Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[DisneyFan32]

Vaccine hesitancy can be an issue, too soon to know for sure if it will be. First we don’t know how many people we need vaccinated and second we also don’t know how many people will ultimately go in and get it. There’s still plenty of overall demand for the vaccines so if it continues that areas have supply and no demand then we need to allocate doses elsewhere. Get the doses to the people who want them. At the same time it’s up to state and local governments to do a better job encouraging people to be vaccinated. In a lot of cases the same Governors who downplayed Covid are also doing a poor job in encouraging vaccinations. That will hurt their states in the long run. The focus needs to shift to making vaccinations even easier and more convenient. Make it so easy that it’s impossible for people to say they didn’t get it because it was too much of a hassle.

On the issue of how many people need to go, we can look at Israel as a benchmark. They are 4-6 weeks ahead of us on vaccines and have 59% of their population with at least 1 dose. They may have already reached herd immunity and their cases are well below the level we would need to hit to consider removing most or all restrictions. It’s not a perfect parallel to the US, but it gives us a ballpark idea and more importantly shows that you don’t need 80-90% of the population vaccinated to see really good results. If we do continue vaccinations at the current pace we should be where Israel is today with about 60% of the total population vaccinated in 4-6 weeks. I can’t say it’s a lock that we will see cases drop to their levels, but that’s the hope. Once 12+ are approved (any day now) we will need 70% of eligible people to go in for a vaccine to reach 60% of the total population vaccinated.

If it turns out that we don’t hit 70% of eligible people vaccinated or we do but the percent vaccinated needs to be higher to achieve the desired reduction in spread then we move on to plan B. We keep certain mitigations in place and for a lot of situations that require large public gatherings we switch to the vaccine passport plan. I don’t think we will see vaccine passports for everyday life but for things like sporting events, cruises, theme parks, concerts, night clubs and other large group gatherings it may become a reality. Again, that’s plan B and only if the vaccine rollout fails.

Hmmm....in few months by July we might go back to normal as masks and social distancing will be gone for good?

 

[twilight mitsuk]

It sounds like they may keep the park reservation system post Covid for staffing planning purposes but it won’t matter on any but the most crowded days so at most a couple weeks out of the year and even then probably only DHS and maybe MK. I don’t know what that means for park hopping.

Lack of dining options would be high on my list along with lack of fireworks or night shows.

To accomodate the genie system

 

[UNCgolf]

If they extend back to normal hours I would think it would be less of an issue. I would think most people spend at least 4 hours in a park before hopping so 9-1 then grab lunch and be at park 2 at 2PM and if that park is open until 9 or later plenty of time to do stuff and grab dinner. I guess if you wanted to just do 1 ride then go to another park it could be an issue.

For me personally if we go in the Summer we always do a mid day break at the hotel anyway so we wouldn’t be going to park #2 until after 2pm anyway.

The one or two rides then head to another park is something I used to feel almost forced to do with FP+. I really like NRJ, but that doesn't mean I want to want 90+ minutes for it -- so we had to do FOP on one day and NRJ another, as one example. Usually on days like that we like to go to EPCOT to eat lunch (and like grabbing lunch at EPCOT on multiple days in general) which isn't all that doable if you can't hop until after 2 PM. Once we've spent one full day in each park, the other days tend up be full of hopping around. It's a really big issue at DHS which doesn't even have enough to do for one full day IMO, but requires more than 3 FP+ if you don't want to wait in very long lines.

The elimination of FP+ could change that to an extent, but I still imagine there would be days where we went somewhere in the morning for one or two things and then wanted to go elsewhere whether to EPCOT for lunch or something else.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Hmmm....in few months by July we might go back to normal as masks and social distancing will be gone for good?

We don't know when masks and distancing will be gone for good yet. We all just need to be patient - as hard as that can be.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

10. Some dining locations ONLY support mobile ordering

So there are locations where you have to mobile order even if you don’t have a smart phone?

It's interesting to see other people's list. For me #1 by far would be parades/fireworks. Lack of entertainment/streetmosphere would be a close 2nd. I'd probably put my line there and the other's on your list would be in some order below.

Other than it being a global pandemic and the CDC reccomending against travel and gathering in large groups (aka theme parks) I agree my #1. Reason for not visiting is lack of fireworks. #2. Is lack of live entertainment.

 

[HarperRose]

@HarperRose This isn't specifically towards you, just the millennial topic others have mentioned

I'm a millennial (33), not getting vaccinated neither are my kids and my wife decided against it too. We are in great shape and have zero health concerns. We are outside everyday and don't have a vitamin D deficiency. We understand how good health can keep us from getting sick and even spreading any type of virus.

