Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[BrianLo]

I think we are finally starting to see what would actually be considered a second wave kicking off in the US. It being in full swing in wealthy European Nations and Central Canada.

The problem with interpreting anything as waves in the US is that it has really just been a patchwork of multiple overlapping first waves. The North East, The Sunbelt States, most recently the Mountain States. To oversimplify.

Quebec and Ontario are heading in pretty bad directions and they really were somewhat included in the original New York and area outbreak. It seems like the North Eastern states are about to follow suit, unfortunately.

I still think return to school was the best decision. But buckle in...

 

[techgeek]

One thing I know and I think everyone would agree is that we can't do the things we like to do or used to do. Where we disagree is whether we think this is a good thing or a bad thing.

I think that we might even all agree that it's 'bad'... The disagreement is in whether or not such restrictions are necessary.

 

[Miss Bella]

I think that we might even all agree that it's 'bad'... The disagreement is in whether or not such restrictions are necessary.

I agree with that.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I think we are finally starting to see what would actually be considered a second wave kicking off in the US. It being in full swing in wealthy European Nations and Central Canada.

The problem with interpreting anything as waves in the US is that it has really just been a patchwork of multiple overlapping first waves. The North East, The Sunbelt States, most recently the Mountain States. To oversimplify.

Quebec and Ontario are heading in pretty bad directions and they really were somewhat included in the original New York and area outbreak. It seems like the North Eastern states are about to follow suit, unfortunately.

I still think return to school was the best decision. But buckle in...

The North East, Midwest and Central Canada are poorly equipped to handle the upcoming winter months IMO. I mean that both in terms of stopping the spread and helping businesses that will be effected by the inevitable second major lock down.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I agree with that.

As do I. I certainly don’t like how 2020 is gone. I’m just not sure what I think the solution is.

 

[BrianLo]

The North East, Midwest and Central Canada are poorly equipped to handle the upcoming winter months IMO. I mean that both in terms of stopping the spread and helping businesses that will be effected by the inevitable second major lock down.

Hopefully they stashed some money away. I have a few family members in Ontario in the restaurant industry. Accessible businesses (i.e. Patios or well setup indoor dining/takeout) were actually doing better this summer and early Fall than pre-COVID.

Which seems unbelievable, but it has matched my anecdotal experience. Toronto, Hamilton and London were busy in September!

This experience has been interesting because consumer spending hasn't really disappeared like many of us thought it would. No one is acting like there is a sort of recession and therefore there sort of isn't.

January and February might be pretty painful though after the last hurrah of Christmas spending.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

One thing I know and I think everyone would agree is that we can't do the things we like to do or used to do.

Well.. I can. I’m choosing not to. That’s my point. Everything around me is open, except for indoor sports events and large concerts.

I can’t go to nyc or Las Vegas to see shows. But I could go to pigeon forge or Branson if I wanted to see some.

 

[Miss Bella]

Well.. I can. I’m choosing not to. That’s my point. Everything around me is open, except for indoor sports events and large concerts.

I can’t go to nyc or Las Vegas to see shows. But I could go to pigeon forge or Branson if I wanted to see some.

I guess because we can do this, but we can't do that means that we can do everything we want to do. Makes total sense I'm glad you cleared that up.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I guess because we can do this, but we can't do that means that we can do everything we want to do. Makes total sense I'm glad you cleared that up.

I’m honestly trying to understand what you think we should be doing or not doing. What’s your solution?

What I’m saying is it seems most states are being reasonable right now. I feel like my state is, and most things are open around me.

That doesn’t mean I want this, but it seems to be keeping the disease from spreading? Seems like a decent compromise.

Maybe I’m reading you wrong... do you think most states are doing the right thing and you’re just wishing it was all over?

 

[oceanbreeze77]

The Temp is also dropping in the east. Dont see outdoor dining/socializing lasting much longer.

 

[Heppenheimer]

The Temp is also dropping in the east. Dont see outdoor dining/socializing lasting much longer.

I suspect we'll see a lot of those outdoor area heaters this winter. They do nothing in bitterly cold weather (like where I live), but properly positioned, they can help sustain outdoor dining in places with more moderate winters, like NYC, DC or Philadelphia.

Maybe a trend of European "apres-ski" type of bars will pop up this winter.

 

[Jrb1979]

Hopefully they stashed some money away. I have a few family members in Ontario in the restaurant industry. Accessible businesses (i.e. Patios or well setup indoor dining/takeout) were actually doing better this summer and early Fall than pre-COVID.

Which seems unbelievable, but it has matched my anecdotal experience. Toronto, Hamilton and London were busy in September!

This experience has been interesting because consumer spending hasn't really disappeared like many of us thought it would. No one is acting like there is a sort of recession and therefore there sort of isn't.

January and February might be pretty painful though after the last hurrah of Christmas spending.

