Shanghai Disney Resort Resumes Limited Operations

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, Shanghai Disney Resort has been closed since late January. However, March 9th saw the reopening of some of the resorts operations. While Shanghai Disneyland Park will remain closed, the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Disneytown, and Wishing Star Park have resumed limited operations.

The full statement from Disney is as follows –

Shanghai Disneyland remains closed as we continue to closely monitor health and safety conditions and follow the direction of government regulators. However, as the first step of a phased reopening, Shanghai Disney Resort will partially resume operations on March 9, 2020 with a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. Each of these resort locations will operate under limited capacity and reduced hours of operation. The Disney Car and Coach Park and the Disneytown Parking Lot will also reopen.

The resort will provide an extensive range of measures, designed to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all guests, Cast Members and Disneytown tenant employees, including strict and comprehensive approaches on sanitization, disinfection and cleanliness. In accordance with relevant regulations, every guest entering Shanghai Disney Resort will be required to undergo temperature screening procedures upon their arrival and will need to present their Health QR Code when entering dining venues, and are required to wear a mask during their entire visit. Guests will also be reminded to maintain respectful social distances at all times while in stores, queues and restaurants.

Please refer to the Shanghai Disney Resort official website and app for the operation hours of Disneytown and Wishing Star Park.

As they said, Shanghai Disneyland Park will remain closed until further notice. There’s still no new information regarding Hong Kong Disneyland operations, and Tokyo Disney Resort is tentatively scheduled to reopen March 15th. We’re pleased to see operations inch towards normality once again and hope this situation will come under control soon.

Be sure to keep your eyes on a trusted global news source and check with your doctor and the US State Department before travel to Japan and China. If you choose to come, wash your hands as often as possible, use hand sanitizer, and consider wearing a mask and/or touching your face as little as possible.

We’ll keep our eyes on developments here as well as in Tokyo and Hong Kong regarding the COVID-19 situation’s effect on Disney Parks operations.

Disney Releases Official Message Regarding Questions About Coronavirus

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The widespread concern of Coronavirus/COVID-19 has many of us Disney fans asking questions about Disney Parks and Resorts. DisneyParksBlog released the following message from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel:

As you may know from the news, COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus 2019, has become a more widespread concern. As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast, guests and the larger community, we are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance. Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, 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.

Walt Disney World, Disneyland and all of our parks and resorts around the world 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.

The CDC provides more detailed coronavirus information on its website and as always, your personal physician is a valuable resource for specific medical questions you may have. If you have any questions about visiting Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort, please call 407-WDisney.

Please visit Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort to learn more about our health and safety measures for the coronavirus.

Thank you, Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Disney Cruise Line Issues A Travel Alert

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The widespread concern of Coronavirus/COVID-19 has many of us Disney Cruise Line fans asking questions. Please review the Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Alert updated as of March 6, 2020 below as reported on the Disney Cruise Line website:

In fall 2019, the Disney Magic sails to Bermuda, Bahamas and Canada from New York, followed by Bahamian and Caribbean voyages from Miami. Aboard the Disney Magic, guests can experience new spaces and experiences, including dining at Rapunzel’s Royal Table. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 continues to evolve quickly and Disney Cruise Line is closely following guidance from health officials and authorities in the ports of call we visit. We are also committed to keeping our Guests informed and updated, and are happy to address any questions our Guests have in advance of their cruise vacations and once they’re onboard.

The health and safety of our Guests, as well as that of our Crew Members, is our primary focus. We are taking precautionary steps and have implemented the following guidelines, which will likely continue to evolve as more information becomes available:

  • Currently, any Guest or Crew Member who has traveled from, to or through China, including Hong Kong and Macau, South Korea, Italy, Iran or Japan, within 14 days of departure will not be able to board our ships.
  • Any Guest or Crew Member who has been in contact with someone from these areas, including Guests with connecting flights in these locations, also will not be able to board, nor will anyone who has helped care for someone suspected of having or diagnosed with the coronavirus (COVID-19), or who is currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure. Guests who have air travel booked through Disney Cruise Line will automatically have their flights rebooked on an alternate route. Guests who booked their own air travel arrangements should contact their airlines directly to make the appropriate changes.
  • As is always our practice, we screen all Guests and Crew Members before they board, and anyone who feels unwell with gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms (fever over 100.4º F, chills, cough or difficulty breathing) will not be permitted to sail.
  • In addition, all Guests and Crew Members will have their temperature checked by a nurse with a no touch thermometer prior to boarding, regardless if they are symptomatic or feel unwell. Additional medical screening will be required for anyone with a temperature of 100.4º F or greater, and they along with their travel party may be unable to sail.
  • For cruises that include a stop in Nassau or Castaway Cay, please note that The Bahamas will not allow anyone to disembark in any Bahamian port if they have been to China, South Korea, Italy or Iran in the past 20 days prior to arrival. These Guests may be able to sail but will be unable to visit The Bahamas.
  • For cruises that include a stop in Jamaica, please note that in addition to the locations noted above, officials there also will not allow Guests who have traveled from, to or through Singapore within 14 days of arrival to come ashore. These Guests will be unable to sail.

