Summer time attendance spike?

[BuckeyeBama]

I agree. Just think if you are waiting in line and anyone sneezes or coughs next to you (or if you are the one doing it) for whatever reason. The theater seating puts lots of people together, as does the buses and the monorail. We are going to have to feel like we are past this to enjoy a vacation at WDW.

That being said, I was planning for our large family to go in December or January, and I'm still wishing.

There were a lot of us who took advantage of great deals in the years after 9/11. Depending on how this plays out, it may take those kinds of steps to get people to come back. Some of us will return almost no matter what, but many will be more cautious.

 

[sethschroeder]

There were a lot of us who took advantage of great deals in the years after 9/11. Depending on how this plays out, it may take those kinds of steps to get people to come back. Some of us will return almost no matter what, but many will be more cautious.

I think part of the issue is that Disney is going to continue to shut down the park little by little and people will opt for a closer to home vacation for 2020.

What I think this really does is shift a ton of visitors to spring/summer 2021 and possibly 2022 for the 50th.

You also have some people who actually lost their vacation budgets in places like VRBO who possibly can't afford to even go on a Disney vacation now for a few years (this is who I feel the most sorry for as I can't even imagine the blow that would be).

 

[SarahC97]

We have an early June trip planned. Our school district added a week at spring break. I'm guessing our district, along with many others, will have to add on days at the end of the year going into June. I'm praying that will be true! Then our early June trip may be quite pleasant. (wishful thinking!)

Our schools did the same, but the governor of my state (Indiana) gave schools an additional 20 days of time off so that they don't have to add days at the end of the school year. I'd be surprised if more states don't do this so that it won't eat into the summer.

And we're going in early June too -- fingers crossed!

 

[quandrea]

There is no way to predict what might happen. If a million people die from this, it might be years before people feel safe enough to travel. Remember 9/11? It took years before Americans felt safe again.

But if there is a very reliable vaccine, we could move on very quickly.

This. People are looking to the summer and fall, but I’m not travelling anywhere crowded or y plane until there is a vaccine. My family has to do all we can to avoid catching this due to preexisting conditions. Regardless of what governments do, we are on lockdown save for my husband’s work, groceries and I suppose my eldest daughter’s school once it reopens. Nothing else will be done until a vaccine is in our arms and immunity established. Eighty percent of people will catch this. I’m doing my best to have my family be part of the other twenty percent.

 

[mickeymom629]

There were a lot of us who took advantage of great deals in the years after 9/11. Depending on how this plays out, it may take those kinds of steps to get people to come back. Some of us will return almost no matter what, but many will be more cautious.

While 9/11 was terrifying for some when thinking about traveling and the few monsters in this world who could do such a thing, it was not a virus spread by being near people in general. This is an ongoing threat from the people who are around you in day-to-day life. (maybe not worded very well, but I hope you know what I mean)

ETA After 9/11 they set up increased security. Not sure what they can do about people who are sick.

I think we all need a helmet like Buzz Lightyear.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

While 9/11 was terrifying for some when thinking about traveling and the few monsters in this world who could do such a think, it was not a virus spread by being near people in general. This is an ongoing threat from the people who are around you in day-to-day life. (maybe not worded very well, but I hope you know what I mean)

I do - I think that a vaccine is part of the solution. Until there is a vaccine, many (including myself) will not be doing anything remotely like WDW again.

 

[Sarahslay]

I actually noticed that some room availability came open for the time during my July trip (8-15). We are staying at Poly and there are two categories that were sold out that now have availability, so I looked at other resorts and there is so much left to book, which usually isn't the case the closer you get to summer. I had a quick solo trip for F&G booked for the last few days of March in to April and rescheduled for mid-May, made my FP today knowing I may have to move this trip again, but if I do I'll move it to the fall so I can go to F&W. I always take huge precautions at WDW to avoid getting sick, have been surrounded by too many little kids hacking up their lungs on buses to not do all I can for my health while there, so I will just continue to do my best. I also think a lot of people will be badly affected by this financially that they won't be re-booking. I have a friend that works at the CDC and she says they have no clue if this will subside as temperatures rise, but they are all really hoping it does, as I'm sure most of us are (and hoping it does so quickly before too bad of an impact financially occurs so we can bounce back a bit easier).

 

[chaboyd]

I absolutely think a lot of people are going to have to end up canceling their trip because of financial fallout. We actually have a pretty good reserve set aside, but the thought of the unknown is making me think twice about spending a considerable amount on even a fairly budget friendly Disney trip. Our trip is planned for mid-August.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

My husband and I were just talking about this. We have a short trip planned for 6/10-6/14. We usually love that time of year because crowds are manageable, but am concerned that all those rescheduling is going to amp up crowds. We are considering a switch to a beach vacation instead.

We were trying to reschedule our dates for those same dates and all the hotels we wanted were full. So we have changed things up. We are staying off site and hoping for an after hours party or the villans party on the 12th. We can take in the beach and some of the cool things we never have time for.