I live in Ontario and while people were spending money, I have a feeling that is going to come to an end soon due to the government subsidy ending. Up til now for anyone not working due to Covid could get $2000 a month. That has since ended the end of September and now switched to Unemployment. I have a feeling now is when people are going to start feeling the loss of income.

 

[Polkadotdress]

One thing I know and I think everyone would agree is that we can't do the things we like to do or used to do.

There is another aspect to this, not just related strictly to shut downs and restrictions. And that would be income. Both my husband and I have had an income change due to the pandemic. Do we both have jobs? Yes. Is one of us furloughed? Yes. Has the other one of us experienced a reduction in salary while still working? Yes.

I am so very much longing to travel. Am I allowed to travel to Mexico? Yes. Would I like to travel to Mexico? Yes. Can I actually make hotel and flight reservation to do so? No...as there simply aren't funds. Apply that same comparison to dining out, purchasing new clothing, traveling locally...and the answers will still be the same. We simply are not doing it.

As many others have said, simply "opening things up" won't necessarily cause a change in behavior. We must solve for the ongoing challenge of the pandemic, before the economy, and our specific household, can be a contributing member of the economy again.

 

[DCBaker]

"The Broadway League announces the continued suspension of all ticket sales for Broadway performances in NYC through May 30, 2021. Dates for each returning and new Broadway show will be announced as individual productions determine the performance schedules for their respective shows. The League will provide updates to the public as more information becomes available."

Broadway Update On Performance Cancellations

New York, NY – October 9, 2020 – The Broadway League announces the continued suspension of all ticket sales for Broadway performa...

www.broadwayleague.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[easyrowrdw]

The Temp is also dropping in the east. Dont see outdoor dining/socializing lasting much longer.

If babies can nap outside in the winter in Nordic countries, I say we can bundle up and eat outside in North America!

 

[Kevin_W]

If babies can nap outside in the winter in Nordic countries, I say we can bundle up and eat outside in North America!

There is a restaurant near my house that set up a big tented patio earlier this year to accommodate outdoor dining. With temperatures starting to get chilly in the evening, they have put sides on the tent... which seems to defeat the purpose of outdoor dining.

 

[GoofGoof]

These rules are all based on the premise that a high percentage of people from "hot spots" are infected and contagious. Thanks to the University of Miami, there is some really good data from a "hot spot." The University is located in Miami-Dade County which is, by far, the hottest spot in Florida. The total cases in the county are extremely disproportionate to the population as a percentage of Florida.

Beginning on 9/15, the University of Miami has required testing once every two weeks of everybody (students, faculty, staff, etc.) who goes onto campus. They publish all of their COVID data and it gives a very good picture since everybody is being tested frequently. Essentially, it should be roughly similar to the results you'd get if you tested the entire population in the area.

From 9/15 through today, they have reported the results of 14,475 tests and 101 were positive (0.70%).

8855 of the tests were performed in the last 14 days so that gives a good approximation about the population size. There are currently 35 "active" cases. Therefore, 0.395% of the population sample has an active infection and may be contagious. I say "may be contagious" because epidemiologists don't believe that somebody is contagious for the entire time they are infected.

A population sample from a hot spot in a "quarantine list" state indicates that over 99.5% of the population is NOT infected, NOT contagious and NOT a risk to anybody's "safety."

In the case of an environment like WDW (or DL), it shows that the chance of coming into contact with an infected person in an environment where transmission is likely is miniscule. With the protocols in place, it becomes even more miniscule.

Over this summer there were areas in PA near where I live that confirmed through contact tracing as many as half their new cases were related to travel into hot spots. It’s well documented, the stories were posted here. No massaging of statistics are going to change that. States put in travel quarantine requirements not to stop people from traveling but to make them quarantine when returning so they don’t infect others if they are sick. I know you don’t believe in testing and contact tracing so I’m sure you don’t believe this either, but you aren’t the governor of one of these states so that‘s irrelevant. It has nothing to do with WDW and their protocols. This isn’t done to punish Disney or the state of FL, it’s an attempt to keep cases and community spread down in areas that are doing better.

 

[danlb_2000]

I suspect we'll see a lot of those outdoor area heaters this winter. They do nothing in bitterly cold weather (like where I live), but properly positioned, they can help sustain outdoor dining in places with more moderate winters, like NYC, DC or Philadelphia.

Maybe a trend of European "apres-ski" type of bars will pop up this winter.

View attachment 503931

A resturant near me just had these installed:

 

[Heppenheimer]

If babies can nap outside in the winter in Nordic countries, I say we can bundle up and eat outside in North America!

Somewhat related, its amazing how much some aspects of society have changed in the past 70 years:

I know its only an illustration, but older family members have verified that leaving your kid outside in a pram was once common in the US. I can't even imagine this happening any more in a relatively controlled environment, like Disney World.