Disney World News: Construction Resumes, Resort Closures & Addressing Frustration
In this Walt Disney World news roundup, we’ll share the latest about the ongoing closure & upcoming reopening, plus a fun story or two. This includes details (and photos) of construction resuming around Magic Kingdom, the roller coaster ride of resort reopening plans, and Disney’s attempts at addressing Annual Passholder frustrations.
Let’s start with something fun, heartwarming, and pure: Duffy & Friends. Earlier this week, Shanghai Disney Resort welcomed Olu Mel the Turtle to the park on Instagram. This is Duffy’s newest pal, previously exclusive to Aulani Resort in Hawaii, who will now have merchandise available at Shanghai Disneyland. We’d expect Olu Mel to head to Hong Kong and Tokyo next.
As we discuss at length in our Duffy Phenomenon article (a long read you might actually find fascinating), we have really come around on some of the Duffy & Friends characters, and have even “adopted” Duffy and Gelatoni in recent years. This was after being vehemently opposed to them about a decade ago when Duffy was everywhere at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as the US parks tried to manufacture a merchandise trend.
In a new video released by Walt Disney Imagineering, Duffy’s whole crew (ShellieMay, Gelatoni, StellaLou, CookieAnn, and Olu Mel) plant morning glory seeds in their garden given to them by Mickey Mouse. They work together and eagerly watch as the plants grow — until a small, unexpected hiccup happens. Find out what happens next and how the friends come together to overcome all with a message of love, teamwork and friendship.
Before reading the rest of this, check out the adorable new stop-motion “Morning Glory” video:
If that doesn’t put a smile on your face (and make you more of a fan of these characters), I don’t know what will.
We’ve previously viewed both CookieAnn and Olu Mel with some skepticism and cynicism, but this warms us to them a bit. To be sure, the Duffy & Friends Power Rankings are still go Duffy, Gelatoni, ShellieMay, Tippy Blue…StellaLou…..CookieAnn…………….Olu Mel, but there was a time when we didn’t even consider the newest two to be true members of the crew.
None of this matters in any way whatsoever, but ‘debating’ the merits of plush critters feels like a nice change of reprieve and change of pace.
Let’s continue some of that optimism with a Walt Disney World construction update. The first two photos (above and below) are from exactly three months ago, a few days before the parks closed. At this point, Magic Kingdom construction crews were about two weeks into the Royal Makeover of Cinderella Castle.
If you look at the lower left turrets, you can see the before/after contrast. Crazy how faded those were! The the right of the castle’s clock, you can see a bit of the new pink or salmon color. Also quite the contrast to the more neutral colors.
Yesterday, we took a slight detour through property on our way home from getting groceries to see how things were looking. This actually is far from our first time driving through Walt Disney World during the closure, as virtually anywhere we go requires driving through property unless we take a toll road (that’s not a humblebrag–it’s normally an inconvenience, but not so much with zero traffic).
You might recall that All Construction Stopped at Walt Disney World shortly after the closure. Well, work has clearly resumed since the reopening announcement… (Apologies in advance for the photo quality.)
Here’s a look at the progress on Cinderella Castle as of yesterday. The rear turret looks like it’s the only one left to go, which should be fairly easy to finish over the course of the next month. On the plus side, the first guests back should be greeted by the completed Royal Makeover of Cinderella Castle, with construction equipment presumably gone and the moat refilled.
The above photo doesn’t tell the whole story, but it is looks very vibrant–and very pink–in the midday Florida sun. We’ll withhold final judgment until seeing it from within Magic Kingdom, but our preliminary impression is that this paint job is an overcorrection. Cinderella Castle was definitely looking washed out and faded, but this looks a tad too far in the cartoonish direction.
Then again, maybe we’ll get used to it and this new-look Cinderella Castle will grow on us! The whimsical pink style absolutely works for Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris, so perhaps it’s just the initial shock of Cinderella Castle looking so different as compared to before. We shall see!
Continuing down World Drive, here’s a look at the Cove Hotel expansion to the Swan & Dolphin. It’s located across the street from those properties on Epcot Resorts Boulevard, near the Fantasia Garden miniature golf course. When finished, the Cove Hotel will be 14 stories tall, have 349 guest rooms, a rooftop terrace, restaurant & lounge, and 21,000 square feet of meeting space. It was originally supposed to open this year, which now seems unlikely.
