Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[marinejjh]

With all of these dates thrown out, I still think a fall opening is more realistic. The facts are that almost all sporting events scheduled on Disney through July are getting canceled. I can't speak for other sports, except the one organization I coach with, but a major event schedule the first 2 weeks in July is being canceled.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

9/11 is really hard to compare to this beyond being a major event that impacted WDW in some fashion. Nearly every aspect is more complicated with COVID-19, from park operations and protection of guests/CMs to the direct impact of the pandemic making it hard for people to even go on a vacation.

With COVID-19 I think it’s a lot less about fear/desire to travel, fear of flying (like 9/11), and a lot more about having to pick up the pieces of the mess it made before an expensive vacation is even an option again.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would agree, and in fact, I think WDW is better suited for the kind of measures that need to be taken. For example, you could, once testing is more readily available, test everyone before they enter "the bubble" and control who gets in. DL is wide open to all of So Cal, and is mostly attended by AP's, not visitors. i.e., there is no real bubble. Of course, FL is about 2 weeks behind CA peak-wise so there is that. To that end, I think it will be on Disney to figure this out, not FL.

I think the biggest difference is actually space. WDW has the potential to spread guests out somewhat. DLR flat out does not.

 

[rteetz]

Interesting piece of information just now at the Florida Daily Press Conference. Don't know if it's been mentioned here...

Disney asked the State of Florida to classify some employees as essential so things can be maintained around all the properties.

Agricultural was one of them

I think that’s fair. Grass needs to be cut and things need to be maintained so they don’t get out of control. Don’t necessarily need them to work full hours either. They can work limited and or only certain numbers of people at a time to go within social distancing guidelines and such.

 

[Vern60]

Really? I'm the complete opposite. The one part of our trip which is filling me with dread is the fact I will have to spend 8 hours in a metal tin can knowing that at least some of the passengers are likely carrying the virus. Being at Disney would be the least of my worries.

Yes, I sure understand that, I guess everyone will just need to access their own risk tolerance when the parks reopen.

 

[Vern60]

I think that’s fair. Grass needs to be cut and things need to be maintained so they don’t get out of control. Don’t necessarily need them to work full hours either. They can work limited and or only certain numbers of people at a time to go within social distancing guidelines and such.

I had heard that obviously some of the CM's for AK stuck around to care for the animals but I can't help but wonder if any of these extra folks might be for things like living with the land, the aquariums and what not ... you know how Disney grows or farms a lot of their own food.

 

[Krandor]

I had heard that obviously some of the CM's for AK stuck around to care for the animals but I can't help but wonder if any of these extra folks might be for things like living with the land, the aquariums and what not ... you know how Disney grows or farms a lot of their own food.

i know I read that CMs are there to care for the sealife in the seas as well. Living with the land I'd expect as well.

 

[Lumpy1106]

If the Disney employees are living on-property, I really can't think of a safer place for them to be.

 

[anthony2k7]

2082 deaths in USA today. Even if FL/NY are near their peak it seems other states are a long way from it.

I dont see how they can even think of setting realistic provisional opening dates for wdw until most states are past their peak.

 

[TomServo27]

Yes, I sure understand that, I guess everyone will just need to access their own risk tolerance when the parks reopen.

I am someone who is not risk adverse. I flew after 9/11 flights were cheap I could not pass it up. The problem with this is I don’t feel that there is much risk to me but it’s the risk of giving it someone else that I am struggling with.

 

[dynastyyanks]

I am someone who is not risk adverse. I flew after 9/11 flights were cheap I could not pass it up. The problem with this is I don’t feel that there is much risk to me but it’s the risk of giving it someone else that I am struggling with.

Absolutely. I’m young and relatively fit...if I catch it I won’t die. If I was only considering my personal risk tolerance, I would be on the first flight to Disney when it opened and would be over the moon happy with potential discounts and low crowds. However, I can’t shake my fear that if I catch it, I’ll pass it to someone who dies, or I’ll pass it to someone who passes it to 6 people and eventually I’ll have been the infection vector for my entire apartment building, many of whom are seniors.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yeah, his response to questions was A LOT more telling. He described the possibility of mass gatherings as "remote" until heard immunity and a vaccine are available. He's been VERY, VERY conservative the whole time though, including using a model that had the peak happening mid-May (not early April as is the reality). He left open the possibility saying things can change quickly. IMHO, without getting political, this is the kind of statement I was expecting.

As far as theme parks go it’s worth remembering theme parks are specifically excluded from CA’s ban on mass gatherings. Now that I remember that I expect them to open earlier than all other mass gathering type events. Disney and Newsom have mentioned how closely they are working with each other on multiple occasions.

 

[Searc]

If the Disney employees are living on-property, I really can't think of a safer place for them to be.

What CM's live on property? None I've ever heard about. The animal keepers don't live with the animals, they all go home at some point.

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/04/flor...bers-into-states-crushed-unemployment-system/

 

[AvidDisReader]

Lots of ideas being floated around. One that seems to be gaining some steam is that Disney will open to only those who are on property. When will they open, probably a lot sooner than everyone thinks. The President has a task force that is reviewing how and when. There are several states that have already stated they want to open up BEFORE the end of April. Many states have been closed up over 5 weeks and people are people, they do not want to be quarantined anymore. There are those who are thinking of starting law suites due to violation of Civil Liberties--as far as I know there has been no state on Federal law passed requiring people to be quarantined. As for me, I am high risk and if I could go to Disney, would go but if for no other reason to get away and sit in the sun by a high chlorine pool--with a cold beverage.

 

[gottalovepluto]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/04/flor...bers-into-states-crushed-unemployment-system/

I hope so. That many people all once- no way can the FL system handle it.

 

[xuxa777]

I hope so. That many people all once- no way can the FL system handle it.

Consider the million of other florida residents already trying to file has already crushed the system

 

[J-BOY]

I can only speak for Illinois, but this looks promising:

We are bending the curve and have a deceleration of the virus transmission - As of March 22, the number of new known cases was doubling every two days. As of Sunday, the number of new known cases is doubling every eight days. Likewise, the number of deaths was doubling every 2 1/2 days at the beginning of April, while it’s now taking more than five days for the number of fatalities to double.

I mean, no that will have no meaning for Disney, but our state is passing it's peak.

It's not past the peak until the number of new/active cases is decreasing, not decelerating. This is just saying that the peak has been lowered.

 

[Farro]

It's not past the peak until the number of new/active cases is decreasing, not decelerating. This is just saying that the peak has been lowered.

I said passing, not passed. And we have been lower than our highest day.

My god, can anything ever just be positive???.

 

[snappy]

It’s 90 degrees at the moment in Orlando. Sure would like to see how Covid reacts in that heat and humidity.