Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[jamescanuck2001]

Tests that take 1 hr, 100% accurate, and cost $9 have been approved and production is scaling up. Employers, of course, are eager to get their hands on these. The tests will continue to be optimized for time and cost.

It will take a few months, but there will be a day where testing and certification (there will be an app for that) will be commonplace until a vaccine is available.

For full risk control, Disney Parks could require a test before you can enter the property. The logistics can be worked out.

 

[yankeesfan123]

To be fair... one wrong

You're looking at the situation now and not what the situation will be in three to four months. I have no doubt that demand for rapid tests will lead to an abundant supply of rapid tests in a few months. There is a huge financial incentive for that to be the case.

Right. And it’ll take 3-4 months for ramp that testing up to scale as you said.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Remember the topic at hand folks.

Thanks for cleaning up the messes that keep getting started here! It seems like a very thankless job but I appreciate having someplace to discuss this stuff with relation to the parks without going down rabbit trails of arguments with no ends- and I know I'm not alone!

And also for updating the first post with new info as it comes out for those who just want the news without the discussions!

 

[Jrb1979]

Also what do people def as large gatherings? I NFL game that packs in thousands is totally different then a kids soccer game, or a local dance recital, and so on.

I do see things coming back in stages, but it has to be logical. Kids need summer camps so parents can work, day cares need to open for same reasons.

I can see gatherings under 50 being ok at the start. Maybe by November as Dr. Fauci said they open it up more. Here in Canada they are talking of having some sort of social distancing in place til there is a vaccine. Things will open but you need to keep a 6 ft distance from people.

 

[Luxurious_Lumiere]

Basically .. things should open up and people should take their own precautions. If someone is afraid of going to a mass gathering and getting the virus, then don't go. People were and are already (voluntarily) making that choice.

If you don't want to risk getting the virus, don't go anywhere. If you are healthy and you feel the place you are going is taking adequate safety precautions (like EVERYONE is doing now with grocery stores, take-out, doctor's offices, pharamcies, etc.) .. then you go. Simple as that. If you catch the virus, stay home to prevent it from spreading.

If you can go to an essential grocery store (where everyone in your neighborhood goes about once a week or so) ... you should be able to make the choice to go to a sit-down restaurant, nail salon, gym, etc .. where FAR less people congregate in far lesser numbers. Stores should be able to be open and make their OWN safety precautions (sit people at every other table, enhanced cleaning, etc.) in order to get their restaurant back up and running. Disney should eventually do the same.

I understand this sentiment, but it does bypass the major problems with this virus. It has a long incubation period where it is still transmittable, up to 1/4 of infected will not show symptoms, and it affects people in vastly different ways. I could get this and be ok, maybe feel mildly sick for a bit. So sure, I can choose to put myself in crowds of varying sizes that I feel comfortable with. But I live with a highly immune compromised boyfriend and it could be lethal to him if I pass it on (perhaps without even knowing Im infected). And my case is an obvious example. You have no idea how many immune compromised folks you would be around during the day. Maybe they MUST go to the grocery store b/c they live alone, or they must work their job at the salon in order to make rent. Some place are also not a matter of numbers of people in one place, but time spent touching things or people. Gyms are seen as one of the hotbeds of virus transmission because of all the sweat and handled equipment.

So what is our responsibility to our family and neighbors? I can voluntarily take precautions that are right for me, but they could be deadly for people around around me. This is why things aren't just opening up, and why Disney is going to take a bit to do so. Imagine the PR nightmare they would have if they open the parks all of a sudden and 100s of deaths are traced back to a few park goers?

 

[xuxa777]

.....

So what is our responsibility to our family and neighbors? I can voluntarily take precautions that are right for me, but they could be deadly for people around around me. This is why things aren't just opening up, and why Disney is going to take a bit to do so. Imagine the PR nightmare they would have if they open the parks all of a sudden and 100s of deaths are traced back to a few park goers?

Disney was open with packed crowds before the stay at home orders and during the spread and had a known active contagious person in the parks (most likely a lot more), yet there is no evidence of anything of near 100 deaths traced to the parks, there is not one, or even a possibility of one. We would see cases like that to appear by now. There might be cases and yes this is my opinion but I think we would have seen at a minimum of one death or supposed or possibilty of a death traced back to the parks at this point. Again opinion only.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Imagine the PR nightmare they would have if they open the parks all of a sudden and 100s of deaths are traced back to a few park goers?

Exactly. And also thinking of CMs. CPs and international CMs live in groups and in very close quarters (I know, I was one.) CPs make up a large contingent of the parks’ front line workforce. They need them to run at full speed. There are many older part time and full time CMs as well who are likely high risk due to age, and of course there are CMs with underlying conditions.

Aside from guests, the optics of WDW opening too early and endangering their own CMs would be pretty bad. And with CMs contracting it, needing to quarantine if exposed, etc. there could be a real staffing issue as well.

Disney needs to tread very carefully.

 

[GeneralTso]

I think they are treading carefully. I'd really like to think they are anyway! Bringing Iger back is a solid first step. They need proven leadership and trust in that leader.

No matter when they reopen any of the parks, throngs of true believers (Disney nuts) will line up in droves. Many will stay away because they know better. This is a huge problem and that's what all these meetings are about right now. How to mitigate risk and keep their customer base happy. They are hemorrhaging money daily and need more than a bandaid fix.

