Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[oceanbreeze77]

The assumption here is that delaying the opening would in fact help to protect the surrounding communities.

its a PR game. Doesn't mean it has to be true. I did a PR internship for a large company out here in LA during college, its all about spinning as much as you can to protect your company's name.

 

[Andrew C]

its a PR game. Doesn't mean it has to be true. I did a PR internship for a large company out here in LA during college, its all about spinning as much as you can to protect your company's name.

Got it. So the goal is to protect the company’s name rather than it being about safety and the people who work there (their safety and their jobs). I just want to make sure we are clear here.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Got it. So the goal is to protect the company’s name rather than it being about safety and the people who work there. I just want to make sure we are clear here.

Thats not the goal. You misunderstood what I was saying. Their internal goal can be to protect the safety and wellbeing of others, but what they put out for PR purposes does not HAVE to match their internal goals. I'm not saying that what they put out won't match those goals, but they dont HAVE to.

So in this case- if they feel they can't protect their employees to the best capacity, they can easily put out a statement about not reopening without stating that they feel that way.

 

[Andrew C]

Thats not the goal. You misunderstood what I was saying. Their internal goal can be to protect the safety and wellbeing of others, but what they put out for PR purposes does not HAVE to match their internal goals. I'm not saying that what they put out won't match those goals, but they dont HAVE to.

So in this case- if they feel they can't protect their employees to the best capacity, they can easily put out a statement about not reopening without stating that they feel that way.

Hah. Ok then.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Got it. So the goal is to protect the company’s name rather than it being about safety and the people who work there (their safety and their jobs). I just want to make sure we are clear here.

As sad as it may sound, Corporations prioritize the way they are viewed and how they make money.

Which one sounds better?
"We can't protect our employees"
"We feel its best to stay closed to help protect our communities"

 

[Andrew C]

As sad as it may sound, Corporations prioritize the way they are viewed and how they make money.

Which one sounds better?
"We can't protect our employees"
"We feel its best to stay closed to help protect our communities"

I think a data and evidence based decision would be the way to go. This puts the team and guests as priority no matter which decision is reached.

it seems you are calling for something a bit different.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

I think a data and evidence based decision would be the way to go.

it seems you are calling for something a bit different.

This is the way to go, but @mickeymiss was saying she would like to see a reason, my point is, they dont HAVE to give the exact reason if they dont see it benefits their company. I'm not advocating for Disney to do it a certain way, I am just pointing out from a PR perspective that they dont HAVE to.

 

[mickeymiss]

What proof would you like to see?

I asked for proof that outbreaks are linked to businesses that are taking extraordinary precautions. There are vast differences in risk levels and decisions should be guided by that. We can't keep doing this open and close and delay routine. It's not always data based. It has become all knee jerk reactions and it's not fair to companies doing it right.

 

[Jrb1979]

I asked for proof that outbreaks are linked to businesses that are taking extraordinary precautions. There are vast differences in risk levels and decisions should be guided by that. We can't keep doing this open and close and delay routine. It's not always data based. It has become all knee jerk reactions and it's not fair to companies doing it right.

Sorry but if they just did this in the first place they wouldn't be in this mess. What Florida has open now should be what stays open til cases and positive percentage drop.

It feels like the ones who have trips planned are the ones the most for Disney opening.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Any type of evidence that the theme parks currently open are contributing to spread? With the same safety measures in place.

It's about limiting interactions between persons. It's the whole grocery store versus game store issue. It's not that the grocery store is itself is safer but the goal is limit how much different people are interacting with each other. Theme parks are where a lot of people from very different places are interacting with each other and interacting with more people on their way to and from the park as well.

 

[MaximumEd]

It's about limiting interactions between persons. It's the whole grocery store versus game store issue. It's not that the grocery store is itself is safer but the goal is limit how much different people are interacting with each other. Theme parks are where a lot of people from very different places are interacting with each other and interacting with more people on their way to and from the park as well.

If that was the case, wouldn’t the game store be safer than the grocery store because you are interacting with vastly fewer people in a game store? The way I understood is it’s more about the length of encounters vs number of encounters. If social distancing is enforced, I don’t see why Disney is any worse than running down to the local Publix. That being said, I understand how people are stupid and enforcement in a place the size of the parks could be problematic.

 

[TheDisneyDaysOfOurLives]

I’ve been to that Publix. Good selection of beers for a supermarket. We stayed at a condo right down the street a few times. It’s probably a mix of locals and tourists shopping in there. Lots of timeshares in that area.

I lived across the street from that Publix for a while and my ex lives in that area, so I've been to that Publix a lot. Great Publix. I think more locals than tourists (especially right now) actually, though that may have changed in recent years.

