Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Jrb1979]

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Covid is now officially gone or that's how it feels around here.

 

[GoofGoof]

Unless there is a major outbreak there, the honor system will be just fine. What other measure for success is there?

If that’s the metric than leave everything as is since there haven’t been any outbreaks

 

[Chi84]

I can tell you the honor system will not go how they hope it will.

I don’t think they have any particular hopes. If you’re vaccinated, you’re safe. If you’re not, you can wear a mask or avoid theme parks if you think people are lying or you’re just not comfortable yet.

I think most people who are visiting theme parks at this time are the ones who have a higher risk tolerance. I know parents of children under 12 who have digested all the relevant info and believe their children are not at risk. (I’m not saying they are right or asking for proof otherwise - just an observation.) Those who feel differently will probably just skip WDW until their kids can be vaccinated.

 

[Parker in NYC]

I'm really curious to see what happens two weeks after memorial day weekend (country-wide). If numbers don't spike, it will change my outlook. I mean, I'll still be cautious but... baby steps.

 

[networkpro]

I'm really curious to see what happens two weeks after memorial day weekend (country-wide). If numbers don't spike, it will change my outlook. I mean, I'll still be cautious but... baby steps.

I'm most concerned with the juvenile infection rate, most Adults have vaccines available if they choose to become protected.

 

[Parker in NYC]

I'm most concerned with the juvenile infection rate, most Adults have vaccines available if they choose to become protected.

Numbers are numbers. I just want to see what happens regardless of age.

 

[mikejs78]

If you’re not, you can wear a mask or avoid theme parks if you think people are lying or you’re just not comfortable yet.

I don’t think they have any particular hopes. If you’re vaccinated, you’re safe. If you’re not, you can wear a mask or avoid theme parks if you think people are lying or you’re just not comfortable yet.

I think most people who are visiting theme parks at this time are the ones who have a higher risk tolerance. I know parents of children under 12 who have digested all the relevant info and believe their children are not at risk. (I’m not saying they are right or asking for proof otherwise - just an observation.) Those who feel differently will probably just skip WDW until their kids can be vaccinated.

I know a family with young kids who are not eligible to be vaccinated yet. They had a trip planned two weeks from now. They were comfortable wtih the guidelines as they were in place when they booked the trip, booked the plane tickets, made reservations, etc. Now, they are quite upset and not sure what to do. They don't feel comfortable with the risks for their kids.

Now they are no longer comfortable with the new guidelines, the lack of distancing, and masks as an optional thing. To say that her kids should "just wear a mask" misses the point that the greatest benefit of mask wearing is for infected people to wear them; it protects the wearer to some degree, but it mostly prevents the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID if they have it.

So what are they to do? If they cancel, they lose money. If they go, they aren't comfortable with the *new* risks (as opposed to the previous protocols, which they were comfortable with; they even are comfortable with. the new outdoor mask policy, which the science supports).

This is what people are forgetting, that people made decisions based on what was in place, and there's a large portion of the population that *can't* get vaccinated yet because they are not eligible.

As for me, I'm waiting until next Februray to go, as by then my kids will be able to be vaccinated. Glad I didn't plan a trip for this summer...

 

[Andrew C]

If that’s the metric than leave everything as is since there haven’t been any outbreaks

Just saying, what could happen to make people say, "wow that turned out to be a really bad decision."

 

[Parker in NYC]

Just saying, what could happen to make people say, "wow that turned out to be a really bad decision."

Depends on the people. Kind of the theme song of the last year and a half.

 

[tallica]

I can tell you the honor system will not go how they hope it will.

It will go exactly how the hope it will. It will save them money, make them money, and eliminate the headache of mask enforcement. They don't care about who is actually vaccinated.

 

[Parker in NYC]

It will go exactly how the hope it will. It will save them money, make them money, and eliminate the headache of mask enforcement. They don't care about who is actually vaccinated.

Truth.

 

[sullyinMT]

OCFL phase 3 doesn't really exist anymore so why wait for it? If they are doing it based on CDC guidelines they can do it now just like all of the national retailers.

I haven't been to UO in years but I assume they still sell on-ride photos. I would think that the sale of those (both at Universal and Disney) would be higher if people aren't wearing masks so there is probably a business reason to do it sooner rather than later. I'm guessing the surveys done haven't indicated that they will have trouble drawing crowds if they drop the requirement.

