Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[Phil12]

The coronavirus quarantine companion:

 

[DisneyCane]

I agree the parks will reopen this year. I doubt it will be June 1st as planned. If I were to guess it would be fall sometime cause it will take that long to put the measures into place. Til this virus dies out or there is a treatment I doubt you will see fireworks, meet and greets or character dining.

I plan to do more research tomorrow but I have found studies that indicate that outdoor spread is not a significant source of spread. One study from China said that all outbreaks involving 3 or more people were traced to enclosed spaces. To be consistent, I'm not trusting this study on its own, however, I saw at least one corroborating study from outside of China.

It makes sense logically that this would be the case. If there is any wind at all it will disperse and dilute the virus particle concentration. During the day there is UV light from the sun. It's also hotter than the surface of the sun at WDW in the summer and more humid than a sauna.

If this is proven then outdoor crowds in the parks may not be an issue. The issue may only be queues and in ride vehicles.

I'll dig up links when I have time tomorrow. I posted without links now because this is very relevant to potential operations at WDW.

 

[DisneyCane]

Also, the hair place I go to has said when they reopen that they won't allow people to wait inside. If it's your turn, you'll be waved in from your car.

Has your hair place not heard of the newfangled technology of text messaging?

Wouldn't it be easier to send a text than to wave people down?

 

[icc2515]

Vegas is planning on opening casino's, which are enclosed while theme parks aren't.

Bad PR does not affect Vegas like it does Disney.

 

[techgeek]

The State can pass a law absolving Disney of any liability related to COVID-19 as long as they abide by State guidelines. Similar to how Colorado law absolves ski resorts of any liability for injuries sustained while skiing or snowboarding. However, they can still be sued if a chair falls off a lift or something negligent like that.

I think the theme parks are a large enough driver of the state's economy (and by extension tax revenue) that they would do something like this if Disney said they couldn't open due to liability concerns.

I do agree Disney could ask for the world from the state if they chose to go that way.

Disney could ask for the world... but would the state then have to make the same offer of taking on liability to the entire tourist sector? Universal, SEAS, hotels, tour operators, every minor attraction up and down I-drive, Mears drivers... that's a pretty big can of worms to open up. Even as much as they would like to play favorites and just help out the mouse, the uproar would be tremendous if everyone else has to stay shuttered but Disney gets the exclusive.

 

[Jrb1979]

I plan to do more research tomorrow but I have found studies that indicate that outdoor spread is not a significant source of spread. One study from China said that all outbreaks involving 3 or more people were traced to enclosed spaces. To be consistent, I'm not trusting this study on its own, however, I saw at least one corroborating study from outside of China.

It makes sense logically that this would be the case. If there is any wind at all it will disperse and dilute the virus particle concentration. During the day there is UV light from the sun. It's also hotter than the surface of the sun at WDW in the summer and more humid than a sauna.

If this is proven then outdoor crowds in the parks may not be an issue. The issue may only be queues and in ride vehicles.

I'll dig up links when I have time tomorrow. I posted without links now because this is very relevant to potential operations at WDW.

That would be good news if that's the case but there is still a long way from learning about this virus. The issue is a lot of Disney's attractions are indoors.

 

[GoofGoof]

Do you have any info how Shanghai Disneyland is doing? I thought there where reports a few weeks back that they where opening the hotel and restaurant inside it and planning on slowly opening the entire resort.

how did that pan out?

They still haven’t updated anything. This is from their site:

Shanghai Disneyland Remains Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice
Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel Re-open with Limited Operations - April 21, 2020
Shanghai Disneyland remains closed as we continue to closely monitor health and safety conditions and follow the direction of government regulators. However, as the first step of a phased reopening, Shanghai Disney Resort will partially resume operations on March 9, 2020 with a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. Each of these resort locations will operate under limited capacity and reduced hours of operation. The Disney Car and Coach Park and the Disneytown Parking Lot will also reopen.

The resort will provide an extensive range of measures, designed to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all guests, Cast Members and Disneytown tenant employees, including strict and comprehensive approaches on sanitization, disinfection and cleanliness. In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures and present their Shanghai QR Code. Only guests with a green Shanghai QR Code will be allowed to enter the resort. Guests must wear a mask during their entire visit (except when dining), and will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants.

Please refer to the Shanghai Disney Resort official website and app for the operation hours of Disneytown and Wishing Star Park.

 

[Jrb1979]

They still haven’t updated anything. This is from their site:

Shanghai Disneyland Remains Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice
Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel Re-open with Limited Operations - April 21, 2020
Shanghai Disneyland remains closed as we continue to closely monitor health and safety conditions and follow the direction of government regulators. However, as the first step of a phased reopening, Shanghai Disney Resort will partially resume operations on March 9, 2020 with a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. Each of these resort locations will operate under limited capacity and reduced hours of operation. The Disney Car and Coach Park and the Disneytown Parking Lot will also reopen.

