Disney Parks are expected to be fully staffed by end of 2021
Even as the COVID-19 delta variant ravages Florida, demand remains strong for those wanting to visit Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said during an earnings call report on Thursday.
“Right now we’re seeing above the Q3 attendance levels,” Chapekl said. The primary impacts now is around larger groups and conference cancellations.
“We’re still bullish about our park business going forward. I may suggest that we’ve implemented a reservation system that’s going to enable us to spread our demand, increase the yield, and improve the guest experience at the same time,” Chapek said.
At Walt Disney World, 70% of the available rooms open and a schedule has been announced to reopen the remaining resorts throughout the remainder of the year.
“Our plan and once again this is monitoring the trends with what’s going on with the delta variant,” Christine McCarthy, chief financial officer of The Walt Disney Company, is to have the parks fully staffed by the end of the calendar year 2021.
“We’re going to be increasing capacities as we have the demand” and the ability to thoroughly train employees as they return, she said.
This is a never-changing landscape with COVID. Disney plans to be careful as it continues to increae its capacty. “We’re not going to just open up the doors and fling them open. We’re doing this in the measured fashion for the health and safety of not only our guests, but also our cast members in the parks,” she said.
The recent surge through Florida, primarily impacting the unvaccinated, has strained the hospital system. As of today, there were 15,796 people with COVID-19 in Florida’s hospitals. About 49% of Florida’s staffed intensive care unit beds are being taken by coronavirus patients.
The Walt Disney Co. has already required U.S. salaried and non-union hourly employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, Disney re-instituted requiring guests at Walt Disney World to wear face coverings inside and on all rides.
