Just a thought about reopening...

[Mumof4mice]

While face character greetings will likely be suspended, fur character greetings will be fine to continue. Disney will just cast skinnier, shorter CMs (I've been told fur characters are mostly smaller females anyway) to allow the room for wearing full PPE and icepacks under the suits.

I predict an increase in fur characters around the park. This will be a major windfall for my toddlers, who love all fur characters but are scared of princesses who try to chat with them.

 

[YeOswaldianSociety]

We in Philadelphia love government controlling our lives and we also love wearing masks. Or that’s just something certain radio personalities lead people to somehow believe even though it’s a pretty silly notion. Many Americans who subscribe to the ideas of some of these radio voices like to believe they’re somehow free wheeling cowboys who play by their own rules. I get that it’s an enjoyable though not very realistic fantasy especially during a pandemic. Disney can and should institute some sort of mask policy at least for a certain amount of time for our ‘collective’ safety. After all we are a collective society to a certain degree and we are also a collective body when enjoying theme parks together.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

We in Philadelphia love government controlling our lives and we also love wearing masks. Or that’s just something certain radio personalities lead people to somehow believe even though it’s a pretty silly notion. Many Americans who subscribe to the ideas of some of these radio voices like to believe they’re somehow free wheeling cowboys who play by their own rules. I get that it’s an enjoyable though not very realistic fantasy especially during a pandemic. Disney can and should institute some sort of mask policy at least for a certain amount of time for our ‘collective’ safety. After all we are a collective society to a certain degree and we are also a collective body when enjoying theme parks together.

It is unfortunate that you deride differences among the states and regions, different ways of thinking and living. You do know that is the point of the federal system? You do realize that for the most part people self-select into communities? And government services? If I want more or less services or certain services, I am free to move accordingly. The most basic example of this is the HOA. Some people want the services HOAs provide, love how HOAs maintain property values, and move into HOA communities. Other people cringe at the thought of HOA rules and fees and don’t move into those communities. Why is that something to mock? Some people find it reassuring and comforting to hear from their governor every night on tv during the shutdown, others want to see and hear from government representatives as little as possible. People tend to organize immediate communities around these types of philosophical commonalities. But I think it is really important that we have respect for different communities and ways of living. Disney, like the airlines, has to walk a fine line and accommodate people from every community. What you define as collective safety, others may define as an arbitrary and pointless restriction upon the ability to breathe properly.

You do know that the science isn’t settled on masks anyway, right? Plus, there is a big difference between N95 masks worn properly, put on with sanitized hands and not touched again until changed out (ideally every couple of hours) and an old bandana or homemade cute Disney material mask worn loosely and unwashed for several days, taken repeatedly on and off and adjusted periodically with your unwashed contaminated hands. Dubious health benefits in the later. For Disney to implement a policy like face mask wearing that would affect people every moment of the day, the science has to be definitive, because it is a huge ask in the Florida sun. We’re not talking about a 30 minute grocery run. If you personally want to wear whatever you define as full protection, have at it.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

FYI - There is a company called Firebox that is selling Disney Princess masks.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I was at my store in PA yesterday. As of last Monday, you had to wear a mask in PA. There was a employee by the IN door, I assume checking for masks. It was 100% in the store. Last weekend it was maybe 50%. I hate it, hard to breathe.

I agree, very hard to breath! As soon as I get outside I take it off.

 

[jo-jo]

.....and an old bandana or homemade cute Disney material mask worn loosely and unwashed for several days, taken repeatedly on and off and adjusted periodically with your unwashed contaminated hands.

I'm thinking of people wearing the same mask with washing it maybe once during their vacation. Plus it will be on and off a million times with all the drinking from water/soda bottles. And how will this work with kids??

 

[ColonialMouse]

Well... most people in the US will not wear them. Very few areas of the country are trying to mandate masks, and most sheriff’s departments are refusing to uphold these mandates. It is about personal freedom. It’s not constitutional. Lawsuits are in process. Sure Disney is private property but that doesn’t allow them to do whatever they want to people.

