Visiting Disney World During Coronavirus Outbreak
Should I cancel my Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation due to coronavirus? With three Disney theme park complexes closed due to COVID-19, this is now a common question–both from the perspective of whether travel is safe and what the likelihood is that the Florida and California parks will close. (Updated March 9, 2020.)
I’ll preface all of this by stating the obvious: I’m not a scientist, pandemic expert, or even in any way knowledgable of public health. I hate going to the doctor, and am irrationally scared of needles. (Like a brave trooper, I get the flu shot anyway!) I’m a staunch advocate of specialized expertise over internet fear and rumor-mongering. Accordingly, this should not be viewed as a credible source of information regarding staying safe and healthy.
For all of that, we recommend consulting the World Health Organization’s basic protective measures against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and advice for the public, the U.S. Department of State’s Alert Bulletin about the Current State of Novel Coronavirus, and Centers for Disease Control’s Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Situation Summary. The perspective this post will offer is how coronavirus might impact travel to Walt Disney World, and what you can do to be prepared…
Let’s start with the latest updates as of March 9, 2020. Currently, there are 18 positive cases of COVID-19 tied to Florida, including one in Central Florida. There have been 2 deaths in Florida due to coronavirus, both patients were in their 70s with underlying health conditions. It’s worth noting that just over 200 people have been tested in Florida, so those numbers could be underreported. (All per the Florida Department of Health).
At Walt Disney World, we’ve noticed a significant increase in hand sanitizer stations throughout the parks, plus at the entrances of every resort, and inside most restaurants. That’s definitely a good start. Beyond that, things mostly seem like business as usual at Walt Disney World. There have been no reductions in meet & greets, buffets, or queue changes as a result of coronavirus.
Conferences and special events are already being cancelled throughout Florida, including at Walt Disney World. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has stated that several major conferences have already canceled, which were expected to bring $154 million to the local economy.
This extends to Walt Disney World. Cancellations are up at the resorts that host large amounts of special event business. This is being felt hardest at Coronado Springs Resort, which is heavily dependent upon conventions. Other resorts likely to be impacted include the All Stars, Yacht Club, Contemporary, and potentially others. Keep an eye out for deals at all of these.
With that said, local officials and Visit Florida both have indicated that there has yet to be any impact on leisure travel. However, that could change as we approach the spring break season. Anecdotally, we’ve heard from several readers who intend upon cancelling or postponing trips, which is why we’ve lowered attendance projections for the next few months in our 2020 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars.
Disney’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel has released a coronavirus statement, indicating that the company is monitoring the situation in light of recent developments with the spread of the virus in Florida. Here’s what Disney released, which is intended to address guest questions about coronavirus:
As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast, guests and the larger community, we are carefully monitoring this evolving situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance. Our parks and resorts are welcoming guests as usual and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies.
Our parks and resorts have high standards of cleanliness, which assists with illness prevention, and we have health and safety protocols in place, such as:
- Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
- Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
- Easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers
- Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
- End of day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen, and other facilities
- Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues
Additionally, our onsite health teams and leaders are communicating with our cast members about illness prevention, including the guidance of the CDC. The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, such as staying home when sick, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, following proper respiratory cough etiquette, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
For our part, we’ve been closely monitoring coronavirus for over the last month-plus to see how it’d impact our potential trips abroad this spring. I’ve become obsessive, reading about a half-dozen articles per day. If I’ve gleaned one thing from those resources, it’s that the coronavirus situation continues to develop. Quite simply, there’s a lot of fluidity to this. The status of coronavirus today almost certainly won’t be the same next week.
At present, there no limitations or advisories for domestic travel within the United States. Nor, to my knowledge, have other countries issued bulletins or elevated risk levels for the US as a result of coronavirus. Public health experts are only advising proper precautions: frequently washing hands, avoiding touching unwashed hands to the face, maintaining social distancing from anyone who is coughing or sneezing, following good respiratory hygiene, and using hand sanitizer to reduce risk.
Public health experts also state that the biggest health risk for domestic travel right now is the flu. While some areas do have more reported coronavirus cases and preventative measures are being taken in some cities, no part of the United States is considered higher risk for coronavirus than any other. That could change if or when more sustained person-to-person spread in the community occurs.
