Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Heppenheimer]

Thanks. Does anyone know (or want to speculate on) what benchmarks Disney is watching in regards to dropping the mask requirement? Is it a certain vaccination % of population or just the availability of the vaccine? Or does it have more to do with cases/hospitalizations?

I'm going to speculate on cases and hospitalizations, because that number is so much easier to track from freely available public resources. Plus, this is the end goal. Vaccination % is just the means to get us there.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Interesting. Does anyone foresee Disney requiring proof of vaccination to get into the park once the masks are no longer required?

probably, but not for a while.

 

[GoofGoof]

Thanks. Does anyone know (or want to speculate on) what benchmarks Disney is watching in regards to dropping the mask requirement? Is it a certain vaccination % of population or just the availability of the vaccine? Or does it have more to do with cases/hospitalizations?

My guess is a drop in cases is the biggest driver. Vaccination alone won’t do it. I also think it won’t happen until all CMs have had the vaccine. If for some reason not enough people agree to take the vaccine masks could be around for a lot longer. I also think of all the Covid restrictions masks go towards the end.

 

[Disney Experience]

Oh, for those wondering how much wiggle room there is in the timing of getting the second shot: The word from CDC:

Second doses administered within a grace period of ≤4 days from the recommended date for the second dose are considered valid; however, doses administered earlier do not need to be repeated. The second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, there is no maximum interval between the first and second dose for either vaccine.

 

[Bill in Atlanta]

I'd imagine that and a combination of positivity rate. We know it will take months to get those levels stable enough to be deemed safe to not wear a mask.

Do you think summer 2021 is realistic for that, TJ?

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Do you think summer 2021 is realistic for that, TJ?

No. Many experts say mask wearing will be around for a majority of the 2021 year.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Interesting. Does anyone foresee Disney requiring proof of vaccination to get into the parks once the masks are no longer required?

Many of us speculate it, but I don't think there's been any official chatter from the Mouse House. And despite what some may claim, I think only one or two posters here who actually have anything that might be considered true "insider knowledge".

 

[Bill in Atlanta]

My guess is a drop in cases is the biggest driver. Vaccination alone won’t do it. I also think it won’t happen until all CMs have had the vaccine. If for some reason not enough people agree to take the vaccine masks could be around for a lot longer. I also think of all the Covid restrictions masks go towards the end.

Thanks. I wonder how eager Disney is to drop the mask requirement, purely from a business standpoint. How much revenue is it costing them due to people choosing to stay away from the parks until they don't have to wear a mask? Any guesses on what they're thinking on that front?

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Do you think summer 2021 is realistic for that, TJ?

No. Many experts say mask wearing will be around for a majority of the 2021 year.

Here are some articles about it

Incoming CDC chief tells her family they'll be wearing masks for the better part of 2021 | CNN

The incoming director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is telling her family they'll be wearing masks well into next year.

www.cnn.com

Dr. Fauci says masks, social distancing will still be needed after a Covid-19 vaccineâhere's why

"It's not going to be a light switch" back to normalcy when a coronavirus vaccine becomes available to the public, says Dr. Anthony Fauci.

www.cnbc.com

 

[seabreezept813]

What I generaly dislike about these checks is the cut off points used.

I have friends who made over the $99,000 limit last year, but were laid off this year (early this year). They won't qualify based on last year's tax return, just like last stimulus. I'm sure there are many others in this boat.

Not that $600 would make a difference and I know they have to cut off somewhere, but somehow it seems to not be benefiting a lot of people. I suppose the argument is that if you made that much money then you shouldn't need it, but I don't think that's true in all cases.

Oh well. I'll get a phased down amount, maybe around $300.

My stepdaughter didn’t get any stimulus.. aka we didn’t get it and her mom didn’t because mom is undocumented. My husband however is a permanent resident about to become citizen.. makes no sense

 

[GoofGoof]

Thanks. I wonder how eager Disney is to drop the mask requirement, purely from a business standpoint. How much revenue is it costing them due to people choosing to stay away from the parks until they don't have to wear a mask? Any guesses on what they're thinking on that front?

