Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[marni1971]

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.

France then. Or Germany. Or Spain. Or China.

Or your country if heaven forbid your death toll sky rockets.

 

[lilypgirl]

France then. Or Germany. Or Spain. Or China.

Or your country if heaven forbid your death toll sky rockets.

China really?????????

 

[Polynesia]

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.

As long as you don’t need health insurance it’s a good option. Unemployment doesn’t insure you and COBRA is very pricey.

 

[wm49rs]

France then. Or Germany. Or Spain. Or China.

Or your country if heaven forbid your death toll sky rockets.

Or anywhere. Lord help anyone showing compassion. Particularly ever-so-polite Englishmen....

 

[Andrew C]

As long as you don’t need health insurance it’s a good option. Unemployment doesn’t insure you and COBRA is very pricey.

If you are furloughed, there is a good chance you keep your benefits. Highly likely.

 

[GoofGoof]

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 haven’t heard anyone with any level of authority talk about canceling the college football season. That call wouldn’t need to be made for a while still.

As far as other things go it’s tough to say what should be done. Gather a big group for a graduation and God forbid a large number get sick people will be killing the government or schools for allowing it. IMHO we need to stay the course and try to get through the peak before considering going back to large gatherings. I know it’s extremely disappointing and people had weddings, graduations, dream vacations and other things cancelled. We owe it to the first responders, doctors, nurses and even grocery store workers who are putting their lives and families at risk right now to just stay home and flatten the curve.

 

[Incomudro]

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.

Yeah, I can't imagine they'll resume a school year for this season.
For the reasons you state, and parents are not going to want their kids as part of the first test subject group to get back together on mass.
Plus, when kids attend school - much of the shuttling, drop off etc., often involves the care and assistance of grand parents.

 

[wishiwere@wdw]

As long as you don’t need health insurance it’s a good option. Unemployment doesn’t insure you and COBRA is very pricey.

Oh absolutely. I’ve had to do COBRA before. That said, I’m not sure how many of their hourly workers had health benefits to begin with? I’m honestly not sure. Also, being furloughed does not necessarily mean no healthcare and the articles I’ve read did not indicate if they were offered COBRA or not (it’s required by law if benefits are being cut). Regardless, hopefully the gap in benefits if COBRA is needed is covered by the extra stimulus pay so they can get through these next few weeks. SEAS made it clear they want their ambassadors back so that’s good news at least .

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah, I can't imagine they'll resume a school year for this season.
For the reasons you state, and parents are not going to want their kids as part of the first test subject group to get back together on mass.
Plus, when kids attend school - much of the shuttling, drop off etc., often involves the care and assistance of grand parents.

Especially schools in the south that get out some time in May anyway. I can’t imagine they go back until August. For the northern schools that go into June it’s possible, but like you said is it worth the risk for a few weeks or even a month of school?

 

[Incomudro]

Especially schools in the south that get out some time in May anyway. I can’t imagine they go back until August. For the northern schools that go into June it’s possible, but like you said is it worth the risk for a few weeks or even a month of school?

Yes, we're so close to the end I would expect a big uproar from concerned parents if school were to resume.
Schools are probably one of the largest single daily and prolonged clustering of people.
Hours a day, in close proximity - plus, kids being kids - touching each other...
My son's are seniors in high school, and it drives them crazy how touchy the kids (kids they are not close with) are in their high school.

 

[GoofGoof]

Oh absolutely. I’ve had to do COBRA before. That said, I’m not sure how many of their hourly workers had health benefits to begin with? I’m honestly not sure. Also, being furloughed does not necessarily mean no healthcare and the articles I’ve read did not indicate if they were offered COBRA or not (it’s required by law if benefits are being cut). Regardless, hopefully the gap in benefits if COBRA is needed is covered by the extra stimulus pay so they can get through these next few weeks. SEAS made it clear they want their ambassadors back so that’s good news at least .

Benefits usually continue until the end of the month if they are terminated. With COBRA you also have 60 days to elect the benefits and they are retroactive to your end of benefits date. For example, if Disney furloughed CMs 4/18 and didn’t offer them benefits they would still have coverage through 4/30. Then they could wait until June 30th to elect and pay for COBRA. If the parks opened before 6/30 they would have their benefits back. You would only have to pay for COBRA if you have health expenses during the time you weren’t covered. I’ve used that loophole when having to wait for benefits for a job. I think Disney will keep health benefits if the employees are furloughed, just using that as an example.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yes, we're so close to the end I would expect a big uproar from concerned parents if school were to resume.
Schools are probably one of the largest single daily and prolonged clustering of people.
Hours a day, in close proximity - plus, kids being kids - touching each other...
My son's are seniors in high school, and it drives them crazy how touchy the kids (kids they are not close with) are in their high school.

It sucks that they have to miss the end of their senior year and graduation, but if if they are anything like I was the graduation itself is no big loss...the parties though, that’s a different story

 

[WondersOfLife]

Seemed like a big deal. Again, though. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Polynesia]

If you are furloughed, there is a good chance you keep your benefits. Highly likely.

I didn’t know that. That would be very positive. Thank you for the information

 

[WondersOfLife]

Higher ed is different, I think. They have to house many of the students from all around the country or world. Once they send them away, it's very difficult to just bring them back.

USC Upstate, North Greenville University, Anderson University, Bob Jones University, Clemson University, and as far as I know.. Every other university/college in the upstate of SC has either cancelled school+graduation ceremonies, or they have moved online.

 

[Polynesia]

Benefits usually continue until the end of the month if they are terminated. With COBRA you also have 60 days to elect the benefits and they are retroactive to your end of benefits date. For example, if Disney furloughed CMs 4/18 and didn’t offer them benefits they would still have coverage through 4/30. Then they could wait until June 30th to elect and pay for COBRA. If the parks opened before 6/30 they would have their benefits back. You would only have to pay for COBRA if you have health expenses during the time you weren’t covered. I’ve used that loophole when having to wait for benefits for a job. I think Disney will keep health benefits if the employees are furloughed, just using that as an example.

Very good example. I’ve had to use cobra before the 60 days were up and was extremely glad I had it.

 

[Incomudro]

It sucks that they have to miss the end of their senior year and graduation, but if if they are anything like I was the graduation itself is no big loss...the parties though, that’s a different story

My son's are quite a bit like you were - and I was.
They really don't care about not attending a graduation, they don't go to parties and weren't planning on going to the prom.

 

[21stamps]

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.

Imo this is the best way to handle it. Leave it up to different areas, as well as individual schools.

 

[solidyne]

France then. Or Germany. Or Spain. Or China.

Or your country if heaven forbid your death toll sky rockets.

Indeed, tell it to Italy (.01% of pop. dead) and Spain (.0049%). However, China (.00022%) and Germany (.00014%) have, relatively speaking, lower numbers (for now).

(If China's (or any) numbers are to be believed.)

(And the decimal points are not wrong. .00014% = .0000014)

(And no, I am not minimizing the severity of these deaths. Only comparing the countries (albeit at different stages of the curve)).

ETA: The last three caveats/disclaimers are not directed at you, @marni1971 . I'm just anticipating various responses from others.

 

[GoofGoof]

My son's are quite a bit like you were - and I was.
They really don't care about not attending a graduation, they don't go to parties and weren't planning on going to the prom.

I could have lived without prom too...but those parties were a pretty good time