Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Chi84]

As you all already know I’ve been less than impressed with his “projecting“ things lately. I don’t care if he is removed from TV but maybe he should just stop answering questions that involve him projecting what will happen 6+ months from now. All the stuff complaining about his statements in the past on masks and other stuff is basically just bunk. People didn’t want to hear what he had to say because it went against what they wanted. If Fauci came out tomorrow and said no more masks or distancing and bars should be open the same people who want to lynch him today would be building a statue to him.

He became public enemy number 1 for the Covid denying, anti-mask crowd and the more the anti-Trump people embraced him for defying Trumps desires to downplay Covid the more the hate grew for him. As we get towards having enough vaccine for everyone who wants in a few months it may serve the best interests of the country to put Fauci on the bench for that reason alone. Right now in every poll I’ve seen a large number of registered Republicans say they won’t take the vaccine ever, 51% in the latest Gallup poll. There are 55M registered Republicans so that’s 28M people (8.5% of the population) firmly in the no camp. For this vaccine rollout to finish strong and succeed in ending the pandemic we are going to need at least some of those people to come around. It probably doesn’t help when their most hated spokesperson on anything Covid related is on TV constantly saying everyone should be vaccinated and then follows that up by saying there will be no return to normal until 2022. Not exactly the best message to get people motivated to go in for the shot. I know it seems incredibly stupid to not get a vaccine because someone you don’t like but don’t even actually know says you should on TV, but I can’t control stupid.

Someone posted a while back that there's an entire town in my state that won't wear masks because they hate the governor. And if I recall, people were getting COVID.

Turning mitigation measures into a political thing has caused a lot of damage. I don't care if Dr. Fauci is inconsistent; I didn't vote for him. I did vote for President Biden and was very disappointed that he didn't address the nation shortly after taking office to set out a plan and tell people what they should be doing. But your post leads me to believe he may have thought addressing this public health crisis would have a good deal of the audience doing the exact opposite of what they were told. Still, leadership is difficult - they have to find a way to get through to the average, reasonable people in this country with a sensible message.

 

[Touchdown]

"California theme parks can reopen April 1 under updated guidelines from the state’s health department following a year of coronavirus closures that cost the parks billions and forced them to shed tens of thousands of jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new California theme park guidelines and opening date are part of a “refresh” of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

California theme parks have been closed since March 2020 under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Many parks have partially reopened for special events and food festivals without rides.

The Newsom administration’s “Blueprint Refresh” allows Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and other California theme parks to reopen as early as April 1 once the counties they are located in reach the red/substantial tier 2 risk status.

Starting on April 1, California theme parks can reopen at 15% capacity in the red/substantial tier 2.

Capacity levels will shift in the orange/moderate tier 3 and yellow/minimal tier 4.

Theme park attendance will be limited to California residents. Updated guidelines will be worked out over the next couple of weeks in partnership with theme parks.

“We appreciate the administration’s willingness to work with the state’s theme parks on the finer details of the plan so parks can responsibly reopen soon, putting people safely back to work and reinvigorating local economies,” California Attractions and Parks Association executive director Erin Guerrero said in a statement.

Most California counties with major theme parks still remain in the most-restrictive purple/widespread tier 1 risk level — including Orange (Disneyland and Knott’s), Los Angeles County (Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain), San Diego (SeaWorld and Legoland) and Solano (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom).

Orange and Los Angeles counties are expected to move into the red/substantial tier 2 next week — meaning Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s, Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain could reopen on April 1.

Santa Clara County — home to California’s Great America — is currently in the red/substantial tier 2 risk level. The Santa Clara amusement park has already set a reopening date of May 22.

Under the revised theme park guidelines, capacity limits will be placed on indoor rides and attractions.

The move is an abrupt about-face from the “slow, stubborn and stringent” approach to reopening California theme parks taken by the Newsom administration last fall.

In October, California officials issued separate reopening guidelines for smaller and larger theme parks in the state — with small parks allowed to reopen in the orange/moderate tier 3 while large parks could return in yellow/minimal tier 4. Attendance capacity was set at 25% in both tiers.

