Disney s evolving new normal
What will stay and what will go once health protocols become less urgent? Disney has rolled out some pandemic-inspired practices that analysts and advisors believe are here to stay. Senior editor Jamie Biesiada, on her first visit to Walt Disney World since the pandemic began, reports back.
May 10, 2021
Since various components of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando began to come to life over the past seven months, visits there have, in some ways, reflected a microcosm of life during the pandemic.
In March 2020, Disney World and its California counterpart, the Disneyland Resort, closed their doors to visitors indefinitely. Disneyland would not reopen its parks until April 2021 due to state restrictions, but officials in Florida began planning a phased reopening as the spring of 2020 progressed.
The future is Orange
Mark Tester.
hat is your outlook for Orlando and the OCCC for 2021?
We were one of the first convention centres in North America to release our safety polices and host large-scale conventions safely and without incident. We have a very supportive community.
We are an economic engine in Orlando have been safely hosting events from other convention destinations. We have hosted about 60 events since the onset of the pandemic and we look forward to hosting 15 event relocations from other destinations for 2021, similar in scale to the MAGIC Pop-Up Orlando, OFFPRICE Orlando Market and WWIN Orlando. The convention and tradeshows that have relocated from other destinations will result in more than 63,000 room nights and an economic impact for $124m in new business for Orlando. We hope to maintain those relationships so that they consider Orlando again in the future.