With Disney Parks around the country currently closed until further notice, Disney fans everywhere are wondering when and what a reopening might look like.
Walt Disney World
Disney World has been looking into what measures will need to be taken to keep guests safe. Recently Executive Chairman Bob Iger mentioned potential temperature checks at the park gates, but apparently, that’s not the only idea Disney has on the table. According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Disney is “far ahead of the curve” on reopening.
In an interview for Fox News, DeSantis mentioned that he is in discussions with businesses around the state concerning what reopenings may look like. The Governor explained that these discussions have resulted in a lot of “great ideas that [he’s] already seen be put on the table.” He mentioned Disney specifically as one of these proactive companies.
The full interview can be seen below:
NEW: Florida Gov. DeSantis says Disney is "so far ahead of the curve" on reopening.
He also believes Miami hotels will be "leading the way" on how to safely bring guests back. pic.twitter.com/iZl2nRFx7c
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) April 21, 2020
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What do you think of Gov. DeSantis’s conversations with Disney? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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I was very disappointed to learn about how disney is treating their employees. The ones still lucky enough to have jobs are working with no days off and no over time. I understand they are loosing a lot of money but this is sad. I wonder if a large number of employees will even want to come back.
When I say overtime. I hear they are working plus 40 hrs without the normal time and a half
I would love to be a fly on the wall during those talks!
Florida Governor Rick DeSanti, the same guy that left his state open allowing people to come in from all over, pass their germs among each other and take it back home. Florida has only tested 1.2% of their entire population. Makes you wonder who is not even close to being ready.
At least some of them have jobs. Can’t feel much sorrow when I’m not employed but state unemployment doesn’t even want to pay.
This is Republican toxic optimism and totally unrealistic. Wall Street analyst are saying the Disney parks my reopen in January 2021 at the earliest. Governor DeSantis has no credibility on issues regarding coronavirus as proven in his handling of his state’s slow response to keep Floridians safe. And to feature a news clip from Fox News, deemed a danger to the public’s health, is irresponsible of this blog.
He is being very optimistic. I won’t be back for a long time. A trip to Disney is far from a necessity.
DeSantis has not been taking this seriously. To open too early and then close again would probably be worse.
I like optimistic! I hope we can learn how to function safely in this new reality, and get on with our lives. The sooner we get off of government assistance and back to our normal lives the better. I cannot wait to get back into the WDW parks!
Good for Florida! Glad that Florida is looking forward.
DeSantis has done a ton for us Floridians. Our unemployment system is broken and very few have received payments. Florida’s max payment is $250 a week not a percentage as it is in other states, while most will get under $100 because they are part time and making state wage and service wage. System is set up for max 13 weeks and forces you to submit proof of all job searches applied for. It was set up to not be used to begin with forcing you to find work immediately. This is fine if your in the retain, restaurant, hospitality and entertainment industries because Florida was a hotspot for these jobs. Not now, hence DeSantis removing some restrictions. Local Mayors are pushing for improvements.
Disney has been one of the best companies in the entertainment industry to its employees. It did not have to pay employees for a month off before furloughing them. Like any company you want to be around for employees to come back to. It is better to furlough jobs than lay them off in the long run. We love Disney and honestly other theme parks are not as big and cannot complete with Disney. Unfortunately many companies will not survive this global pandemic and unfortunately all fingers point to Wuhan, China. I wonder about its economy with trade after this is all over.
We all just have to be patient because nothing will happen overnight. Stay strong and abide state orders to stay safe.
Carolmarie87 – all Disney employees who are hourly receive time and a half for over 8 hours in one day, and for each hour over 40 in one week. Disney hourly employees can decline overtime and decline working more than 5 days. All furloughed Disney employees are receiving their health benefits if they had health benefits before being furloughed, plus their normal contribution is now being paid by Disney.
Beth – I would love to be on that wall with you!
