Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[lntx]

I’m definitely frustrated as we are scheduled to leave a week from today. Clearly we wouldn’t go even if we could, but I’ve been hoping Disney would announce a closure so I don’t have to spend time on the phone cancelling. I’m worried if I cancel online, I won’t get my deposit back. I get that it’s a huge decision but I wish they would at least announce through mid-April, today. I think I’ll call today at this point.

We have a backup trip scheduled mid-June, but I’m not feeling optimistic it can (or should) happen. I am worried FL is barreling toward being the next big hot spot, based on the delayed response of the governor, the large elderly population and the state drawing so much tourism even until last week.

I’m in NC and my county (Wake) is announcing a shelter in place order today. School is out through May 15. My family has been home for weeks now but so many in my community and around the country aren’t taking social distancing seriously, and I’m fearful that will really prolong closings everywhere, not just WDW.

Praying you all stay safe and we’re all enjoying the Disney Magic again before much longer.

We were supposed to fly to Disney a week from today too! So, I feel your pain and I'm sorry we're both missing out on our trips! I, too, was waiting for Disney to make an announcement because I was afraid that if I cancelled before they made an announcement, it would be more difficult or I wouldn't get my money back. I called yesterday and cancelled. Was a pretty quick call to cancel my fully paid for package (got all $$ back). Had to wait on hold for 20 minutes for a ticketing person so that I could cancel our Disney Villains After Hours tickets for the night of the 3rd. They made a "one-time only exception" and refunded my tickets in full. I had to bite my tongue to keep from smarting off to the rep at her acting like she had to get "special permission". She even put me on hold for 10 seconds. Whatever. She was just doing her job, but the charade was unnecessary. Hope your cancellation goes smoothly and hope you get back to Disney soon!

 

[J-BOY]

Haven’t we now tested far more people than any other country?

Well, we don't have the numbers of China's testing, but we have overcome South Korea's from what I can tell. However:
"Based on the available data and the population of each country, 1 in 142 South Koreans and 1 in every 786 Americans have been tested for the coronavirus." - from this CNN article.

 

[xuxa777]

It's going to be Easter when it reopens.

That's what the President said, and his supporters in local and state governments are going to follow suite.

The "back to work" and "cure worse than the disease" memes and conversations are already out there. As of today they are on the far right, but you're starting to see some slippage to the center. You're also starting to see data that suggests that a) many many many many more people are infected and many others have already had it, survived without serious notice and are now immune and b) the mortality rate is lower, maybe by an order of magnitude. WSJ had researchers saying that yesterday. We'e also starting to see the limits of self isolation and lockdowns that aren't really lockdowns, especially with a virus that can survive on surfaces for a long period of time. When they sold the public on flattening the curve, most of those diagrams didn't actually have durations on them, but if you look into it you'll see that the model for flattening has the duration into April of 2021. Clearly that was never going to be sustainable.

So what you're going to see over the next week -- probably starting Monday, though maybe on the Sunday shows -- is the conversation going to "we need to diligently protect our most vulnerable," with senior centers and rest homes and such all being on mandatory quarantine. Social services are going to be offered to those most vulnerable outside of controlled facilities, but the responsibility for avoiding infection is going to he shifted towards them. Then, that next week will be slowly ramping things back up for normal operations, and WDW will follow along.

Yeah that aint gonna happen, I will go on record WDW will not be open by Easter or anytime soon thereafter, yes there will loosening of the safer at home rules, non essential businesses can go back to work etc. But not sports, parks or any other large events.

 

[Remy is Up]

We were supposed to fly to Disney a week from today too! So, I feel your pain and I'm sorry we're both missing out on our trips! I, too, was waiting for Disney to make an announcement because I was afraid that if I cancelled before they made an announcement, it would be more difficult or I wouldn't get my money back. I called yesterday and cancelled. Was a pretty quick call to cancel my fully paid for package (got all $$ back). Had to wait on hold for 20 minutes for a ticketing person so that I could cancel our Disney Villains After Hours tickets for the night of the 3rd. They made a "one-time only exception" and refunded my tickets in full. I had to bite my tongue to keep from smarting off to the rep at her acting like she had to get "special permission". She even put me on hold for 10 seconds. Whatever. She was just doing her job, but the charade was unnecessary. Hope your cancellation goes smoothly and hope you get back to Disney soon!

Cast members follow a script based on what the request is.

 

[JasonH]

It's going to be Easter when it reopens.

Nope.

 

[lntx]

Cast members follow a script based on what the request is.

I'm aware, which is why I didn't say anything to her other than "thank you", but the charade was insulting and unnecessary.

 

[Spaceguy55]

Actually unemployment is considered taxable income by the IRS.

I believe that the $600 extra relief part is tax free in one of the drafts..
$275 is state funds $600 is federal relief...I guess we'll see. Still a big bump for low wage workers at WDW.

edit just to add...You can bet Chapek is on this like white on rice....

 

[Spridell]

It's going to be Easter when it reopens.

That's what the President said, and his supporters in local and state governments are going to follow suite.

The "back to work" and "cure worse than the disease" memes and conversations are already out there. As of today they are on the far right, but you're starting to see some slippage to the center. You're also starting to see data that suggests that a) many many many many more people are infected and many others have already had it, survived without serious notice and are now immune and b) the mortality rate is lower, maybe by an order of magnitude. WSJ had researchers saying that yesterday. We'e also starting to see the limits of self isolation and lockdowns that aren't really lockdowns, especially with a virus that can survive on surfaces for a long period of time. When they sold the public on flattening the curve, most of those diagrams didn't actually have durations on them, but if you look into it you'll see that the model for flattening has the duration into April of 2021. Clearly that was never going to be sustainable.

