The single most important thing is supporting those affected by layoffs in the Orlando area. Please consider donating to
food banks and helping people apply for unemployment.
I have talked to several people to get a temperature of where Universal P&R and Universal Creative are right now. I do not know all the information, I can be wrong, and this is what I've formed by doing some "vibe checks" with others. This is also a temperature taken this week and attempts to show what thigns look like now, not last week, not next week.
Universal Orlando, and Hollywood, were hit hard with layoffs. Many talented, passionate, and good people were laid off. It's a very very very rough week for the themed entertainment industry. The first signs of trouble came last week when Thinkwell, a leading themed design company behind attractions such as WB World Abu Dabi, laid off a sizeable chunk of their staff. Universal begun their layoffs Monday and concluded on Wednesday, with every aspect of the company affected. Thinkwell, I believe for roughly a year and a half, is a major vendor for Epic Universe, most likely Potter (I should have read the room with those layoffs). Those remaining at UC are executing existing projects that are funded (Beijing, Nintendo, EU grading, Velocicoaster, etc) or helping to maintain projects on the back burner (EU).
These were done for two reasons: to adjust for lower attendance and offset low-income generation. You don't need a full sales staff or PR if guests aren't showing up and buying things. Universal also sees that for the immediate short term attendance levels will not be back to "normal" (roughly 20 million guests a year) for over a year, at least. New projects appear to be on hold. Due to low guest attendance and guest spending labor needs to be cut, hence layoffs.
Epic Universe is not canceled. The project is effectively on ice but still has people assigned to it. I have talked to several people who feel confident the project is still a go but obviously the timing is 2024 or later now. It might change, especially if SNW is moved to USF, but it's still a go. (Remember that USF was delayed a year or two itself)
Building a theme park is not a five, ten, or even twenty-year capital project, it's a project that redefines a company and goes through years of proposals, approvals, and justifications. The pandemic has caused a lot of turmoil in the industry but looking 10 to 15 years out, the same distance between IOA opening and Potter, hasn't really changed. Comcast still sees these parks as a valued revenue stream and investment and the Orlando market as ripe for another park. Just as this is a long term project and expansion a year or two delays will not impact those justifications.
Let me put it this way: you want to buy a house, a huge investment. You've set aside money, you are pricing out utilities and insurance, you are doing research, and are ready to pull the trigger. Then you get laid off for 6 months. Will you no longer buy a house? No, you just will have to delay it. That's where we are now, and of course, that could change.