Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[Krandor]

Extending time in and spending 2 weeks in Florida isn’t terrifying, the logistics of isolating in a place that is not your home (in a hotel, a rental, whatever), away from your support system if you’ve got one, and possible being very sick for months is difficult and possibly scary.

We’re not talking a bug you’re more than likely to get over quickly here.

Plus the expense of having to pay for a hotel room or other accommodations for 2 weeks. That is often not cheap. Even if you could a cheap $50/night hotel that is still $700 for 14 days. That is not something easy for everybody to add to a trip.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/fc-dall...mls-is-back-tournament-amid-coronavirus-cases

The thought has crossed my mind more than once how risky it is for sports team owners to send their highly profitable athletes into a COVID hot zone (bubbled, yeah I know) given what we are starting to hear about lingering effects of COVID in even the most healthy people.

I know that’s not what happened with that team, but I wonder if teams that have large number of players get sick see long term impacts.

 

[OKW Lover]

Here is a fun topic to try to get away from the daily Should/shouldn’t go debate. With Both the NBA arriving and parks opening back up. Is this the biggest most important week in Disney history?( didn’t think of this just saw it in a article and thought it was interesting).

No. That would have been in 1971.

 

[Tbella]

Extending time in and spending 2 weeks in Florida isn’t terrifying, the logistics of isolating in a place that is not your home (in a hotel, a rental, whatever), away from your support system if you’ve got one, and possible being very sick for months is difficult and possibly scary.

We’re not talking a bug you’re more than likely to get over quickly here.

Fortunately, everyone I know that had the virus had no symptoms to mild symptoms, including a great aunt in a nursing home in Miami. She had a fever for a day and lose of appetite for a few days. I understand that many have much much more severe symptoms but, many have symptoms much less than, "a bug you're more than likely to get over quickly."

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Fortunately, everyone I know that had the virus had no symptoms to mild symptoms, including a great aunt in a nursing home in Miami. She had a fever for a day and lose of appetite for a few days. I understand that many have much much more severe symptoms but, many have symptoms much less than, "a bug you're more than likely to get over quickly."

Yeah it’s basically a question of who gets lucky and who does not. Unfortunately at this time we have no idea how it chooses who to lightly touch and who to majorly hit and keep knocking down. That’s why I would personally think it’s best to head home ASAP.

 

[Jothmas]

Extending time in and spending 2 weeks in Florida isn’t terrifying, the logistics of isolating in a place that is not your home (in a hotel, a rental, whatever), away from your support system if you’ve got one, and possible being very sick for months is difficult and possibly scary.

We’re not talking a bug you’re more than likely to get over quickly here.

The last time I was in the hospital at home is when I had a stroke. My closest family is literally a thousand miles away. You learn to make do.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

The last time I was in the hospital at home is when I had a stroke. My closest family is literally a thousand miles away. You learn to make do.

People have reported this knocking them down for months (not hospitalized). Just saying it’s a lot more complicated than just staying a few extra nights in FL.

Probably no point in keeping this tangent going in circles though.

 

[wareagle57]

When I got to six flags I prefer my darth Vader gaiter for rides since on a roller coaster or something like that because I often feel like my surgical mask type is going to come off (though it hasn't happened) and the gaiter I know isn't going anywhere. I like surgical for walking around though.

The masks with ear loops actually stay on better. The gaiter may not fly off (neither will the mask) but the gaiter will slip down off your face depending on the gaiter and shape of your face.

 

[GrrArrgh]

I don't know specifically about chiffon vs cotton or whatever, but the viruses, and the liquid droplets in our breath are all infinitely larger than the gas molecules in the air. One thingy can be filtered by the mesh of the mask and still let another thingy through...

A recent study on materials used for home-sewn masks showed that chiffon (not the see-through kind, but it is translucent) that is 90% poly 10% spandex is much more effective at filtering virus particles than cotton. You can find it at Joann's Fabrics under "silky solids" and "silky prints." The research paper calls it stretch chiffon. I got some to make masks for my family, not that we're going soon anyway. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252?ref=pdf&

Here's a video summarizing it:

It is for sure a pain in the butt to work with, though. If you've never sewn before in your life, don't start with this stuff. Just make cotton masks. I've been sewing for a little while so I can handle it okay.

ANYWAY. I would wear masks made out of this material to Florida because not only are they breathable, they dry quickly, which seems key to electrostatic filtration. Any mask is safer than no mask, but these seem like they protect the wearer pretty well.

 

[Krandor]

The masks with ear loops actually stay on better. The gaiter may not fly off (neither will the mask) but the gaiter will slip down off your face depending on the gaiter and shape of your face.

Totally get that but when the wind is whipping around the surgical mask it doesn't FEEL more secure. Feels like a good burst of wind at the wrong angle and it's gone. Probably more psychological then anything.

 

[Carol Jackson]

From a cast member (former student of mine) training at Magic Kingdom today:


“This first week back at work has been SO fun, with a lot of cast exclusives. This past week has felt more like our own private park buy out than actual “work”.

Tomorrow we perform for our first audience in three months at the cast member preview. One of my managers said it perfectly, and I’m going to be reminding myself of this all week:

“We have a chance to show the world that it is possible to offer entertainment while upholding the CDC safety guidelines.” -John (who’s legacy btw, and everyone who knows him knows why!)

