In the Q1 2021 Financial Results for The Walt Disney Company, Disney stated that capital investments in the parks decreased 43% quarter over quarter. The company spent just $760 million in Q1, which is considerably lower than the $1.3 billion spent in the previous quarter.
It’s worth noting that Avengers Campus is mostly complete at Disney California Adventure, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure seems to be ready and waiting to open, all while most other EPCOT projects have slowed to a crawl. TRON Lightcycle Run at the Magic Kingdom is continuing construction, but only in the erection of an illuminated canopy, with all interior work halted. It seems at this point that it will be quite a while until we get to ride this attraction.
Disney has also quietly placed Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge on hold at Walt Disney World and has removed references to the project from their websites.
Star Wars Galactic Starcrusier, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Harmonious were also explicit mention by CEO Bob Chapek in today’s call, but no opening date or timeframe were mentioned for these projects. This may indicate that they will open sooner than those offerings that weren’t called out today.
Disney’s priorities in all of this were real headscratchers. Laying off cast members and still having money to repaint signs that was not really a necessity (nobody cares that they painted entrance signs blue). Dumping money into a Star Wars cruise ship that only the 1% will be able to enjoy. Attractions bring the crowds. They should have pushed to open Remy’s Adventure, Tron Lightcycle, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. AND BRING BACK FAST PASS