Things Will Never Be the Same For Disney Fans Regarding One of Their Favorite Pastimes

It’s no secret that the pandemic brought many changes to the American way of life. A large part of corporate America was forced to work from home, as children attended school virtually. While many found this new cocooned way of life stifling and prohibiting, some found that they enjoyed it and actually preferred it.

The pandemic forced people to stop and think about their lives. Instead of the usual rush-out-the-door mentality, many began to question the paths they were on. Quiet quitting became prevalent when the workforce realized they were giving too much to their jobs while putting their families and mental health at risk.

Disney fans saw many unprecedented changes as well, with the Parks closing for long periods of time. After Disneyland’s full one-year closure, Annual Passes disappeared, with many things changing drastically, especially for southern Californians.

The media has been swarming with news about how one popular pastime has not quite recovered since the pandemic. Moviegoing used to be an extremely lucrative business. Unfortunately, theaters have been quite empty since COVID-19 hit.

CNBC shares that Disney’s former CEO Bob Iger stated, “The pandemic fundamentally changed how audiences consume media, leading to smaller foot traffic at movie theaters.” While people may be more averted to crowds, opting to watch movies from the comfort of their own homes, money is also an issue.

Consumers started realizing it costs more than they’re willing to spend for their families to plan a trip to the movies. Many Disney+ subscribers take advantage of the fact that films arrive on the streaming platform shortly after their release, causing them to forgo the theater.

During a panel at Vox Media’s Code Conference in California, Bob Iger added, “The coronavirus pandemic has left a permanent scar on the movie theater business. I don’t think movies ever return, in terms of moviegoing, to the level that they were at pre-pandemic.”

So far this year, the domestic box office has plummeted 31% in its profits compared to 2019. While it’s true that not as many films have been released, Iger says “choice” is the reason moviegoers are not visiting the theaters as often.

Moviegoing may never be the same again, but people don’t seem mad about it, as they’ve transitioned to better methods of absorbing their favorite media. Which do you prefer, a trip to the theater or a quiet movie at home?