Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[dislee1164]

Thanks so much for the GKTWV Christmas lights information I got tickets for when we are there next week. It looks amazing and like the Osborne lights have found a new home. . What a beautiful way to start the holiday season for such a wonderful charity.

We bought tickets as well! (And the 3D glasses, lol) Ours is ending our trip - our last night on Jan 2nd, and with HS closing at 7, thought this would be a nice change of scenery for a good cause.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I am so happy that GKTW is going to be able to capitalize on the parks closing relatively early and hopefully make a nice amount of money to support the Village. The early closures are a bummer but this is one nice side effect - I am sure they are getting more interest than they would in a year with normal late park hours.

The pandemic has been such a bleak moment but every now and then you’ll find an organization or business who comes up with a creative solution to make the best of an unfortunate situation and it really makes me smile. We have a Chinese restaurant near where I live that turned their giant parking lot into a drive in movie theater and also erected a stage to have live music out there while serving all the food(and mai tais!) outside. It was incredibly well done and incredibly popular and it really made me appreciate their ingenuity. Kudos to GKTW and all of their sponsors (including Disney) for pulling this together!

 

[yulilin3]

Christmas offerings started at SWO yesterday, basically all the shows returned with a couple of modifications, happy to say that one of the Voices of Liberty performers, the lead singer from Club Villain, a former CoH and HDD performer and half the band of British revolution will be singing and performing for everyone at SWO. So many guests approached me today to say thank you for bringing a lot of joy, i was working the photo with Santa today and loved all the kids faces when they were getting ready to talk to him.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Dis Stock holders should be happy today with Moderna reporting their vaccine is 94.5% effective. Expectation is that it could be available to more general population by spring. I'm just going to assume that's the Disney Spring timeframe of February - June or sometimes known as soon.

Great news to have 2 companies with over 90% effectiveness, once safety has been further evaluated those who are of higher risk should hopefully start getting that by the end of this year into early next year.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Nice surprise!

@Blog_Mickey: Disney Sends Notice of “Routine” Magic Kingdom Fireworks Test Taking Place Tonight https://blogmickey.com/2020/11/disn...-routine-fireworks-test-taking-place-tonight/

 

[AvidDisReader]

Disney will probably never leave its Burbank studios and Disneyland is not going anywhere. But that does not mean the Corporate Headquarters cannot be moved from California to a much friendlier place like Florida. Heck, you see it all the time. There was a time no one ever thought Boeing would ever move its Corp from Seattle, but it is now in Chicago. While I still think it is a long shot, it definitely would not be a total shock.

 

[Funfire240]

Christmas offerings started at SWO yesterday, basically all the shows returned with a couple of modifications, happy to say that one of the Voices of Liberty performers, the lead singer from Club Villain, a former CoH and HDD performer and half the band of British revolution will be singing and performing for everyone at SWO. So many guests approached me today to say thank you for bringing a lot of joy, i was working the photo with Santa today and loved all the kids faces when they were getting ready to talk to him.

This is good to hear! We will be there on the 28th. We took our kids to Seaworld for the first last summer (my last time was when it was still in Ohio!) and had a great time and we were looking at the Christmas offerings and decided to go back to experience all of that while we are at WDW.

 

[mrsap]

Nice surprise!

@Blog_Mickey: Disney Sends Notice of “Routine” Magic Kingdom Fireworks Test Taking Place Tonight https://blogmickey.com/2020/11/disn...-routine-fireworks-test-taking-place-tonight/

I wish they’d start doing a ‘routine’ fireworks test every night.

 

[mattpeto]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/16/mod...vaccine-is-more-than-94percent-effective.html
The analysis evaluated 95 confirmed Covid-19 infections among the trial’s 30,000 participants. Moderna, which developed its vaccine in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said 90 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus five cases observed in the group that received its two-dose vaccine. That resulted in an estimated vaccine efficacy of 94.5%, it said.

Looking good for the 50th guys...

 

[SaintsManiac]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/16/mod...vaccine-is-more-than-94percent-effective.html
The analysis evaluated 95 confirmed Covid-19 infections among the trial’s 30,000 participants. Moderna, which developed its vaccine in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said 90 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus five cases observed in the group that received its two-dose vaccine. That resulted in an estimated vaccine efficacy of 94.5%, it said.

Looking good for the 50th guys...

Oh dear lord I hope so. My FB memories of being in Disney or preparing for Disney this time of year are killing me right now. I just want to be there next week so badly. I am so looking forward to next year and hoping the 50th celebrations last a bit longer than just some quickie thing in October.