Freedom is not absolute. We have all sorts of laws limiting our freedoms: how fast we drive, building codes on how we build our houses, that we can own guns but not flamethrowers, needing to wear clothes in public, and not being able to force our children to work b/c we need the money.

Of course, this debate is as old as the history of our country, as both (good) history books and the 2nd act of Hamilton dive into.

Unfortunately, our best hope in the short term against COVID-19 is going to be a combination of social distancing, hygiene, and masks. And some of the problems we’re encountering now with it are essential businesses like meat production closing b/c their employees are overrun by infections, which isn’t surprising given the insufficient protections in some of the plants and being located in areas that aren’t following distancing and mask wearing.

We’ve been here before as a country, and courts have ruled in favor of masks. And regardless, Disney as a private company is allowed to require them, by virtue of the same freedoms.

Bruce

 

[atlmgm]

Masks will definitely be encouraged and probably required - but i am not sure how that will be enforced in the FL heat and humidity unless Disney really staffs up the policing side. I am more concerned about Disney implementing some of the controls that have been published by a few of the Las Vegas casinos. For reference, go the Wynn Las Vegas and look at their 22 page health and safety plan. Screenings, secondary screenings, denying entry, and asking guests to leave are part of the document. It is a really good plan and well written and I can see Disney and others using this as a model.

My question would be (please read the Wynn plan and overlay the applicable parts to Disney) with all the controls/limits on hotels/parks/restaurants, will the value be worth the cost Disney charges. Disney is absolutely worth the value (in most cases in my opinion), but I do worry that until we have a vaccine or effective therapeutics, that we will be paying premium for very limited / restricted experiences.

 

[ziravan]

I’m a RN, required to have mask at work and keep one in the car for that purpose. Even though I have ready access to masks, even N95s, I do not wear them elsewhere as they aren’t mandated elsewhere.

Coronaviruses have been around - I was going to say for years - but the more accurate answer is centuries. They typically cause what we normally describe as a cold. I’m not saying this particular version can be dismissed as just a cold, mind you.

I do want to say a few things about it, though.

1. There’s a reason why we don’t have vaccines for the common cold and it’s because the viruses that cause them don’t stay in the same form long enough for vaccines to be developed and be/remain effective. They mutate.

2. Flattening the curve was never about making the virus go away or reducing the ultimate number of cases. Ultimately about 80% of the US population will become infected as that’s the definition of herd immunity. The point of social distancing is to slow down the cases to a point where they don’t overwhelm our resources. Said more to the point, flattening the curve means you’re still going to get it, but when (not likely if) you do, there’ll be a hospital bed and ventilator available if you need it.

3. So long as the local hospital system isn’t overwhelmed, increasing the burn rate through the population to a point where we get to herd immunity faster is the only way to make this thing finally go away.

4. There are no vaccines coming, They have never worked for these kinds of viruses. It is what it is. I’ll wear a mask when I’m forced to do so, but it’s futile otherwise.

 

[Simba's Mom]

So yeah, all ya’ll northeasterners are wearing masks. The national media seems to focus on the North of the country, so they make it seem like the New York metropolitan area is representative of the country. But it’s not. The USA is a big country with lots of diversity, and diversity of thought and lifestyle. It is different down south. I am not saying that there are not people wearing masks, but they are definitely in the minority though.

I guess we're in the minority, then, but down here south of Corpus Christi, we're required to wear masks. Like a PP said, stores have signs as you enter-"No mask, no admittance". It's hotter and more humid here than Orlando (we've already had days that reach 90s and 100s. with "feels like" temps hotter). Yes, it's hot and uncomfortable to wear a mask, but we have to.

 

[LTJoeFlo]

I have a hunch that Disney will not require masks. For a few reasons:

- The optics - I'm not sure what it does for the Disney brand to have hundreds of pictures floating around the internet of everyone on Main Street wearing masks. The silly UBS analyst article is still getting reposted every day. Would seeing this picture make people want to visit Disney more or less? Mask laws are divisive and I think Disney would prefer to avoid those discussions.

