Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Mit88]

Before Disney even opened, the talk was all centered around how they were coming up with a system that basically assumed everyone is positive and all the steps needed in order to operate under those conditions. Obviously not everyone is positive, but when you plan for the worst and hope for the best that's the way you want to go for sure.

It could be made up, but they are a "well-known member" there, whatever that means. So it's not like a troll account I'd presume.

Makes it more believable if its someone reliable. You just never know without a solid base if the story is 100% true, or its someone that just thrives on attention :cough: WDWPro :cough:

 

[AmberMV]

Makes it more believable if its someone reliable. You just never know without a solid base if the story is 100% true, or its someone that just thrives on attention :cough: WDWPro :cough:

Yeah absolutely. I don't know anybody there so I can't really say either way. But they have 4000 posts over 9 years of membership so take from that what you will

 

[MrsBooch]

You make very good points but if I could ask you, respectfully...
The other examples you gave are ostensibly activities more relevant to your everyday life and less of an expenditure and effort than traveling to WDW. Given that being confronted with this type of behavior would not at all make you rethink a trip to WDW?

No it wouldnt make me rethink it. I look at this like there is a constant risk - not only in every day activities but in all activities including everyday life. As the risk is the constant in this equation - the only variable is whether or not I participate.
As I see it, I am able to control 1. how I participate and 2. the level at which I participate.
If i vary my participation level, my exposure to the risk is the same because the risk is constant. So even if I just go out to the store, I'm exposing myself to the risk. So to get as close to zero as possible, I need to not participate at all. Which isn't a feasible option for me.
But, I am also able to control how I participate - which is carefully - by wearing a mask, by being mindful of my spacing and diligent sanitizing - the latter of which is almost becoming muscle memory for me right now. I'm still struggling with being mindful of space but I also just recently started going into stores instead of just ordering my groceries. So I'm learning that too.

That's a super long winded way to say - either I can chose to vary my level of participation by not participating at all, even in a careful way, because everything carries the same level of risk or I do participate in a careful way, in everything I am able to do, because everything carries the same level of risk.

If i'm looking at it like that - I would rather be at risk in Disney than be at risk in Costco.

Again - this is just me - my neurosis.

 

[DonMa]

Before Disney even opened, the talk was all centered around how they were coming up with a system that basically assumed everyone is positive and all the steps needed in order to operate under those conditions. Obviously not everyone is positive, but when you plan for the worst and hope for the best that's the way you want to go for sure.

It could be made up, but they are a "well-known member" there, whatever that means. So it's not like a troll account I'd presume.

I hear you and that is a good point
However with people breaking rules risk grows. And this was pretty big rule broken. I would not blame Disney at all if this person caused an outbreak but the press will pounce and the details would be irrelevant and lost in the headline.

 

[Mit88]

I was at MK today and can confirm it was MUCH busier than earlier this week when we went. Because the heat was soooooo bad yesterday, we decided to do MK really early and really late today and stay in the room during the middle part. Observations:

• Between pre-park opening (about 8:45) and 11am we rode ALL THREE mountains, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Little Mermaid, and Carousel of Progress (plus took a snack break).
• Around noon the lines started getting long and were getting a little better when we got back at 5. It's so random though!!! We did Carpets twice in a row and walked on Jungle Cruise. But then Pirates was 20 minutes.
• People are buying up all of the adorable "Together Again" shirts and selling them on eBay for about 3 times the cost to APs. It makes me sad because we have been looking for them every single day in every park but they keep telling us they sell out immediately. But there are so many on eBay.....
• Mask compliance was not good today. I was starting to feel uncomfortable at multiple times in the day and my family and I talked about it tonight and everyone agreed there were LOTS of chin guards plus a bunch of people doing the "eating and walking thing" and not a single CM was mentioning it.
• Tiki Room was the worst!!! The family beside me completely took theirs off for no reason. Two other families WALKED IN not wearing theirs and eating ice cream. I won't go in there again.

And sadly, I had my first freak out. But I'm proud of myself for making it to Day 7. We were seated at Liberty Tree right next to another table. My daughter's chair was almost back to back with the guy at the table behind us. I was quietly flipping out and finally my husband asked to have us moved. The did move us. Thankfully it was close to closing time. I was just really surprised because Disney made such a big deal about social distancing at the restaurants and we had not had ANY problems at all this week. But Liberty Tree was definitely not great spacing.

Leaving MK was VERY STRANGE! The park closed at 7 but by 8pm there were still more people in the hub and on Main Street than I have seen the whole trip. People were barely leaving. Lots of people taking picture and just hanging out. I guess I am used to them herding us out after fireworks. We got a couple of Photopass pictures right before 8 and then hurried to the bus before any kind of big rush.

Tomorrow is our last full day. It will be interesting to see what DS is like between COVID and the hurricane.

Made it to 7 days before a freak out, I’d take solace in that. I look at pictures and eagle eye people with masks off and get angry. I’m typically a non confrontational person, but I’m not sure how well thats going to go if I get down there and see masks off, or worn wrong when they should be on.