 

[Farro]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/16/mod...vaccine-is-more-than-94percent-effective.html
The analysis evaluated 95 confirmed Covid-19 infections among the trial’s 30,000 participants. Moderna, which developed its vaccine in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said 90 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus five cases observed in the group that received its two-dose vaccine. That resulted in an estimated vaccine efficacy of 94.5%, it said.

Looking good for the 50th guys...

Awesome to wake up to such great news!!!
Now we have two viable vaccine options!

Next year is looking better everyday!

 

[yulilin3]

This is good to hear! We will be there on the 28th. We took our kids to Seaworld for the first last summer (my last time was when it was still in Ohio!) and had a great time and we were looking at the Christmas offerings and decided to go back to experience all of that while we are at WDW.

If you want photos with the Rudolph characters head to the trail early, right now it's opening at 5pm

 

[HokieRaven5]

Awesome to wake up to such great news!!!
Now we have two viable vaccine options!

Next year is looking better everyday!

Moderna's is so much better in distribution as well. Moderna can be held for 30 days in a refrigerator vs 5 days for Pfizer. Pfizer also has to be stored at -75 Deg F vs -20 Deg F for Moderna.

Drs offices can readily store the Moderna one but don't have the equipment typically for Pfizer's.

Definitely great progress towards the 50th! We actually decided to change our plans from going June 2021 with my larger family unit to Easter weekend after our experience and feelings from our trip.

 

[andyman8]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/16/mod...vaccine-is-more-than-94percent-effective.html
The analysis evaluated 95 confirmed Covid-19 infections among the trial’s 30,000 participants. Moderna, which developed its vaccine in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said 90 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus five cases observed in the group that received its two-dose vaccine. That resulted in an estimated vaccine efficacy of 94.5%, it said.

Looking good for the 50th guys...

I know this may come as a surprise to some and as obvious to others, but from an operational standpoint, I wouldn’t be surprised to see most offerings at WDW return (or at least those that are still slated to return) by the end of next summer. While the health and safety protocols may stick around for quite some time, I think people will be surprised just how quickly WDW picks back up, assuming these vaccines roll out and work as planned.

 

[Funfire240]

If you want photos with the Rudolph characters head to the trail early, right now it's opening at 5pm

Thank you!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I know this may come as a surprise to some and as obvious to others, but from an operational standpoint, I wouldn’t be surprised to see most offerings at WDW return (or at least those that are still slated to return) by the end of next summer. While the health and safety protocols may stick around for quite some time, I think people will be surprised just how quickly WDW picks back up, assuming these vaccines roll out and work as planned.

You're giving me all the feelings today, sir!

 

[mattpeto]

I know this may come as a surprise to some and as obvious to others, but from an operational standpoint, I wouldn’t be surprised to see most offerings at WDW return (or at least those that are still slated to return) by the end of next summer. While the health and safety protocols may stick around for quite some time, I think people will be surprised just how quickly WDW picks back up, assuming these vaccines roll out and work as planned.

Many people who were laid off had retention language in their contracts to bring back before the end of 2021. I agree, Disney will move quickly.

Can they increase capacity and maintain their current safety protocols (social distancing and masks)?

I actually think once the virus is felt under control (~+6 months of vaccine distribution), all of those protocols go away immediately.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Many people who were laid off had retention language in their contracts to bring back before the end of 2021. I agree, Disney will move quickly.

Can they increase capacity and maintain their current safety protocols (social distancing and masks)?

I actually think once the virus is felt under control (~+6 months of vaccine distribution), all of those protocols go away immediately.

I don't think all protocols will go away that fast even after 6 months of distribution, unless they switch to only people who can document having received the vaccine or having a recent test are allowed access (which is what ticketmaster is planning to do for concerts next year). I don't see many of the measures disappearing at all next year especially the masks.

 

[hertamaniac]

I could even see them leaving the lights up all the time when Wish Kids are back! It just makes the place even more magical.

According to the CEO, Pam, they are only offering this as a public offering this year (or so long as the pandemic keeps them operationally closed). She cited concerns of the public making a......well.....not for a good experience for the families that would be staying onsite.

 

[sullivan.kscott]

I don't think all protocols will go away that fast even after 6 months of distribution, unless they switch to only people who can document having received the vaccine or having a recent test are allowed access (which is what ticketmaster is planning to do for concerts next year). I don't see many of the measures disappearing at all next year especially the masks.

I agree that the masks will be around for a while. Remember that, at best, Pfizer is testing down to age 12. It’s going to be a while. But, if they choose to go the Ticketmaster route in some form or fashion and require a vaccine for all (especially CM), and testing for the rest, they could up capacity and drop some of the distancing requirements, bring back some nighttime entertainment and theater shows, etc, pretty quickly. Summer might be optimistic, but not that far off. And definitely by October 50th time.