Future of Fish Extender Exchange etc

[lanejudy]

I dont believe these are the same. COVID hangs out for differing amounts of time on different surfaces so depending on what is in the FE, some items could have active virus contamination for longer. Beyond that I am rarely handling the clothing of other guests so those really arent comparable.

That's my point - there's no particular increase in exposure for a guest simply by someone else hanging an FE in the hallway if they aren't touching it. It's voluntary so anyone who doesn't feel comfortable with the safety of any items that may be left for them in an FE simply doesn't need to participate. I don't feel DCL needs to set a rule; they have plenty of other things to coordinate and possibly enforce. I doubt stateroom hosts would enforce a rule banning FEs if people hung one anyway; there are plenty of rules they don't enforce already.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Newest FE designs will have to have sneeze guards

 

[monkeydawn]

That's my point - there's no particular increase in exposure for a guest simply by someone else hanging an FE in the hallway if they aren't touching it. It's voluntary so anyone who doesn't feel comfortable with the safety of any items that may be left for them in an FE simply doesn't need to participate. I don't feel DCL needs to set a rule; they have plenty of other things to coordinate and possibly enforce. I doubt stateroom hosts would enforce a rule banning FEs if people hung one anyway; there are plenty of rules they don't enforce already.

We can certainly agree on this point!

 

[mab2012]

Without getting too much into my own feelings on living in a world where we're not allowed to touch anything for fear of infection...

The markers in AP can be disinfected. On the Wonder WBPC sailing, there were daily "adult colouring" sessions. I didn't go to them regularly, but on the one day I tried, they were offering crayons instead of the usual Sharpie markers - to many complaints from the attending guests. The Sharpies were out for disinfecting, and the crayons were to be discarded after use.

Similarly, at craft sessions, we were asked to only take the little metal decorations that we planned to use, because any that were taken and not used would have to be thrown out since they could not be disinfected. Which was ridiculous, since it just meant that people stood over the bin - heads nearly touching - and rifled through the supposedly clean pieces until they found what they wanted.

The reality is that if COVID-19 is circulating on a cruise ship, disinfecting surfaces is going to do very little to stop it.

 

[mmmears]

Realistically, if the threat to passengers from FE is so great, cruise lines won't be functioning.

I agree. If hanging something on your fish and having people put a small gift in it is going to cause health problems then I don't see how the cruise lines can sail.

On the other hand, if the FEs are going to make it harder to clean the hallways, then I can see them not allowing them, or extensive door decorations.

I guess it depends on what protocol the ships adopt when they are able to begin sailing again.

 

[Primeval Princess]

I doubt stateroom hosts would enforce a rule banning FEs if people hung one anyway; there are plenty of rules they don't enforce already.

I think this is key. The culture of service on most cruises, including DCL, focuses on pleasing the customer. I suspect that one of the reasons why the cruise ships will be the "last to return" to service out of Disney vacation offerings is not just due to the notoriety of cruise ships now or the increased infection risk they carry, but also because DCL knows they can't maintain the strict distancing & other standards that have recently become common on the mainland. Can you imagine one of those uber eager to please stateroom hosts ordering guests to put their masks on? I can't. And they are mostly foreigners sailing in international waters, so they aren't unionized like Disney's park employees. They need their tips as income. I predict DCL is going to be the most relaxed vacation option, in terms of COVID rules, that Disney offers, once they return to service. I predict masks will not be mandatory for guests, and distancing will also be less rigid, due to space constraints.

 

[Amunet]

DCL started cashing in on the FE's by offering them as decoration packages. I can see DCL stop offering them but that would also take away from an extra revenue source. Obviously DCL isn't above cancelling things if it is unsafe for passengers so I can see them disallowing FEs. On the flip side, due to the extra revenue, they could keep it going.

 

[MomOTwins]

DCL started cashing in on the FE's by offering them as decoration packages. I can see DCL stop offering them but that would also take away from an extra revenue source. Obviously DCL isn't above cancelling things if it is unsafe for passengers so I can see them disallowing FEs. On the flip side, due to the extra revenue, they could keep it going.

Weirdly, they didn’t charge any extra though—it was just included in the holiday room decor package. And good thing too because I didn’t care for it; it was confusing to only have 3 pockets for larger families and took some fun out of the FE exchange to see the same thing on half the doors instead of getting to see more unique decorations (imagine if DCL had a “magnet package” and you saw the same thing every few doors—where’s the fun in that?)

 

[Snowwhyt]

I feel the answers will be found in science, regarding to the future or temporary future of FE’s. And many other pleasures we enjoyed might be lost, or temporarily held back until sanitation can be cost effectively used.

Since we already know that Covid can stay on cardboard more than 24 hours, what do we know about plastic or cotton? Disney would error on the side of caution and might upset customers initially rather than put customers at risk. I don’t know the numbers but let’s just say that 10% of the customers on the ship have FEs and some of the 90% Complain that this has somehow made them at risk. Because Disney let an uncontrolled free for all hanging in the hallways to infect the other 90%. It would almost make it “look” safer if they were restarted after a while.

Let me clarify I do not feel that way. If my family sails in January, we are on the FE list. But I’m thinking I’m not that lucky that the vaccine will be here and couldn’t get a doctor note for us to board without it.

But I totally feel safe with Disney, every Disney vacation I’ve been on is taking special care of my/our ridiculous problems with (plastic, onion, several other “normal allergies” also) allergy. They can’t stop people from wearing perfume but they can move you to a different seat if it’s a problem. Maybe they’ll walk up and down the halls and spray disinfectant every night, maybe they won’t because the disinfectant will harm people with respiratory problems. Hard to say, and I am just throwing out a couple of weird ideas.

Stuff changed after 911 that we didn’t expect, like shoes in the airport. But then we all know that we have to go through scanners to make sure guns have not boarded the Planes, and we are Impatiently happy to have it done.

I did not grow up with childproof caps on medicine, no plastic seals on my medicine over my childproof cap. I didn’t have to carry my drink to the bathroom with me. I’m not complaining, I am okay with thing’s changing, I’ll adjust.

 

[Starwind]

Since we already know that Covid can stay on cardboard more than 24 hours, what do we know about plastic or cotton?
...
Maybe they’ll walk up and down the halls and spray disinfectant every night, maybe they won’t because the disinfectant will harm people with respiratory problems.

Just addressing these two ideas...

My understanding from the published studies is plastic is in the 72 hour range, along with stainless steel.

Cloth is a "we don't know" and may be highly variable. For example does the virus dessicate on the fabric fibres and if so how quickly ?

My understanding of the "dissinfectant" that places like airlines and pblic spaces are spraying into spaces specifically for covid is that it is one of a couple kinds that are highly safe for humans and generally not irritating for (most) humans. They are NOT your "normal" disinfecting chemicals, they are special fogging systems. Though disinfecting chemicals certainly may also be used as part of wiping down common touch surfaces. As someone who is sensitive to many chemicals, I am really hoping that the fogging systems as as human-friendly as claimed.

SW

 

[DietCokeMommy]

The CDC said today that the risk for transmitting the disease through contaminated objects is low. You have to have enough viral load in what you touched and then it has to be transmitted (i.e. you stick your finger in your mouth or your eye). I personally think the risk for FEs is neglibable. Your larger risk will be the dining rooms and the theater where you're sitting there for long stretches of time.