Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[icc2515]

However, given that they would likely need at least a week or two for government approvals and then 1-2 weeks for prep once approved,

Is the requirement that theme parks have to present a plan for opening and a date that they think they can accomplish this by a new requirement? I thought they were going hands off with Disney and Uni.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yep. Again I highly doubt we see any opening before mid July. However, given that they would likely need at least a week or two for government approvals and then 1-2 weeks for prep once approved, the current level of cancellation is not an indicator of extended closure. It would be physically impossible for them to open before the June 6th date they’ve currently cancelled through.

I have a good feeling we will start seeing some physical changes coming soon. They will need to add some structure elements to the front gates and potentially some additional structures for extended queues. Even if they don’t open in June they will likely start some of that work and I’m sure we will hear about it here soon after it starts.

 

[TrojanUSC]

While I wouldn’t expect a park opening before July, the cancellations are only through the first week of June. They basically have only cancelled the next three weeks at this point.

True but they also stopped taking reservations in June and took the ability to make all dining reservations for that month offline. That does not bode well.

This isn't about Florida, it's about the country.

 

[peter11435]

I have a good feeling we will start seeing some physical changes coming soon. They will need to add some structure elements to the front gates and potentially some additional structures for extended queues. Even if they don’t open in June they will likely start some of that work and I’m sure we will hear about it here soon after it starts.

I wouldn’t expect any structures. They will likely utilize the existing bag check structures plus throw up some quick tents and bike racks.

 

[peter11435]

True but they also stopped taking reservations in June and took the ability to make all dining reservations for that month offline. That does not bode well.

This isn't about Florida, it's about the country.

Stopping new reservations might be an indicator they don’t intend to be open. However it could also be that their booking levels for June already exceed the capacity limitations they intend to implement.

 

[Miss Bella]

I’m not happy about the way Disney is handling things. I’m really unhappy with the cruise line. I’ve only been on one Carnival cruise and I get emails from them weekly. They have been much more upfront about cancelling cruises in advance and keeping their fan base informed. I’ve been on 25 DCL cruises and have yet to receive any communication from them.

Sorry for the rant. On a positive note I just got an email from lifetime fitness that they are opening on 5/ 20.

 

[TrojanUSC]

Stopping new reservations might be an indicator they don’t intend to be open. However it could also be that their booking levels for June already exceed the capacity limitations they intend to implement.

Absolutely true, and that's what I thought originally. However, once they closed off dining bookings and everything else, the writing was on the wall.

 

[solidyne]

I thought @The Mom banned this incessant back-and-forth.

 

[peter11435]

Absolutely true, and that's what I thought originally. However, once they closed off dining bookings and everything else, the writing was on the wall.

Even when they do open, whenever that is, dining capacity will be severally reduced. For a variety of reasons. So it only makes sense to cut off bookings. Regardless of whether or not they will be open.

Just like how they are actively canceling reservations in June for restaurants at Disney Springs that are currently prepping to reopen in May.

 

[Giss Neric]

I’m not happy about the way Disney is handling things. I’m really unhappy with the cruise line. I’ve only been on one Carnival cruise and I get emails from them weekly. They have been much more upfront about cancelling cruises in advance and keeping their fan base informed. I’ve been on 25 DCL cruises and have yet to receive any communication from them.

Sorry for the rant. On a positive note I just got an email from lifetime fitness that they are opening on 5/ 20.

Why does keeping your apprised through e-mails that important, especially weekly? One or two announcements should be enough and self explanatory. What the hell do you expect aside form cancelled or not cancelled. Of course Carnival cruise will be proactive cause that's their pride and joy and the core of their business which is cruising. Disney Cruise is just one of their many branches.

I would assume theme parks is their priority right now. Cruises I doubt is the last thing on most people's mind right now or even traveling out of the country. On the other hand, since cruises are a controlled environment, if one passenger has the virus, then they could just quarantine and test everyone in the ship to control the spreading.

 

[Giss Neric]

When they eventually reopen, DVCs will likely be first, then local APs/Floridians. So those out of state or out of country, expect cancellations cause you're in the last place in terms of hierarchy of who gets to go first. If they eventually open in June/July, expect the general public to go in August/September at the earliest.

