No Vaccine Passports at Disney World or in Florida
We’re back with another roundup of Walt Disney World news & rumors. This one covers a job listing for a fireworks designer, Cast Members’ incentive for getting inoculated, and why vaccine passports will not be used anywhere in Florida. (Updated April 3, 2021 with official vaccine passport ban details.)
Let’s start with fairly significant developments around topics we’ve been discussing the last few months. Florida passed a bill shielding companies that make good faith efforts to public health guidance from pandemic-related lawsuits, while also raising the standard of proof.
During the signing of that bill, Governor DeSantis stated he would issue an executive order banning vaccination passports or other other methods of proving individuals have been vaccinated, citing privacy concerns. He further called for the Florida Legislature to pass a bill making the ban permanent.
April 3, 2021 Update: Governor DeSantis has issued the promised executive order, effectively banning vaccine passports in Florida. Among other things, the EO states that it’s based upon Florida’s desire to protect individual freedom and patient privacy.
The executive order further indicates that requiring vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life–such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater–would create two classes of citizens based on vaccination; and it is necessary to protect the fundamental rights and privacies of Floridians and the free flow of commerce within the state.
As for the mechanics of how the state accomplish the vaccine passport ban, the order states:
“No Florida government entity, or its subdivisions, agents, or assigns, shall be permitted to issue vaccine passports, vaccine passes, or other standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status to a third party, or otherwise publish or share any individual’s COVID-19 vaccination record or similar health information.”
Additionally: “Businesses in Florida are prohibited from requiring patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business.”
There had been some question about how Florida could enforce such an order at private businesses. That’s also addressed in the order, as businesses that are non-compliant with the order would not be eligible for state grants or state-funded contracts.
The new executive order seems to slam the door on vaccine passports in Florida. However, it also raises a number of questions, including how cruise lines or airlines would be able to operate out of Florida if those industries or international destinations require proof of vaccination.
That could raise potential issues for travel out of Florida. For example, it may be required of the cruise industry to verify vaccination status. As a company doing business in the state, that would put Disney Cruise Line in a precarious position. It would be something of a Catch-22: they potentially could not operate without requiring vaccinations, but could not check for them under this EO.
It would be a similar scenario for airlines operating out of Florida’s international airports. Numerous countries have set in motion plans for vaccine passports that will be required, and it’s probable the same will be true for international arrivals into the US. The European Union, for example, has announced a “Digital Green Certificate” that will be required for travel.
There’s also the possibility that businesses in Florida already implementing vaccine passport plans will challenge the executive order. All of this will need to be sorted out. It’s possible that subsequent EOs will issue carve-outs that sidestep some potential problems. Suffice to say, we probably haven’t heard the last on vaccine passports in Florida. So stay tuned!
Obviously, this has significant potential impacts for Walt Disney World. We’ve been discussing health rule relaxations for months here, and one counterpoint to that is always the potential for lawsuits. The newly-enacted law should sufficiently address that. (Unless we’re now going to quibble over what’s necessary for good faith efforts.)
Late last year, we covered digital health/vaccine passports being developed by IATA, CLEAR, and IBM that would allow users to share test and vaccination results in a verifiable and privacy-protecting manner. At the time, we speculated that Walt Disney World could be a potential candidate for using such a system. In multiple subsequent posts, we’ve called that unlikely.
In large part, our quick about-face was driven by reader comments. We anticipated a mixed reaction to the first discussion of vaccine passports, with a split of people for and against them. The actual response was overwhelmingly negative–probably 75% or more readers were against them.
One of the things we love about the comments section here is it gets us out of our own “bubble.” We may not always agree, but it’s invaluable to see other perspectives. In this case, I had been reading about vaccine passports extensively before posting that, and the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic–just scattered privacy fears. However, that was in the context of international travel, where people (probably realistically) have the perspective that it’s this or nothing for 2021.
