The Happiest Place on Earth - Not So Happy anymore !
By Faiza Zia Khan
Newport Beach, CA
News recently broke out that Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, the largest tourist attractions of Southern California, will be laying off 28,000 park employees!
Once known to be the most aspired place for youth from all over the world to work at is now hanging by a thread for survival as Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Division’s profit reportedly dropped a whopping 91% during the lockdown, mid-March marking the first three months when the coronavirus pandemic hit initially. Layoffs will hit employees working for Disneyland, Disney World, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney cruise line, travel planning, retail gaming, and publishing divisions.
As California theme parks stay shuttered to-date, state officials went on record with these remarks in a news conference, “We’re working hard to get that out in a responsible way, as soon as possible, so planning can be done by both the counties that are homes to the theme parks, as well as the operators of those theme parks. We know that a number of Californians are eager and wondering when that is coming. We are working with those industries to put out something that is thoughtful, allows us to maintain the rest of our framework in a strong way and really following those principles of slow and stringent to ensure those large activities are done responsibly.” Yet, state officials have been all words and promises with no real action as Governor Newsom announced approximately a month ago that he would announce a reopening plan for these large revenue churners aka the California theme parks that attract tourists from all around the world. Even though a follow-up announcement came a few weeks later stating that guidelines would be coming “...very, very shortly,” nothing really came through. California theme parks have been left waiting and wanting for reprisal while other sectors of the economy (including restaurants, barbershops, and some school districts) have safely reopened.
Usually, protests come from the masses such as visitors, the general public, and tourists; but this time voices raised are in support of city leaders, state lawmakers, and industry leaders. Throughout the state amusement parks of varying sizes and scope exist. Sunny skies and warmer climate make California an ideal state for theme parks to thrive in. Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags, Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, and Legoland are amongst the very familiar and famous names globally.
Future business keeps getting affected as the theme park lockdown enters its seventh month. Disney is known for the expos and convention business. However, as the situation remains unclear Disney has postponed all expo and fan conventions planned for 2021 at the Anaheim locations until 2022. The conventions bring in tourists and fans from all over the world that fills up hotels, theme parks, and restaurant business revenues. This year the tourism industry is hurting overall but the downfall hits the hardest when it comes specifically to the California theme park industry. The Walt Disney Company was to celebrate its 100 years in a monumental series of events but all festivities have been pushed back.
There are always two sides to a story. As California legislators that include senators and assembly members pushed for reopening, residents of Anaheim, Buena Park and the suburbs provided their own satire on the reopening of theme parks stance. What do attractions like theme parks do? They attract people! People who come from all over the world but cannot be contained within the perimeter of the theme parks. They will eat at restaurants, shop at local markets, stay at local hotels, and above all mingle with the locals - the people who permanently reside in the vicinity of these theme parks. This is what the state officials are weary about.
California health officials are extremely skeptical about the containment of crowds that may spread the coronavirus again. Water, air, and misting elements on rides will have to be completely eliminated. Rides will have to be reduced to minimum capacity and social distancing guidelines will have to be strictly implemented. Continuous use of paper menus will go out of style and only online/mobile app ordering for food items will be reinforced. Basically, contact of any kind will completely be eliminated.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) on the website has suggested some changes (listed below) that will have to be enforced when theme parks reopen to keep visitors, employees, and residents safe. Hopefully, these measures will be enough to make the environment sanitary when throngs of visitors from all over the world arrive in California.
- Various signs and taped areas to mark off distances.
- More performances of certain shows since capacity might be decreased.
- Shows that can't allow for physical distancing might be on hiatus when parks first open back up.
- Longer times to safely enter and exit venues. People might file out by row or section.
- Hand sanitizer at all entrances.
- You might be looking at menus on board or online and placing orders via your smartphone.
- Say goodbye to self-serve salad bars and buffets.
- Say hello to social distancing with tables farther apart and fewer people being seated in indoor spaces.
- Every other toilet closed to ensure physical distancing protocols in restrooms.
- Water fountains might be disabled if they can't be sanitized.
- Some places might go back to paper towels for drying hands.
- More sinks and toilets with touchless valves or flushing devices.
- (Faiza Zia Khan holds a Master’s in Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada. She has collaborated with news media outlets, including Global National, and actively volunteers for several community investment projects for the Red Cross, United Way and the Breast Cancer Foundation)
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