Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[oceanbreeze77]

“Face Coverings

Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming. You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing”

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/#drawer-card-faceCoverings

I have a feeling an incident occurred that made this update happen.

 

[Parker in NYC]

I’ve seen it first hand in my two trips, and there were the really outrageous and infuriating stories of the “pastor” in HS and that dad at Epcot’s gates. Hopefully they’re still as aggressive and swift to the truly belligerent. DS was a bit of a crapshoot in my experience and in other reports.

I was relieved to read the updated face covering policy DC posted. I'm sure that indicates aggressive measures will be taken in certain circumstances.

 

[Chi84]

Especia

Especially since few CM have been vaccinated. They’ll always move to protect their CM first. And in recent months they’ve actually shown that they’re willing to do that more than maybe historic precedent would suggest with aggressive anti-mask guests being dealt with swiftly (thank god)

What do you think will happen when Disney's CMs are vaccinated, and if studies show that people who are vaccinated are protected against both getting sick and transmitting the virus? I know it's speculative, but I'm wondering what people would consider reasonable under those circumstances. We're nowhere near that point now, but at some point I assume most of the people going to Disney will have been vaccinated. What would be the rationale at that point for keeping masks? Maybe it's just too soon for a reliable answer.

 

[sullyinMT]

I was relieved to read the updated face covering policy DC posted. I'm sure that indicates aggressive measures will be taken in certain circumstances.

Plus, as others have correctly pointed out, with <2% of the total population fully vaccinated, it’s way too hard to prove and enforce. The vaccinated who feel safe going out probably are right to see that way, but expecting a different set of rules at this early stage is crazy. Maybe later, with more vaccinated, we get to a vaccine passport for air travel or cruises. But WDW, or any theme park/state fair is just too hard to handle different sets of rules for different folks.

Not gonna lie, though. If there was a party in the near future for vaccinated guests and CM only, sans mask, I’d pay double daily rates for the privilege of a few mask-free castle pics!

 

[sullyinMT]

What do you think will happen when Disney's CMs are vaccinated, and if studies show that people who are vaccinated are protected against both getting sick and transmitting the virus? I know it's speculative, but I'm wondering what people would consider reasonable under those circumstances. We're nowhere near that point now, but at some point I assume most of the people going to Disney will have been vaccinated. What would be the rationale at that point for keeping masks? Maybe it's just too soon for a reliable answer.

If we get to that point, mitigation in other parts of society will have ceased.

I expect we’ll be maskless at Costco a few months before we get there with Disney. Even with low state transmission and testing requirements to even get to the islands, Aulani is enforcing masks. Without a vaccine requirement, and with under 16’s in mass attendance, WDW will be among the last places to drop mitigation with masks. Maybe they pack theaters and ride vehicles without plexiglass first.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

Just fired off this tweet because it's happening and I've been able to personally confirm a few cases as of this week.

"Q[uestion] for @DohOrange [Department of Health Orange County] and @OCFLMayor [Team of Jerry L. Demings]. Is it considered a park related outbreak if an park employee gets Covid because they live with another park employee who gets Covid because they had lunch while working? Or will it be the standard “No outbreaks have been liked to the parks?”

 

[Unbanshee]

Just fired off this tweet because it's happening and I've been able to personally confirm a few cases as of this week.

"Q[uestion] for @DohOrange [Department of Health Orange County] and @OCFLMayor [Team of Jerry L. Demings]. Is it considered a park related outbreak if an park employee gets Covid because they live with another park employee who gets Covid because they had lunch while working? Or will it be the standard “No outbreaks have been liked to the parks?”

I wonder how many people have to be infected for it to be an "outbreak"? 10? 20? Surely not just 3 or 4

 

[Gringrinngghost]

I wonder how many people have to be infected for it to be an "outbreak"? 10? 20? Surely not just 3 or 4

CDCs working definition is 2 or more.

cite: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/201...ak indicates,need for public health resources.

 

[Stitch826]

Just fired off this tweet because it's happening and I've been able to personally confirm a few cases as of this week.

"Q[uestion] for @DohOrange [Department of Health Orange County] and @OCFLMayor [Team of Jerry L. Demings]. Is it considered a park related outbreak if an park employee gets Covid because they live with another park employee who gets Covid because they had lunch while working? Or will it be the standard “No outbreaks have been liked to the parks?”

If the employees live together, the first employee could have gotten COVID anywhere, not necessarily at work. So, no, not a park-related outbreak, unless those employees spread it to other park coworkers.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

If the employees live together, the first employee could have gotten COVID anywhere, not necessarily at work. So, no, not a park-related outbreak, unless those employees spread it to other park coworkers.

I have talked with the employee and mutual contacts of the employee. The employee also stated to me that 2 weeks before the onset of symptoms, they have been to one retail store and that was 8 days before the onset of symptoms. The only other place they went to, was their place of work and had been there approximately 9 of the 14 days, that is the only place as well that they took their mask off to eat, as they are also in the high-risk group.