This is plainly visible from World Drive and Buena Vista Drive, but should not be visible from within Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That’s definitely a good thing, as the design is hideous (and not in an ambitious but odd way like the Swan & Dolphin–this is going to be ugly and industrial).
Now, what you’ve all been waiting for: a look at the All Star McDonald’s. Despite the closure, construction actually never stopped on this and it appears almost ready to open now.
Notably, there was also a huge construction crew around the Transportation and Ticket Center working on the new arrival experience, which looks like it’s nearly finished. Likewise, we caught a fleeting glimpse of work on the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom walkway, which has also resumed work (it was too brief of a view to ascertain how much progress has been made).
Hopefully this bodes well for construction projects inside the parks, too. It’d be nice to return to Epcot with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ready to open–and some progress in Future World, too. While work has resumed, we’re still expecting long-term ramifications to the scope and scale of future projects.
Next, the ongoing saga of Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House. Two days ago, we provided an update that reservations were now available on DVCMember.com. From that, we surmised that the resort would be reopening, which seems like a logical conclusion.
Logical, but not accurate. Members are now being advised that Jambo House will not be reopening, and their reservations will be moved to other resorts. Our understanding is that reopening reservations for Jambo House was intentional (meaning it wasn’t done in error), with the intention all along of relocating guests.
Even today, there’s still a ton of availability for Jambo House (more than any other resort). We haven’t the slightest idea as to what will become of these bookings, but have decided to roll the dice and book some nights in Value Studios. At least for that room tier, there’s little downside. We’re willing to gamble that we’ll be placed in a nicer room at a different resort with our lower point rate locked in. Of course, your mileage may vary.
That provides a nice segue to our final topic, which is Walt Disney World’s email thanking Annual Passholders for their patience while they adjust during these unprecedented times. Here’s the email in full:
If comments on this blog are any indication, a lot of Walt Disney World fans are dissatisfied or downright disgruntled with how things have been handled. In our view, some of the fan reaction has been understandable. Disney’s communications have been inconsistent and scattershot–each new announcement has raised as many or more questions than it has answered.
Obviously they’re very different (and smaller), but Universal Orlando has comparatively done a superior job with its messaging during the closure and reopening. Suffice to say, lots of unforced errors by Disney throughout this.
However, Walt Disney World is incredibly complex, with a ton of moving parts–and these truly are unprecedented times. A lot of people seem to expect the normal Disney experience, oblivious to the real world reality of the global pandemic.
While we all love the WDW “bubble,” the parks and resorts exist in the actual Central Florida community. Disney must take into account the health and wellbeing of Cast Members, Orange County hospital capacity, and other variables. It cannot simply about “making guests happy and creating magic” right now. Trying to thread the needle and striking the appropriate balance in reopening is undoubtedly challenging.
Disney’s decisions reverberate throughout Florida and have ramifications far beyond the borders of its property. It’s easy for all of us to sit at home and critique what they’re doing/not doing, but I do not envy Walt Disney World’s leaders right now. It’s a tough task with absolutely no existing playbook. Literally every possible decision is going to leave some people unhappy or disenchanted.
In some ways, recent announcements by Disney have felt like not-so-subtle ways of inducing cancellations. Not necessarily because they “need” people to cancel due to capacity limitations, but because Walt Disney World wants to manage expectations and be blunt about the near-term guest experience. In the long run, it’s better to have people be upset now and make the informed decision to cancel than it is to have them take trips, be disappointed, and demand refunds…or just never return.
In our recent “Dawn of a Temporary Disney Era” we looked on the bright side and pointed out the opportunities for some guests this year. The emphasis there most definitely belongs on “for some guests.”
To reiterate, this year is not a good time for once in a lifetime trips to Walt Disney World. It’s not a good time if entertainment or the ‘full’ experience is paramount to you. It’s not a good time if you’re unwilling to wear masks or adhere to added health safety protocol. It’s not a good time if you’re an obsessive planner and aren’t willing to compromise and be flexible.