When it comes to travel, the World Health Organization has indicated that an airplane cabin by itself isn’t more conducive to spreading infection, but proximity of passengers does matter. Flights by themselves aren’t considered higher risk, except that they are crowded situations. Consider, wiping down surfaces you are going to touch on airplanes or other public spaces, such as hotel rooms.
Paper surgical masks are effective at keeping you from spreading disease if you are sick, but not totally effective at blocking you from ingesting coronavirus. If you have a cough, consider wearing a mask out of common courtesy. Even before coronavirus this was incredibly common in Asian cultures, which is why it’s more common to see masks abroad. (But don’t hoard masks.)
When it comes to traveling during the coronavirus outbreak, some CYA advice you’ll commonly see is to purchase travel insurance with a “cancel for any reason” policy, and to use a travel agent. I don’t disagree with the latter part of this–they can deal with making cancellations or changing plans for you. In the case of Walt Disney World, that means waiting on hold for hours when call volume spikes. (As is always the case around hurricanes.)
In circumstances like this, I’m actually not a staunch advocate of travel insurance. If it’ll give you peace of mind, great. Go for it. Just be aware that if the situation deteriorates considerably and travel is interrupted within the United States, airlines will begin waiving change or cancellation fees (albeit usually with the caveat that you receive a credit for travel within a year, not a cash refund).
If the worst happens and Walt Disney World is forced to close, you’ll receive a full refund. (In that scenario, a lot of Walt Disney World’s hurricane policy would likely be applicable–read our Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World During Storm Season for more elaboration on all of this.) Other travel providers will likewise follow suit. Travel insurance with the option to cancel for any reason is best for those who want to cancel before travel businesses start closing or canceling.
One thing I would recommend if you haven’t already booked a Walt Disney World vacation for 2020, is to consider something that can be modified or offers free cancellation. Not just because of the above concerns, but because both approaches will allow you to apply discounts or rebook if better deals become available. (Again, travel agents/Authorized Disney Vacation Planners can help with this.)
With the nonstop news coverage of coronavirus, Walt Disney World’s hotel occupancy rate and attendance is bound to drop irrespective of any actual threat levels. In other posts, we belabor the point that WDW doesn’t offer deals out of corporate benevolence, but to fill hotel rooms. It’s possible, if not probable, that discounting will become more aggressive as coronavirus fears grow.
We normally are strong advocates of Priceline Express Deals, Airbnb vacation home rentals, and other third party deal hacks. However, this is one scenario where you might want to stick with options that are easier to cancel or modify. There are obviously no guarantees, but you could end up saving more money that way.
There’s also the possibility that Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and/or Disneyland Paris will close at some point. Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland have each been closed for over one month, and likely will be for at least another. Tokyo Disney Resort is temporarily closed for 2 weeks, which is likely to be extended.
The difference with the Asian resorts is government involvement. Japan’s Prime Minister has “strongly encouraged” closures to curtail the spread of coronavirus but–more importantly–prevent Tokyo’s 2020 Summer Olympics from being cancelled. Oriental Land Company, the owner of Tokyo Disney Resort, acquiesced to these requests. The Shanghai and Hong Kong parks are both partially state owned or sponsored, meaning Disney also did not have the final say there.
Generally speaking, countries in Asia have employed more draconian quarantine measures. Culturally, it’s not as easy to see Americans being receptive to some of this. It’s also more difficult to envision the United States taking steps to stifle the economy or business interests.
This isn’t to say that Walt Disney World or Disneyland will or will not close. That could happen in the weeks or months to come as coronavirus spreads within the United States. Alternatively, if attendance plummets due to fear, closures of the parks or various resorts could become a business decision. We’re likely a while from that happening, though. (Disneyland Paris is a different story entirely.)
Or, nothing could happen at all. Walt Disney World and Disneyland could install more hand-sanitizing or hand-washing stations, in-room fliers and in-park signs about best practices, or even hand sanitizer bottles to hotel guests.
Recent precedent suggests these are the most likely scenarios, as variations of these things occurred during the peaks of H1N1 and the Zika virus. Coronavirus is obviously different than both of these pandemics, but best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Neither Walt Disney World nor Disneyland closed during those outbreaks.