The California Attractions and Parks Association said the initial guidelines issued in October would keep the state’s large theme parks “closed Indefinitely.”

The “Blueprint Refresh” no longer makes a distinction between large and small California theme parks."

Disneyland, Universal and other California theme parks can reopen April 1

The new California theme park guidelines and opening date are part of a ‘refresh’ of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

www.ocregister.com

No non Californian residents, going to be hard to sell hotel rooms...

 

[GoofGoof]

"California theme parks can reopen April 1 under updated guidelines from the state’s health department following a year of coronavirus closures that cost the parks billions and forced them to shed tens of thousands of jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new California theme park guidelines and opening date are part of a “refresh” of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

California theme parks have been closed since March 2020 under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Many parks have partially reopened for special events and food festivals without rides.

The Newsom administration’s “Blueprint Refresh” allows Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and other California theme parks to reopen as early as April 1 once the counties they are located in reach the red/substantial tier 2 risk status.

Starting on April 1, California theme parks can reopen at 15% capacity in the red/substantial tier 2.

Capacity levels will shift in the orange/moderate tier 3 and yellow/minimal tier 4.

Theme park attendance will be limited to California residents. Updated guidelines will be worked out over the next couple of weeks in partnership with theme parks.

“We appreciate the administration’s willingness to work with the state’s theme parks on the finer details of the plan so parks can responsibly reopen soon, putting people safely back to work and reinvigorating local economies,” California Attractions and Parks Association executive director Erin Guerrero said in a statement.

Most California counties with major theme parks still remain in the most-restrictive purple/widespread tier 1 risk level — including Orange (Disneyland and Knott’s), Los Angeles County (Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain), San Diego (SeaWorld and Legoland) and Solano (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom).

Orange and Los Angeles counties are expected to move into the red/substantial tier 2 next week — meaning Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s, Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain could reopen on April 1.

Santa Clara County — home to California’s Great America — is currently in the red/substantial tier 2 risk level. The Santa Clara amusement park has already set a reopening date of May 22.

Under the revised theme park guidelines, capacity limits will be placed on indoor rides and attractions.

The move is an abrupt about-face from the “slow, stubborn and stringent” approach to reopening California theme parks taken by the Newsom administration last fall.

In October, California officials issued separate reopening guidelines for smaller and larger theme parks in the state — with small parks allowed to reopen in the orange/moderate tier 3 while large parks could return in yellow/minimal tier 4. Attendance capacity was set at 25% in both tiers.

The California Attractions and Parks Association said the initial guidelines issued in October would keep the state’s large theme parks “closed Indefinitely.”

The “Blueprint Refresh” no longer makes a distinction between large and small California theme parks."

Disneyland, Universal and other California theme parks can reopen April 1

The new California theme park guidelines and opening date are part of a ‘refresh’ of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

www.ocregister.com

Game on It‘s about time. Somewhere in a cryogenic freezer Walt’s head is smiling today

 

[GimpYancIent]

Game on It‘s about time. Somewhere in a cryogenic freezer Walt’s head is smiling today

I will believe when I see the gates actually open. Until then its just empty words.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

If you (not, specifically "you") read the article, you'll find that the "fewer" cases were a very small percentage. People like to present it as "if we just did these little things it would end the pandemic." Based on this study, that is not true.

From the article:

So, drastically restricting restaurant operations by not allowing any indoor dining at all get's you barely over 1% fewer daily cases.

As for the mask mandates, the effect is very slightly more in the longer term:

At least with the mask mandates you can argue that there isn't much downside so any effect is positive. Still, the amount credit some people give to masks is not supported by this research.

Just reporting what a CDC study said. Don’t shoot the messenger.

 

[sullyinMT]

No non Californian residents, going to be hard to sell hotel rooms...

Honest question. Can non-Californians visit wineries or Chinatown? IM Cali and other large races are approaching this summer and fall. Ideally it will be moot by then, but can only Californians race?

It’s a great first step, but I do wonder if the resident thing won’t be fought in court or through the legislature if it drags on. That little caveat does seem a bit discriminatory if other businesses of the same type (other hotels, especially) aren’t under the same restriction.