 

[sleepymouse]

While 9/11 was terrifying for some when thinking about traveling and the few monsters in this world who could do such a thing, it was not a virus spread by being near people in general. This is an ongoing threat from the people who are around you in day-to-day life. (maybe not worded very well, but I hope you know what I mean)

I completely agree that this is an entirely different situation, and the effects will ripple and be felt in so many different ways for years and years. About 10 days after 9/11, I flew across country and actually felt very safe. Airports were on high alert and extremely careful with security. This virus, though, represents an uncertain future. I have a trip booked for late August and am just waiting to see where we are when summer arrives.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So we all have come to realise in the summer the WDW crowds are lighter. I have this presumption that attendance this year 2020 will be heavier in the summer due to the closing. Thats a lot of vacations and planning that had to be adjusted.

Also to mention now all the free time families will be able to get earlier for instance May and June because kids may still be out of school or be eligible for a no attendance policy. Interested to see the crowds this summer.

If kids are still widely out of school May-June it would be insane for WDW to be open.

I’m not sure people are really grasping what will be needed to flatten the curve and tamp down on this until a vaccine is actually available.

 

[disneydreamer781]

 

[chaoskids]

My youngest is a Senior. I’m so thankful our state is utilizing online learning and packets. No extension of the school year. He worked on class work several hours today and had online meetings with his class this evening.

 

[shaycamp21]

We have a July trip (7-16) booked so are waiting to see how this all pans out. We live in Canada and our dollar has taken quite a beating so if it falls too low it may not be worth it to go even it is possible (which will break my heart ). First world problem I know so trying to put everything in perspective.

 

[Kestryl]

I would be thrilled to deal with high crowds at the end of May, because it will mean it’s open.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I definitely don't forsee massive crowds this summer, given how uncertain things still are now in terms of when travel will go back to normal, and that it takes time to plan a trip to Disney World. We have an end of May/early June trip scheduled that we'll keep if WDW is open, but I'm also planning a fall-back trip for mid-July in case WDW isn't yet open in early summer.

 

[cgattis]

I’m by no means an “anti-vaccinator,” but y’all do realize there is a vaccine for the flu, and it still kills tens of thousands a year in the US? Not to mention the ones who get the flu FROM the vaccine (some of which also die). My kids have had the flu the past two years with the vaccine. It’s still a crapshoot. I just hope I can maintain a high level of self-protection (like working HARD not to touch my face!) and make it a lifelong habit.

 

[Love Tink]

I’m by no means an “anti-vaccinator,” but y’all do realize there is a vaccine for the flu, and it still kills tens of thousands a year in the US? Not to mention the ones who get the flu FROM the vaccine (some of which also die). My kids have had the flu the past two years with the vaccine. It’s still a crapshoot. I just hope I can maintain a high level of self-protection (like working HARD not to touch my face!) and make it a lifelong habit.

Flu vaccines are less efficacious because there are multiple strains of flu every year and the vaccine does not cover them all.

A Covid-19 vaccine would be specifically designed for this virus and would be far more effective. However, there is no reason to believe a vaccine will be available in 2020.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Flu vaccines are less efficacious because there are multiple strains of flu every year and the vaccine does not cover them all.

A Covid-19 vaccine would be specifically designed for this virus and would be far more effective. However, there is no reason to believe a vaccine will be available in 2020.

True -- 2020 seems unlikely for a COVID-19 vaccine. And it won't be 100% regardless, but will make a HUGE difference. But importantly, the flu vaccine does NOT cause the flu -- that's a common misconception: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm

What I understand from a lot of research, is that our hope between now and a COVID-19 vaccine is to 1) blunt this curve as much as possible right now to try to limit total number of people impacted, but most acutely important prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed (like Italy is now), and 2) concurrently work to identify and widely produce therapeutics (anti-virals) that will make an impact (there's already work being done on this). Appears that we are counting on those therapeutics to deal with the resurgence that we'll see once the aggressive containment and mitigation efforts cease (after we're on the downswing of this initial outbreak). SO many unknowns, and a lot depends on our collective behavior.

But again wrt the OP -- if the schools are still closed as part of containment/mitigation efforts, it would be indescribably irresponsible for WDW to be open. We should all hope that's a nonissue.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I’m by no means an “anti-vaccinator,” but y’all do realize there is a vaccine for the flu, and it still kills tens of thousands a year in the US? Not to mention the ones who get the flu FROM the vaccine (some of which also die). My kids have had the flu the past two years with the vaccine. It’s still a crapshoot. I just hope I can maintain a high level of self-protection (like working HARD not to touch my face!) and make it a lifelong habit.

One thing about the flu vaccine though, is that even if you still do catch the flu, the vaccine reduces the severity of the symptoms so that you are significantly less likely to require hospitalization.

There's still a huge amount of people who refuse to get the vaccine. Those folk, I'm guessing, would make up the majority of flu related deaths.

The viruses in the flu vaccine are killed. You cannot get the flu from a vaccine made with killed viruses. People who think they got the flu from the shot were exposed to the flu right before getting the shot, so the coincidence of the timing makes them think it was the shot that caused it.