Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[charissemp]

We will be there for NYE, but we had price protection from a previous trip cancelled in May. We plan to eat at Le Cellier, and head back to the resort to rest up for the next day.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

and if the want fireworks and want to come to orlando go down the road to seaworld.

I plan to stay home and MAYBE go to my local bar. Have little plans beyond that.

Yeah. And not everyone does a big NYE thing anyways. Usually family game night in our house, pandemic or not

It’s nice Disney will offer some
extended hours for activities at the resorts but I don’t see that increasing bookings in a major way with just a few weeks to go.

 

[andyman8]

Cruises have alwaays been higher risk even for flu and the like. However they alread have some procedures in place like most do require proof of certain vaccinations. By this time next year I think covid will be added to that list. and I could see some countries like the bahamas making it a requirement as well for a ship to dock there.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying cruising won’t come back or won’t come back for a long time. My personal guess remains April for a widespread return to sail for U.S.-based cruises. I’m just saying that — without a vaccine — it’s just too high risk, so I doubt we’ll see general public cruises in Q1 of next year.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So what's the alternative? Stay locked up in your home with no family to celibrate with due to a whole bunch of Govenors orders (that they themselves do not follow)? There are a good many people who are so tired of this that they WILL pay Disney's prices to blow off a little steam and try to forget 2020 ever happened. Do not be surprised to see NYE is totally booked out -- and hear the outcry by many of how horrible it is that there are so many people have gathered together.

Uhh... there’s a lot of other things one can do than stay on-site at WDW for NYE.

For instance save a bunch of money by getting an off-site place to stay, visit a park that day, and have a party at your rental house/hotel suite with all the money you saved by not staying on site.

 

[Krandor]

Just to be clear, I’m not saying cruising won’t come back or won’t come back for a long time. My personal guess remains April for a widespread return to sail for U.S.-based cruises. I’m just saying that — without a vaccine — it’s just too high risk, so I doubt we’ll see general public cruises in Q1 of next year.

I agree. Just saying the amount of time dealing with covid on cruises is going to only be a short-term not long-term issue. Long term vaccine is likely going to be required either by cruise lines of countries the are visiting.

 

[Wreckem]

Just to be clear, I’m not saying cruising won’t come back or won’t come back for a long time. My personal guess remains April for a widespread return to sail for U.S.-based cruises. I’m just saying that — without a vaccine — it’s just too high risk, so I doubt we’ll see general public cruises in Q1 of next year.

I’m betting mid year at earliest.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1336792769067626498

 

[Mit88]

I’m guessing Disney makes no future commitment statements regarding tomorrow’s FDA meeting about the vaccine during the investor day call. I think we’re still too far away from it having individual business impact to make it into the call. But Fauci is saying that even after the vaccine is taken, people will still be advised to wear masks and socially distance. With that, I think we’re a LONG way from fireworks and masks being gone from WDW when the former I thought could have been a possibility within the next 3-6 months

 

[Oldnewfan]

I saw Mary Poppins, Joy, and Pooh. Pooh came out as soon as Joy left. Timing is everything! I didn’t see an calvacades though.



Excuse me, MSEP is the best parade ever.



CDC/scientific studies now show that it only takes 15mn of exposure over the course of 24 hours to get infected. This is why the current crowd levels that make distancing extremely difficult/impossible,
the elimination of distancing on omnimovers, the elimination of distancing with plexiglass/plastic as a barrier, and no distancing in queues where there is plexiglass alarming and extremely risky.

They're hemorrhaging as a Park division. If they don't start packing people in, there will be repeats of massive layoffs and not enough money to move forward with much of any project. So while we may be critical of their measures the risk to go is all YOURS. THEY CANNOT insulate you completely in a theme park of all things and still get enough revenue, enough bodies eating and spending, to make it even worth their while to remain open. I feel for this company and what they are up against. I almost think that if they don't continue the ramp up, this park division will pass a point that will take years to recover from. Sure they borrowed a lot but that money ain't free.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

Is guest relations at the International Gateway at EPCOT open now? I didn't know if it might have been shut down with other COVID-related closures. Thanks

 

[Farro]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1336792769067626498

O'Hare and Midway are opening ones too! I can get one on the way there and on the way back!

 

[Stefne]

Is guest relations at the International Gateway at EPCOT open now? I didn't know if it might have been shut down with other COVID-related closures. Thanks

We got my son's DAS renewed there at the International Gateway when we went a couple of weeks ago, so you should be good to go.

 

[Mit88]

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...nt/uploads/2020/12/12-Days-of-Paper-Parks.pdf

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

We got my son's DAS renewed there at the International Gateway when we went a couple of weeks ago, so you should be good to go.

Thank you!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

So what's the alternative? Stay locked up in your home with no family to celibrate

Yeas. 100% this

 

[Mit88]

Ringing in the new year doesn’t keep the problems of 2020 in 2020. 2021 is mostly going to be the same for a while. So I’m not ringing in the new year as a celebration of a new year, clean slate.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

They're hemorrhaging as a Park division. If they don't start packing people in, there will be repeats of massive layoffs and not enough money to move forward with much of any project. So while we may be critical of their measures the risk to go is all YOURS. THEY CANNOT insulate you completely in a theme park of all things and still get enough revenue, enough bodies eating and spending, to make it even worth their while to remain open. I feel for this company and what they are up against. I almost think that if they don't continue the ramp up, this park division will pass a point that will take years to recover from. Sure they borrowed a lot but that money ain't free.

While a guest traveling to a theme park during a pandemic is a certainly personal choice, it is also Disney’s responsibility to implement protocols to provide a safe experience. As someone who is not at all comfortable traveling to go to a theme park right now, it seems like Disney is doing a good job thus far. Even with the busier crowds right now, most of the issues seem to be happening in the typical choke points.

Safety is the first of the 4 Disney keys for CMs. The most important key, not to be sacrificed for any of the other keys. It would be very tough to watch a company that prides themselves in safety fill the parks to an unsafe capacity during a pandemic. I don’t personally think they will change things much more anytime soon, but time will tell.

 

[rpb718]

O'Hare and Midway are opening ones too! I can get one on the way there and on the way back!

While I applaud the airports doing this, I'd hate to take the chance that the test could come back positive - especially if it turns out later to be a false positive. I don't see anything specifically listing what happens when the test results are positive, but they surely can't let the person get on the plane.

 

[Farro]

While I applaud the airports doing this, I'd hate to take the chance that the test could come back positive - especially if it turns out later to be a false positive. I don't see anything specifically listing what happens when the test results are positive, but they surely can't let the person get on the plane.

I dont actually plan to get tested! I'm assuming its optional.

To your point, if people are getting tested and there is the possibility of being denied entry on the plane, I suppose people would have to be prepared to drive home?

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

I don’t think someone who wants a normal, pre-covid NYE will pay premium Disney prices to drink strawberry daiquiris at the resort pool bar until midnight.

They will find somewhere offering a more normal NYE experience.

Weak strawberry daiquiris, which would be the deal breaker for me.