Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[wareagle57]

I have little doubt you would handle it well and be very sensible in how you proceed. Hoping you have only sunny skies!

Yeah, it’s not me I’m worried about. lol.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Scary. I actually caught on stream this same horse slipping on main street while pulling the trolley with the Pooh characters
https://insidethemagic.net/2020/07/meridas-horse-opening-day-kc1/

Poor guy. That probably scared him half to death. I'm glad nobody was hurt!

 

[anthony2k7]

I'm seeing photos of splash being evacuated over an hour ago.

Not good photos. One guy no mask, several others wearing masks in various incorrect ways. Also one boat (is that what we call them for splash) full of 8 people - either a large group or are groups being mixed on splash??

 

[Mit88]

Am I the only one who wanted to slap the woman chastising her kid for crying? Ugh

Br’eran’s gonna Br’eran

 

[Mit88]

I'm seeing photos of splash being evacuated over an hour ago.

Not good photos. One guy no mask, several others wearing masks in various incorrect ways. Also one boat (is that what we call them for splash) full of 8 people - either a large group or are groups being mixed on splash??

Whenever you see large groups on a ride together, they’re all in the same party

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

uh oh...I didn't get it...and I have a trip next week...I thought I had my push notifications set correctly...

Same!

 

[chicagoshannon]

Pretty intense thunder storms to close out opening day at MK. I’d hate to be waiting for a monorail/ferry boat right now. Any live feeds or pictures still going?

Magical News Live and that Crazy Disney lady were both still streaming a minute or two ago last i checked.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

They make more off selling balloons than horses, so if one has to go.....

Wait - when did they start selling horses?!?

 

[KayMichigan]

I think they're definitely going to take the horse out of the parade. They'll just put Merida on the float with Tiana and Rapunzel. They won't stop selling the balloons, they make a ton of money off of them.

An alternative would be to have a CM go in front of Merida telling anybody with balloons to make sure they hold on to them. But I would think they wouldn't want to take any chances.

That was scary and a very close call. The horse could have run into the crowd or thrown the CM playing Merida.

 

[Pdollar88]

I know this is low on the priorities/updates right now, but how long do folks think the 60 day ADR window will hold?

I’m going in January and am paranoid it’ll switch to a longer window randomly.

 

[everreal15]

I actually teared up watching that. How scary for everyone, but especially the horse. And I absolutely loved the interaction of the handlers to the horse trying to calm him down. You could tell the horse trusts them, and animals are so smart.

I just kept saying to myself "Please dont step on the baloon..." that could have spooked him even worse and ended badly. What a freak accident. Like you said they did such an excellent job taking control of the situation and Merida is definitely an experienced rider, she handled it like a pro.

I LOVE horses and when I saw Merida and Gaston on streams this week I saw so excited. Sadly I definitely can see Disney taking a step back with this interaction in the short term just to get ahead of any negative PR. Can't really blame them but I do hope to see them back in the parks at some point for this interaction.

 

[Helvetica]

The question now is: is this the end of balloons at mk or the end in using the horses at mk? Or neither?

Poor baby. I had a very large horse get freaked out on me at the sight of an open umbrella.

I think neither. The answer is training. This big boy is a draft horse, so I suppose he’s trained a little differently than a pony or a riding horse. Disney typically has these type of horses pull carts and trolleys all the time without issue, so it’s clear these guys are able to do a job.

When I volunteer at the humane society and help train horses for riding, one of the first things I do is desensitize their feet. I take a rope and just get them used to a feeling of a rope around their feet, wrapped around their feet and on their body. I’m not sure how much of that kind of stuff they do with the big guys since riding isn’t really what they do on a regular basis.

They should take some of the balloons to the barn and get the big horses used to them. They also should get them used to the balloons wrapped around their feet as well so the horses know it’s no big deal and someone will come to take it off for them. I don’t think anyone did anything wrong, I just think the poor baby never had something like that wrapped around his feet before.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Are they not allowing you to take your mask off on AK Safari anymore? I've watched 2 vlogs now where they kept them on. Just wondering if they're allowing it or not, don't want a debate on if it should be allowed just the facts.

 

[everreal15]

Poor baby. I had a very large horse get freaked out on me at the sight of an open umbrella.

I think neither. The answer is training. This big boy is a draft horse, so I suppose he’s trained a little differently than a pony or a riding horse. Disney typically has these type of horses pull carts and trolleys all the time without issue, so it’s clear these guys are able to do a job.

When I volunteer at the humane society and help train horses for riding, one of the first things I do is desensitize their feet. I take a rope and just get them used to a feeling of a rope around their feet, wrapped around their feet and on their body. I’m not sure how much of that kind of stuff they do with the big guys since riding isn’t really what they do on a regular basis.

They should take some of the balloons to the barn and get the big horses used to them. They also should get them used to the balloons wrapped around their feet as well so the horses know it’s no big deal and someone will come to take it off for them. I don’t think anyone did anything wrong, I just think the poor baby never had something like that wrapped around his feet before.

Excellent post. I really do hope they end up with the "neither" option and continue as planned with the interaction and use this a learning experience to add new parts to their training with the horses to help them be more comfortable should something like this every happen again.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I forgot to follow the NBA player who is doing that YouTube bubble series, can someone remind me who it was please?

 

[birostick]

I forgot to follow the NBA player who is doing that YouTube bubble series, can someone remind me who it was please?

Matisse Thybulle

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Matisse Thybulle

Thank you!

 

[mellvswdw1]

So after everything I’ve read today I’ve ordered “paper soap” and more disposable masks for rides. I leave in 2 weeks tomorrow and I’m excited and nervous. I’ve also changed my plans on when to enter the parks. I will now be going in an hour later and with the crowd levels I saw streaming today on Resort TV1 I’m cautiously optimistic that the crowd levels will be decent as the day goes on. I was also impressed after watching all day that people were adhering to the requirements for proper face mask usage. I know I’ve seen people saying that things were not as great, but there will always be people pushing the rules. My 4 and 6 year old know I’m dead serious about mask wearing and I told them today I don’t want to be caught on a live stream fighting with them about their masks or on someone’s social media site not obeying the rules lol!

 

[nkosiek]

They do have a team. The incredi-crew. I would imagine they didn’t expect to have to patrol bathrooms.

I've only really seen them on Main Street the last two days. It seems as though some cast don't want to confront guests about masks. Was on Astro Orbiter around 5:45 and a whole family jumps off with none of them wearing masks yelling and screaming at each other. CM looks at them and just turns away. Sae same family esrlier in the day jusy chin strapping it with their masks.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Anyone happen to have the inside scoop on Photopass?

I am trying to book a Capture Your Moment session for later this month. Chat CM said it was open for booking but I had to call to do so. I sat on hold for 2.5 hours earlier this week to book it; phone CM also thought he could book it, we went through all the steps and then it wouldn't let him. He said they aren't sold out; the calendar shows openings but none can be booked yet. He wasn't sure what was going on.

Any idea when/if they might open?