The resort will provide an extensive range of measures, designed to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all guests, Cast Members and Disneytown tenant employees, including strict and comprehensive approaches on sanitization, disinfection and cleanliness. In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures and present their Shanghai QR Code. Only guests with a green Shanghai QR Code will be allowed to enter the resort. Guests must wear a mask during their entire visit (except when dining), and will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants.

Please refer to the Shanghai Disney Resort official website and app for the operation hours of Disneytown and Wishing Star Park.

I can see them implementing some of those measures when Disney opens here.

 

[csmat99]

I agree the parks will reopen this year. I doubt it will be June 1st as planned.

There was never a plan to open June 1st. No one knows when they will open but all things are pointing to this fall at the earliest.

 

[GoofGoof]

People will experience mass starvation and poverty if they don't and central florida will be destroyed.

Orlando is much like Vegas where tourism (swap out casinos to theme parks) is not only the main economic revenue, but something that they're entirely known and specialized for. Not letting these industries proceed business is a death sentence for the region.

And besides... Vegas is owned by like 2 or 3 major Casino operators.

I don’t know about mass starvation but if things don’t open up by the time that extra unemployment money runs out in 4 months there is going to be a big problem. So basically Sept 1 is a big date if the WDW closure lasts that long. The federal government could always extend the assistance program but there’s no guarantee of that.

 

[Jrb1979]

There was never a plan to open June 1st. No one knows when they will open but all things are pointing to this fall at the earliest.

I agree. I think most were thinking that cause of them opening rebooking starting then.

 

[Jrb1979]

Depends on how much is unnecessary theatre.

I don't think anything is unnecessary theatre at this point. Til we learn more about this virus as well as test more its better to be safer the sorry

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The State can pass a law absolving Disney of any liability related to COVID-19 as long as they abide by State guidelines. Similar to how Colorado law absolves ski resorts of any liability for injuries sustained while skiing or snowboarding. However, they can still be sued if a chair falls off a lift or something negligent like that.

I think the theme parks are a large enough driver of the state's economy (and by extension tax revenue) that they would do something like this if Disney said they couldn't open due to liability concerns.

And this is where you’ve officially lost it...

Why in holy hades would the state have any interest in doing that?

 

[icc2515]

People will experience mass starvation and poverty if they don't and central florida will be destroyed.

Do you have a source for this? Something like a scientific study.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree. I think most were thinking that cause of them opening rebooking starting then.

The rebooking means nothing...they’re just delaying the cancellations to try and avoid the logistical nightmare...

It also maybe to allow for business to fall in the short term and stretch out the crunch later

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Do you have a source for this? Something like a scientific study.

That source Involves having Toilet paper handy

 

[DisneyCane]

And this is where you’ve officially lost it...

Why in holy hades would the state have any interest in doing that?

Because they need the tax revenue created by the tourism industry. The better question is why WOULDN'T they do it?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Because one of the things that pop into everyone's mind when someone mentions Florida is WDW. It is a iconic social and economic resource that Florida proudly likes to maintain. If they can operate in what's an agreeable manner than everyone involved (Florida government, floridians, Disney workers, and tourists) will be happy.

Much like how the western states pride themselves on their national parks or Vegas on the casinos, it looks bad for those states having them closed. It is a part of their identity.

Playing favorites will be viewed as a public bailout ...which means the locals won’t be able to rant and rave in their fantasy world about the usual stuff.

All you self anointed “capitalists” should understand this...

Florida hasn’t been very Disney friendly for about 20 years...by the way. Disney demands alot and still creates problems for the city and state.

Because they need the tax revenue created by the tourism industry. The better question is why WOULDN'T they do it?

Now I’ll give you that...but you can’t because you’ve made your choices as I said above.

 

[hopemax]

Let’s say the government gives WDW a get out of jail free card for liability... what about the Blackfish effect? Or more precisely a social media effect, doesn't have to be a documentary.

We know how fast menu changes blow through the Disney fan community. How fast surveys get posted. People weren’t wrong when they asked before, how come there weren’t reports of CMs getting sick. If something would happen, word would get out. Not everyone has to stay away, just enough to be a problem.

 

[TrojanUSC]

Let’s say the government gives WDW a get out of jail free card for liability... what about the Blackfish effect? Or more precisely a social media effect, doesn't have to be a documentary.

We know how fast menu changes blow through the Disney fan community. How fast surveys get posted. People weren’t wrong when they asked before, how come there weren’t reports of CMs getting sick. If something would happen, word would get out. Not everyone has to stay away, just enough to be a problem.

I mentioned this before but a huge part of this entire effort (from a government perspective) will be to test symptomatic people, trace who the positives have been in contact with, notify those people to get tested, etc.

At what point then does Disney have a responsibility when there have been outbreaks in the resort to notify guests? If there's an outbreak among Rise of the Resistance CMs, do they have to tell everyone that rode over the course of X number of days to get tested? That's the responsible thing to do, but obviously anything but magical and people would be rightfully upset, etc.