Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[mshanson3121]

Yes we have. It was over the weekend.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...-coronavirus-peak-as-deaths-climb-over-22-000
Not according to this or several others. They all say "approaching" or "nearing".

 

[dtrain]

I see this as pertaining to theme parks as well:
https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/04/health-expert-concerts-wont-return-fall-2021/

 

[osufeth24]

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...-coronavirus-peak-as-deaths-climb-over-22-000
Not according to this

https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

to echo this,

social distancing =/= self isolation or quarantining

You are correct, it definitely doesn’t mean self isolation or quarantining. It also definitely doesn’t mean going to places where tens of thousands of people gather.

 

[mshanson3121]

https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america

Yeah... as many others have said, the accuracy of that site is debatable. The health authorities all say otherwise.

 

[rteetz]

I am sorry I contributed it to myself but lets reign it in before we get too far off topic here. Back to Disney theme park operations.

 

[e_yerger]

Can they work quickly with maintaining social distancing measures?

I mean, yes but I don't think we should under estimate their abilities - they are Disney after all

 

[GeneralTso]

Let me ask you this (all y'all)

How do YOU propose tens of thousands of people in a Disney park maintain social distancing of 6 feet?
I've actually thought about it, and can't imagine a scenario even with virtual queue.

Really curious what you guys think would work.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I want to ask this question to you and others who think the opening will be later. Why?

If we're at least a year from any vaccine, and if the death rates in the country are dropping, why do you think Disney would/should wait? I'm not being sarcastic -- do you not think the models that show the death rate at almost zero by mid June are accurate? The disease apparently cycles through the body in 14 days or so, so if we've all been social distancing for a month or two, why do you think it makes a difference for WDW to wait until the fall instead of the summer? If you think the disease isn't spreading because of social distancing, then why would returning anytime before a cure be better than any other?

Not trying to be snarky, it's just a line of reasoning I don't understand. I know people are adamant about delaying opening things up. I just don't understand why. What is the theory you're putting your faith in?

I can’t speak for anyone else. My thinking has nothing to do with waiting for a vaccine, if and when a safe vaccine arrives is a bonus. I don’t see the parks being closed for the length of time that will take. There are many many steps involved in getting FDA approval of new medications. Social distancing being successful is great, but what happens when social distancing is no longer being practiced as diligently as we are required to do now? We know how the disease is behaving right now, that may or may not be so for how it will behave in a month or six weeks - we only know what it is right now. Time is the one thing that tells the tale with this virus.

You’ve asked if I believe that 0% death rate will be achieved by mid June - I’d have to go with no on this one. When I look at the situation as a whole, accurate numbers are dependent on testing. Testing is still not being done universally, so how can you place your faith in the numbers when data can not be universally collected. I also watch and keep informed on how it is going with those who are ahead of North America on the curve. Not one country who has weathered this virus is anywhere near back to business as usual. How can we expect anything different here.

As I said earlier, the solution to reopening a venue as large as Disney will take time. I don’t think that a late summer/fall opening is unreasonable - not from a business or public health standpoint. Both are paramount for any opening to be successful and ongoing. Make a mistake when the stakes are this high and have to repeat a shutdown for a second time in just a few weeks would be a disaster from a PR point of view. Who would be comfortable booking a vacation that costs thousands of dollars with a company who got it wrong and had to shut down a second time.

 

[e_yerger]

Let me ask you this (all y'all)

How do YOU propose tens of thousands of people in a Disney park maintain social distancing of 6 feet?
I've actually thought about it, and can't imagine a scenario even with virtual queue.

Really curious what you guys think would work.

Limit capacity & set up virtual queues

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Let me ask you this (all y'all)

How do YOU propose tens of thousands of people in a Disney park maintain social distancing of 6 feet?
I've actually thought about it, and can't imagine a scenario even with virtual queue.

Really curious what you guys think would work.

The problem isn’t even just that. Social distancing isn’t just keeping people 6 people apart (although that’s a big piece of it). It’s also not having hundreds or thousands of people handling the same things. Ride cars are going to be a big vector for infection unless they figure out a way to sterilize the omnimovers. I guess they could try to install some kind of disinfectant sprays like they have in China that blast and spray the ride cars after people exit but before they enter, but that sounds pretty expensive.

