What are the chances Disneyland and Walt Disney World will actually reopen at the end of the month? That’s looking less and less likely if you look at the clues.
Yesterday, Disney ended its College Program, International Program, Professional Internship program and other special programs, and also notified all participants they were out of a job and to get out of Disney housing by March 18th.
Today, they began ending contracts for performers at Walt Disney World (We await word on Disneyland’s entertainment groups).
Then came news that the CDC is recommending that activities for groups over 50 should be canceled for the next 8 weeks!
Experts are now talking about the increasing likelihood of severe economic consequences due to the nation’s slowdown of commerce and near shutdown of entertainment and travel. That would make it much harder for the Disney Parks and the communities which rely on them to recover quickly.
The evidence is stacking up that either Disney knows they aren’t going to be reopening for an extended period of time, or they intend to reopen with a skeleton crew and reduced entertainment offerings when they are allowed to reopen the gates (likely both of those things).
Let’s Hear From You
Do you see the signs of an extended shutdown? Have you been listening to the increasing calls for restaurants, bars, shopping malls and others to shut down for up to two months?
Business-wise for Disney, this is only going to get worse every day they have to remain closed. We hope for their sake, and for all of us, that the virus curve flattens and begins to improve so you can go on with your lives and Disney can begin making magic again. But signs are increasingly pointing in a less enchanting direction.
Please make good decisions folks, doing so will help get our world back on track a little sooner!