Disney World News: Furlough Extended, Mask Update, Magic Kingdom Construction
It’s time for another Walt Disney World news round-up! We have construction tidbits from Magic Kingdom, resort restaurant features, a mask mandate update, and an extension of Cast Member furloughs. Let’s start on a positive note, with what’s becoming a weekly look at new case numbers in Orange County and Florida.
Once again, the state as a whole continues to improve. Florida reported 2,673 more cases on Tuesday, the third straight day with numbers under 3,000. For anyone doubting Florida’s numbers–which receive an A grade–on the basis of less testing being done, positivity rates, hospitalizations, and deaths are also plummeting.
Walt Disney World’s home, Orange County, is showing only a 5.8% positivity rate over the last 14 days, including several days under 5%. These are the best results since early June, with steady declines since late July for both the county and the state. Orange County’s numbers are below the Florida average despite Orlando being more population-dense and the county being home to numerous theme parks and tourist attractions.
When addressing this news during the latest Orange County Government Update, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings indicated that he’s received many questions about relaxing the mask mandate in light of the positive developments. He stated that he did not, and intended to leave it in place for the “foreseeable future” due to masks “playing a significant role in reducing the spread.”
This is more non-news than anything, but it’s also a question we frequently receive with regard to Walt Disney World. As a business operating primarily in Orange County, the earliest Disney can rescind its rule is when the county lifts the mandate. Dr. Raul Pino has previously credited the mask mandate for Orange County’s turnaround, going on record that masks are likely to be around through Spring 2021, or “until we have a vaccine.”
Next, some bad news. Walt Disney World and Disneyland have sent out emails to Cast Members who have not yet been called back to work, notifying them that they will remain on furlough until further notice. The message indicates that the furlough is still temporary, but will continue due to the “evolving and unpredictable nature” of doing business right now amidst these “difficult and uncertain times.”
The email sent to Cast Members also essentially reiterates the ongoing and indefinite nature of the furlough, and is a formality to convey that it will likely extend beyond 6 months. This would put callbacks into October or November, and is purportedly due to business circumstances that Disney could not have foreseen. The message expresses hope that the parks will recover and the furlough will “remain temporary.”
The language is mostly similar to that originally used when Cast Members were first notified of the indefinite furlough back in April. The move was and is in lieu of a permanent layoff, allowing employees to potentially resume their positions at some point in the future. Ironically, the email’s language is also similar to that used when executives were notified of their pay cuts, which have since been restored.
Apparently, there has been a “substantive recovery” in business for executives…but not frontline Cast Members. Unfortunately, there has not actually been substantive recovery for either. As we wrote in our previous coverage of restoring executive salaries, that is really bad optics. That move coupled with this email is going to further hurt morale among Cast Members who are now surviving on ~$275 per week of unemployment.
The executive salary restoration is also not supported by reality. Per the company’s most recent quarterly earnings call, Walt Disney World is covering its variable costs and making a positive net contribution towards fixed costs. However, operations are not profitable. Basically, that means Walt Disney World is currently losing less money by being open than the parks & resorts would lose by being closed.
At this point, roughly half of Walt Disney World’s workforce remains furloughed. The exact number is undisclosed, but it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 Cast Members if estimates provided by the unions and extrapolated from there are accurate. One silver lining, at least, is that the Walt Disney Company continues to pay all health insurance costs during the furlough.
Otherwise, this is pretty tough news. Our hearts go out to all the Cast Members and the families of those who are impacted. This is why we’re rooting for a swift recovery at Walt Disney World, and have savored every positive development in terms of Florida’s case numbers, the economy, and the current guest experience. It seems like a lot of people don’t understand the stakes here, thinking that Walt Disney World doing poorly doesn’t matter because it’s a multi-billion dollar company that can survive this. (And that part is true–the Walt Disney Company can survive this.)
The unfortunate reality is that the negative ramifications of Walt Disney World struggling are disproportionately felt by frontline Cast Members. Not only that, but Disney’s decisions ripple throughout Central Florida, making success especially crucial right now. Low crowds are certainly enjoyable, but there is such a thing as too low. As such, we really hope Disney leaders right the ship and attendance picks up.
Switching gears, Walt Disney World has expanded its Walk-Up List via My Disney Experience. This allows you to check estimated wait times at select resort restaurants and remotely add your party to the restaurant’s waitlist, pending availability and proximity (I was sitting at home when I checked for the screenshot above, hence no availability).
