Walt Disney World began their phased reopening in the summer of 2020. With the safety precautions and limited capacity, we tend to feel safer at Disney than we do at locations such as the grocery store. On the flip side, Cast Members going to work everyday are in regular contact with the Disney crowds. Now, with the COVID-19 vaccinations rolling out, a Disney Union is speaking out saying they believe Cast Members deserve the vaccination now as essential employees for Orlando’s much needed tourism industry.
As reported by OrlandoSentinel: “Unite Here 362, a local that represents 9,000 Disney World custodians, ride attendants, food service workers and others, is pushing for Gov. Ron DeSantis to make all hospitality workers eligible to get the vaccine. The union held a news conference Friday to make its case.”
“Starting Monday, anyone 40 and older can get the vaccine at the Orange County Convention Center, which is already inoculating people in certain professions, including firefighters, teachers and law enforcement officials, regardless of their ages. Disney World union leaders argued theme park workers need to be added to that list, too. If tourism is essential to Florida’s economy, then tourism workers are essential and deserve to be a priority, said Eric Clinton, who leads 362.”
The Biden administration is hoping to relax travel restrictions across the Mexico and Canada borders and on inbound international travel from the U.K., Europe, and Brazil in mid-May, according to CNBC’s anonymous sources.
One senior administration official said, “There is going to be a sea change in mid-May when vaccines are more widely available to everyone.” As a reminder, vaccinated guests must still wear a mask at Walt Disney World for the foreseeable future.
Currently, the Department of Homeland Security’s ban on land crossings at the Canada and Mexico borders goes until April 21. It was recently extended one month, having previously been set to expire on March 21.
The issue of international air travel is being discussed on a weekly basis by interagency groups within the Biden administration as new data about the spread of COVID-19 and its more transmissible variants is available.
Dr. Anthony Fauci previously stated general COVID-19 restrictions could be loosened by July 4th, which is usually a busy week for theme parks.
While the Disney Cruise Line remains unavailable to Disney travelers due to COVID-19, there is some water stirring with Disney and federal courts. Just before Disney Cruise Line docked in March 2020, it seems some passengers believe they contracted COVID-19 on the ship and now want compensation.
As reported by OrlandoSentinel: “Disney Cruise Line is facing four federal lawsuits from Utah and Arizona tourists who claim they contracted the coronavirus while on board the Disney Fantasy ship last March, just before the cruise business docked during the pandemic. The tourists said they contracted the virus while on board and began feeling sick, according to the four lawsuits filed March 2 in federal court’s Orlando division that each seek unspecified damages.”
A Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman denied the lawsuits’ allegations: “We disagree with the allegations and will respond to them in court. No guests or Crew reported symptoms of Covid-19 while aboard the Disney Fantasy during the March 7, 2020, sailing,” Cynthia Martinez said in a statement. “Disney Cruise Line communicated health and safety information with guests in advance of and during their sailing and had numerous protocols in place at the time.”
“The lawsuits accused Disney of refusing to let passengers cancel or reschedule their cruises even if they had “autoimmune diseases and compromised health conditions,” so they were “left without any option” to go on their March 7-14, 2020 trip. According to a Disney email sent to passengers, guests were allowed to change their reservation up until the day before embarkation to receive a 100% cruise credit.”
To read more details about this lawsuit against Disney Cruise Line, visit OrlandoSentinel. Disney Cruise Line has been shut down for over a year now with hopes of setting sail on the big blue once again this summer.
Multiple passengers from Utah and Arizona are suing Disney Cruise Line, claiming they caught COVID-19 while onboard the Disney Fantasy in March 2020, before cruises were paused.
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)
The passengers filed four lawsuits seeking unspecified damages on March 2, 2021, in federal court’s Orlando division. According to the lawsuits, Disney did not allow the passengers to cancel or reschedule their cruises even if they had “autoimmune diseases or compromised health conditions” leaving them “without any option” but to go on their March 2020 trip.
