Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[gotomu212]

I think what's tough is Disney Springs will be a lot of locals-only traffic. Actually, if resorts are closed, it will definitely be locals-only traffic. And, that really isn't much of a test. Because, I doubt there will be a lot of people will be flying into Orlando for a Disney Springs only vacation. The true test will be when the resorts/parks open, but at that point, it will actually be mostly tourist and very few locals (assuming that parks will be resort-only guests for a significant while) So, opening Disney Springs won't really prepare the parks opening at all. There won't be a direct correlation. Maybe as far as looking at spacing and the protocol at restaurants, it may help. But, it's not really going to be informative on how to translate that to park traffic.




I agree with this, but I think the trouble is...the where of it. To me, the obvious answer would be at the airport prior to boarding DME. BUT...what if people were exposed on the airplane, but still too early to test positive? Then, they will be exposing an entire bus full of people. Who would then be exposing an entire lobby full of people at a resort. And so on and so forth.

If airlines require tests before boarding, that would take away the need to do it at the DME counter. BUT, what if someone is exposed at their departing airport? And, the test was too early to catch it before they board the plane. Then, they have exposed those people on the plane....who could then expose other people on the plane, or the people in line at DME, or the people on the DME bus....or someone in the bathroom who would then go on to the DME counter. And so on and so forth.

Not only that, but even if they get on and off the plane scot free, between the gate and the DME counter, there are so many people and/or surfaces they could interact with. The escalator railing, elevator buttons, restroom surfaces, etc etc. And if you are exposed 5 minutes before you report to be tested, then it could be a few days into it, conceivably your whole vacation even, before you would even test positive.

So...ultimately, what's the point. Yes, you would likely catch a lot of people before they get on the DME buses, but if even 1 or 2 people are missed, or have a false negative...then the chain reaction from that could be hugely damaging.

If Disney Springs is open to locals only, and so many people in Orlando have been furloughed or unemployed due to the tourism hit, will they be going out to retail stores and restaurants at DS? I just wonder if it will show accurate demand, or maybe it will be a very good gauge of demand?

 

[Spridell]

If Disney Springs is open to locals only, and so many people in Orlando have been furloughed or unemployed due to the tourism hit, will they be going out to retail stores and restaurants at DS? I just wonder if it will show accurate demand, or maybe it will be a very good gauge of demand?

Many of the restaurants at Disney Springs are OPEN right now, but for takeout only.

I am really curious to know how busy they have been the last couple of weeks.

 

[mmackeymouse]

If Disney Springs is open to locals only, and so many people in Orlando have been furloughed or unemployed due to the tourism hit, will they be going out to retail stores and restaurants at DS? I just wonder if it will show accurate demand, or maybe it will be a very good gauge of demand?

I am sorry I didn't mean to say that it would intentionally be locals-only. I just meant....with no resorts open, I doubt there will be very many tourists, flocking in to go go to Disney Springs.

For that reason, I think it will end up being primary locals.

 

[rteetz]

Many of the restaurants at Disney Springs are OPEN right now, but for takeout only.

I am really curious to know how busy they have been the last couple of weeks.

I wouldn't say many. Very select. Many are fully closed.

 

[Krandor]

To tie into the movie release schedule changes. Theaters may have a long road to get back.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/reports-amc-may-close-theatres-file-for-bankruptcy

 

[e_yerger]

Another thing with pushing movies is that it's in Disney's next Fiscal Year. This mean that they can show a better performing year in 2021 to make up for the wash that 2020 is turning into.

 

[Brianstl]

Many of the restaurants at Disney Springs are OPEN right now, but for takeout only.

I am really curious to know how busy they have been the last couple of weeks.

I think everything at Disney Springs is completely shutdown.

 

[Brianstl]

I wouldn't say many. Very select. Many are fully closed.

What is still open?

 

[rteetz]

What is still open?

I want to say Erin McKenna's or one of those smaller shops was open for delivery. I can't speak to anything else. All major dining locations are fully closed and most have laid off or furloughed employees already.

 

[jlwhitney]

To tie into the movie release schedule changes. Theaters may have a long road to get back.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/reports-amc-may-close-theatres-file-for-bankruptcy

That is only one chain of many, and AMC has had issues long before this.

 

[whiporee]

A lot of people are mentioning that they will not feel comfortable until a vaccine is released. What if there never is a vaccine? And, what if herd immunity never develops or we find people can get it again after a year or so? A lot of people are putting all their hopes in a vaccine. If none ever comes, we have to decide to live with a certain risk.