 

[Farro]

Spain is allowing non-essential workers to go back to work this week. Restaurants still closed. There, numbers are nowhere near zero.
This is how it will start here. Most importantly, getting as many people back to work as possible. Then restaurants can start to open - maybe with new rules on how many people at one time.
I do not think we will be waiting for cases to get to zero.

I predict, , Disney will be able to have more than 10 people working at a time come mid-May. They will start getting the parks in shape for a mid-summer reopen. Obviously they can't possibly enforce social distancing, so something else will be decided upon. That, I don't know.

I can only think those wanting everything (not just Disney) to stay closed must not be in fear of any economic repercussions.

As for what local Governors are saying - they are all in office. They want to stay in office. Right now public opinion is still one of fear and wanting to stay locked down. Once that opinion starts to sway in the other direction, watch how fast the Governors/Mayors change their tune.

 

[Spridell]

If you have a mandate to avoid crowds of 10+ people, how does any theme park operate?

This is what I meant when I said the "definition of social distance will change many times going forward"

Guidelines will be changed from 10 to 50 to 75 to 100 etc..... moving forward.

 

[e_yerger]

The problem isn’t even just that. Social distancing isn’t just keeping people 6 people apart (although that’s a big piece of it). It’s also not having hundreds or thousands of people handling the same things. Ride cars are going to be a big vector for infection unless they figure out a way to sterilize the omnimovers. I guess they could try to install some kind of disinfectant sprays like they have in China that blast and spray the ride cars after people exit but before they enter, but that sounds pretty expensive.

Unless they put hand sanitizer stations upon leaving the ride. It will be on the guests to not touch their faces.

 

[rteetz]

Let me ask you this (all y'all)

How do YOU propose tens of thousands of people in a Disney park maintain social distancing of 6 feet?
I've actually thought about it, and can't imagine a scenario even with virtual queue.

Really curious what you guys think would work.

First off they would have to limit capacity. You may even see things like no fireworks or parades for a time. You won’t be able to maintain social distancing in all areas. But you can put in procedures to help with it. Removing tables from dining venues would be another thing.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Unless they put hand sanitizer stations upon leaving the ride. It will be on the guests to not touch their faces.

Not really feasible for a park that caters to children...

 

[mshanson3121]

Let me ask you this (all y'all)

How do YOU propose tens of thousands of people in a Disney park maintain social distancing of 6 feet?
I've actually thought about it, and can't imagine a scenario even with virtual queue.

Really curious what you guys think would work.

For starters, I don't think there'll be tens of thousands allowed in any of the parks, period. Attendance in each park will be measured in thousands. Can Disney make it work financially on thousands? Not at full capacity, which is why I think we're seeing talks of entertainment cut backs, ride cut backs, cut operating hours, staffing cut backs etc... If they drastically cut into the experience, I would think that they could probably make it work with say, 10,000 per park, when you add in the money they'll make off merchandise, food etc... 10,000 sounds like a huge number, but when you spread those people out throughout the entire MK on rides, in shops, restaurants etc... I don't think it's that unfeasible.

Mickey head stickers on the floor in all queues (rides and restaurants, entrances etc...) to space people out. Virtual queues. No entertainment (parades, fireworks etc...). Theatre-style seating attractions run at limited capacity with each person/family seated 6' apart, every other row. Restaurants are very easy to set up to maintain distance. Maybe even staggered park entrance - let so many in from 9-3 and then again from 3-9. Doubles their daily totals while maintaining necessary limits.

 

[rteetz]

Unless they put hand sanitizer stations upon leaving the ride. It will be on the guests to not touch their faces.

Which is on people already. I definitely see more hand sanitizer locations or hand washing stations throughout the parks when they do reopen.

 

[e_yerger]

I think a big part of this is that people need to take responsibility of their own actions. If it's known that the virus can be spread via touching a surface, than touching your face, then we as people need to be more mindful of that and stop that behavior.

I think my favorite quote from Dr. Fauci during all of this is his call to stop hand shaking, forever.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I think a big part of this is that people need to take responsibility of their own actions. If it's known that the virus can be spread via touching a surface, than touching your face, then we as people need to be more mindful of that and stop that behavior.

I think my favorite quote from Dr. Fauci during all of this is his call to stop hand shaking, forever.

Right, and that’s great for adults but Disney caters to children. You can’t put it on children to not touch their faces.