS when I went (and other things with WS)... but WS is going to be a issue until travel bans are lifted and not anything at all disney can do about that even if they want at this point.

 

[Krandor]

My son is a huge Indiana Jones fan (that’s his favorite ride at DLR) and I’d be ecstatic to see this return when we visit next- we’ve never seen it. We walked by it with such sadness when we were there in November because we want to see it so bad haha.

You’d think Hollywood Studios could benefit from that too to eat up some of the crowds. But hey, one thing at a time I guess. But I’d love some definite dates as someone coming this summer with a flexible schedule... I wouldn’t mind rearranging dates to not miss things like this. The type A among us don’t do well with ‘soon’ or ‘this summer.’

The problem with Indiana jones show is there is a lot of audience interaction and audience volunteers brough up on stage. That isn't possible right now. Indiana would have to be very heavily modified for them to bring it back now.

 

[mattpeto]

There are also some rumbles elsewhere that Rivers of Light might not have experience permadeath after all.

 

[New Mouse]

But you have to start somewhere. Bringing back every form of entertainment with as much money Disney has lost with the parks being closed just wasn’t realistic. But it doesn’t mean that most of it will never come back. Even streetmosphere will likely come back in some form at some point. Maybe not the schticks you remember, and probably not even within the next few months, but just because it was taken away never meant it was never coming back. Rides that get rethemed or demolished is different, those almost certainly will never come back. But streetmosphere where it’s just hiring the talent to bring a little extra magic to the parks and guest experience, I can hardly say there’s no chance at that stuff coming back at some point

Can you explain why it just wasnt realistic with the money loss? Would Disney not have been profitable if they kept entertainment? Is Universal failing as a company having kept the entertainment?

 

[Cassamenia]

I know June 6th through the 13th is not technically Summer yet, but can Summer please be just post Memorial Day? Would love to get to see FOTLK even if it is "lite"

 

[rteetz]

There are also some rumbles elsewhere that Rivers of Light might not have experience permadeath after all.

I mean they were seen dismantling floats today... I think the floats will be repurposed but I don’t think RoL returns at least not in the form it was.

 

[CastAStone]

Personally, I think HDDR won’t be back until at least 2022 (maybe the holiday season this year) given that A) it’s a large indoor environment where they can’t feasibly ask people to wear masks (since they’re eating) and B) because of the cost of the Equity entertainment, they need to fill more tables to break-even or make a profit than your typical Disney restaurant.

I’ll take the under on that. I think by June Disney is busier than they are staffed to handle, by late August vaccination is prevalent enough that Disney is reducing distancing restrictions and opening all properties, and by October most shows are back in some format, equity or not. People are going to be itching to go somewhere the moment that second shot is in their arm, and Disney will have to scale up quickly.

 

[Mit88]

Can you explain why it just wasnt realistic with the money loss? Would Disney not have been profitable if they kept entertainment? Is Universal failing as a company having kept the entertainment?

The Yankees are ~7M away from the 210M salary “cap”. They’re 2 time offenders, which means if they were to go over the 210M threshold they would have to pay an additional 105M (50%) in luxury tax.

Can they afford to pay that luxury tax? Yes

Would they still be a profitable franchise if they don’t want to pay it? Yes

Would adding a pitcher, even if it means they go over that salary threshold make the fans happy? Yes

Would adding a pitcher, even if it means they go over that Salary threshold allow the Yankees to continue being a profitable organization? Yes

Does not getting a pitcher, thus not crossing that salary cap threshold mean that the Yankees would be unwilling to spend money on players next year?

No. Actually they’ll be more willing to because they will not be subject to the 50% luxury tax even if they go above the 210M salary cap.

Just because Disney can afford to pay all of these workers, including entertainment. Just because the fans of Disney would be much happier if they brought these entertainment options back. Just because Disney would be profitable with, or without these entertainment options....doesn’t mean they should, or have to bring them back, right now. And it doesn’t mean that they can’t turn around and re-hire these CMs or bring in new ones to fill those entertainment options when they so choose to.

If you were losing 25M dollars a day for over 100 days, you too would be looking at ways to recoup those losses. And when you can’t charge more for the experience, or add paid experiences, you have to find the money elsewhere. It sucks, but those jobs were always going to be where they recouped some losses, and it’s not just Disney, it’s every company. Universal laid off employees too