Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Krandor]

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

Vaccine is a good first step but distribution (and if people will get it) is still going to be a huge undertaking. Fauchi was asked recently about full stadiums and his reply was end of summer is the most likely time for return to normal and the ability to have full stadiums (of course a lot can change between now and then). In terms of theme parks back at 100% and everything we know and want to have back coming back we are likely looking at about that timeframe too. We may see incremental changes but end of summer looks to be when we may be able to see "normal".

EDIT: The big positive those is that even if it is still months off, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel and for disney there is a very good chance that when the 50th kicks off it can be close to normal.

 

[hereforthechurros]

More reports of Territory Lounge being open at WL. And Turf Club at Saratoga Springs has reopened. Probably safe to consider these seasonal openings but still encouraging.

 

[Pyotr]

More reports of Territory Lounge being open at WL. And Turf Club at Saratoga Springs has reopened. Probably safe to consider these seasonal openings but still encouraging.

Im at WL right now and I did not notice Territory Lounge being open. Maybe I’ll get motivated and get out of bed and get a drink.

 

[yulilin3]

More reports of Territory Lounge being open at WL. And Turf Club at Saratoga Springs has reopened. Probably safe to consider these seasonal openings but still encouraging.

I saw it open this past Wednesday

 

[gottalovepluto]

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

WAIT. THERE IS A GUEST SERVICES AT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY?! For the last couple years we’ve trudged from international gateway to the front of the park to set up the DAS on our first day!

 

[Stefne]

WAIT. THERE IS A GUEST SERVICES AT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY?! For the last couple years we’ve trudged from international gateway to the front of the park to set up the DAS on our first day!

There is. Right after security, but before you scan your magic band. It's in the same area as the lockers and stroller rentals.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Relying on the rapid test results really concerns me. I've known 3 people so far that tested negative on the rapid but were, indeed, positive (and all ended up being quite sick - one hospitalized). They were told they weren't sick "enough" yet for the rapid test to register it.

But I'm glad we're moving in the right direction as far as making tests available.

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

WAIT. THERE IS A GUEST SERVICES AT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY?! For the last couple years we’ve trudged from international gateway to the front of the park to set up the DAS on our first day!

I just found out about it today - not sure how long it has actually been there though!

 

[Stefne]

WAIT. THERE IS A GUEST SERVICES AT INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY?! For the last couple years we’ve trudged from international gateway to the front of the park to set up the DAS on our first day!

This area

 

[yulilin3]

I just found out about it today - not sure how long it has actually been there though!

Always

 

[yulilin3]

Well i don't know where all these people are coming from but today at work all animal shows were at capacity, on a Wednesday, management was as surprised as i was. Lots of Spanish and Portuguese speaking guests

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Well i don't know where all these people are coming from but today at work all animal shows were at capacity, on a Wednesday, management was as surprised as i was. Lots of Spanish and Portuguese speaking guests

Well, then I guess we can guess roughly where they are coming from

 

[yulilin3]

Well, then I guess we can guess roughly where they are coming from

Lol right? We had to pull people from other locations to help with crowd control.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Im at WL right now and I did not notice Territory Lounge being open. Maybe I’ll get motivated and get out of bed and get a drink.

In the WL thread (Resorts board) there’s a few reports of it being open but no confirmation if its an everyday thing at this point. Open until 10 pm I believe.

 

[Mit88]

Vaccine is a good first step but distribution (and if people will get it) is still going to be a huge undertaking. Fauchi was asked recently about full stadiums and his reply was end of summer is the most likely time for return to normal and the ability to have full stadiums (of course a lot can change between now and then). In terms of theme parks back at 100% and everything we know and want to have back coming back we are likely looking at about that timeframe too. We may see incremental changes but end of summer looks to be when we may be able to see "normal".

EDIT: The big positive those is that even if it is still months off, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel and for disney there is a very good chance that when the 50th kicks off it can be close to normal.

I think his mentioning of stadiums being full by the end of the summer was pure hyperbole. If he’s saying social distancing and masks are still advised even AFTER the vaccine is taken, whether or not that is actually what is done state by state, county by county is another story, but if he’s saying that masks and distancing is still needed, then he didn’t actually mean that things should go back to normal. With that in mind, I think we’re going to see the same thing next summer/fall as we’re seeing with maybe a little more leniency, but still a lot of hesitation from certain areas. California for example, I could see Newsom Nye the Science Guy still having restrictions on DLR, and sporting events, etc next summer “out of abundance of caution”.

 

[Krandor]

I think his mentioning of stadiums being full by the end of the summer was pure hyperbole. If he’s saying social distancing and masks are still advised even AFTER the vaccine is taken, whether or not that is actually what is done state by state, county by county is another story, but if he’s saying that masks and distancing is still needed, then he didn’t actually mean that things should go back to normal. With that in mind, I think we’re going to see the same thing next summer/fall as we’re seeing with maybe a little more leniency, but still a lot of hesitation from certain areas. California for example, I could see Newsom Nye the Science Guy still having restrictions on DLR, and sporting events, etc next summer “out of abundance of caution”.

it is more simple then that. to return to normal we need about 60-80% penetration of immunity through having gotten it or the vaccine. That is the herd immunity thst has been talked about. If people get the vaccine we can get there end of summer. And yes even if you get the vaccine in June and we are not to those numbers yet you should still wear a mask until we get there.

we will get there. It’s coming.