“Disney continued to allow passengers … to eat in buffets settings, provide group entertainment activities aboard the vessel (such as dancing) and otherwise allowed passengers to fully participate in the subject cruise as if there was no COVID-19 outbreak or threat thereof aboard the vessel,” the lawsuits state.
The plaintiffs are Arizona residents Judy Parkin and Krystal Skinner and Utah residents Kailee Taylor and Scott and Jana Olsen. They all retained the same Miami law firm.
The passengers all claim they contracted the virus while on board their March 7 through 14 sailing. It was on March 8, 2020, that the U.S. Department of State recommended Americans not travel on cruise ships.
Scott and Jana Olson took their child, who has an autoimmune disease, to a hospital ICU on March 16, 2020 with a high fever and difficulty breathing. The child tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1, and the parents also tested positive. Their lawsuit stated, “Plaintiffs feared for their own lives as well as the lives of each other.”
Krystal Skinner’s child, who also has an autoimmune disorder, felt body aches, fever, chills, and a cough on the cruise. Her other child, who has asthma, had migraines, fever, and difficulty breathing. Skinner herself also felt sick on board and all three tested positive for COVID-19 on April 15.
The lawsuits outline how there were early concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks on cruises, including on Carnival’s Diamond Princess, which had almost 700 cases in early February and quarantined for two weeks at Yokohama Harbor in Japan.
Neither Disney Cruise Line nor the passengers’ attornies provided comment to Orlando Sentinel.
Disney Cruise Line has cancelled all scheduled sailings through Mary 2021, and some sailings even further out.
After 77 days of its latest closure, Hong Kong Disneyland will reopen for the third time starting February 19th. Along with this, a number of new initiatives will be instituted to further strengthen measures against COVID-19 at the park. The park has been closed since December 2nd due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. February 19th marks the park’s third reopening, following those in September and June of last year.
Among the new measures includes mandatory COVID-19 testing for all Cast Members every 14 days, as required by the latest regulations in Hong Kong.
Additionally, all Guests must scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” QR code at the park entrance, or register their names, contact numbers, and date and time of visit on the official Hong Kong Disneyland website before entering the premises. All visiting Guests will be required to provide their names and contact numbers on the Hong Kong Disneyland Park Reservation website when reserving their visit date with valid tickets or membership cards prior to arrival. Additionally, “LeaveHomeSafe” QR codes will be displayed across the resort, such as the entrance of the park, restaurants and hotel recreation facilities.
The park also provided a new video themed to The Incredibles to explain the latest safety procedures at the park.
Reservations for all guests will begin from 10 a.m. on February 18. Guests are also required to make a health declaration as part of their reservation process.
The resort will continue with its health and safety measures including temperature screening, the wearing of face masks, social distancing, and increased cleaning and sanitization in accordance with the latest regulations and guidance from the Hong Kong government and health authorities.
Similar to park operations prior to the recent closure, a five-day per week operation will remain in place, with the park closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except public holidays and special days designated by the resort from time to time) until further notice. Additionally, the park will control capacity as required by government regulations.
Park operations and processes for both guests and cast members will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis and adjusted as necessary to take into account the latest government regulations.
Michael Moriarty, Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, offered the following statement:
From everyone at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, we wish you good health, happiness and prosperity in the year of the Ox. Every cast member has been putting tremendous effort in preparing our park reopening. I could not be more thrilled to announce that our park will be reopened on February 19, to welcome guests to experience the magic of our 15th anniversary and our new Castle of Magical Dreams. I want to give thanks for the support of our guests and the countless efforts from our cast members during this challenging time.
Hong Kong Disneyland is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary, and the special event will resume with the park’s reopening. The Castle of Magical Dreams, newly completed shortly before the park’s closure, will also be open for Guests once again.
Now, the final resorts to remain closed are Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, the latter of which is currently slated to reopen on April 2nd.