To be fair to fans, these are all problems of Walt Disney World’s own creation. Over the last decade-plus, they have actively cultivated a culture of meticulous pre-planning while also taking the misguided notion of “the customer is always right” to its extreme. The ideas of spontaneity and going with the flow are anathema to the Walt Disney World experience for many, and that’s by Disney’s own design. (Then again, it’s safe to say that Disney didn’t consider the possibility of a global pandemic while crafting the original policies.)
Nevertheless, present circumstances are what they are. All of this is a long-winded way of once again stressing patience and flexibility. It’s going to take some time before we have a complete picture of what Walt Disney World’s operations entail for the remainder of the year. Disney must enact policies that prioritize the health and welfare of Cast Members and guests, in line with recommendations of experts. The experience will undoubtedly suffer in some ways (as we’ve noted before, it might benefit in others!) but that comes with the territory. It’s one thing to be frustrated and vent a bit online (and totally okay with us–we don’t mind anyone voicing their thoughts!), but some of the ‘demands’ and outrage are patently unreasonable. No number of complaints or threats will change the reality that we’re in the midst of a pandemic. This year is not going to be the time/circumstances for many people to visit. The good news is that Walt Disney World will still be there in 2021!
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
Any opinion on Duffy & Friends? What do you think of the colors for Cinderella Castle’s Royal Makeover? Think Jambo House will actually will remain closed, or will end up reopening? Thoughts on Walt Disney World addressing AP frustrations? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary here? Other thoughts or concerns? 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!
Do you have any idea or speculation as to when you “think” Disney in Florida will start selling tickets? We have plans to visit the 1st week of August. Appreciate all of your input!!
My problem is that some of this “new and different” experience seems to have nothing to do with safety, but rather, saving money. For example, why limit park hours? Why limit dining menu options? Maybe I was naive, but when the Fastpasses went away, I expected that I’d still be able to ride my favorite rides because of reduced capacity. But with drastically reduced park hours, now I’m not so sure. And even when dining reservations went away, I thought “maybe I won’t be able to eat at all my favorite restaurants because of limited capacity, but I can still experience a few old faithfuls,” but now they won’t even have the same menus! Can someone offer any insight why Disney would NOT try to preserve the “magic” and experience wherever possible and where it can do so safely? It just makes no sense to me except that they are trying to save money.
The possibility of saving money is always there, but there are other considerations. Limiting park hours for guests means more time available for the increased cleaning and sanitation they will have to do daily. Limiting menu options means more efficient interactions – less options available = less time to make decisions = less time in the restaurant. It might seem insignificant on a per-person level, but multiplied by the thousands of daily interactions, I’m sure it would add up. Less menu options would also mean a more efficient kitchen, as they would reduce and streamline their tasks. This is all guesswork on my part, but gives a possible perspective as to why the new restrictions are helpful, and not just opportunistic.
I did not say it was only because of outside people. I first of all said that we were not given the proper protection where I worked. That plus outside forces led to many of the medical workers getting the virus. At one point I only had 2 ER nurses working. They were on the front line and first line of defense. Proper masks would have prevented the majority of these cases and some of our deaths. Sorry but I feel strongly about this subject.
I’ve deleted all of the back and forth arguing about influenza statistics that is not germane to this post and was clogging up the comments section.
The CDC releases these statistics, which speak for themselves: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html
(Dr. K, I’ve really appreciated your calm, clarifying commentary–but in an effort to nip further arguing in the bud, I’ve also deleted that.)
Thank you Tom
Wholeheartedly agree that Disney should honor pricing for guests who have had their reservations canceled. Called about cancellation policies as we wanted to ride it out to see how things might evolve for our 8/30 trip and the poor CM had no real concrete information except that a different group handled that and they were currently waiving the 30 day cancellation window. She also had no information about whether modifying my reservation if my resort did not reopen (PO – French Quarter) was on my dime or Disney’s. Happy to see that I would not be charged more to be moved to a different resort or equal or higher value. I understand this is uncharted territory but 35% does not compensate for loss of free dining, canceling my adr’s, reduced park hours, no fireworks, park reservations (what good is a park hopper then), etc. It is a greatly reduced experience for good reason but 35% doesn’t cover the reduced experience.