Another question for DVC owners here. If you’re not in CA, would you go to GC just for the resort and Downtown Disney?

 

[GoofGoof]

Honest question. Can non-Californians visit wineries or Chinatown? IM Cali and other large races are approaching this summer and fall. Ideally it will be moot by then, but can only Californians race?

It’s a great first step, but I do wonder if the resident thing won’t be fought in court or through the legislature if it drags on. That little caveat does seem a bit discriminatory if other businesses of the same type (other hotels, especially) aren’t under the same restriction.

Another question for DVC owners here. If you’re not in CA, would you go to GC just for the resort and Downtown Disney?

I would absolutely stay at GC even if I wasn’t going to the parks. It’s a fabulous resort. We stayed there August 2019 and spent plenty of time in the parks too, but I would definitely go back and just stay, use the pools, eat out at a few nice restaurants and walk around Downtown Disney. I wouldn’t specifically fly all the way from PA to CA just to do that, but if I were going to CA anyway I’d definitely stay there.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

As you all already know I’ve been less than impressed with his “projecting“ things lately. I don’t care if he is removed from TV but maybe he should just stop answering questions that involve him projecting what will happen 6+ months from now. All the stuff complaining about his statements in the past on masks and other stuff is basically just bunk. People didn’t want to hear what he had to say because it went against what they wanted. If Fauci came out tomorrow and said no more masks or distancing and bars should be open the same people who want to lynch him today would be building a statue to him.

He became public enemy number 1 for the Covid denying, anti-mask crowd and the more the anti-Trump people embraced him for defying Trumps desires to downplay Covid the more the hate grew for him. As we get towards having enough vaccine for everyone who wants in a few months it may serve the best interests of the country to put Fauci on the bench for that reason alone. Right now in every poll I’ve seen a large number of registered Republicans say they won’t take the vaccine ever, 51% in the latest Gallup poll. There are 55M registered Republicans so that’s 28M people (8.5% of the population) firmly in the no camp. For this vaccine rollout to finish strong and succeed in ending the pandemic we are going to need at least some of those people to come around. It probably doesn’t help when their most hated spokesperson on anything Covid related is on TV constantly saying everyone should be vaccinated and then follows that up by saying there will be no return to normal until 2022. Not exactly the best message to get people motivated to go in for the shot. I know it seems incredibly stupid to not get a vaccine because someone you don’t like but don’t even actually know says you should on TV, but I can’t control stupid.

It just really blows my mind.. if, and that’s a big if.. those polls are right on who will get the vaccine. A health emergency unlike any of us alive today has seen, and one of the biggest cures will be dismissed and has become a political talking point. The thinking of people never ever ceases to amaze me.

 

[GoofGoof]

I will believe when I see the gates actually open. Until then its just empty words.

It would be the most cruel and at the same time slightly hilarious April fools day prank.

 

[GoofGoof]

It just really blows my mind.. if, and that’s a big if.. those polls are right on who will get the vaccine. A health emergency unlike any of us alive today has seen, and one of the biggest cures will be dismissed and has become a political talking point. The thinking of people never ever ceases to amaze me.

I still think it’s easy for people to say they will never get it when they aren’t even eligible, but when it’s their turn and they actually have access I am hopeful that they end up getting it. The JnJ vaccine would be great for those people. If you can just walk into any pharmacy, no wait and get a one and done shot it doesn’t get much easier. For people indifferent to the vaccine it’s a hard sell to have them searching for appointments and then have to come back again for shot 2.

 

[sullyinMT]

I would absolutely stay at GC even if I wasn’t going to the parks. It’s a fabulous resort. We stayed there August 2019 and spent plenty of time in the parks too, but I would definitely go back and just stay, use the pools, eat out at a few nice restaurants and walk around Downtown Disney. I wouldn’t specifically fly all the way from PA to CA just to do that, but if I were going to CA anyway I’d definitely stay there.

Whenever they do open, I realize local demand will probably outstrip supply for some time. But, if the resident restriction were to drag on, I wonder if people won’t spend their points at Aulani or WDW area instead. Well, those in the middle states, anyway.

