Disney says Walt Disney World reopening is on track for Saturday

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS JULY 7, 2020 / 4:38 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Disney says Walt Disney World reopening is on track for Saturday

(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co will stick to its plans to reopen its Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, to a limited number of guests on Saturday, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Florida’s coronavirus cases have soared in the last month, with the state’s daily count topping 10,000 three times in the last week. The death rate from COVID-19 rose nearly 19% in the last week from the week prior, bringing the state’s death toll to more than 3,800.

Some workers have signed a petition asking Disney to delay Walt Disney World’s reopening. The resort, home to the world’s most-visited theme parks, was closed to guests in March.

In a statement on Tuesday, Disney’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, said new requirements from temperature checks, to face coverings and extra sanitation would enable guests to enjoy Disney World “responsibly.”

“While COVID-19, and the risk of contracting it, is present in public places, there are many important ways that we can all help promote each other’s safety,” Hymel said.

Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Sandra Maler and Alistair Bell

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney/disney-says-walt-disney-world-reopening-is-on-track-for-saturday-idUSKBN248301

[Nevilledog]

1. This is going to go horribly wrong.

[lame54]

2. It's a small-cough-world after all

[SheltieLover]

4. Good one!

[lame54]

3. The Pandemiest Place On Earth

[FirstLight]

5. Great! Let's REALLY overrun the hospitals!

Not like they are suffering right now anyway...

[Takket]

6. Disney actually kinda got screwed here........

Universal Studios opened a month ago. Disney, which is larger and holds more people, could have too but decided to stay closed longer to flush out distancing plans, plans for virtual queues (where you "reserve" a place in line on your phone instead of waiting in line, social distancing for their queues, plans to limit restaurant occupancy, called back thousands or laid-off cast members, etc....... and the price for their extra planning is that the opening date they set out a month ago that looked great is now smack in the middle of Florida's peak.

DeSantis really fucked over EVERYONE in that state........... from grandma in the nursing home all the way up to Mickey Mouse.

that being said, Disney shouldn't reopen if you ask me.

[Initech]

9. I think it's safe to say that DeSantis is the worst governor in the country.

Hell, at this point, he *MAY* be in the running for the worst governor in American history. But time will certainly tell on that one.

[In It to Win It]

25. Tell me about it

All of us (or almost all of us) gave tremendous sacrifice, shutting down and staying home, many people risking their livelihoods for the benefit of society as a whole... only for this guy to piss all that away.

[Doremus]

7. They better up their game.

I caught a nasty little rotavirus while at one of their resorts for vacation a few years ago. Not only do they not have a doctor on the premises but you have to wait what seemed like an eternity for a ride to the nearest hospital. This was after having to play 20 questions and drag out the information about where/what medical services were in the area.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. AMBULANCE - The last Disney ride you'll take. You will remember it for as long as you live. 🚑🏥💀

[Initech]

10. It's a virus world after all, it's a virus world after all...

[Dagstead Bumwood]

11. Pirates of the Covid-19.

[Demovictory9]

20. lol

[Snake Plissken]

12. They're opening themselves up for the largest lawsuit in history.

[global1]

13. I'm Surprised At Disney - This Is Really Reckless On Their Part.....

are they going to have people sign a release like Trump makes his rally goers sign? - that they're not responsible for anyone testing positive or contracting Covid-19?

[Demovictory9]

21. they got all those gazillion acres and zillion structures sitting there, not making money

[GulfCoast66]

14. Universal and Sea World has been open for a month.

So far haven’t heard any issues.

The experience will be surreal. Very limited attendance, mask strictly required. Reservations needed to get in. No exceptions. Limited ride capacity. No crowded shows or fireworks.

I’m optimistic they will make it work.

In fact, it will be like Disney in 1978 in February. No crowds.

[Roland99]

18. See my reply. Post 17. I agree

[GulfCoast66]

23. Yeah. But of course we have something in common.

Unrelated, you working yet?

[Roland99]

27. 5 of our team of 13 are. Not me yet

It’s all about the project funding at this point. And of course I wasn’t on a big one in March

You?

[GulfCoast66]

29. Nope. Wife is. Her income is more than enough to support us.

She has done as well as me. I’m 13 months from retirement age so concerned.

But it is what it is.

Your answer gave me a clue where you work.

Hey, the grass had to get cut. And other cool things made.

Good luck. I’ve got over 30 years. Hope to make more.

Going crazy at home.

The safety precautions she does are over the top. Which makes me happy.

[Roland99]

40. Co-worker sent me this. Seeing my name in print reminds me of The Jerk

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Disneyland Resort, CA, USA
Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement - Attraction

https://issuu.com/themedentertainmentassociation/docs/2020_theas_issuu/82?ff

pp 81 and 97


“I’m somebody now”

[GulfCoast66]

42. Sweet. Confirms my thoughts.

I’ve regularly done local and occasionally National TV and radio appearances for my job. For 17 years. It’s odd walking into a restaurant and having someone say are you ... Especially since it is not what I expected when I was hired 33 years ago.