This feature has been expanded to California Grill, Chef Mickey’s, the Wave, Beaches & Cream, and Ale & Compass Restaurant. It was previously available at Kona Cafe, Topolino’s Terrace, Sanaa, and Whispering Canyon Cafe. (We would love to see it added at Geyser Point, which has gotten much busier in the last few weeks!) To check this new My Disney Experience feature out for yourself, search dining availability for “now” in the app.
Next, some quick construction notes from Magic Kingdom. Work continues on the aesthetic reboot of Tomorrowland, with the latest development being the removal of the Stitch’s Great Escape signage. This actually happened a couple of weeks ago, but I forgot to include it in our last Magic Kingdom update, so here ya go!
A few months ago, permits were filed for interior demolition of Stitch’s Great Escape. There have long been rumors of a Wreck-It Ralph ride replacement in this Tomorrowland space. While it’s possible work is happening for that, we think it’s much more likely that this is simply a mix of place-making ahead of TRON Lightcycle Run and clearing up space for something backstage.
In more exciting news, the pace of work on TRON Lightcycle Run has gained momentum. The swooping canopy that will cover the exterior loop of the roller coaster track is being constructed on the ground and temporary support columns are being erected adjacent to the track.
If you’ve been concerned about the large grey and white gravity building being visible from Tomorrowland, this is the solution to that. If Shanghai Disneyland’s version of this attraction is any indication, the canopy will conceal the blocky building from within Tomorrowland (but not from this side angle in Storybook Circus).
It’s good to see construction moving along on TRON Lightcycle Run, which leaves us wondering when it’ll be finished. As you might recall, this was one of several projects announced as being ready “in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021.”
For a while, Magic Kingdom’s version of the attraction seemed ahead of schedule, as compared to the construction timeline for the Shanghai version. Our assumption was thus that it could conceivably open before October 2021–perhaps in time for next year’s Spring Break. While that early completion is now out the window, it does still seem plausible that TRON Lightcycle Run could still debut in 2021. We’re not saying that’s what will happen–as Disney could still slow the pace of work to spread costs over additional fiscal years. Unlike a couple of other projects previously slated for 2021 that are now undoubtedly going to be pushed to 2022 or beyond, it’s still within the realm of possibility that TRON Lightcycle Run opens next year.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this Walt Disney World news? Think TRON Lightcycle Run will debut by October 1, 2021? How do you feel about the ongoing Cast Member furlough? Optimistic by Florida’s falling case numbers? Hopeful that things will turn around for Walt Disney World soon? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
My husband and I just made a 4 day trip, we are annual passholders, but did not visit any parks. We were there for our 27th anniversary. We just went to Disney Springs for shopping and relaxed in our hotel. As a lot of people have written in the comments, wearing a mask in Florida is extremely hot and almost unbearable at some times. I don’t understand why we have to wear them them when we are outside and not close to anyone else. Also, our dining experience in the hotel was terrible, a lot of places were closed and what was open had very limited menus. Then they serve your food in a cardboard box. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have added paper plates to the order. It’s kind of hard to eat waffles with syrup out of a box. Some restaurants in Disney Springs were open with limited seating and the food was great(Earl of Sandwich and The Polite Pig). But the larger, more expensive places like T-Rex and Rainforest were seriously lacking in the quality of their food. Prices were the same, but the menus were limited and the quality of the food was not near as good as it has been on previous visits. I hope this improves as time goes on, but if it doesn’t, I will not be visiting these restaurants again. Needless to say, I was not entirely happy with out visit this time, (I didn’t even have a bathtub in my room, which I had purchased bath bombs specifically for), mostly because of dining choices, but having to wear the masks outside when no one else was around is ridiculous and uncomfortable. I am one of the biggest Disney World fans ever, but we will not be making another trip until things improve.
“T-Rex and Rainforest were seriously lacking in the quality of their food.”
I’m sorry you had a bad experience in general, but this part made me laugh out loud. I’ve never considered either of these places to have good quality food. At all.
Picture without crowds is depressing. No one wants an overcrowded park with one hour wait times or even worst, Christmas Day at the Magic Kingdom parade. Yet visiting Disney without people is equally horrendous. Just want Disney to the normal that my family and I knew for the past 30 years. Wish all past and present cast members good health and a brighter future.
With cast members still being furloughed so you think Disney will decorate like usual for Christmas?