Temporary Cancellation Policy Update

Given the current situation, we are offering temporary adjustments to our cancellation policy to provide more flexibility for our guests. These adjustments may continue to evolve as more information becomes available.

Disney Magic European Sailings

  • Currently, we have not made any changes to our European itineraries, though we are closely following the situation in Italy. We continue to monitor global developments and follow the guidance of public health authorities and ports of call regarding who they will allow to disembark based on travel history and health screenings. We will notify guests should itinerary changes be necessary.
  • 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 future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date by calling us at 1-866-325-2112 or 407-566-3510 or contacting their travel agent. 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.

Disney Magic sailings through May 8, 2020, and Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder Sailings through May 31, 2020

  • All Guests scheduled to depart on the Disney Magic between now and May 8, 2020, and the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder between now and May 31, 2020, can change their reservation up until the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 12 months of their original sail date by calling us at 1-866-325-2112 or 407-566-3510 or contacting their travel agent. The credit is non-refundable and standard prevailing rates will apply.

Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Additional Information

Disney Cruise Line consistently receives among the highest public health inspection scores and has health and safety protocols in place. We also have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing illness and closely follow the guidance of public health officials. Some of these procedures include:

  • Training for all of our Crew Members on how best to prevent the spread of illness onboard.
  • A health screening completed by all Guests and Crew Members to check for illness before they board the ship.
  • Extensive cleaning and sanitation of high-traffic areas (e.g., handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons) and children’s facilities.
  • Cleaning of all staterooms twice a day, and additional disinfection when necessary.
  • Medical clinics on our ships staffed with experienced doctors and nurses and stocked with supplies and medications to treat a variety of illnesses.

According to public health authorities, Guests can also help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and many other illnesses by frequently washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom and before eating. Parents can supervise their children to ensure they wash their hands thoroughly. In addition, Disney Cruise Line has hand sanitizer wipes and sanitation stations conveniently available in multiple places on its ships. Guests can also cover their nose and mouth with a tissue (or upper sleeve) when sneezing, and avoid sneezing or coughing into their hands or without covering their nose and mouth.

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Disney Releases Statement On Coronavirus Concerns

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

With confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida and California, the Disney Parks division has had to enact heightened sanitation measures across the parks, including increased availability of hand sanitizer stations throughout Disneyland Resort and also at Walt Disney World.

In an official statement to People Magazine, a Disney spokesperson addressed Coronavirus concerns and the steps the company was taking to keep their parks clean and their guests and Cast Members safe:

“We know there is new information this week about Coronavirus in Florida,” the spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.

“We have very stringent sanitation procedures in place at Walt Disney World Resort. We are in close contact with health agencies for information and guidance, and at this time, we are continuing to communicate to our Cast the importance of preventative measures such as frequent handwashing and rigorous cleaning processes.

“For guest convenience, we have placed additional hand sanitizers throughout our parks and resorts and will adjust our protocols as the situation warrants.”

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Public Health Emergency Issued For Florida After First 2 Cases Of Coronavirus Confirmed

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The first two cases of Coronavirus have been reported in Florida after two individuals have tested “presumptively” positive for the disease. In response, Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order to declare a public health emergency and engage statewide response for the control of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

A global map of live updates on Coronavirus confirmed cases by Johns Hopkins can be found here.

According to the Florida Department of Health, one of the affected is an adult resident of Hillsborough County. The other is an adult resident of Manatee County. Both individuals are currently isolated and being properly cared for.

DeSantis tweeted that he will be in Tampa and Miami with Surgeon General Rivkees and other officials on Monday to discuss the continued statewide response on the Coronavirus.

No official statements have been made by the Walt Disney World Resort regarding any potential closures or increased health measures.