Um. I got charged more, for the same dates because the resort was not opening. They said the only people not getting charged the difference between original rate and the new resort rack rate (often deluxe was only option) were those staying entirely before the parks opened 7/11 and those people did not get a choice in where they were put (Value moved to Ft Wilderness cabin at that point). The 35% off rack rate is only for people who had their free dining taken away and even for those people it does not apply for those with res before park opened who were moved from closed resort to open.
@Hallie: I am sorry that you were charged more. That was not the case for everyone though and we did get 35% off for losing FD with reservations prior to opening being moved from closed to open. My reservations were/are 7/5 – 7/10 but they did work with me to change resorts (studio BWI to 1bdrm BWV to 1bdrm OKW) because, despite being an “upgrade” to 1 bedroom, what they offered at BWV couldn’t accommodate my family. It took some explaining (and 107 minutes on the phone with two different CMs) but both their original offer and the revised offer (based on our needs) were less than the original for three reasons. One, we were originally at Boardwalk so we weren’t jumping up a tier to Deluxe. Two, we originally had free dining so they gave us the 35% discount which with a Deluxe price tag isn’t full compensation but is closer at about half the value. Three, the switch to Old Key West was actually slightly cheaper for a 1 bedroom that accommodates more people also helping on the loss of FD. It’s our home resort so I was very familiar and patiently asked for what I needed. I am unsure if maybe they honored “studio” pricing for my 1 bedroom and gave me a 35% discount but nevertheless I am paying less for the 1 bedroom than a 35% would’ve been on my original studio for a way nicer accommodation. We felt it was worth it and are hoping for soft openings but everyone’s situation is different. Hope this helps people decide.
I’m glad they took care of you, Lori. I think this is where it gets really frustrating for people. They are already being charged double for the same vacation on the same dates and then to hear they treated some people better than others makes that multi-thousand-dollar upcharge even harder to stomach. Maybe misery loves company so getting ripped off along with everyone else is somehow slightly less demoralizing than when you find out others in very same scenario got a much better deal? I sincerely don’t begrudge your luck, but really wish they were treating guests the same (and also that they had clear enough protocols so that it wouldn’t take guests hours on the phone getting shuffled department to department to find out what is happening. It just seems like the hallmark Disney service that people pay a premium for has left the building. Hopefully it comes back some day when things settle down, but buyer confidence here is seriously damaged.
(I don’t believe as one other poster suggested that it is entitlement, I think the peace of mind that you always believed that Disney had your back and would make things right– is a big part of why their charging several times what local hospitality rates would dictate is a fair trade off for many guests.)
I also have an August 30th reservation for French Quarter and also was on free dining. I am waiting until the last minute to cancel to see what Disney does. When I called the only thing the CM could tell me was he could cancel my reservation. I am seriously considering a trip to Universal as they seem to have more answers and it would be less ground to cover while wearing a mask in the heat. It’s also less expensive. A base ticket for 2 parks for 4 days is only $250 (no park hopping and I don’t care for water parks anyway). Still a huge Disney fan but I just don’t think it will be Disney this year.
Has Tippy Blue been kicked out of the Duffy gang?
I’ve been reading articles about how Unviversal and Sea World have been doing since they reopened. They basically have the same rules as Disney.
Sea World completely botched it and didn’t enforce masks. Universal was doing good but I think it happened today that they ignored social distancing in ques. Not to mention they really haven’t been that busy so it’s hard to judge.
I’m really wondering how their opening will affect Disney World. I also thought that was one of the reasons they opened so much later. So they would know what worked and what didn’t.
As of now we are still planning on going in September. We have our fingers crossed that they might have loosened their new rules by then.
Thanks Tom for all your information. We did end up cancelling our Aug vac. We are in our 60’s. We felt that paying full price, no discounts, and not being to enjoy shows, parades and fireworks, that it just wasn’t worth it. also no hopper. We like to eat at Epcot a few days. Also was worried that we would make air reservations, get down there and not be able to get a reservation. We weighed all info you have given us, and made our decision. Maybe next year!! Thanks again!
