Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[yulilin3]

I believe the task force meetings have ended. They were scheduled to give the governor their input this weekend. Nothing is scheduled for today on thefloridachannel.org

Just a follow up, Desantis will talk at 11:30 from Tampa. Usually wftv live streams his press conference

 

[cmmelzer]

As for using MagicBands to trace everyone/shock offenders/assert world domination - am I the only one who wishes that the government borrows the technology and issues MagicBands to everyone and uses the technology for contact tracing (placing Mickey-eared MagicBand towers for the signal)? Yeah, yeah, I know they could just do it with a cell phone app, but maybe this would finally realize my dream of being able to utilize my massive MB collection outside of WDW!

I know i want no part of that. I know that the government can pretty much track me whenever they want. But i dont care for them to have openly do it to that extreme.

 

[MrsBooch]

I hope the only thing that is permanent out of all this is that people start washing their hands correctly and start coughing/sneezing in to their elbows. That alone will help reduce the spread of a lot of different diseases.

Honestly - this. People don't realize how impactful this will be in the long run. Mostly, I'm guessing, because people thought that it was happening already but I assure you - the level to which hand washing has risen, as well as consciousness of coughing and sneezing, that is huge. Awareness of how germs pass is something we all "know" but I think this has ramped it up. And I think it will make a huge difference.

 

[jlwhitney]

I would disagree that social distancing is our new normal for the rest of time. It's not feasible to expect people to stay 6 feet apart in most settings. That would mean the end of sporting events, cities, public transit and theme parks. It's not like we're going to have pandemics like this on a regular basis. The last one of this scale was a century ago.

I agree with this. Its barely working now with the restrictions and constant reminders. Now I wouldn't mind it to cause people to be more mindful of where they are in relation to others. There is no need to stand on top of others when there is plenty of space...lol. Or sit right next to somone at the movies when the theater has 10 people out of 100 in it (yes have had that happen...LOL).

Yes I see a lot of "this is permanent" and it just won't be. From cutbacks, distancing, reduced experiences, nothing will be permanent. It might take 5 years, but things will be the way they were for the most part.

For years and years people have gone to concerts, festivals, sporting events, theme parks, museums, etc. This too shall pass.

It will all come back, some things will be different in some ways but It could be a good different. Things like this force people to think out of the box and some things that will come out of it will be much better.

 

[Eric Smith]

Honestly - this. People don't realize how impactful this will be in the long run. Mostly, I'm guessing, because people thought that it was happening already but I assure you - the level to which hand washing has risen, as well as consciousness of coughing and sneezing, that is huge. Awareness of how germs pass is something we all "know" but I think this has ramped it up. And I think it will make a huge difference.

At this point, I'm paranoid about coughing and sneezing in public just because people will probably assume I have COVID. I've always tried to cough/sneeze in to my elbow though. It just makes sense.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Not really sure where to put this, and honestly, not really any new info - BUT - seems like good news and we need that, so here you go;
Gov. DeSantis - "parts of FL on OTHER side of outbreak"
In particular;

The governor mentioned central Florida in particular, which includes cities like Orlando and its world-known amusement parks, as a region that is now emerging “on the other side” of the virus outbreak.

Unfortunately, that doesn't sell ink, so his comment about "God's Waiting Room", taken out of context, is what is making headlines. Asinine IMHO...

 

[whodatdare]

Just a follow up, Desantis will talk at 11:30 from Tampa. Usually wftv live streams his press conference

Thank you!

 

[Jrb1979]

Not in all instances to my knowledge. It was said that hydraulic fluid had been drained from many attractions to keep them in “shut down” mode. Of course some maintenance is being done but not a full nightly routine like if the parks were open.

If that's the cases it will take awhile to get them back up and running. That makes Disney on the same level as regional parks in that the attractions are going to need to run so many cycles before they can open. That's what parks like Cedar Point have to do in spring.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

“It’s permanent” is not really about social distancing measures and the like being needed for safety reasons, and more about temporary changes becoming permanent due to things like cost savings IMO.

I think of things like entertainment cutbacks, automating certain CM positions, closures, menu changes, service reduction, and things of that nature that if they are implemented may end up sticking around long past when they are necessary in terms of safety. I’m not worried about physical distancing becoming a part of Disney parks.

 

[Searc]

Not really sure where to put this, and honestly, not really any new info - BUT - seems like good news and we need that, so here you go;
Gov. DeSantis - "parts of FL on OTHER side of outbreak"
In particular;


Unfortunately, that doesn't sell ink, so his comment about "God's Waiting Room", taken out of context, is what is making headlines. Asinine IMHO...

FL did "better" than expected because the residents took it upon themselves to stay home.

It may have been mentioned previously, but who is on this committee to open FL? Scientists, infectious diseases experts, virologists, etc? Or are they all people who have a vested interest in opening, ie business owners?

