Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[SoFloMagic]

Now that testing is readily available this seems like a no brainer. It‘s not possible to test every CM every day but taking a sample and then if someone is positive also following up and testing the CMs in that same physical area can go a long way towards preventing spread.

Completely agree. Hopefully speed of results improves though, as several people I know have waited 5-6 days for results with the backlog. Of course others have gotten next-day results.

 

[MrMichaelJames]

So there we have it folks. The CEO has said they will “likely require cast members and guests to wear masks”.

So now you can decide for yourself when to go back to the parks.

I personally wouldn’t go back until everything is running 100% normal again, including parades / fireworks. I’m not paying that much to not get a full experience.

We also will not go back until everything is back to normal. I saw pics today of Disney with kids in masks and it does not look fun at all. I refuse to do that. So if they require masks it actually makes our decisions on where to spend our vacation dollars easier.

 

[Wes Tacker]

Maybe it’s reading too much into this, but if he’s saying masks would be required and that masks would be really challenging in the summertime is he hinting that they won’t be open in the summer? DLR would be less challenging since the temps are more moderate with less humidity. Who knows.

If you watch the video he says they likely will require masks and that could be challenging for some folks, especially during the hot summers. So if anything, I'd say that implies they are planning to open in the summer.

 

[Lilofan]

Disney CEO Bob Chapek talks to CNBC and confirms masks likely for Cast Members and Guests at Walt Disney World

Bob Chapek comments on today's opening of Shanghai Disney and the road ahead for Disney's parks.

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[Michelle2411]

I agree. If you’re a pass holder or have been many times this might not be a big deal. If this is a trip of a lifetime or only come every few years you might want to wait. With limited capacity I doubt they’ll have trouble getting enough guests to come.

I live in the U.K. and I’m due to visit in September for my fourth time. Wearing masks and dealing with limited capacity and limited offerings wouldn’t bother me too much but I’m visiting with some friends who’ve never been before so we’re hoping we get the chance to rearrange until next year as they don’t want their first experience to be so limited, which I don’t blame them for!

 

[Hcalvert]

Bodyguard like procedures for characters.

I don't think the situations presented in the videos look bad at all and better than the crush that WDW usually is.

 

[rk03221]

I worked at Disney and there is no way in hell guests are going to listen lol. I’d say 8/10 of them never did and yelled at us whenever we tried to enforce anything, I feel so bad for the cms

 

[GoofGoof]

I look at this and go, this looks like an amazing time to go on rides with little to no wait everywhere, then after the reservations only period is over, I can do the shows, parades, etc. again.

But this from the vantage point of having an annual pass.

The only thing we still don’t know for sure is how much will be open in each park. In theory if everything is open and there’s a severely limited crowd it’s like a park fanboy dream where everything is a walk on. If they take a significant amount of ride capacity off line then there may still be long waits for some attractions. In a park like MK it probably won‘t be as big of an issue but if you look at DHS and they shut down all of the theater based attractions which are huge people eaters (Fantasmic, Indy stunt show, muppets, Beauty and the Beast, Disney Jr, Little Mermaid, Frozen sing along) plus the meet and greets like SW Launch Bay that’s a lot of capacity gone. Everyone in the park will be spread between 9 rides: RnRC, ToT, Star Tours, MMRR, 2 SW rides and 3 Toy Story. Better than it was pre-construction but still could feel more crowded due to restrictions.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I worked at Disney and there is no way in hell guests are going to listen lol. I’d say 8/10 of them never did and yelled at us whenever we tried to enforce anything, I feel so bad for the cms

With Disney likely opening at less then 30% capacity like Shanghai, I assume it won’t be too hard for Disney to enforce this if it is indeed something they end up requiring.

I’d wager they’d have CM’s who’s job it is to enforce all COVID related regulations in the parks and on property. Hopefully removing a general CM from the equation as much as possible.

 

[LittleBuford]

I’d say for a first time visit, this would be a weird time to go. But most people here know the parks well and I don’t think it would be that much of a detriment. As for immersion, remember all the complaints about Pandora and that we should be wearing masks on the toxic planet. This brings us closer to that level of immersion.

More power to those of you who are able to see past the masks and remain immersed. For me, however, the magic would be compromised and perhaps even ruined.