Where is the information coming from that says AKL-Jambo House will be closed and people moved to another resort? I’m a DVC owner with a reservation in July after the parks have reopened at Jambo House. There hasn’t been anything on the DVC site or in emails stating the hotel is closed. There IS a notice that says that it is not one of the DVC properties opening on June 22, but it is included when the other resorts begin opening in July. Also Mara- which is at Jambo House – is listed as a counter service restaurant that will be open. So are you saying that the hotel won’t be open, but you can walk through it, take the elevator or stairs down from the lobby and get food there, but the rest won’t be open? That would make no sense. So, if you are speculating based on other blogs who also don’t know, or are misreading the announcement of Jambo House not opening in June and surmising that meant DVC is taking random reservations and going to move all those people somewhere… then please don’t put it out there as gospel truth. Too many people read these and panic. If you have a statement from Disney saying Jambo House isn’t opening, then please provide the source.
Did Cast Members who work at Jambo House tell you? Again where is the info coming from saying it is not reopening?
If our resort is not opening, will someone contact us or do I need to call them?
If you have a reservation with a checkout on or before 7/11, call them.
Okay. I am weighing in on this mask controversy. I am a nurse from NJ who is a COVID survivor. For those who say they want to get it and get it over with. Be careful what you wish for. It is a horrible disease that kept me in bed for almost 6 weeks. I have a trip planned for October 10-17. Now am I to quarantine for 14 days after what I have already gone through. The only reason I got it was because there weren’t enough masks to go around and people were refusing to wear them on the outside of the hospital. Wear a mask and protect yourself and those around you. You may not be lucky enough to survive.
Lynda- first of all, thank you for being “on the front lines”! But to say “the only reason“ you got it was because people on the outside didn’t wear masks is scientifically impossible to prove. You work in a hospital, for crying out loud! Given THAT, If you are a adamant supporter of masks being required, then you should understand the importance of the 14-day quarantine.
Susan, the numbers are trending upward slightly because the number of people tested per day has gone WAY up. The more important indicator is the PERCENTAGE of people testing positive.
At our peak in FL, about 10% of those tested were positive. Now only about 3.5% of the people tested are positive. And our daily DEATH rate (as of today, 6/13/2020) continues to DECLINE.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429
It is a very positive indicator that the percentage of new cases– relative to the number of people tested each day– has gone DOWN. You must put the number into their proper context.
Agree. The number of cases are going up simply because the number of actual testing is going up. Meanwhile, the death rate is declining. Media doesn’t do such a good job of reporting that, as they want everyone to remain in a panic. Still have plans for September, waiting to see how things play out. Still hoping they are going to offer some kind of discount if things continue to stay closed, shows, fireworks, meet and greets, etc.
Contrary to the many who feel otherwise, if Disney opens and truly enforces masks and isn’t crowded, we are considering a visit and I did not think we’d want to touch Disney for at least a year. The science is pretty clear if everyone wears masks (PROPERLY, at least covering nose and mouth-a shockingly hard concept for Americans apparently), transmission drops by 90%. That puts it in a pretty acceptable range to me, combined with being not at super high risk. Wearing a mask in Florida heat is similar to being able to walk a Disney day of 25,000+ steps in that heat or any other extreme event-condition yourself. Wear double masks at home in some heat, work out, build your tolerance slowly to wear you feel you can tackle it. If I can survive Iraq in full gear (including goggles and gaiters around our faces to keep our the sand in sand storms) in 120 degrees, I can do a cotton mask in a tank top at Disney in July.
Thank you for your service Disney sounds like it may be doable in the fall, it we don’t have hurricanes.
We planned a trip for October 3-10 2020 long before the pandemic. We’re hopeful Some restrictions will gradually ease up as this trip is for. 60th BD celebration. The thing that bothers me most is, unless someone has heard otherwise, that there has not been any reduced/discounts on anything. We have club level rooms at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and I have since found out there will not be any of the complimentary food or beverages offered. Clearly the higher cost of the room covers that. I called and asked about a discount and was told there was no information regarding that. I wish WDW would be flexible in that regard.
