What's Still On and What's Now Off

[robhedin]

So I'm seeing articles speculating about Florida residents being able to go to WDW first. Is it possible that they start with no hotels at all in the beginning with just local day-ticket holders and then move into a different phase? Or are people just throwing "stuff" at the wall and seeing what will stick.

Ok, I'm not sure I've ever posted before, but I'll jump in. What the hey!

I haven't seen anything from Disney, Universal, etc saying they expected to open to only Florida residents to start. Visit Florida (who is part of the Re-Open Florida Taskforce) did say that they need to get people to feel that it's safe to travel. To that end they want to market first to in state residents to get locals to do a "stay-cation" so to speak, then start ramping up marketing to outside Florida. The Universal member didn't talk about that at all-- he specifically called out the use of virtual lines, increased sanitation, and social distancing. The group also went on to talk about how the hotel industry has lost $1.6B over the past 6 weeks.

Unless the state physically closes the border (which they haven't; the check points just collect forms and tell people from hot spots to quarantine on arrival), it's would be a serious logistical issue for the parks to validate where everyone is from.

All that said I'm sure capacity will be limited from the previous norms, at least to start, as they ramp things up. But I'm not convinced that Disney has to do anything other than what they've done in the past when they reached capacity -- they just shift more quickly to the phased closures they've always done. The only new wrinkle is that they'd also need to ensure that people don't congregate.

To me, the answer to "who gets in" doesn't have to be difficult; the more interesting question is what goes on inside the park once you're in.

In any case, none of this is related to "what's still on...", so I'll shut up now.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Ok, I'm not sure I've ever posted before, but I'll jump in. What the hey!

I haven't seen anything from Disney, Universal, etc saying they expected to open to only Florida residents to start. Visit Florida (who is part of the Re-Open Florida Taskforce) did say that they need to get people to feel that it's safe to travel. To that end they want to market first to in state residents to get locals to do a "stay-cation" so to speak, then start ramping up marketing to outside Florida. The Universal member didn't talk about that at all-- he specifically called out the use of virtual lines, increased sanitation, and social distancing. The group also went on to talk about how the hotel industry has lost $1.6B over the past 6 weeks.

Unless the state physically closes the border (which they haven't; the check points just collect forms and tell people from hot spots to quarantine on arrival), it's would be a serious logistical issue for the parks to validate where everyone is from.

All that said I'm sure capacity will be limited from the previous norms, at least to start, as they ramp things up. But I'm not convinced that Disney has to do anything other than what they've done in the past when they reached capacity -- they just shift more quickly to the phased closures they've always done. The only new wrinkle is that they'd also need to ensure that people don't congregate.

To me, the answer to "who gets in" doesn't have to be difficult; the more interesting question is what goes on inside the park once you're in.

In any case, none of this is related to "what's still on...", so I'll shut up now.

You are correct.

It is a tourism group that said they'd encourage people to go by first focusing on Florida residents and then expand.

That got picked up by other outlets that consideration is being given to opening up theme parks to Florida residents first. An unfortunate misunderstanding or clickbaity title by BlogMickey and Another Site That Shan't Be Named. Those sites got their headlines from this news report:

Attractions Leaders Outline Possible Plans for Reopening Theme Parks

Universal CEO shared some of initial ideas for reopening

www.mynews13.com

Which does not at all say openings will be limited to FL residents only at first.

So, let's make it clear: There are no plans to open WDW to Florida residents only first.

 

[Unbanshee]

So, let's make it clear: There are no plans to open WDW to Florida residents only first.

Uh oh, that article has been edited. It absolutely said that they were considering opening to FL residents only in an earlier version. I wonder if it's possible to see edits

Edit: I should say the My News 13 article has been edited

 

[MisterPenguin]

Uh oh, that article has been edited. It absolutely said that they were considering opening to FL residents only in an earlier version. I wonder if it's possible to see edits

Edit: I should say the My News 13 article has been edited

Hmm... that's a bit of good news because it's not like BlogMickey to be that off.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Here's two other reports of the task force meeting with no mention of FL-first attendance:

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2020/04/22/reopening-floridas-hospitality-industry-could-be.html

Florida tourism industry plans to ease into reopening

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s tourism and hospitality industry should reopen from the coronavirus pandemic slowly, focusing first on getting residents to take in-state vacation…

www.mcall.com

 

[Unbanshee]

Here's two other reports of the task force meeting with no mention of FL-first attendance:

It would appear that the My News 13 article (and then BlogMickey) was posted before the 10am call. I'm guessing My News 13 edited after the call and removed the Florida first info with an edit after the 10am call

 

[DCBaker]

Uh oh, that article has been edited. It absolutely said that they were considering opening to FL residents only in an earlier version. I wonder if it's possible to see edits

Edit: I should say the My News 13 article has been edited

It was definitely changed - one of the writers on the article tweeted this out early in the morning about the locals first.

 

[fotofx]

It would appear that the My News 13 article (and then BlogMickey) was posted before the 10am call. I'm guessing My News 13 edited after the call and removed the Florida first info with an edit after the 10am call

I also saw it earlier in the day. Must have been edited.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It was definitely changed - one of the writers on the article tweeted this out early in the morning about the locals first.