The vaccine is not going to save anybody from getting the virus or even spreading it. It lessens the affect it has on you. That being said we think it's cool if people do or don't get a vaccine. We could care less. We would rather see people take better care of themselves physically. I think if you look at the numbers you could look at underlying conditions and find motivation to eat a little better, run ane lift some weights.

A vaccine is not the cure all for this virus.

I feel sorry for you that you've allowed misinformation, anti-science rhetoric and flat out ignorance to potentially end your, and especially your children's, lives.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I never said you're immune to it. But a body which has a vitamin d deficiency is inadequate to fight any virus. Having high vitamin D in your life makes you a much healthier person.

Of course a vitamin deficiency makes one vulnerable. By the very definition of what makes a vitamin a vitamin it's essential to consume to live.

But large doses of Vitamin D doesn't supercharge anything. Dumping gallons of gas on top of car engine doesn't make it go faster. Too much Vitamin D is toxic.

Vitamin D toxicity: What if you get too much?

Understand the risks of too much vitamin D, including a toxic reaction.

www.mayoclinic.org

​

Vitamin D toxicity, also called hypervitaminosis D, is a rare but potentially serious condition that occurs when you have excessive amounts of vitamin D in your body.​

​

Vitamin D toxicity is usually caused by large doses of vitamin D supplements — not by diet or sun exposure. That's because your body regulates the amount of vitamin D produced by sun exposure, and even fortified foods don't contain large amounts of vitamin D.​

 

[Bullseye1967]

So there are locations where you have to mobile order even if you don’t have a smart phone?

Other than it being a global pandemic and the CDC reccomending against travel and gathering in large groups (aka theme parks) I agree my #1. Reason for not visiting is lack of fireworks. #2. Is lack of live entertainment.

We were told in January that every dining location will have one register open for those that don't want or can't figure out how to use mobile ordering. I saw several people ordering and paying at registers. You just have to ask.

 

[sullyinMT]

So there are locations where you have to mobile order even if you don’t have a smart phone?

Other than it being a global pandemic and the CDC reccomending against travel and gathering in large groups (aka theme parks) I agree my #1. Reason for not visiting is lack of fireworks. #2. Is lack of live entertainment.

I *believe* there are still staff to take orders, though MO is heavily touted. Mobile Order is so convenient without special dietary needs that we’re on the opposite end, specifically choosing places that have it (almost everywhere in WDW now), little snack kiosks aside.

In fact, I’d love a future F&W festival or similar where mobile ordering was available at the festival kitchens. Kind of a pre-built tour of the wares.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Mobile Order is so convenient without special dietary needs that were on the opposite end, specifically choosing places that have it (almost everywhere in WDW now), little snack kiosks aside.

Oh I agree. Being able to see the different gf options right on the app is great. I like mobile order, but I also know that some people don’t have smart phones still!

 

[UNCgolf]

Of course a vitamin deficiency makes one vulnerable. By the very definition of what makes a vitamin a vitamin it's essential to consume to live.

But large doses of Vitamin D doesn't supercharge anything. Dumping gallons of gas on top of car engine doesn't make it go faster. Too much Vitamin D is toxic.

Vitamin D toxicity: What if you get too much?

Understand the risks of too much vitamin D, including a toxic reaction.

www.mayoclinic.org

​

Vitamin D toxicity, also called hypervitaminosis D, is a rare but potentially serious condition that occurs when you have excessive amounts of vitamin D in your body.​

​

Vitamin D toxicity is usually caused by large doses of vitamin D supplements — not by diet or sun exposure. That's because your body regulates the amount of vitamin D produced by sun exposure, and even fortified foods don't contain large amounts of vitamin D.​

People have this same misconception about Vitamin C, too. Taking a bunch of Vitamin C doesn't really stop you from getting sick or make an illness go away faster; that's not how it works. Your body can only process a certain amount and taking big doses means most of it goes straight through your body and out in urine without doing anything.

 

[havoc315]

Just for thought... why we can’t rely solely on vaccines if we want to defeat this thing with maximum speed..

 

[BlindChow]

Just for thought... why we can’t rely solely on vaccines if we want to defeat this thing with maximum speed..

And the UK isn't fully vaccinating everyone, either. They are waiting 12 weeks between doses, focusing instead on getting more people their first dose.

(They've also been in a major lockdown for awhile, much more severe than just "masks and distancing"...)

 

[havoc315]

And the UK isn't fully vaccinating everyone, either. They are waiting 12 weeks between doses, focusing instead on getting more people their first dose.

(They've also been in a major lockdown for awhile, much more severe than just "masks and distancing"...)

Correct.
Defeating Covid means reducing the reproduction rate — the R0 — bringing it below 1.0... sustaining it significantly below 1.0.

