Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Lilofan]

I don't disagree that it's been inadequate...in class learning is miles better than remote. My point was that it can be done, and done well, but there needs to be time, and in current circumstances, we had none. Still, we haven't hit our peak in MA yet, and won't until mid-April...and I'm still not comfortable sending my boys to public school this year. Schools are germ factories.

I knew someone who worked as a custodian in the school system and went to FL to work in custodial cleaning in the theme parks. She told me disgusting stories of cleaning filthy bathrooms working in the school system.

 

[trainplane3]

Parents asked: Do you think the parks will be open in time for our December trip?
Me: If the parks aren't opened by December we have much bigger things to worry about.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

I think reasonable minds can differ on this, but I'd much rather kids returned even if only for 2-3 weeks. I don't think there is much "ramping back up" as another poster said - this is what the schools/teachers do. Even at the beginning of the school year there are only 2-3 days to get into the full swing of things and that is after a summer break where there hasn't been distance learning going on.

Distance learning has been a fine substitute when there is no alternative, but I don't think it has been an adequate replacement for in-class learning. I agree with @xdan0920 that any classroom time is better than no classroom time.

Your 2-3 days is once school has started. More or less is to get the children in the groove so to speak. Doesn’t take in to the fact the weeks and weeks before teachers are reporting to get ready for the year. My neighbor is a teacher and she reports the first week of August to prepare for a September opening.

 

[Flugell]

Just wondering, from over the pond, have there been any virus related illnesses connected with Universal, Seaworld, Bush Gardens, Discovery Cove, Legoland or any other popular tourist destinations? The idea that there are none from WDW or the competition is, to my mind, unbelievable. Or needs investigating immediately to see what could be causing this lack of spread as a source of information for the world. Any thoughts?

 

[ImperfectPixie]

I knew someone who worked as a custodian in the school system and went to FL to work in custodial cleaning in the theme parks. She told me disgusting stories of cleaning filthy bathrooms working in the school system.

Kids - ESPECIALLY boys - are gross. (Mom of 2 boys here.)

 

[CumulusIsobar]

There’s no firm plan. My wife is a teacher in NJ. They have no firm plans, because this is a total disaster. Teachers are not prepared for this. Students are not prepared.

The same state where the governor is imploring COBOL programmers to come maintain a 40+ year old unemployment benefits system? Shocking.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

My non-insider predition is 0% chance of vacation. If DVC and you can bank points then cancel it. If CRO then wait 'til they cancel it and see what they offer you. Normally you can cancel penalty-free 5 days out.

5 days is for 'room only' reservations. WDW packages are normally penalty free cancel until 45 days out. Then there's normally a $100 loss of deposit or - I think for last minute cancels $200? Point is, the loss fo deposcit gets bigger if you cancel close to travel dates.

But all of this may not apply right now, with normal rules being waved.

Simple way to tell which you booked:
Packages = $200 deposit when booked (as long as booked 45days before arrival)
Room only = Deposit is cost of one night of hotel stay

 

[DCBaker]

Just wondering, from over the pond, have there been any virus related illnesses connected with Universal, Seaworld, Bush Gardens, Discovery Cove, Legoland or any other popular tourist destinations? The idea that there are none from WDW or the competition is, to my mind, unbelievable. Or needs investigating immediately to see what could be causing this lack of spread as a source of information for the world. Any thoughts?

Contact tracing really hasn't been initiated in a large capacity in the US yet (that at least the public knows about).

 

[Polynesia]

This would be terrible PR for Disney. Perhaps that info is not being released to the media.

I highly doubt that. Cast members are a pretty tight group within their area. It would be posted on their Facebook groups if done were ill. Even Disney can’t control that.

 

[Lilofan]

I’ve brought up the sane points. Were you or cast members you know ill earlier? Our household was sick January and early February. Many cast members were sick at that time. Just curious.

These cast members must have thick skin to deal with guests, FL heat and the virus!

 

[Lilofan]

I highly doubt that. Cast members are a pretty tight group within their area. It would be posted on their Facebook groups if done were ill. Even Disney can’t control that.

Big brother is always watching if employees post negative things about their employer.

 

[DisneyJoe]

5 days is for 'room only' reservations. WDW packages are normally penalty free cancel until 45 days out. Then there's normally a $100 loss of deposit or - I think for last minute cancels $200? Point is, the loss fo deposcit gets bigger if you cancel close to travel dates.

