Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[gottalovepluto]

I apologize as this is a couple pages behind, but there are plenty of countries that require proof of vaccination, and Disney could do the same. Certain countries require certain vaccinations, just like Disney could - it all depends on what the risk is in any given area.

Personally, I don't see why it would be considered unfair because each disease is entirely different as are their infection rate, etc. It can be considered discrimination, but people have control over it. When I went to visit South America, I had to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever. I'm not going to sue a country's government because they're infringing on my right to be unvaccinated. It's their country, just as Disney resorts are Disney's property. If they want to enforce such a requirement, they should be allowed to (not saying that I think they would).

I know one thing for sure on Disney World’s re-opening: they won’t require proof of a vaccine that doesn’t even exist.

Boom! Case closed on that one!

 

[xuxa777]

Governor of Texas said today he is putting together guidelines on opening the state of Texas back up albeit slowly, will announce next week. More good news, this will help Florida move forward.

 

[JPM4]

Shhh. Don't put not opening Animal Kingdom into the universe.

Lol. I’m booked for July and November and we don’t go to DAK between June and September because it’s sooo hot there. It was half me thinking strategic and what would work for us anyway. Lol

 

[Jrb1979]

This is one of the great disconnects throughout this entire episode... every year tens of thousands die in the U.S. alone from Influenza (not sure of the stats for Canada and other countries off the top of my head) and no one seems to blink an eye. We've accepted that number of deaths as "normal." Those diseases are considered "under control" and "not really a big threat" (not criticizing your choice of words, just quoting them because they are a good illustration of the general thinking).

We have vaccinations available for these other diseases, but despite that there are MANY deaths from those diseases. So, even if we get a vaccine for COVID, that's not going to eliminate people dying from it. So there will still be some who advocate for everything to remain closed because "people are still dying."

Disney (and the rest of the world) cannot remain closed indefinitely. There will never be zero deaths from this or any other disease. At what point are we, as a society, "comfortable" with the number of deaths? What would that number even be? As long as it's no more than typical flu season? Or do we become even more risk averse to ANY disease that's potentially life-threatening? How long before we start to see similar restrictions proposed for other "under control" diseases?

No one said everything will remained closed indefinitely. Disney will reopen but it won't be back to normal for awhile. People need to start understanding this is the new normal.

Its never been the amount of deaths they are worried about. Its trying to keep the amount of people that need to hospitalized low so hospitals don't get overwhelmed to the point they pick who they can save.

 

[Jrb1979]

Governor of Texas said today he is putting together guidelines on opening the state of Texas back up albeit slowly, will announce next week. More good news, this will help Florida move forward.

While that is good news. Slowly to me means bars, restaurants and shops will be open. Sport fields, parks and concert venues will be last on the list.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

No one said everything will remained closed indefinitely. Disney will reopen but it won't be back to normal for awhile. People need to start understanding this is the new normal.

Its never been the amount of deaths they are worried about. Its trying to keep the amount of people that need to hospitalized low so hospitals don't get overwhelmed to the point they pick who they can save.

I understand about preventing hospitals from getting overwhelmed. There are many reports that they aren't. Yet, things are still remaining closed to prevent that from happening. This cannot be the "new normal" because some will always feel that the threat of hospitals getting overwhelmed is going to increase again if we reduce the restrictions. They will maintain that the threat is right around the corner unless we keep up these measures as the "new normal."

 

[Runnsally]

I normally am a positive person. Really.

But some of the "moves" made by federal/state governments lately seem so disingenuous to me. It's as if who can look like they are taking better care of their city than the other. One-upmanship.
What constitutes out in public? Just walking around outside? Never has it been said that you can get covid by breathing fresh air while out for a walk.

We wore our masks to Target today to pick up a few things. I was sweating under that thing by the time we were done and it wasn't 10 minutes!!!

Sigh. If it came to having to wear a mask at Disney...I can't even picture it. They'd have to close all their food locations. And people would only travel in the cooler months! How would they enforce it? How would they stop all the kids from taking their masks off?