Who in their right mind would go to WDW or any theme park right now? Is a brief bit of fun worth risking your life or the lives of those around you for? Contrary to many news stories, the vast majority of people have good sense and don’t want to visit WDW now or for the foreseeable future. Of course attendance is suffering. It’s a miracle people are going at all!
My son works out in the industry in LA and everyone he knows is still furloughed as no new material (or very little is being produced. They are still waiting for Disneyland to open. No news there.
Tom,
A big question is when do you think Disney will open up their bookings past Sept 2021 in anticipation of those looking to plan a trip around the 50th? We are approaching the one year mark and I’m sure many want to plan and schedule their vacations etc. What’s your take on Fall 2021?
Tom:
Do you feel like attendance will increase overall in October and November with the weather cooling off!? Do you feel like there will be big surges around holiday weekends like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving? I would like to travel then and understand the reduced entertainment, but hope they will at least decorate for the seasons.
One thing that you might want to keep in mind is that with many schools in the Southeast delaying their opening until September, most of the school systems are not going to have a “Fall Break” that usually coincides with Columbus day. So, there may not be the normal Columbus Day weekend bump in attendance this year.
On August 10, 2020 my boyfriend of 3 years on this day, along with his parents, one of which recently retired from being a cast member for over 30 years, planned a Secret trip to Magic Kingdom. The parents, my bf, myself & my youngest daughter we’re taken to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. During our visit we followed the “Masks Required” mandate. A few rides & snacks later we rode the Haunted Manson ride. Afterwards, we stopped to take some pictures in front of the Manson. This was my daughter’s First Ever trip to Disney & a return for me to the first ever Disney Park that I had ever been to. The first was also thanks to my sweet boyfriend. My boyfriend has asked the cast member that was there outside of the Manson to take some pictures for him & I. I also gave my phone to my daughter to take some as well. Never once did the cast member say ANYTHING about keeping masks on for pictures or if we didn’t we wouldn’t get our pictures. Right after my boyfriend came back over to me so we could get some pictures taken he dropped down to one knee & proposed to me right there. He took his make off to ask me. I took mine off to kiss him. All the while the cast member continued to snap pictures. Thankfully my daughter videoed the proposal. Fast forward, after dinner we go to the Castle to take some pictures in front of it. When we asked the cast member there if they would take some pictures for us they refused to take Any pictures of us if we weren’t going to wear masks for the pictures. Very disappointed & upset by this we talked to several people about this in hopes of purchasing OUR PICTURE/PICTURES! This was one of the most important days of our life captured in time! A beautiful moment frozen! Yet denied at guest services! No help! No care! No heart! I guess they expected me to understand what he was saying through his mask & they must of expected me to be able to answer him clearly through my mask not to mention they Had to have expected me to kiss him through my mask! Ridiculous for them to deny us of the picture/pictures of Our Own Magical Moment!
Congratulations on your engagement! However, perhaps your boyfriend should have chosen a location that didn’t require masks (a beach, perhaps?) rather than expecting special treatment in an a private entertainment park that does. Cast members who are working right now are very fortunate to have their jobs, and the smart ones are going to follow the direction they’ve been given for enforcing park rules. It’s not fair to put them in the awkward position of going against park policy and possibly endangering their job.
You’ve got to me joking.. right? I’m sorry to be blunt, but the rules are masks on at all times unless pulled over to eat/drink. There is no “unless you get engaged then it’s okay” disclaimer. How about instead, you get a bunch of cute pictures on with the masks (seeing as you were “lucky” enough to get non-mask engagement photos) and use them to remember this crazy time we are living in. I feel bad for CM’s that have to deal with stuff like this.
Congratulations on your engagement. Many happy years to you and your young family. What this story shows is a total lack of common sense. There is no one around you during these pictures. Why would you need to have your mask on when the only people within 10 feet of you are your own family members. This type of story irritates me, because it just demonstrates a total regard for common sense. The cast member could have very easily taken two minutes (with your mask off) to allow you and your family to get a cherished photograph.
You sound very entitled. Perhaps your fiancé should have chosen a park or your home or some other place where one does not have to wear a mask.
Disney increases the pay of executives to pre-pandemic numbers yet continues to furlough thousands of cast members. Does this bother anyone else?
