WDW Should Not Open in July. Discuss.

[Mango7100]

I feel bad-I won't even let my girls play with the neighborhood kids. They have been playing with each other and face timing friends.. I do worry about the impact on them, but I just can't. I feel like the neighborhood mean mom.

Same here. And we have an only child. We have done bike riding with one other family who has isolated, but other friends have asked about play dates...I’m sitting here saying no way, I can see their social media posts going out and about with bunches of other people

 

[rigs32]

For my family, I can’t see how wdw is any different than our daily risk.

In your daily life, the people you are coming in contact with are from your area. If your numbers are low, the risks are lower. By going to WDW, you'll be traveling to get there (which can be a risk even if driving) and interacting with people from potential hot spots along the way. Once you get to the park, you have no idea if the people around you are from someplace with low numbers or high numbers.

For me, my risk assessment is very much tied to the numbers in my area.

 

[mefordis]

In your daily life, the people you are coming in contact with are from your area. If your numbers are low, the risks are lower. By going to WDW, you'll be traveling to get there (which can be a risk even if driving) and interacting with people from potential hot spots along the way. Once you get to the park, you have no idea if the people around you are from someplace with low numbers or high numbers.

For me, my risk assessment is very much tied to the numbers in my area.

But we don't really know if the people we are in contact with in our area at Target, Walmart, and other places have been outside of the state or even if they are visitors from somewhere else.

 

[bavaria]

Unfortunately the risk of going to a park in Europe can't be remotely compared to visiting one in the US. The EU countries got the virus under relative control. In the US it's out of control. Europeans have been vastly more compliant individually in terms of taking responsible steps to wear masks and follow social distancing protocols. Europeans are typically aghast at what is happening in the US today.

It's important to note that when some parts of Europe started to open in early May, there were still hundreds of cases daily. In Germany, and in Portugal, for the last month there are hundreds of new cases a day, but usually under 10 deaths per day. So as Colleen noted, while cases are not flat, deaths continue to decline. This has been the trend almost everywhere in western and central Europe, even as travel has resumed and restrictions lifted and large gatherings permitted.

Europa Park is probably a good case study, as there was no elimination of the virus, yet no increase attributed to opening. Of course the situation in Florida is more significant, but still this shows that countries do not need to go the extreme route of NZ and try and eliminate the virus entirely before opening.

The glorious Ba Na Hills reopened in 30th April, but as Vietnam has contained the cases and reduced to almost zero, it isn't a great case study. I don't see anything specific if they are keeping cable cars separated by family groups but other than masks, everything seems back to the wonderful kooky 'normal' of this amazing place.

But we need non-essential spending to get people back to work, and it is impossible to ignore the pressure to do so now that the stimulus check is a distant memory, the unemployment supplement is coming to an end, and evictions are starting to get rolling again. The last forecast I saw said analysts are expecting 7 to 10 million households will be evicted as this year as a result of the pandemic - that's between 5 and 8% of all American households. Governments and companies are going to have to take the impact of continued closures into account as they move forward, or the human suffering will be catastrophic.

Chris Patten brought up this week when he was speaking on the shocking events of 1st July that COVID has completely taken over the global mindset, and that this gave great timing to implement the law. He's right - certainly I have seen zero mention of this on this site in the last few days, despite this being in the media elsewhere as the main headlines, and the top discussion amongst my circle, and what makes me feel sick to consider the implications. We were talking about Article 38 in particular yesterday over lunch and someone said that the US COVID discussion was overtaking the story globally. (Thankfully, we were all from the very short list of countries which have publically spoken out, but I'm not even sure if any of the American readers have seen any information in their media)

While this is of course a major global pandemic, the reality is that life goes on for everyone and COVID is not the only topic. Many of us are dealing with other serious or critical illness (and cannot get the proper treatments and therapies as the world is on hold for COVID) Other things are happening around the world, and are not being discussed in the media. People are going to be starving in many parts of the world due to the lack of travel, the lockdowns, the impact on supply chains, the lack of harvests, etc.

We have to find a way to balance the needs of all people, and that may mean making difficult and unpopular decisions.

 

[LSUmiss]

In your daily life, the people you are coming in contact with are from your area. If your numbers are low, the risks are lower. By going to WDW, you'll be traveling to get there (which can be a risk even if driving) and interacting with people from potential hot spots along the way. Once you get to the park, you have no idea if the people around you are from someplace with low numbers or high numbers.