Planning a trip or visiting Walt Disney World or Disneyland in the near future ultimately comes down to comfort and your personal risk tolerance. Are you elderly, do you have a chronic medical condition, or are otherwise immunocompromised? Will you be nervous, stressed-out, or in a constant precautionary state that prevents you from enjoying your vacation?
Obviously, those are personal questions that only you can answer. We’d once again reiterate that there are currently no travel advisories or restrictions concerning domestic travel, and that it’s important to approach the decision rationally without being overcome by paranoia or hysteria. At the same time, traveling in a state of fear is not going to be fun, either.
My perspective is likely to be different than that of others. I have an incredibly high risk tolerance, and I’m not personally concerned about contracting coronavirus. On an individual level, it comes down to a risk assessment. This is something everyone is doing on a daily basis, and we all take measured risks–driving in a car, taking a flight, riding a bicycle, playing a sport, swimming, drinking alcohol, and so on.
Often, analysis is shaped by worries of catastrophic consequences, even when seemingly mundane everyday activities pose greater actual risk. For instance, you might now fear sinking on the Jungle Cruise, when overdosing on awesomeness while watching Country Bear Jamboree is an exponentially greater risk. And yet, one we all eagerly take multiple times per trip. (“Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.” ~Big Al, probably.)
(UPDATE: After reading more about the importance of collective and individual measures to flatten the epidemic curve, I’m now reevaluating future plans.)
This isn’t to minimize coronavirus. By most reasonable accounts of public health experts, it poses a serious threat and likely will significantly impact daily life in the United States at some point. Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, has warned that if person-to-person spread picks up, further measures might need to be taken, including school and workplace closures, voluntary home quarantines, implementing cleaning measures, and other things.
Ultimately, our recommendation is to trust public health experts and agencies, and make appropriate changes to your daily life and travel plans only if or when necessary. Unless the fear of coronavirus will ruin your vacations, there’s really no reason to act preemptively. To the contrary, you might be able to take advantage of deals or lower crowds if you simply follow pertinent official recommendations and don’t give in to hysteria by canceling your Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or other vacation plans.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Do you plan on cancelling or postponing travel plans to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or beyond as a result of coronavirus? Will you continue monitoring the situation and potentially cancel? Alternatively, will you book a trip because of coronavirus if prices or attendance drops? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We are still planning our late march trip but monitoring the situation. Where I live it is starting to show up outside of people who’ve traveled recently so we are taking precautions anyway. I don’t think our chances of getting it in florida (with handwashing-sanitizing steps) are greater then at home. We will be sanitizing our way through the airport! That said if anyone traveling with us were elderly or already in fragile health would probably choose to cancel. A note about fatalities, while the flu is greater, that is because it is currently more prevalent, percentage wise more people who get Covid 19 die, about 2%, (mostly elderly or already ill people). Children do not seem to be affected or if they are, mildly.
I am bothered by the number of people who say “meh, it’s just like the flu.. I travel during flu season and that’s an acceptable risk, so this is too.” They do not close down entire cities due to the flu (in recent history). They do not impose mandatory quarantines due to the flu. They do not airlift citizens out of a flu-infected area. And yet, government officials all over the world who are receiving the best information from their top scientists are imposing these measures. Why would countries like China and Japan close down entire towns, close down schools for months, if it was “no big deal” and “just like the flu”?
The difference is not because the flu has a vaccine. Outside of the U.S., lots of people do not regularly get flu vaccines. In England, for instance, the flu vaccine only is recommended for the elderly, the very young, or those at risk. So the presence (or lack thereof) of a vaccine is not the sole determining factor.
I would love to *like* this comment.
Meh.
For someone who is supposedly at WDW today you have spent a lot of time checking the Coronavirus page, pops!
Enjoy the fireworks, and don’t leave any wee on your monorail seat.