Vaccines reduce the R0. Social distancing reduces the R0. Masks and lockdowns reduce the R0.

The more measures we take, the faster and more definitively Covid gets crushed.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Correct.
Defeating Covid means reducing the reproduction rate — the R0 — bringing it below 1.0... sustaining it significantly below 1.0.

Vaccines reduce the R0. Social distancing reduces the R0. Masks and lockdowns reduce the R0.

The more measures we take, the faster and more definitively Covid gets crushed.

Yup. Not very difficult to understand...yet here we are.

 

[Jrb1979]

Correct.
Defeating Covid means reducing the reproduction rate — the R0 — bringing it below 1.0... sustaining it significantly below 1.0.

Vaccines reduce the R0. Social distancing reduces the R0. Masks and lockdowns reduce the R0.

The more measures we take, the faster and more definitively Covid gets crushed.

Unfortunately in many places masks and social distancing doesn't exist any more.

 

[hopemax]

It's interesting to see other people's list. For me #1 by far would be parades/fireworks. Lack of entertainment/streetmosphere would be a close 2nd. I'd probably put my line there and the other's on your list would be in some order below.

For me it's

1. The Park Reservation System
2 . The Park Reservation System
3. Ticket Priority, which wasn't a problem before except for the dang
4. Park Reservation System

We have a unique situation, but IMO, unique situations is where you find out exactly how good is company's customer service and for us Disney is becoming more and more hostile. I was going to explain in more detail, but it just makes me angry whenever I think about it. The general explanation is that buying regular guest tickets and making reservations with them, seems to have limited my Dad's ability to use his surviving spouse of a CM benefit to visit a park on any other day. We found this out after booking my May visit and purchasing 4-day passes to make park reservations, and then WDW lifted self-admission for 2 days at Epcot this week and he received a "guest has made the maximum number of park reservations." We were planning on doing the whole shebang in October for the 50th since other friends are going. On property, purchase more regular guest tickets since blockouts are unknown. But no way am I doing that, if it means that if there are blockout free days at some point between now and October that my Dad can't make a reservation using his main entrance pass.

 

[techgeek]

Of all the mitigation to be annoyed at, I’m a little surprised to see plexiglass pretty high up on lists. In my opinion, for better or our worse it’s likely something that may wind up sticking around years longer then anything else.

The store around the corner that hurriedly slapped up some plexiglass around the cash register? Let’s be honest that’s still going to be there in 10 years just because no one is going to care enough to take it down. Similar installations at my doctors office or pharmacy? Probably going to stay up with intent and become a part of new healthcare construction / design from the get-go because it makes sense in environments where you naturally come in contact with sick people.

The dividers on the RotR ride vehicles or in the queue lines? Well, from a theme and show point of view I sure hope they intend to pull them down at some point, but I can also imagine a future where they’re like the sneeze guards on a buffet... omnipresent, accepted as such, and actively designed into future construction as a new ‘best practice’. Even if they don’t it will likely take until the next major refurb cycle to get rid of many of these installs.

 

[Bullseye1967]

Of all the mitigation to be annoyed at, I’m a little surprised to see plexiglass pretty high up on lists. In my opinion, for better or our worse it’s likely something that may wind up sticking around years longer then anything else.

The store around the corner that hurriedly slapped up some plexiglass around the cash register? Let’s be honest that’s still going to be there in 10 years just because no one is going to care enough to take it down. Similar installations at my doctors office or pharmacy? Probably going to stay up with intent and become a part of new healthcare construction / design from the get-go because it makes sense in environments where you naturally come in contact with sick people.

The dividers on the RotR ride vehicles or in the queue lines? Well, from a theme and show point of view I sure hope they intend to pull them down at some point, but I can also imagine a future where they’re like the sneeze guards on a buffet... omnipresent, accepted as such, and actively designed into future construction as a new ‘best practice’. Even if they don’t it will likely take until the next major refurb cycle to get rid of many of these installs.

If you go on any Disney fan site or even google reviews you will find that the number one complaint is all the plexiglass. Especially on ride ride vehicles. Even more than wearing masks in the heat. I don't know if it will be quick or slow, but I do know Disney will dump them eventually.

 

[Patcheslee]

It's interesting to see other people's list. For me #1 by far would be parades/fireworks. Lack of entertainment/streetmosphere would be a close 2nd. I'd probably put my line there and the other's on your list would be in some order below.

Lack of later hours is our top no go. Dining availability being 2nd.
Park reservation system being 3rd.
We're definitely not early risers and usually didn't get to parks until around 11am and stay out late. Reservation system is because needing to visit the reserved park before hopping. Sometimes not everyone feels up to visiting the first park, but we never know till day of.