 

[GoofGoof]

I worked at Disney and there is no way in hell guests are going to listen lol. I’d say 8/10 of them never did and yelled at us whenever we tried to enforce anything, I feel so bad for the cms

I do too. Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I would hope that anyone who goes knows in advance what the rules are and if they have any issue just stays away. In normal times I agree with you. Maybe people will actually realize these are not normal times and the rules are for their benefit....I’m not sure I even believe what I wrote. I do feel really bad for the CMs

 

[ThatMouse]

I agree. If you’re a pass holder or have been many times this might not be a big deal. If this is a trip of a lifetime or only come every few years you might want to wait. With limited capacity I doubt they’ll have trouble getting enough guests to come.

Being a passholder, I have the opposite view. We certainly don't mind missing half the attractions since we go all the time, but I'm fairly certain there will be longer waits for everything. We have two 4-night reservations for Sept and Dec. I'm expecting park hopping and resort hopping to be slower and restrictive, and I'm not sure about getting on transportation with a bunch of kids who aren't going to know how to wear their masks.

We will probably be looking for an 8+ month refund on our season passes and just rebuy next year.

 

[rk03221]

I do too. Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I would hope that anyone who goes knows in advance what the rules are and if they have any issue just stays away. In normal times I agree with you. Maybe people will actually realize these are not normal times and the rules are for their benefit....I’m not sure I even believe what I wrote. I do feel really bad for the CMs

Even if people know the rules they play stupid to try and get out of them...like all the time lol. The unfortunate thing about a lot of guests at WDW anyways is there are so many of them that try to “beat the system” and get out of whatever it is they can’t do. I guarantee you there will be tons of them that will say they are allergic or something to their masks so they won’t have to wear them. It happens a lot more than you probably think and I’m not trying to sound pessimistic but I saw so much of that kind of behavior when I worked there

 

[GoofGoof]

Completely agree. Hopefully speed of results improves though, as several people I know have waited 5-6 days for results with the backlog. Of course others have gotten next-day results.

Here’s where Disney needs to step up. They go to the state of Florida and say: hey guys, you want us open for the sake of the local economy we need a same day test lab setup right near our park which can process X number of tests a day for us. Without that we don’t open. I’m assuming they have at least 2 months and maybe longer to get that setup. It’s not like they are opening the parks today or even next month.

 

[LittleBuford]

Most of us would probably agree that Dinsey with masks is still more fun than sitting in our houses.

Under the present circumstances, I would much prefer to stay at home watching Disney+, or go for a stroll around the block.

 

[CastAStone]

I worked at Disney and there is no way in hell guests are going to listen lol. I’d say 8/10 of them never did and yelled at us whenever we tried to enforce anything, I feel so bad for the cms

Chapek said in the video that guest cooperation will dictate whether or not they stay open. It was clear from his tone that he didn’t expect Florida guests to behave either.

 

[GoofGoof]

Even if people know the rules they play stupid to try and get out of them...like all the time lol. The unfortunate thing about a lot of guests at WDW anyways is there are so many of them that try to “beat the system” and get out of whatever it is they can’t do. I guarantee you there will be tons of them that will say they are allergic or something to their masks so they won’t have to wear them. It happens a lot more than you probably think and I’m not trying to sound pessimistic but I saw so much of that kind of behavior when I worked there

You are right. It’s going to be a big part of the challenge. That’s one of the reasons I thought they would wait until they could make masks recommended instead of required to open. It‘s still possible they make it required and then just instruct CMs not to actively enforce except at the main gates.

 

[GoofGoof]

Chapek said in the video that guest cooperation will dictate whether or not they stay open. It was clear from his tone that he didn’t expect Florida guests to behave either.

Certainly from a mask rule perspective DS will be a good test. If there are issues there it will definitely delay any potential park open. If people generally behave it may help to ease some of their concerns about opening the parks with masks. Still not the same thing as all day outside in a mask, but it’s a first step.

 

[Polynesia]

Here’s where Disney needs to step up. They go to the state of Florida and say: hey guys, you want us open for the sake of the local economy we need a same day test lab setup right near our park which can process X number of tests a day for us. Without that we don’t open. I’m assuming they have at least 2 months and maybe longer to get that setup. It’s not like they are opening the parks today or even next month.

The state talks about it often. Still waiting for it to materialize. There are rapid test results and that’s what they want to reopen everything. They need this to help with immediate contact tracing. We’ll see how long it takes to put in place.

 

[rk03221]

Chapek said in the video that guest cooperation will dictate whether or not they stay open. It was clear from his tone that he didn’t expect Florida guests to behave either.

They never do, wdw has that reputation company wide lol. Disneyland doesn’t have the issues Florida does with guests.

which is why imo I won’t go until this clears up.