The wait time to actual crowds just seem strangely off to me. The lines are “long” (posted) but they’re not actually long like we typically know them to be. Like, 30 minutes for Space is being treated as if its 250 minutes because the first week it was a walk on. But with the lines still not reaching hour long, you’d think there wouldn’t that many people in the parks and have crowding issues. Maybe they shrunk the parks during the shut down. Or its just wired into our heads now that if you’re under 8ft from someone, its the new shoulder to shoulder.

Ebayers are never going to stop profiting off of this “limited” merch. It sucks, but I’ve come to accept that its never going to go away. I guess, good for Disney that they’re able to sell a lot of merchandise in a time where the parks are dead? But with the stuff flying off the shelves they probably wouldn’t need to be bought by resellers in order for people, that actually want them, to buy them. Half of these Disney merch resellers homes probably have cases upon cases of the Haunted Mansion ghost jars that they couldnt profit on

 

[Mit88]

Yeah absolutely. I don't know anybody there so I can't really say either way. But they have 4000 posts over 9 years of membership so take from that what you will

It doesn’t matter though. Whether its true or not, it just shows that this stuff can happen under Disney’s nose (not their fault). We (general) responsible guests, and potential guests just need to be aware that there might be selfish people there and just need to stay vigilant.

I just ask that Disney puts out more hand washing stations. The more the better.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Not saying they’re a liar, but also not saying I 100% believe this.

What easier way to get attention than make up a story like this to get people riled up? Seems to have worked

If people are riled up that’s their own issue, this is one of the least surprising attention grabbing attempts one could post. People went to Disney sick all the time before, people will go to Disney sick all the time forever and ever.

Furthermore, this should be expected anywhere you go in public and planned for accordingly. The one constant we can forever count on is people behaving selfishly and stupidly.

 

[Mit88]

If people are riled up that’s their own issue, this is one of the least surprising attention grabbing attempts one could post. People went to Disney sick all the time before, people will go to Disney sick all the time forever and ever.

Furthermore, this should be expected anywhere you go in public and planned for accordingly. The one constant we can forever count on is people behaving selfishly and stupidly.

Thats what I said just above this post

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

... LOTS of chin guards ...

I had to pick up a few items at my local "big box" hardware store today. Maybe it's because I work in a location where strict mask compliance is enforced in the workplace, but I was surprised to see a number of people walking around with "chin guards" as you call them.

It's not like they had pulled them down temporarily for whatever reason. They were just walking around the whole time with them on their chin.

Aside from the obvious issue of wearing it that way being as effective as not wearing it at all, they looked absolutely ridiculous!

 

[DisMommyTX]

As my university is putting out (woefully inadequate) reopening plans, I find myself comparing everything to the WDW vs Universal vs Sea World approaches. The default assumption needs to be that everyone is infected. Telling students to self screen is practically useless, especially knowing that most would likely be asymptomatic carriers.

I am disappointed to see the reports of mask issues today at MK. I think it is one of those slippery slope issues. If everyone is wearing it properly, then everyone will wear them. Anytime someone is seen not properly wearing a mask, that gives others an excuse to follow suit.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Funny enough, I think the place I’ve seen the best compliance and enforcement here is the Disney store.

They’re following the park rules for masks (including no bandanas, gaiters, 2 year old and up needs one, etc), they even had the announcement playing what I’m guessing is every 5-10 mins. My own little Disney park visit. They’re giving out masks at the door too. We don’t have a mask mandate here, I wish we did, so it was nice to see. Not like we’re going out often but there are many places here I will not go because of how poorly handled it is.

 

[brockash]

You make very good points but if I could ask you, respectfully...
The other examples you gave are ostensibly activities more relevant to your everyday life and less of an expenditure and effort than traveling to WDW. Given that being confronted with this type of behavior would not at all make you rethink a trip to WDW?

Not the OP, but it wouldn't for me. I'll 100% do as much as I can and do what's in my control, but I'm just not willing to stop doing the things I love indefinitely because of a chance I might be exposed to an illness that could or could not be serious and one that I have the same, if not better chance at getting in my daily life.

 

[DonMa]

Not the OP, but it wouldn't for me. I'll 100% do as much as I can and do what's in my control, but I'm just not willing to stop doing the things I love indefinitely because of a chance I might be exposed to an illness that could or could not be serious and one that I have the same, if not better chance at getting in my daily life.

Thanks, I appreciate hearing different perspectives on this. I will be honest and say I feel a little bit different in that I would not go right now because given all the restrictions and my general anxiety about rule breakers and even the virus It would just not be a good fit for me. I personally would have a hard time enjoying it. But as others have said that’s just me.

 

[JacknSally]

I had to pick up a few items at my local "big box" hardware store today. Maybe it's because I work in a location where strict mask compliance is enforced in the workplace, but I was surprised to see a number of people walking around with "chin guards" as you call them.