Vaccines also have side effects, and they can sometimes (rarely) infect people who weren't already sick. As a result, they need to go through long-term testing on animal subjects, and then human subjects before they are released to the public. Remember that vaccines aren't antibiotics that kill the virus; they are usually small amounts of the dead virus injected to encourage antibodies without doing ourselves more damage. It's why a lot of people feel lousy for a day or two after a flu shot. I think a LOT of people are banking on a vaccine to kill this thing, but in most cases that's not what vaccines do. They simply help our bodies fight things.

One of the things that will help dictate when WDW reopens is actually abandoning the mentality that a vaccine is coming that will safeguard people from the disease. That and adopting a new mentality around mortailty rates. I think Tom Hanks did a lot this weekend just by appearing on SNL -- he was healthy, fine, in good spirits, no real side effects. The same thing with Boris Johnson getting sick, going to ICU and coming out of it okay. Those are the kinds of stories the public needs to hear more of in order to get over some of the fear. The actual mortality rate needs to be discussed much more often than it is. If people start understanding that this is a disease that mostly effects the elderly and even of them, mostly effects those with underlying conditions, then they'll be more willing to accept getting back to normal. No one wants to risk the lives of our most vulnerable, but we also need to understand -- and really believe -- that for the vast majority of us catching this thing is no big deal.

There needs to be some reporting outside of New York about it. New York is unique in America for its density and its human intermingling; no other city is as dependent on mass and shared transportation as New York; there is no where else in America where people are as jammed together as often as they are there. WDW on a 10 really has nothing on a Manhattan sidewalk most days at noon. So far this has been national reaction to what has been so far primarily a New York disaster. More than half the deaths in America so far have come from New York and New Jersey. There was a projected shortage of 8000 ICU beds in the country, which is why flattening the curve became so important. But of that 8000 shortage, 6900 were in New York and New Jersey. And if the current projections are to be believed, of the 62,000 American deaths to COVID 19, 18,000 of them will have been in New York and New Jersey. That's 28 percent of the deaths from a region that makes up less than 10 percent of the national population.

Now, some of that might work against WDW reopening, because population density might be the key in the virus spreading. So why cram a bunch of people into a smaller space if you don't have to? There's certainly validity to that. But the flip of it is that despite the weeks of crowds before the shutdown -- despite the beach shots the news all showed --despite Mardi Gras going on, and despite sporting events that were all happening even after the virus reached America -- the only dramatic spikes we've seen have been in New York. The good news -- really great news, actually -- is that New York is starting to decrease in reported cases and deaths. Not dramatically yet, and certainly way too many. But the number is starting to head downward. And as it does, so will the attitude of those who influence our society so strongly. As the media (and various celebrities and influencers and such) start to feel more confident about life getting back to normal, so will we all.

So there are a lot of things that have to happen to the national perception of this disease to make it possible for WDW to reopen. But I do think we're starting to see some of them. New York rates going down; nowhere else spiking. Famous people having caught the disease and having recovered. There is still along way to go, but as I've said before, I think June 1 is still a long way away.

 

[xuxa777]

Vaccines also have side effects, and they can sometimes (rarely) infect people who weren't already sick. As a result, they need to go through long-term testing on animal subjects, and then human subjects before they are released to the public. Remember that vaccines aren't antibiotics that kill the virus; they are usually small amounts of the dead virus injected to encourage antibodies without doing ourselves more damage. It's why a lot of people feel lousy for a day or two after a flu shot. I think a LOT of people are banking on a vaccine to kill this thing, but in most cases that's not what vaccines do. They simply help our bodies fight things.

One of the things that will help dictate when WDW reopens is actually abandoning the mentality that a vaccine is coming that will safeguard people from the disease. That and adopting a new mentality around mortailty rates. I think Tom Hanks did a lot this weekend just by appearing on SNL -- he was healthy, fine, in good spirits, no real side effects. The same thing with Boris Johnson getting sick, going to ICU and coming out of it okay. Those are the kinds of stories the public needs to hear more of in order to get over some of the fear. The actual mortality rate needs to be discussed much more often than it is. If people start understanding that this is a disease that mostly effects the elderly and even of them, mostly effects those with underlying conditions, then they'll be more willing to accept getting back to normal. No one wants to risk the lives of our most vulnerable, but we also need to understand -- and really believe -- that for the vast majority of us catching this thing is no big deal.

There needs to be some reporting outside of New York about it. New York is unique in America for its density and its human intermingling; no other city is as dependent on mass and shared transportation as New York; there is no where else in America where people are as jammed together as often as they are there. WDW on a 10 really has nothing on a Manhattan sidewalk most days at noon. So far this has been national reaction to what has been so far primarily a New York disaster. More than half the deaths in America so far have come from New York and New Jersey. There was a projected shortage of 8000 ICU beds in the country, which is why flattening the curve became so important. But of that 8000 shortage, 6900 were in New York and New Jersey. And if the current projections are to be believed, of the 62,000 American deaths to COVID 19, 18,000 of them will have been in New York and New Jersey. That's 28 percent of the deaths from a region that makes up less than 10 percent of the national population.