We come down to Disney two to three times a year. We don’t “Do” Disney on the traditional way, spending the entire day in the parks trying to cram ten pounds into a five pound bag. Today we did a few attractions in an EPCOT that torn up for construction like you never saw, hit a favorite pawn shop or two in the afternoon, (You never know what you will find!) and spent the late afternoon having a glass of wine and watching the animals from our Savanna View room in Jambo. (Ever see how long a giraffe’s eyelashes are?) We’ve also dined at Victoria and Albert’s and STK with Cali Grille on tap for tomorrow evening. I’ve also dealt with a few business matters, kept up with the “news” and these blog comments. Yeah, being a “Boomer” is really horrible. You can actually multitask, work, play and relax at the same time. So many things are possible if you don’t waste time worrying.
So my understanding is that a lot more people have the virus but have mild to no symptoms, which means they don’t get tested and aren’t officially “counted” in the number of cases. So in reality, the mortality rate can only be based on the official number of cases. Not knowing how many people are or have been infected with CV makes this an incredibly difficult number to define. My family had the flu this year.
We did not go to the doctor… no one would count the 5 of us as having the “flu” but we all did and we are fine. I think this has happened a lot with cases of CV. As with anything new of course there should be caution. I think that most people are panicking though. Again it would seem that the people who are struggling the most who have or have had coronovirus are those who are older or those with an underlying medical condition, in which case they should always be careful. I think there is a lot of fear b/c of the “unknown” about this virus. However seeing that the number of cases and deaths in China is dropping and NOT escalating and it is an insanely populated country, that should be encouraging for the rest of us.
First, I have followed your blog for years and always appreciate how up to date your information is-all your hard work really shows! Thank you!
Second, I have a question regarding how Disney would treat tickets purchased with specific entrance dates for Disney World. This actually is also a question about how they would treat them in general if, for example, we are delayed for some reason past the window of use for the first entrance (in the event of either us not being able to travel there in time or the hypothetical park closing). Would tickets be honored at a later date in this situation or would we need to go through a refund/credit process? Or better yet would they let us bridge them to annual passes (because that is what I plan to do anyway)? Thanks again!
Tom. Great job. Only closing will keep me away as I’ve looked so forward to this. I think you eased my concerns without trivializing the problem.
If you didn’t worry about getting influenza during that season, why are you worrying about this now? You have more chance of getting that I’d think than CV. But please, if you’re paranoid, stay away this fall to make it easier for me to get on the rides. Thanks, 🙂
You, sir, have the right attitude! Kudos!
I don’t think anyone on here is worried about getting it, most of us concerned about our travel plan being affected. I just got a letter from Disney Cruise Line to say that if I pass through France 14 before my cruise date I cannot board. I actually pass through France 15 day so it is a close thing but other countries on my travel route may be affected.
If they shut the parks, cancel cruises, of lock down cities and airports then it is possible we could miss out on the vacation itself and loose money. It is a concern.
Thoughts on David’s Vacation Rentals refunding money if WDW closes? I asked them, but received a canned response that they will review each case individually and that you should have bought travel insurance. Additionally, they stated all sales are final. I did buy the insurance, but they have a slew of ways to get out of paying based on their prerecorded message. My thoughts are that if David’s owners get their money back, then so should their customers that purchased from them.
Good article on the most dangerous thing about the corona virus: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/The-most-dangerous-thing-about-coronavirus-is-the-hysteria
Excellent quote “To put it another way, if the number of deaths from coronavirus rises a hundredfold in the next few weeks or months, it will only have reached the lower bound of the estimate for existing strains of flu.”
I got a similar response from the DVC Rental Store… I saw up-thread that Tom may be checking into this to see if he can find out anything himself from the major rental companies (which I’m pretty sure includes David’s and DVC Rental Store), which would be fantastic. I worked an extra job, extra hours, and did all manner of things from weedeating to selling stuff on Ebay to pay for our family’s upcoming trip, and I’ll be pretty dang devastated if WDW does close and the DVCRS folks don’t reimburse us anything even with trip insurance.
We rented from DVC Rental Store and I inquired about “what if” and do owners essentially make out, keep the renters payment and get their points back. I was told yes, b/c Disney will put stipulations on the points they give back, like they need to be used within a year, and the owners may not be able to use them within the year. But they could rent them out again and pocket more money.
I do think it’s fair that if Disney returns points due to a closure, then renters should get their money back or at the least a credit.
In my opinion the DVC Rental Store has gone way downhill since Paul left. The new owner has zero customer service experience.
