Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[WorldOfPooh]

Scott isn’t really going out on a limb. There is an earnings report next week. Disney PR will manage to polish this turd for their presentation, but the numbers in the report will be what they are. Investors will demand action and Disney will act.

What you see with the leaks/rumors right now with the parks and Lucasfilm is people inside the company trying to draw the attention of the investors/board/Chapek away from themselves/their department/their division as targets by putting the target on someone else.

Does Universal/Comcast have earnings reports? When does that happen?

The one positive rumour I have heard is they are getting rid of Kathleen Kennedy and erasing the last trilogy (as an alternate timeline) and that George Lucas is landing in his imperial shuttle and taking personal control of the Star Wars franchise.

 

[rteetz]

I doubt she is the the one who came up with the article's title, but she doesn't answer the question posed.

I take it more as use the article to answer that question for yourself.

 

[rteetz]

Does Universal/Comcast have earnings reports? When does that happen?

The one positive rumour I have heard is they are getting rid of Kathleen Kennedy and erasing the last trilogy (as an alternate timeline) and that George Lucas is landing in his imperial shuttle and taking personal control of the Star Wars franchise.

Comcast reporter yesterday. I posted a link here from that.

That second piece is a clickbait rumor that was made up by a YouTube source.

 

[yulilin3]

@indylaw99 Did you happen to notice if Abracadabar on the Boardwalk was open past 9? I thought their hours were now 4-10...hoping to have some relaxing nightcaps here after park days. Thanks!

it is open 4 to 10. Obviously the location inside is small so capacity is the real issue

 

[hertamaniac]

There is growing belief by epidemiologists that the virus is airborne or rather can linger in the air for several hours at least.

There is no way people should be on cruise ships until we're back to zero cases in most countries.

But wouldn't that logic also apply to airlines?

 

[yakkin' yeti]

We're currently at the parks and have had such a great week that my niece says she's never going to be able to come back because she's been so spoiled by no lines. Just to allay worries about wait times going up -- we haven't waited anywhere close to the posted times except for mine train, FoP, and the Navi river ride.

Two examples: Peter Pan was listed at 25 minutes; it took us 9 to be flying in a pirate ship. (We'd finished riding Small World -- listed at 20 -- by the time 25 minutes was up.) The other was Big Thunder, posted at 30 minutes. Was a walk-on. We rode twice in a row.

Doing DHS today and I know that's a different experience. (Fingers crossed.) But Epcot yesterday felt like a private park for the first hour or so as we noshed around the booths. (We all love Epcot and I hope things improve for it soon.)

This thread has been absolutely invaluable -- dead on about everything, including World of Disney at DS (We left, quickly). Am so grateful for all the tips.

 

[BrianR]

Yeah, the paid FP+ rumors seemingly won't die. Just today, it's being reported that after an MDE update, the RotR virtual queue UI now looks like the DL MaxPass UI, and people immediately jumped to "They're going to charge us for FastPasses!"

They're just prepping for "retro 50th" Disney where you get the ticket books but it's all on your phone! Now if they bring those retro prices back....

 

[AMW86]

CDC now surveys the public on what they would like to see for a return to cruising.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/cdc-coronavirus-cruise-no-sail-order-public-opinion
Personal opinion: With a deadline of the public inputs due by September 21st, I highly doubt they can compile all the information for the no-sail order to be lifted on October 1st. This points to a much longer no-sail order. The issue I have is why is the CDC looking to the public for guidance on how to safely re-open the cruise industry? The CDC and the cruise lines should be working together with industry experts to determine the protocols. I see this as another delay and that no other tourism sector was inquired from the CDC to the public on how to open safely.

Survey questions: https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ng-and-infrastructure-resumption-of-passenger

Here is question #1:

1. Given the challenges of eliminating COVID-19 on board cruise ships while operating with reduced crew on board during the period of the April 15, 2020 No Sail Order Extension, what methods, strategies, and practices should cruise ship operators implement to prevent COVID-19 transmission when operating with passengers?

Question #28:

28. Should cruise ship operators be required to designate a responsible company official who will accept legal responsibility for failure to implement measures to protect public health?

I just can't imagine how the general public can answer these type of questions when I feel it is the core responsibility of the CDC working with the cruise lines.

Federal rule making requires input from the public. Realistically, the comments that they pay attention to will be ones submitted by public health experts, epidemiologists, travel lobbyists, etc.

 

[hertamaniac]

This is pretty shocking tbh. I'm not sure how they thought this was the path to go?? I wonder if the CDC feels like if passengers tell the cruise lines exactly under what circumstances they will cruise again (and out of CDC jurisdiction) it's ultimately an agreement between cruiseline and consumer?

