Reopening Florida: Disney World Planning To Reopen In Mid-July But Should You Go?
ORLANDO (CBSMiami/CNN) --Disney World fans have been waiting for months to return to the "most magical place on earth" but is it safe?
Disney has proposed a phased reopening starting on July 11 with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios would follow along on July 15. The proposal still must be approved by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and then Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Now for the big question on everyone's mind: Should I go?
There's a lot to think about before you decide.
Health and safety
In the coronavirus pandemic, health and safety issues are at the forefront.
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said your considerations break down into two categories: Who you are and the external environment.
Schaffner said anyone in the following groups should give very careful consideration to making a trip to Disney World (or other amusement parks for that matter):
-- Senior citizens
-- People with chronic, underlying illnesses
-- People with heart and lung conditions
-- People who are immunocompromised
-- People with high blood pressure and diabetes
"We know this virus makes some people sicker than others. These are the folks we are most concerned about," Schaffner said.
Dr. Shannon Hopson, an endocrinologist in Corvallis, Oregon, concurs.
"Anyone who is in the high-risk groups for serious illness would need to be cautious about returning -- but also anyone who regularly comes in close contact with those who fit the criteria for being high-risk," she said.
"I see so many people with the attitude of' 'well if I get it, so be it,' but they forget about the risk to their friends and family [back home]."
And of course, people who know they have Covid-19 or who are experiencing symptoms should stay away.
What about people who don't have symptoms?
Disney World will be checking the temperatures of its employees and guests before they can enter any park. People will also be required to arrive with face coverings and wear them inside the park.
Disney will have numerous other safety measures in place. Among them are reduced capacity (so it's less crowded), cashless transactions, more hand-sanitizing stations and social distancing markers.
Getting there and staying there
As for the external environment, the first thing to think about is how you'll get to Disney World, Schaffner said. If you drive, you'll be in a self-contained environment that you control. But if you fly, you'll be exposed to others.
"The virus likes to be transmitted through close personal contact in enclosed spaces."
Schaffner advises travelers on planes to wear a mask and stay six feet away from others as much as possible.
Then you need to think about your time outside the park.
For one example, Schaffner mentioned pools at hotels. He advises being mindful about keeping distance there, too.
"Mama and Daddy, watch the kiddies. You should talk to them in this virus era and let them know they must separate from other people," he said.
Hopson said prepping children about what to expect is key.
"It's hard for kids to remember social distancing rules. A friend of mine tells her kids it's part of being a good neighbor right now, and that seems to help my kids remember to not get too close."
Another tip from Hopson: Let kids choose their own masks and then let them get used to wearing them before the big Disney trip.
Weighing risk and reward
Schaffner says you need to decide your own risk tolerance. Are you "more conservative or more adventurous"?
If you decide to go and you're in a higher-risk group, you should adhere very carefully to the guidelines, Schaffner cautions.
"You don't want to have this wonderful, pleasurable experience and then get infected by this virus. It is very nasty."
You need to ask yourself this: "Is the benefit worth the risk? And there will be a variety of answers to that."
Schaffner said ask yourself this in the end: "Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
Mutual responsibility
Schaffner points out that this is a mutual responsibility -- the burden isn't just on Disney to keep things safe.
"I have no doubt Disney World is going to do some things to reduce the risk on your behalf. But there are things you can do, too. You can make a contribution," he said.
"And you need to think about these things as you travel there and back, in restaurants, in your hotel as well as [in] the park itself."
Personal considerations
So you feel like you and your party are reasonably secure health wise. But you need to realize this won't be exactly the Disney World you remember.
In a news release Wednesday, Disney World said parades, nighttime spectaculars and other events that draw large crowds will return later.
Also, "high-touch experiences such as makeovers, playgrounds and character meet and greets will remain temporarily unavailable," the park said in a statement.
You'll need to be honest with yourself: How do you feel about a park with many safety measures in place and some beloved features not open yet?
Whether you've been dozens of times or it would be your first Disney World outing, it's a good question to ask yourself.
