Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Pyotr]

And I spoke to numerous people down there that said they hadn’t planned on making a trip because of the masks, but decided that they needed Disney. Again, its not a one-size-fits-all. But people are deciding that Disney is more important to them than having to wait until whenever they release the mask rule. It could easily be next July-August, potentially longer, until the mask mandate is lifted at Disney. Disney fans arent known to have that much self control where if its safe, but they have to wear a mask, eventually they’re probably going to decide the trade off is worth it

Yes. There are people deciding to go. But Disney isn’t even reaching their extremely limited capacity.

I work in the Florida heat and am required to wear a mask at all times and an N95 when I’m in close distance with people. I’m not subjecting my young children to it for a vacation.

I’m a rule follower. If masks are required at Disney I’m not going. Even if they weren’t, no fireworks, characters, or parades, makes the cost not worth it to me.

 

[jlwhitney]

Yes. There are people deciding to go. But Disney isn’t even reaching their extremely limited capacity.

I work in the Florida heat and am required to wear a mask at all times and an N95 when I’m in close distance with people. I’m not subjecting my young children to it for a vacation.

I’m a rule follower. If masks are required at Disney I’m not going. Even if they weren’t, no fireworks, characters, or parades, makes the cost not worth it to me.

Thay is a big reason we won’t go is I have A 7,4 and 2 yo and not forcing them to wear them, let alone the 2 yo where it won’t work. So instead we took our money to legoland this weekend where only 8 and up have to wear and only inside and on rides.Very manageable, but even the few mins in the mask were bad and they allow the gaiters which we used.

 

[pepperandchips]

And I spoke to numerous people down there that said they hadn’t planned on making a trip because of the masks, but decided that they needed Disney. Again, its not a one-size-fits-all. But people are deciding that Disney is more important to them than having to wait until whenever they release the mask rule

Yep. I have a close friend and the patriarch of the family said he’d cancel the trip if the mask requirement was still in effect come trip time. The parents of the grandchildren said they wanted to go because of low waits and patriarch changed tune 180 degrees.

It’s not just the hardest hardcore Disney fans - these are “once every five years with children”/“once a year with grandchildren” once they were older folks from out of state. People love Disney. It’s a way of life for many many families. Pandemic or no.

 

[Disney Bobby]

It is not just comfort , it’s financial For many. It’s also gonna take a long time for many to feel comfortable spending that kind of money on a vacation, many won’t be able to for years.

To us, it is even more than that. We go to Disney for an escape, to relax and get away from the problems of the world for a few days. It's a feeling that I just don't think will be there with all the craziness.

 

[jlwhitney]

To us, it is even more than that. We go to Disney for an escape, to relax and get away from the problems of the world for a few days. It's a feeling that I just don't think will be there with all the craziness.

I can agree to that to!

 

[yulilin3]

I'm gonna be completely honest. If we don't see any major reports from guests contracting covid while here this past weekend I honestly don't know what to think about the virus. Don't want to veer the thread into a virus talk and how it's shared or how they can't effectively track the virus acquirement back to a park, but seriously, the amount of people coupled by the lack of social distancing while walking around and mask use, it would be the perfect storm for it.
I also think this is an issue with many locals that might have been visiting the parks since opening, they may have gotten complacent seeing no real spike traced back to the parks, maybe they have slipped the mask off in more than one occasion and haven't been affected so they feel safer as times goes on.
I'm not that brave, ever since park openings back in June I've visited them all multiple times a week, always wear my mask, I don;t go crazy with using the hand sanitizers that are everywhere but to squirt on some every once in a while and wash my hands right before eating. Thankfully none of my kids that work at the theme parks has gotten it either and I hear stories especially from the Batuuan that make me cringe and hold my breath for no symptoms

 

[chicagoshannon]

I think one of the obstacles for Disney is their stance on masks for pictures. Every other park allows and even tells you to take the mask off for the picture. If Disney would use the cm's to make sure the mask gets put on after the picture instead of trying to deny it altogether it would be good pr.

I've been to just about every other park the last few days and people are so much more willing to wear the mask when the parks are seen as reasonable. In all the parks we visited the mask compliance was higher the less mask police there was. Sea World was the worst and they had the most employees out and about for their mask squad. People just ignored them. They seemed to think they were obnoxious. Kennedy space center was the best and they had zero employees out as enforcers. Universal had what appeared to be managers walking about. They weren't marked as mask enforcers and they were so pleasant. I only saw one person ask someone to cover their nose and that was because for the most part people followed the rules on their own. Of course this is just anecdotal but it's what i noticed over the last 5 days.