I’m tempted to look for another job, but I can’t honestly say I won’t quit to go back to my career if called. So who would hire me?

The next 2 months will tell the tale. If only our idiot, trump loving governor had put the rules we have at work in place for the state. I would not be in the place we are find ourselves.

Good luck to you. PM me. Maybe we can meet up for a beer at the can. All the projects are done around the house and the yard looks fantastic. I’m mopping the floors almost daily just to find something to do!

[Olafjoy]

15. The Jungle Covid?

[Crunchy Frog]

16. I don't fucking care. It's not like we're planning on going there.

[Towlie]

39. No need to go there, returning Florida passholders will deliver the virus to you!

[Roland99]

17. I watched multiple videos today. It looked good

Everyone wearing a mask. Lots of spacing in queues. Lots of spacing in restaurants and shops. Ride vehicles with empty rows. Many hand sanitizer stations around.

And as someone mentioned above, every other theme park in the area has been open for a month.

And I’ve read NO articles linking any outbreaks to the parks (or even beaches). Even that Lake of the Ozarks mass gathering didn’t trigger any spikes apparently

It’s about being outdoors more at theme parks. One isn’t inside as much. And everyone wearing masks and keeping distances will help, as well. The key contributing factors are enclosed spaces, shared indoor spaces, no masks.

But today was the first CM preview so we all know what we need to do. We want our jobs

Well. I still want to go back to my job. Hopefully soon. Week 12 of furlough now. Money running out soon. Almost half of my team is already back. Hoping to hear this week on the rest of us.

[kairos12]

19. Maybe I missed it,

but is there a new attraction at Disney called it's a Jim Jones World After all?

[Raine]

22. NO way would I go to a vplace like that

for one thing I can imagine how miserable it would be to wear a mask in a place that the whole time you're there.

[cos dem]

24. They even have their own monument to SARS-CoV-2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceship_Earth#/media/File:Spaceship_Earth_2.jpg

[Xolodno]

26. They were strong armed into reopening.

Universal and Sea World are both open, raking in the dough. They held off on opening and made sure they were going to do it right. And were probably watching the results in Shanghai Disneyland when it opened and making adjustments. But when you have a dumbass governor running Florida....

Plus changing CEO's just before the shit hit the fan, although probably planned for a long time, puts even more pressure on them from major shareholders. Success of their streaming service is only going to take them so far.

[Roland99]

28. Speaking of SHDL... it's been open for 2 months now

and apparently no issues

And China has shown they’ll lock down a region for even half a dozen cases

Nothing reported coming out of Shanghai that I’ve seen

[GulfCoast66]

32. The governor runs the state. He does not run Disney.

People who don’t want to wear a mask need not show up. Like you said, Universal and Sea World have been open for a month with no issues.

And something else to keep in mind. 70,000 people work at Disney. Many of them not highly paid. Fortunately, it a Unionized Company so starting next year no one will make less than $15 an hour. Most more. But they aren’t getting paid now. At the end of this month, become of republicans, the $600 a month will stop.

If they aren’t working they will starve.

Disney is doing all the things people on DU want to see businesses doing to fight this virus. If all of Americans had followed what they are making policy we would in the same position as Europe. Winning the fight.

[Xolodno]

33. That's true...mostly.

Yes, the governor runs the state, not the Disney Corporation...with that said...

I work in a corporate environment that allows me to see how the "sausage" is made. State, Federal, Local, etc politicians often put pressure on large corporations, particularly if they have significant assets that they can't just up and move. I know of one company that was told, not asked, but told they WILL be leasing a box seat at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Which made no sense, considering they don't need to entertain high profile customers. But, they ended up leasing the box seat. And primarily use it for promotions and employees.

As for everything else, I agree. I was a cast member way back when during my college days. And you did have your old timers...full time, with benefits and was their primary income. But when I left, I noticed a disturbing trend, a lot of new people hoping to become "old timers". Probably why I did my Senior Thesis on income inequality.

[lpbk2713]

30. A lot of folks are going to be pissed if they are turned away.

They won't care that it's for their own good. They just want to see Mickey and Space Mountain.

[Initech]

36. What is sad is that the reopen idiots weren't pushing so they could get back to work.

It was so they could get drunk and party and go to Disneyland. Ugh, this is why we don't deserve nice things.

I want to do those things too, and I badly miss it. But I am not going anywhere near any of those establishments until this thing is over.

[egduj]

31. The kids will love it.

[roamer65]

34. 🦠

I’ll be there, too. I love amusement parks.

Wanna take me for a ride?

[maxrandb]

35. Yeah...

https://m.

[tinrobot]

37. The happiest place on earth.... if you're a virus.

[HotTeaBag]

38. Depending on how well they keep things safe via protocols

this is a one in a lifetime chance to go to Disney and actually enjoy the experience without 3 hour waits for rides and the general awfulness of being around that many people all at once.

I wouldn't do it but for those that do and can manage to stay safe while doing it will have the best Disney experience one could hope for.

[Goodheart]

41. As if Disney World wasn't ALREADY the suckiest place on the planet.

Imagine all that