 

[Jenny72]

I think the precautions Disney is taking are smart, responsible and well done, and it's true that if we had things somewhat under control, it'd be a good idea to open. The problem is, when the virus is raging out of control, it starts to become advisable to shut down even things that are mostly--but not totally--safe. Small risks start adding up when there are lots of positive cases floating around. Are you likely to catch the virus in a restroom? In a break room with co-workers? In a store with doors open? If there are just a few cases, the risk is really minimal. But start adding in lots of positive cases and even with low-risk exposures you're going to get spread. It's a major bummer because I want Disney to open too!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If social distancing is enforced, I don’t see why Disney is any worse than running down to the local Publix.

I’m not saying it is or isn’t because I don’t know. But what I do know is that I don’t spend the entire opening hours inside a Publix. Nor do I stay in a hotel to visit Publix. Nor do I have to travel by public transportation to get to Publix.

And even then... when I’m shopping I’m not getting in and out of ride vehicles and walking through random narrow rooms to get from one aisle to the next. It’s all pretty open.

If I lived in Orlando? Sure I would feel fine about wandering around DAK and enjoying the outdoor activities. Maybe Epcot as well.

 

[hopemax]

From Tampa Bay Times article about today's FL numbers, putting them in context with numbers earlier in the pandemic.

"The state also added 68 deaths, bringing the seven-day average up to about 42 deaths each day, the highest it has been since May 9. Statewide, 3,718 people have died from the virus.

Hospitalizations also jumped by 329 people, marking the third-highest, single-day change since the start of the pandemic. Only April 29 and May 16 had higher increases, with the highest in May hitting 400 hospitalizations in 24 hours."

Florida adds more than 10,000 coronavirus cases as deaths hit May-level high

Hospitalizations also increased by more than 300 people in 24 hours.

www.tampabay.com

 

[MaximumEd]

I’m not saying it is or isn’t because I don’t know. But what I do know is that I don’t spend the entire opening hours inside a Publix. Nor do I stay in a hotel to visit Publix. Nor do I have to travel by public transportation to get to Publix.

And even then... when I’m shopping I’m not getting in and out of ride vehicles and walking through random narrow rooms to get from one aisle to the next. It’s all pretty open.

If I lived in Orlando? Sure I would feel fine about wandering around DAK and enjoying the outdoor activities. Maybe Epcot as well.

Of course. There’s definitely a lot of caveats to all of these discussions. Blanket statements don’t fly really well right now with still a good bit of the unknown floating around.

 

[mickeymiss]

I will accept if Disney closes but I don't think basing decisions on no supporting data is a good idea. It keeps us in multiple states of despair instead of safely adjusting our lives to the risk. It's not March. Our infection patterns reflect that many public places are safe to operate with precautions. Most of us are insulated from the financial effects but many people suffered badly in lock down conditions. Isolation has been hard on our elderly population, those suffering with depression and addiction. People have gone permanently out of business and/or can't earn enough on unemployment It shouldn't be controversial at all to say that businesses have a right to operate as long as they follow safety guidelines. But here we are.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Florida adds over 10K coronavirus cases in one day for record as total nears 170K

Florida reported 10,109 new coronavirus cases Thursday, a record, for a total of 169,106, and 67 new fatalities to bring the death toll to 3,617. Central Florida now has 25,418 cases, up 1,691 from…

www.orlandosentinel.com

Florida reported 10,109 new coronavirus cases Thursday, a record, for a total of 169,106, and 67 new fatalities to bring the death toll to 3,617.

Central Florida now has 25,418 cases, up 1,691 from a day earlier. There are 584 new cases in Orange for a total of 11,458, 279 in Polk for 4,327, 155 in Seminole for 2,837, 153 in Volusia for 2,372, 185 in Osceola for 2,349, 218 in Brevard for 2,180, 98 in Lake for 1,508, and 19 in Sumter for 387.

Those numbers....

Ugh.

Good thing I didn’t lay the $4 for the annual passes I had planned to around now...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not if the powerful Disney PR machine gets involved first. Using the Disney magic the info coming out to the public will be carefully worded. If there are whistleblowers, it may be a challenging time for them since staff generally are not allowed to talk to the media.

 

[GoofGoof]

There needs to be a reason they specifically have to pull the plug though. If they close, it will be like a public statement that even the most extreme precautions don't work. I don't believe that is true and want proof if it is.

Disney doesn’t really need to provide any proof of anything. It’s a private business so they have a right to decide to open or not. What proof existed in March (when they first shut down) that theme parks were leading to spread? If they choose to delay the opening I’m sure they will point to an uptick in cases recently with an emphasis on protecting their employees and opening when things improve on the ground. That’s all the evidence they would likely provide.