How will they stop everyone from touching their face to adjust their mask and then touching other things?

Just a mess!

The mess is not nor will it ever be WDW. The mess is what’s going on in the areas hardest hit. Listen to the experts people...

 

[Farro]

The mess is not nor will it ever be WDW. The mess is what’s going on in the areas hardest hit. Listen to the experts people...

I don't understand your post. We are discussing how wearing a mask would work at Disney parks.

 

[Jrb1979]

I understand about preventing hospitals from getting overwhelmed. There are many reports that they aren't. Yet, we need to remain closed to prevent that from happening. This cannot be the "new normal" because some will always feel that the threat of hospitals getting overwhelmed is going to increase again if we reduce the restrictions.

Here in Canada our Prime Minister has said some restrictions will be lifted by summer. But they expect some sort of social distancing to stay in effect til there is a vaccine.

 

[juice0358]

Seeing everything continue to decline, even in the hardest hit state of NY, summer is looking good still for Disney. You will see some extensions and stricter lockdowns rules in the next few days but they will be outliers and just lagging from last week from the sheer momentum of the government.

Already some state leaders are calling for the lifting of stay at home orders and that will only increase next week. Florida will be one of the first to start to open. It looks like Florida peaked 4/3 in new cases and possibly earlier with the lag of test results taking 5-7 days. May 1st might be the easiest to lift stay at home but it might be a week sooner. South Florida might be a bit longer because that is where the majority of cases are. Also the a studies going on in California theorizing that we are in the second wave already, first wave was back in November 19 and German studies are saying Europe might be closer to herd immunity than previously thought. Typically 2500-2800 people in Florida die annual of the flu. Current "models" say it will be 4300 due to covid, but that will be lowered this week, I imagine to about 2500-3000. The real amount after all said and done will be less than that.

All that said, once the data trends get even clearer next week you will see Disney start making more moves around 4/15, maybe not public but insde announcements and rumors, dates, when they will begin to unfurlough CM's (most likely in early May). Honestly there is no reason not to start bringing them back , especially non high risk people at this point. They can't and won't at this time but it will be sooner than later.

At the earliest you will see Disney Springs open mid May (maybe may 1st but that is an outside shot), if that happens July 1st open at latest for the parks. There will be some social distancing elements in place but they will be open.

LOL when you say Disney Springs might open May 1st, you expose yourself to be completely illiterate on the topic. IF SPRINGS OPENS ON MAY 1st? I will ban myself from the boards.

 

[xuxa777]

Appreciate your candor , just to be clear I said mid May at earliest (may 1st is an long/outside shot). If I am wrong all good, we are all just guessing here anyway. Lets keep it all light, as I do like this thread.

 

[Lewisc]

LOL when you say Disney Springs might open May 1st, you expose yourself to be completely illiterate on the topic. IF SPRINGS OPENS ON MAY 1st? I will ban myself from the boards.

Disney Springs is essentially an outdoor mall. I think Disney Springs will be open 7 days or less after Florida allows malls to open, assuming no adverse local regulations. Many of the establishments are run by third parties. Some may open later, some might not re-open at all. Florida is the state which waited until after Spring Break crowds to issue stay at home orders. I'd be slightly surprised, but not shocked, if Disney Springs opened by May 1. I think Florida will be one of the first states to open things up. I'd be very surprised if Trump doesn't suggest opening by the middle to end of April.

Disney Springs could open for locals.

I don't know if Disney resorts and theme parks could/would open if there were significant travel restrictions.

 

[Farro]

I don't understand all these absolute statements like 'the country is opening up soon' and 'Disney World is opening sooner than later' from many on here. The people running the country and those running Disney operations don't even know when they are going to open, so how can a random poster on The Dis know definitively what is going to happen? Is it just trying to wish it into existence? The only argument I hear is 'Well, you can't stay closed forever!' as if anyone is arguing for that.

