Disney to lay off 4,000 more at California, Florida parks
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Walt Disney Co. announced plans to lay off 4,000 more workers in its theme parks division in California and Florida due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the industry.
The announcement by the company was made in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing earlier this week, saying 32,000 employees will be terminated in the first half of fiscal year 2021, which began last month. In late September, the company had already announced plans to terminate 28,000 theme park workers.
The bottom line: Don't assume your ride will be raring to go when you decide to hit the road again.
Here are some key car-maintenance tips during COVID-19:
1. Take a Sunday drive
Consumer Reports recommends driving your vehicle at least once a week for 20 minutes or more to keep the battery charged.
“Over time, your car's battery can discharge and leave you needing to jump-start your car,” car-research site
Edmunds reports. “You can plug your vehicle into a battery tender if you have one. Or if you know your car will be sitting for a long time, you can always disconnect the battery.”
Other vehicle components could also wear out if you don't use them.
“If you park outside, this will also provide a chance to wear the rust off the brake discs and keep the calipers from seizing by using them,” the magazine says. “Driving is a good solo activity, and frankly, many people probably need to shake off some cabin fever.”
2. Clean the inside of your car
Don't be surprised if your car starts to smell after months of sitting there all alone. That's because food, snacks, drinks or used wipes that were forgotten could start to stink. Vacuuming the carpet is a good idea. “These steps can reduce the risks of mildew and unpleasant odors from developing,” Consumer Reports says.
3. Check your tires
When your tires are cold for extended periods of time, they can become deflated. Check their inflation to make sure they're adequately pressurized.
“The biggest concern with tires is flat-spotting, which is when the weight of the vehicle sitting on one spot flattens out a portion of the rubber on the tire,” according to Edmunds. “A month of being stationary might be enough to cause problems. Low tire pressure and very cold weather can both contribute to the development of flat spots.”
4. Don’t use the parking brake
Certainly use the parking brake if you need to store the vehicle on an angled surface. But don't use it for long periods of time on a flat surface.
“When left unused, brake rotors can begin to develop rust on the surface of the rotors,” Edmunds says. “If you leave your parking brake engaged for a long period of time, it can actually cause the brake pads to bind to the rotors. While this shouldn't be a concern over a few weeks, if you know your car will be parked for a month or more we recommend leaving the parking brake off.”