 

[Mit88]

it is more simple then that. to return to normal we need about 60-80% penetration of immunity through having gotten it or the vaccine. That is the herd immunity thst has been talked about. If people get the vaccine we can get there end of summer. And yes even if you get the vaccine in June and we are not to those numbers yet you should still wear a mask until we get there.

we will get there. It’s coming.

I think the “if” people get the vaccine part is where it becomes, not so simple. 60-80% is a lot, and I agree that that is right around the ballpark of where it needs to be, and no less than 60%, preferably higher than 80%. And maybe it’s just me, but as we’re getting deeper into this period of vaccinations, I’m personally noticing that they’re (media, some scientists etc) not really “selling” vaccine very well. Saying 4-6 months before a hopeful wide release of the vaccine that you’re going to still have to wear your mask probably isn’t going to convince people that are on the fence about the vaccine leaning towards taking it with the hopes that shortly after they’d no longer have to wear their mask out in public. It’s counter productive since if every one on the fence were to take the vaccine, it would help rid the mask mandates quicker, even if it’s not the day after you get it. But we all know by now that counter productivity is a passion of a lot of people in this country, unfortunately. My optimism of “getting there” has just been completely derailed by the amount of people that have come out and said “I’m not taking it, no matter what”. I have my reservations about it, if I’m being honest. 8 months is not a lot of time to develop a vaccine like this. But when the time comes where it’s available to me, and my research tells me that I have nothing to worry about it, of course I’ll take it because I don’t want to be a statistic that’s holding this country back from a return to normality.

All that to say, and I know I’m far from the only one here, I just want my damn fireworks back lol. The goosebumps I get when the lights turn out in the hub and ‘Happily Ever After’ starts blaring through the speakers. I miss it

 

[rpb718]

I think the “if” people get the vaccine part is where it becomes, not so simple. 60-80% is a lot, and I agree that that is right around the ballpark of where it needs to be, and no less than 60%, preferably higher than 80%. And maybe it’s just me, but as we’re getting deeper into this period of vaccinations, I’m personally noticing that they’re (media, some scientists etc) not really “selling” vaccine very well. Saying 4-6 months before a hopeful wide release of the vaccine that you’re going to still have to wear your mask probably isn’t going to convince people that are on the fence about the vaccine leaning towards taking it with the hopes that shortly after they’d no longer have to wear their mask out in public. It’s counter productive since if every one on the fence were to take the vaccine, it would help rid the mask mandates quicker, even if it’s not the day after you get it. But we all know by now that counter productivity is a passion of a lot of people in this country, unfortunately. My optimism of “getting there” has just been completely derailed by the amount of people that have come out and said “I’m not taking it, no matter what”. I have my reservations about it, if I’m being honest. 8 months is not a lot of time to develop a vaccine like this. But when the time comes where it’s available to me, and my research tells me that I have nothing to worry about it, of course I’ll take it because I don’t want to be a statistic that’s holding this country back from a return to normality.

All that to say, and I know I’m far from the only one here, I just want my damn fireworks back lol. The goosebumps I get when the lights turn out in the hub and ‘Happily Ever After’ starts blaring through the speakers. I miss it

Agree on all points. This vaccine is anything but simple because it's not just one and done. It takes two doses taken 3 weeks to a month apart. Also there's a chance that folks may need to deal with not feeling well for a day or so after taking the 2nd dose. So of the folks who do take the vaccine I still see a lot of folks putting off that second dose, which then leads to the question about how effective the 2nd dose is if folks delay taking it for too long. I'm not sure how we are going to determine where we are as a country with the vaccine when you have numbers of folks that have taken both doses and an even greater number that have only taken one.

ETA: I think we are solidly looking at sometime in 2022 before any sort of "herd immunity" threshhold is reached.

 

[Sarahslay]

I just found out about it today - not sure how long it has actually been there though!

It's been there for a while, it's the only one at Epcot I have ever gone to. Went there last year to get my new TIW card, and have gone there in the past to upgrade a regular ticket to an AP. It's really easy and there is usually little to no line.

 

[scrappinginontario]

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.

Yes, if I'm not showing any symptoms or feeling ill, I would hate to test positive as I'm attempting to get home and then be responsible to find accommodations for 2 weeks in Orlando. I'd much rather get home and test then.

That being said, if I was feeling any symptoms at all in Orlando, I would not board a plane with the potential to infect all those sharing the plane with me.

Thus, we stay home until things are more settled. Missing Disney desperately and have never gone this long between trips but doing what is being asked of us.