Hi Meredith, if your trip was cancelled due to a shutdown, they better give you your money back. Seems a little unethical to me if the DVC owners get their money back, Davids gets their commission and the only one out is the customer. That just doesn’t make sense to me. I really can’t see this happening as there would be a ton of negative press against them.
I didn’t get the “cancel for any reason” insurance. Found it interesting that people that do this only get back 75% of the cost. There were other items I heard via my insurance that made it sure sound like they were doing their best not to pay anyone.
Something that crossed my mind was contact with characters. I have photos of hugging Tigger, dancing with one of the country bears last December. I would think that contact like that would be a potential point for transmission pf the virus. I expect Disney would have a policy in place if the Coronavirus becomes a greater threat. But perhaps limiting contact with the characters would be prudent for someone at greater risk. Certainly get the photos because they are some of the best souvenirs of a trip to Disney.
I stand next to…never touching the characters even when it was virus safe. LOL Better than touch my clothing with their own permission/method. Had a couple of photos this past weekend but I let them “approach me”…and honestly…they were happier too. LOL
Just got back from WDW. The only thing that bothered me, and has always irritated me anyway, is when you are waiting in line for any of the shows and they continually tell you to move forward and ‘fill in any available space’. I got crammed against a women who was coughing and sneezing and not attempting to contain her spew at Fantasmic. Maybe Disney could back off on their crowd squeezing policy at least. I think I did notice more vigorous hand washing and more people keeping their kids off of the line railings.
Yes…that happens a lot. BUT I actually told several people to “back off”(politely) and told them why. Just like at church services with hand shaking…not doing it right now. Oh, and I told the staff person that was “pushing”. It’s more annoying if in a closed line attraction…then outdoor lines. Honestly find it done more by foreigners and newbies to the parks. Or should I say, socially ignorant people to these settings. I like to take the cake decorating classes at Disney(Amorette)…and watched as parents and two daughters coughed during the time in class without covering their mouths. Not using the food grade gloves they give you(box full on each table) AND then at break, the daughters used the restroom and never washed their hands as they returned back to decorate. THANKFULLY…we keep our own edible cakes. But yes, people don’t have smarts.
Well, just having come back from the DW-Princess Run Weekend races…I will say that perhaps if Disney put out more Purell dispensers that might be a little more reassuring for visitors…and get the cleaning staffs to be a little more “intense” in their duties. Most every time I was in a restroom…at least half the people walked out without washing their hands. Soap may kill/help but if you don’t do…it won’t and then they touch everything else in the area. OR you have people doing a “fast, quick water” wash/rinse because Disney does not do hot/warm water at their park faucets. Bet it’s a lawsuit/people stupid issue with kids unsupervised getting a “burn”. It just makes for people not to wash their hands. They have the darn technology to do wristbands and unlock your room door, etc…they should program the faucets to have a consistent/regulated/immediate temperature. Ah-duh.
With all due respect Tom, you should never have posted this thread and IMO should lock it. It just proves that the two most common elements in the world are Hydrogen and Silly! I’m 74 years old. I flew F4s in Vietnam and am a watch carrying member of the Martin-Baker club. This virus doesn’t bother me. There are presently less than 100 cases in the US. If you don’t want to go to Disney, or Europe or the corner store or hide under your bed in a sea of hand sanitizer I really don’t care. That’s your business. Just keep your unjustified panic to yourself where it belongs. I’m in Disney World as I write this. Please DO cancel and make it easier for me to extend my stay.
Thank you for your service Jack. I agree with you… if everyone can cancel from March 16 – March 25, that would be great.
Don’t forget to cancel in October. It’ll make our Food and Wine reservations easier!
Ok boomer !
And proud of it!
Be nice!
Lol
Actually experts believe there are way more than 100 cases in California alone. There are no testing kits and thus no accounting. I have family outside of San Jose who have been saying that a virus is running through their community. When they present at the doctor they are told it could be Coronavirus but there was no way to test. Good news is, like the experts also say, the vast majority will recover and they did. While panic is not necessary providing people with information is helpful (so thanks Tom). The truth is if you are elderly/have health issues you don’t want to increase your risk by being around large crowds anywhere, let alone Disney.
