Originally Posted By Mr X I think you mentioned at some point the possibility of having large generators on barges (perhaps you were referring to Fukushima though, and mentioned TDR as a side note). I'm surprised that option seems to be off the table for some reason. At least, I haven't read it mentioned anywhere besides by you. It SEEMS like it would be ideal, both at the nukular plant as well as for Disney and any other places by the water. Instead, they seem to be planning to BUILT a generating station within the resort. That seems like a lot more work (and won't be ready til winter anyway!). Thoughts?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is good to tease these things out Superdry. Out of each tragedy also comes an immense amount of learning opportunity that can benefit others. I know the tsunami was aweful, but this is some good to come from it. The Tsunami that hit Thailand had a huge impact, there was only a 2 minute warning, and as a result, the casualties were very high. Fast forward 7 years. Although it will be little solace for those currently in mourning, there was a 10-20 minute warning given to Japan about this Tsunami, the final figures are not in, but it is estimated it saved tens of thousands of lives. Imagine if the warnings had not been there for the learning. I am confident that there are policy and operational developments that are using previous experiences to mitigate the impact of the situation. And although uncomfortable, some speculation and discussion of options can be good. I am hopeful we will learn even more from this, and should/when something like this happens elsewhere, we can hopefully do an even better job. For now however, I am hopeful that the aftershocks with subside. And I keep winging positive energy to those affected. Especially the ones I really care about.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>I'm surprised that option seems to be off the table for some reason. At least, I haven't read it mentioned anywhere besides by you. It SEEMS like it would be ideal, both at the nukular plant as well as for Disney and any other places by the water. Instead, they seem to be planning to BUILT a generating station within the resort. That seems like a lot more work (and won't be ready til winter anyway!). Thoughts?<<< It might be cost related, in the case of Disney anyway. Or perhaps there are limitations to the capacity they can provide or perhaps additional environmental risks?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***No damage from the quake (they can't even feel any shaking)*** I assume you're referring to aftershocks, I was surprised to learn they certainly did feel the big one even so far away as Osaka (for reference, Tokyo to Osaka is about the same distance as NYC to DC, roughly, and even Tokyo was some 200 miles or so from the epicenter). I learned that from a client a couple of days later. He'd been in Osaka at the time and when I asked him if they felt it down there, he was like "OH, yes!".
Originally Posted By leemac <<With no knowledge of the specifics, and having just the information that I've read and repeated above, this makes for some interesting conditions for TDR as far as the power goes (which I think is the key remaining factor that prevents the parks from re-opening):>> Sorry Sir, I'd respectfully disagree. There are two issues that OLC need to consider: 1) Power (and other utilities) availability - it isn't just electricity; and 2) Public perception. The second is equally as important as the first - OLC need to be seen to be "hurting" as much as everyone else locally. They need to consider carefully when it is appropriate to reopen.
Originally Posted By leemac <<First of all, I doubt that very few of the hourly CM's at TDR have the financial ability to suddenly move to another country.>> Very true. A lot of CMs work at the Resort because they love the guest interaction and are Disney fans themselves. Hourly CMs earn a pittance considering the cost of living near Tokyo but sadly it is unskilled labor and OLC are offer exactly what the market dictates. OLC has no difficulty hiring frontline CMs for the parks. I'm sure some are seeking alternative employment simply because necessity dictates. And there is no need to worry about OLC's financial health right now - business interuption insurance will cover them....for now.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Public perception*** That is most certainly a major issue, and day by day I'm learning how very important it is for the people of Japan, and why it's so difficult for TDR to reopen its' doors. BUT, I think that it's important for Japan to move on at SOME point, the situation here is that there are STILL major aftershocks ongoing, the situation at the nuclear plant is still far from resolved, and there's no telling when the situation will resolve itself (Lee, you understand that first hand having lived through the worst of things in Chiba prefecture! You never told your particular story but I'm sure it was an interesting one to say the least, if you ever feel like sharing!). One day, maybe weeks or maybe even months from now, this will calm down enough to warrant an official, national day of mourning. Or at least I hope so. When that day comes, it will be easier to look forward for Japan. But for now, things are still in disaster mode, and the people of Japan are in disaster mode regardless of their relative situations. The culture demands that everyone suffer equally (I'm learning THAT part first hand!), and thus it is considered somewhat obscene for anyone to engage in "pleasure activities" at this time. I think it will only last for a relatively short time, but in the meantime it's the way they cope here. As far as Universal in Osaka or other entertainment venues to the South, it'd be interesting to learn their attendance figures. Somehow, I'm guessing the attendance has been light.
Originally Posted By Malin This is third hand information, but I'm going to share it anyway to see if we get a comment or denial from Lee on the matter. Its been reported originally on DeepDisney that Fantasmic rehearsal's were happening at 11.00 pm. Not sure if it was Fri or Sat night. From my position I am seeing some very confusing information coming out online from all directions. First the official word from the OLC and from Lee seems to point to a very uncertain date for reopening. And yet we keep seeing signs like Easter decorations and unofficial media reports all pointing to them reopening soon.