And just an aside, we were eating at sea world and we needed a drink refill. I jumped up to go get it and completely forgot my mask. It wasn't until i was back at the table that i realized i forgot it. All that to say it's not always done on purpose. Sometimes a little grace is needed. Not everyone is trying to skirt the rules.

 

[New Mouse]

I'm gonna be completely honest. If we don't see any major reports from guests contracting covid while here this past weekend I honestly don't know what to think about the virus. Don't want to veer the thread into a virus talk and how it's shared or how they can't effectively track the virus acquirement back to a park, but seriously, the amount of people coupled by the lack of social distancing while walking around and mask use, it would be the perfect storm for it.
I also think this is an issue with many locals that might have been visiting the parks since opening, they may have gotten complacent seeing no real spike traced back to the parks, maybe they have slipped the mask off in more than one occasion and haven't been affected so they feel safer as times goes on.
I'm not that brave, ever since park openings back in June I've visited them all multiple times a week, always wear my mask, I don;t go crazy with using the hand sanitizers that are everywhere but to squirt on some every once in a while and wash my hands right before eating. Thankfully none of my kids that work at the theme parks has gotten it either and I hear stories especially from the Batuuan that make me cringe and hold my breath for no symptoms

There have been cases at all the parks, just nothing hitting the news. If anything, theyve done a good job at blocking the message.

 

[yulilin3]

There have been cases at all the parks, just nothing hitting the news. If anything, theyve done a good job at blocking the message.

yeah, I never said there were no cases just not anything major. There's no way to block a major outbreak from one spot. that comes out.

 

[AmishGuy91]

I think one of the obstacles for Disney is their stance on masks for pictures. Every other park allows and even tells you to take the mask off for the picture. If Disney would use the cm's to make sure the mask gets put on after the picture instead of trying to deny it altogether it would be good pr.

As someone going next week I’d love this and absolutely adhere to the mask policy the rest of the time. The problem is if you give most people an inch they will take a mile and allowing masks off while pictures will lead to masks being off more elsewhere.

 

[wp4lf189]

Was there in August with a mask—totally enjoyed the experience, going back in October and December! I have no issues with wearing one and might even continue after it’s lifted who knows. Very appreciative of the chance to escape and thankful for the CMs and the experience! Mind your Ps & Qs and all should be good!

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Was there in August with a mask—totally enjoyed the experience, going back in October and December! I have no issues with wearing one and might even continue after it’s lifted who knows. Very appreciative of the chance to escape and thankful for the CMs and the experience! Mind your Ps & Qs and all should be good!

Same. Was there in August, going back now in December. No issues, and I personally didn't feel it was less magical, but there were less crowds so that made it feel more magical for us. I mean look at my avatar, my son and grandboys are the only people on MS after out dinner at BOG at 7.
Masks didn't bother us a bit.
Sure I miss the fireworks, we were suckers for dessert parties, so it is a bit sad, but, it is what it is.
Just remember, the CMs can't see your smile, so do a lot of waving!

 

[jlwhitney]

As someone going next week I’d love this and absolutely adhere to the mask policy the rest of the time. The problem is if you give most people an inch they will take a mile and allowing masks off while pictures will lead to masks being off more elsewhere.

But that isn't what is happening at other places that do allow it.

 

[AmishGuy91]

But that isn't what is happening at other places that do allow it.

Is it not though? I’ve always read Disney has the best mask compliance

 

[yulilin3]

I think one of the obstacles for Disney is their stance on masks for pictures. Every other park allows and even tells you to take the mask off for the picture. If Disney would use the cm's to make sure the mask gets put on after the picture instead of trying to deny it altogether it would be good pr.

I've been to just about every other park the last few days and people are so much more willing to wear the mask when the parks are seen as reasonable. In all the parks we visited the mask compliance was higher the less mask police there was. Sea World was the worst and they had the most employees out and about for their mask squad. People just ignored them. They seemed to think they were obnoxious. Kennedy space center was the best and they had zero employees out as enforcers. Universal had what appeared to be managers walking about. They weren't marked as mask enforcers and they were so pleasant. I only saw one person ask someone to cover their nose and that was because for the most part people followed the rules on their own. Of course this is just anecdotal but it's what i noticed over the last 5 days.