So what you're going to see over the next week -- probably starting Monday, though maybe on the Sunday shows -- is the conversation going to "we need to diligently protect our most vulnerable," with senior centers and rest homes and such all being on mandatory quarantine. Social services are going to be offered to those most vulnerable outside of controlled facilities, but the responsibility for avoiding infection is going to he shifted towards them. Then, that next week will be slowly ramping things back up for normal operations, and WDW will follow along.

While I do agree with everything you said, that is pretty how much everything will unfold over the next couple of weeks I do think Easter is too soon for Disney.

Mid May "memorial day weekend" that I do see as a real possibility of "SOME" things at Disney being back opened

 

[Thecouch]

How can disney world open when cases are still rising in Florida. If there is a state that needs protection its Florida with it older population. I can't seeing it reopening until Florida numbers start dropping
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ions-elderly-hospitals-scrounging/5083283002/

 

[Krandor]

While I do agree with everything you said, that is pretty how much everything will unfold over the next couple of weeks I do think Easter is too soon for Disney.

Mid May "memorial day weekend" that I do see as a real possibility of "SOME" things at Disney being back opened

I could see disney springs in mid-may and maybe start opening some resorts and resort retaurants. I think June for the parks themselves to open.

 

[Snwbrdch1k]

I rescheduled our April vacation to August - we were CL and bought the extra fast passes. Signature Services is only accepting emails. Anyone have luck getting a refund for the extra fast passes purchased? I’ve called Guest Services, Reservations, and Tickets and have been told to email them, and I have, but still no answer after a few days. Thanks all!

 

[jerry557]

Analysts say the US parks and Disneyland Paris likely to be closed until May 1. Shanghai may reopen as early as April 15. And Hong Kong will stay closed through June.

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/03/...osures-could-stretch-until-may-analysts-warn/

 

[Remy is Up]

I rescheduled our April vacation to August - we were CL and bought the extra fast passes. Signature Services is only accepting emails. Anyone have luck getting a refund for the extra fast passes purchased? I’ve called Guest Services, Reservations, and Tickets and have been told to email them, and I have, but still no answer after a few days. Thanks

 

[Remy is Up]

Patience with guest services and the call centers. They are having to move them to work from home in orlando and tampa and it's quite a chore. I'd expect they get back to you by monday or so. That's when all the at home set ups should be live

 

[only hope]

I laughed at your "State by State" comment. In Texas, we leave it up to each *county* to decide what to do. Then if a city doesn't think its county is doing enough, it imposes more stringent regulations.

That's how it has been here in Fl. Many rural counties haven't had a single case, so the governor doesn't want to issue an order for the entire state. The city of Tampa and county of Hillsborough had a spat. The county didn't want to issue an order, so the mayor decided she would issue one for the city...the county said that was illegal...a neighboring county announced a safer at home policy and now Hillsborough has too, making the legal issue of whether or not the city of Tampa can issue one a non-issue for now.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

NEWS

Disneyland Union makes plea to Disney to announce something, anything

https://blogmickey.com/2020/03/disn...about-theme-park-closures-and-cast-scheduling

 

[Krandor]

NEWS

Disneyland Union makes plea to Disney to announce something, anything

https://blogmickey.com/2020/03/disn...about-theme-park-closures-and-cast-scheduling

ugh. Not a good look. Deserved though. Disney is leaving a LOT of people in limbo right now. Everybody knows they are not opening on April 1. Announce it.

 

[Yarbogash]

NEWS

Disneyland Union makes plea to Disney to announce something, anything

https://blogmickey.com/2020/03/disn...about-theme-park-closures-and-cast-scheduling

Ty for the post.
This is getting surreal.

 

[andyman8]

NEWS

Disneyland Union makes plea to Disney to announce something, anything

https://blogmickey.com/2020/03/disn...about-theme-park-closures-and-cast-scheduling

I know this isn't a popular opinion here, but I'm in the camp that Disney's mishandling this. I commended them for their swift, proactive decision making a few weeks ago, but the lack of communication when all their other competitors have been able to make statements is unbecoming for a company as large, experienced, and supposedly guest-centric as Disney is. It upsets me even more that they're leaving tens of thousands of CMs in the dark about their future and their pay as we approach a time when many have rent payments to make. Yes, I understand that there are many small business employees right now who are feeling that uncertainty as well but Disney is a multi-billion dollar business that surely can provide more clarity and guidance than it is doing right now. Just look at Universal. They've been upfront and simple about how they're handling this:

We will do everything we can to ensure you have the support you need during this time. As Tom said, we have developed a plan for this extension, and I’d like to share the essential points with you:

• All Team Members will continue to be paid for scheduled hours through the end of March as previously communicated.
• For the period April 1 – 19, non-exempt and hourly full-time (regular) and part-time (casual) Team Members will be paid based on their average weekly hours for the four weeks prior to closure.
• Salaried Team Members will continue to be paid at their current rate.

We understand and appreciate that you may have questions. As always, we encourage you to stay connected to your leader or HR representative, and use AskHR.

That took me all of 2 minutes to find online and I'm not a TM. Yes, Universal doesn't really have the same Union-related concerns to deal with, but clearly, Disney's unions are not "in the know" any more so than their CMs are. And then you hear from TAs and stakeholders, like @WebmasterPete and the Dreams TAs, and they're not really getting much communication from WDW/DLR either. Whatever the reason is, it's disappointing for a company that markets their customer service as Fairy Godmother-like.

 

[Joe in VA]

I'm thinking May 1st is likely reopening date at this point, based upon booking availability of neighbor hotels, the article above, and the likely willingness of state/county officials to keep things closed.