My household is big fans of Duffy and Friends (D&F). We enjoy this recent video plus other D&F videos released by Tokyo DL and Hong Kong DL. Its a sight for sore eyes in these rough times. We are disappointed the domestic parks phased out D&F character greets, merchandise, and the bedtime movie over the last few years. We have resorted to buying D&F merchandise on Ebay and paying a premium. I hope D&F are brought back to WDW and DL.
I strongly dislike the new castle color! As the mom of two boys this is a big deal. Now one of Disney’s most notable icons is girly; therefore, Disney is girly. I can see the opening production credits of Disney movies now- with a PINK castle. Sure hope they change it back.
I don’t think it will look pink once it’s completed. To me, it adds to the illusion that it’s a castle in the distance, as the pink makes it look shadowy and farther away.
There are many buildings at Disney parks that have a pink hue, and I don’t think it makes them girly or only for girls. For example, do you sons refuse to ride the Tower of Terror because it’s pink and girly?
I agree with Becky S. I’m not sure I love the new castle look but yes, Tower of Terror for instance is pink and I have never thought of that as a girly ride. Surely your sons will enjoy Disney enough to not care what color Cinderella-a girl’s castle!!–is. I have a son and two daughters and such thoughts never occur to me! Did the blue and white look make the castle boyish??
Long time DVC owner. My $0.02.
Everyone – yes everyone – will eventually be exposed to COVID-19… A certain percentage will get varying degrees of sick – a certain percentage will die. The vast majority will build some form of immunity, but nobody can avoid it forever. Sad for families who lose loved ones, but it’s part of life. We flattened the curve to keep our medical system from catastrophic failure, not to save lives. We’ve ramped up readiness. Now, IMHO, we should get on with it. If you want to slow the spread in your circles, be my guest and wear a mask. I want to get exposed and get on with it. I’m over 60, as is my wife. My 83 year old mother lives in the Orlando area with COPD. If she gets it, she’s probably not going to survive. But it’s up to her to decide for herself to stay home or wear a mask. The only problem I see is that I might get infected, show no symptoms, and give it to her or someone else’s mom. So as I see it, the only really valid reason to wear a mask – for me – is to avoid infecting others, not to avoid me getting infected. Disney can and will do what they want, but I’m just a bit frustrated by the lack of choices and the resonsibility of those free choices. I should be allowed to skip the masks (as I have been doing throughout this little fiasco) and take my chances. I expect others to make decisions for themselves. And I wish Disney would just post clearly what everyone already knows: “Your presence at the theme park will expose you to COVID-19 and the risk associated with infection. That risk is yours to take or reject. The responsibility and consequences belong exclusively to you should you choose to attend the park and ammenities therein.” Yes, business as usual. Anything else is just delaying the eventual outcome anyway. Nobody is going to avoid the virus… or the next one.
I really wish I had been the one to originally say what you’ve said! Perfectly said and true! Some people don’t live in fear just like I think most people don’t fear getting the flu. The truth is that many more survive than those that don’t. If someone is that afraid then they shouldn’t be out in the world of Disney anyway. I’m in Florida on vacation at the beach right now and it’s so over the top here it’s ridiculous !
Cast Members must go to work. If you’re asymptomatic and don’t want to wear a mask when you visit the parks, why should they suffer for your choice? Part of living in a society is shared responsibility. We all have a responsibility to help keep our neighbors safe.
To me, it sounds like you’re assuming two things:
* We did social distancing to the flatten the curve and make sure the system didn’t/doesn’t get overwhelmed.
* The system didn’t get overwhelmed, so we are finished with social distancing. We are all going to get sick anyway.
I want to add a few more ideas to your list. The system can still get overwhelmed if social distancing stopped. Depending on where you live, right now, probably only about 5% of people in your community have had the disease. In places like New York City, it’s closer to 20%. However, the majority of people still haven’t had it. This is why a second wave may be much worse. Who knows when it could happen? When things reopen? When the seasons change? When kids go back to school?
Another thing to remember: In another year, we may have a vaccine for the disease. In a few months, we may have new and more effective treatments for the disease. So, we may save many lives if we continue to practice social distancing until more treatments are available and/or there is a vaccine available.