Now, some of that might work against WDW reopening, because population density might be the key in the virus spreading. So why cram a bunch of people into a smaller space if you don't have to? There's certainly validity to that. But the flip of it is that despite the weeks of crowds before the shutdown -- despite the beach shots the news all showed --despite Mardi Gras going on, and despite sporting events that were all happening even after the virus reached America -- the only dramatic spikes we've seen have been in New York. The good news -- really great news, actually -- is that New York is starting to decrease in reported cases and deaths. Not dramatically yet, and certainly way too many. But the number is starting to head downward. And as it does, so will the attitude of those who influence our society so strongly. As the media (and various celebrities and influencers and such) start to feel more confident about life getting back to normal, so will we all.

So there are a lot of things that have to happen to the national perception of this disease to make it possible for WDW to reopen. But I do think we're starting to see some of them. New York rates going down; nowhere else spiking. Famous people having caught the disease and having recovered. There is still along way to go, but as I've said before, I think June 1 is still a long way away.

Exactly and well put

 

[WeatherLights]

My (highly inexpert) opinion is that Disneyworld and Disneyland will not reopen until there is either a game changing treatment protocol or a vaccine. Or, possibly, if/when an inexpensive rapid test becomes available that can be administered (each day?) to all guests and employees. Remaining closed for the rest of 2020 wouldn't surprise me at all. I know that's pessimistic but I also think it realistic in light of what is currently known.

I've seen a few posts in which hopeful disney goers are tying the opening to being "past the peak" but getting past the peak only means that the social distancing measures are actually working to reduce the rate of spread, not that the virus has become less transmissible or less fatal or that it is "safer" to open crowded venues. While businesses that produce and sell consumer goods and services may reopen sooner, with social distancing measures in place for employees and customers, I think large entertainment venues that bring in crowds of people will be some of the last businesses to re-open.

Similarly, there is discussion about Disney parks opening with social distancing measures in place but that would only happen if Disney can do so with sufficient number of guests and sufficiently high prices to make it profitable. Higher overhead and reduced number of customers as a result of social distancing requirements does not keep a business functioning.

But I do very much hope Disney as a company, and all the parks, make it through this pandemic intact!

 

[mshanson3121]

Many of the restaurants at Disney Springs are OPEN right now, but for takeout only.

I am really curious to know how busy they have been the last couple of weeks.

If I can judge just by our small-town local places - very.

 

[Spridell]

I want to say Erin McKenna's or one of those smaller shops was open for delivery. I can't speak to anything else. All major dining locations are fully closed and most have laid off or furloughed employees already.

From Google maps, this is what is still open for takeout and Disney Springs:

- 4r Cantina Food Truck
- The Boathouse
- Erin McKenna's Bakery
- Frontera Cocina
- Planet Hollywood
- Enzo's Hideaway


Again this is just what Google Maps is reporting so don't know how accurate it is.

It says all others are CLOSED when you click on them.

 

[xuxa777]

One thing for sure this thread is going to be fascinating either way to look back on in a few months.

 

[KBoopaloo]

From Google maps, this is what is still open for takeout and Disney Springs:

- 4r Cantina Food Truck
- The Boathouse
- Erin McKenna's Bakery
- Frontera Cocina
- Planet Hollywood
- Enzo's Hideaway


Again this is just what Google Maps is reporting so don't know how accurate it is.

It says all others are CLOSED when you click on them.

I think Erin Mckenna’s might be the only place open on that list. I went to the actual websites for Enzo’s, the Boathouse and Frontera Cocina and they are all closed.

 

[WeatherLights]

One thing for sure this thread is going to be fascinating either way to look back on in a few months.

Right! That's why I decided to post my own prediction--mostly to remember where my head was today and to be able to look back at my well-reasoned prescience or, more likely, my gross ignorance!

 

[Spridell]

I think Erin Mckenna’s might be the only place open on that list. I went to the actual websites for Enzo’s, the Boathouse and Frontera Cocina and they are all closed.

you could be right

 

[rteetz]

From Google maps, this is what is still open for takeout and Disney Springs:

- 4r Cantina Food Truck
- The Boathouse
- Erin McKenna's Bakery
- Frontera Cocina
- Planet Hollywood
- Enzo's Hideaway


Again this is just what Google Maps is reporting so don't know how accurate it is.

It says all others are CLOSED when you click on them.

Boathouse is closed per their FB page.