It certainly bothers me. Executives at full pay, yet they won’t spend the money necessary to expand the call center, which has hours-long waits routinely (and hour+ waits before the pandemic). This, on top of furloughed cast members who might jump at the chance to be a temporary call center cast member. We hard core Disney park fans need to ask ourselves if this is a company we want to support so much. Personally, I’ll still go (enjoy it too much) but maybe half as often. Come on Disney! Do the right thing!
So predictable. If it bothers you then stop supporting them.
We absolutely understand the need for masks, but we just can’t handle it. It’s not one of those “You can’t tell me what to do!” situations and we agree that Disney needs to require them, it’s just that it’s absolutely oppressive in the Florida heat and humidity and we would be miserable if we tried to do the parks even if we wanted to ignore the reduced experience (no park hopping, no parades or fireworks, few restaurants open, etc.). We live about an hour from WDW and it’s 85 degrees and not even 9AM as I’m writing this. Not bad? Well, with the humidity the heat index is currently 97 degrees, and before long the heat index will be well over 100 degrees. We went to an outdoor farmer’s market last weekend and wore our masks… we lasted about 15 minutes before we felt overwhelmed by the heat and headed to our car so we could whip off our masks. Although we feel badly for all the furloughed workers, but we are not going to put our own health at risk and endure a miserable experience to help prop up the Disney Corporation to bring them back.
I agree. Folks that aren’t living in the deep south don’t fully realize the misery of wearing a mask all day long in the Florida heat and humidity. It’s tough, and it will absolutely be an issue for people going forward as long as the mask requirement is in place. It doesn’t matter what your personal viewpoint is about wearing mask. The main issue is that Disney’s policy is that you must wear a mask, and if you are going to visit their property you have to abide by their policy decision.
For me, the ridiculousness comes from having to wear the masks outdoors. Fresh air is deadly to viruses, and with crowds so low I don’t think social distancing is an issue when walking around.
We did, however, find some wonderful gauze masks on Etsy. We live in VA where it also gets oppressively humid, but these masks are actually bearable. Still, we will be taking A LOT of breaks while walking.
After reading the comments on multiple blog posts we Disney Nerds are split between the ‘no crowds great experience’ and the ‘no mask – no shows – overpriced experience’. Does Disney mgt still have the philosophy of ‘build it and they will come’ or do they perceive that ‘Elvis has left the building’? Creating a simple construct between two diametrically opposing forces is simple but this i think understates the complexity of choices facing Disney. Making the wrong decisions now will reverberate not for months but for years to come. In my small world my hospitality and entertainment clients are the most severely affected with the bleakest horizon and hardest choices.
How do you feel attendance numbers will be the first week of October?
Low on weekdays, moderate on weekends.
I’m guessing that a fair percentage of those furloughed are staff with some of the resorts, meaning that what is closed now is likely going to stay closed for quite some time.
I agree that WDW is going to have problems attracting out-of-state visitors until out-of-state visitors who aren’t AP holders can also benefit.
Optics are important…though only to a certain point, as the tone-deafness of the executive salary restoration indicates (in fairness to WDW, however, execs at WDW should not have problems finding employment elsewhere).
The good news seems to be that the resurgence of the virus is settling down in a lot of places around the country, which is something that I think that WDW wants before offering nationwide discounts. The problem, of course, will be if we get down nationwide, WDW offers discounts, and then the feared Fall upswing of the virus takes place. Ugh. Which would be a repeat of the present situation, but I’ve given up guessing on this virus.
“execs at WDW should not have problems finding employment elsewhere”
Probably not without relocating from Central Florida and seeking employment outside the hospitality/travel industry. Universal, SeaWorld, and others have already laid off from various levels of management–meaning there’s already a surplus in this talent pool. Disney will probably follow suit around October.
Just returned to the West Coast after a 10-day trip to WDW. For me, the lack of entertainment and mask mandate was well worth the rock bottom airfare & hotel rates, and lack of crowds & Fastpass+. The freedom to treat WDW with the same spontaneity I treat DLR was fantastic. It was the best trip I have ever taken to WDW, and will likely ruin me for all future visits.
I’m headed that way in 2 1/2 weeks. I’m thrilled to see this comment. Thank you for sharing.
I am at Disney now. The mask wearing didn’t hamper my experience at all. As for the shortened hours, that really didn’t make a difference because the crowds are so light, you can get all the rides you want in a full day. The only thing we missed was the fireworks, especially since we were in a room with Magic Kingdom view at the Contemporary.
Is there a list somewhere of what entertainment is being offered? I’ve seen pictures with the Main Street Philharmonic, I believe, but are the Dapper Dans back? How about streetmosphere in other parks?