Yes, it doesn’t exist in the legal sense. However, if they (all theme park operators) worked with Demings in drafting the guidelines as the mayor insinuated, I’m of the opinion that waiting an extra week or whatever for him to make a formal announcement wouldn’t have been a big deal. I agree with the premise that they’re following CDC guidance with the fully vaccinated language. However, as @GoofGoof pointed out, we all know that families with under 12’s will be pushing the envelope. It’s fine in concept, I’d just personally rather they wait for Demings to make the formality announcement.

 

[GoofGoof]

Just saying, what could happen to make people say, "wow that turned out to be a really bad decision."

Nothing really, that’s why the policy change happened. It’s low risk for Universal and even if an outbreak happened they are following CDC guidelines so not on them.

 

[CosmicRays]

I can tell you the honor system will not go how they hope it will.

Suddenly everyone is vaccinated!

 

[Parker in NYC]

Nothing really, that’s why the policy change happened. It’s low risk for Universal and even if an outbreak happened they are following CDC guidelines so not on them.

Yep. If it happened, the press would have a field day with it -- but even still, the ball is no longer in their court.

 

[danlb_2000]

You are correct - I could have sworn I saw it there... I take it back, I was mistaken, although it does prevent schools and universities from requiring the COVID vaccine info only. It's odd that they are preventing requiring of proof of COVID vaccine but not any other vaccine.

Yeah, it's interesting that the law is written very narrowly.

 

[Chi84]

I know a family with young kids who are not eligible to be vaccinated yet. They had a trip planned two weeks from now. They were comfortable wtih the guidelines as they were in place when they booked the trip, booked the plane tickets, made reservations, etc. Now, they are quite upset and not sure what to do. They don't feel comfortable with the risks for their kids.

Now they are no longer comfortable with the new guidelines, the lack of distancing, and masks as an optional thing. To say that her kids should "just wear a mask" misses the point that the greatest benefit of mask wearing is for infected people to wear them; it protects the wearer to some degree, but it mostly prevents the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID if they have it.

So what are they to do? If they cancel, they lose money. If they go, they aren't comfortable with the *new* risks (as opposed to the previous protocols, which they were comfortable with; they even are comfortable with. the new outdoor mask policy, which the science supports).

This is what people are forgetting, that people made decisions based on what was in place, and there's a large portion of the population that *can't* get vaccinated yet because they are not eligible.

As for me, I'm waiting until next Februray to go, as by then my kids will be able to be vaccinated. Glad I didn't plan a trip for this summer...

What you're planning is wise. I never did understand why people would plan a trip relying on any particular set of safety protocols to remain in place far into the future. These protocols were always intended as temporary measures to be modified when (and as soon as) circumstances allowed. WDW never made any promises to keep protocols after the CDC and other entities decided they could be safely discontinued.

 

[DisneyCane]

You are correct - I could have sworn I saw it there... I take it back, I was mistaken, although it does prevent schools and universities from requiring the COVID vaccine info only. It's odd that they are preventing requiring of proof of COVID vaccine but not any other vaccine.

Yeah, it's interesting that the law is written very narrowly.

It's probably so narrow so there wouldn't be any question about the legislative intent. They didn't want to change anything with respect to the vaccinations already required.

There are other statutes that allow for vaccines to be added to the required list for schools. By specifying the COVID-19 vaccine they avoid any issues with interpretation.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yep. If it happened, the press would have a field day with it -- but even still, the ball is no longer in their court.

For a day park like Universal there‘s almost no risk of an actual outbreak being traced back to them. Too hard to prove.

I could see an unlikely scenario for bad PR where an 8 year old gets Covid and ends up in the hospital or worse and the family claims the kid got infected at Universal (no need for proof where they got sick in the court of public opinion). It gets worse if the family admits they didn’t make the kid wear a mask and nobody questioned it even though he was clearly not vaccinated.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Canada now has a framework for reopening the border. Those unvaccinated will still be required to quarantine.
Here’s a key nugget in the report: travellers that can show proof of vaccination should be allowed to skip the pre-departure test, quarantine requirement or day seven test, the panel says. ". I would imagine when it does reopen that will be in place for awhile.

I don't think this will change anything. The notion that it would be safe for vaccinated people to cross the border without restriction is pretty obvious. Just like the CDC saying vaccinated people don't need masks is obvious, but isn't going to necessarily lead to immediate rule changes.

WDW still requires masks indoors because it would be impossible to check everyone's status and an honour system poses risk.

Based on how things have been handled in Canada thus far, I still think it will be more of a universal approach. The borders will open once it's safe for everyone.

At this point it sounds like everyone 12 and up will be fully vaccinated by August, so re-opening a month or two early for a portion of the population may simply be seen as more trouble than it's worth.