Originally Posted By Malin And of course lets not foget that a lot of the Western performers have been ordered back to Japan. Why go to this effort if the OLC have no idea when it plans to reopen. It would be more wise to keep them at home.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Its been reported originally on DeepDisney that Fantasmic rehearsal's were happening at 11.00 pm.>> F! rehearsals recommenced this week - so the show is already three weeks behind schedule.
Originally Posted By leemac <<From my position I am seeing some very confusing information coming out online from all directions. First the official word from the OLC and from Lee seems to point to a very uncertain date for reopening. And yet we keep seeing signs like Easter decorations and unofficial media reports all pointing to them reopening soon. >> You have to remember that all BOH CMs have been at work for weeks - so it is business as usual for them. The only difference is a lack of guests and therefore no frontline CMs. BOH CMs are going about their normal business which includes installing Easter Wonderland decorations.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Its been reported originally on DeepDisney that Fantasmic rehearsal's were happening at 11.00 pm. Not sure if it was Fri or Sat night. From my position I am seeing some very confusing information coming out online from all directions. First the official word from the OLC and from Lee seems to point to a very uncertain date for reopening. And yet we keep seeing signs like Easter decorations >>> I don't see anything incongruent in any of this. OLC last week changed their official stance and said that they will give notice of TDR's reopening by 8pm, three days prior. This previously had been 5 days. Assuming that they open sometime before the end of June and don't totally cancel the Easter event, it would make sense that they would put up the decorations now at a normal pace, rather than try to do everything in a 3-day period once the final decision has been made. It will cost the same in terms of labor to do it now vs a month from now, so even if reopening isn't until next month, why not get it done now and then have one less thing to worry about? As for F!, my understanding was that the show was still in development by WDI in a "tune and adjust" phase (I'm sure there's an official term for this that I don't know). That's why Steve Davidson was there at the time of the quake and able to post pictures of damage the day of. So, what was going on was much more than just "rehearsal" for a new set of performers like might happen for any show from time to time. Assuming my understanding is right, and that TDS will eventually reopen at some point and F! will debut at some point, the development work for F! must be completed eventually. This would be true even if TDS didn't reopen until next year. If all the powers that be have time to do it now, why not finish it now? And actually, with TDS closed, it might actually be more convenient to do it now: they have all day to do any on-stage work that is best done during daylight hours, instead of just a couple of hours after dawn, plus they can test under show conditions as soon as it gets dark, instead of having to wait until after midnight. So, getting F! in the can now doesn't appear to me to speak one way or the other about how imminent the parks' reopening is. <<< And of course lets not foget that a lot of the Western performers have been ordered back to Japan. Why go to this effort if the OLC have no idea when it plans to reopen. It would be more wise to keep them at home. >>> I don't see why keeping them home would be "more wise." If OLC feels that it won't be able to pull the trigger for sure on park reopening until 3 days prior, that would not be nearly enough time to recall all of the foreign performers and have them ready for their first shifts. And, if they want the reopening to be "business as usual" then they need the foreign entertainers. To have the flexibility to make that 3-day reopening decision, they need the foreign performers there. Plus, if all of them are in place, getting paid, and just sitting on their bums drinking beer, they're far more likely to mostly all be there when they're eventually needed. On the other hand, if they were back home and not getting paid, many of them would no doubt "wander off" and get other jobs or otherwise lose interest. That would make restarting park operation all the more difficult, as they'd have to launch foreign recruitment drives for replacements: to recruit/select, to give newly-hired foreign entertainers time to wrap up their lives and move to Japan, apply for and get approved for work visas, have them move, then go through training, that would be a few weeks under the best cast scenario. So I totally see why they'd recall the foreign entertainers, and why at the same time it doesn't speak one way or the other as to how eminent reopening actually is.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< 2) Public perception. The second is equally as important as the first - OLC need to be seen to be "hurting" as much as everyone else locally. They need to consider carefully when it is appropriate to reopen. >>> That's perhaps the most difficult part of it. TDR benefits from the overall efforts in the metro area to get utilities and other core services working properly, but they're kind of in a unique situation with regard to public perception. And unlike the "hard" problems at the resort, OLC can only do so much to influence the "soft" problems such as public perception.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< And there is no need to worry about OLC's financial health right now - business interuption insurance will cover them....for now. >>> I'm glad to hear it. I had speculated on just such insurance being in place on "another" message board, but was met with a collective blank stare each time, as if nobody knew what I was talking about even after I explained what it was (but not knowing if OLC had such coverage).
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "As Mr X said: No, I didn't. Although you qualified it with "... and had the wherewithal", your post #32 seems to be advice that's general, but not universal, in nature." No, I think you made much more out of my statement than was necessary. I just said if any had the means to leave, I would. That's it.
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///If I were any of them(cast members) and had the wherewithal to do so, I'd get out of the country./// That's too extreme--where would they go?
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder For Pete's sake- why the over-analyzing? How in hell would I know where they would go? What part about the word "wherewithal" is escaping people??
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>First of all, I doubt that very few of the hourly CM's at TDR have the financial ability to suddenly move to another country.<< Not to mention all the legal hoops such a move typically involves.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder wherewithal n the wherewithal- necessary funds, resources, or equipment (for something or to do something) i.e. "these people lack the wherewithal for a decent existence"
