Disney CEO Says Disney Guests Are Happier Now Than Before The Pandemic

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Bob Chapek, Disney CEO, says that Walt Disney World guests are happier now at parks than they were before the pandemic struck.

Are reported by OrlandoSentinel: Disney CEO Bob Chapek made some bold statements. People are happier at Disney World parks now — during a time when visitors must wear masks and can’t get the full experience — than before the pandemic, the company’s leader said.

“Our guest satisfaction scores since we’ve reopened across the world have shown that, indeed, our guests are even more satisfied than they were prior to the pandemic,” Chapek said during March 17 interview with Bloomberg.

“Our teams here have been hard at work, making sure that when we reemerge, that we’re going to do so in a way that’s actually going to improve the guest experience even versus a pre-pandemic situation,” Chapek said in a recent interview focused on Disneyland’s reopening next month.

With limited capacity, social distancing, security and technology improvements, Mobile Ordering ease, no concern over snagging FastPasses, cleanliness, and Disney’s hard work at making the experience as magical as possible with character sightings and special cavalcades… it seems like many guests are enjoying the current Walt Disney World experience.

Will “Black Widow” Make Disney+ Premier Access?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Via DisneyFanatic.com

We all know it’s been an interesting year since March 2020 when COVID-19 rocked the world… and continues to keep us on our toes. Theaters took a huge hit, but it seems like they are slowly but surely beginning to welcome more and more guests back. Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon recently hit select theaters and also released via Disney+ Premier Access. The question now is how will Disney release their next big film, Black Widow? It looks like Disney has yet to make a decision.

As reported by WhatOnDisneyPlus: “The next big movie release on Disney’s movie calendar is Marvel’s “Black Widow”, which is due to be released in cinemas on May 7th. During a Bloomberg interview with Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who spoke about the reopening of Disneyland in California at the end of April, he was asked about the release of “Black Widow” in theatres and on Disney+ Premier Access.”

Chapek is quoted: “Our situation and our conditions change. Just a few weeks ago, theaters in New York and Los Angeles weren’t even open. Now, all of a sudden they’re open, so we’re waiting to see how prospective theater goers respond to these reopenings. We’re going to remain flexible. We’ll make the call probably at the last minute in terms of how these films come to market, whether it’s Black Widow or any other title.” Chapek goes on the say: “We love the theatrical window. We think it’s important for building our franchises. At the same time, we don’t think it’s the only way to do it. … We’ll see what happens over the next couple of months. So much is changing, it’s such a dynamic environment. It’s really hard to predict what’s going to happen with consumer behavior in the next month as it comes to re-emergence back into the world of normal. We’ll be watching the call carefully and make the call when we have to.”

It looks like we’ll have to wait last minute to find out how Black Widow will debut. It’s interesting to note that Warner Brothers and Universal have already laid out their plans for 2021. We’ll just have to wait and see if Disney+ Premier Access carries on for Disney’s new films.

Disney CEO Confirms Park Capacity Will Remain at 35% with Rise Depending on COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

February 11, Disney held their first-quarter earnings report meetings. With the COVID-19 vaccination rolling out, one topic of discussion was if Walt Disney World would increase their park capacity from the current 35%. Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, confirmed the park capacity will remain at 35% with a rise depending on the COVID-19 public vaccination rate.

As reported by OrlandoSentinel: Since November, just before the holidays, Disney World raised its cap from 25% to 35% of full attendance. The company executives confirmed Thursday the cap still remains today at 35%. For Disney World’s attendance to rise this year, Chapek made it clear that depends on the public’s vaccination rate. “That to us seems like the biggest lever that we can have in order to either take the parks that are currently under limited capacity and increase it or open up parks that are currently closed,” Chapek said.

Disney CEO Expects Mask Requirements Through 2021

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

February 11, Disney held their first-quarter earnings report meetings. With the COVID-19 vaccination rolling out, one topic of discussion was if the mask requirements will continue at Walt Disney World. According to Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, we can expect to see the mask requirements last through 2021, but hopes masks won’t be needed by 2022.

As reported by OrlandoSentinel: As the COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out, Chapek said he envisions some form of social distancing and mask-wearing to remain in place for all of 2021. “That’s our expectation,” he said Thursday during a first-quarter earnings call that disclosed the parks and consumer products endured a $119 million operating income loss compared with a profit of $2.52 billion a year earlier.

What could be a “game changer” for Disney’s theme parks rebound was Thursday’s news that vaccines could potentially be available by April for anyone who wants them, Chapek said. “Will there be some overlap until we know that we have hit herd immunity? Sure there will,” Chapek said “Do we also believe that we’ll be in the same state of six-feet social distancing and mask-wearing in ‘22? Absolutely not.”

Walt Disney Co. Halting Political Contributions to Certain Lawmakers

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

As previously shared, Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, issued a statement regarding US Capitol January 6, 2021 events. Now, the Walt Disney Company is halting political contributions to lawmakers who voted to reject certification of electoral votes for Joe Biden.

As shared by Deadline: The Walt Disney Co. is halting political contributions to House and Senate lawmakers who voted to reject the certification of electoral votes for Joe Biden.

A Disney spokesperson said, “The insurrection at our nation’s Capitol was a direct assault on one of our country’s most revered tenets: the peaceful transition of power. In the immediate aftermath of that appalling siege, Members of Congress had an opportunity to unite—an opportunity that some sadly refused to embrace. In light of these events, we have decided we will not make political contributions in 2021 to lawmakers who voted to reject the certification of the Electoral College votes.”