Walt Disney World and other domestic destinations are obviously different beasts entirely, and that was reflected in sentiment here. That’s not just here–we saw a lot of public pushback against digital passports and there’s a reason they haven’t gained much mainstream traction in the last several months.
Beyond that, the stellar vaccination rate in the United States pretty much obviates any need for a vaccine passport at Walt Disney World. By the time such a system could even theoretically roll out, it would be practically unnecessary thanks to widespread vaccine availability.
The topic of vaccine passports is now seemingly becoming grounds for the next culture war, so I’ll sidestep all of the impassioned arguing (and ask that commenters please do the same) and simply say that Walt Disney World is probably relieved by Florida’s move.
The executive order takes something controversial–that they probably would not have done at this point anyway–out of Walt Disney World’s hands. If visitors disagree with the approach, someone else is the villain.
The fact that Disney Cruise Line will not be requiring vaccinations before their upcoming United Kingdom “Disney Magic at Sea” summer staycation sailings lends credence to the position that Walt Disney World wouldn’t have used vaccine passports. Cruises are dramatically different in nature than theme parks (obviously), and are a better candidate for such a system–or requiring vaccines, in general.
Several cruise lines, most notably Royal Caribbean, are requiring proof of vaccinations for adults and pre-cruise testing for kids on their summer sailings. Disney is actually something of an outlier on that front, and my best guess there is that they don’t want to alienate a segment of their core demographic. Given how well the UK’s vaccine efforts are going and the limited nature of these sailings, it’s not like they’d struggle to fill the ships with such a requirement.
Part of me does wonder if, as with Florida’s move to ban vaccine passports, Disney Cruise Line would welcome this decision being taken out of their hands. The federal government has also stated that it will not develop or play a role in vaccine passports, so that eliminates an offering from the CDC. However, it’s possible CLIA could require something of its members. It’s also possible Disney Cruise Line will go a different route once longer sailings resume; it’s not really possible to have an outbreak aboard a 2-4 night sailing given average incubation periods.
I know by now that this is an unpopular opinion, but that’s my hope with cruises. I’m not the least bit concerned about my personal safety–once fully vaccinated, I will be ready to rock–but rather, the possibility of a cruise ending prematurely (CDC policy under the resumption framework) if something happens. Moreover, I’m not keen on wearing masks or dealing with a bunch of plexiglass on cruise ships this fall when vaccine verification and pre-cruise testing of kids is right there as a more effective and less burdensome alternative. That’s just me, though. We can agree to disagree on that.
On a somewhat related note, Walt Disney World is offering Cast Members an incentive to get inoculated by September 30, 2021. According to the above notice from the Unite Here 362 Walt Disney World Union’s Facebook page, Cast Members will get four hours of pay to get vaccinated.
Additionally, leaders will work with Cast Members on vaccination appointment scheduling, and will not record an attendance notation for Cast Members who miss time at work so long as they provide advance notice of the appointment. This is great news, and hopefully will help facilitate that return to normalcy we’ve been yammering on about so much! 😉
Let’s conclude with a more fun and lighthearted note: my dream job is open at Walt Disney World! Disney Live Entertainment has posted a job listing for Principal Fireworks Designer. This is the creative leader and overall representative for the Fireworks & Special Effects Design department.
Per the job listing, the demands of this role require an in-depth understanding of the “design intent and the ability for realizing it through the effective execution of the creative process.” Disney Live Entertainment’s Fireworks & Special Effects Principal Designer directs all special effects design including pyrotechnics, helping to prioritize, organize, and problem solve during entire course of a project.
Sadly, due to an “unfortunate incident” with fireworks in college, certain undisclosed parties are not allowing me to throw my hat in the ring for this role. (C’mon, it’s been over a decade, the statute of limitations has run on my offense!) There’s also the problem that all of my pyro experience is on the amateur circuit, and mostly relates to roman candles. That, and the reality that Disney Live Entertainment will likely hire from within, and this job listing is more a corporate formality than anything else. Still, dare to dream, amirite?!
