Disney News

Tag: coronavirus

  • Disney Heiress Slams Disney’s Decision to Furlough Workers: ‘What the actual f—?’

    Disney Heiress Slams Disney’s Decision to Furlough Workers: ‘What the actual f—?’

    Abigail Disney — the granddaughter of Walt Disney’s brother, Roy Disney is attacking Disney over the company’s decision to furlough hundreds of thousands low-paid workers after paying its executives millions of dollars.

    In a Twitter thread Tuesday, the outspoken family heiress slammed Disney’s decision to furlough theme park employees after the company supposedly paid dividends to shareholders and gave executives big bonuses.

    “WHAT THE ACTUAL F***?????” tweeted the Disney heiress, on Tueaday. Take a look at the thread below:

    “THIS COMPANY MUST DO BETTER,” she wrote in all-caps, asking Disney executives to give up some of their “already ample compensation” so the company can keep paying hourly employees. She called out former Disney CEO Bob Iger in particular, noting that his $47 million salary last year is more than 900 times the median Disney worker’s pay.

    Disney hasn’t revealed dividend plans for 2020, and the company’s top executives took substantial pay cuts because of Covid-19.

  • Disney Parks Might Not Open Until January 2021 According to Report

    Disney Parks Might Not Open Until January 2021 According to Report

    Disney parks across the globe have been shut down since March 16 and Disney fans are anxiously awaiting the reopening, but a new report suggests that Disney Parks might not reopen until 2021.

    UBS Analyst John Hodulik, who often comments on media investments, said all aspects of Disney are at risk because of COVID-19, from their movie releases to their theme parks.

    His base case now assumes that the company won’t be able to reopen its parks until Jan. 1, 2021, and he expects the company’s attractions business to remain pressured even beyond then, according to MarketWatch report.

    Hodulik said the company’s theme parks might feel pressure from investors even beyond that open date due to the new normal at the park.

    “(T)he economic recession plus the need for social distancing, new health precautions, the lack of travel and crowd aversion are likely to make this business less profitable until there is a widely available vaccine,” Hodulik said.

    He added the parks may “regain their recent operating cadence in (about) 18 months, coinciding with the earliest expectations for a widely available vaccine for COVID-19.”

    Concerns over the parks reopening has led to a 3% drop off in the stock prices.

  • Temperature Screenings For Guests May Be Instituted When Disney Parks Reopen After Coronavirus Pandemic

    Temperature Screenings For Guests May Be Instituted When Disney Parks Reopen After Coronavirus Pandemic

    As the world remains shuddered in their homes waiting for the global health crisis to end, Disney fans are looking forward to the day that Disney parks reopen and they can return to their happy place. This begs the question, what does returning to normal look like at Disney Parks?

    Barron’s recently spoke with Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger about meeting the challenge of the virus, and how the entertainment industry might be left changed.

    Take a look below at what he had to say:

    “We’re studying very carefully what China has been trying to do in terms of their return to normalcy” Iger said. “And one of the things that’s obvious is they’ve conscripted a large segment of their population to monitor others in terms of their health. You can’t get on a bus or a subway or a train or enter a high-rise building there—and I’m sure this will be the case when their schools reopen—without having your temperature taken.”

    Iger continued, “So we’ve asked ourselves the question, let’s prepare for a world where our customers demand that we scrutinize everybody. Even if it creates a little bit of hardship, like it takes a little bit longer for people to get in. Just as the case after 9/11 where people ultimately lived with the notion that in order for them to enter a building, if you’re in an office building you have to show a picture ID or get your picture taken and be screened. Or in order to enter a park you have to put your bags out there to be checked and you go through some kind of metal detector. Or certainly what’s going on in airports with the TSA.”

    So if you’re looking to return “home” after your allowed back into the world again, be prepared for longer lines. It’s a small price to pay to get back to the magic and to keep everyone safe.

  • Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

    Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

    Thursday Disney announced that Disney World will “stop and waive” payments for its annual passes while the theme parks are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    The company said previously that annual pass payments would continue during the closure.

    With the updatied policy, Disney will stop collecting payments starting April 5. Disney will also refund payments that were collected between March 14 and April 4. Take a look at the announcement from Disney below:

    Monthly passes, however, will not be extended and instead expire on their original expiration date.

    For passholders who paid for their passes in full, they will be given the option of either extending their passes for the number of days the parks were closed or receiving a refund for those days.

    This news comes a week after Disney said its U.S. theme parks would remain closed indefinitely.