Ralph – When we go to Disney, I really won’t care what the percentage of tested individuals are in Florida. First of all, a test is only good for the moment it’s given, so it is false security. Second, I really will care more about the people who are in Disney World, not Florida residents, because these will be the people I will be close to. So we will all need to be vigilant until there is a reliable vaccine or therapies.
Anthony – “A trip to Disney is far from a necessity.” Exactly! Whether we go sooner or later, we’ll need to protect ourselves (social distancing, masks, hygiene) and also see how Disney’s safeguards work. I think Disney will do more about safety than the government. I hope that Disney will be able to facilitate social distancing, and somehow regularly disinfect attractions and other frequented areas. We have lived through security checkpoints, and this will be similar. Everywhere we go outside our homes has a potential danger, so we will need to stay vigilant.
Some facts: Florida has not really been hit like the Northeast. There’s been less than a thousand deaths (but even one is very sad), which is a few thousand less than caused by the flu in Florida this season. More than half the deaths have been in the southern part of Florida (e.g., Miami). Very few non-symptomatic people have been tested, so there is little-to-no facts concerning how widespread the virus is.
John,
I can’t dispute that regarding testing but here where the US standing is with the rest of the world. The US has 4.29% of the world’s population but we have 31.8% of the positive cases and 25.4% of the deaths. Not exactly stellar. We have no idea how bad it really is and how far it has spread. Additionally when it comes to testing, the US is 43rd in per million compared to other nations.
Florida’s number are still tracking up.
Mar 4 – 2 cases
Apr 4 – 11,111 cases
Apr 21 – 27,495 cases
We’re not at the end of the month but cases have double in 17 days versus 30 days.
We’ve been planning our trip coincide with Disney’s 50th birthday for the last 2.5 years. We’re out of Hawaii so tracking and advance planning is essential.
I say open the parks! People need to take responsibility for their own safety, use common sense and proper hygiene and a face mask if you feel it is necessary. Let the employees come back to work and earn some money. This country cannot stay shut down forever, people have the right to make a living and if you are afraid or your system is compromised stay home. I personally don’t want to spend the rest of my life sheltered from living!
Who would trust the Florida governor’s advice about re-opening? He failed to close the beaches at Spring Break, and he’s pushing an unproven drug to treat coronavirus.
I’d trust expert medical advice, not the Governor..
As for a poster suggesting that “People need to take responsibility for their own safety, use common sense and proper hygiene and a face mask if you feel it is necessary”….how do you practice social distancing in a theme park?
Reality check, folks. This virus is an indiscriminate killer, regardless of age or background.
As for people
May I make a suggestion. In place of slamming DeSantis or any other opinion that may be different from your own. Try to respect, that we all do not live by a single monolith view. If anyone feels that they should not venture outside, then please do what is right for you and your family. And I shall do the same. Should WDW be reopened at the end August, after rescheduling our annual trip that we do every May. Then we shall go. I know that we are in need of some time away. Some vacation time away. A time away from the “Real World”. Our Laughing Place. A break from the doldrums of all this. And as the sign reads, more than ever before:
“Here You Leave Today
And Enter the World Of
Yesterday, Tomorrow And Fantasy”
We all may need a little bit, of those last three words.
I agree with Anthony. Too many people slamming our FL governor. He is only working on the guidelines given out by the CDC. If you personally can’t do better, please just stop criticizing. I am a FL resident and an AP an DVC member as well as a Disney shareholder. Disney will open the Parks when they are good and ready.
Saftley Reopening…..Oh Really??? We’ll See How That Works Our !!!
“If you personally can’t do better, please just stop criticizing.” Really? I’m not an elected official! Words of wisdom from a shareholder 😆
The Florida governor is just as crazy as the Las Vegas mayor. Does Disney really want plane loads of New York or Michigan fans touching every railing in Magic Kingdom. Let the process go through and listen to Dr. Faucj, not the inconsistent ramblings of a president not fit to run the country.