 

[xuxa777]

I believe the task force meetings have ended. They were scheduled to give the governor their input this weekend. Nothing is scheduled for today on thefloridachannel.org

That is good those meetings were getting to be pointless after the first few, probably why Disney stopped attending

 

[Jrb1979]

“It’s permanent” is not really about social distancing measures and the like being needed for safety reasons, and more about temporary changes becoming permanent due to things like cost savings IMO.

I think of things like entertainment cutbacks, automating certain CM positions, closures, menu changes, service reduction, and things of that nature that if they are implemented may end up sticking around long past when they are necessary in terms of safety. I’m not worried about physical distancing becoming a part of Disney parks.

I agree and I think the biggest changes will be in attractions not built yet. A lot of cutbacks on what was promised for the 50th

 

[DGsAtBLT]

This is why it seems pointless to me to eliminate things like parades and fireworks. People are going to come into contact with other people constantly during the day. It’s the nature of being in public. Everything you do at Disney you do with people surrounding you. Logically you pass by and come into contact with hundreds/ thousands of people each day. By the time the fireworks happen, you’ve interacted with that same crowd all day long.
So why eliminate things except to appease a worried public and make it seam like you are doing something to protect them?

In October we stood in a crowd close to the same people for 2+ hours to see HEA. People spend a lot longer in the proximity of the same group of strangers during entertainment than just walking around the parks.

 

[rteetz]

If that's the cases it will take awhile to get them back up and running. That makes Disney on the same level as regional parks in that the attractions are going to need to run so many cycles before they can open. That's what parks like Cedar Point have to do in spring.

Yes they’ll have to bring in Cast to get the parks to show ready. These parks were designed for long periods of downtime like a regional park.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I would disagree that social distancing is our new normal for the rest of time. It's not feasible to expect people to stay 6 feet apart in most settings. That would mean the end of sporting events, cities, public transit and theme parks. It's not like we're going to have pandemics like this on a regular basis. The last one of this scale was a century ago.

As the parent of a teenage daughter, I have to say that there is great value in social distancing for the next several years. The idea of no touching, no kissing . . . Yes. I like it.

I wonder how dating websites will fare under prolonged social distancing. It is a hard time to be single and lonely, I suppose.

With a new normal of social distancing, there are a lot of problems. Too many problems, I think. I am joking about my daughter and young, single people of course- but seriously- how does that work?

We are human beings. We need touch. For those of us who are already married with kids, social distancing may be fine. But what about all of those people who live alone? What are they supposed to do?

And back to a little more on-topic but not as on-topic as the moderators would like:

Places like theme parks that depend on squeezing as many people as possible into rides, theaters, restaurants, etc.- they don't survive with long-term social distancing. They can't make the profit they need to make- unless they charge a fortune for entry and only the super-wealthy can afford to go with low crowds. I don't think most people really want that. Same for sporting events and concerts and festivals. I just honestly can't see how social distancing works long-term.

 

[yulilin3]

FL did "better" than expected because the residents took it upon themselves to stay home.

It may have been mentioned previously, but who is on this committee to open FL? Scientists, infectious diseases experts, virologists, etc? Or are they all people who have a vested interest in opening, ie business owners?

https://www.local10.com/news/politi...en-florida-task-force-industry-group-members/

 

[Lumpy1106]

That is good those meetings were getting to be pointless after the first few, probably why Disney stopped attending

Be thankful you are not in So Cal. I'd like to elaborate but you really can't without getting political. I'll just say the new restrictions EVERY DAY are getting old, and have little to do with the crisis at this point.

 

[xuxa777]

With the trends worldwide continuing to decline (in some cases dramatically) and the rumors becoming more prevalent of activity in preparing to open WDW even earlier than my earlier predictions, I am still sticking with Disney Springs mid-May, resorts in June and parks in July, however a soft open of the park(s) in June is looking more and more possible.

Hopefully, we will have more guidance today ofter Desantis' press conference in a few minutes.

I have to say, it is nice that the tone has shifted in this thread, people are talking about the June/July opening of the parks. When before, any predictions that the parks would possibly open before fall was met with significant backlash. With the information coming out and everyone learning about the dangers, Disney will open sooner than later but still safely.

 

[xuxa777]

Be thankful you are not in So Cal. I'd like to elaborate but you really can't without getting political. I'll just say the new restrictions EVERY DAY are getting old, and have little to do with the crisis at this point.

No joke, getting a bit out of hand, I don't see Disneyland opening anytime soon

 

[SaintsManiac]

With the trends worldwide continuing to decline (in some cases dramatically) and the rumors becoming more prevalent of activity in preparing to open WDW even earlier than my earlier predictions, I am still sticking with Disney Springs mid-May, resorts in June and parks in July, however a soft open of the parks in June is looking more and more possible.

Hopefully, we will have more guidance today ofter Desantis' press conference in a few minutes.

I have to say, it is nice that the tone has shifted in this thread, people are talking about the June/July opening of the parks. When before, any predictions that the parks would possibly open before fall was met with significant backlash. With the information coming out and everyone learning about the dangers, Disney will open sooner than later but still safely.

There's nothing wrong with things opening in phases as long as testing is widely available to EVERYONE.