Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[anthony2k7]

Not sure if this was posted yet, sorry if it was. Since her time at Disney was discussed so much, here’s Carlye Wisel’s article...

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/21346476/disney-world-reopening-magic-kingdom-covid-florida

Lots of take aways from that article!

1. Universal has a policy in place for when a TM tests positive. Great, but how does that work when the average turn around time for the test results in FL is between 7 to 14 days. Is suspected infected TM at work for all that time?

2. Disney has given CMs goggles for use on buses? So they were already aware of what Fauci said yesterday that masks alone may not be enough and eye coverings may also be needed?

3. Are there really still 24000 disney CMs furloughed?

 

[JacknSally]

2. Disney has given CMs goggles for use on buses? So they were already aware of what Fauci said yesterday that masks alone may not be enough and eye coverings may also be needed?

I thought this was already known, hence the face shields coupled with face masks in some places/businesses (especially in WDW for CMs who have to get close to guests)

 

[anthony2k7]

I thought this was already known, hence the face shields coupled with face masks in some places/businesses (especially in WDW for CMs who have to get close to guests)

I hadn't read much about it to be honest.

I assumed they were given shields and masks because of the "masks only protect others" rather than the wearer for nose/mouth related risk. I wasn't aware the whole eye risk had become more accepted.

 

[thingaboutarsenal]

There is still a bunch of cross training going on believe it or not. When we were there the person working the fossil display at Living Seas was normally an Elephant Coordinator at AK, but based on everything going on got moved over there. Granted there are a ton of inefficiencies, like having a CM at entrance and another at exit of stores with a guest counter app to mark how many are in the store at once. They're still staffing ticket booths at the parks, with a decent compliment of them until about 2 PM before they taper off staff. They're trying to employ as many CMs as they can and make it work, keeping them on and shifting roles based on what the early guest trends are. I would think after this initial 60 day period they'd adjust even further.

That makes a lot of sense. Our lifeguard said she's normally at OKW and is at Poly for the foreseeable future. Lifeguarding is not as complicated as other things I'd imagine. Also today at Epcot, pretty much everyone was not from Mexico or Norway for Donald and Frozen rides. I'm kinda viewing it through a SeaWorld lens as we want there first, and WDW is really overkill on mask and social distance messaging IMO. We have stationary signs and reminders over the speaker, why pay staff to hold the exact same sign next to another when the company is hurting financially? It's definitely not ruining my vacation, it's just strange and seems out of place.

 

[TwoMisfits]

That makes a lot of sense. Our lifeguard said she's normally at OKW and is at Poly for the foreseeable future. Lifeguarding is not as complicated as other things I'd imagine. Also today at Epcot, pretty much everyone was not from Mexico or Norway for Donald and Frozen rides. I'm kinda viewing it through a SeaWorld lens as we want there first, and WDW is really overkill on mask and social distance messaging IMO. We have stationary signs and reminders over the speaker, why pay staff to hold the exact same sign next to another when the company is hurting financially? It's definitely not ruining my vacation, it's just strange and seems out of place.

They could be both the reminder and the enforcement. If guests need to be corrected and/or removed, you kinda need the employees around to do it. For now, in WDW, this seems like that is a small, small need...but that need could grow as the months go by, especially if FL's numbers start to drop...

 

[yulilin3]

That makes a lot of sense. Our lifeguard said she's normally at OKW and is at Poly for the foreseeable future. Lifeguarding is not as complicated as other things I'd imagine. Also today at Epcot, pretty much everyone was not from Mexico or Norway for Donald and Frozen rides. I'm kinda viewing it through a SeaWorld lens as we want there first, and WDW is really overkill on mask and social distance messaging IMO. We have stationary signs and reminders over the speaker, why pay staff to hold the exact same sign next to another when the company is hurting financially? It's definitely not ruining my vacation, it's just strange and seems out of place.

The union pressed Disney to get all attraction cms back to work, the over staffing that we see is because of this.

 

[Vern60]

The union pressed Disney to get all attraction cms back to work, the over staffing that we see is because of this.

Yeah, I was going to say isn't it a good thing for the community if Disney employ's as many CMs as possible?

 

[Mit88]

Yeah, I was going to say isn't it a good thing for the community if Disney employ's as many CMs as possible?