I can't wait to return but won't until I'm convinced it's safe. Safe is relative to each person and we will all make our own decisions. You can't bully someone into thinking something is OK until they believe it. For all those who can't wait to get back in and do your Disney thing.....rock on. Me? I'm waiting.

 

[Jmljasmine]

They will not do all that no need , also can you imagine how a half full park will feel, it will be dead, no energy not a great experience at all. Yes lines will be shorter but the Disney excitement comes form the crowds to large degree.

Sooner than later we will realize the virus isn’t as contagious or as bad as was originally thought. Don’t get me wrong it is horrible and super deadly to people with high risk factors etc. however it does not warrant all of these changes to the park experience. There will be a few, more hand cleaning stations and maybe masks inthe queues , buses for a while but nothing much more

I fully disagree. I would like an emptier park. When I was younger it was. The crowds that now exist detract greatly. I suppose some people get "energy" from them. I find it suffocating. I'm really hoping crowds are much lower when we get back.

 

[Brianstl]

I think they are treading carefully. I'd really like to think they are anyway! Bringing Iger back is a solid first step. They need proven leadership and trust in that leader.

No matter when they reopen any of the parks, throngs of true believers (Disney nuts) will line up in droves. Many will stay away because they know better. This is a huge problem and that's what all these meetings are about right now. How to mitigate risk and keep their customer base happy. They are hemorrhaging money daily and need more than a bandaid fix.

I can't wait to return but won't until I'm convinced it's safe. Safe is relative to each person and we will all make our own decisions. You can't bully someone into thinking something is OK until they believe it. For all those who can't wait to get back in and do your Disney thing.....rock on. Me? I'm waiting.

After reading more on this, Iger isn't really back. He never stopped being executive chairman and he hasn't stepped back into the role of running day to day operations of the company. This is just really Disney letting everybody know Iger is still around.

 

[xuxa777]

I fully disagree. I would like an emptier park. When I was younger it was. The crowds that now exist detract greatly. I suppose some people get "energy" from them. I find it suffocating. I'm really hoping crowds are much lower when we get back.

Of course everyone would like an emptier park. I am not saying run it at 90-110% like it has been running. If they parks was run at 50% or less capacity like others have suggested here it would be dead though. Yes, before everyone chimes in, I know some would love that but on a large scale it would not work. once the novelty wore off, it would get old quick.

 

[JPM4]

I can’t wait til the day comes we can complain about virtual queues and Be our guest availability again.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Of course everyone would like an emptier park. I am not saying run it at 90-110% like it has been running. If they parks was run at 50% or less capacity like others have suggested here it would be dead though. Yes, before everyone chimes in, I know some would love that but on a large scale it would not work. once the novelty wore off, it would get old quick.

Why do you think it wouldn't work? Most people would probably enjoy their visit and be able to do more than they can with the park packed to the gills. I think more people would enjoy the change than we would imagine. What would get old about being able to ride all the rides you want without having to pick, choose and prioritize in the hopes of doing as many as possible?

 

[Searc]

Also - question for about needing to wait for Asian parks to open first.

If for whatever reason our government eases restrictions, while Asian governments don't - why would Disney here need to wait on the Asian parks to open?

Local and state leaders will be the ones to open things up, gradually, not federal.

The Asia parks are a good barometer for how things are progressing. It would be foolish for WDW and DLR to open before them, when we are months/weeks behind them in the curve.

 

[Luxurious_Lumiere]

Disney was open with packed crowds before the stay at home orders and during the spread and had a known active contagious person in the parks (most likely a lot more), yet there is no evidence of anything of near 100 deaths traced to the parks, there is not one, or even a possibility of one. We would see cases like that to appear by now. There might be cases and yes this is my opinion but I think we would have seen at a minimum of one death or supposed or possibilty of a death traced back to the parks at this point. Again opinion only.

Here's your one case. How many people did he infect while at WDW?
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241348121.html

 

[Jrb1979]

Of course everyone would like an emptier park. I am not saying run it at 90-110% like it has been running. If they parks was run at 50% or less capacity like others have suggested here it would be dead though. Yes, before everyone chimes in, I know some would love that but on a large scale it would not work. once the novelty wore off, it would get old quick.

That's how I think Disney will be run for awhile. If you read the fast pass thread sounds like they are already planning on it. Wonder if standby lines will be a thing of the past for awhile.

 

[lilypgirl]

Here's your one case. How many people did he infect while at WDW?
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241348121.html

He was also at a large convention and visited Universal while there .

 

[Farro]

Local and state leaders will be the ones to open things up, gradually, not federal.

The Asia parks are a good barometer for how things are progressing. It would be foolish for WDW and DLR to open before them, when we are months/weeks behind them in the curve.

So if Florida's governor decides come June/July that Disney can start to reopen, but the Asia parks are still closed for whatever reason, we should still not open?

I don't think we should look to anyone in regards to disease/illnesses curve anymore.
We need to just focus on our own numbers and make these decisions. Different countries, cities even will reach their peak and then flatten at different rates based on testing, size, demographics, etc.
Test, Test, TEST!!! Open things in waves, close if a hotspot, etc.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1249760113063268352

 

[xuxa777]

Here's your one case. How many people did he infect while at WDW?
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241348121.html

That is the case I mentioned/referred to. Read my post again.