When he said that I really realized what a big deal it is to work for Walt Disney World. It’s so easy to become desensitized to all the magic, and having this castle as your “office” becomes a normal thing. But all eyes are on Disney this week; I’m proud to be part of the team that is ready to show the world that in a time when there’s no broadway, no cirque, and performers being laid off left right and center, not only is it possible to offer entertainment, but also how necessary it is to provide the audience with an escape from reality.”

 

[Krandor]

From a cast member (former student of mine) training at Magic Kingdom today:


“This first week back at work has been SO fun, with a lot of cast exclusives. This past week has felt more like our own private park buy out than actual “work”.

Tomorrow we perform for our first audience in three months at the cast member preview. One of my managers said it perfectly, and I’m going to be reminding myself of this all week:

“We have a chance to show the world that it is possible to offer entertainment while upholding the CDC safety guidelines.” -John (who’s legacy btw, and everyone who knows him knows why!)

When he said that I really realized what a big deal it is to work for Walt Disney World. It’s so easy to become desensitized to all the magic, and having this castle as your “office” becomes a normal thing. But all eyes are on Disney this week; I’m proud to be part of the team that is ready to show the world that in a time when there’s no broadway, no cirque, and performers being laid off left right and center, not only is it possible to offer entertainment, but also how necessary it is to provide the audience with an escape from reality.”

I wish them the best is pullling it off. A tough time and situation to do it in but if anybody can do it then it is disney. They also have a lot riding on getting this right.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

I personally can't wait to arrive in August and make a point to acknowledge each CM I come across with a smile and a thank you, 6 feet away .
They really are going above and beyond to bring all of us "the magic". ❤

 

[Jothmas]

From a cast member (former student of mine) training at Magic Kingdom today:


“This first week back at work has been SO fun, with a lot of cast exclusives. This past week has felt more like our own private park buy out than actual “work”.

Tomorrow we perform for our first audience in three months at the cast member preview. One of my managers said it perfectly, and I’m going to be reminding myself of this all week:

“We have a chance to show the world that it is possible to offer entertainment while upholding the CDC safety guidelines.” -John (who’s legacy btw, and everyone who knows him knows why!)

When he said that I really realized what a big deal it is to work for Walt Disney World. It’s so easy to become desensitized to all the magic, and having this castle as your “office” becomes a normal thing. But all eyes are on Disney this week; I’m proud to be part of the team that is ready to show the world that in a time when there’s no broadway, no cirque, and performers being laid off left right and center, not only is it possible to offer entertainment, but also how necessary it is to provide the audience with an escape from reality.”

It's very exciting. Even with the inconveniences for guests, I'm sure the CMs will be bringing as much magic as ever to make everyone's stay enjoyable.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I don’t believe it’s been said. I would imagine only one party per cabin at the very least.

Yes, I would think only one party per cabin, but I mean when the cabin comes into the station, and that party exits, I wonder if the cabin will be disinfected somehow, wiped down, fogged or some other method, like chairs and seating in restaurants or attractions.

 

[Disney Bobby]

I'm not thinking the CMs are going to be so happy about this. I wouldn't be.

 

[andyman8]

I'm sure it is somewhere in this thread, or forum (I did search, did not find), but was wondering what the new procedures will be for the Skyliner relative to the virus. Will each cab be sanitized as guests depart and before next guests enter?

Skyliner will be one party per cabin. Monorail may be one party per bench (with nobody standing, which makes about six feet of space between parties) with dividers separating the back to back benches in each cabin. This may change, depending on how previews go; they may just ultimately do one party per cabin (note that with these dividers in place, each side of the car now counts as its own cabin). In both cases, hand sanitizer at entrance and exit of the platform.

 

[Mit88]

Something to keep in mind this week, the previews and opening day(s) will likely be much more crowded than what we’ll see in subsequent days and weeks outside of DHS. So if/when pictures show up from crowds at AP previews with a ton of people, remember that Universal was also very crowded during their previews.

There will be reports and pictures nitpicking Disney for the crowds, and you’ll probably see pictures of 1 person wearing a mask wrong with a caption “Disney is allowing guests to not wear their masks properly, or at all”. A lot of Social Media accounts are going to these previews to pick out what Disney is doing wrong rather than what they’re doing right.

 

[JacknSally]

I personally can't wait to arrive in August and make a point to acknowledge each CM I come across with a smile and a thank you, 6 feet away .
They really are going above and beyond to bring all of us "the magic". ❤

Gentle PSA - I know a lot of people are opposed to Twitter, but I recommend anyone who doesn't have an account to consider creating one solely to tweet #castcompliment (s) to @WDWGuestService for the CMs you encounter during your visits. The compliments are really important to CMs, and they can be recognized by their supervisors for the compliments they receive. Be sure to include the CM's name, location, and time/date of encounter if you're able so they can be sure to tie your compliment back to the correct CM.

With CM's being even less able than before-COVID-times to accept gifts/tokens of thanks, I have a feeling these compliments will be more important than ever for them.

 

[Tjddis]

I wish them the best is pullling it off. A tough time and situation to do it in but if anybody can do it then it is disney. They also have a lot riding on getting this right.

I say bless that CMS heart. Definitely in the right place and I hope it all works out...

but no worries on getting people to take a break from reality. Plenty of that already going on...