It’s a tough call because if the government decides that it’s not going to help workers financially until the COVID cases show a real decline (like they have in New Zealand and South Korea), then front-line employees will have little choice but to go back to work. I can guarantee you, you won’t see any of the CEO’s putting themselves at risk – as long as there is risk. It’s the workers at the bottom, as always. And what’s concerning about this virus is that there’s significant transmission by people not showing symptoms, that people with hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease – all of which affect Americans more than any other population -will develop severe complications, and worst of all, even when you get better, it’s becoming clear that there are long term complications for your kidneys, lungs, with blood clotting etc. I think opening parks before we see a significant decline in infections – which is also going to mean a LOT more testing – is going to create the kind of problem in Florida that we’ve seen in New York and Italy. I know for myself, there’s plenty of places to vacation where I’m not cheek by jowl with people who may be carriers – so, Disney would really be my last choice at the moment.
Jim Anthony – I agree. I don’t think people are allowing themselves to realize the scope of this pandemic. Let me repeat, pandemic – a “WORLD WIDE” outbreak of a disease, and some seem to be in complete denial.
This is a “Microscopic” killer germ. It cannot be seen, but it can easily be passed from one person to another. No face mask, no gloves, no thermometer, no manner of protection can completely protect you from this virus until we have a vaccine. If you don’t believe this, just ask our nurses and doctors who battle this virus day and night in hospitals nationwide. They are suited up head to toe in protective gear and still many have contracted the virus, and sadly some have died.
We do not live in a “bubble” – we are ALL part of this world, and we are all connected. There is no way that anyone is going to walk around in the Disney parks with their hands up in the air or not breathing or not touching any surfaces. This virus can be passed very easily from one person to another, simply by a cough, sneeze, or touching a surface. There is NO WAY in the world to completely protect yourself from It right now and especially in a large group of people. Social distancing has helped but that cannot be fully accomplished in a mass group of people gathering together such as at the Disney parks. There is no way to enforce social distancing in an amusement park.
Disney is not there to protect you – Disney is a huge organization and their primary goal is to have a profit margin. You help them have a profit margin by buying tickets and merchandise in the parks and eating in the restaurants. I am astounded as I read some comments from people who think that just by mentioning the word “Disney” they will have some sort of magical immunization in the parks. I am sure that Disney will follow all the state guidelines, but it will not be enough in a state where the death rate is still rising.
Very poor judgment on on behalf of the Florida leadership, and very poor judgment on anyone who will attend a mass gathering, such as in Disney World before there is a vaccine for this virus. We are in the fight of our lives as a nation and as a country. We need to act as responsible adults, and to remember that if we contract coronavirus it’s very easily passed to others, and to our families and friends . There is no defense against the coronavirus until we have a vaccine and we need to really pray to God that we develop one quickly.
I am just as fond of Disney as the next person; I too had to cancel my May Disney World vacation and move my Disney Cruise to another date, but I am not going to “die” for a vacation, nor am I going to put others at risk for one.
Anyone can be asymptomatic and not know that they have the virus and pass it easily on to others. We need to be adults about this, and have some self-
discipline.
If we follow the advice of our health experts the day will come when this will be over and we will all be able to be together again as before. But if we ignore that advice, and rush headfirst into large groups anywhere, the results can be devastating and this virus could start all over again just as it did before or even worse. That’s a fact. I’m not being pessimistic, I’m actually being realistic based on all of the information that we have from our health experts in our country.
Disney may open the parks sooner than later, because that’s what’s best for “them.” But we need “stop and think” and put aside our own personal interests right now and do what’s best for our families, and for our fellow citizens and we will get through this – safely, together.
Very well stated Arlene.
Arlene
You are well spoken and make total sense. This is no longer about political desires. This has become a major challenge for people trying every measure to stay healthy. We have had many losses here in Massachusetts. How do you explain “social distancing ” to a 6 year old visiting Disney. A couple years ago my wife and I were on a Disney Transportation bus and watched as a child about that age proceeded to run his tongue up and down the hand rail on the bus. His mother was not happy when she saw that. Once again, how do you social distance with 3 or 4 small children that naturally want to touch everything they can reach. I am sure there are those out there that think they can do it. Myself, We will stay home.