Well, I imagine nobody on these boards is an expert. We are all just discussing, guessing, biding our time until something/anything happens, changes.

I think it helps us to deal with the closure to speculate when it will open.

 

[Farro]

Does anyone know, are the hotels empty, as in no one working? Or is there staff running heating/cooling systems, pool filters, etc.?

 

[b2k1121]

Well, I imagine nobody on these boards is an expert. We are all just discussing, guessing, biding our time until something/anything happens, changes.

I think it helps us to deal with the closure to speculate when it will open.

Right, but a lot posts don't come off as an opinion. They come off as 'this is what is going to happen and you are dumb for thinking otherwise'. Similar to when this virus first started and if anyone asked if the parks might close they were laughed at for even suggesting it.

 

[mshanson3121]

This is one of the great disconnects throughout this entire episode... every year, tens of thousands die in the U.S. alone from Influenza (not sure of the stats for Canada and other countries off the top of my head) and no one seems to blink an eye. We've accepted that number of deaths as "normal." Those diseases are considered "under control" and "not really a big threat" (not criticizing your choice of words, just quoting them because they are a good illustration of the general thinking).

We have vaccinations available for these other diseases but, despite that, there are MANY deaths from those diseases. So, even if we get a vaccine for COVID, that's not going to eliminate people dying from it. There will still be some who advocate for everything to remain closed because "people are still dying."

Disney (and the rest of the world) cannot remain closed indefinitely. There will never be zero deaths from this or any other disease. At what point are we, as a society, "comfortable" with the number of deaths? What would that number even be? As long as it's no more than typical flu season? Or do we become even more risk averse to ANY disease that's potentially life-threatening? How long before we start to see similar restrictions proposed for other "under control" diseases?

I wasn't thinking influenza, as much as those other diseases.

There aren't "many deaths" in the US from the diseases we vaccinate for (outside of influenza). Case in point, no one has died from measles in the US since 2015. In 2019 there were only 1282 cases nation-wide, basically all in small isolated pockets. Pertussis poses more of a threat, there's normally still 15,000+ cases a year, but less than 20 of them die. So they really don't pose a threat the way Covid does.

 

[osufeth24]

At this point I feel like they should just repurpose Alien Encounter to have it seem like a person is coming close to you, patting you on the shoulder, and breathing on your neck because they are so close.

Frightening!!

I was 8 when I went on that ride and I still get PTSD from it (Im 32). The ride scared the you know what out of me. I still remember just balling my eyes out the entire time (I was so afraid of aliens , I hated movies like Independence Day, Mars attacks, etc)

 

[rteetz]

Does anyone know, are the hotels empty, as in no one working? Or is there staff running heating/cooling systems, pool filters, etc.?

I believe skeleton crews so security and maybe a few maintenance people or stuff like that. Definitely not full employee loads. With attractions in the parks going in full shutdown mode I doubt pools are being run at hotels.

 

[xuxa777]

With even the President saying today that people can start to consider elective surgeries today, and more Governors even California going to announcing they are setting up steps to open business back up. that with more and more evidence that the virus was around Nov/Dec last year and all data trending down. If things keep going like they are and most likely will, we will likely see even greater number of announcements by governors and mayors on Monday. Maybe even some of the major sports leagues.

We will probably see an announcement from Disney by the end of next week giving some guidance on opening.

 

[rteetz]

With even the President saying today that people can start to consider elective surgeries today, and more Governors even California going to announcing they are setting up steps to open business back up. that with more and more evidence that the virus was around Nov/Dec last year and all data trending down. If things keep going like they are and most likely will, we will likely see even greater number of announcements by governors and mayors on Monday. Maybe even some of the major sports leagues.

We will probably see an announcement from Disney by the end of next week giving some guidance on opening.

I don’t think so. Disney waited until the last possible minute to announce the last closure. They’ll wait as long as they can to announce any sort of opening time frame. Things are still very much changing day to day on what Disney’s reopening plans are.