- ADA Guidelines - True, Disney is a private company and can require you to wear a mask, but what about people with disabilities? The ADA makes it illegal to discriminate against people who cannot wear a mask. I have a sinus issue that I am seeing a doctor for. I have a much harder time breathing in a mask. I think I could make the whole day but I understand that others cannot. I'm not an attorney, but I don't think Disney CMs can ask about what underlying health conditions exist that would prevent a person from wearing one. I think about the number of ECVs I see at Disney and would expect a comparable number of people not being required to wear masks.

- Eating/Drinking - How often do you see people walking with a Starbucks cup, Mickey bar, popcorn bucket, etc. You can't eat and wear a mask at the same time. As long as you have that in your hand, is it okay to not wear a mask?

- Enforcement - Disney will most likely not have the staffing to enforce this rule. My family goes to Disney quite a bit, I have seen almost every possible rule being broken. Often times, Disney CMs just turn away and pretend they didn't see it. I don't think many will be willing to get involved. Training would have to be given to CMs on how to enforce without inciting confrontation.

I have a trip booked in June. If Disney required masks, I will wear one. I will be more focused on the excitement that I have from the parks being open and not on the sweaty mask that I will have to wear

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I’m a RN, required to have mask at work and keep one in the car for that purpose. Even though I have ready access to masks, even N95s, I do not wear them elsewhere as they aren’t mandated elsewhere.

Coronaviruses have been around - I was going to say for years - but the more accurate answer is centuries. They typically cause what we normally describe as a cold. I’m not saying this particular version can be dismissed as just a cold, mind you.

I do want to say a few things about it, though.

1. There’s a reason why we don’t have vaccines for the common cold and it’s because the viruses that cause them don’t stay in the same form long enough for vaccines to be developed and be/remain effective. They mutate.

2. Flattening the curve was never about making the virus go away or reducing the ultimate number of cases. Ultimately about 80% of the US population will become infected as that’s the definition of herd immunity. The point of social distancing is to slow down the cases to a point where they don’t overwhelm our resources. Said more to the point, flattening the curve means you’re still going to get it, but when (not likely if) you do, there’ll be a hospital bed and ventilator available if you need it.

3. So long as the local hospital system isn’t overwhelmed, increasing the burn rate through the population to a point where we get to herd immunity faster is the only way to make this thing finally go away.

4. There are no vaccines coming, They have never worked for these kinds of viruses. It is what it is. I’ll wear a mask when I’m forced to do so, but it’s futile otherwise.

No vaccine? Are you sure? If that's the case why is there all this talk about a vaccine? Just to pacify us during this outbreak? I hope that what you are saying in #4 is wrong but I don't really know. I find #4 to be a destressing thought.

We have a vaccine for the flu, it has to be updated every year because the flu mutates every year. Couldn't there be a vaccine for this virus that we would have to update each year for the same reason?

I'm looking for some hope here.

 

[Spridell]

No vaccine? Are you sure? If that's the case why is there all this talk about a vaccine? Just to pacify us during this outbreak? I hope that what you are saying in #4 is wrong but I don't really know. I find #4 to be a destressing thought.

We have a vaccine for the flu, it has to be updated every year because the flu mutates every year. Couldn't there be a vaccine for this virus that we would have to update each year for the same reason?

I'm looking for some hope here.

I think what @ziravan was trying to say (and please correct me if I am wrong) is that, Coronavirus has been around for decades. Scientists have tried for years and years and they were never able to find a vaccine for any type of Coronavirus.

Now that being said, this time around there are more and more people working on it so hope is not completely lost.

 

[ziravan]

No vaccine? Are you sure? If that's the case why is there all this talk about a vaccine? Just to pacify us during this outbreak? I hope that what you are saying in #4 is wrong but I don't really know. I find #4 to be a destressing thought.

We have a vaccine for the flu, it has to be updated every year because the flu mutates every year. Couldn't there be a vaccine for this virus that we would have to update each year for the same reason?

I'm looking for some hope here.

The flu vaccine each year is a guess about future strains and coverage based on past strains. It’s why it’s never exactly right.