What’s interesting here is that the first job responsibility listed is “participate in project’s creative development including blue sky brainstorming, project kick-offs, internal reviews and other project specific check-ins.” This does not relate to Harmonious, which is far beyond the blue sky stage–even though installation is still in progress, development is fully finished on EPCOT’s upcoming nighttime spectacular.
Prior to Walt Disney World’s closure, there were rumors of Magic Kingdom receiving a new fireworks show for the 50th Anniversary. I never put a ton of stock into that, as Happily Ever After is still incredibly popular and scores really well with guests. However, between the “Project Nugget” work and this job listing, perhaps that’s a possibility?
Personally, I’d love to see that. Disneyland’s approach to cycling through fireworks shows the last ~5 years has been really savvy, with fan favorites making occasional comebacks–and enhanced by projection mapping technology. That keeps things fresh and gives locals a reason to keep returning.
Walt Disney World is obviously more tourist-centric, but that’s less true today than it was during Wishes’ run. It would be a nice treat for the World’s Most Magical Celebration to have a special limited-run show paying homage to Magic Kingdom’s 50th Anniversary along the lines of “Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland.”
Importing a show from Japan might seem like idle daydreaming, especially when there are no fireworks, period, at Walt Disney World. However, something to keep in mind is that Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration will last (at least) 18 months. A new show debuting in March 2022 could still run for over a year.
Beyond that, a lot of Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland could be recycled since it was designed for Cinderella Castle and the parks share many of the same attractions. Roughly 90% of the show could be reused, with the rest only lightly modified. My only request/demand is that the Country Bears riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad segment is longer in the Magic Kingdom version. Fifteen minutes sounds about right.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on any of this Walt Disney World news? Is it a good or bad idea of Walt Disney World to incentivize inoculations for Cast Members? Do you think it’s still possible Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line will use a vaccine passport, or is that idea pretty much dead at this point? Any theories about the fireworks designer job listing or 50th Anniversary fireworks at Magic Kingdom? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? 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!
I believe if you are vaccinated you should not have to wear a mask and you can prove you are vaccinated Disney can issue a pin or put it on your magic band its that simple
The article literally states that is illegal, but ok.
We have been supporting Disney since they reopened on a weekly basis and they don’t require anything and they shouldn’t. Our money has been good enough this past year and I think it will continue to be. There have been no outbreaks at Disney and I am pretty sure DeSantis will not allow them to do this.
The people that are dead set against showing proof of vaccination are the same ones saying they will not get the shot. Personally? I’ve been vaccinated and I have proof to that effect and I’m willing to show that proof. As for the rest? Maybe it would behoove Disney to make a policy of providing a pin showing vaccination and thus a no mask requirement and a mask requirement for those that don’t have or refuse to show proof. At least then it would be on the guest
The article literally says this isn’t legal. Lol.
Vaccine rates are not stellar in the US as we might believe. The overall rate has hovered around 14-16% total vaccinated for 2 weeks now and our projected herd immunity gets pushed back further and further.
Private businesses and even schools can make vaccinations required once they are no longer under an emergency use directive. Are vax passports the answer? Maybe if we get to June and half the county still doesn’t want to take a vaccine. The vaccine makes it harder for you to transmit it and get severe symptoms, but it’s not going to guarantee us to be over this if no one takes it and there are no incentives begging people to make the smart choice. If we have so many bodies incubating new variants we are going to be back to 2020 before we know it.
This.
100% agree
Yep.
It will be a very long time before these vaccines are FDA fully approved. Pfizer says COVID vaccine protection lasts at least 6 months; Company can now seek full FDA approval. This just came out today. https://6abc.com/pfizer-covid-vaccine-clinical-trial-fda-approval-coronavirus-vaccines/10466931/ It will now begin to go through the approval process and from reading this i am wondering will these be required every 6 months?