If, for example, an owner in Denver can choose a 4 hour flight to MCO and not be locked out of the theme parks, or 3 hours to LAX and be treated like an undesirable, I know where I’d spend my points. HNL, of course, is a much different flight. But, if I just wanted resort and relax time, it would seem more appealing to me.

I know it’s all hypothetical, and hopefully our national trends continue in the right direction. I’m glad Newsom’s handlers finally got to him a little, whatever the reason. Maybe Sacramento is waiting for the CDC to lighten their travel advisories before encouraging bookings, and that would make sense if they just came out and said it.

 

[DCBaker]

 

[oceanbreeze77]

I'm interested in what date disney will choose. It may be a waste of money to operate the park at 15% capacity with only CA residents. The food festival sold out yesterday, thats 35% capacity, with people coming from all over. I'm gonna predict disney waits a little longer to actually reopen, and milks this experience first. Then maybe in may or June they'll open the fully operating park. (Its likely we will be in an even better tier by that point)

 

[CatesMom]

Absolutely agree. If you happen upon extra doses that would go unused then you should take the vaccine and feel no guilt.

I've put my name on waiting lists at multiple pharmacies to ensure no doses go to waste while I wait to win the Virginia vaccine lottery.

 

[sullyinMT]

I'm interested in what date disney will choose. It may be a waste of money to operate the park at 15% capacity with only CA residents. The food festival sold out yesterday, thats 35% capacity, with people coming from all over. I'm gonna predict disney waits a little longer to actually reopen, and milks this experience first. Then maybe in may or June they'll open the fully operating park. (Its likely we will be in an even better tier by that point)

Could be. If the festival makes enough money that they can justify $$$ for staffing and getting the attractions back to snuff. That message from Mr Potrock says all the right things about bringing back employees, so hopefully whatever they do brings back that number to its highest possible point.

 

[GoofGoof]

I disagree ! All of this virtue signaling coming from people on social media when they get their vaccine is silly. Imagine if we did this with all of our medical procedures?? I would hope most Americans wouldn't be so easily influenced by pop culture in terms of their health. This isn't an anti vaccine post just think the girling around it is nonsense.

Also I am calling BS on that poll. I live in a very conservative state where President Trump won hands down , my particular town would be considered Trump country and people are getting vaccinated left and right here.

It’s literally every poll done, not just 1 poll. The poll isn’t saying that nobody is getting vaccinated. We are only 16% of the population in so it wouldn’t be obvious if half of 1 particular demographic group wasn’t going to go.

 

[tpac24]

e. Right now in every poll I’ve seen a large number of registered Republicans say they won’t take the vaccine ever, 51% in the latest Gallup poll. There are 55M registered Republicans so that’s 28M people (8.5% of the population) firmly in the no camp.

It’s literally every poll done, not just 1 poll. The poll isn’t saying that nobody is getting vaccinated. We are only 16% of the population in so it wouldn’t be obvious if half of 1 particular demographic group wasn’t going to go.

I wouldn't trust the polls on this or anything really. I am surrounded by conservatives none of whom fall into this "anti covid vaccine crazy Trump supporter" many of your post on this topic allude to myself included. I also find it maddening that if you have any questions or concerns about this vaccine you are lumped into the "qonan " group. You are an absolute mindless idiot if you don't have questions and concerns when it comes to your health and you run out and get a shot because Cardi B told you to .

 

[MaryJaneP]

Don't famous people actually televise their medical procedures? In part, doesn't this encourage others to be tested, studied, or to even undergo the procedure? Besides, it makes great PR for both the outlet and the person undergoing the procedure.

 

[CatesMom]

Yep. i called Publix by my house, said they don't want to do that because it's too "complicated". Well, I imagine wasting thousands of dollars on missed appointments, unbooked slots, and wasted dosages is more important to the bottom line

I showed up in person to seven stand-alone and grocery store pharmacies the other day and put my name on two wait lists. Neither one panned out, but I'll try again next week.

 

[tpac24]

Don't famous people actually televise their medical procedures? In part, doesn't this encourage others to be tested, studied, or to even undergo the procedure? Besides, it makes great PR for both the outlet and the person undergoing the procedure.

Selfies of their vaccines and yes.