Still, that tweet makes it clear that it was from a tourism recommendation. It wasn't from the government or the theme parks.

 

[Unbanshee]

Still, that tweet makes it clear that it was from a tourism recommendation. It wasn't from the government or the theme parks.

Isn't that the point? They're part of the same committee too that is looking at how to reopen tourism spots

 

[WDW Pro]

So I'm seeing articles speculating about Florida residents being able to go to WDW first. Is it possible that they start with no hotels at all in the beginning with just local day-ticket holders and then move into a different phase? Or are people just throwing "stuff" at the wall and seeing what will stick.

This is likely coming from the fact that none of this is set in stone yet. It is true that the parks will operate more as regional destinations, and it is true that Disney will want to know your recent travels if at all possible (if you're from NY/NJ, your exposure risk is exponentially higher than say TN/AL). But beyond that there's simply too much contamination of information coming out. For example, I believe Reuters asked Disneyland about the Secure Circuit protocol I disclosed; Disney wouldn't comment, which indicates it's likely accurate, but they were asking about the wrong resort (Secure Circuit refers to a plan for reopening MK and the MK resorts). If Disneyland is planning the same, I have no info on it as CA doesn't seem to be anywhere close to allowing such a reopen, nor is DLR designed in a way that is conducive to any form of social distancing.

And that sort of confusion is happening every day on a large scale. I'm not trying to be critical of any individual or news organization, it's just the nature of our current level of uncertainty and work from home orders.

 

[TTA94]

Anyone hear when the attraction construction and such will resume? One would think they’d want to finish up the castle refurb before opening.

 

[lewisc]

Just speculation. Did anyone think Disney was going to literally only open to FL residents? Refuse entry to a guest from GA who shows up with an AP?

I always thought that meant one or more parks would open before the resorts. Combine that with the possibility of only some attractions and only some parks opening initially would suggest only local FL residents would be interested in making the trip.

 

[flynnibus]

Just speculation. Did anyone think Disney was going to literally only open to FL residents? Refuse entry to a guest from GA who shows up with an AP?

I always thought that meant one or more parks would open before the resorts. Combine that with the possibility of only some attractions and only some parks opening initially would suggest only local FL residents would be interested in making the trip.

It's the 'telephone game...' playing out live

People discuss 'florida first...' because of wanting to keep out of state people quarantined... and the next guy that skims and doesn't actually comprehend what was discussed reports 'florida residents only!!' and we get to this kind of situation. People too eager to jump ahead instead of comprehend what they are reading/seeing/hearing.

 

[WDW Pro]

Busy day today... I'm hearing that the NBA season may simply be canceled and that talks are stalled about hosting it potentially at Disney. Consider this rumor for now, but there may be an issue with the player's union and a few owners which is deadlocking the deal. Disney needs content on ESPN, many players need their full salaries due to financial commitments they make that limit their ability to make less than contracted, but this may be a situation in which there's just too much disagreement.

This is a new source for this info, so I'll let you know if I hear more or if anything leaks to the public.

 

[wdwmagic]

Still, that tweet makes it clear that it was from a tourism recommendation. It wasn't from the government or the theme parks.

Yes Visit Florida is not exactly a neutral party in this, and they likely have close to zero input on what Disney does.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Yes Visit Florida is not exactly a neutral party in this, and they likely have close to zero input on what Disney does.

You can say that again. They're actually quite a thorn in my back right now.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Isn't that the point? They're part of the same committee too that is looking at how to reopen tourism spots

Yes, but we have people outraged that WDW is going to only open to FL residents first.

Which is not at all what even Visit Florida was saying. They were proposing a marketing campaign aimed first and mostly at FL residents. So:

1. Visit Florida was not advocating only FL residents first to the exclusion of others.​

2. Visit Florida was not saying what WDW or FL should do with regard to who should enter the parks first.​

3. Visit Florida was only saying what they would be doing with regard to marketing FL tourism.​

And yet, we get headlines about WDW opening up first to only FL residents.

Visit Florida did their job. Reporters and aggregators failed at their jobs. [If Channel 13 news changed their content of a story to make it accurate, there should have been a note in the article saying so. Real journalists do that all the time. The NYT always has a note if they changed or corrected an online story.]

 

[Unbanshee]

Visit Florida did their job. Reporters and aggregators failed at their jobs. [If Channel 13 news changed their content of a story to make it accurate, there should have been a note in the article saying so. Real journalists do that all the time. The NYT always has a note if they changed or corrected an online story.]

I wish My News 13 has some semblance of journalistic integrity in this case. I've been watching from the sidelines, but it looks like someone is challenging one of the authors on their edit. At least I'm not the only one to notice this

 

[zengoth]

I wish My News 13 has some semblance of journalistic integrity in this case. I've been watching from the sidelines, but it looks like someone is challenging one of the authors on their edit. At least I'm not the only one to notice this

Journalists before the age of the instant tweet had time to get their stories straight. Now it's the equivalent of my mom texting me when she hears something from a neighbor.