 

[BWDVCkidsince96]

When they eventually reopen, DVCs will likely be first, then local APs/Floridians. So those out of state or out of country, expect cancellations cause you're in the last place in terms of hierarchy of who gets to go first. If they eventually open in June/July, expect the general public to go in August/September at the earliest.

It is interesting that dvc isn’t cancelling nearly as far out as regular Disney hotels. As we all know, Disney hotels are cancelling through June 8 or whatever right now and dvc is still only cancelling 7 days out, one day at a time. They are definitely acting as though they want to be ready to open at the drop of a hat. Dvc resorts already meet some of the new recommendations for hotels, like less frequent housekeeping and whatnot. The interesting thing will be if they remove all the kitchenware from the villas. I wonder if they don’t count technically as hotels since it’s a timeshare and maybe they get around some of the new rules that way.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Is the requirement that theme parks have to present a plan for opening and a date that they think they can accomplish this by a new requirement? I thought they were going hands off with Disney and Uni.

Letting businesses (the big theme parks) create their own plans which will wind up being rubber stamped is practically letting them do their own thing.

 

[marni1971]

- so what do we actually know about WDW's future intentions

They have planned a raft of plans and regulations for reopening. Some expected. Some not.

They have a minimum ballpark time frame for reopening. It is doubtful to be earlier than that, possibly to be later.

Things are changing as new information it taken in daily, sometimes hourly.

 

[JoeCamel]

I thought @The Mom banned this incessant back-and-forth.

I posted once but the OP posted many times on this subject yet you choose to quote me?

 

[pdude81]

This. I’m so hopeful we get a vaccine or that remdesivir turns out to eradicate in early onset usage AND becomes available in quantities sufficient to use it for that. I’d love for that to happen this summer. Who wouldn’t? But the odds of the latter happening this summer are better than the odds of the former and the odds of the latter happening this summer are low.

Remdesivir is very tricky to manufacture and Takes a long time. Plus you have to take via IV so there is no way to use early like Tamiflu unless you are quickly hospitalized. So for this summer I think nothing is happening.

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[mgf]

When they eventually reopen, DVCs will likely be first, then local APs/Floridians. So those out of state or out of country, expect cancellations cause you're in the last place in terms of hierarchy of who gets to go first. If they eventually open in June/July, expect the general public to go in August/September at the earliest.

I have a different suspicion. I think DVC will be first, yes. Then resort guests only. Local APs are not going to spend enough to float the parks at reduced capacity. Local APs are easy enough to hold off by continuing to delay their payments when the park "reopens". Much easier to deal with a PR problem locally than to bleed money.

Saying all that -- I think Disney has a far greater ability to ride this out for the long term than people realize. There is a huge amount of downside risk in reopening too early or in a false start. There is also a financial and reputational risk in becoming a hotspot that then sends guests back all across the country. Finally, there will be a subset of guests that will protest or intentionally invite confrontation with Disney no matter what COVID-mitigation steps they implement. The safety, legal, and PR risk there has to also be top of mind.

I think I will be more surprised to get an announced date than I am that they have not yet announced a date.

 

[JoeCamel]

Remdesivir is very tricky to manufacture and Takes a long time. Plus you have to take via IV so there is no way to use early like Tamiflu unless you are quickly hospitalized. So for this summer I think nothing is happening.

Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, a biopharma company, achieves bold ambitions to help make the world a healthier place, leading in HIV, liver disease, cancer & inflammation.

www.gilead.com

I think convalescent plasma will be the preferred treatment option going forward. If they can get enough and apply it early (later it can increase clotting) the progression of the virus can be greatly reduced.

 

[marni1971]

I have a different suspicion. I think DVC will be first, yes. Then resort guests only. Local APs are not going to spend enough to float the parks at reduced capacity..

Potentially the opposite. Locals are easier to to be told they can’t be admitted to x park today than people who’ve travelled long distances and have limited options elsewhere. Short term until procedures are tried and tested. Maybe.

 

[The Mom]

I thought @The Mom banned this incessant back-and-forth.

\
Yes, I did. The constant arguing over how bad Covid-19 is, how bad the Shelter at Home order is, how people are going to die anyway,this was Chinese biological warfare gone wrong, etc, calling people scared or stupid, depending upon POV, etc.

I have asked that these discussions stop because they only make a difficult, stressful situation more so. So please stop.

If someone violates the directive, just report or ignore - do not engage.