Good for the community. Not so good for the in park environment. The more variables you throw into the mix, the higher the odds of something you dont want to happen, happens. It works well now because the non DHS parks are empty so its easier to space them out. And it also gives Disney floating CMs to make sure that the guests are abiding to the rules.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Good for the community. Not so good for the in park environment. The more variables you throw into the mix, the higher the odds of something you dont want to happen, happens. It works well now because the non DHS parks are empty so its easier to space them out. And it also gives Disney floating CMs to make sure that the guests are abiding to the rules.

I was going to say, wouldn't more CMs to direct people, correct people if not wearing masks right, social distance people, etc be better? Not like it is an extra 10k CMs in each part of anything

 

[Dulcee]

Well it’s been fun following this thread for what feels like forever. We are officially in the “I’m too excited to sleep phase” here. We check in to CBR for 9 nights tomorrow greatly appreciate all the things I’ve learned here and look forward to reporting back.

 

[osufeth24]

Well it’s been fun following this thread for what feels like forever. We are officially in the “I’m too excited to sleep phase” here. We check in to CBR for 9 nights tomorrow greatly appreciate all the things I’ve learned here and look forward to reporting back.

Enjoy!! Hopefully the storm doesn't provide many rainy days

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Well it’s been fun following this thread for what feels like forever. We are officially in the “I’m too excited to sleep phase” here. We check in to CBR for 9 nights tomorrow greatly appreciate all the things I’ve learned here and look forward to reporting back.

Have a great trip and enjoy the Magic - even if a bit different the Magic is still there!

 

[runningstitch]

Well it’s been fun following this thread for what feels like forever. We are officially in the “I’m too excited to sleep phase” here. We check in to CBR for 9 nights tomorrow greatly appreciate all the things I’ve learned here and look forward to reporting back.

Have a blast and I can't wait to hear how CBR and the skyliner are running!

 

[rteetz]

Are there really still 24000 disney CMs furloughed?

I wouldn’t doubt it at all. WDW has 75,000+ CMs alone.

 

[TakesFaithTrust&PixieDust]

Have a great trip and enjoy the Magic - even if a bit different the Magic is still there!

One of the best posts ever. There still is Magic at WDW and in this world. I don’t know about others but am more grateful and appreciative of what I have and life in general. I took so much for granted such as living near WDW. When I go on property now I see just how amazing an enterprise Disney is and what it represents to so many of us.

 

[Mit88]

I was going to say, wouldn't more CMs to direct people, correct people if not wearing masks right, social distance people, etc be better? Not like it is an extra 10k CMs in each part of anything

They’re not stuffing them into the parks like sardines. The more CMs in the park to enforce masks/distancing, the better. What I meant was that it does add in additional variables where the spread could become easier with even just a few more people. But thats a hypothetical

 

[thingaboutarsenal]

The union pressed Disney to get all attraction cms back to work, the over staffing that we see is because of this.

This makes a lot of sense too. They're not really doing anything. The poor picture guy after the figment ride looked bored to tears.

 

[indylaw99]

Where did all the people at Disney Springs come from?? We had a dining reservation at 6:30 and it was already packed....which means either most of these people weren't in the parks or left pretty much every park hours early to head to DS. And they are buying stuff like crazy!! The wait for World of Disney was 15 minutes long. We grabbed 4 things and then had to wait in another 10 minute line to check out. I don't know if it is the 30% annual pass discount or what, but I've been coming here 20 years and have never encountered crowds like this shopping for no special reason.

Good news about Boardwalk....it was hopping tonight! We filled our mugs just before 9pm and it was bustling with people. Almost all of the outdoor tables were full. The line for pizza was deep. People were heading in and out of the other buildings. And we could hear the movie playing at Beach Club. It wasn't quite like a normal Boardwalk night, but it also wasn't eerie and sad like the first few nights of our trip. Plenty of room still to feel safe outside. The only down side is that everything closes at 9 so it's almost impossible to get food or drinks after that and you have to plan coming back from the parks accordingly. Especially the refillable mugs since you have to wait in the bakery line to fill them.

 

[SaintsManiac]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1289014382077321221

 

[LSUmiss]

I think attendance is also a catch 22. Ppl will wait to come back to more stuff is open, but wdw won’t want to pay to open those things til attendance is up. I know ppl who aren’t going back til more things open back up.