I don't see how that would be able to be applied universally. Consumer opinions vary too greatly to make a pseudo agreement across a whole industry. Plus, wouldn't this point to the CDC is trying to absolve themselves of any liability?

 

[osufeth24]

Does Universal/Comcast have earnings reports? When does that happen?

The one positive rumour I have heard is they are getting rid of Kathleen Kennedy and erasing the last trilogy (as an alternate timeline) and that George Lucas is landing in his imperial shuttle and taking personal control of the Star Wars franchise.

I wish that rumor would die. It isn't going to happen

 

[hertamaniac]

Federal rule making requires input from the public. Realistically, the comments that they pay attention to will be ones submitted by public health experts, epidemiologists, travel lobbyists, etc.

But doesn't the CDC have adequate experts in-house and at their disposal to make travel recommendations (I thought this is part of their charter)? If not, then what is the core function of the CDC as pertaining to travel in the tourism sector?

If they wanted to poll the general public, then I don't know why this survey wasn't deployed in April/May.

 

[skeeter31]

Federal rule making requires input from the public. Realistically, the comments that they pay attention to will be ones submitted by public health experts, epidemiologists, travel lobbyists, etc.

Exactly, and it’s not exactly a true survey they’re putting out. It’s a very in depth survey on a federal government site requiring written responses. They didn’t just include a pop up on the DCL website with a 3 question multiple choice survey or send out mass emails. The only people that are going to complete that with full, complete, coherent answers are people with vested interest or experts in the fields.

 

[skeeter31]

But doesn't the CDC have adequate experts in-house and at their disposal to make travel recommendations (I thought this is part of their charter)? If not, then what is the core function of the CDC as pertaining to travel in the tourism sector?

If they wanted to poll the general public, then I don't know why this survey wasn't deployed in April/May.

They do, but they’re required to put this out. It’s not going to be completed by millions of people. And they may not even look at the feedback provided. It’s just a requirement and that’s why they made such an in depth survey with no multiple choice to discourage most normal people from completing it.

 

[hertamaniac]

The only people that are going to complete that with full, complete, coherent answers are people with vested interest or experts in the fields.

Which tells me their contacts, staff/members may not be adequate to make recommendations on their own.

 

[hertamaniac]

They do, but they’re required to put this out. It’s not going to be completed by millions of people. And they may not even look at the feedback provided. It’s just a requirement and that’s why they made such an in depth survey with no multiple choice to discourage most normal people from completing it.

I don't recall seeing this requirement being applied to the theme parks, airlines, etc.

 

[skeeter31]

Which tells me their contacts, staff/members may not be adequate to make recommendations on their own.

No one should assume that they know everything about something and not look for outside suggestions. Even if you’re an expert in a field, you can learn something new from an unexpected source.

 

[skeeter31]

I don't recall seeing this requirement being applied to the theme parks, airlines, etc.

The federal government didn’t close down those areas. The federal government has stopped cruising specifically.

 

[hertamaniac]

No one should assume that they know everything about something and not look for outside suggestions. Even if you’re an expert in a field, you can learn something new from an unexpected source.

Of course, but if it's a true Federal requirement then it should apply across the entire tourism sector.

 

[hertamaniac]

The federal government didn’t close down those areas. The federal government has stopped cruising specifically.

So does this mean that because the federal government didn't shutdown the airline industry, it isn't mandated to submit a survey/feedback to the public (or industry experts)? That doesn't sound logical that it only takes a complete shutdown to look for expert feedback from others.

 

[skeeter31]

So does this mean that because the federal government didn't shutdown the airline industry, it isn't mandated to submit a survey/feedback to the public (or industry experts)? That doesn't sound logical that it only takes a complete shutdown to look for expert feedback from others.

Correct. The federal government never stepped into any of those other fields. They have only issued a sail-stop order for cruising. They didn’t stop air travel, or order theme parks closed, or shut down highways, etc. They didn’t issue any edicts on those at all.

I think you’re reading too much into this request for feedback. It’s the same as when you’re driving down the street and see one of those signs with the tiny writing in front of a vacant plot of land asking for public feedback about a proposed zoning change. They’re required to put this out and they’re required to receive public feedback. It’s doesn’t mean they’re going to listen to any of it. And from reading quickly through some of the responses on the federal site, I don’t think any of the feedback is going to be helpful in any way. Of the 1300 responses so far, I clicked on 20-30 and none answered the questions, they were just single sentences or ALL CAPS yelling about what they felt.