Distancing is a far bigger problem. Right now they can’t expand overall park capacity without expanding capacity on rides and bringing back people eating shows. If they relax distancing but continue requiring masks as a compromise that gets the park numbers up. Then they can bring back entertainment, and open some more of the resorts. Demand is going to be slowly building but won’t all come back at once. I think the covid restrictions are going to be gradually pulled back with masks toward the end because they don’t prohibit anything from a business prospective. Optimistically speaking it could be some time this summer that masks are optional if everyone who wants a vaccine really has one by April. Cases won’t go to zero overnight but if enough people get the vaccine it will drop. I also think we all can help get there sooner by following recommendations. If cases are at a lower point to start the vaccine can work faster. If we rely solely on the vaccine it will take longer. Either way should be gone by the fall.

 

[Bill in Atlanta]

Here are some articles about it

Incoming CDC chief tells her family they'll be wearing masks for the better part of 2021 | CNN

The incoming director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is telling her family they'll be wearing masks well into next year.

www.cnn.com

Dr. Fauci says masks, social distancing will still be needed after a Covid-19 vaccineâhere's why

"It's not going to be a light switch" back to normalcy when a coronavirus vaccine becomes available to the public, says Dr. Anthony Fauci.

www.cnbc.com

After reading those, wouldn't it be possible that by, say, July 2021 Disney moves to a "masks recommended but not required" policy? This would be compatible with the CDC's "masks recommended" guidance, no?

 

[Chi84]

Thanks. I wonder how eager Disney is to drop the mask requirement, purely from a business standpoint. How much revenue is it costing them due to people choosing to stay away from the parks until they don't have to wear a mask? Any guesses on what they're thinking on that front?

It's probably costing them quite a lot. Once the vaccine is available for anyone who wants it, masks are going to be a tough sell. Health experts will likely recommend them for a much longer time than the general public will be willing to wear them. Once people are vaccinated, they may be okay with wearing masks until others also have the ability to get the vaccine - probably not much longer than that, though. No one knows for certain, but maybe Disney will start by relaxing the mask requirement for people walking outside and mandate them inside. Unless someone claims to have insider knowledge, all you'll get here are guesses regardless of how persuasive they sound.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

After reading those, wouldn't it be possible that by, say, July 2021 Disney moves to a "masks recommended but not required" policy? This would be compatible with the CDC's "masks recommended" guidance, no?

anything is possible at this rate, but the situation is evolving every day.

 

[Bill in Atlanta]

I think the covid restrictions are going to be gradually pulled back with masks toward the end because they don’t prohibit anything from a business prospective.

Good point. I still wonder if it's costing them *some* business though, because the pool of potential customers is smaller while masks are required.

But no doubt, distancing and limited hours play a major role in hampering revenue.

 

[techgeek]

Thanks. I wonder how eager Disney is to drop the mask requirement, purely from a business standpoint. How much revenue is it costing them due to people choosing to stay away from the parks until they don't have to wear a mask? Any guesses on what they're thinking on that front?

Until community spread is low enough, there are also a whole lot of people that are only going now because of Disney’s precautions and mask requirements. There’s a business case for both... and a point where it flips favorably between them (that I doubt we are anywhere close to at the moment).

I expect Disney to err on the side of caution around that tipping point, if for nothing else because they know once they take it away it will be almost impossible (from a PR standpoint) to reinstate it.

 

[GoofGoof]

Good point. I still wonder if it's costing them *some* business though, because the pool of potential customers is smaller while masks are required.

But no doubt, distancing and limited hours play a major role in hampering revenue.

For sure it will cost business. Especially as it gets hot again this summer masks become a bigger issue for people. I think Disney will get rid of masks as soon as they can. God willing everything goes well with the vaccine rollout I think it’s possible this summer, but it’s all a big guess right now for everyone. Another factor is kids. Right now the Pfizer trial has enrolled kids down to 12 and Moderna is starting the same. Both said they will start trials soon including kids but no clue how long that will take. Since Disney is a huge family destination they may wait until the vaccine is available to all kids as well before fully lifting restrictions. That won’t be a big issue for a concert venue or night club, but may be for Disney.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Ummm...have you all read this bill??? I will be SHOCKED if it passes.

 

[Figgy1]

Thanks. Does anyone know (or want to speculate on) what benchmarks Disney is watching in regards to dropping the mask requirement? Is it a certain vaccination % of population or just the availability of the vaccine? Or does it have more to do with cases/hospitalizations?

Check with Disney legal they will have the final say before it heads over to their PR department

 

[Figgy1]

Do you think summer 2021 is realistic for that, TJ?

IMHO fall if we're lucky. again legal/pr