No, you should not be allowed to skip wearing a mask and “take your chances.” As you yourself point out just before that self-absorbed pronouncement, wearing a mask is to protect OTHERS, not yourself. You have no “right” to expose others to a potentially deadly disease so that you can bravely infect yourself and feel great that you’re “free.” This is the worst pandemic in a century. More than 114,000 are now dead, and after states prematurely “reopened” under political pressure and disgusting lack of leadership, cases are again skyrocketing. Some states are on the verge of exceeding their ICU capacity. Why would you risk causing someone else (and someone else’s family and friends) terrible suffering and financial hardship when wearing a mask is an incredibly easy and cheap way to protect others? I continue to be astounded by Americans who are so wrapped up in their own wants that they will do little or nothing to protect their fellow citizens.
Well said and I agree!
I completely agree and well said @brighter @Becky S and @Mike. Thank you!
I totally agree with brighter. Cast Members have to work to survive. If as a group they will feel willing to go back to work if everyone wears masks. well that’s how it is. Disney World can’t operate without Cast Members. Gong to Disney World is a choice. Making a living is not.
Feel free to get sick yourself but then stay home until you get better or worse. What you’re purposing is risking other’s lives.
You could just suck it up, stop complaining about an inconvenience, wear the mask and cut everyone’s chances by 90% (And in turn chance of death by 90%) like others have pointed out and wait for the inevitable vaccine.
This is the most important part of your post: the only really valid reason to wear a mask — for me — is to avoid infecting others, not to avoid me getting infected.
Once your choice affects the safety of of others, it’s reasonable for WDW to regulate it.
100% YES. This. Everyone is trying to delay the inevitable, more illnesses and viruses are going to arise. It’s insane to act like we should all wrap our selves in bubble wrap and quit living. To each his own. Let people decide for themselves. Signs have never been posted for the flu or any other virus at Disney, and Disney has not felt the need to overstep and tell us how to behave to protect ourselves.
Agree! So tired of self-righteous attitudes of people who think rules are made to be broken when it comes to themselves or their positions, but make a big deal of those not wanting to wear masks. Cast members, like everyone else, have a choice on whether or not to return to work at WDW. I would imagine many will end up elsewhere for a season, as lower capacity would sadly mean a need for fewer employees. Masks are controversial at best, and no guarantee of protection, and really not necessary outside. I have seen very few people, in ANY state I have traveled this Spring, wearing masks outside. So does Covid only live outside at WDW? It’s silly. Live and let live and stop criticizing people who don’t agree with you. WDW has the rule, and that’s the best you are getting. There will be people who will not comply as well as you want them to, and you will need to deal with that, as you do anywhere else.
I will continue to wear a mask and gloves while doing chores in my Florida county with a high rate of Coronavirus. Since I have managed to avoid getting sick, as has my boyfriend, we’ll continue to practice social distancing and everything else required to stay healthy. Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten sick if I didn’t wear a mask or gloves. No one will ever know but I prefer to continue to wear PPE.
Right!
Wearing a mask correctly is a safe option for all. People don’t seem to have a problem with: No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. Just add a mask to that. If you choose not to wear a mask: STAY HOME!
So I am a DVC member and was able to book at Jambo House October 5-9th. Do you think that will be moved to another resort or is it to early to know what is happening in October? Thanks
Too early to know what’s happening in October.
My only question is when will the clock start ticking on APs. If it is June 11th, I will be a very unhappy canoe. Unless you are a Florida resident, this date is not practical. Even after that, it is touchy for me since I will not be going as long as masks are required!
I’m not planning a trip to Disney World soon because wearing masks in the summer here (I live one hour away from the parks and we are annual passholders), especially while wearing glasses, is very hot. That said, I believe in wearing a mask while out and will continue to do so. I think it’s going to be a really long time before WDW goes maskless and they stop practicing social distancing, along with all the other safety rules we need to abide by now. Our numbers of cases of Coronavirus are increasing in Florida (as I predicted as soon as Phase 1 was announced) and I don’t want to get sick. I miss Disney World lots, look at mydisneyexperience.com once a week or so and think about where to stay and where to eat next trip, and I read blogs like my favorite : ).
Our family just renewed our annual passes last week. The AP clock will not start ticking until the first day the passes are used, between now and December 31, 2030.