Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Parker in NYC]

UPDATE 7/27/2021:


UPDATE 7/11/2021: Come on, folks. Get it together.

UPDATE 6/22/2021: Well, onward and upward?

UPDATE 6/15/2021: Things are looking up! Phew, quite the year and a half, huh?

For starters, I'm a hypochondriac who lives and works in NYC. Already, we're off to a good start (and I fit the stereotype). Even with every precaution, even with assurances in print that there are no confirmed cases in the city, I'm getting a little worse for wear with each passing day. This is also crimping my desire to travel. Especially to metropolitan areas (which strike me as obviously a little more prone to spreading the virus). And if I had a trip coming up for Disney, I wonder if I'd think twice. In NYC alone, Chinatown is suffering, taxis aren't picking up asian passengers/passengers aren't stepping into taxis with asian drivers, restaurants are beginning to struggle, tourism is suffering due to the lack of international visitors.

Life is a roll of the dice. Anything can happen. Violence, accidents, transportation mishaps. But I'm wondering when (not if) the coronavirus is going to hit to the point that it affects travel and, more specifically, WDW. Does Disney have plans in place beyond limiting hours and laying off performers?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

^^^^^
BEFORE YOU QUOTE THIS POST PLEASE NOTE THE ORIGINAL DATE THIS POST WAS MADE.

There's not much Disney can really do to prepare.
Many more people get the flu each year and go into the parks infected whether they know it or not and in turn infect others and the flu is pretty deadly.
Also the key population of who has passed away from the virus is older men who already had pre existing conditions particularly respiratory conditions usually from smoking.
Did you avoid Disney during SARS or H1N1 or Zika or Ebola....? If so then avoid Disney now. If not then don't avoid Disney.
Use common sense and wash your hands etc.

 

[Parker in NYC]

It's probably a heavy dose of anxiety on my part, you're right. EDITED 7/17/2020: Nah, I was right on the money.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Does Disney have plans in place beyond limiting hours and laying off performers?

No, not really. They may introduce/adjust discounts later this year if attendance takes a bigger than expected hit.

 

[Jon81uk]

Its probably good advice in general when at WDW to wash your hands before eating and avoid touching your mouth or nose with your hands.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Whenever you get that many people together from that many different places, there's sure to be some sicknesses spread. I've heard "Disney crud" mentioned on the forums quite a bit, and a lot of trip reports end up in mystery sicknesses.

I don't consider the Coronavirus a big threat in this case, but I do typically go to Disney with the expectation we'll get sick. We haven't, yet, but there's just no way to avoid other people's germs there. Last time I was in line for the Haunted Mansion some lady turned her head so she wouldn't cough on her kid she was holding and literally coughed right in my face.

 

[DryerLintFan]

I'm usually not one of these "an eye for an eye" type of people, but this circumstance in particular would make it very tempting to return the favor.

I was holding my kid too, and honestly I'd rather have gotten the hit than her take it. So there's a bright side there. And I didn't end up getting sick, so that was good too. It was just a really good reminder that no matter how many precautions you take, Disney is crowded and you'll certainly be exposed to germs that are not yours while you're there.

 

[John park hopper]

There seems to be a lot of unknown with this virus just read another study found it can survive 9 days on surfaces and temps up to 86 degrees. Touch surfaces with it and it can be transferred to mouth and eyes people cough and the virus is airborne. I haven't read what the infection dose is probably haven't determined that yet

 

[unmitigated disaster]

I'm usually not one of these "an eye for an eye" type of people, but this circumstance in particular would make it very tempting to return the favor.

I was checking out a doctor who was here for a physician's seminar and she coughed right in my face. I could feel the cough. She didn't even try to avoid me. She was all "sorry" in that 'I have to say I'm sorry but I don't actually care ' voice.

In any case, worry more about the flu. And get vaccinated.

 

[MissViv]

I'm going in 12 days and not worried. I hope a lot of other people will cancel and make it less crowded though!!! LOL

 

[Incomudro]

For starters, I'm a hypochondriac who lives and works in NYC. Already, we're off to a good start (and I fit the stereotype). Even with every precaution, even with assurances in print that there are no confirmed cases in the city, I'm getting a little worse for wear with each passing day. This is also crimping my desire to travel. Especially to metropolitan areas (which strike me as obviously a little more prone to spreading the virus). And if I had a trip coming up for Disney, I wonder if I'd think twice. In NYC alone, Chinatown is suffering, taxis aren't picking up asian passengers/passengers aren't stepping into taxis with asian drivers, restaurants are beginning to struggle, tourism is suffering due to the lack of international visitors.

Life is a roll of the dice. Anything can happen. Violence, accidents, transportation mishaps. But I'm wondering when (not if) the coronavirus is going to hit to the point that it affects travel and, more specifically, WDW. Does Disney have plans in place beyond limiting hours and laying off performers?

How can a hypochondriac possibly live in NYC?

 

[wannabeBelle]

Parker, I live in NYC As well so I get where you are coming from. As others have said, wash your hands lot and keep yourself generally healthy. Airborne, Emergen - C or doses of vitamin C to boost immunity arent a bad idea either. That having been done, I wouldn't be concerned about traveling at this point n time. Marie

 

[unmitigated disaster]

The corona virus is not a form of the flu.

 

[Jon81uk]

The corona virus is not a form of the flu.

But the common cold is a form of coronavirus.

 

[NickPytlinski]

But the common cold is a form of coronavirus.

Must be a UK thing lol. Everything comes under the flu category. typically man flu lol

 

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

Parker, I live in NYC As well so I get where you are coming from. As others have said, wash your hands lot and keep yourself generally healthy. Airborne, Emergen - C or doses of vitamin C to boost immunity arent a bad idea either. That having been done, I wouldn't be concerned about traveling at this point n time. Marie

Airborne and large doses of C (Emergen-C) have both been found NOT to boost immune systems or prevent sickness.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Airborne and large doses of C (Emergen-C) have both been found NOT to boost immune systems or prevent sickness.

OK good to know. Marie

 

[JIMINYCR]

In the past, whenever theres been an outbreak of various virus's or illnesses reported, WDW sites are asked what to do and should trips be cancelled. Over the years theres never been a huge outbreak of anything in the parks or mass illnesses that caused concerns. More people have died from the flu (over 10,000 reported this year so far) which far exceeds caronavirus deaths. i'd just take normal winter flu precautions and not overthink tne possibility that youre going to catch something.

 

[larryz]

Airborne and large doses of C (Emergen-C) have both been found NOT to boost immune systems or prevent sickness.

But they generally won't hurt you* and are good for your dental health.

* assuming you're in good health otherwise

 

[Simba’s Mom]

In NYC alone, Chinatown is suffering, taxis aren't picking up asian passengers/passengers aren't stepping into taxis with asian drivers, restaurants are beginning to struggle, tourism is suffering due to the lack of international visitors.

OMG, although I have no response regarding WDW, I didn't think of Chinatown. DS also lives and works in NYC, and has often performed in Chinatown (musician). And previously, he was a music manager for Princess Cruise Lines, home of a corona virus-quaranteened ship (although he didn't ever get assigned to the Diamond Princess). Seems that this virus has impacts further than I'd thought of.