We had to do the grocery stores yesterday evening and this morning, and mask compliance (and behaviors in general) this weekend was the worst we’ve seen it in months (and it has not been great here, mind you), and we were at stores where masks are mandatory as of the last 1-2 weeks. DH and I both commented a few times about how uncomfortable we were, and it’s bad when it’s enough to make DH uncomfortable.

I know that’s not parks specific, but I couldn’t help but think about how things have been handled in the parks while we were in the stores (and kind of wish grocery stores had teams of compliance employees walking around )... I also wondered if we were seeing a fluke locally this weekend or if the general attitude is becoming more lax (again, in a city that was pretty lax to begin with, it’s hard to get a good idea really), in which case will we be seeing more reports of less mask compliance in the parks soon, or will WDW stay on top of it?

(my favorite form of questionable mask wearing I saw today, though, was someone wearing the blue medical mask looped correctly over both ears but bunched up between his nose and upper lip like a mustache, covering neither his mouth nor his nose... how is that more comfortable than just wearing it?)

 

[JacknSally]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1289749549976678402

 

[Dentam]

There’s no way of knowing whether or not people planned to go to Disney, then Florida became a hot spot, and then cancelled.

Well, it's a small sample, but you can take a look at the monthly threads on here. Most in the September thread I follow have cancelled - many prior to FL becoming a hot spot but for others it was the last straw I think.

I get that, and wanting to push through things - I am sure we have done that a bit ourselves in the past

But feels different if it is "you have a positive Civid-19 test and are still going to the parks"

Isn't it illegal? Wasn't a couple in FL just arrested for going out after testing positive instead of quarantining?

 

[Mit88]

Funny enough, I think the place I’ve seen the best compliance and enforcement here is the Disney store.

They’re following the park rules for masks (including no bandanas, gaiters, 2 year old and up needs one, etc), they even had the announcement playing what I’m guessing is every 5-10 mins. My own little Disney park visit. They’re giving out masks at the door too. We don’t have a mask mandate here, I wish we did, so it was nice to see. Not like we’re going out often but there are many places here I will not go because of how poorly handled it is.

I havent been to a Disney store in probably 25 years. Only because they closed all of them where I grew up, and theyre non-existent where I live now. But remember exactly what the one in my hometown mall looked like. The organized mountain of Disney plushes was my kryptonite

Do they take your temperature at the door and make you join a boarding group to enter? Do they have any limited edition blue chain link fence toys?

 

[AmberMV]

Well, it's a small sample, but you can take a look at the monthly threads on here. Most in the September thread I follow have cancelled - many prior to FL becoming a hot spot but for others it was the last straw I think.



Isn't it illegal? Wasn't a couple in FL just arrested for going out after testing positive instead of quarantining?

They apparently were released on $1,000 bail

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I havent been to a Disney store in probably 25 years. Only because they closed all of them where I grew up, and theyre non-existent where I live now. But remember exactly what the one in my hometown mall looked like. The organized mountain of Disney plushes was my kryptonite

Do they take your temperature at the door and make you join a boarding group to enter? Do they have any limited edition blue chain link fence toys?

I am still mad the new version of the stores don’t have the plushie mountain. Find me a child that could resist that, I couldn’t either! Don’t even get me going on how much better 90s Disney store was .

I take the little Disney scraps I get though, lol. The distancing lines looked like the ones in the parks and the CM working asked how many were in our party before we entered. Almost like we were boarding a ride . Another similarity was the cost of the day, my kids are also not immune to Disney plush and god forbid we share “the child” and don’t buy multiple.

 

[Mit88]

Well, it's a small sample, but you can take a look at the monthly threads on here. Most in the September thread I follow have cancelled - many prior to FL becoming a hot spot but for others it was the last straw I think.



Isn't it illegal? Wasn't a couple in FL just arrested for going out after testing positive instead of quarantining?

Like I’ve been saying, this isnt an all or nothing argument. Ive never said that every Disney fan in NY had a planned trip to Disney before the mandatory quarantine seemed to be a longer than expected issue. There are plenty of people that I know (outside of the tristate area) that were just waiting for tickets to go back on sale before making reservation. Whether they’ve since made those reservations when tickets went on sale, I havent followed up on that. I just don’t necessarily think its as absolute that no one outside of florida wants, or plans to go to Disney right now. I think there are plenty of people that still do. Not enough to carry Disney out of the losses they’ve taken on since March, but maybe enough to at least fill in a little bit of the dent. Is it responsible to travel right now? Probably not. But those are choices that should be made by the people that are making them.

It’s a difficult predicament because on one hand, in order for Disney to succeed and provide future entertainment for us, the Disney fans, people need to go, support them while they're at their lowest. But on the other hand, going to the Parks is putting your life and the lives of others at potential risk. And I realize that they’re one of the biggest company’s in the world so boo hoo they’re losing money. But why are we all here on a Disney fan forum if the sanctity of the company doesn’t mean anything? I certainly dont want the company sold and split up. But they’re in a fragile position where the possibility of the company getting sold off is higher than its been in a long time.