And just an aside, we were eating at sea world and we needed a drink refill. I jumped up to go get it and completely forgot my mask. It wasn't until i was back at the table that i realized i forgot it. All that to say it's not always done on purpose. Sometimes a little grace is needed. Not everyone is trying to skirt the rules.

In the beginning the CM were told they could allow people to take their masks off for a quick pic and just to keep an eye that they would put them back on, not sure what or why that guidelines was changed, but I think it happened pretty much when the cases spiked in Florida.
As to your last point, I have back tracked so many times at restaurants, be it going to the restroom or go get a napkin, when I forget the mask, it is just not second nature yet, so I agree it's not always some evil intent to circumvent the rules

 

[yulilin3]

Is it not though? I’ve always read Disney has the best mask compliance

overall this is correct from my personal experiences. Universal is a close second to Disney, SW is the worst and when I say worst maybe compliance at 85%.
BUT
I don't think this has anything to do with allowing people to take masks off for pics.

 

[Farro]

There have been cases at all the parks, just nothing hitting the news. If anything, theyve done a good job at blocking the message.

Just positive cases sure. Cases causing an increase in hospitalizations and death? That would make the news.

Europe is reportedly starting a second wave. France had it's highest day of positives yet.
The difference is this time (so far) their hospitalizations/deaths aren't going up. This is very important and sometimes I think reporting loses sight of that. If the virus mutates to be milder, that's a game-changer in itself. My thoughts if the virus does become weaker, people will travel again.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Right now and for the foreseeable future Disney can’t do anything about the masks anyway because they are under a mandate in Orange County. So it is not a question of Disney making any decisions at all about masks to affect their bottom line - they are following the local mandate which the local authorities have said will likely be in place until at least the end of this year. This isn’t up to Disney. Could they loosen up *where* they require people to wear masks? Sure, a little bit, but once you start telling people you don’t have to wear them here but you do have to wear them there, you make your employees’ jobs that much harder and make it that much easier for people to skirt the rules. They have to do much less policing when the understanding is that you are expected to wear a mask everywhere. I do think that eventually we will see a ramping down of the masks - maybe having them be required inside shops and restaurants and indoor attractions only - before things become totally mask free at Disney but I think we are at least 3-4 months away from something like that.

I think they will continue the all or nothing approach. Anything else is too complicated. As it is people “forget” now

There was a little chatter about the timeline of masks on the Disneyland side and its funny how much more optimistic folks here are. Like SO much more. Us Californians are just blobs of depression walking around on two legs these days... Many there feel masks will still be required in Nov 2021. Not a typo.

Personally I think it will be company wide health policy so WDW will not drop it until Disneyland does and Disney will be the last of the companies to drop the mask requirement out of caution. And it absolutely will not happen until a majority of the country has been vaccinated. So, I think we’re looking at mandates starting to drop in Summer 2021 if the public accepts the shot. If Disney goes with the “most cautious” of all theme parks approach I think they’ll take Fall 2021 is not out the question.

Wonder how long Masks = No Disney crowd can hold out? I didn’t last long. As soon as opening day was announced I decided I’d deal with it after all

 

[hertamaniac]

The fact is that many people won’t go as long as masks are required. 3 of my co-workers, who are just as hardcore as me, cancelled their annual passes due to the mask requirement. Many of our friends in the Tampa area won’t go with the restrictions and masks in place. I cancelled my annual pass and had all my tickets refunded for the year.

Agreed. However, we do feel perfectly comfortable visiting Disney Springs for lunch during a weekday. And yes, we cancelled our AP's partially because of the reason you cited.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I think one of the obstacles for Disney is their stance on masks for pictures. Every other park allows and even tells you to take the mask off for the picture. If Disney would use the cm's to make sure the mask gets put on after the picture instead of trying to deny it altogether it would be good pr.

That would not be good PR. I work in PR. The good PR is photos of guests wearing masks in front of the castle. As many masked photos out there as possible. For Disney, a photo exception would be a nightmare. Disney would not be commended for allowing people to remove masks for photos. They’d be slammed. The BEST thing for Disney to do during this pandemic is to promote every single safety precaution they are taking. The more photos of guests in masks, the better.

People take photos everywhere at Disney parks. They document everything. People would have masks off constantly. People don’t only take photos in certain spots.

It’s hilarious to me how people cannot accept Disney’s stance on this.