The second employee had been to Target as well (the day before the first employee showed symptoms and one week prior). They have also been at the same employer (different areas) and had tested positive today, approximately 5 days after the onset of the first employee's symptoms).

 

[007mickey]

“Face Coverings

Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming. You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing”

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/#drawer-card-faceCoverings

I guess I haven't paid enough attention to the wording but what's with the "you must be stationary"? Are they saying you can't walk around with a water and occasionally pull your mask down to take a drink?

 

[Chomama]

I guess I haven't paid enough attention to the wording but what's with the "you must be stationary"? Are they saying you can't walk around with a water and occasionally pull your mask down to take a drink?

Correct. Early on many people were carrying drinks to avoid pulling their masks up so they had to change the policy to stationary eating and drinking

 

[GoofGoof]

I guess I haven't paid enough attention to the wording but what's with the "you must be stationary"? Are they saying you can't walk around with a water and occasionally pull your mask down to take a drink?

That’s been the rule since early on. Too many people tried to use the “carry a drink all day“ plan to get away with not wearing a mask. You can stop in a park for a drink but you are supposed to step aside and do it where you can be distanced from others.

 

[dreday3]

When CDC says you can be maskless outside, recommend for indoor, Disney will drop mask requirement. They aren't going to keep it longer.

I would bet anything they are waiting for the day they can say no masks!

And personally I think that time will come around the fall.

 

[DC0703]

What do you think will happen when Disney's CMs are vaccinated, and if studies show that people who are vaccinated are protected against both getting sick and transmitting the virus? I know it's speculative, but I'm wondering what people would consider reasonable under those circumstances. We're nowhere near that point now, but at some point I assume most of the people going to Disney will have been vaccinated. What would be the rationale at that point for keeping masks? Maybe it's just too soon for a reliable answer.

I doubt this would have an impact on Disney's mask policy. It would be too hard for Disney to have to try and police who has and has not had a vaccination (and have to deal with the inevitable unvaccinated guests saying "it's not fair!" or "I want the vaccine but its not available to me yet!"). Far easier to keep it a blanket policy until herd immunity is reached, hopefully later in the year, and phase it out then.

Not to mention that they are making money selling masks...

 

[dreday3]

I agree with the poster who said something happened to necessitate this proclamation from Disney.

I think it's telling of the mind-set of people right now. A lot of people have been (mostly) following the rules with a few grumbles. But now that vaccines are coming, I think people are really, really going to start to push back.

Right or wrong, I think mask requirements are going to start to be dropped all over sooner rather than later.

 

[GoofGoof]

When CDC says you can be maskless outside, recommend for indoor, Disney will drop mask requirement. They aren't going to keep it longer.

I would bet anything they are waiting for the day they can say no masks!

And personally I think that time will come around the fall.

Agreed. Disney execs can’t wait to get rid of masks and all the other Covid restrictions. I don’t think they will be a first mover in eliminating safety protocols but they won’t keep things around if they aren’t necessary. I still feel masks are one of the last things to go. Ride and park capacity limits probably go first, then group gatherings like shows and parades and fireworks, then dining capacity limits and finally masks. I agree that by the Fall there’s a good chance masks are gone. I think it all depends on how fast cases drop off and how well vaccine rollout goes but it could even be as early as sometime this summer. Just my guesses.

 

[networkpro]

I doubt this would have an impact on Disney's mask policy. It would be too hard for Disney to have to try and police who has and has not had a vaccination (and have to deal with the inevitable unvaccinated guests saying "it's not fair!" or "I want the vaccine but its not available to me yet!"). Far easier to keep it a blanket policy until herd immunity is reached, hopefully later in the year, and phase it out then.

Not to mention that they are making money selling masks...

Only if they kept the mask policy during the fall and winter seasons! This year has been the only time in recent history that neither my wife nor I have picked up a transmissible illness during our Disney vacations.

 

[Chi84]

I doubt this would have an impact on Disney's mask policy. It would be too hard for Disney to have to try and police who has and has not had a vaccination (and have to deal with the inevitable unvaccinated guests saying "it's not fair!" or "I want the vaccine but its not available to me yet!"). Far easier to keep it a blanket policy until herd immunity is reached, hopefully later in the year, and phase it out then.

Not to mention that they are making money selling masks...

They're going to lose a lot more money from guests who won't visit while masks are required than they make from selling masks. Once a significant number of people are vaccinated, it's going to be very hard for Disney to keep its current policy. We've canceled two WDW vacations so far, and it looks like May 2021 is endangered. It's going to be interesting to see how things develop over the next several months.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They're going to lose a lot more money from guests who won't visit while masks are required than they make from selling masks. Once a significant number of people are vaccinated, it's going to be very hard for Disney to keep its current policy. We've canceled two WDW vacations so far, and it looks like May 2021 is endangered. It's going to be interesting to see how things develop over the next several months.

Disney’s mask policy is one of the reasons I feel like I should make a trip! If only the cdc wasn’t... ya know... recommending that nobody travel.