  • Disney Cruise Line Suspending all New Departures through April 28, 2020

    Disney Cruise Line Suspending all New Departures through April 28, 2020

    With the wellbeing of Disney Cruise Line guests and team members as its top priority and in line with direction from health experts and government officials, Disney Cruise Line has decided to extend the suspension of all new departures through Tuesday, April 28, 2020. 

    In light of this cancellation, Disney Cruise Line is offering clients with cruises already booked during this timeframe the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund.

    The credit will be automatically applied to their account at the start of business on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.  You may place a reservation on hold by applying it as a payment option when booking a new reservation online.

    The future cruise credit is equal to 125% of the original voyage fare and is only valid for sailings departing within 15 months of the original sailing. The future cruise credit is applied per person and is non-transferable, non-refundable and has no cash value.

    Standard prevailing rates apply and guests are responsible for any balance due after the future cruise credit has been applied. If you end up not being able to use the future cruise credit, you will be eligible for a refund up to the amount you paid in full. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply to future sailings. Guests who previously received a 125% future cruise credit are not eligible for an additional future cruise credit.

  • BREAKING: Disneyland and Disney World Now Closed Indefinitely Amid Coronavirus Crisis

    BREAKING: Disneyland and Disney World Now Closed Indefinitely Amid Coronavirus Crisis

    Disneyland and Walt Disney World had initially planned to close through March in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, but now the U.S. Disney parks have now announced that they will “remain closed until further notice.”

    “While there is still much uncertainty with respect to the impacts of COVID-19, the safety and well-being of our guests and employees remains The Walt Disney Company’s top priority,” said the Walt Disney Company in a statement.

    “As a result of this unprecedented pandemic and in line with direction provided by health experts and government officials, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice.

    The Walt Disney Company has been paying its cast members since the closure of the parks, and in light of this ongoing and increasingly complex crisis, we have made the decision to extend paying hourly parks and resorts cast members through April 18.”

    Just a little over two weeks ago, Disney and Universal Studios made the decision to close their gates to visitors, just hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a press conference to address the state’s prevention and containment efforts. Disneyland — alongside casinos, card rooms and theaters — had initially been given an exemption from the guidelines to cancel or postpone gatherings of 250 or more people, though Disney made the announcement shortly after that it would close its parks.

    As of now, all Disney parks worldwide remain closed, including its locations in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris, and Shanghai. Shanghai Disney Resort as of March 9 partially resumed shopping, dining and other recreational operations, though the main theme park continues to be closed.

  • Baby Zebra Born at Walt Disney World Resort Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

    Baby Zebra Born at Walt Disney World Resort Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

    What’s black and white and cute all over? The newest member of the herd over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The park has just announced the birth of a Hartmann’s zebra foal.

    Although Walt Disney World Resort is temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Disney’s Animal Care team is continuing to provide top-notch care to thousands of animals.

    A Hartmann’s Zebra foal was born early Saturday morning (Mar. 21) to first-time-mom, Heidi… and it’s a girl! Check out the video below to see a few moments of sweet mother-daughter time.

    The foal, who has yet to be named, is about 65pounds, and is quite strong – she was standing within 30 minutes of birth. Already very active and curious, this little lady is much like her mother and has very long legs.

    Heidi is showing she’s a natural at parenting skills as she stays close to her baby to bond with her and nurse. Bonding is especially important, as a young zebra will imprint on its mother’s scent and memorize the unique markings on its mother’s hind legs to tell her apart from the rest of the herd. In a few weeks, after the pair develop a strong bond, they will be introduced to the Kilimanjaro Safaris savannah. 

    The foal was born as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and ensures responsible breeding and genetic diversity of thousands of species of animals. Her arrival marks the third zebra birth at Walt Disney World this year.

    Hartmann’s mountain zebras are found in sub-Saharan Africa and are a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and hunting. To learn more about zebras and other species we are working to protect, visit DisneyAnimals.com 

  • BREAKING: Disneyland to Shut Down Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

    BREAKING: Disneyland to Shut Down Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

    Disney is closing Disneyland, its flagship theme park in Anaheim, California, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    The closure of Disneyland follows the company shuttering some of its parks overseas because of the virus. Disney’s theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong, for example, were closed earlier this year due to the outbreak.

    It’s only the fourth time in history that Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., has fully suspended operations. The other instances were Sept. 11 attacks, the morning after JFK’s assassination and the Northridge earthquake.

    It’s unclear if Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., will remain open.

    Disney said in a statement, “While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month. The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.”