Hi Ben – curious which tracking you use for the vaccination rate? I have been closely following Bloomberg and seeing a steady daily increase, and current coverage of 23.6% nationally. It varies by state, but all states higher than what you are seeing. I would be interested to compare. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/
That’s a BINGO!
Hi Tom, that dream job you are talking about, why not throw your hat in the ring? Don’t let your college day incidents stop you from getting the dream job. Granted, the chances of landing any such job is perhaps low, but let’s buy the lottery ticket and see what happens. One should always apply to a dream job at least, I’d say.
If the vaccine is able to prevent people who take it from getting sick, as some people are stating, then what is there to fear? With the mask, I can understand. Masks try to prevent infected people from spreading the disease, so the demand for everyone to wear them was at least warranted. The vaccine does not work that way. It greatly alleviates symptoms if not completely prevents covid-19 in people who take the shot.
What harm then, is there when someone decides not to get vaccinated. If they aren’t vaccinated, that’s their risk to take, and only pose a risk to like minded individuals who care not for the vaccines.
At this time, the vaccines are limited in quantity, and not everyone who wants one is going to get one. Precisely why no one should try to strong-arm people into getting it, even if they don’t want one. Quantities are limited, and it’s better if the people who want a vaccine get them sooner.
I for one am adamantly against forced vaccinations, so it’s encouraging to see that the idea of vaccination passports received such overwhelming opposition, that it faded into obscurity, and that a national vaccination passport will not happen. It’s also encouraging to know Florida has banned the requirement of vaccination passports within its state. At least there’s one state I can fall back on if all others do the passport thing.
The bigger the government, the more the corruption. The same goes for corporations, churches, charities, etc. but they do not have the power of a gun at your head like government does. Do you know who has created the greatest evils of history? Big secular governments. Why would anybody trust the government? It’s amazing how many Americans have not only allowed the government to take away their rights for the cause of “safety”, but have turned people into Maoists shaming and snitching on their neighbors if they can catch someone doing something they deem as “unsafe.” Here in CA you would have your water & power turned off if you tried to keep your business open during the year long shutdown. We have had the strictest COVID policies in the entire country for a year, but wide open Florida is doing almost the same as us (you could argue they have better COVID numbers based on demographics). You are not even allowed to ask a mere question about the safety of the COVID vaccine or you are an “anti-science conspiracy theorist!” I say this as someone who has always supported masks & distancing (I wore them even when the CDC said they didn’t work) & I even plan to vaccinate. But it’s disgusting to see how the media turned everything about this pandemic into a political game, instead of seeking facts and data for the public to learn in context. What is more disheartening is how many people are manipulated by these political activists masquerading as “journalists”, and saying the most vile hateful things about people they disagree with politically. I watched the cancel culture mob descend upon Jason Aldean’s family when they posted a pic at Disney World with their masks off (they had worn them all day like everyone else). There was nobody around them! The same group of people I saw attacking him have not been perfect with mask wearing at Disney World themselves. I’ve seen people get shamed when they forget to pull their mask back up after dining. It’s terrifying what the corporate media has turned our neighbors into. The problem is too many people seek their news on COVID through the prism of whether it hurts or helps their political party. This is why I do not trust government or the American people advocating for vaccine passports. No way on earth I would give them that power after what I witnessed in 2020.
Anna, Bravo!!
I wholeheartedly agree with Anna!