For me, my risk assessment is very much tied to the numbers in my area.

I can appreciate that. But, the numbers In my area are high. We were a hotspot & seems we may be on our way to being one again. Still below 10% positivity rate but barely,

 

[godisney14]

But we don't really know if the people we are in contact with in our area at Target, Walmart, and other places have been outside of the state or even if they are visitors from somewhere else.

Correct. No, you don’t know.
But, you can be certain that the population mix within your area’s stores have a much higher proportion of people from your surrounding area than if you were at WDW.

As LSUmiss correctly points out, this matters more for people who live in a fairly low infection area and then possibly visiting WDW. For people from a hotspot visiting WDW, it would be an advantage. But, this goes back to what @rigs32 is pointing out.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The key difference between parks like WDW and parks like Six Flags - indoor queues and rides. Yes, if you stay outdoors, wear masks and distance yourself, you will be reasonably safe from this. But when you step inside, with the AC blowing, distancing and the sun are removed from the equation. You are now hoping that your mask saves you because this has been proven beyond a doubt to be spread throughout a room by AC ventilation.

So, go to WDW. Walk around and enjoy the experience. I like to just walk around the parks. But the minute you step into a store, restaurant or ride queue, you put your life in danger.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I feel bad-I won't even let my girls play with the neighborhood kids. They have been playing with each other and face timing friends.. I do worry about the impact on them, but I just can't. I feel like the neighborhood mean mom.

For as difficult as this pandemic has been on all of us, it's just so much harder for those of you who have children. I have one sister who lives in the same town as me. The kids are allowed to visit with their friends outside, at a distance, with masks on, but not allowed to go into anyone's house. They go to the beach with their friends families during the week from time to time. But my sister drives them and picks them up because she doesn't want them in anyone else's car. My sister and brother-in-law plan, for now, to send them back to school in September.

My sister in North Carolina is more freaked out by all of this and has only allowed a few outside interactions with kids. My nephew is very high functioning, but is on the spectrum, and occasionally has impulse control, so my sister has to supervise interactions, especially now. I so feel for him because he's made amazing strides in social interactions and my sister can see that this has already set him back. His birthday is next week, and my sister is surprising him with a big outdoor blow-up movie screen, so he can have friends over for outdoor movies this summer. It's something I guess.

But I feel your pain, and you're a good Mom...not a mean one. Hang in there.

 

[Brett Wyman]

The key difference between parks like WDW and parks like Six Flags - indoor queues and rides. Yes, if you stay outdoors, wear masks and distance yourself, you will be reasonably safe from this. But when you step inside, with the AC blowing, distancing and the sun are removed from the equation. You are now hoping that your mask saves you because this has been proven beyond a doubt to be spread throughout a room by AC ventilation.

So, go to WDW. Walk around and enjoy the experience. I like to just walk around the parks. But the minute you step into a store, restaurant or ride queue, you put your life in danger.

In relation to the AC it’s be proven that the risk is greatly reduced if they switch the HVAC from recirculating to fresh air intake mode. It’s actually a recommendation on the CDC website for reopening businesses. Most major HVAC systems should have that option, but no idea if WDW is following those guidelines. Using fresh air intake obviously makes the HVAC work harder to cool, which is why recirculating is used usually.

 

[sam_gordon]

In relation to the AC it’s be proven that the risk is greatly reduced if they switch the HVAC from recirculating to fresh air intake mode. It’s actually a recommendation on the CDC website for reopening businesses. Most major HVAC systems should have that option, but no idea if WDW is following those guidelines. Using fresh air intake obviously makes the HVAC work harder to cool, which is why recirculating is used usually.

I've seen this in vehicles, but not in homes or businesses. I'm part of the maintenance team for my company and we don't have a "fresh air intake mode". Is that common?

 

[C&Jx2]

We were visiting Universal for the last week. We felt safe with the precautions that were being taken, even with the spike in cases. Our decision to not visit Disney when they first open was based more on their operations than the virus.

 

[Nayan]

But we don't really know if the people we are in contact with in our area at Target, Walmart, and other places have been outside of the state or even if they are visitors from somewhere else.