But all of this may not apply right now, with normal rules being waved.

Simple way to tell which you booked:
Packages = $200 deposit when booked (as long as booked 45days before arrival)
Room only = Deposit is cost of one night of hotel stay

45 days was changed to 30 days 2 years ago?

 

[Patcheslee]

Young kids need consistency... trying to go one path, be aborted, change, change again, etc. The schools are trying to cope with many constraints that are built into law... with a changing landscape.. and change the wheels while the bus is still moving.

I don't think you'd want to be in their shoes at all.

Consistency is definitely needed. When this all started my 5th grader wrote down what each class was just to make sure we didn't forget anything. She's chose to do classes in the same order as her schedule was before. It's made her feel a bit of normalcy to everything. It stretches out what would be 4-5 hours of elearning time into 9-3pm, but if still having recess times makes it better for her so be it.
The only major changes that were finally announced was we went from 3 week Elearning to rest of school year, now with Indiana allowing less school days it ends May 7th instead of last week of May. That's thrown her into wanting to know about how to get her stuff from school, returning her chromebook, ect. Sooner they are able to make decisions that don't need to change in a week, the easier it is to get bearings.

 

[GoofGoof]

I highly doubt that. Cast members are a pretty tight group within their area. It would be posted on their Facebook groups if done were ill. Even Disney can’t control that.

Now I would say it would be likely someone wouldn‘t care and would post about it. In March when the parks first close and many people were hoping for a several week shutdown nobody who was sick would want to publicly say it for fear of not being allowed back to work.

 

[easyrowrdw]

There are conflicting reports and testing is still Insufficient. I’m still hoping for the best...but the one recurring thing about this whole situation is people latch onto one detail and spin it into a complete reality. The numbers spiked for 3 or so days last weeks and have settled a lower pattern. But the net has gone up 25% this week. What if the “lower” pattern holds stable for 10 days? That’s not mathematically or medically “better” if you look at it from an endgame term.

What I find interesting is that the number of “cleared” cases so low. That combined with no exposure testing and one test administered per roughly 150 people at most so far gives me pause.

John's Hopkins uses a five day moving average in their assessments. Perhaps it's arbitrary, but so is a week as the comparison. Based on John's Hopkins approach, Florida has been flat and down 20% from the peak on April 3. 5 days is better than 10 days, but both are better than increases. Before April 4, it had been increasing almost every day since March 23. If deaths are expected to peak in a couple weeks, then it seems reasonable that cases might be peaking right now.

 

[Polynesia]

Big brother is always watching if employees post negative things about their employer.

I get that. But they can’t intercept texts from each other. With this virus being such big news it would have gotten out.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

It Could Take Two Years for Disney Parks to Return to Normalcy Predicts Wall Street Analyst | the disney food blog

Analysts at Wall Street are predicting that it will take two years for your day in Disney World to look like it did prior to the closures. Learn more here.

www.disneyfoodblog.com

Analysts reporting that attendance, once Disney is open won’t be back to pre closure attendance for 2 years.
So much for the record crowds back within a few weeks. Could happen I guess but not likely.

 

[Polynesia]

My mom (who lives just down the street) had a bad cough for about 3 weeks in December. My husband had one too, but not as bad.

I was sick the end of January with a 102 temp for five days, nausea, horrible cough that lasted weeks on end and got pneumonia. I was negative for the seasonal flu and was eventually hospitalized. Who knows how long it’s been around.

 

[Lilofan]

I get that. But they can’t intercept texts from each other. With this virus being such big news it would have gotten out.

Social media is a loaded gun. The intent of some or all can end badly and things can be retrieved.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

45 days was changed to 30 days 2 years ago?

You are correct. I was mainly just trying to say packages and 'room only' have different rules.
It has been some time since I read the fine print. These are the rough details, but folks should go to WDW for full details:

NORMALLY - packages cancelled 30 out are eligible for full refunds. (minus 3rd party fees and travel protection fees, where they apply)

NORMALLY - the full cost of a package is due at 45 days. If packages are cancelled 2-29 days before arrival the cancel fee is now $200, but you are also allowed to change your dates in this time range, which is generally subject to just a $50 fee. (and 3rd party)

NORMALLY no shows and package cancels less than 2 days are non-refundable.

Again though, these are the normal policies.