Martin Lewison, an associate professor of business management at Farmingdale State College on Long Island, New York, offers his perspective as "Professor Roller Coaster."
"Obviously, it's going to be a diminished experience in many ways. People who like the theme parks tend to like crowds," Lewison said. "You're really packed in there. That's exciting, and the people watching is fun."
Lewison said safety measures such as wearing masks could prove annoying to some people.
A meeting of two worlds
He pointed out two kinds people are going to be mingling at Disney World and other parks.
"Some people will be careful with their masks and stand in the right spot, and then there are going to be some people who let the mask fall off their nose and don't care. They'll forget about the six feet of social distance from other parties," Lewison said.
"These two kinds of people will bump into each other, and people will need to chillax," Lewison said. "The whole Covid thing has put people on edge in general. People have to give each other a little break."
The Disney World culture will help a lot, Lewison predicts.
"So Disney has kind of a culture of safety and is constantly controlling guests, whether it's their movements in line or how to step onto a ride. ... And Disney guests are happy to follow the instructions. That's what you do at Disney -- you follow the rules," he said.
"Disney guests have a tendency to follow the rules. They expect it to be locked down. You pay a zillion dollars to go there, things have to be perfect."
'Gonna be an adjustment'
Count Emily Branson of Cary, North Carolina, among those who hope to visit this year.
The resort "is super important" to her family -- including her husband, Stephen, and their son, 4-year-old Jackson.
"We got engaged there. We had our honeymoon there. We went there before my son was born. We took him there when he was 15 months old. We also went back as a family in November 2019."
She had to cancel a Disney World trip she had planned with her best friend, but they are now thinking about going later this year. She said fall or early winter is her favorite time of year to go anyway.
"We're waiting to find out what they are doing. From there, we'll pick a date."
Branson, who said she loves the parades and fireworks shows, is ready to be flexible.
"I think it's gonna be an adjustment -- for guests and cast members, too," Branson said. "I think a lot of things in the next several months will change. The situation is going to be fluid."
Definitely going back
Scott Warner of Fishers, Indiana, said he and his teen son, Tate, are huge Disney fans. The director of partnerships for an Indianapolis nonprofit, Warner said he's been more than 50 times.
"I love the magic, the experience, the state of mind, the guest service, the incredible amount of details put into everything. It's an escape from reality and reminds everyone that there is a bit of Peter Pan in us all," he said.
Warner, who had to cancel a Disney cruise this spring with adult friends, said he's definitely planning a return this year.
"I have a solo trip scheduled for October of this year, and I will be flying," he said.
"While there are many concerns, I practice safety precautions and follow company policies that are set and recommended. If that means wearing a mask, I will wear a mask."
Warner, whose favorite park at the resort is Epcot, said the measures will be worth it to him.
"While the Florida humidity may not be ideal comfort for wearing a mask, it's a small price to pay for the freedom to travel."
He's even looking forward to what Disney will roll out during a pandemic.
"One thing I have a good feeling about, Disney will come back with an incredible way to provide a magical experience and do all they can to improve their guest services. I am actually very excited to see what amazing technology and systems they develop to help with distancing," Warner said.
Disney CEO
Disney CEO Bob Chapek says it is safe to go back because they've done everything then can to open up responsibly.
"Taking the guidance of local health officials, state health officials, national health officials, plus our own well qualified doctors on staff to create an environment to create new operating procedures, to create new policies, to do new training, new standards of hygiene. So that when a guest comes in we can continue the trust that guests have always had with the Walt Disney company and enjoy the parks so they can make those magical memories that last a lifetime," said Chapek.
While the first phase opening of the theme parks will be limited capacity, the plan didn't say how much of a limited capacity.
Chapek explains, "Well, unlike Shanghai, where there were strict government mandates in terms of what capacity could be when we reopened, we don't have that here at Walt Disney World. So what we're doing is using the six foot social distancing in order to set what the capacity should be. So our industrial engineers have been busy over the last few months, trying to figure out what that would look like, and the capacity that we're going to open up with is actually slightly below where we really think we can reside with that six feet."
(©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company, contributed to this report.)