This 100%
Wow
I can not v believe yoy actually support violating hippa rights and tryingvyi force Voegele to take a deadly c vaccine for a virus thstvus nit deadly.Whatvpartvofc99.8% survival rate do you not get? Whst part of covidvis less thanbthe sniffles do you not get.What part of civid measures are stupid do you not get?
lol wut
First of congrats on the truly amazing gibberish. However, as an attorney, I am wondering which variety of covered entity Walt Disney Company is to most of the people on this site? I am sure there are more than a few people who Walt Disney is their employer, so they would be a covered entity under the employer definition. Walt Disney is definitely not my health care provider and I doubt they are anyone else’s on here, so that is out. Is your health insured by Walt Disney Company or covered by their insurance as an non-employee insured person? Because despite what your lunatic friends have told you, employers, health care providers and insurers are the only groups covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Walt Disney Company can ask you anything they want about your health (or literally anything else except your race, religion, age, gender or marital status) to determine if they want to allow you on their property.
BTW, you can tell how bad someone’s grasp of the law is by the way they spell HIPAA.
So glad that DeSantis decided to go that route with the vaccination passports! Hopefully WDW will feel “safe” and move forward with more normalcy
Can’t happen unless Disney stays at 35% capacity, mask wearing and distancing.
It will be a DISNEY DISASTER Waiting to happen.
Lol well it’s inevitable those things will all change. Capacity will go up. Distancing will decrease. Masking will go away. It’s a guarantee.
“Additionally, leaders will work with Cast Members on vaccination appointment scheduling, and will not record an attendance notation for Cast Members who miss time at work so long as they provide advance notice of the appointment.”
Is that effectively paid time off? If so, that’s even better news for Cast Members than just the cash incentive.
I took that to mean Cast Members would be paid for 4 hours regardless, and if they somehow miss more time than that, they won’t be penalized for it.
On the UK cruises – as a London resident, I was very interested, until I realised that the cruises will have very detailed Covid health and safety precautions, including extensive use of masks and social distancing. This is when the vast majority of their cruises will be after the 21st June date whereby the UK government is set to end all Covid-related restrictions.
I always wear a mask where required and have supported their use up until the point where the most vulnerable (and then some) are vaccinated – in line with our government’s approach for the most part, including with their roadmap out of restrictions. But I’ve just got no interest in a cruise where I have to wear a mask every time I step out of my room – especially when, legally, I could go to a sweaty nightclub pressed up against hundreds of other people for hours on end with no issues whatsoever.
It suggests a very, very conservative health and safety outlook from Disney, which surprised me given your predictions (which I agree with) for WDW. I know it’s a different country, but it’s the same company, and they would have had full legal cover to remove all restrictions from 21st June, but instead they’ve chosen to keep restrictions that are even stricter than some of the ones in place right now. It makes me think that they may keep masks at WDW well beyond when people previously expected – which would also disappoint me as we have two weeks booked for the start of December!
Totally agree with all of this.
It shocks me that Disney chose all of those restrictions and protocol over requiring vaccinations and pre-cruise testing for kids. It’s more burdensome for guests and for them. It’s also not as effective of a mitigation measure!
I’m still hoping things will change this fall, both with cruises and the parks, but I’d definitely pick Royal Caribbean over DCL at this point–and it’s not even a close call.
As a UK resident I looked at these cruises too. As soon as I read that all passengers had to have a negative test before boarding but also wear masks outside of their cabin, and remain socially distanced, I decided against it. I have no interest in participating in the charade of pretending all humans are dangerous and contagious.
So Thinking the vaccine stops people from getting covid is crazy. First of all it is being said that you may still get it but not bad enough to be hospitalized. There is not enough time to know how long that the vaccine lasts for. Does it give you immunity or is is like the flu vaccine and you have to get it every year. The answer is is nobody knows. So giving people a pass because they have been vaccinated is not a for sure thing. They may be a carrier and not show symptoms.
That is very true and they have already stated booster shots may be needed. I think the bottom line is at this point they do not have many answers and won’t have them until more time passes and more studies are able to be done. In my opinion a vaccine passport is ridiculous as it proves only that you have had the vaccine and gives the government access to your personal information. What will they mandate next? One for the flu? There are reports today of people getting covid after 2 doses of the vaccine. People do your research. Only time will tell what will happen with the vaccine and its efficacy.