Thanks for your concern but please don’t tell me where I should or shouldn’t go. And as far as “experts” go, you can’t spit without hitting an “expert” these days. As I said, I’m 74 and an engineer twice over. You do your thing and I’ll do mine. Everything I’ve read from what and who I consider responsible sources leads me to believe that this whole “crisis” is largely media driven. I’m able to use critical thinking and analysis. Part of the fun of being a “Boomer.” Some consider that term an insult. I consider it a badge of honor.
No one is telling anyone to do anything. Providing information without exaggeration or downplaying is the responsible thing to do so people can make their own choices. And I do listen to experts in the health care field because just as much as I would not doubt the expertise of an engineer when it comes to engineering, I would not doubt the expertise of a health care expert. What I would doubt is health care advice from an engineer.
Then how aboutthe advice from a PhD epidemiologist we ran into day before yesterday at a DVC kiosk who agreed with my assessment?
That’s critical thinking for ya…
It’s quite a useful article because for all the scare mongering and hoax mongering there is a big chance that WDW and DL could actually close, which would affect our plans whether we are hidden under the bed in a bath of hand sanitizer or not. For those of us with transatlantic flights and hotels and park tickets booked it is good to know the chances of the parks being closed – as three major cities have already closed their Disney parks,
If you had actually read beyond the title of Tom’s well researched article then you would know there was no “unjustified panic” in there at all.
Enjoy your day at WDW
Snd if you had read and understood my reply you would see I was referring to the replies not the article itself.
Jack, your comment didn’t mention the word “replies” anywhere. Your general condescension and attitude in this thread are unwarranted and demonstrate a basic lack of civility. I was an engineer for 10 years before switching to a legal career. Just because you’ve been an engineer doesn’t somehow grant you license to tell other people how to feel or react, nor does having ejected from an airplane successfully. A little patience to understand the concerns of others (personally, I am concerned because I have an asthmatic kid) and humility (your opinion is not any more valid than any other non-health expert merely by virtue of having been an engineer) would likely do you a world of good. However, since you haven’t learned that in the last 74 years of your life, I don’t expect you to learn it now. I hope that you make the right choice for your situation, but perhaps go easy on people with justifiable concerns here.
74 years old and still haven’t learned basic manners
If tolerating needless upset bordering on panic is your idea of “basic manners” you’re right. I haven’t learned them and I’m proud of it!
Thanks for the level-headed perspective, Tom. I agree that closures in the U.S. are less likely to occur, or to be as well-received, as in Asia. I think everyone has to measure their own risk tolerance and make the best decisions for themselves. I have to laugh at my own hypocrisy, though, as I simultaneously refuse to consider changing my Disney plans AND complain that it’s irresponsible for my industry to go ahead with its massive annual conference in Las Vegas this May. (Guess which one of those trips I always love and which one of those trips I always hate).
Thanks for this post, Tom! Definitely eased some of my worries! I’m planning towards my April trip unless Disney World ends up closing, then I’ll just postpone till later in the year.
If people cancel because they are scared, then the next few months should be GREAT to be there. I’ve been every Christmas for 29 years. It’s full of Chinese And Japanese. I am not canceling anything and if WDW cancels, you’ll get your money back.
Lassie- wondering why you mentioned
“It’s full of Chinese and Japanese” in this context?!?
Or maybe just basically declaring yourself a Racist.
We are attending a convention with our two children this week in Orlando, and will be traveling via air, staying in a hotel, and visiting WDW and Universal. I do not live in a state with a current case of coronavirus. I am very concerned, but we cannot live in a bubble. Unless our group decides to cancel the trip between now and Wednesday evening, we are under obligation to attend. I have plenty of hand sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, chlorox wipes, soap, and a few paper masks leftover from when I had the flu several years ago. We will not wear the masks, but I will bring them as a precaution. They are not the specific “95” masks with filters. Just plain old paper maks that have been in my medicine chest for about 5 years! I have ibuprofen, pepto bismol tablets, cough drops, etc. in my carryon bag, in the event one (or more) of us becomes ill. I always bring these items with me though. My husband is active-duty military and has been texting supply lists for an outbreak and info he’s received from a friend who works at the CDC. So far, we’ve received little information from his military unit regarding a potential outbreak of the virus and no travel restrictions have been put in place for his position. Many people he works with have had the flu (everyone in our family was vaccinated in October) and we’ve managed to stay healthy thus far. We live in a very transient region of the country (Washington D.C. area) and the virus is bound to pop up here. A classmate of my son’s arrived home from a country in Asia yesterday. I’d be kidding if I said I’m not worried. We have all the basic supplies AT HOME, but what if something happens when we’re in Orlando?! I am by design a serial worrier. If it were up to me, we would stay home. Unfortunately, we must find some strength and determination and go to Disney anyway. I never in a million years would have thought I would want to CANCEL a trip to Disney!!!
