According to new data from the Florida Health COVID-19 projection model, Florida has since passed the peak of COVID-19 daily deaths, meaning that after June 1, relaxing social distancing may be possible with containment strategies that include testing, contact tracing, isolation, and limiting gathering sizes.
The White House issued new federal guidelines for the “Opening Up America Again” effort, listing the three phases each state will eventually go though before clearing Phase 3, which would be considered life after a COVID-19 vaccine or at the very least a full drop-off in cases.
Do note that Walt Disney World remains closed “until further notice” and that the June 2 date is not necessarily indicative of a potential reopening date.
Despite Walt Disney World remaining open right up until mid-March, very few COVID-19 cases remotely relating back to the parks have been reported, and all with spurious variables, like trips to other theme parks and traveling through congested airports. Now, a 16-year-old guest who visited Walt Disney World during spring break claims that she was threatened with jail by a local sheriff if she didn’t remove social media posts saying she had COVID-19.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Wisconsin Institute for Liberty and Law filed a lawsuit against Marquette County Sheriff Joseph Konrath and a patrol sergeant, alleging that the sergeant went to the home of 16-year-old Amyiah Cohoon in Oxford, Wisconsin last month and demanded that she had to delete Instagram posts stating she had COVID-19, or otherwise she and her parents would face arrest.
Cohoon had suffered from severe respiratory symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 during her spring break trip to the theme parks. While she tested negative, her attorney claims that doctors believe she might have missed the window for testing positive. She went on to post on Instagram that she had COVID-19 on March 26, with a second post showing her hooked up to an oxygen mask in a hospital. Her parents contacted the school to alert other parents whose children had been on the spring break trip with her. The school then informed the county sheriff, who sent a deputy to her home.
The sheriff’s attorney claims that no one was actually threatened, and that her Instagram posts were causing unnecessary distress and panic throughout the school system.
The nation is slowly recovering, thankfully, in the near-wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as statistics begin to taper off and government officials look to reopen the nation’s businesses, including Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.
Today, President Trump unveiled new guidelines to help states reopen their businesses in phases through the easing of social distancing restrictions. The guidelines still put a heavy emphasis on continuing stringent hygiene practices like hand washing and using face masks in public. Employers should still enact social distancing, temperature checks, testing and sanitation practices in their workplaces. Large venues, including some restaurants, can operate under strict social distancing protocols. Bars, however, must remain shuttered for now.
The guidelines target May 1 as the day to begin the process of reopening the country. Ultimately, these guidelines aren’t mandatory and decisions on when and how to open will fall upon each individual state.
Across Walt Disney World, essential workers are already using face masks while carrying out necessary maintenance throughout the parks. It’s unknown whether guests will be encouraged to wear them as well upon reopening. With regards to temperature checks, Bob Iger recently commented in an interview with Barron’s that temperature checks were just one example of methods they might implement to help guests feel safer and more at ease. As far as social distancing goes, Walt Disney World may well be considered a “large venue” (or rather, a collection of large venues), and while certain areas of the parks may be allowed to open, other areas, such as bars or amphitheaters (such as the viewing location of Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios) may not reopen for some time.
The reopening plan is set up in three phases, with May 1 being the first date states can choose to move forward with Phase 1. This would require two weeks of a sustained drop in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Under Phase One, it seems unlikely that Walt Disney World would open unless it chooses to do so in phases, with a select limited number of parks, restaurants, and attractions open in order to operate under the required strict physical distancing protocols.
Moving to Phase Two would require another two weeks of a sustained drop in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
It isn’t until the state enters Phase Two that we’d imagine the parks could truly reopen, with Non-Essential Travel now resuming at this time, as well as moderate social distancing. Under Phase Two, bars can reopen as well, albeit under diminished standing-room occupancy only. Phase Three would be considered a “return to normal”.
The current federal guidelines on social distancing are not expected to be renewed when they expire on April 30. Officials said the White House would work closely with states to ensure reopening efforts are done safely and only when local outbreaks are deemed contained.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, a re-opening date for the parks is still unknown, and as a result, many lingering resort reservations and vacation packages are slowly being cancelled. Reports started coming in a few weeks ago regarding cancelled April reservations, although given the current stay-at-home mandate through the end of the month, it seemed unlikely those would happen anyway. Now, reports of May reservation cancellations are coming in, with guests seeing cancelled vacation dates through May 16.
As the resort cancels reservations, it has been calling and/or emailing guests to inform them, or otherwise automatically issuing refunds. To provide guests additional flexibility, all Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through June 30 have been waived. For further assistance with cancelled reservations or modifying an existing reservation, Disney is directing guests to call in or use the chat featured on the Disney World website.
Walt Disney World announced on March 28 that it would only begin accepting reservations for dining and resorts for travel dates starting June 1 and later.
As the world continues to face the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Disney Cruise Line announced last week that that they had extended their suspension of departures through May 17th. Now, Mediterranean cruises aboard the Disney Magic have been cancelled through June 7.
With the wellbeing of its guests and team members as its top priority and in line with direction from health experts and government officials, Disney Cruise Line has decided to extend the suspension of Disney Magic departures through Sunday, June 7, 2020.
In light of this cancellation, Disney Cruise Line is offering the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. The credit has been automatically added to the guests’ accounts.
We continue to monitor global developments and follow the guidance of public health authorities, as well as officials in our ports of call. We will notify Guests of any necessary itinerary changes.
Guests currently booked on our European sailings through our July 25 departure can change their reservation up until the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date. The credit is non-refundable and standard prevailing rates will apply. Alternatively, Guests currently booked on our July 13, July 18 and July 25, 2020 European sailings may delay their final payment to 30 days prior to their sailing. Guests who booked their reservation through a travel agent should contact them directly. Those who booked with Disney Cruise Line may call us at (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510.