I use this site: http://wdwent.com/
It’s not the most reliable right now (because nothing is), but historically, it’s on the money.
Thanks, Tom. I had not thought to check over there. Looking at it… it’s pretty depressing right now! (I’d think they could at least bring back the piano player at Casey’s – he’d be pretty easy to enforce distancing.)
I was thinking about planning a trip this October. Once I saw the new park hours, I decided to put it in hold. Why pay full price for a discounted experience….
Typo… sorry
True they didn’t reduce the price you are still
Paying the same and getting less. And anyone who said the mask are not a big deal is full of it. I live here and in this heat it’s very hard to wear a mask . Unles you are that Disney crazy you don’t care. The only thing you are getting for you money is shorter wait times bc people with common sense know better not to waste there money and get less
I am convinced that Disney business will pick up again when masks are gone.
They are just not enjoyable to wear and dampen any type of enjoyable activity.
I get that national perceptions of safety are more important than actual science – feelings rule.
Unfortunately, even without the Orange County mandate, Disney is under the scrutiny of the public and is in a tough spot.
Vaccine if not, I think Disney will continue to see low crowds until people can go and feel like themselves again.
Flights are dirt cheap. DVC deals abound. Crowds are at record lows. These are all the makings for a perfect Disney trip for our family. What’s stopping us from taking advantage? Masks! Mask compliance in everyday life is one thing (we don’t get much of a choice), but spending thousands of dollars on a vacation to still have to put up with masks is an entirely different thing! We’re just renting a beach house for a month instead.
Given that mask-wearing has contributed to a significant downtrend in the rate of infection pretty much everywhere, and there have been several scientific experiments which prove mask-wearing reduces the risk of contagion, it’s hardly a matter of optics or perception. This is the actual science.
It seems another 3 months will provide tremendous insight into the pattern of the virus. Will there be another wave mid-fall or will numbers continue to decline the rest of the year? If numbers do not come back up, December could be a draw for many people if state travel restrictions are eased. It’s the most popular time of year, but if Disney offerings are still reduced and there are no discounts then I question how much value people will find in a trip to WDW. For me, right now, the value is tremendously reduced and I have no desire to visit.
Hopefully for CMs, and everyone that depends upon Disney as an income stream, things will ease soon.
That’s likewise my hope, but the thing about December travel is it needs to be booked pretty much right now. Even if people are feeling good about Florida’s numbers and Walt Disney World’s operations, there’s still the matter of discounts.
Quite understandably, many potential guests are balking at prices and the lack of deals. If Disney doesn’t roll out new special offers for the holiday season soon, we’re unlikely to see any real recovery this year. Occupancy rates will remain low and Disney will just be dependent upon APs and locals this holiday season, and those demographics are not nearly as lucrative as tourists.
I have to also imagine Disney believes there is potentially a huge PR risk with offering substantial discounts right now while so many states are still in various places with re-opening and travel quarantines. Plus, how much of the nation is mostly concerned about how to get their kids back to school safely, let alone get back to Disney.
We aren’t even making any plans yet for a vacation next year. So many unknowns and we don’t want to book anything now for circumstances that might be completely different when the time for the trip would arrive.
I think that you are correct with your comments, but there is one issue that Disney just can’t control. That issue is the general economy. While Wall Street is bouncing back just fine from the Spring shutdowns, main street has not. We still have some states where the Governors are shutting down the economy. Our level of unemployment is still excessively high, and the Federal Government can’t continue to send $600 a week in unemployment checks to everyone in the country that is without a job and furloughed. There is a good chance that December rolls around and people just don’t have the economic standing to take a trip to Orlando.
Any chance of Guardians opening next year as well?
I don’t expect it.
What about space 220…sorry, Epcot hijack?
Thanks Tom.
Didn’t Guardians start construction well before Tron? Is it just a much more complicated project?
Good question on Space 220. If I recall correctly Tom was predicting a Winter (Dec 2020-Mar 2021) open for Space 220. I hope so as I’m really looking forward to this restaurant.
Cosmic Rewind is a more elaborate project–and also one that has not been built elsewhere before.
That was just a guess on Space 220. At this point, I think it’s more likely they hold off its debut until restaurants can return to full capacity.
They need to record the show scenes for the Guardians coaster and that was supposed to happen while they were filming Guardians 3… at least that’s what I have heard