Our local news (Orlando area) has been reporting that a number of Publix workers have been testing positive. I also noticed while shopping at Publix yesterday plenty of out-of-state plates (CT NJ NY) in the parking lot. Not many folks wearing masks either.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Our local news (Orlando area) has been reporting that a number of Publix workers have been testing positive. I also noticed while shopping at Publix yesterday plenty of out-of-state plates (CT NJ NY) in the parking lot. Not many folks wearing masks either.

Those people have been there since March. It's not new.

 

[KBoopaloo]

Correct. No, you don’t know.
But, you can be certain that the population mix within your area’s stores have a much higher proportion of people from your surrounding area than if you were at WDW.

As LSUmiss correctly points out, this matters more for people who live in a fairly low infection area and then possibly visiting WDW. For people from a hotspot visiting WDW, it would be an advantage. But, this goes back to what @rigs32 is pointing out.

Though people already in a hotspot should theoretically be limiting their own travel and movement even while at home to avoid helping to contribute to the spread. Someone traveling from one hotspot to another just gives everyone they encounter along the way there, back and once they are home an even greater chance of potentially catching it from them.

 

[Nayan]

Those people have been there since March. It's not new.

I overheard a few of them say they just arrived and here for the weekend...so they are new. Which is troubling to me. I know they will have to quarantine when they go back, but it doesn't make me feel any safer here.

 

[Nabas]

I overheard a few of them say they just arrived and here for the weekend...so they are new. Which is troubling to me. I know they will have to quarantine when they go back, but it doesn't make me feel any safer here.

You're assuming they will self-quarantine when they return to CT, NY, and NJ.

The quarantine is not being enforced, which really means it's just a guideline.

 

[hsmamato2]

Noravirus is a problem not just on cruise ships. Cruise ships get most of the norovirus attention because the people remain captive together through the outbreak. The same things happen at hotels but it does not make the news because the outbreak ends up spread out all over the place as the sick people leave the hotel instead of confined to the ship.

The world has always been dirty and full of germs.

well,yes I know this, and that's exactly why I'm done with cruising. B/c I can always go home from hotel anytime I want, but I'm stuck 100% on a cruise ship with 800 people.... IDK. In my mind, the thought of a cruise has become not a fun choice but feeling trapped in a situation that could turn bad.

 

[hertamaniac]

Our local news (Orlando area) has been reporting that a number of Publix workers have been testing positive. I also noticed while shopping at Publix yesterday plenty of out-of-state plates (CT NJ NY) in the parking lot. Not many folks wearing masks either.

Yes, and below is a link.

I also agree with the out-of-state plates being higher than previous months. The amount of folks not wearing masks still amazes me when grocery shopping.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/r...ave-had-workers-test-positive-for-coronavirus

 

[Christine]

Yes, and below is a link.

I also agree with the out-of-state plates being higher than previous months. The amount of folks not wearing masks still amazes me when grocery shopping.

I find the *mentality* (for lack of a better word) of people in different regions to be so interesting and curious. Quite the psychological study it would make. Where I live in Virginia, we have pretty much 100% mask compliance. In the very early days of our mask mandates, there was a stray one or two people I saw who didn't have one on, but that changed after about the first week.

Honestly with so much mask compliance here, I think anyone who has a differing opinion in my area doesn't have the cajones to waltz in and try it. There's plenty on our local Facebook pages screaming about it, but I guess in person they are wimps.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I find the *mentality* (for lack of a better word) of people in different regions to be so interesting and curious. Quite the psychological study it would make. Where I live in Virginia, we have pretty much 100% mask compliance. In the very early days of our mask mandates, there was a stray one or two people I saw who didn't have one on, but that changed after about the first week.

Honestly with so much mask compliance here, I think anyone who has a differing opinion in my area doesn't have the cajones to waltz in and try it. There's plenty on our local Facebook pages screaming about it, but I guess in person they are wimps.

Masks were something I saw split on who was wearing them voluntarily vs required by the store in my area but even within stores that required them or people wearing them voluntarily there was always people wearing them improperly so wearing one isn't the whole story. If people are 100% perfect where you're at with wearing the mask properly (not under the chin, not under the nose, not moving around a ton), cleaning the mask regularly, carrying multiple ones with them to change them out, not touching the mask on while it's on that is very commendable and an example for what other places should be doing.