Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[GoofGoof]

Thank you for your post. So many cast members were sick in January. Not just for a few days but for a week at least. Many did go to the ER and negative flu tests came back. I’m not a cast member but have ties to some. And after I stayed at Disney for three days in late January I became extremely ill and was hospitalized with a negative flu test. The ER dr said she didn’t understand how it came back negative. My cardiologist suggested I could very well have had covid 19. Articles have come out criticizing Disney for not closing earlier. Yet you don’t hear about cast members being sick in large numbers. You’d think they’d all been exposed with constant guest interaction. People were upset with Trump saying this was a problem back in January that was ignored. So it’s very conceivable that it’s been around for longer than we were aware.

Scientists in Italy agree with that theory:

Italian scientists investigate possible earlier emergence of coronavirus

Italian researchers are looking at whether a higher than usual number of cases of severe pneumonia and flu in Lombardy in the last quarter of 2019 may be a signal that the new coronavirus might have spread beyond China earlier than previously thought. Adriano Decarli, an epidemiologist and...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Polynesia]

I agree with that. Disney can afford to do this and it’s the right move. I think the curious part is why extend this for 3 more weeks now if the parks aren’t opening any time soon. Makes me suspect that they do plan to open the parks sooner than later. If they thought it would be June or July it would have been furloughs and/or layoffs. Extending makes me think maybe a May opening if the situation looks good.

Disney has posted park hours for April 10. If Disney was going to lay off it’s workforce they’d have done it by now. I think realistically they’ll open May 1 and have cast members come in the week before.

 

[Lilofan]

Yes that was spring break in Florida. I saw the pictures. Take a look at the beaches now. I feel sorry for all the people in the states that these kids went back to. New York kept schools open while they were already closed in Florida. At the same time Illinois was still not going social distancing. This wasn’t just a Florida event.

And New Orleans had Mardi Gras in March. I experienced that craziness years ago. A pretty much 24/7 hedonism of a time.

 

[celluloid]

My guess is they don’t want guests booking trips starting 4/19 when they know there’s a very good chance the parks won’t open then. Thats why they said until further notice. I think the 4/19 date gives them the option to evaluate the situation around that time. Many experts seem to think we may see a peak by mid-April but who knows if that’s true. If the situation looks like things will be opening sooner than later around 4/19 they can announce an opening date and also potentially pay employees through that date. If things are still up in the air or worse than expected they may potentially furlough or lay off workers. I think setting the date of 4/18 just tells us around when the next announcement is coming.

Thank you, that was my thought too, that 4/19 is when they will evaluate the potential for furlough.

 

[GoofGoof]

And New Orleans had Mardi Gras in March. I experienced that craziness years ago. A pretty much 24/7 hedonism of a time.

It was the last weekend in February, but the virus was already spreading worldwide by then. I remember reading about churches in Italy banning Ash Wednesday masses which would have been at the same time as Mardi Gras. I think New Orleans is taking some heat over that too. Leaders will be judged for their decisions, fair or not.

 

[GoofGoof]

Disney has posted park hours for April 10. If Disney was going to lay off it’s workforce they’d have done it by now. I think realistically they’ll open May 1 and have cast members come in the week before.

Slightly more optimistic than me, but I think mid May is a good possibility, assuming things don’t go downhill too much.

 

[Polynesia]

Slightly more optimistic than me, but I think mid May is a good possibility, assuming things don’t go downhill too much.

I agree that mid May is more reasonable. But I think Disney World will open before Disneyland. The governor wants things up and running which will give Disney the go ahead. Not sure which approach is best, shutting down totally or partially. If everything is shut down are you delaying the inevitable? Partially shut down helps flatten the curve but still allows a bit of freedom. I don’t think there’s really a right or wrong approach.

 

[celluloid]

I agree that mid May is more reasonable. But I think Disney World will open before Disneyland. The governor wants things up and running which will give Disney the go ahead. Not sure which approach is best, shutting down totally or partially. If everything is shut down are you delaying the inevitable? Partially shut down helps flatten the curve but still allows a bit of freedom. I don’t think there’s really a right or wrong approach.

Yes, I have believed that to be likely for awhile myself. Also, I think some of the Chinese parks will be the last to open(if ever again)

 

[marni1971]

Disney has posted park hours for April 10. If Disney was going to lay off it’s workforce they’d have done it by now. I think realistically they’ll open May 1 and have cast members come in the week before.

They will continue to prepare as if they will be open until such time as they’re not. So you may see hours for May appear until such time they become void.

 

[Polynesia]

Here in Orange Co, FL we are out of the physical buildings until April 15th and begin distance learning Monday. I highly anticipate we will be extending the time out of the classroom through the end of April at the best and the remainder of the year at the worst. Our last day is May 27.

It’s probably best to finish off the school year with distance learning. Keeps the staff and children safe. Kids are always touching their face and younger kids putting their fingers in their mouth. Better safe than sorry. Thank you for all you do in teaching our children.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yes, I have believed that to be likely for awhile myself. Also, I think some of the Chinese parks will be the last to open(if ever again)

The Chinese parks will open again. Some day. Maybe not too soon. Probably.