Hope you have a great trip! I understand the worrying, but it sounds like you are prepared. FYI We are in Clearwater and as the 2 new cases are nearby in Hillsborough county, it’s already impossible to find hand sanitizer here. So definitely bring plenty. Clorox cleaning wipes are still plentiful but hand antibacterial wipes are going quick..
This is obviously just to get clicks and traction. Do you post this and more for the Flu since that has so many more cases and deaths each year? No? Hmmmm Let’s not jump on the hysteria bandwagon, ok?
He posted this because tons of commenters have asked him to speak directly about this on a blog post. Jeez. This is one of the less-hysterical WDW news sites right now. Forums are worse.
people that simply equate this virus to the flu are the ones who clearly have no idea what they are talking about.
Agreed! Sadly they are fooling themselves. Thousands have died and I am not going to chance adding to that number. I have never in 70 yrs had the flu and I only had the flu vaccine 2x in my life and it never scared me. The coronavirus scares the hell out of me. My entire family was going to DW in May to celebrate my beating stage 4 cancer and after all I’ve been through I don’t want a virus to take my life. Please don’t trust that the coronavirus is like the flu. Stay safe and thank Tom for giving us so much info. Thanks Tom!
You read this because you are concerned. The information is accurate and measure, not hyperbolic like most of the coverage. Your comment is snarky and troll-ish.
Bingo! 😉
Isn’t pointing out that others are snarky poor manners? If you have something relevant to say, comment. If you can’t say anything civil, please don’t post anything. It’s the happiest place on Earth and that includes this forum.
So you defend someone accusing the author of the article of posting click bait? To each their own. I myself embrace intelligent and accurately presented information.
Best Regards
Well…considering that as of right now COVID-19 seems to be more deadly than the flu based on lethality rate I suspect people are responding to the potential. I agree that the hysteria seems a bit premature and is never useful. But let’s not pretend that the flu is worse at this point since all evidence is to the contrary.
I live in Florida and am going on Friday to Disneyworld. No plans on canceling. Although 2 cases now reported in Fl… I am a Nurse and plan on bringing extra hand sanitizer! Frequent handwashing is the your biggest defense against any virus!
Thanks Tom for the information.
LAURA do your research. There’s been 3,048 deaths worldwide from Coronavirus, with 45, 393 recoveries.
So far this season, there have been 16,000 deaths from flu, 105 of which are children.
Furthermore, for Coronavirus, # of recoveries has surpassed the number of newly diagnosed cases.
The flu is far more deadly
How many cases of flu, for sake of comparison and to get a percentile?
Marybeth, how many have recovered from the flu? The numbers are based on the percentage (chance) of death or serious complications. Right now the officials are saying it’s likely to be 2.5% fatality rate- much higher than the flu. Even a 1% fatality rate is much much higher than the flu.
The seasonal flu is at 0.1% fatality rate.
In 1918 the fatality rate of the flu (which was the most deadly) was also around 2%.
I feel like letting you in on the facts will be helpful for you to make informative decisions and posts. A quick Google search of Corona virus vs the flu virus should also be helpful.
Good luck and stay safe out there.
We’re currently taking a wait and see attitude for our upcoming April trip. With cases now confirmed in Florida we’re monitoring the situation closely, but this is due to me having a disability that makes respiratory ailments much more dangerous than it is for a healthy person. However that also makes risk assessment something we’re used to and aren’t likely to panic or jump the gun. Almost every year there’s some new health scare, and it’s important to be smart and cautious but not alarmist.
these cases have not been confirmed yet..they are assuming..we have a Transatlantic cruise coming up in May and I have all intentions of going..I live 50 miles from the assumed cases and not worried about going over to the parks…more woried about getting the regular flu than this
Thanks Tom for the information.