1. They don’t always guess correctly,

2. Even when they do, it’s at least partially out of date and so not exactly effective all the time,

There might eventually be a vaccine but it won’t be like polio: if everybody takes it the disease goes away,

Then again, if you want some hope here’s some: they teach more in a typical high school class today about the immune system than our advanced scientists knew in 1980. We knew very little when AIDS came along. Then we poured billions into studying it and now we have an effective treatment. Maybe the attention COViD 19 is getting over your typical “cold” will result in more information and a better vaccine. It’s possible. That said, it took 20 years for HIV and that’s a treatment not a vaccine.

 

[Darklord77]

We have all sorts of laws limiting our freedoms: how fast we drive, building codes on how we build our houses, that we can own guns but not flamethrowers, needing to wear clothes in public, and not being able to force our children to work b/c we need the money.

You had me worried with the above statement of not being able to own a flamethrower. I was a little nervous so I googled it and was relieved to discover you can legally own a personal flamethrower in 48 states. Some of you might question why would a person need a flamethrower? Have you ever seen Red Dawn?

 

[TisBit]

I think most people see these things as all or none. Either you have to wear a mask all the time or you don't have to wear one at all. I could see Disney implementing a middle ground to the mask rule. Such as any inside Queue's requiring a mask for adults before entering. It would be easy to accomplish, the CM's at the front of the line would regulate it similar to how stores do it now. Don't get in line until you have your mask on, etc. Most states are giving leeway to children for practical reasons, so Disney could also make it optional for kids. Then, people with medical conditions can you use the normal process for disabilities to get a card to exempt them or have to use an alternate queue that is maintaining social distancing.

States generally only require masks inside stores, etc. There is no reason Disney wouldn't take the same approach, if it allowed them to open up earlier than not having it.

 

[YeOswaldianSociety]

It is unfortunate that you deride differences among the states and regions, different ways of thinking and living. You do know that is the point of the federal system? You do realize that for the most part people self-select into communities? And government services? If I want more or less services or certain services, I am free to move accordingly. The most basic example of this is the HOA. Some people want the services HOAs provide, love how HOAs maintain property values, and move into HOA communities. Other people cringe at the thought of HOA rules and fees and don’t move into those communities. Why is that something to mock? Some people find it reassuring and comforting to hear from their governor every night on tv during the shutdown, others want to see and hear from government representatives as little as possible. People tend to organize immediate communities around these types of philosophical commonalities. But I think it is really important that we have respect for different communities and ways of living. Disney, like the airlines, has to walk a fine line and accommodate people from every community. What you define as collective safety, others may define as an arbitrary and pointless restriction upon the ability to breathe properly.

You do know that the science isn’t settled on masks anyway, right? Plus, there is a big difference between N95 masks worn properly, put on with sanitized hands and not touched again until changed out (ideally every couple of hours) and an old bandana or homemade cute Disney material mask worn loosely and unwashed for several days, taken repeatedly on and off and adjusted periodically with your unwashed contaminated hands. Dubious health benefits in the later. For Disney to implement a policy like face mask wearing that would affect people every moment of the day, the science has to be definitive, because it is a huge ask in the Florida sun. We’re not talking about a 30 minute grocery run. If you personally want to wear whatever you define as full protection, have at it.

You’re my favorite cowboy! Well, you and Mark Levin since he’s from Philly. Disney, like local supermarkets need to take your freedoms away to keep us all healthy. It’s tyranny I know but perhaps they’ll attempt to tread around and not on those from your state. We shall see, we shall see.

 

[SPLzero]

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-diy-coronavirus-homemade-mask-material-covid/
I found this Article and thought it was intresting about what different materials will filter.

 

[mgarbowski]

You’re my favorite cowboy!

What makes the person you responded to a cowboy? What does it have to do with the substance of what he or she said, and how does this add to the conversation?

 

[YeOswaldianSociety]

What makes the person you responded to a cowboy? What does it have to do with the substance of what he or she said, and how does this add to the conversation?

A cowboy/girl for our liberty to be free of the tyranny of masks at theme parks and supermarkets. Tyranny is also keeping me from getting a proper haircut and being able to go to Applebee’s. First they take away the Applebee’s, then they take away our assault weapons. As Alex Marlow is prone to say, it truly is a slippery slope.