 

[easyrowrdw]

VA has closed all grade school (K-12) schools for the rest of the acedemic year. They are in the process of determining how to continue education w/o classroom interaction.

I saw that. Our governor has left it up to the various districts around the state. There are big differences in infection rates across different areas so I guess they don't all need to close for good.

I have a friend in Virginia and I asked him how things were going with the schools out. I never heard back.

 

[lilypgirl]

I know this won't be a popular opinion but I think it is time that the powers at be start setting some real goals. We have over 100,000 cases but less then 1800 deaths. Not that I want anyone to be ill or die but I feel like many of these decisions like canceling graduations scheduled for May and calling for the college football season to canceled are knee jerk reactions.

 

[The Mom]

According to the WHO, as mentioned in @MisterPenguin 's post, it appears that the most viable option would be ibuprofen. But I'm still confused, why is it taking so long to come up with a definite answer as to what to take to help alleviate COVID-19's symptoms?

This might sound silly, but how about aspirin? It lowers fevers, helps with inflammation and alleviates overall pain. Any studies/data on this? I'm curious as to why I haven't heard good old aspirin being mentioned at all.

Reye's syndrome - Symptoms and causes

www.mayoclinic.org

It is rare in adults, but is still possible.

 

[Polkadotdress]

For those of you @21stamps who are stressing about balancing work and homeschool, the recently passed bill allows for partial pay if you take time of to teach your children. My brother is pursuing this option. Verbiage from the bill as follows and can be found here: https://www.natlawreview.com/articl...oronavirus-response-act-updated-march-26-2020

The EFMLA expands leave under the FMLA to provide leave for employees who need to care for their child due to the closure of schools and childcare facilities as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency (referred to as a Qualifying Need Related to a Public Health Emergency).

Under the EFMLA, both full-time and part-time employees who have worked for the employer for at least 30 calendar days will be entitled to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for a Qualifying Need Related to Public Health Emergency. For purposes of determining employee coverage, the DOL has advised that the 30-days of employment calculation is made as of the day leave would commence. As a result, employees hired during 2020 will become eligible for leave after 30 calendar days of employment.

Under the EFMLA, the first two weeks of such FMLA may be unpaid. During this 10-day period, an employee may choose to substitute accrued vacation leave, personal leave or other medical or sick leave, but an employer may not require an employee to do so.

After the two weeks of unpaid leave, employers must provide up to 10 weeks of paid FMLA leave at a rate of no less than two-thirds of the employee’s regular rate of pay**. The EFMLA caps the paid leave entitlement at $200 per day ($10,000 in aggregate).

 

[marni1971]

I know this won't be a popular opinion but I think it is time that the powers at be start setting some real goals. We have over 100,000 cases but less then 1800 deaths. Not that I want anyone to be ill or die but I feel like many of these decisions like canceling graduations scheduled for May and calling for the college football season to canceled are knee jerk reactions.

Tell that to Italy.

 

[lilypgirl]

Tell that to Italy.

In terms of this I don't think it's a fair comparison given the average age of those dying and affected in Italy and our healthcare system vs theirs. Also Northern Italy has a high population of factory workers from Wuhan many of whom went home for the Chinese New Year and then flew back to Italy unchecked and unregulated.

 

[Polynesia]

I know this won't be a popular opinion but I think it is time that the powers at be start setting some real goals. We have over 100,000 cases but less then 1800 deaths. Not that I want anyone to be ill or die but I feel like many of these decisions like canceling graduations scheduled for May and calling for the college football season to canceled are knee jerk reactions.

I can understand feeling like that. The rate is actually lower since they are recording all deaths but not all infections. One article I read stated the actual rate may be very close to the annual flu rate. But closing for a few weeks is advisable if we can help flatten the curve do the hospitals and staff are overwhelmed. I think panic has set in making everyone want to go to the hospital when normally they would stay gone a few days and not give it a second thought.

 

[wishiwere@wdw]

Disney should step up and offer to buy Seaworld and pay all their employees. I would be happy to sell them my stock at todays closing price if they agree to rehire and pay their employees. Seaworld has been a key part of Orlando for years, long before Universal and must be saved.

While it sucks and I feel for them, I actually support and agree with how seaworld handled this. Any current employee would be kidding themselves for starters if they remotely believed SEAS could pay them through all of this. And by cutting folks loose now, the unemployment benefits will actually be likely greater than what they were making before all of this happened. So why needlessly bankrupt the company? I feel strongly all of these team members will have job opportunities when everything comes back online and in the meantime, they’ll be taken care of. Ironically, with Seaworld and BGT being much more regionally focused, I suspect these parks could bounce back much quicker as well. Especially with all of us waiting to bust out of our homes lol.

Perhaps it’s also better than waiting until the last possible minute only to confuse your employees and leave them wondering who it all entails and what’s next after April 18th. I think?

And I’m saying this with best intentions as I have very good friends at nearly all of the Orlando area attractions including Seaworld.

 

[Lilofan]

View attachment 458961

Laura needs a date.