LAURA do your research. There’s been 3,048 deaths worldwide from Coronavirus, with 45, 393 recoveries.
So far this season, there have been 16,000 deaths from flu, 105 of which are children.
Furthermore, for Coronavirus, # of recoveries has surpassed the number of newly diagnosed cases.
The flu is far more deadly
We’re headed to WDW in 11 days and continue to monitor the situation. Fingers crossed, the parks won’t be closed and I’m not expecting that they will be.
When you zoom out, where do you draw the line for public closures? Is WDW really that different from The Strip in Vegas? Or any college/professional sporting event? Or an airport? I think if you close one, you close them all and I just can’t picture that happening for this flu-like virus.
You have more to worry about from the flu! This whole coronavirus hysteria has gotten out of control. The flu kills thousands each year and we don’t lose our minds over it. The only reason that it isn’t more deadly is because there is a vaccine that lessens the severity of the virus. If you are healthy then you most likely have nothing to worry about. Just like the flu, it can kill you from complications if your immune system is compromised.
The governor of Fl just declared a public health emergency and people do not have immunity to coronavirus like they do flu.
the rate of death from coronavirus is MUCH higher than that of the flu.
Thanks Tom for the information.
LAURA do your research. There’s been 3,048 deaths worldwide from Coronavirus, with 45, 393 recoveries.
So far this season, there have been 16,000 deaths from flu, 105 of which are children.
Furthermore, for Coronavirus, # of recoveries has surpassed the number of newly diagnosed cases.
The flu is far more deadly.
Laura and Marybeth, you are both correct. The rate of coronavirus deaths are currently about 20 times higher than the rate of people who die from the flu. However, influenza is much more prevalent in the community, so you are much more likely to get the flu and its subsequent complications. The overall number of deaths from the flu remains much higher than the number of deaths from coronavirus in the U.S. To be clear, it is not only immuno-compromised or elderly people who die from the flu.
I do wonder why it takes a pandemic for folks to follow common sense advice that would keep all of us healthy. For goodness sakes people, wash your hands!
I am getting on a plane on Wednesday and heading to NOLA, and at this point I have no plans to cancel or postpone my June trip to Disney World. Of course, the situation is fluid, and we should all use common sense when making these decisions.
If you will travel in flu season and are in good overall health no reason to cancel. I suspect this is going to be an annual occurrence going forward and once they have vaccine or treatment options to combat it these to shall pass. To me it is more alarming the number of flu deaths each year.
I have numerous visits to WDW, DLP and TDL planned, and short of an actual government intervention I have no plan to cancel. I cancelled HKDL but not because of coronavirus fear – rather due to the impact on society (incl HKDL closure). I went to Singapore instead which was awesome. I think there’s a significant chance DLP+TDL will be closed when it’s time to go. But in situations like this, flexibility is key. It’s not usually much more expensive to book hotels flexibly.
I do have one observation though – the fingerprint scan at the entrance to WDW feels like a significant risk. (I thought this long before Coronavirus, but it feels extra relevant now). We have Purell disinfection stations at the exits to many attractions now, so why not at the main gate?
“I do have one observation though — the fingerprint scan at the entrance to WDW feels like a significant risk. (I thought this long before Coronavirus, but it feels extra relevant now). We have Purell disinfection stations at the exits to many attractions now, so why not at the main gate?”
I agree with everything you wrote, but this in particular is an excellent point.
As someone who has been married to a lab tech for over 40 years, the best defense is washing your hands. We have been using hand sanitizer after the finger scans since they were installed. Sanitizer before meals and after rides. You can’t live your life in fear, but you can take simple, common sense actions like washing your hands often.
yes i’ve often wondered how often, if ever, those are cleaned. just a petri dish of bacteria i’m sure. it’s too bad we had so many people scamming the system that they were even deemed necessary in the first place.
We were at the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and finger print scanners were disabled. Not sure if that was intentional or not.